Murray Awarded MADD's 2004 Congressional Excellence Award

Wendy Hamilton, National President of MADD, presents the award to Senator Murray. Senator Murray is recognized for her special emphasis on high-visibility law enforcement initiatives, including funding for national traffic safety law enforcement campaigns designed to increase seat belt use and decrease impaired driving.

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Highlighting Benefits of Health Insurance Reform for Women

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate highlighting why health insurance reform is so important for Washington state women. Murray told the story of a young man she met named Marcelas Owens, whose mother got sick, lost her job, lost her health insurance, and then lost her life.

Senator Murray:

“Our health care system is broken.  It’s broken for moms like Tifanny who work to provide for their families and are charged nearly 50 percent more than men for health care in the individual market. It’s broken for women who are denied coverage or charged more for ‘Pre-Existing Conditions’ like pregnancy, C-sections, or domestic violence. And it’s broken for their families and for little boys like Marcelas who can never get back what they have lost.”

More | Audio | Video

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Rallying in Favor of Pay Equity for Women

Senator Murray speaks at a recent rally in favor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which helps fight pay discrimination in the workplace. Standing to Senator Murray’s right is Lilly Ledbetter, whose struggle to receive fair pay inspired the legislation.

 

 

 

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Democratic Latina Summit

Senator Murray participates in a panel discussion on education with Oregon schools superintendent Susan Castillo and Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX), as part of the first-ever Senate Democratic Latina Summit.

Details

Audio: 1 | 2

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President Obama Signs the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is the first bill passed by Congress this year and the first signed into law by President Obama. 

Senator Murray has been a strong voice in favor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restores a worker’s ability to fight for her rights.  The law reverses the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Ledbetter v. Goodyear, and clarifies that each time an employee is paid less than her co-workers for doing the same job, that unfair paycheck is a violation of the law that can be challenged in court.

 

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Fighting for Safe and Healthy Families

A coalition of women's advocates held a press conference in Washington, D.C. to support Sen. Murray's Secure and Healthy Families Act, which she introduced in August.

At top left, the Senator speaks to the group, which included Cindy Hutchins (center) and Clentonia Vann (right), both Washington State activists for welfare rights.

Sen. Murray wrote the bill to improve access to education, job training, childcare, and domestic violence assistance for the most vulnerable families.(09/18/02)

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Breaking the Cycle of Violence

Senator Murray urges the Senate to address the economic barriers that trap victims in abusive relationships during the Senate debate on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.
Unfortunately, the bill that passed did not include any economic protections.




Last week, Murray introduced companion legislation called the SAFE Act (S.1796), which seeks to knock down the economic barriers that victims face.




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More on Murray's Work to Combat Domestic Violence

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Women and Social Security

Senator Murray and other Democratic women Senators listen to four women explain how Social Security affects their lives and how the President’s privatization plan would endanger their security.

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Celebrating Women Leaders

Senator Murray speaks about the importance of women in politics and women's issues at an event held by Women's Policy Inc. The event focused on celebrating women who hold leadership positions and are committee chairs or ranking members in Congress. Michelle Norris from NPR's "All Things Considered" is shown introducing Senator Murray.

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Sen. Murray meets with attendees of the Business & Professional Women's Luncheon.

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Working to End Domestic Violence

Senator Murray speaks with members of the National Network to End Domestic Violence during their annual breakfast held today in Washington D.C.



Senator Murray later addressed the entire breakfast on her efforts to combat domestic violence. During her speech, she discussed the need for Congress to fund new programs that are part of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and encouraged attendees to lobby their Senators to support her Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) Act.

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Encouraging Young Women to Explore New Career Options

Senator Murray meets with students after speaking at Clark College's "Exploring New Options" conference. The conference encourages young women to consider non-traditional careers from accounting to construction. (03/26/02)

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Highlighting the Importance of Ending Domestic Abuse

Senator Murray discusses her work to raise the profile of domestic abuse and answers questions from the YMCA's Domestic Violence Task Force.

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Working to Help Victims of Domestic Violence

Senator Murray spoke to leaders of the National Network to End Domestic Violence at the group’s annual Congressional breakfast. Murray was introduced by Executive Director Lynn Rosenthal (left). Murray said that with local and state budget cutbacks, the federal government must do its part to help victims by fully-funding Violence Against Women programs. Murray noted that one shelter in Seattle had to turn away 3,659 women and children in 2002.
Murray’s Remarks |
More on Domestic Violence (06/11/03)

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Sen. Murray with Rep. Baird and Margaret McKinney

Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Brian Baird talk with Margaret McKinney on the steps of the U.S. Senate. McKinney, the Program Manager for the Washington State Address Confidentiality program, accepted an award from President George W. Bush earlier in the day. (04/16/02)

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Women Business Leaders

Senator Murray meets with women business leaders in Everett, Washington. (01/14/02)

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Protecting Women from Violence

For women fleeing an abusive relationship, simply going to work can be dangerous. Homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace. Today, Senator Murray attended a hearing on reducing violence against women in the workplace.

Senator Murray continues to push for the Victims Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), a bill she wrote with the late Senator Paul Wellstone (D-Minn). The bill would help women overcome the economic barriers that can trap victims and children in abusive relationships.

Senator Murray asks Diane Stuart (Director, Violence Against Women Office, US Department of Justice), why the Bush Administration has not proposed fully funding Violence Against Women programs. (07/25/02)

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Protecting Women from Violence

For women fleeing an abusive relationship, simply going to work can be dangerous. Homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace. Today, Senator Murray attended a hearing on reducing violence against women in the workplace.

