Patty Murray

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, since our Nation's founding, the idea of a strong public education for every child has been a part of the fabric of America because when all students have the chance to learn, we strengthen our future workforce, our country grows stronger, and we empower the next generation of Americans to lead the world. A good education can provide a ticket to the middle class, so improving education is an important part of what it means to grow our economy from the middle out, not from the top down. Today marks the first day of debate on our bipartisan bill to strengthen our education system by reauthorizing the Nation's K-12 education law, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA. This work is a chance to recommit ourselves to the promise of a quality education. For every child, it is an opportunity to finally fix the current law, No Child Left Behind. I have been very proud to partner with the senior Senator from Tennessee throughout this process, and I commend Chairman Alexander for working with me to create this bipartisan bill and for passing the Every Child Achieves Act through the education committee with unanimous support. I think it is important at the onset to discuss why we need to fix the current law. I also would like to lay out what we accomplished in the Every Child Achieves Act and go through how I think we can best strengthen this bill and pass it through the Senate with bipartisan support. I wish to acknowledge my committee members as well. This bill is better thanks to their hard work and commitment to their priorities and their communities. Nearly everyone agrees that No Child Left Behind is badly broken. For one, the current law required States to set standards for schools but then didn't give the schools the resources they needed to meet those standards. Second, across the country we are still seeing inequality in education, where some schools simply don't offer the same opportunities as others, and some schools still have very large achievement gaps. I have seen firsthand how this law is not working for my home State of Washington. No Child Left Behind has become so unworkable that the Obama administration began issuing waivers to exempt States from the law's requirements. Washington State had received a waiver but lost it last year, and now most of the schools in my State are categorized as failing. A few months back, I stood here on the Senate floor and told the story of a mom from Shoreline, WA. Her name is Lillian. Last year her son was going into the fourth grade in the same school district where I once served as a school board member. Lillian's son had a learning disability. With the help of teachers and specialists at his elementary school, he showed great signs of progress. But then Lillian got a letter in the mail 2 weeks before school started, and that letter described her son's school as failing. That left her worried about the kind of education her son was getting, and she said it gave her a wave of uncertainty over the coming school year. I have traveled around Washington State over the past decade and I have heard from a lot of my constituents, from teachers in the classrooms, to moms at the grocery stores, to tech company CEOs. They all have the same message: We need to fix the No Child Left Behind law. I was very glad that earlier this year we got to work on a bipartisan basis to find common ground to do just that, and I remain convinced that the only way to advance a bill to fix this broken law is with a bipartisan approach. Students, teachers, and parents are counting on us to do this, and now it is time to take the next step as we debate the Every Child Achieves Act here on the Senate floor. This bill is a strong step in the right direction to finally fixing No Child Left Behind and making sure all of our students have access to a high-quality public education. It addresses the high-stakes testing. I have heard from parent after parent, teacher after teacher in Washington State that students are taking too many tests. The current law overemphasized test scores to measure how students are doing in school. Our bill will give flexibility to States to use multiple measures--not just a single test score--to determine how well a school is performing. The bill will create a pilot program for States to design new assessments, and that will provide our States with a lot of flexibility for innovation. Those steps will reduce the pressure on our students, our teachers, and our parents so they can focus less on test prep and more on learning. The bill eliminates the one-size-fits-all provisions of No Child Left Behind that have been so damaging to our schools districts. Instead, the bill allows our communities, parents, and teachers to work together to improve schools and to ensure that every child receives a well- rounded education. The bill maintains Federal protections to help students graduate from high school college- and career-ready. The bill also requires States to identify schools that do need improvement. When the education committee debated the bill, I was also proud, as the Senator from Tennessee mentioned, to work on a bipartisan amendment with Senator Isakson to expand and improve early learning programs. As a former preschool teacher, I have seen the kind of transformation early learning can inspire in a child, so I am proud that this bill will help us expand access to high-quality early childhood education so more of our kids can start kindergarten ready to learn. There are a few key ways that I want to continue to improve this bill. First of all, I believe we should strengthen the accountability requirements