Op-eds
Bloomberg View Op-Ed: Don't Let Big Banks Escape the Fed's Scrutiny
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
Community banks and credit unions face a lot of challenges today, and they make a good case for lightening some unnecessary regulatory burdens. But instead of focusing on these smaller institutions, Congress is considering easing up oversight for some of the biggest banks in the country. This would increase the risk of another financial crisis. In the aftermath of the crisis, Congress determined that banks with more than $50 billion in assets -- roughly the 40 biggest in the country -- posed … Continue Reading
October 16, 2017
Boston Globe Op-Ed: Even after Equifax and Wells Fargo, GOP sides with big financial institutions
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
The Equifax data breach and the Wells Fargo fake accounts scandal have given America a peek into business practices at some of America's biggest financial institutions. In both companies, a related practice popped to the surface: forced arbitration clauses. These little clauses, often buried in a fog of fine print, are a way for the companies to slither out of accountability when they cheat their customers. And Senate Republicans are on the verge of ramming through a resolution that will … Continue Reading
October 16, 2017
Glamour Op-Ed: Senator Elizabeth Warren: Attacks on Birth Control Access Are Attacks on Women's Economic Freedom
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
If anyone told a young woman today that she was expected to quit school after eighth grade or leave her job once she got married, most Americans would be outraged. Not fair! Women should have the same range of economic choices as men. Through the years, one door after another has opened, as women have become astronauts and neurosurgeons, run Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations, and started their own businesses. Sure, there's still a lot of ground to make up, but the country has … Continue Reading
October 01, 2017
CNN Op-Ed: Canada's wake-up call to the US on NAFTA
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
President Donald Trump, a loud and persistent critic of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), recently began renegotiating this trade deal with Canada and Mexico. The President promised to secure a fair deal for American workers. That sounds great. After all, we don't think Americans should be forced to compete with poorly paid workers from Mexico or elsewhere, and we can demand that companies that want to trade with us lift wages, benefits, and health and safety standards for their … Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
Fortune Op-Ed: You Should Have Control Over Your Data, Not Sloppy Companies Like Equifax
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
On Sept. 7, Equifax-one of America's largest credit reporting agencies-disclosed that hackers had broken into its system and stolen highly personal information about more than 140 million Americans. Since then, I've heard from working families in Massachusetts and across the country. The Equifax hack is a nightmare. At best, it's a giant hassle-time on hold with the credit reporting agencies, fees for this service and that service, confusion about what's been stolen and what to do about it. … Continue Reading
September 11, 2017
Boston Globe Op-Ed: We can't fight the opioid crisis without adequate health care
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
The opioid epidemic touches every family in every corner of the Commonwealth. Last year alone, about 2,000 people in the state died from opioid overdoses, and many more struggle with addiction. The state Department of Public Health offers some hope that fatal overdose rates are slowing, but patients, families, and addiction treatment providers know this epidemic continues to burn its way through our state. To better understand how to successfully tackle the opioid crisis, I collected data … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
CNN Op-Ed: Booker and Warren: Women in prison deserve dignity
by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker
In discussions of prison reform, one group is nearly always overlooked: women. Women are the fastest growing segment of America's prison population, but because they are typically not the first image that comes to mind when someone thinks of an incarcerated person, they are often afterthoughts in policy discussions about ways to fix our broken system. In July, we introduced the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Act, a bill that would help address the unjust conditions incarcerated women face. … Continue Reading
July 17, 2017
Springfield Republican Op-Ed: GOP health plan would hit veterans hard
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
Last week, I returned from Afghanistan. I learned a lot from the dedicated men and women from Massachusetts and around the country stationed there. And I thought about our commitments to those who serve and about just how much we owe our service members, veterans, and their families - and that includes protecting their health care. This week, I'm back in Washington, just as President Trump and Senate Republicans are pressing forward with their health care repeal bill, a plan to strip away … Continue Reading
June 27, 2017
Forbes Op-Ed: Why CEOs Should Fight the Senate's Healthcare Bill
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
After weeks of secret negotiations, the Senate Republicans released their so-called "healthcare" bill on Thursday. Despite the fact that this bill could have a bigger impact on our nation's economy-and the bottom line of every business in this country-than any other law or regulation under discussion by Congress, America's business leaders have been remarkably quiet. The CEOs know who will be hit: their workers, their customers and their shareholders. Cuts to Medicaid and shrinking insurance … Continue Reading
June 16, 2017
Huffington Post Op-Ed: Elizabeth Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse: After Paris, U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Members’ Reputations Are On The Line
by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a heavy hitter in Washington. It was the second largest spender of anonymous outside money-or "dark money"-in the 2016 federal elections, second only to the National Rifle Association. And, in addition to all that spending directed at Congress and the White House, it wields the largest lobbying force on Capitol Hill. Last year, the Chamber dropped over $100 million on lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. So what companies are members of … Continue Reading
