VIDEO: Senator Murray Announces Bipartisan Deal to Protect Families from Rising Health Care Costs
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 17/ 17
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=6A60F63E-C1C4-4D7E-A57B-325AA0FA641E
(Washington, D.C.) – U. S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate health committee, and the committee’s chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today announced they had reached a bipartisan deal to stabilize health care markets and protect patients and families from premium spikes as a result of all the uncertainty the Trump Administration has caused. Sen. Murray has been fighting for a bipartisan path forward on health care for months. Since the start of the year, she has met with countless patients and doctors at hospitals and community health centers across Washington state to gain valuable insight, and she was pleased to invite Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to testify at a recent Senate hearing.
In her speech today on the Senate floor, Sen. Murray applauded efforts by Senators—on both sides of the aisle—to reach an agreement: “I hope [this] will set the health care discussion in Congress on a very different path than the one we’ve seen for the last seven years.”
Full text of Sen. Murray’s remarks on Senate floor (as prepared for delivery):
Thank you, Chairman Alexander.
As I’ve said before, I’m so grateful for your leadership in starting a bipartisan discussion, under regular order, in the health committee—and for your determination in seeing it through to this point.
I remember very clearly that back in July, when it was clear that so-called “skinny repeal” didn’t have the votes to pass…
We talked right then and there about getting to work on ways to stabilize health care markets and protect patients and families from premium spikes as a result of all the uncertainty this Administration has caused.
We were able to engage nearly half the Senate in our hearings and conversations on the health committee…
And we found there was much more we agreed on than disagreed on when it came to strengthening health care and controlling costs in the near term.
Since then, actions by the Administration have made our work even more urgent.
So M. President—I’m glad both Democrats and Republicans agreed to work together to address this…
And I’m extremely pleased that, with the input of members on both sides of the aisle, as well as governors, patients, and advocates, we were able to reach an agreement that I hope will set the health care discussion in Congress on a very different path than the one we’ve seen for the last seven years.
This agreement provides certainty on out-of-pocket reduction payments for the next two years.
It will address attempts by this Administration to keep people from getting enrolled in care they need.
And it takes a number of strong, bipartisan steps to offer states more flexibility to innovate in the way the Affordable Care Act intended—without undermining essential health benefits like maternity care or mental health coverage, or burdening people with pre-existing conditions.
This is an agreement that I am proud to support—not only because of these important steps to strengthen our health care system—but because of the message it sends about the best way to get things done in Congress.
The way to deliver a result, as Chairman Alexander often says, for patients and families—is to work under regular order.
To find common ground, rather than retreating to partisan corners…
To hear from experts, families, and members on both sides of the aisle—rather than reciting talking points at each other…
And we know that’s true because just a month ago, the idea of an agreement between Republicans and Democrats on health care seemed improbable at best—if not impossible.
Thanks to the strong bipartisan work of Chairman Alexander and so many other members, we’ve been able to bridge the divide.
I strongly believe that patients and families in every state across our country will be stronger if we can get this agreement signed into law—and I urge all of my colleagues to not only support it, but continue working together—because there’s no question there is a lot more to do.
Thank you again to Chairman Alexander and all of the Republicans and Democrats who have been so engaged in this effort, and I yield the floor.
Sens. Murray, Heitkamp, Blunt, Grassley Urge EPA to Abandon Effort to Undermine Biodiesel Production
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 16/ 17
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=BF8AB9D7-88ED-49CE-BDCA-1BBAFB43451B
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a bipartisan group of 29 other senators urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase its proposed 2019 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for biodiesel to encourage growth in the industry and diversity in the nation’s energy supply, and to abandon its effort to reduce biofuel production in 2018.
The EPA has proposed holding the biomass-based diesel volume stagnant for 2019 and reducing the advanced biofuel volume for 2018. These proposed volumes leave potential growth in the industry on the table and could cause near-term job losses in rural America.
“The industry is poised for growth, in accordance with the intent of the law, if EPA sends the market signals with increased volumes. Reducing volumes and especially those RVOs that were previously finalized is disruptive, unprecedented, and very troubling,” the senators wrote to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
The senators continued, “We have made great progress through the RFS in diversifying our nation’s fuel supply while creating and sustaining jobs, strengthening local economies, generating tax revenues, and improving energy security. We urge you to support higher RVOs for biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuels in the final rule to encourage additional development and use of this fuel.”