in the bill. Too many schools have failed too many of our children for too many years. When we don't hold the schools and States accountable for educating every child, it is the kids from our low- income backgrounds, kids with disabilities, kids who are learning English, and kids of color who too often do fall through the cracks. Before No Child Left Behind, it was easy for schools to overlook the performance of these vulnerable groups of students. Before 2002, as long as the school's overall performance was OK, it didn't matter if students of color or students from low-income backgrounds struggled to make progress year after year. The overall average of all students allowed achievement gaps to be swept under the rug even as some students fell further and further behind. We cannot go back to those days, and we can't backtrack on holding our schools accountable for helping all of our students learn. States should still be required to identify the schools that are struggling the most so they can get the help and resources they need to improve. States need to identify the schools where some groups of students aren't making enough progress. These schools should get the support and locally designed interventions they need to better serve their students. Let's remember that holding States accountable for all students will only work if schools get the resources they need to promote students' success. Unfortunately, some schools simply don't provide the same educational opportunities as others. Oftentimes students of color don't even have the option to take an AP course or use up-to-date technology in the classroom. African-American and Latino students are significantly less likely to attend a high school that offers advanced math or art classes, and, on average, kids from low-income neighborhoods don't have access to qualified and experienced teachers like students from wealthier neighborhoods often do. A ZIP Code should never determine a student's academic success. We need to make sure all students have equitable resources. In the 1800s, Horace Mann, who is often called the father of American education, worked to make it universal and free for all. He famously said: ``Education . . . is the great equalizer.'' I believe that is true but only if we continue to hold ourselves accountable for providing educational opportunities to all students. The Every Child Achieves Act takes some very important steps to do that. As we debate this bill, I hope we can build on the progress and continue to move in the right direction. I do believe there are important ways we should be able to work together to improve the bill, but there are other ideas out there that may derail any chance of passing this bill and fixing No Child Left Behind. I know some of my Republican colleagues are interested in making title I funding ``portable.'' That name sounds innocuous enough, but that proposal would allow funds to be taken away from schools that need the help the most, and it would defy the original purpose of our Federal K-12 education law. ESEA was meant to help level the playing field for students growing up in poverty. Efforts to backtrack on our country's commitment to target funds to the highest needs schools and instead give funding away to our more affluent schools is a nonstarter. Others are interested in voucherizing the public school system. That would undermine the basic goals of public education by allowing funding designated for the most average students to flow out of the public school system and into mostly unaccountable private schools. Vouchers are unacceptable to me and would jeopardize our bipartisan work. I am looking forward to our debate to make this bill even better. Half a century ago President Lyndon Johnson directed Congress to improve education for our Nation's students. In January of 1965, in what would be just months before signing the original ESEA into law, President Johnson said that when it comes to education, ``nothing matters more to the future of our country,'' and that remains true today. The future of our country hinges on our students' ability to one day lead the world, and a high-quality education for every student is one of the best investments our country can make to ensure we have broad-based and long-term economic growth. Finishing this process we are working on today and getting a bill signed into law isn't going to be easy. Nothing in Congress ever is. But students, parents, teachers, and communities across our country, including in my home State of Washington, are looking to us here in Congress to fix this broken law. We cannot let them down. We need to work across the aisle to help our students and our schools and our teachers get some much needed relief from No Child Left Behind. We need to give our States flexibility while strengthening accountability and resource equity. We need to work together to reaffirm our Nation's commitment to ensuring that all students have access to a quality education regardless of where they live or how they learn or how much money their parents make. By doing so, we will help our Nation grow stronger for generations to come. I again thank the Senator from Tennessee for his tremendous leadership in getting us to this point and for working with us to make sure we get this bill to the President and signed into law so that we can all go home and say we fixed a badly broken law. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY. On behalf of Senator Peters, I call up amendment No. 2095 and ask unanimous consent that it be reported by number.

Mrs. MURRAY. On behalf of Senator Warner, I call up amendment No. 2086 and ask unanimous consent that it be reported by number.

