Blog

I am thrilled to announce a new bill that will help recognize veterans’ service animals.  Chris Goehner, a veteran from Cashmere, WA and an intern in my Senate office, suggested the idea to me and helped draft the legislation, so we were happy to allow Chris and his service dog Pele (who also works in my office) to deliver the bill to the Senate floor.

Before he was an intern in my office, Chris served two tours as US Navy corpsman in Kuwait and Iraq.  In 2006, Chris was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – or PTSD – and was honorably discharged.  Since Chris’ diagnosis, Pele has been an irreplaceable part of his life.  His soothing presence has helped Chris to sleep soundly and study better. Service dogs could provide similar valuable aid to other veterans struggling with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and other combat-related injuries and issues..

I am proud to introduce this legislation on the heels of the 20^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  While that historic piece of legislation went a long way towards leveling the playing field for those who are disabled, there is still much work to be done.  Our veterans deserve every bit of support that we can give them.  Chris and Pele’s story reminds us that sometimes that support can come from unexpected places.

Thanks, and have a great weekend,

Patty

Last night, Senator Patty Murray proudly spoke at a reception for women veterans at Arlington National Cemetery’s Women’s Memorial. The event served to call further attention to the unique challenges our women veterans face, and to celebrate the accomplishments of those who, like Senator Murray, have been working tirelessly to ensure that our country’s heroines are equipped to meet those challenges.

Patty knows as well as anyone how military service can affect veterans and their families, which is why she worked so hard to have her bill, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009, signed into law this past May. Women represent 7% of the veteran population and 15% of the US current active duty, guard, and reserve forces, but the VA was still operating on a medical care system designed entirely for men. Patty is making sure that all our veterans get the care that they have earned and that they deserve.

Patty would like to thank VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, as well as Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Representative Bob Filner (D-HI) for speaking at the reception and showing their support. But most importantly, Patty thanks all our veterans and military families for keeping our country safe and free through their inspiring courage and leadership. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.

-Alex

When the federal government wanted to award a $35 billion tanker contract to a foreign company, Patty Murray stepped in and went to bat for Washington aerospace workers.

Please watch our new ad, “Boeing” and use the links below to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Share on Facebook.                     Share on Twitter.

Thanks for everything!

Doug

Since the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig over three months ago, Patty Murray has been fighting to ensure another preventable tragedy like this never happens again.

As Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety, Patty first chaired a hearing on June 10 to look into the practices of oil and gas company tragedies – including the Tesoro refinery accident in Washington state. She raised questions about lessons learned from past disasters, as well as what changes and safety measures are needed to better protect workers in the oil and gas industry. BP declined to send a representative to answer her questions.

But Patty didn’t let up.

Like the rest of us, Patty is furious that BP continues to provide empty rhetoric about a “culture of safety” while continuing to cut corners and risk the safety of their workers.

And today, she chaired another hearing and thanks to her continued pressure, BP agreed to testify.   They sent  Dr. Steven Flynn, BP’s Vice-President of Health, Safety, Security and Environment.

During her hearing, Patty demanded that Dr. Flynn describe what specific measures BP would take to improve worker safety, and when they would go into effect.  She also examined the safety record for BP’s Cherry Point site here in our state.

Patty has always stood up for workers and has fought to ensure their safety and well-being.   Whether it’s asking tough questions to prevent another disaster like the one in the Gulf or improving worker safety conditions for miners, standing up for paid Family and Medical Leave or improved worker training, Patty Murray is on the side of our workers and their families.  We need to return her to the Senate to continue to be the voice for workers in Washington state and across the country.

On Tuesday, I voted to pass an emergency extension of unemployment insurance benefits, and I’m thrilled to announce to you that the Ayes have it.

This recession blindsided Washington State working families.  Fifty percent of Americans have experienced job loss or cutbacks.  For months, I have been working hard to bring relief to the people who need it most – those who are out of work through no fault of their own.

What does this passage mean?  It means much needed and long-awaited support for 158,000 people in Washington State struggling to buy groceries, or pay the mortgage.  It also means economic stimulus: for every $1 we spend on unemployment insurance, $1.61 in fiscal stimulus is generated, which is why economists all across the ideological spectrum support this bill.  Now is not the time to turn our backs on those who need help the most.

Some of my opponents believe that rather than helping struggling middle class families we should be adding to the deficit to pay for an extension of the unpaid for tax cuts for the rich that helped tank our economy in the first place – and which I voted against.

This is a simple question of values and priorities.  I believe we need to help the middle class and out of work Washington residents and not add to our deficit to benefit the wealthy.

Thanks to the passage of this bill, we can finally bring relief to those struggling with the economic downturn  I was proud to support this help for Washington state families who are struggling in tough times.

I have always been your voice and stood up for you in the U.S. Senate and I will always fight to do the right thing and put you first.

Good morning!  Before I start another very busy week in the Senate, I wanted to tell you about my trip to the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center this past Saturday.

