Patty Murray

I think the issue of economic security for working women is critically important to our Nation today as we try to grow our economy.

I think sometimes we don't connect all the policies we talk about today that we think are so important.

This review will not work if those people who are telling you the information do not tell you the truth.

I want you to explain how this review is going to be conducted

The announcement that the President is sending one of his top advisors to assist in this nationwide review is good news

Like most Americans, I believe that when it comes to caring for our Nation's heroes, we cannot accept anything less than excellence.

But, announcing this review is just the first step. These recent allegations are not new issues.

It is extremely disappointing that the Department has repeatedly failed to address wait times for health care.

There have been an overwhelming number of allegations systemwide that wait times are being doctored

We must support our historically black colleges and universities.

I am delighted by that and I hope that you use my State and your State how to really help replicate some of those good experiences across the country.

I am a very strong champion for early childhood education.

I am really pleased that the President chose such a qualified, competent, and experienced nominee.

I'm pleased to support the President's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Mathews Burwell.

Although homeless students are eligible to be served under Title I, the Department of Education's guidance has actually made it challenging for school districts to effectively serve these vulnerable children.

The number of homeless students in America's public schools has increased 72 percent since the great recession.

And I'd be remiss if I did not start out by thanking the National Guard on behalf of the communities in my State, in the aftermath of the Oso mudslide, the tremendous outpouring of support from the National Guard.

The OSH Act itself has not been updated since 1970, and the vast majority of whistleblowers don't have the most up-to-date protections.

Do you think it's patently unfair and illogical that whistleblowers in different industries get treated differently just because Congress hasn't been able to act to raise the protections afforded to everyone?

We owe it to those who have died or been injured to allow the voices of whistleblowers to be heard and protected.

I have legislation, the Protecting America's Worker Act, that deals with this, and I hope that we can really look at updating these laws that need to be updated.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony to your Subcommittee.

And this now concludes the last hearing of this subcommittee that we will hold this year. Thank you very much.

I would really like you to do that. I appreciate that.

I share something in common with Senator Collins as we are border States to Canada in Washington.