Senator Murray Calls to Build on Bipartisan Efforts as HELP Committee Advances Bills Tackling Variety of Health Issues

Yesterday, Senate Democrats and Republicans on the HELP Committee voted to advance eight bills out of committee to address health challenges families and communities face

Murray: “These eight bills are a testament to what’s possible when we focus on bipartisan, common sense solutions.” 

Murray: “I hope we can build on the progress that these bill represent. Democrats have lots of other ideas ready to go to protect families’ health care, repair the damage President Trump has caused, and bring down health care costs.”

(Washington D.C.)— Senator Patty Murray ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered opening remarks yesterday at the Committee’s October markup hearing where members voted to advance several bills to address health challenges families face. In her remarks, Senator Murray praised her colleagues for their work on bipartisan legislation to confront tick-borne diseases, encourage physical activity, better understand the causes of sudden unexpected death in infants and children, improve respite services for caregivers, modernize training for nurses, bolster families’ health and safety during national emergencies, and reform the way over-the-counter drugs are regulated and brought to market.

The legislation passed by the Committee included the TICK Act, Scarlett’s Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act, Public Health Service Modernization Act, Lifespan Respite Care Act reauthorization, Title VIII Nursing Workforce Act reauthorization, Physical Activity Recommendations for Americans Act, Healthy Start Act reauthorization, and Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation and Reform Act. The Committee passed all of the legislation with bipartisan support.

Key Excerpts from Senator Murray’s Speech

“Families in my home state of Washington—and across the country—expect us to work together to take steps that will help them stay healthy, and get the care they need. And I am pleased that today we are able to do just that, by advancing legislation to address some of the health challenges our communities face.”

“These eight bills are a testament to what’s possible when we focus on bipartisan, common sense solutions. Several of the bills we are moving forward today will help us better understand and address the public health challenges we face to keep families safe.”

“Each and every one of the bills we are voting on today represents an important step towards building a healthier country, and I’m going to continue working with my colleagues, and pushing for them to become law.”

Full text below of Senator Murray’s Remarks

“Thank you Chairman Alexander.

“Families in my home state of Washington—and across the country—expect us to work together to take steps that will help them stay healthy, and get the care they need. And I am pleased that today we are able to do just that, by advancing legislation to address some of the health challenges our communities face.

“These eight bills are a testament to what’s possible when we focus on bipartisan, common sense solutions. 

“Several of the bills we are moving forward today will help us better understand and address the public health challenges we face to keep families safe.

[Ticks: Identify, Control, and Knockout Act]

“Like the TICK Act—which Senators Collins and Smith have been great leaders on. This bill will create a national strategy and take other important steps to address vector-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.

[Scarlett’s Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act]

“Or the Scarlett’s Sunshine on Sudden Unexpected Death Act – which will invest in efforts to prevent families from experiencing the tragedy of losing a child to Sudden Unexpected Infant Death or Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood. I’d like to thank Senators Casey and Isakson for their hard work on this.

[Public Health Service Modernization Act]

“Other legislation we’re advancing today will help ensure our communities have the capacity they need to stay healthy and safe.

“The Public Health Service Modernization Act, from Senators Jones and Rounds will create a Ready Reserve Corps to keep families healthy and safe during national emergencies.

[Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act]

“The Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act, from Senators Collins and Baldwin, will support family caregivers of children and adults with disabilities by improving the quality of respite services.

[Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act]

“And thanks to the efforts of Senators Merkley and Burr, we will also be voting on the Title VIII (eight) Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act, a critical bill that will allow us to modernize how we train and educate nurses, and deliver patient-centered care to families across the country, particularly in underserved areas with severe health professional shortages. 

[Physical Activity Recommendations for Americans Act]

“Other bills we are moving forward today will help families across the country get the information and resources they need to stay healthy.

“Like the Physical Activity Recommendations for Americans Act—which will provide for evidence-based guidelines to help families get active and improve their health. I’d like to thank Senators Brown and Wicker for their work on this bill.

[Healthy Start Reauthorization Act]

“And the Healthy Start Reauthorization Act, which Senators Brown and Burr have been great leaders on. This bill will ensure we can continue to support new parents and their children’s health in our most vulnerable communities.

[Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation and Reform Act]

“Lastly, I’d like to mention the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation and Reform Act. This important bill takes steps to streamline the way over-the-counter drugs are regulated and brought to market, protect public health, and encourage the development of new products to better meet the needs of patients.

“Senator Isakson and Senator Casey, thank you both for your leadership on this bill to make much-needed updates to our system of regulating over-the-counter drugs, and make sure these drugs, which so many families rely on, are safe and well-regulated at every drugstore and supermarket.

“And I want to take a moment to step back and thank Senator Isakson. His name is on most of these bipartisan bills. For all your work over the years to work with people to find common goals and to find solutions, it’s truly been an honor to work with you. As you end your days here in the Senate, I know we will all remember the legacy that you’ve brought to all of us on how we can listen to each and find solutions and work our way forward. So thank you so much, for all your work.

“Each and every one of the bills we are voting on today represents an important step towards building a healthier country, and I’m going to continue working with my colleagues, and pushing for them to become law.

“And I hope we can build on the progress that these bill represent. Democrats have lots of other ideas ready to go to protect families’ health care, repair the damage President Trump has caused, and bring down health care costs.

“From legislation we’ve introduced in the Senate to let Medicare negotiate lower drug prices, restore to help families find the right health plan for them, or to make coverage more affordable for working families, to all the additional ideas the House has passed as well. “

“I think all of us want to get things done and we really appreciate the cooperation of so many today as we work to pass eight bill out of committee.

“Thank you.”

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