Murray Launches New Website with Students Across the State

(Washington, DC) — Senator Patty Murray launched her new Senate website [http://murray.senate.gov] Wednesday by hosting an online videoconference with students from across Washington state. Middle school students in a dozen classrooms from Bellingham to Longview and Pullman to Lacey enjoyed a virtual classroom visit from their state’s senior U.S. Senator.

Murray hosted the discussion from the Senate Recording studio in the U.S. Capitol and used streaming video to connect with the classrooms. Students asked questions by sending e-mails.

The new website is among the most advanced and most comprehensive in the U.S. Senate, with major improvements in the areas of content, accessibility, navigation and usability. The site contains 29 issue pages including Port Security, Transportation, Telehealth, Wild Sky Wilderness, Asbestos, and others. Each issue page contains information describing the challenges, and explaining what Murray has done to help find solutions. Relevant photos, video, statements and news releases are also linked.

Another new feature is an interactive map of Washington state, enabling visitors to learn about Murray’s efforts for each region of the state, with relevant news releases, photos and speeches about each part of the state.

The website offers a section on applying for Federal grants, and includes one of the most extensive Spanish sections in the Senate. The site is largely “Section 508” compliant, and will soon be fully-compliant, making it accessible for handicapped visitors.

A comprehensive video gallery is available on the site, including an interview with Senator Murray, entitled “Patty Murray In Her Own Words.” During the 25 minute video, Murray discusses education, transportation, trade, and veterans, and gives advice to activists who want to get involved in the political process.

“I am proud to launch this new website in the very place I began my career, in the classroom,” said Murray. “This new website will empower citizens from across Washington state to learn more about their government, and it will allow constituents to stay in touch with their senior Senator.”

For more details on the site’s features, see http://murray.senate.gov/aboutsite