Press Releases
HELP Committee Advances Bipartisan Bill to Help Patients by Facilitating Faster Development of Drugs for Rare Diseases
Washington, DC - The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee today approved a bipartisan bill help advance the development of targeted drugs for patients with serious or life-threatening rare genetic diseases. The Advancing Targeted Therapies for Rare Diseases Act of 2015 was introduced by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Burr (R-NC), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) in September. "Our conversations with Coloradans suffering the effects of … Continue Reading
February 09, 2016
Senator Warren Urges CDC to Finalize Opioid Prescription Guidelines and to Work with States, Federal Agencies to Tackle Opioid Epidemic
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has sent a letter urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to finalize guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain. The Senator also encouraged the CDC to continue to work with states and other federal agencies to tackle the opioid epidemic. "According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, there were almost 1,100 confirmed cases of unintentional opioid overdose deaths in 2014 - a 65% … Continue Reading
February 03, 2016
Warren: Fix Rigged Justice System, Reject GOP Proposals to Shield Corporate Criminals From Prosecution
Washington, DC - In remarks on the Senate floor this morning, Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke about the rigged system of justice for corporate lawbreakers and raised concerns about two Republican proposals that would make this system even worse. "We have one set of laws on the books, but there are really two legal systems. One legal system is for big companies, for the wealthy and the powerful...In this legal system, instead of demanding actual punishment for breaking the law, the government … Continue Reading
February 02, 2016
Senator Warren Urges Congress to Reject TPP Agreement
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate this evening urging her colleagues not to approve the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which representatives from all twelve participating countries are set to sign later this week in New Zealand. "Most of the TPP is about letting multinational corporations rig the rules - on everything from patent protection to food safety standards - all to benefit themselves," said Senator Warren … Continue Reading
February 01, 2016
Senators Introduce Amendment to Establish Temporary Stay on Creditor Litigation Against Puerto Rico
Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) have introduced the Puerto Rico Emergency Financial Stability Act as an amendment to the Senate energy bill. The legislation would establish a short-term stay on creditor litigation until Congress takes action to allow Puerto Rico to restructure its … Continue Reading
January 29, 2016
Senator Warren Releases "Rigged Justice," First Annual Report Detailing How Weak Federal Enforcement Lets Corporate Offenders Off Easy
A PDF copy of the report is available here Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren today released a report titled Rigged Justice: How Weak Enforcement Lets Corporate Offenders Off Easy. The report, the first in an annual series on enforcement, highlights 20 of the most egregious civil and criminal cases during the past year in which federal settlements failed to require meaningful accountability to deter future wrongdoing and to protect taxpayers and families. "Much of the … Continue Reading
January 21, 2016
On Sixth Anniversary of Citizens United Decision, Senator Warren Lays Out Steps to Tackle the Influence of Money in Politics
Video available here Washington, DC - In a speech on the Senate floor today, Senator Elizabeth Warren laid out several steps that Congress and the Administration could take immediately to address the influence of money on our political system. Today marks six years since the Supreme Court issued its decision in Citizens United v. FEC, unleashing a flood of unlimited corporate spending on U.S. elections. "Thanks to the Supreme Court, our system of elections is riddled with corruption. Money … Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Statement from Senator Warren on President Obama's State of the Union Address
Washington, DC -- United States Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement about President Obama's State of the Union Address: "As President Obama said tonight, 'democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn't matter, that the system is rigged in favor of the rich or the powerful.' Congress has done enough damage with tax breaks for the rich and special favors for the banks. It's time to put hardworking people first, to invest in our kids by lowering the … Continue Reading
December 23, 2015
Bipartisan Group of Senators Urges DEA to Clarify "Partial Fill" Policies to Help Address Opioid Crisis
Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) sent a bipartisan letter asking the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to clarify that partial filling of Schedule II opioid drugs is permitted under federal law. "States like Massachusetts are considering policies that would give patients, their providers, and pharmacists the option to dispense opioid … Continue Reading
December 22, 2015
Warren Joins Quigley, Lee, and Baldwin in Responding to FDA Policy Change to Blood Donor Deferral Policy for MSM
Washington - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Barbara Lee (CA-13) in responding to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) change of the blood donor deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM) from a lifetime ban to a one-year deferral: "This past year, we saw tremendous progress for the LGBT community with the legalization of same sex marriage nationwide. Unfortunately, today's official policy change by the … Continue Reading