June 12, 2017
Boston Globe Op-Ed: Saving for retirement just got easier
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
Many Massachusetts families, like families all across the United States, are finding it harder than ever to save for their retirement. There are a lot of reasons for this: Wages are flat, housing costs in our statecontinue to rise, and 40 percent of workers - including more than 70 percent of the lowest income workers - don't have access to a retirement plan at work. But there is another reason families in the statearen't saving enough for retirement. According to new research from the … Continue Reading
May 31, 2017
CNN Op-Ed: It's time to hold DeVos accountable
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
Betsy DeVos recently completed her 100th day as Secretary of Education, and the resistance to her agenda has spread across this country like wildfire. Last week, Secretary DeVos and President Trump's Department of Education released a budget that would upend the student aid program and make it much harder for students to afford college and repay their student loans. At the same time, the head of the federal student aid office abruptly resigned amid reports of political meddling by … Continue Reading
May 28, 2017
Boston Globe Op-Ed: We owe our veterans quality education and good jobs
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
When I was growing up, Memorial Day was a really important holiday in our family. All three of my older brothers served in the military, and they were our beloved reminders of millions of brave men and women who gave their lives for our country. When you grow up with family members who have served, and you're lucky enough to see everyone come home safely, Memorial Day has special meaning. You understand what others have lost - and you honor even more the sacrifice and the service of those who … Continue Reading
April 10, 2017
Huffington Post Op-Ed: Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker: President Trump Just Cost Americans Saving For Their Retirement $3.7 Billion
by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker
Donald Trump talked a big game on the campaign trail about standing up to big corporations and putting the interests of hardworking Americans first. But as president, Trump has repeatedly broken his promises - and now, he's dealing a blow to Americans saving for retirement. In February, he set in motion a process to kill a common-sense rule that would keep financial advisers from siphoning off money from the clients who trust them. Right now, predatory financial advice cheats investors out … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
La Opinion: El Juez Gorsuch no es un juez imparcial; el Senado debe bloquear su confirmación
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
Es difícil conseguir y contratar a un abogado para ir a corte, pero a veces los trabajadores necesitan demandar a las grandes corporaciones por discriminación. A veces los consumidores necesitan demandar a grandes corporaciones porque fueron engañados. A veces los empleados necesitan demandar por el derecho de tener acceso a cuidado médico, u otros derechos que son garantizados a nivel federal. Las cortes deben ser árbitros neutrales, asegurando que las dos … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Washington Post Op-Ed: Elizabeth Warren and Joe Donnelly: Trump’s SEC chairman must look out for American families — not big corporations
by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Joe Donnelly
Thursday, President Trump's nominee for chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Jay Clayton, will testify before the Senate Banking Committee. As members of that committee, we will evaluate his candidacy, not on behalf of Wall Street, but on behalf of the American people. America's middle class was built on a social contract between businesses and workers - and the idea that the success of one relies on the success of the other. A strong middle class drives our economic growth. … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Boston Globe Op-Ed: Neil Gorsuch does not belong on the Supreme Court
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
WHEN JUSTICE Antonin Scalia died last year, giant corporations and their right-wing buddies spent millions of dollars to keep the Supreme Court seat open so that Donald Trump could fill the vacancy. It was only the latest step in their campaign to tilt our courts in favor of big corporations and the wealthy. Now, the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court is their reward. Anyone who believes in a neutral Supreme Court guided by equal justice for all should oppose this … Continue Reading
March 13, 2017
Patriot Ledger Op-Ed: Gutting the Affordable Care Act will make fighting opioid epidemic much harder
by Senator Elizabeth Warren
Substance abuse is an epidemic plaguing far too many communities throughout Massachusetts. It's a public health emergency that requires a coordinated response between local, state, and federal officials in partnership with families, health care providers, and law enforcement. There's plenty that both Massachusetts and Congress needs to do to address this crisis, but one thing is certain: our job will get a whole lot harder if Washington Republicans succeed in passing their proposed … Continue Reading
March 03, 2017
JAMA Internal Medicine Op-ed: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids: The Path Forward
by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Grassly
Untreated hearing loss is a major health problem in the United States, particularly for older Americans. Approximately 48 million Americans, including half of those in their 70s, have hearing loss in at least 1 ear. The risk of hearing loss in older adults is about 10 to 20 times higher than the risk of heart disease and 100 times higher than the risk of cancer. Despite the large numbers with hearing loss, only a small share-roughly 14%, according to one analysis-actually use a hearing … Continue Reading
January 19, 2017
Washington Post Op-Ed: Elizabeth Warren: Trump’s nominees are putting us all at risk by ignoring ethics laws
by Elizabeth Warren
President-elect Donald Trump is selecting nominees to run his government. It's no secret that I have deep reservations about the policy views of many of these nominees. I will vote against some of them. But before we can debate and vote on whether these nominees' policy positions make them suitable to run important parts of our government, it is critical that each nominee follows basic ethics rules to ensure that they will act for the benefit of all the American people and not simply to boost … Continue Reading
