United States Senator Patty Murray

Murray Statement on Critical Export-Import Bank Reauthorization

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed legislation reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank by a vote of 78-20, raising its financing authority to $140 billion by 2014. Without Congressional action, the Ex-Im Bank charter was set to expire on May 31, 2012.

“The Export-Import Bank is one of the most important resources America has to compete against foreign countries who are aggressively trying to seize global market share. Today’s reauthorization sends a clear message that America is committed to fighting back with programs that work for businesses and taxpayers. Supporting programs, like the Ex-Im Bank, that help U.S. exporters has long made sense, but it’s even more critical now. U.S. exports have been a highlight of our road to recovery and no one knows the importance better than the businesses in my home state of Washington -- the largest exporter in the nation per capita and where one in three jobs is tied to international trade. Reauthorizing the Ex-Im Bank today is not only a victory for our exporters, but also tells our trading partners we stand behind our products and our companies.”

Sen. Murray Ex-Im Bank Floor Speech (3/20/2012)

Murray Applauds Approval of Portland-DC Nonstop Air Travel

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

DOT announcement will benefit businesses, provide greater access for Washingtonians visiting nation’s capital...

Sen. Murray teams up with Sounders Women to discuss Title IX

Andy Nystrom — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray from Bothell teamed up with some Seattle Sounders Women players today to celebrate 40 years of Title IX, which allowed women equal access to athletic opportunities. Murray, Sounders players Megan Rapinoe, Stephanie Cox and Sydney Leroux and one Garfield High student-athlete spoke to a crowd of female athletes this afternoon at Garfield High. "Forty years ago, 37 words threw open the doors to athletics, education and success for millions of young women in our country," Murray said. Title IX reads: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. "That law was simple, it was powerful and it has delivered amazing results. Over the past 40 years, participation in girls high-school sports has increased over 900 percent. We went from 32,000 women who were participating in college athletics in 1972, when I was in college, to almost 200,000 today," Murray added. "In 1972, fewer than 300,000 women across the country played competitive sports. Forty years since this law has passed, today this number is approaching 3 million." - Bothell Reporter

Murray on House Republican Version of Violence Against Women Act

Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

House version of bill removes critical protections for Native, LGBT, and student victims of domestic violence...

HEALTH CARE: Murray Opposes Republican Attempts to Cut Childhood Immunizations, Diabetes Prevention Funding

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

Senators: This is a time to help college students, not a time to fight old political battles over health care...

Republicans Filibuster Bill to Stop Student Loan Rate Hike

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

Murray: Students all across the country are going to continue to make their voices heard ...

Senator Murray Statement on new NLRB IG report

Mon, 07 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement following the release of a supplemental report by the NLRB’s Inspector General regarding allegations of improper conduct by a single Republican member of the board. The new report found, among other findings, that confidential information was provided by Terence Flynn, a Republican member, to former board members for their private benefit, while he was serving as a chief counsel.

“I am deeply disturbed by these additional findings from the Inspector General. This new report indicates that at a minimum, a single member of the board violated the NLRB’s internal procedures, federal regulations, and most importantly, the public trust. If in the course of this ongoing investigation these allegations are verified, Mr. Flynn should resign or be removed from the Board. In the meantime, I believe he should recuse himself from any deliberations or matters before the Board in order to protect the integrity of this critical agency.

“I am especially concerned by these new allegations because they come at a time when the NLRB has been the focus of partisan attacks and attempts to undermine its important mission. The NLRB is working to protect the rights of both workers and employers, and that work should not be sullied or undermined by partisanship or unethical behavior, and certainly not from a member of its own board.

Some of the documents released by Mr. Flynn were in reference to a case involving Boeing and workers in Washington state and South Carolina. These releases were intended to weaken the agency and influence the process, even while the NLRB’s work allowed the two sides to come together and find a solution, as intended.

Murray Statement on WA State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray released the following statement after Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown announced she will not run for re-election.