Senator Murray continues to push for the Victims Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), a bill she wrote with the late Senator Paul Wellstone (D-Minn). The bill would help women overcome the economic barriers that can trap victims and children in abusive relationships.
Senator Murray asks Diane Stuart (Director, Violence Against Women Office, US Department of Justice), why the Bush Administration has not proposed fully funding Violence Against Women programs. (07/25/02)

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Fighting Domestic Violence: Listening to Advocates in Bellevue

Dr. Amy Bonomi of Group Health Cooperative speaks at a forum on domestic violence in Bellevue. Senator Murray organized the meeting to get input from local advocates as she works to update the Violence Against Women Act.




More details on the forum | More on Domestic Violence

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Introducing Legislation to Improve Care for Women Veterans

Senator Murray talks about the the bill a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators including  Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR ), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced to improve care for women veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The legislation, the Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2008 seeks to prepare the VA for the unprecedented influx of female veterans who will access care there in the coming years. VA officials estimate that the amount of women who will utilize the VA will double in the next five years.

Details | Bill Summary | Video

Pictured from left to right are Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Murray and Senator Blanche Lincoln.

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Danny Glover Joins Murray in Fighting for Safe and Healthy Families

A coalition of women's advocates held a press conference in Washington, D.C. to support Sen. Murray's Secure and Healthy Families Act, which she introduced in August.

Sen. Murray wrote the bill to improve access to education, job training, childcare, and domestic violence assistance for the most vulnerable families.

Actor/activist Danny Glover (bottom left) and actor/activist Tim Robbins also spoke in favor of Murray's bill. (09/18/02)

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Celebrating and Protecting Title IX

Senator Murray joins a bi-partisan group of colleagues from the House and Senate as well as Olympic gold medalists and young female athletes to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Title IX and discuss her concerns with recent efforts to weaken it.




“There is no doubt that Title IX has opened doors for women between the time I went to school and my daughter went to school. The challenge for all of us, today, is to make sure those doors of opportunity stay open for our granddaughters and great-granddaughters,” Senator Murray said. “I urge Secretary Spellings and President Bush to protect existing Title IX policies and give every young girl in America the chance to experience the roar of a crowd - and not just cheer from the sidelines.”




On March 17, 2005, the U.S. Department of Education issued a new Title IX policy that threatens to reverse the decades of progress women and girls have made in sports. More

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"I Haven’t Forgotten What It Means to Be A Mom” "

"Even though I don't know all of you, I know why you're here today and why you’ve brought your kids here to the Capitol. It's the same reason why in the 1980's I brought my two kids to the Washington state capitol in Olympia to save a pre-school program," Murray said.
"I haven't forgotten what it means to be a mom, and I won't let my colleagues forget it either."

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Murray Meets With MADD

Senator Murray spoke at a press conference hosted by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

In January, MADD sponsored the Impaired Driving Summit to brainstorm ideas for better enforcement of drunk driving laws. (06/18/02)

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Fighting Domestic Violence

Senator Murray spoke to members of the National Network to End Domestic Violence about the need to fully fund the Violence Against Women Act.

She also discussed the importance of protecting domestic violence victims as the TANF program is reauthorized this year.

Murray continues to work on a "Family Violence Option" to ensure that victims of violence and their children are not penalized under Welfare. (06/12/02)

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Murray Commemorates Senator and Sheila Wellstone's Work to Combat Domestic Violence

The National Network to End Domestic Violence held their annual reception highlighting Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This year the late Senator and Sheila Wellstone were honored for their years of hard work and dedication to combat domestic violence. Senator Murray's Remarks

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Commemorating the Worst Drunk Driving Accident in U.S. History

Sen. Murray speaks on the anniversary of the worst drunk driving accident in U.S. history. Fifteen years ago, a drunk driver slammed into a school bus, killed 24 children and 3 adults, and left 30 injured. Wendy Hamilton, President of MADD, is on the right.

Murray successfully increased funding for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s drunk driving programs by 36 percent over the President’s budget request in 2003. Murray’s Remarks

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Supporting Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Senator Murray speaks w/Karolyn Nunnallee, former MADD President and mother of a child killed in the worst drunk driving accident in history, and Harold Dennis, Jr., a survivor of the accident.

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A Parent Thanks Senator Murray

At the rally during Senator Murray’s speech, we noticed this sign among the crowd. (06/11/03)

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Meeting with Supreme Court Justice Nominee Sonia Sotomayor

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Head Start and Child Care Advocates and Parents Welcome Senator Murray

Senator Murray visited West Central Community Center in Spokane to discuss the current debate in Congress over the future of Head Start and child care. Murray's Full Remarks

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Marcelas Owens Comes to Washington

Seattle’s Marcelas Owens visited with Senator Murray to discuss his trip to Washington D.C. to advocate for passage of health care insurance reform.



Video 

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Improving Career Counseling in High Schools

Senator Murray talks with Oregon schools superintendent Susan Castillo about her work in the Senate to improve career counseling in high schools so that students stay engaged in school and graduate with the skills they need to succeed in college or the workplace.

Details

Audio: 1 | 2

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Sen. Murray speaks at the National Network for Youth Rally

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Murray Rallies Parents at Children’s Defense Fund March

Senator Murray spoke at a rally on the Capitol held by the Children’s Defense Fund. At the “Stroller Parade,” parents (with their kids in strollers) marched to Congressional offices to urge passage of a child tax credit for low-income families.

Standing to Senator Murray’s right is Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund.

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Fighting for Title IX

Sen. Murray, shown with Olympic gymnast, Dominique Dawes and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), joined a bipartisan group of Senators, athletes and women's sports activists at a press conference supporting existing Title IX policies.

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