Press Releases
Government Watchdog to Conduct Review of Security and Costs at Mar-a-Lago
Washington, D.C. - The Government Accountability Office has initiated a review requested by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, into President Trump's security procedures and taxpayer-funded travel costs at Mar-a-Lago resort. Last month, the Members of Congress raised concerns following an incident in which "the … Continue Reading
March 28, 2017
Senators Question Attorney General Sessions About Bharara Firing Amid Reports of Justice Department Investigation of HHS Secretary Price
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), today sent a series of questions to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions about President Donald Trump's decision to fire Preet Bharara, formerly the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, amid a new report that Bharara was "overseeing an investigation into stock trades" made by Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price. Secretary Price had made $300,000 in … Continue Reading
March 27, 2017
Senators Call on USA Hockey to Treat Women's National Hockey Team Fairly
The text of the letter can be viewed here. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Heidi Heitkamp … Continue Reading
March 25, 2017
Members of Congress Raise Concerns About Kushner Companies' "Unusually Favorable" Deal with Chinese Firm
Washington, D.C. - Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, have raised concerns about a proposed Manhattan business partnership between the Chinese firm Anbang Insurance Group, and Kushner Companies, a real estate company owned by the family of Jared Kushner, a senior White House advisor and son-in-law of … Continue Reading
March 24, 2017
HHS Inspector General Confirms Investigation of Trump Administration Suspension of Affordable Care Act Outreach Efforts
Washington, DC - The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) has initiated a review requested by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) into the Department's decision to halt advertisements and suspend e-mail and social media outreach in the final days of the 2017 Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment season. The OIG said the review will include "the timeline, decision-making process, and factors considered by HHS, … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
On Anniversary of ACA, Members of Massachusetts Delegation Issue 180-Page Report Sharing Stories of Its Positive Effects for Health Care in the Commonwealth
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, along with Representatives Richard E. Neal, James P. McGovern, Michael E. Capuano, Niki Tsongas, William R. Keating, Joseph P. Kennedy III, Katherine M. Clark, and Seth Moulton today issued a report sharing perspectives from across the Commonwealth about the importance of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in providing affordable, accessible health care in Massachusetts. In the lead-up to today's vote in the U.S. … Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Members of Congress Call for Ending Antibiotic Overuse in Agriculture
Washington D.C. -Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congresswomen Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) called on the departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture to increase collaboration and oversight to reduce the inappropriate use of medically important antibiotics in food animal production. At the request of the members, the GAO issued a new report that found gaps in oversight and identified … Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Members of Congress Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Make Hearing Aids Available Over the Counter
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), today reintroduced legislation to make hearing aids for those with mild to moderate hearing loss available over the counter (OTC). A companion bill led by Representatives Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) was also introduced in the House. The Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act of 2017 would make certain types of hearing aids available … Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Sen. Warren Questions Labor Secretary Nominee Acosta Before Confirmation Hearing
A PDF copy of the letter is available here. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) today sent a 23-page letter to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Nominee, Alexander Acosta, outlining a range of questions concerning Acosta's qualifications and views on issues before the department. The letter was sent in advance of Acosta's confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) scheduled for Wednesday. "Your career has … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Senator Warren: Cruel GOP Health Care Bill Will Hurt Efforts to Address Opioid Crisis
WASHINGTON, DC - In a Senate floor speech on Wednesday, Senator Elizabeth Warren raised concerns about how the Republican health care bill would hamper efforts in Massachusetts and across the country to address the opioid crisis. The text of her remarks is below, and a video of her speech is available here. Remarks by Senator Elizabeth WarrenMarch 15, 2017*As Prepared for Delivery* Last week, Republicans in the House released a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid to the … Continue Reading
March 14, 2017
Warren and Gillibrand Question Trump and Mattis About Harmful Impact of Executive Order on Families of Military Personnel