"Majority Leader Lisa Brown has been a champion for the people of Spokane and our entire state. When she leaves office, Lisa will leave behind a 20 year legacy of progress, leadership, and dedication to improving the lives of those she served. But knowing Lisa, I also know that she is not done serving her community and I wish her the very best in her future plans.

“Our state is a better place to live and work because of Lisa’s determination to make it that way, and I was proud to partner with her. From establishing a medical school in Spokane, to moving forward with the North-South Freeway, Lisa has helped build a stronger Spokane that is positioned to succeed in the 21st Century. Today, I join with a chorus of others in thanking her for her many years of service and wishing her well in the future.”

Sen. Murray fears a lack of timely care for returning military

Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Thursday “we don’t have a system that is set up” to care for all of the military members who are returning from war and that if they have problems and don’t get treated “the fallout is enormous” for them and their communities. “We have many, many soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, more than we have in the past, and we don’t have a system that is set up for them. That’s why I have been screaming and yelling about this,” Murray said in an interview. “My biggest worry is the soldier or Marine or Air Force (member) comes home, has problems, doesn’t get treated, doesn’t get help, goes out into the community, and the fallout is enormous – everything, to suicide,” she said. Murray is concerned that service members are not receiving care that is promised to them from the Veterans Administration. “I heard from too many veterans that they called up (the VA), takes a lot of courage to do it, to get an appointment to help them with the problems that they were having, and they were told that they had to wait three, four or five months,” Murray said. “They are supposed to be seen within two weeks. - Q13

Murray, local college students talk loan debt

Stevie Mathieu — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray made a stop at Clark College in Vancouver on Thursday afternoon to glean stories from Southwest Washington college students she hopes to use as “ammunition” in an anticipated debate in Congress about student loan interest. A law that keeps down the interest rate on subsidized Stafford loans for undergraduates, which are provided to low-income students, is set to expire July 1. If Congress does not renew the law, interest rates on those loans, which are currently at 3.4 percent, are expected to double. Clark College student and 24-year-old single mother Diane Robinson told Murray that she decided to pursue college after a divorce left her with nothing. “I would not be here without the loans,” Robinson said. “It would just be impossible.” She also told Murray that she worries about her looming student loan payments every single day. Robinson said she was raised to repay her debts, and not being able to pay off her loans “would eat me alive.” - The Columbian

Sen. Murray discusses future of student loans at LCC

Leslie Slape — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

Lower Columbia College student Chance Stewart, 25, used a college loan to turn his life around. "I'm the first person in my family to graduate high school, let alone attend college," the Castle Rock resident told Sen. Patty Murray Thursday at a roundtable discussion at LCC about legislation to keep student loan rates low. Stewart, who was homeless twice by the time he was 24, is an honor student on a general transfer degree and is considering a career in music or higher education administration. He has several more years of school ahead of him, and the possibility of interest jumping from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent on a federally subsidized Stafford loan "scares me to death," Stewart said. "Without loans I wouldn't be able to find a place to eat, let alone live," he said. Murray, who went to college on student loans herself, shares his viewpoint. - The Daily News

SPECIAL EDUCATION: Murray Leads Letter Calling on Secretary of Education to Ensure Access to Braille Literacy

Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:01 EST

Senators: Braille instruction is a 'crucial literacy skill' which should be provided to students with blindness or a visual impairment May 01 2012 ...

Chairman Murray Applauds President's Decision to Address GI Bill Accountability

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:01 EST

Executive Order mirrors Murray's GI Bill Consumer Awareness Act of 2012 that gives veterans access to information to make informed decisions about utilizing GI Bill benefits...

Murray Applauds Passage of More Inclusive Violence Against Women Act

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

After facing Republicans opposition, Murray helps successfully pass bill that includes provisions protecting Native, LGBT, and immigrant women ...