December 21, 2015
Senators Seek Further Information About Federal Efforts to Facilitate Medical Marijuana Research
Washington, DC -United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) sent a follow-up letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking additional information about the agencies' efforts to facilitate … Continue Reading
December 21, 2015
Bipartisan Group of Senators Urges Education Department Not to Use Unsolicited Robocalling for Student Loan Debt Collection Without Evidence of Benefits for Borrowers and Taxpayers
Washington, DC - In a bipartisan letter sent to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) today, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) raised concerns about the newly-authorized use of unsolicited "robocalling" to collect student loan debt. Federal law has generally protected individuals from automated, unsolicited robocalling by debt collectors and others, but this consumer protection recently was eliminated as it pertains to … Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
Senators Warren, Blumenthal, Reid, Schumer Introduce Puerto Rico Emergency Financial Stability Act
Washington, DC - Today, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Puerto Rico Emergency Financial Stability Act. This legislation would establish a short-term stay on creditor litigation until Congress takes action to allow Puerto Rico to restructure its debts. "Congress should take action on a long term plan to deal with Puerto Rico's debt crisis … Continue Reading
December 10, 2015
Congressional Delegation Applauds Federal Disaster Funding for Massachusetts
Washington, DC - Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation today applauded the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) announcement that more than $120 million in disaster assistance has been awarded to the Commonwealth for costs associated with this past winter's historic snowfall. "This disaster funding is a big help for Massachusetts' cities and towns as we continue to recover from last winter's severe storms," Senator Elizabeth Warren said. "It's important for the federal … Continue Reading
December 09, 2015
Senator Elizabeth Warren's Remarks on the Every Student Succeeds Act
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered the following remarks on Tuesday evening in advance of the Senate's vote on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Video of the remarks is available here. SENATOR ELIZABETH WARRENRemarks on The Senate FloorDECEMBER 8, 2015 Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Every Student Succeeds Act-the bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. We have only one goal in mind: to give all our children the best … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
Senator Warren's Statement on the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren entered the following statement in the Congressional Record following the Senate's vote on the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act: "Senator Boxer deserves tremendous credit for negotiating a long-term funding bill for our crumbling roads and bridges. The Fixing America's Surface Transportation, FAST, Act is an important turning point in addressing our Nation's infrastructure needs, and the bill will create quality jobs and … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
Cummings and Warren Hold Middle Class Prosperity Project Forum on "The Effects of Poverty on Children's Opportunities"
Members Release State-by-State Staff Reports on the Benefits of Extending Tax Credits for Low-Income Families in Every State and Metro Area Panelists Emphasize That Millions of Children and Families Will Be Pushed into Poverty Unless Congress Extends EITC, CTC Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held a Middle Class Prosperity Project forum today titled, … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
Benefits of preserving and extending tax credits for families
Billions of dollars of tax breaks are about to expire for both businesses and families. Congress is actively advancing a package of more than $400 billion worth of tax credits for some of the nation's largest corporations, but tax breaks for families should also be part of that package. Critical parts of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), tax credits that boost wages for low - and moderate - income working families, are set to expire soon. If they are not renewed, … Continue Reading
December 02, 2015
Senator Warren Delivers Remarks Urging Congress to Pass the SAVE Benefits Act
Video of remarks Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and several of her Democratic colleagues went to the Senate floor this afternoon to call on Congress to pass the Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act (SAVE Benefits Act). A video of Senator Warren's remarks is here, and the text of the sentator's remarks as prepared for delivery is below. Senator Elizabeth WarrenRemarks on the Senate FloorDecember 1, 2015***As prepared for delivery*** Mr. President, the clock is … Continue Reading
December 01, 2015
Senators Warren, Durbin and Blumenthal Raise Concerns About Federal Settlement with For-Profit College Company EDMC
Washington, DC - In a letter to the Department of Education (ED) and Department of Justice (DOJ), United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) raised concerns about the federal government's recent settlement with Education Management Corporation (EDMC) over illegal recruiting tactics. The senators questioned the settlement's lack of accountability for company executives and inadequate relief for students. "We are profoundly … Continue Reading
