ICYMI: Senator Murray Fights back Against Trump Administration Attacks on Health Care

In a flurry of actions over the past two weeks, Senator Murray worked to address the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine health care for millions of patients and families 

In multiple speeches on the Senate floor, Senator Murray called on Senate Republicans to stand up to President Trump’s rule that encourages states to promote junk insurance plans and undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions

In letters to Trump Health Secretary Alex Azar, Senator Murray slammed the Trump administration’s efforts to block immigrants based on health care coverage and ongoing delay of the promised action to address the epidemic of youth tobacco use

During a press conference to promote annual open enrollment period, Senator Murray denounced Trump administration cuts to federal program that provides information and assistance to those seeking health coverage

Senator Murray: “Patients deserve to know we have their backs, that we are fighting against President Trump’s efforts to undermine their health care, not cheering him on and blocking efforts to stop them”

(Washington, D.C.) – Following her efforts to stand up for women’s and veterans’ health care in Washington state, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, has continued her fight against President Trump and his administration’s constant attacks on health care in the other Washington. Last week, Senator Murray wrote to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar, denouncing a cruel and politically motivated Trump proclamation barring immigrants based on whether they can afford health care coverage. In the letter, Senator Murray urged the Department to reverse the proclamation, and demanded to know why it was implemented in the first place.

The next day, Senator Murray took to the Senate floor to blast the Trump administration’s 1332 waiver rule, which encourages states to eliminate protections for patients with pre-existing conditions, increases costs, and promotes harmful junk insurance plans. The rule encourages states to promote high-cost, low-quality health insurance plans that fail to cover pre-existing conditions, prescription drugs, maternity care, mental health care, and more.

Earlier this week, Senator Murray returned to the Senate floor to advocate for a vote on a Congressional Review Act resolution to roll back the Trump administration’s 1332 waiver rule, forcing Republicans to either stand with patients and families, or the Trump administration and big health insurance companies. Ultimately, 52 Republicans went on the record against families’ health care by voting against the resolution.

As open enrollment started this week, Senator Murray also joined some of her Democratic colleagues in the Senate to call out the Trump administration’s attempts to undermine health care enrollment by slashing federal funding for the Navigator program, and called attention to the Expand Navigators’ Resources for Outreach, Learning, and Longevity (ENROLL) Act to ensure that people have the information and support they need to find a quality health care plan at a price they can afford. She also released a video on social media reminding families about the start of open enrollment.

In addition, Senator Murray led Democrats in sending a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar this week denouncing the Administration’s delay in addressing the growing epidemic of youth tobacco use in Washington state and across the country. In the letter, Senator Murray also urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to finalize its promised compliance policy and clear the market of unauthorized, flavored e-cigarette products, including mint and menthol flavors. There have been twelve cases of vaping-related illness in Washington state alone, and e-cigarette use has increased by more than 75 percent amongst high school students across the country—largely fueled by the appeal of products with flavors like candy, fruit, mint and menthol. The Senate health committee, which Senator Murray is the ranking member of, also announced this week that it will be having a hearing on e-cigarettes on November 13^th. 

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