PEDIATRICS: Bipartisan Push to Improve Safety of Children's Medications and Medical Devices Passes Senate Health Committee

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:01 EST

The Better Pharmaceuticals and Devices for Children Act was included in the FDA Safety and Innovation Act that passed though Committee today...

Patty Murray disturbed by report on Veterans Affairs wait times

Patricia Murphy — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:01 EST

Washington Senator Patty Murray says she's infuriated by a report that examines wait times at Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities including Spokane. The Inspector General's (IG) office released its report this week. It slams the Department of Veterans Affairs for drastically understating the amount of time veterans wait for mental health appointments. The report confirms what Washington Senator Patty Murray has been hearing from veterans. Murray chairs the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policy requires that all first–time patients who request mental health services receive an initial evaluation within 24 hours and a comprehensive diagnostic appointment within two weeks. The Inspector General's office examined wait times at four facilities including the VA in Spokane. Investigators found that contrary to VHA officials' insistence, on average, veterans are waiting 41 days for care. In Spokane the wait times were 80 days. Patty Murray says that's unacceptable. - KUOW

Senator Murray's Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Postal Reform

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:00:01 EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan Postal Reform bill, which passed the full Senate today 62-37.

“The U.S. Postal Service has served our communities well since the dawn of our nation, but if we don’t push them to modernize and adapt to the realities of 21^st century communication, this proud service won’t be able to keep its doors open much longer.

“That’s why I voted today for the bipartisan legislation that would restructure and streamline the system in a careful way that preserves overnight and Saturday delivery and makes sure the Postal Service doesn’t plunge into insolvency and cut off mail delivery for every family, senior, and small business owner across America.

“I want to thank my constituents for their letters and calls letting me know what the postal service means to them and what their priorities were as we put this bill together. These perspectives guided me as I pushed for legislation that worked for families and communities across Washington state.

“This bill is not perfect, but inaction is not an option. If we don’t act, the Postal Service faces certain insolvency. I fought for changes to this bill that would have offered greater protections to workers hurt on the job, and I was proud to help beat back amendments that would have stripped away protections and reneged on promises we’ve made to postal workers and others across the federal workforce.

“I am glad that this passed the Senate in a bipartisan fashion today, and I am going to keep fighting to improve this legislation as we conference with the House of Representatives and put together a final bill to send to the President.”

Working Together to End Domestic Violence

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:01 EST

Protecting women and their families from violence should not be a partisan issue. Last week, I joined with other female Senators in calling on Republicans to join us in reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This critical legislation, aimed at curbing domestic violence, is a bipartisan bill that advances efforts to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assaults, and stalking. I have believed strongly in this legislation since it was first passed in 1994. I hope that our Republican colleagues will join us so we can move forward to pass this important legislation.

“Cantwell, Murray push passage of broader domestic violence bill”
– The Seattle Times

Mental Health Care for Our Nation’s Heroes

Last week, I applauded an announcement by the VA that it would be moving to hire 1,600 mental health care professionals. I am pleased that the VA has taken this desperately needed step toward providing timely access to mental health care. Too often we have seen staff vacancies, scheduling delays, and red tape leave those veterans who have been brave enough to seek help in the first place left with nowhere to turn. With suicide rates that continue to be high and an influx of new veterans into the system these barriers to mental health care are completely unacceptable. While VA’s action is welcome news, there is more work to be done. This week, as chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will hold a third hearing on this subject in order to hear the Inspector General’s findings.

“VA hiring more mental health workers”
– The Washington Post

“VA plans to add 1,900 mental health workers”
– The Hill

Training Our Nation’s Students for Success in the 21^st Century Job Market

Last week, I was pleased to see the U.S. Department of Education’s release of their “blueprint” for reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. I want to applaud the Administration for focusing on this issue and building on the successes of the career and technical education programs that help so many students get the skills they need to be successful in the workplace. Making sure students and workers can move into positions in thriving industries is one of the most important things we can do to help students, businesses, and communities in this tough economy. I’ve been proud to have worked on the last two reauthorizations of the Perkins Act programs that have helped millions of students, businesses, and families, and I’ve also introduced career pathways legislation to make sure communities have the resources they need to prepare their students for in-demand regional industries and occupations. I will continue to work with Democrats and Republicans to reauthorize and reform our nation’s workforce development system.

