Murray Highlights Bipartisan Success as Committee Passes Legislation to Help Families and Communities
HELP Committee passes five more bills to help families and communities across the country
Legislation is focused on access to maternity care services, Alzheimer’s, Traumatic Brain Injury, children’s emergency care, and museums and libraries
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered opening remarks at the Committee’s November markup hearing where members on both sides of the aisle came together to pass legislation to help identify and address shortages in maternity care services across the country, support families affected by Alzheimer’s disease, make sure children get quality emergency care, prevent and respond to Traumatic Brain Injury, and support museums and libraries in communities across the country.
From Senator Murray’s Remarks on the Improving Access to Maternity Care Act
“I’d like to thank Senator Baldwin and Senator Murkowksi for their leadership on this bill—and this important issue.
“This legislation will help us better understand the shortages we face when it comes to providing critical maternity care services—especially for women and families in rural and underserved areas. Identifying these shortages is an important step to respond to the nationwide maternal mortality crisis.
“So I’m glad we’re taking this step forward and I hope we can continue to build on it and work together on more common sense solutions to help address our nation’s unconscionably high maternal mortality rates.”
From Senator Murray’s Remarks on the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act
“Today we’re also going to vote to advance the Building Our Largest Dementia Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act thanks to the great work of Senator Kaine, Senator Collins, and Senator Cortez-Masto.
“Alzheimer’s—which affects one in ten people over age 65— is a devastating disease. It’s hard on patients fighting to hold on to cherished memories, and a feeling of control over their daily lives. And it’s hard on family members, friends, and caregivers—who are often family members—trying to help a loved one grapple with the day-to-day challenges of the disease while coping with their own grief and daily needs.
“This bill takes important steps to bolster our public health response to Alzheimer’s with new partnerships, new tools, and new efforts to build a better support system to ease the burden for families affected by Alzheimer’s.
“… I’m glad we are voting to move it forward today, and I’m going to keep working with my colleagues to see this important effort become law.”
From Senator Murray’s Remarks on the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program Reauthorization Act of 2018
“I’m also glad we are voting to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program. This important program has a long history of helping improve emergency care for children so that we can work to be best prepared to meet children’s unique needs when faced with worst-case scenarios.
“I want to take a moment to recognize Senator Hatch for his legacy as a champion of this program since its beginning. And I’d like to thank Senator Casey for his work to help champion it into the future.
“It’s hard to say just how many young lives have been saved by the investments from this program, or how grateful their parents and loved ones are.
“I look forward to carrying on this bipartisan legacy by moving forward this reauthorization bill.”
From Senator Murray’s Remarks on the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Reauthorization Act of 2018
“We are also taking steps to reauthorize another important initiative—the Traumatic Brain Injury Program.
“Not only are we reauthorizing important programs to prevent and respond to TBI, this bill also builds on these efforts by authorizing CDC to conduct data collection and analysis to help us better understand the prevalence of concussions.
“I’d like to recognize Senator Hatch and Senator Casey for their leadership on this bill as well.”
From Senator Murray’s Remarks on the Museum and Library Services Act of 2018
“Finally, I’m pleased we were able to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act to help libraries and museums provide 21st Century services to all our people, and support the diversity of the librarian and museum workforce.
“This reauthorization comes after President Trump called to eliminate this agency in two budgets, but this Committee recognized the important role museums and libraries play to bring communities together and strengthen literacy and civic participation.
“I am especially thankful for the leadership of Senators Reed, Collins, Murkowski, and Gillibrand on this bill.”
###