Mrs. MURRAY. On behalf of Senator Reed, I call up amendment No. 2085 and ask unanimous consent that it be reported by number.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, with that, I ask unanimous consent that Leslie Clithero, a detailee from the U.S. Department of Education; Shruti Shah, a detailee from the U.S. Department of Labor; and Okey Enyia, a fellow in my Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee office, be granted floor privileges for the remainder of this Congress.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about a constituent of mine. Ilse is a 23-year-old graduate of the University of Washington who works at the Seattle Children's Hospital and is studying to become a nurse. She has faced a lot of challenges in her 23 years, not the least of which was being diagnosed with cancer when she was a teenager, going through treatment, and working to put herself through college. And if the outstanding costs of cancer treatment weren't difficult enough for her, Ilse was brought to the United States by her mother when she was 6 months old as an undocumented immigrant, which makes navigating our health care system even harder. Ilse persevered through her cancer treatment. She worked her way through high school with an impressive list of extracurriculars and went on to earn a scholarship that eventually got her to the front steps of her dream school, the University of Washington. When I met Ilse in 2013, she told me that after 15 years of waiting for her petition to obtain a visa, she lost the opportunity to obtain legal residency when she turned 21 years old. But thanks to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, she had a second chance. She said she doesn't know where she would be now without that second chance. She told me that DACA opened doors that were previously closed to her. And thanks to the increased certainty DACA brought and the amazing work ethic she has, Ilse was able to find jobs that helped pave her way through school. Today she is able to continue to pursue her dream of helping others as a nurse and building a life in Washington State, her home. I am pleased to report that Ilse has now been cancer free for over 14 years. So while I rise to talk about Ilse, I also wish to celebrate DACA. Three years ago this week, Americans celebrated a historic step forward in protecting young, undocumented immigrants known as DREAMers, people such as Ilse. When DACA was enacted, the national dialogue on immigration policy forever changed. The administration announced that America is not a place that will deport someone who plays by the rules but through no fault of their own is an undocumented immigrant, someone who has known no other home than the United States, someone who is an American in all but name. This was a major step toward changing the lives of so many immigrant families. During the past 3 years, more than 600,000 young immigrants have benefited from deferred action. In my home State of Washington, almost 15,000 DREAMers have been able to receive the stability and peace of mind that DACA brought. Too often in this debate, it is difficult for some people to understand that millions of undocumented families in our country are already an important part of our community. Immigrants--documented or not--work hard. They send their children to schools throughout this country. They pay their taxes, and they help weave the fabric of our society. In all but name, they are Americans, and America would not be the same without them. Despite the steps this administration has taken, only legislation from Congress can solve the underlying problem of a very broken immigration system. So I am here today to say I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to achieve that. Until Congress truly passes comprehensive immigration reform, I am going to continue working each day to help the families and businesses--people such as Ilse--that are trapped by a broken system. We must never forget the past and the fact that our Nation has long offered generations of immigrants a chance to achieve their dreams. Ilse is no different. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I am here this afternoon to talk about an issue that is so important to my State and to communities nationwide; that is, how do we help children and families rebuild and recover when they face serious trauma? As we have seen all too often in recent years, traumatic events can impact children at any time and in any part of our country. If children don't get the support they need in the wake of a hardship such as a natural disaster or violence at school or stress related to a family member's military deployment, those experiences can be even more difficult to recover from and they can leave our children with serious and long-lasting challenges such as depression, anxiety, and difficulty maintaining employment. An estimated two-thirds of our children experience traumatic events before the age of 16. Their need for support and treatment after trauma is something that simply cannot go unmet. That is why I am very proud to introduce the Children's Recovery from Trauma Act. This bipartisan legislation would continue support for child trauma centers across the country which help make sure that as children in families face difficult times, our Nation's health care system is better prepared to provide support and help ease that burden. Child trauma centers have played an important role in my home State of Washington. For example, when the State Route 530 mudslide caused unthinkable devastation in Oso and Darrington, the Washington State University CLEAR Center stepped in to help children and families who were impacted by that horrific tragedy. Staff at the CLEAR Center held parent nights at Darrington Elementary