Chairman's Press
BUDGET HEARING: The Impact of Student Loan Debt on Borrowers and the Economy
Washington, D.C- Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the Impact of Student Loan Debt on Borrowers and the Economy with majority witnesses Rohit Chopra, Student Loan Ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Brittany Jones, recent college graduate and Former President of the Student Virginia Education Association. At the hearing, Murray addressed how student loan debt has lasting repercussions for young adults as they start their … Continue Reading
06.04.14
Opening Statement of Chairman Murray. Hearing: The Impact of Student Loan Debt on Borrowers and the Economy
"This hearing will now come to order. "Thank you to the Ranking Member, Senator Sessions, and all of our colleagues for joining us. "Today, we'll be discussing a challenge that 40 million people around the country face. "For many Americans, who want to further their education and build their skills, taking out student loans has become a college pre-requisite. "But that debt can have lasting consequences for borrowers and weaken their chances of getting ahead. "Ensuring more Americans get a … Continue Reading
06.03.14
CLIMATE CHANGE: Murray Statement on EPA Proposal to Cut Emissions at Power Plants
(Washington, D.C.) Today, Monday, June 2nd, 2014, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement as the Environmental Protection Agency released a proposal to mandate power plants cut carbon-dioxide emissions 30 percent by 2030 as part of President Obama's Climate Change Action Plan. "I applaud President Obama and his administration for moving forward with a common-sense, flexible proposal to limit dangerous carbon pollution and fight back against the growing threat of clima… Continue Reading
05.30.14
Murray Releases The Opportunity Outlook: A Path for Tackling All Our Deficits Responsibly
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released The Opportunity Outlook: A Path for Tackling All Our Deficits Responsibly, a new online report that lays out principles for building on the two-year bipartisan budget deal. With greater certainty added to the budget process and an improved fiscal outlook, this online report describes ways to grow our economy and create opportunity by both tackling our long-term budget challenges responsibly and addressing de… Continue Reading
05.14.14
Murray, Warren Double Down on Democrats’ Efforts to Expand Economic Opportunity for Women and Families
Washington, D.C- Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor on expanding economic opportunity for women and families. Murray and Warren discussed barriers women and their families face in today's economy and highlighted policies that would grow the economy and level the playing field for women. The senators called on Republicans to join Democrats in focusing on policies that will move women and the economy… Continue Reading
05.13.14
BUDGET HEARING: Expanding Economic Opportunity for Women and Families
Washington, D.C- Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on Expanding Economic Opportunity for Women and Families with witnesses Dr. Heather Boushey, Executive Director and Chief Economist at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth and a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, and AnnMarie Duchon, Associate Director of Accommodation Services at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The hearing explored steps Congress can take to expand econ… Continue Reading
05.08.14
Opening Statement of Chairman Murray: The U.S. Economic and Fiscal Outlook with Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen
"This hearing will now come to order. Thank you to Ranking Member Senator Sessions and all of our colleagues who have joined us. "Today we have the great opportunity to hear from the Chair of the Federal Reserve, Dr. Janet Yellen. "Dr. Yellen, I want to start by thanking you for your leadership in encouraging stronger economic growth, stability, and job creation throughout your tenure at the Federal Reserve, as Vice Chair and now as Chair. It is wonderful to have you here. "I also want to rec… Continue Reading
05.07.14
Murray Calls for Building on Bipartisan Budget Deal With Steps to Invest in Jobs and Growth, Tackle All Deficits Responsibly
Washington, D.C- Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks at the BakerHostetler 25th Annual Legislative Seminar, and highlighted ways to build on the two-year bipartisan budget deal to create jobs, opportunity, and broad based economic growth. In her speech, Murray explained that Congress must continue to tackle long term budget challenges, while not losing focus on the growing deficits in critical areas like jobs, education, infrastructure, research and inno… Continue Reading
05.07.14
ICYMI: Chairman Murray Holds a Hearing on The President’s Fiscal Year 2015 Education Budget Request
Yesterday, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on The President's Fiscal Year 2015 Education Budget Request with Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan. In her opening statement, Chairman Murray explained that the nation is currently facing an education deficit, and described the dangers of failing to make critical investments in education. "…right now, our nation is facing an education deficit. College is becoming more and more unafford… Continue Reading
05.06.14
BUDGET HEARING: The President’s Fiscal Year 2015 Education Budget Request
Washington, D.C- Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2015 Education Budget Request with Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan. At the hearing Murray discussed the education proposals in the President's budget and called on Congress to build on the two-year budget and focus on addressing the education deficit to make sure more Americans have the chance to succeed and contribute to the economy. Murray highlighted… Continue Reading
05.01.14
Murray Continues Push to Avoid an Unnecessary Highway Trust Fund Crisis
