Last week, the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act. This is a victory for the health care security and stability of Washington families. The ruling means that families and small business owners will continue to benefit from better access, more choices, and a health care system that no longer works only for those who can afford it. It means that health care decisions will be in the hands of patients and their doctors, and that insurance companies will be forced to compete for the business of Washington state families. It is also welcome news for all those across our state who are already benefiting from this law. It means that over 62,000 young adults in Washington will be allowed to keep their health coverage, that tens of thousands of Washington seniors will continue to receive checks for Medicare support, that hundreds of thousands of patients will continue to access free preventative services like mammograms and colonoscopies, and that millions of policy holders will continue to see the value of their premium dollar improve.
This decision offers a chance for those on all sides in this long and impassioned debate to begin the process of moving forward. It is time for us to come together to find common ground. As this bill continues to be implemented, there is no reason why we can’t all work together to fix what’s not working and take advantage of what is working. This law is the product of the stories and struggles of millions of Americans, including countless Washington state families that shared their stories with me. Over the last three years I have heard from young people who couldn’t find affordable coverage, seniors facing the Medicare donut hole, and everyday Washingtonians who were suddenly faced with catastrophic illnesses. My hope is that with this ruling, they have been provided peace of mind knowing that the change they fought for has not been defeated.
“Senator Murray, other state officials speak out on Supreme Court’s upholding of health care law” – The Bothell Reporter
“Officials weigh in on Obamacare verdict” – The Arlington Times
Getting Our Servicemembers and Veterans the Mental Health Care They Deserve
As it becomes increasingly clear that the Pentagon and VA are losing the battle on mental and behavioral health conditions that are confronting so many of our servicemembers and veterans, I have introduced my new servicemembers and veterans mental health legislation, the Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012. The misdiagnosis of behavioral health conditions has been a constant problem for soldiers at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, where to date over 100 soldiers and counting have had their correct PTSD diagnosis restored following reevaluation.
My Mental Health ACCESS Act of 2012 would require the Department of Defense to create a comprehensive, standardized suicide prevention program; expand eligibility for a variety of Department of Veterans Affairs mental health services to family members; strengthen oversight of DoD Mental Health Care and the Integrated Disability Evaluation System; improve training and education for our health care providers; create more peer-to-peer counseling opportunities; and require VA to establish accurate and reliable measures for mental health services. Learn more about my bill.
“Bill proposed to change PTSD military programs” – The News Tribune
“Bill would boost oversight of disability system” – Military.com News
Student Loan Interest Rates Protected for 100,000 WA Students
Last week, a bipartisan agreement was reached to prevent interest rates on federally subsidized Stafford Loans from doubling on July 1st. This deal will impact more than 100,000 students across Washington state, and is great news for students in Washington who will be able to continue accessing affordable loans to continue their education. Even though it took until the last minute, I am very glad that Republicans decided to drop their opposition and join Democrats to reach this deal. This is about helping students afford college, and it should never have been about politics. I want to thank the millions of students across the country who made their voices heard at rallies, in letters or calls, on Facebook, or on Twitter. This advocacy was absolutely critical in pushing this deal to come together. This deal is a strong step in the right direction, but the costs of higher education continue to rise and we have a lot more to do. So I am going to keep fighting to help make college affordable for middle class families, and I am hopeful that the bipartisan progress we’ve made today can continue.
“Students sigh with relief” – The Columbian
Twitter Round-Up
English 
Spanish