School and worked with the teachers there to help make sure students got the right kind of support they needed. They even helped teachers explain to students how the brain operates under stress and how that might influence their behavior. As a mom and former preschool teacher, a school board member, and a Senator from the great State of Washington, I believe this support can make a world of difference in this kind of scary and stressful time for our kids. I am very proud that under the Children's Recovery from Trauma Act, the CLEAR Center would continue to receive critical Federal investment. In addition, I am very proud that other child trauma centers, such as those that mobilized after the 2001 terrorist attack and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Sandy and the shootings at Virginia Tech and in Newtown, would continue to get those investments as well. As I have said before, I am inspired by the strength and resilience of communities in Washington State that were impacted by the tragedy of the State Route 530 mudslide and the shootings recently at Marysville- Pilchuck High School. Children in these communities and communities like them across the country face hardships that can't always be predicted or prevented, but they do need and deserve our support. The Children's Recovery from Trauma Act would take some critical steps forward in this effort, and I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting it.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I am here this afternoon to talk about an issue that is so important to my State and to communities nationwide; that is, how do we help children and families rebuild and recover when they face serious trauma? As we have seen all too often in recent years, traumatic events can impact children at any time and in any part of our country. If children don't get the support they need in the wake of a hardship such as a natural disaster or violence at school or stress related to a family member's military deployment, those experiences can be even more difficult to recover from and they can leave our children with serious and long-lasting challenges such as depression, anxiety, and difficulty maintaining employment. An estimated two-thirds of our children experience traumatic events before the age of 16. Their need for support and treatment after trauma is something that simply cannot go unmet. That is why I am very proud to introduce the Children's Recovery from Trauma Act. This bipartisan legislation would continue support for child trauma centers across the country which help make sure that as children in families face difficult times, our Nation's health care system is better prepared to provide support and help ease that burden. Child trauma centers have played an important role in my home State of Washington. For example, when the State Route 530 mudslide caused unthinkable devastation in Oso and Darrington, the Washington State University CLEAR Center stepped in to help children and families who were impacted by that horrific tragedy. Staff at the CLEAR Center held parent nights at Darrington Elementary School and worked with the teachers there to help make sure students got the right kind of support they needed. They even helped teachers explain to students how the brain operates under stress and how that might influence their behavior. As a mom and former preschool teacher, a school board member, and a Senator from the great State of Washington, I believe this support can make a world of difference in this kind of scary and stressful time for our kids. I am very proud that under the Children's Recovery from Trauma Act, the CLEAR Center would continue to receive critical Federal investment. In addition, I am very proud that other child trauma centers, such as those that mobilized after the 2001 terrorist attack and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Sandy and the shootings at Virginia Tech and in Newtown, would continue to get those investments as well. As I have said before, I am inspired by the strength and resilience of communities in Washington State that were impacted by the tragedy of the State Route 530 mudslide and the shootings recently at Marysville- Pilchuck High School. Children in these communities and communities like them across the country face hardships that can't always be predicted or prevented, but they do need and deserve our support. The Children's Recovery from Trauma Act would take some critical steps forward in this effort, and I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting it.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I want to congratulate the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the Uganda Cancer Institute for officially opening the UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre in Kampala, the first comprehensive cancer center jointly constructed by U.S. and African cancer institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The 25,000-square-foot regional cancer center is a state-of-the-art- facility that can treat up to 20,000 patients a year and includes an adult and pediatric outpatient clinic, a specimen repository, training center, conference rooms, and a pharmacy. Uganda has a substantial cancer burden, and 6 out of 10 of the most common cancers there are caused by infectious diseases. To address this unique health need, Uganda has invested in cancer research, training, and clinical care. The UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre will significantly increase patient access to cancer diagnosis and treatment while furthering study of cancers in Uganda, particularly those that are infection related. This alliance brings together two international leaders in the field of oncology care, training, and research and is ideally