Wall Street Reform:
Priorities for Washington State Families
On
Thursday, I gave a speech on the floor to discuss provisions of financial
reform that must be included to help protect Washington families. I believe
reform must put an end to taxpayer funded bailouts, provide strong protections
for Washington state consumers and make available tools that will help
consumers take personal responsibility for their finances.
– Read
| Watch my speech.
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Supporting our Veterans: Breaking Barriers to Employment
On
Tuesday, I introduced bipartisan legislation to help combat the skyrocketing
unemployment rate among veterans. Currently the unemployment rate for young veterans
returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan is close to 20 percent. My legislation
will help our veterans break down barriers to employment by improving training,
skills transition, education, and small business assistance programs.
“Murray bill targets high joblessness among veterans” – Seattle Times
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Caring for our Veterans: Landmark Bill Supporting Women Veterans Passes Congress
On
Friday, my comprehensive bipartisan legislation to prepare the Department of
Veterans Affairs to handle the influx
of women veterans who will need care in the coming years passed the Senate and House
of Representatives. The Women Veterans Health Improvement Act of 2009 will
address the unique needs of our women veterans, especially those returning home
from Iraq and Afghanistan. – Details
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Budget: Securing
Funds for Washington’s Priorities
As a senior member of the Senate Budget
Committee, I was able to secure money for key Washington state priorities in
the 2011 budget resolution that passed the Committee on Friday. In
particular, the budget resolution increases Emergency Management funding at
Hanford and increases Army Corps of Engineers funding to help repair the Howard
Hanson Dam. – Details
Also last week, I joined other members of
the Washington state delegation in sending a letter to the Army Corps
of Engineers urging them to make unused funding available for short term fixes
to protect the tens of thousands of residents and 95,000 jobs of the Green
River Valley from catastrophic flooding while permanent fixes to the Howard
Hanson Dam are underway.
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Remembering the Tragedy at the Tesoro Refinery in
Anacortes
On
Thursday, Senator Cantwell and I introduced a resolution in the U.S. Senate
expressing the Senate’s condolences for the family, loved ones, Steelworkers,
fellow workers, and the Anacortes community after the tragedy at the Tesoro
refinery in Anacortes, Washington. I also joined those families at a very
emotional memorial service in Anacortes on Sunday. – Details
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Women’s Sports: Ensuring
Equality
On
Thursday, I applauded the Department of Education’s decision to repeal the a
Title IX policy that allowed schools to potentially understate the interest in
women’s athletics and provide fewer resources to female athletes than they do
to male athletes. With the repeal of this policy, schools and colleges must now
provide stronger evidence that they offer equal opportunities for athletic
participation under the federal Title IX gender equity law. – Details
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