Washington, DC - In letters sent today to President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense James Mattis, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) raised concerns about the harmful impact on military families of the president's recent "Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements" Executive Order. Under previous executive guidance, undocumented family members of individuals serving in the Armed Forces have been permitted to lawfully remain in the U.S. … Continue Reading
March 14, 2017
Warren, Bonamici Urge Administration to Protect Student Loan Borrowers from Unnecessary Fees
Washington, DC - Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) have asked the Department of Education to stand up for struggling student loan borrowers by keeping in place commonsense limits on the fees charged to those who have defaulted on their loans. Borrowers who default on loans made under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) may be assessed a collection fee of up to 16 percent of the principal and accrued interest owed on the loans. The … Continue Reading
March 13, 2017
Reps. Conyers, Waters, Scott, and Sen. Warren Applaud Appointment of Raphael Bostic to Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank
Washington, DC - United States Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee; Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member on the Financial Services Committee; and David Scott (D-GA), a senior member of the Financial Services Committee; and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today released the following statements to recognize the historic appointment of Raphael Bostic to be the President of the Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank. Bostic will become the first … Continue Reading
March 13, 2017
Senate and House Leaders Raise Concerns About the Impact of President Trump's Decisions on HHS and CDC Preparedness for a Flu Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), along with Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), Gene Green (D-Texas), and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), today wrote to Tom Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ask how several actions taken by the Trump administration could harm the CDC's preparedness for a pandemic flu outbreak. "The Department of Health and Human … Continue Reading
March 13, 2017
Amid Opioid Epidemic, Senator Warren Launches Survey of Massachusetts Treatment Facilities
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday launched a new survey of over 70 organizations across Massachusetts providing dedicated behavioral health treatment and recovery services for patients suffering from substance use disorders. The aim of the survey, developed with input from the Association for Behavioral Healthcare, is to determine the specific challenges faced by various providers in responding to the opioid epidemic and treating patients with mental health … Continue Reading
March 08, 2017
Warren, Carper and Cummings Question White House Counsel About Jared Kushner's Compliance with Conflict-of-Interest Laws
Washington, D.C. - Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, today wrote to the Office of White House Counsel asking for clarification on Jared Kushner's compliance with federal conflict of interest laws. In a letter sent to Stefan C. Passantino, Deputy Counsel to the President and Designated Agency Ethics Official, the members raised concerns that Mr. … Continue Reading
March 07, 2017
Warren, Sanders, Casey, Baldwin, Franken, Hassan and Murphy Ask Alexander for HELP Committee Hearings on Education Department Nominees
Washington, D.C. - Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) today sent a letter asking asking Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) to hold hearings prior to any committee votes on President Trump's nominees for critical posts at the Department of Education (ED). Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos made clear … Continue Reading
March 06, 2017
As Trump and GOP Congress Seek to Roll Back Worker Protections, Senator Warren Releases Report Detailing Labor Violations by Federal Contractors
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Monday released a report detailing repeated violations of labor laws by companies that receive billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded federal contracts. These illegal actions include stealing wages and endangering workers, sometimes resulting in injuries or deaths. Nearly a quarter of the American workforce is employed at a company that holds at least one federal contract. "All Americans deserve a safe workplace and fair pay for a … Continue Reading
March 03, 2017
Senators Re-Introduce LifeBOAT Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren, (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) re-introduced the Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment Act (LifeBOAT Act), which would establish a permanent funding stream to provide and expand access to substance abuse treatment. "A major barrier that those … Continue Reading
March 03, 2017
Warren, Murray, Sanders Call on DOJ to Open Criminal Investigation into Federal Contractor VT Halter Marine's Repeated Workplace Deaths and Injuries
Washington, DC - In a letter sent today to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called for a criminal investigation into the deaths and injuries of workers for federal contractor VT Halter Marine Inc. at their Mississippi shipyards. Despite repeated horrific accidents and penalties assessed by the Occupational Health and Safety … Continue Reading