positioned to provide American and Ugandan physician scientists with indepth training in the treatment of infection-related malignancies in both the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. The relationship between Fred Hutch and the UCI dates back to 2004, and the UCI/Hutchinson Center Cancer Alliance was formally established in 2008. The program was formed to support the development of a strong biomedical infrastructure in Uganda that would contribute to the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer and related health concerns. In 2008, Uganda had just one oncologist who treated more than 10,000 patients a year. In response, Fred Hutch spearheaded an extensive medical training program that has trained more than 300 Ugandans and Americans to date in the treatment of infection-related cancers, including physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, data specialists, and experts in regulatory affairs and fiscal management. Today, the number of practicing oncologists in Uganda has increased twelvefold. The UCI-Fred Hutch Cancer Centre is funded in part by two grants for which I was proud to advocate totaling $1.4 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development (through the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad Program), as well as an $8.6 million investment from Fred Hutch. The Ugandan Government has supported the collaboration through donations of land, provision of funding for personnel and equipment, and technical support. I am proud to work with Fred Hutch in their effort to bring cutting- edge cancer care to patients and families all around the globe. This joint venture with UCI has the potential to drastically improve the lives of many people, both in Uganda and worldwide. I am proud that my State of Washington is home to Fred Hutch, and I applaud them and the Uganda Cancer Institute for their cross-national effort to effect this critical change.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, due to inclement weather causing a flight delay, I was unavoidably detained during consideration of Brown amendment No. 1242 and missed the rollcall vote that occurred on Monday, May 18. As a cosponsor of S. 568, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015, and supporter of trade adjustment assistance for workers here at home, had I been present I would have voted yea.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, a budget is far more than a series of numbers on a piece of paper. A budget really is a statement of values and priorities, a statement of the kind of Nation we are and the kind of Nation we want to be. For many of us, these values and priorities are clear. We believe that a budget should help us move toward an economy that is built from the middle out--not from the top down--and a government that works for all of our families--not just the wealthiest few. But the Republican budget that we are here debating today would move us in the opposite direction. Instead of working with us to build on the bipartisan budget deal we struck last Congress, Republicans have introduced a budget that would lock in sequestration. It would hollow out defense and nondefense investments and use gimmicks and games to paper over the problems. Instead of putting jobs, wages, and economic security first by prioritizing policies such as paid sick leave, which shouldn't be partisan issues, the Republican budget would cut taxes for the rich and leave working families behind. Instead of building on the work we have done to make health care more affordable and accessible, the Republican budget would take us back to the bad old days when insurance companies called all the shots and when fewer Americans had access to the care they need. I will take a few minutes today to talk about each of these issues and to urge my Republican friends to take a different approach, to put politics aside, to come back to the table, and to work with us on a responsible budget that puts the middle class first and will actually work for families and communities that we all represent. The first issue I want to talk about is the automatic cuts from sequestration and the failure of this budget to address an issue Democrats and Republicans agree needs to be solved. I am proud that coming out of the terrible government shutdown at the end of 2013, we were finally able to break through the gridlock and dysfunction to reach a bipartisan budget deal that prevented another government shutdown, restored investments in education, in research, and in defense jobs and really laid down a foundation for continued bipartisan work. That deal wasn't the budget I would have written on my own, and it wasn't the one Republicans would have written on their own, but it did end the lurching from crisis to crisis. It helped workers and our economy and made it clear that there is bipartisan support for rolling back sequestration in a balanced way. Our bipartisan deal was a strong step in the right direction, and I was hopeful that we could work together to build on it, because we know there is bipartisan support to replace sequestration in a balanced and fair way. Not only did we prove that with our bipartisan budget deal, but Democrats and Republicans across the country have continued to come out against the senseless cuts to defense and nondefense investments. But Republicans went the opposite way with their budget this year. They were able to cut trillions of dollars of programs that support families and fight poverty--nearly $1 trillion cut from Medicare and Medicaid and more than $5 trillion overall. But they refused to dedicate a single penny of that to roll back the automatic cuts to education, research or defense investments. To put that in perspective, we were able to roll back sequestration