Press release issued 1/ 28/ 20
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced a resolution marking the third anniversary of President Trump’s executive order barring travelers, immigrants, and refugees from majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States, and calling on Congress to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to providing a safe haven for refugees fleeing oppression. Three years ago, President Trump issued the first of three executive orders banning refugees, immigrants, and visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries to the United States. Since then, the Trump Administration has continued to pursue anti-immigrant, anti-refugee policies rooted in religious and nationality-based discrimination, with additional bans looming.
“President Trump’s bigoted travel ban is a hateful and needless policy that flies in the face of America’s promise as a land of opportunity for those seeking a better life,” Senator Murray said. “Over the past three years, the President has pushed an anti-immigrant agenda that Washingtonians and people across the country have repeatedly rejected. Our country has long been a refuge for those fleeing turmoil and persecution, and despite the President’s best efforts I will continue fighting to keep it that way.”
As the global displacement crisis continues to worsen – with more than 25,400,000 refugees worldwide – the resolution directs the United States to commit to resettle a robust number of refugees to meet its share of the global need. The United States has set a record low in refugee admissions goal for fiscal year 2020 of just 18,000 refugees.
Senator Murray has been a strong champion for comprehensive immigration reform and other efforts to support the fair treatment of refugees and those seeking asylum, including introducing the Refugee Protection Act, fighting back against the Trump Administration’s efforts to limit refugee resettlement in the U.S., and demanding President Trump put an end to his Remain in Mexico policy, which unnecessarily places asylum seekers in danger. Additionally, Senator Murray has fought for resources and representation for immigrant and refugee communities in Washington state and across the country.
Following Reports of Additional Washington State Residents Being Tested for Coronavirus, Senators Murray, Cantwell Press Trump Health Secretary for Updates, Call for Continuing Robust, Science-Driven Response.
Press release issued 1/ 28/ 20
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate health committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent a letter to Secretary Alex Azar at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting updates on the Administration’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak and information on the steps being taken to keep families safe. In the letter, Senators Murray and Cantwell asked the Department to keep them updated with the latest information regarding the severity of the disease, the country’s capacity to diagnose cases, what steps were being taken to prepare U.S. health care workers, what screening systems were in place at U.S. airports, the status of a novel coronavirus vaccine, and more.
The Senators also urged the Department to continue its robust, scientifically-driven response to the outbreak and asked what steps Congress should take to support their efforts to keep families safe.
“We write to express concern about the rapidly evolving 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), to urge your continued robust and scientifically driven response to the situation, and to assess whether any additional resources or action by Congress are needed at this time. A quick and effective response to the 2019-nCoV requires public health officials around the world work together to share reliable information about the disease and insight into steps taken to prevent, diagnose, and treat it appropriately,” Murray and Cantwell wrote.
Despite the Trump Administration regularly calling for cuts to public health programs, Congress recently passed a budget deal that increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Infectious Disease Rapid Response Reserve Fund, which provides the agency with an immediate source of funding to prevent, prepare for, or respond to an infectious disease emergency either at home or abroad.
As the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, Senator Murray has been closely monitoring the situation and released a statement on Friday following a briefing from Trump Administration officials on the latest developments regarding the recent coronavirus outreach, saying in part, “The safety of U.S. citizens here domestically, as well as in China and other affected countries, is our first priority.”
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
Iraq: Solutions needed ‘urgently’ to quell ongoing violence, break political deadlock.
Amidst ongoing anti-government protests, rising casualties and the likelihood of further demonstrations, the top UN official in Iraq on Thursday, urged politicians to break the political deadlock, and “press ahead with substantial reforms”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056312
A question of trust: the UN political chief working behind the scenes to prevent tomorrow’s wars
When it comes to dealing with armed conflict, the eyes of the world often turn to the UN Security Council and members’ attempts, with varying degrees of success, to resolve or prevent bloodshed.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056282
Youth leaders share positive visions of the future, as Guterres launches UN75 in New York
Six youth leaders from around the world were at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday to share their ambitious visions for a future where international cooperation is prioritized and everyone’s voice is heard.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056252
Coronavirus: First case confirmed in Gulf region, more than 6,000 worldwide.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the coronavirus outbreak has now spread to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The vast majority of cases continue to be declared in China, with more than 6,000 confirmed, 68 of them outside of the country.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056222
End Syria fighting to avoid ‘even greater humanitarian catastrophe’
The “dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation” affecting women and children in northwest Syria was the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator’s top concern on Wednesday morning as he briefed the Security Council in New York.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056272
Stepped-up efforts needed to combat pneumonia; save nearly nine million children’s lives.
Scaling up pneumonia-related interventions could save the lives of nearly nine million children during the course of the next decade, the United Nations Children’s Fund said on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056232
Yemen: Escalation in fighting must stop ‘before it’s too late’, Griffiths tells Security Council.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen told an emergency session of the Security Council on Tuesday that a recent upsurge in violence between pro-Government and rebel forces following weeks of relative calm, had to end “before it’s too late”.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/01/1056192
