Press Releases
Following Exchange with HHS Secretary Nominee, Warren, Colleagues Introduce Medical Innovation Act of 2017
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today introduced the Medical Innovation Act of 2017, following an exchange with Secretary-Designate of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar during his nomination hearing about how drug companies that break the law should be held accountable. The bill, along with companion legislation introduced today in the House of Representatives by Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.), would increase funding for critical … Continue Reading
November 29, 2017
Warren, Sanders, Colleagues Unveil Legislation to Rebuild Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and five cosponsors in the Senate, introduced a comprehensive plan Tuesday to address the immediate humanitarian needs in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and ensure that the islands not only recover, but are able to rebuild in a way that empowers them to thrive. The Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Equitable Rebuild Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), … Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Fed Chair Nominee Tells Senator Warren Congress Needs to Address Opioid Crisis to Strengthen Labor Market
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned Jerome Powell, President Trump's nominee to Chair the Federal Reserve, during today's Senate Banking Committee hearing about how the opioid epidemic is hurting the American labor market. In discussing possible explanations for why the current low unemployment rate has not been accompanied by wage increases, Senator Warren suggested that the opioid crisis, which has sidelined workers, may be partially to blame. The … Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Senator Warren Questions White House and OMB Director Mulvaney About Ethics Rules, Official Procedures Related to CFPB Role
Washington, DC - In a letter to White House Counsel Don McGahn and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) asked a series of questions about ethics, staffing, and recordkeeping concerns associated with Mr. Mulvaney's purported appointment to serve as Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). President Donald Trump last week named Mr. Mulvaney to be the CFPB's Acting Director while still serving as OMB Director. … Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Following Inquiry from Warren, Colleagues, NLRB Member Emanuel Discloses Additional Former Clients
Washington, DC - Earlier this month, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and eleven of her Senate colleagues called on William Emanuel, a recently confirmed member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), to publicly disclose all potential conflicts of interest that might arise from any of Mr. Emanuel's numerous former clients, or his former law firm's clients, coming before the Board. In a response to their inquiry, Mr. Emanuel committed last week to recusing himself from … Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Warren Questions HHS Secretary Designate Azar in Advance of Confirmation Hearing
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today sent a 21-page letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Nominee, Alex Azar, outlining 68 questions on a range of subjects concerning his views on issues before the department, as well as his tenure at pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, and his opposition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The letter was sent in advance of Mr. Azar's confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, … Continue Reading
November 21, 2017
Statement from Senator Warren on Trump Administration Decision to End Temporary Protection for Haitians
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's announcement that it will end Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in 2019: "The Trump Administration's decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians is heartless. It will force thousands of Haitians to return to a country still struggling to rebuild from devastating natural disasters. Haitian families are an important part of the … Continue Reading
November 21, 2017
Warren and Booker Raise Concerns Over DOJ Enforcement Against Franchises for Collusive "No-Poach" Agreements
Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today raised concerns about recent reports of collusion between franchise corporations and their franchisees that may be suppressing workers' wages and job mobility. In a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the senators urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to crack down on "no-poach" agreements, which prohibit franchisees from hiring away workers employed by another franchisee. "The pervasiveness … Continue Reading
November 20, 2017
Warren, Van Hollen Seek Information from OCC on Dubious Bank of Tokyo License Conversion
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) today sent a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) asking a series of questions about the questionable decision to allow the Bank of Tokyo to convert its license from a New York State license to a federal license in order to bypass a state investigation into whether the bank was allowing its clients to evade sanctions on countries like Iran and North Korea. Last week, the OCC … Continue Reading
November 17, 2017
NDAA Passes Congress, Includes Key Warren Provisions
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today applauded the final passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018. "As a new member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I'm glad that the Senate approved the annual defense authorization this week," said Senator Warren. "The final bill includes a number of provisions I fought for. It increases funding for basic and applied research that … Continue Reading
November 17, 2017
Senators Warren and Hatch Introduce Bipartisan AIM HIGH Act
Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today introduced the Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Act to develop voluntary guidelines that schools can use to ensure that educational technology is accessible to students with disabilities. The legislation would establish a commission of stakeholder groups to develop guidelines on accessibility for instructional technologies used by colleges and universities. … Continue Reading
November 17, 2017
Statement from Senator Elizabeth Warren on Passage of the FY 2018 NDAA
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 earlier today: "In my first year on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I've focused on supporting servicemembers and their families, and on strengthening our national security. While I do not support everything in this defense bill, on balance I believe … Continue Reading
November 16, 2017
Warren, Colleagues Request Information from DOD on Hospital Ship's Role in Puerto Rico Response Efforts
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today led five of her Senate colleagues in writing to the Department of Defense (DOD) to request information on the DOD's efforts to provide medical care in the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria, and to request information on the role of the USNS Comfort in the Department's Puerto Rico response efforts. The letter was also signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Robert Menendez … Continue Reading
November 16, 2017
Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Statement on Sen. Franken
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today released the following statement on Senator Al Franken: "The behavior reported today is unacceptable and deeply disappointing. I am glad Senator Franken has acknowledged as much and has agreed to cooperate with an ethics investigation. Women who come forward are brave and deserve to be respected. We're not going to fix the problems of sexual harassment and assault until men take responsibility for their actions and change … Continue Reading
November 16, 2017
Warren, Perdue Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Designate September 2018 as “Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month”
Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) today introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for designating September 2018 as "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month". Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which affects between 5 and 10 million women in the United States, is the most common endocrine disorder among women and is a leading cause of infertility. Symptoms of … Continue Reading
November 16, 2017
Warren, Nelson Seek Funding for Schools Impacted by Irma, Maria
Washington, DC - As Congress begins work on a third disaster supplemental bill to help fund recovery efforts in areas hit hardest by Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) joined Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) in urging Senate appropriators to include in the bill additional funding to help schools impacted, both directly and indirectly, by the storms. Nearly two months have passed since Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico and according to the … Continue Reading
November 16, 2017
Sen. Warren, Rep. Velazquez Call for Discharge of Puerto Rico's Debt
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) wrote the Chairman of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico urging the Board to request that the Court overseeing Puerto Rico's debt restructuring completely write off the Island's debt obligations. "Puerto Rico was in a terrible financial squeeze even before Hurricane Maria. Now, with the island devastated, the Oversight Board surely recognizes there is … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Statement from Senator Elizabeth Warren on Richard Cordray
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today released a statement following the announcement of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rich Cordray's forthcoming resignation: "At the CFPB, Rich Cordray forced the biggest financial institutions to return $12 billion directly to the people they cheated. He held big banks accountable. He is a dedicated public servant and a tireless watchdog for American consumers - and he will be missed. The new Director … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
Senator Warren Delivers Remarks on Devastating Impact of GOP Tax Plan on Small Businesses
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today delivered remarks at an event hosted by the Center for American Progress on how the Republican tax plan will hurt small business owners, instead of leveling the playing field. Following her remarks, Senator Warren participated in a panel discussion with small business owners from around the country, including Beverly Armstrong, the founder & CEO of the Massachusetts-based Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer. The full text of her … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
Statement from Senator Elizabeth Warren on Banking Committee Deal to Deregulate Big Banks
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) issued the following statement today, in response to the announcement of an agreement among members of the Senate Banking Committee, including Democrats, to loosen regulations on the financial industry: "Instead of providing any real help to consumers hurt by the Equifax breach or the Wells Fargo fake accounts scam, this bill weakens consumer protections, helps out the country's biggest banks and encourages them to swallow up … Continue Reading