for 2 years in the Bipartisan Budget Act with $85 billion in savings. But the Republican budget won't fix the problem even for this coming year with more than 50 times that amount of savings. Instead of using just a tiny fraction of the enormous cuts this budget has in it to pay for investments that both Republicans and Democrats agree must be made, this budget uses a gimmick by increasing OCO funding to appear to patch over the problem on the defense side without raising the cap on defense funding and doing nothing at all for nondefense investments such as education, research, jobs, and infrastructure. We know the automatic cuts are terrible policy, and we know the President has said he would veto spending bills at sequester levels. I also know there are Republicans who have seen the impact of sequestration in their States, as I have seen it in my State of Washington, and I know there are Republicans who look at this budget and wonder why it couldn't use some of the trillions of dollars in cuts to reinvest in American innovation or in our defense investments. So I am hopeful that instead of continuing to kick the can down the road or relying on gimmicks that don't actually solve this problem, Republicans will come back to the table and work with us to build on our bipartisan budget deal in a balanced and responsible way, will allow the Appropriations subcommittees to actually do their work and not wait for another crisis before they push the tea party aside and work with us to get this done. Instead of rehashing old debates and lurching us toward another completely avoidable crisis, we should be working together to put in place policies that boost the economy and help our working families-- policies such as allowing workers to earn paid sick days. No worker should have to sacrifice a day's pay or their job altogether just to take care of themselves or their sick child. But today, in this country, 43 million Americans do not have access to paid sick days. Making sure more workers have this basic worker protection will give more families some much-needed economic stability. And, by the way, it is pro-business. Access to paid sick days boosts productivity, and it reduces turnover--two huge benefits for employers. Businesses that want to help their workers stay healthy should have a level playing field so they aren't at a disadvantage when they do the right thing. A strong bipartisan majority of Senators affirmed their support for allowing workers to earn paid sick days during the budget amendment process, and I was hopeful we could build on that momentum and keep working together to increase the economic security for millions of workers and families. So I was very disappointed that the conference report does not reflect that provision. Instead of keeping our bipartisan amendment and providing paid sick days to help workers and families, this conference report instead allows for tax credits for employers that would not guarantee access to paid leave. That is a step in the wrong direction. But it doesn't have to be the last step this Congress takes. So I urge our colleagues to work with me to pass the Healthy Families Act, legislation that would move this debate beyond budget amendments and make paid sick days a reality for millions of Americans. Allowing workers to earn paid sick days is one way we can ensure our workplaces are working for all families--not just the wealthiest few. I also want to talk about one more way this budget would be devastating for families across the country. The Affordable Care Act was a critical step forward in our efforts to build a health care system that puts patients first, and it allows every family to get the affordable, high quality health care they need. But the work didn't end when this law passed--far from it. Families across the country are expecting us to keep working to build on this progress and continue making health care more affordable, more accessible, and with higher quality, and that is what Democrats are focused on. Unfortunately, this Republican budget would do the exact opposite. It would roll back all the progress we have made, take us back to the bad old days when insurance companies called all the shots, when being a woman was a preexisting condition, when far fewer families could afford to get the health care they need. In fact, this Republican approach could even mean an average tax hike of $3,200 a year on working families who would have to pay more for their care. Families are tired of Republicans playing games with their health care. So I hope my Republican colleagues will listen to the millions of people across the country who have more affordable, quality health care and to the vast majority of our constituents, who want us to work together to solve problems and not rehash old fights, and that they will finally drop the political games and work with us to move our health care system forward--not backward--for the communities we serve. Republicans control Congress. It is their job to write and pass a budget. But our constituents actually sent us here to work together-- not simply to argue with each other. People across the country are expecting us to break through the gridlock once again, like we were able to do last Congress, and deliver results for their families and the communities we represent. So I urge my colleagues to oppose this budget that would be devastating to middle-class families, seniors, investments in our future, and the economy. I really hope that Republicans decide to come back to the table and work with us on policies that grow the economy from the middle out--not from the top down--and that moves us towards a government that works for all families--not just the wealthiest few. