Patty Murray

We are going to be exacerbating health disparities as sort of people, communities of color, black and brown people fall further and further behind.

The CDC is desperately in need of reform.

We need all Americans who can get the vaccine to get the vaccine.

The stronger our health departments are at every level, the more effectively they can work...

I am alarmed by how the rate of vaccination has been slowing, and how driven by the delta variant, rates of COVID-19 cases and deaths are once again on the rise.

That is why I have pushed for more funding for public health departments throughout our COVID response packages.

I am worried that American leadership is no longer what it once was when it comes to public health.

Choosing not to get vaccinated doesn't just put themselves at risk, it puts the people around them at risk...

Even though 99 percent of the COVID deaths nationwide last month were among people who had not gotten vaccinated, we are still seeing fear and misinformation hold people back.

Messages from public health experts won't be followed if Americans don't believe in the experts.

One of the clearest lessons from this crisis is that you should have the same protection from a pandemic...

The investments in this budget would help our economic recovery, but also address changing workforce needs

It is clear more needs to be done to ensure workers received the wages that they actually earn.

I appreciate that the budget addresses the need to rebuild and strengthen the capacity of the occupational safety and health administration.

I look forward to continuing to work together with you to fight for workers, and build a stronger, fair economy for everyone.

Under the previous administration, OSHA didn't do more than issue non-binding guidance on how employers could protect workers from COVID-19.

This budget is a message to workers across the country; President Biden is fighting for you.

When we invest in workers, in keeping them safe, strengthening their rights, providing pathways for their development, ensuring their financial security, and more, we are investing in a stronger economy and a country for everyone.

I expect anyone found doing that to be held accountable immediately.

I am also really troubled by staff burnout and attrition.

I cautioned the VA back in January 2020, in a letter, to make sure that they prioritized veterans' access to care and support for the staff.

Can you commit to reviewing the system and giving this Committee the results of that?

I have heard, like you just talked about, a number of serious patient safety issues that could put our veterans at risk.

The Department of the Navy has been pursuing a number of actions that are--I am concerned are very harmful to workers in my home State of Washington.

PILT funding has long been an issue here, and I want to be clear, it cannot be eliminated or cut back in any way.