Murray Joins Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that she has joined the Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force.  The Task Force brings to the forefront the priorities of the Latino community and fosters relationships between Senators and Latino leaders throughout the nation.

“People across our country turned out in this election because they were engaged and wanted change.  And as we work to implement that change – from getting our economy back on track to improving access to health care and reforming education – we need to hear from a wide variety of voices,” Senator Murray said.  “I’m excited to be on this task force and have yet another tool to hear from the Latino community in Washington state and across the nation.”

The Hispanic Task Force was founded in 1989 to promote strong partnerships between the Hispanic community and Senate Democrats.  Each year, the group hosts events and meetings that bring together Democratic Senators and Latino leaders to discuss federal policies.  This year, the Senate Democratic caucus will carry on the fight to improve opportunities for Latinos and work with their colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure that issues important to the Latino community are heard in Congress.

Senator Murray is committed to meeting the needs of Washington state’s Latino community, and she has been recognized as a leader on Latino issues by the National HEP/CAMP Association, the National Association of Community Health Centers, and El Centro de La Raza. 

She has been a strong voice for improving – and increasing access to – education, job-training, health care, and farmworker housing.  And she has fought for programs such as Head Start, the family literacy program Even Start, Title III funds for English Language Learners, and TRIO and GEAR UP, which help students in low-income and underserved communities prepare for college.

 

Murray also supports comprehensive, meaningful immigration reform, and was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would make college more affordable by allowing states to offer in-state tuition to immigrant students.