Patty Murray

November 17, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the $398.8 million for military installations in Washington state passed the full Senate. The funding will be used to make improvements to a number of installations that facilitate training and care for service members and their families.

The funding is also expected to create family-wage construction jobs in communities throughout the state. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction Appropriations bill, which passed the Senate today 100-0.    » read more »

Bill contains billions of dollars for medical care, women veterans, homeless veterans; includes specific language on Walla Walla VA, South Puget Sound CBOC

November 17, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) helped pass legislation through the full Senate that provides $109 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill passed by a 100-0 vote.

The funding, which is included in the fiscal year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill, is $150 million more than the President requested. The majority of the funding will go directly to health care services which will help cut wait-times, increase access to quality care and mental health services for our veterans.    » read more »

Pilot program that Murray pushed for in Wounded Warriors bill will mean single medical examinations and transparent rating system for returning service members disability claims

November 16, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Thousands of returning service members will have access to a streamlined disability claims system at Fort Lewis Army Medical Center because of a pilot program that U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) helped pass into law.    » read more »

Senators say returning soldiers' unemployment rate too high and say benefits should include apprenticeship and job training, not just college

November 12, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Johanns (R-NE), today introduced the Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act to include job training and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans who have served our country since the attacks of September 11, 2001.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- (Washington D.C.) –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) attended a Senate hearing examining the problem of H1N1 being spread by workers who can’t afford to miss work when they are sick. Senator Murray gave an opening statement pushing for passage of the Healthy Families Act that would allow workers to earn up to 56 hours of paid leave to care for themselves or their family. This would benefit workers and businesses and help prevent the spread of H1N1 by ensuring that employees have the ability to stay home when they are contagious.

This is especially important for workers who may interact with individuals who are particularly vulnerable to the flu, such as those with underlying health conditions or women who are pregnant.    » read more »

Tells stories of Washington state families who desperately need the support to get back on their feet

November 3, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray delivered a speech on the floor of the Senate urging her colleagues to support the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. This bill would expand and extend the successful Homebuyer’s tax credit program that has allowed families to purchase homes and has helped stabilize the weakened housing market.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after Boeing announced their decision on the second 787 line.

“This is a disappointing moment for our state and for Boeing customers.

“We had an opportunity today to take a step toward workforce stability and a win for Boeing, our workers, and the state of Washington. I am disappointed that Boeing cut off negotiations and passed on a final chance to make this happen.

“This state’s workers, communities and elected officials have worked hand in hand with Boeing for nearly 100 years to build the best aerospace workforce and the best business environment possible.    » read more »

Snohomish County PUD, Avista receive funding to create more reliable, efficient and secure power grid

October 27, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that two Washington state smart grid projects will received a combined $35,825,817 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). This funding comes from a $3.4 billion national investment in smart grid technology to help ease the nation’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system.    » read more »

Fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop growers will benefit from nearly $3 million federal grant to build marketing opportunities, increase competiveness of small farmers, and promote the consumption of specialty crops

October 15, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state will receive $2,920,854 in federal funding to promote and market specialty crops produced by local farmers throughout the state. Washington state is the leading producer of several specialty crops including sweet cherries, apples, Concord grapes, and red raspberries.    » read more »

Murray worked to include funding that will benefit farmers and consumers, give Washington state's highest employing industry a competitive economic edge

October 8, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the millions of dollars in federal funding she included for Washington state agriculture research priorities in the 2010 Senate Agriculture Appropriations has been passed by both houses of Congress and is expected to be signed into law.

This funding will support ongoing research for a wide range of Washington agricultural goods, including legumes, potatoes, wine grapes, organic foods, and berries. The final version passed the Senate today by a vote of 76-22.    » read more »

Funding will create family wage jobs and help Washington state remain at the forefront of technology, research, and innovation

October 6, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the $63 million in federal defense work for Washington state companies that she included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill has passed the full Senate. Senator Murray is a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.    » read more »

Funding will expand loan opportunities to small businesses, support community-based organizations

October 2, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that three Washington state community-based financial organizations have been selected to receive a total of $2,455,000 under the fiscal year 2009 funding round of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. The funding will allow the organizations to expand capital and economic opportunity to small businesses and low-income families across the state.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded President Obama for signing into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Senator Murray voted for the bill on June 11th, which passed the Senate 79-17. This law provides the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to regulate tobacco products, protect families and consumers, and help smokers overcome their addiction.    » read more »

GAO Report Provides Suggestions For Strengthening Job Corps Programs; Report finds that while Job Corps provides critical career skills, more can be done to help retain and recruit young women

June 22, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Job Corps training program, while meeting its goals for young, disadvantaged males, is struggling to meet its goals for young women according to Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released today. The report found that Job Corps has taken some steps to improve the recruitment of young women but that more can be done, including providing more appealing career training options and additional support services for young women.    » read more »

Funding will boost economy, support purchase of buses, maintenance of ferry vessels and terminals

June 19, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that $20,501,842 has been released in grants by the U.S. Department of Transportation for mass transit projects in Washington state. The grants were funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and will be put to use improving transportation and creating jobs in Washington state.    » read more »