Murray Receives New Subcommittee Positions

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray today announced that she has received two new key assignments to subcommittees of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

In addition to her continued leadership as the top ranking Democrat on the Employment, Safety and Training Subcommittee, Murray will now also serve on the:

• Bioterrorism Preparedness and Public Health Subcommittee,
• and the Education and Early Childhood Development Subcommittee

These new assignments reflect Senator Murray’s work to expand access to quality education for all students and her focus on improving homeland security.

As a member of the HELP Committee, Murray has long worked to fund critical biodefense research. She has consistently urged greater research efforts in developing new, safe vaccines, therapies and treatments. Senator Murray also helped draft S. 1715, the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001, which was signed into law in June 2002.

As a member of the Bioterrorism Preparedness subcommittee, Murray will have direct influence over evaluating our nation’s bioterrorism preparedness efforts.

“I am excited to play a leading role in helping our nation mount a strong defense against the threat of bioterrorism,” Murray said. “Washington state has a tradition of excellence in cutting-edge research and I will use my new position to help direct more resources towards a research-based response to bioterrorism.”

As a member of the Education and Early Childhood Development subcommittee, Murray will continue to play a key role in developing national education policy and to further ensure that federal education laws work for Washington state students.

“The most important thing we can do to ensure a strong economy and a secure future is to provide all of our children with access to high quality education,” Murray said. “I will use this new position to fight for Head Start, substantive high school reform and access to higher education so that students in Washington state and across the country have the tools they need to succeed in school and the changing workforce beyond.”

Senator Murray will retain her position as the top Democrat on the Employment, Safety and Training Subcommittee. As the ranking member of this subcommittee Murray will be at the forefront of reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act – a bill that will help provide employers with the workforce needed to compete on a global level, while also equipping workers with the skills they need to succeed in a changing work environment.

“Employment issues affect all of our families and every sector of our economy from transportation to healthcare. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to bring a strong Washington state perspective to employment issues in the U.S. Senate.”