First, I want to thank the WVMC CEO, Dr. David Weber, as well as the other doctors, staff, and members of the community for such a warm reception.  I was there to help celebrate 70 years of excellent service to the residents of central Washington, and to show my support for the over 1,500 doctors, nurses, and staff that work hard every day to keep the Wenatchee Valley community safe and healthy.

When the Medical Center was threatened by a push in Congress to prevent doctor-run facilities like this one from receiving Medicare and Medicaid payments, I knew that could have devastating impacts on this region.  This hospital serves families across the Central Washington and if it was forced to merge, restructure or close its doors entirely, it would have a real impact on care.

I knew how important WVMC is to the region: that’s why I fought to gain an exception for the WVMC and help keep doctors and nurses working and providing care for this region.

Just as the doctors and staff of the WVMC have never stopped fighting for their patients, I have never and will never stop fighting to provide quality, affordable, accessible healthcare to every region of Washington state.  Once again, thanks to all who came out to show their support for the WVMC!

Thank you,

Patty

Hey folks! I just wanted to make sure you saw the new editorial published in The Seattle Times today. It comments on the new protections offered by the Wall Street reform bill Patty Murray helped pass. The new bill will make sure that taxpayers are never again on the hook for the bad decisions of Wall Street firms.

The financial regulatory bill has passed Congress…The Seattle Times commends Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell for supporting it in the Senate last week.

Republican challengers like Dino Rossi continue to smear the bill as a “bailout.” They obviously haven’t done their homework!

When U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi denounces Murray for supporting a “bailout bill,” we think: What would you do? Rossi missed an opportunity when he opposed the bill. He should have voiced his support, which would have demonstrated independence from a misguided Republican leadership.

The big financial companies do not want this bill. The Republicans who call this a “bailout bill” are protecting those big companies.

The financial reform bill shows exactly where the candidates stand. Patty Murray stands firmly with Washington state’s working families and taxpayers. This bill is no bailout – banks that fail will be liquidated at the expense of their executives and shareholders, not the taxpayers.

Patty will continue to fight to keep Washington families from paying for corporate mistakes.

Thanks for all your support,

Julie Edwards
Communications Director

PS: Learn more about Senator Murray’s plan for economic recovery.

Hey folks! I wanted to let you know about our new video: “Never Forgotten.”

In the ad, which will go on the air this evening, Washington state veterans talk about Patty’s strong record of working for veterans, service members, and military families.

Watch the video, and share it with your friends using Facebook and Twitter:

Share on Facebook.

Share on Twtter.

Thanks for all your help,

Doug Foote
New Media Director

This week, the Senate will have a final vote on historic Wall Street Reform legislation that includes the strongest consumer protections for Washington families ever enacted. I wanted to let you know about a few of the things this bill contains:

• A guarantee that Washington state families on Main Street will never again have to bail out the bankers on Wall Street
• A new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protect Washington families and individuals from unfair fees, mortgage rip-offs, and big bank abuses
• Stricter rules on Wall Street’s practices that allowed bankers to gamble with our savings
• Protections for small business from exorbitant credit card transaction fees
• New transparency rules for the Federal Reserve
• New protections against “Golden Parachutes” for high-rolling CEO’s and stronger oversight of executive pay by shareholders.
• Resources I helped to include in the bill that promote financial literacy and help more consumers take responsibility for their financial future
• Safeguards against predatory lending practices and risky bank lending
• The establishment of a toll-free hotline for Washington state consumers to report issues with financial services and products

Repairing our economy will take more than fixing what’s in front of us – we must learn from the mistakes of the past and build a foundation for a better future. These reforms will protect families, strengthen businesses, and restore common sense “rules of the road” for Wall Street. That’s why I will be fighting to get this bill passed into law as quickly as possible.

Thanks for all you do,

Patty

I was in the Tri-Cities earlier today celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Hanford Reach National Monument. I went to the Hanford Reach every summer growing up, and it was refreshing to spend the morning enjoying some of the natural beauty of Washington state.

I wanted to let you know about some great developments happening on both ends of Washington – east and west.

In the west, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced investments in two major transportation projects: the Seattle Intermodal Hub and the Chuckanut Park and Ride in Burlington. I have been fighting hard on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee for exactly these sorts of community investments – they’ll create jobs, help relieve congestion, and lay a foundation for long-term growth.

In the east, we’re in Walla Walla celebrating the the incredible progress of Highway 12. We started on this project almost ten years ago when Jim Kuntz, Executive Director of the Port of Walla Walla, came to me with the idea of expanding the stretch of highway in order to limit accidents and grow the regional economy. Since that time, I’ve worked to bring federal, state, and local partners together to attract investors, create jobs, and give the folks in Walla Walla an easier, faster commute. Phase 6 of the project is scheduled to be completed this month.

Thanks for reading, and all the best,

Patty