According to a study conducted last year by LMC International and released by the National Biodiesel Board, the 2.1 billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel used by Americans in 2015 supported 47,400 jobs and $1.9 billion in wages, and had an $8.4 billion economic impact.
Senator Murray Asks Education Secretary DeVos to Clarify Confusing Sexual Assault Guidance for Schools
Press release issued 10/ 16/ 17
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=378BDEBC-4C97-4255-897B-623805C7C76F
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, eight members of the Senate education committee, led by the committee’s top Democrat, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Candice Jackson following up on the Department of Education’s decision to revoke guidance that directs schools on how to handle investigations of sexual assault—and to inquire how they plan to enforce interim guidance.
“The interim guidance is vague and often contradictory, and has caused confusion among college administrators, teachers, and students across the country,” wrote Senator Murray.
On September 27th, 2017, Secretary DeVos rescinded Obama Administration-era guidance and issued confusing interim guidance. Though she indicated there would be a new rulemaking process, she has not yet provided a timeline. Advocates warned this interim guidance could result in fewer survivors coming forward and may allow the campus sexual assault epidemic to be swept under the rug.
“No student should have to worry about their safety or about being harassed because of their sex, yet numerous studies have demonstrated that far too many of our students experience sexual assault and sexual violence in school,” wrote Senator Murray in the letter. “Unacceptably, these incidents of sexual violence in schools have been frequently swept under the rug, and too often schools do not live up to their obligation to ensure students have access to education in safe environments free from sex-based discrimination.”
This latest move is one more in a long list of troubling decisions Secretary DeVos has made surrounding student safety and civil rights, including appointing Candice Jackson as Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights and advising the Office for Civil Rights to scale back systematic investigations that help combat the epidemic of campus sexual assault.
Cantwell, Senate Dems Urge Administration to Immediately Fund Long-Term Rebuilding & Recovery Projects in Puerto Rico
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 16/ 17
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-senate-dems-urge-administration-to-immediately-fund-long-term-rebuilding-and-recovery-projects-in-puerto-rico
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined six of her Senate colleagues to send a new letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long urging the administration to immediately greenlight the federal funds Puerto Rico needs to rebuild and recover following the devastation left by Hurricane Maria. This push comes on the heels of President Trump’s recent tweets that threw the federal government’s commitment to long-term projects and recovery efforts on the island into question.
While Puerto Rico’s governor submitted the request for funding over a week ago, the agency has yet to provide its stamp of approval on the federal dollars that would allow the Commonwealth to rebuild roads and bridges, water control facilities, public utilities, and more. The Democrats said that Puerto Rico needs a commitment that the federal government will be there to assist with the rebuilding efforts.
From Olympia
DNR: Community Feedback Wanted on Draft Klickitat Canyon Community Forest Management Plan
Advisory Committee and DNR Staff Host Open House 6 p.m., Oct. 26
For the past seven months, a ten-person advisory committee has been meeting with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff to draft a forest management plan. The plan will provide ongoing guidance for the Klickitat Canyon Community Forest located 6 miles northeast of Glenwood, Wash. Now, the group, made up of stakeholders representing diverse local interests, is hosting an open house to hear further community input.
The draft plan for the 2,400-acre Klickitat Canyon Community Forest contains goals around community connections, forest health and management, water quality and aquatic habitat, wildlife, recreation and access, and cultural resources.
DNR is working closely with the local community on this plan as its implementation will require strong local support.
“We’ve had good conversation and I believe the vision and values of this group are reflected in the plan,” says Larry Leach. “Yet, there may be other perspectives out there that haven’t yet been considered. If so, this is time to hear them.”
The Thursday, Oct. 26 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Glenwood Grange, South 1st Street, Glenwood, Wash. Those with question may contact Leach at (509) 925-0923 or larry.leach@dnr.wa.gov.
DNR will complete the forest management plan by the end of this year, per funding requirements.
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/community-feedback-wanted-draft-klickitat-canyon-community-forest-management-plan
World and National headlines from Reuters...
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Britain's new concessions are not enough, EU leaders tell May
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White House says Trump's check to military family has been sent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The check has been sent.
That was the message from the White House on Wednesday after the father of a slain U.S. Army sergeant said a generous offer from President Donald Trump had not materialized.
Obama hits campaign trail for first time since leaving White House
(Reuters) - Former President Barack Obama returns to the campaign trail on Thursday for the first time since he left the White House, venturing out to support Democrats in two governor’s races that could offer a clue about the national mood before next year’s midterm elections.
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