“Obama Administration seeks to remake career-tech programs”
– Education Week

Paying a Fair Share: Republicans Block Debate on Buffett Rule, Continue Protecting only the Wealthiest Americans

Last week, I was deeply disappointed after Senate Republicans filibustered the Paying a Fair Share Act, also known as the “Buffett Rule.” This bill would call on millionaires and billionaires to pay a minimum fair rate so they can’t use loopholes and gimmicks to pay lower rates than many middle class families. It’s truly a shame that Senate Republicans are so committed to protecting the rich from paying a penny more in taxes that they won’t even allow us to debate a bill that makes sure millionaires and billionaires are playing by the same set of rules as middle class families.

At a time when middle class families continue to struggle, it’s only fair to call on the wealthiest Americans to pay just a bit more toward their fair share. We all know that our country has serious debt and deficit challenges. And it’s not going to be easy to get our budget back on track. But I feel very strongly that everyone needs to share in the sacrifices. We can’t simply ask the middle class and most vulnerable families to bear this burden alone—the wealthiest Americans need to be a part of this solution too. I am going to keep fighting for the Buffett Rule and I hope Republicans will join us and eventually allow this common-sense change to be enacted.

“Senator Patty Murray pushes ‘Buffett Rule’ tax on millionaires”
– The Seattle Times

“Sen. Murray: Buffeting the very rich”
– The Seattle PI

Twitter Round-up

FEDERAL WORKFORCE: Republicans Block Akaka Amendment that Would Protect Workers Hurt on the Job

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:01 EST

Murray: "I am very disappointed that Republicans blocked this common-sense attempt to protect federal workers hurt on the job”...

NLRB: Murray Votes to Uphold Critical, Common-Sense Rules to Make Sure Workers Are Treated Fairly in the Workplace

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:01 EST

Republican resolution to strike down new rule fails 45-54...

United States Senator Patty Murray

Murray Statement on Critical Export-Import Bank Reauthorization

Murray Applauds Approval of Portland-DC Nonstop Air Travel

Sen. Murray teams up with Sounders Women to discuss Title IX

Murray on House Republican Version of Violence Against Women Act

HEALTH CARE: Murray Opposes Republican Attempts to Cut Childhood Immunizations, Diabetes Prevention Funding

Republicans Filibuster Bill to Stop Student Loan Rate Hike

Senator Murray Statement on new NLRB IG report

Murray Statement on WA State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown

Sen. Murray fears a lack of timely care for returning military

Murray, local college students talk loan debt

Sen. Murray discusses future of student loans at LCC

SPECIAL EDUCATION: Murray Leads Letter Calling on Secretary of Education to Ensure Access to Braille Literacy

Chairman Murray Applauds President's Decision to Address GI Bill Accountability

Murray Applauds Passage of More Inclusive Violence Against Women Act

PEDIATRICS: Bipartisan Push to Improve Safety of Children's Medications and Medical Devices Passes Senate Health Committee

Patty Murray disturbed by report on Veterans Affairs wait times

Senator Murray's Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Postal Reform

Working Together to End Domestic Violence

Mental Health Care for Our Nation’s Heroes

Training Our Nation’s Students for Success in the 21st Century Job Market

Paying a Fair Share: Republicans Block Debate on Buffett Rule, Continue Protecting only the Wealthiest Americans

Twitter Round-up

FEDERAL WORKFORCE: Republicans Block Akaka Amendment that Would Protect Workers Hurt on the Job

NLRB: Murray Votes to Uphold Critical, Common-Sense Rules to Make Sure Workers Are Treated Fairly in the Workplace

Training Our Nation’s Students for Success in the 21^st Century Job Market