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor, continuing her effort to warn colleagues of the looming potential crisis before the Highway Trust Fund reaches critically low levels this summer. Murray highlighted that various states across the country have started preparing to stop new construction projects, and explained that if the Highway Trust Fund crisis hits, we could potentially see a construction shutdown which would leave workers without a … Continue Reading
04.15.14
Senator Patty Murray: Department of Transportation Update on the Highway Trust Fund Should Be a ‘Wake-Up Call to Congress’
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement calling on Congress to address the looming crisis in the Highway Trust Fund, which could reach critically low levels in July, according to a status report issued today by the Department of Transportation. "Today's update from the Department of Transportation should be a wake-up call to Congress. The Highway Trust Fund is heading toward an avoidable crisis as early as July, and if we don't act, could lead to a c… Continue Reading
04.15.14
Statement from Chairman Murray on Tax Day: Congress Should Take Steps Now to Make the Tax Code Fairer for Workers and Families
WASHINGTON, D.C.-On Tax Day, April 15th, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement calling on Republicans to join Democrats in making changes to our tax code, like the 21st Century Worker Tax Cut Act she recently introduced, which would help workers and families keep more of what they earn: "Leading up to Tax Day, workers and families across the country sat down at the kitchen table and made sure they paid their fair share of taxes, even as they were … Continue Reading
04.14.14
Statement from Chairman Murray on CBO Projections that the Affordable Care Act Will Cost Less, Cover More Americans, and Reduce the Deficit Further
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on new information from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which projected that the Affordable Care Act will decrease the federal deficit over the next ten years by $104 billion more than was projected only two months ago. "Today's CBO update shows once again that the Affordable Care Act will help reduce our deficits while offering more Americans access to quality, affordable health care," said Chairman … Continue Reading
04.11.14
Chairman Patty Murray’s Statement on the Nomination of Sylvia Burwell for HHS Secretary
"Sylvia Burwell is an outstanding choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services as it continues working to ensure that families and seniors have access to high quality affordable health care. She has done a great job as Director of the Office and Management and Budget in a challenging year, and she would bring strong management skills, deep experience, integrity, and a passion for helping people to this new role. "Director Burwell was unanimously confirmed as OMB Director last year… Continue Reading
04.10.14
Murray Warns of Looming Highway Trust Fund Crisis, Calls for Multi-Year Fix to Provide Certainty
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) spoke on the Senate floor to warn her colleagues of a looming potential crisis when the Highway trust fund reaches critically low levels this summer and to call on them to work together to avoid it. Murray explained that if a solution is not reached, construction projects that would improve roads and bridges could be shut down, leaving workers without a paycheck and hurting communities with needless delays on the improvements that would… Continue Reading
04.10.14
Chairman Patty Murray’s Statement on the Passage of the House Republican Budget
"It is disappointing that just four months after Congress came together to pass a two-year budget that set spending levels for next year, House Republicans decided to retreat into their partisan corner instead of working with us to build on our bipartisan deal. "The partisan budget that passed the House today includes massive cuts to job-creating investments in economic growth, radical and irresponsible changes to Medicare and Medicaid, and tax cuts for the rich paid for with tax hikes on the … Continue Reading
04.09.14
ICYMI: Chairman Murray Holds a Hearing on Supporting Broad-Based Economic Growth and Fiscal Responsibility through a Fairer Tax Code
Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on Supporting Broad-Based Economic Growth and Fiscal Responsibility through a Fairer Tax Code. The hearing featured majority witnesses John L. Buckley, J.D., former Chief Tax Counsel of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and former Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, and Jane G. Gravelle, Ph.D., Senior Specialist in Economic Policy at the Congressional Research Service. Chairman Murray called for clos… Continue Reading
04.08.14
BUDGET HEARING: Supporting Broad-Based Economic Growth and Fiscal Responsibility through a Fairer Tax Code
Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on Supporting Broad-Based Economic Growth and Fiscal Responsibility through a Fairer Tax Code with majority witnesses John L. Buckley, J.D., former Chief Tax Counsel of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and former Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, and Jane G. Gravelle, Ph.D., Senior Specialist in Economic Policy at the Congressional Research Service. At the hearing, Murray discussed policies… Continue Reading
04.02.14
ICYMI: Chairman Murray Holds a Hearing on Opportunity, Mobility, and Inequality in Today’s Economy
Yesterday, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on Opportunity, Mobility, and Inequality in Today's Economy. Majority witnesses were Joseph Stiglitz, University Professor of Economics at Columbia University, and Raj Chetty, William Henry Bloomberg Professor of Economics at Harvard University. Chairman Murray discussed the lack of economic mobility and rise of economic inequality in the United States. "…Something happened to our economy over the la… Continue Reading