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, in Congress we should be working on ways to build an economy that works for all of our families--not just the wealthiest few. Unfortunately, once again, instead of standing up for workers, some of my Republican colleagues are bound and determined to defend the biggest corporations that have an interest in keeping wages low and denying workers a voice to improve their workplace. President Obama vetoed this resolution. I urge my colleagues to sustain that veto to ensure workers are able to exercise that right. The National Labor Relations Board, the NLRB, helps to ensure that workers have a fair up-or-down-vote. Unfortunately, too often big corporations take advantage of loopholes in the current election process to delay a vote on union representation. The NLRB was absolutely right to carry out its mission to review and streamline its election process to bring down those barriers for workers who want a fair vote. These updates will make modest but important changes to modernize and streamline the process. They will reduce unnecessary litigation on issues that will not affect the outcome of the election. The new process will bring the election process into the 21st century by letting employers and unions file forms electronically. Instead of attacking workers who just want a voice in the workplace, I hope my colleagues will support President Obama's veto. I truly hope we can break through the gridlock and work together on policies that do create jobs and expand economic security and generate broad-based economic growth for workers and families--not just the wealthiest few. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to a devoted public servant and tireless friend of the people of Washington State as she moves on from the staff of the United States Senate. Meaghan McCarthy has dedicated nearly 13 years in service to the Appropriations Committee and is widely recognized for her expertise in housing policy. I know that back in Washington State, here in the Senate, and across the country--Ms. McCarthy's important work has helped so many people find affordable housing and get back on their feet. I know so many will miss her compassionate advocacy on behalf of those facing housing challenges, from veterans requiring supportive housing, to working- class families that need a helping hand to remain in safe and affordable homes, and so many more. A Massachusetts native and graduate of Notre Dame and Johns Hopkins University, Ms. McCarthy began her career in public policy as an advocate for children, working at the Children's Defense Fund. She then joined the Appropriations Committee as professional staff, where she developed a keen understanding of complex Federal housing policy. As a top staff member on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, Ms. McCarthy has overseen and helped fund key affordable housing supports that make sure millions of people across the country have access to high-quality affordable housing. From tenant vouchers provided through the section 8 program to homeless assistance grants, supportive HUD-VASH vouchers for our veterans, and public housing funds, Ms. McCarthy has worked hand- in-hand with housing officials in my State to make sure Washington State families receive the resources they need. It is so clear to me that Washington State has benefited from Ms. McCarthy's hard work, vast knowledge, and compassion for people and families fighting to make ends meet. During my time as the subcommittee's chair, I was always thankful that she was working on my State's behalf. Many of our housing advocates and authorities have reached out to my office to express their appreciation for her work. They have called her a ``critical bridge between Washington state's communities and our nation's big-picture, broad-stroke policy and budget machinery,'' someone who translated real-world neighborhood needs into action in a complex Federal bureaucracy. Ms. McCarthy's work has had real and measurable impacts in Washington State communities. Stephen Norman, the executive director of the King County Housing Authority, was kind enough to share an anecdote wherein Ms. McCarthy pioneered a program to fund community facilities adjacent to public housing, which he called ``a cross-cutting initiative that recognized the importance of education success for low income children and the opportunities created by partnering schools and Housing Authorities.'' When HUD's draft rules effectively excluded suburban communities, which require a network of smaller facilities, Ms. McCarthy did what she does best: she went to work to solve the problem and change the rules. And change them she did. Now, King County has a network of 14 youth facilities, serving some of the poorest families in the region and helping children to reach their potential and to realize their dreams. Today I join with others throughout the country, the State of Washington, and this body in thanking Ms. McCarthy for her years of service. I congratulate her on all of her accomplishments and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Sanders and I be permitted to engage in a colloquy.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, we should be doing everything we can to ensure that our children are safe from products that harm their health. Thanks to life-saving public health interventions, and FDA regulation under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, we have seen reduced smoking rates among young people across the country. But, unfortunately, in recent years tobacco companies have found new ways to target children, through the promotion of e-cigarettes and other unregulated tobacco products. Last year, the FDA took an important initial step toward regulating these products with its proposed tobacco deeming rule. But, we are here today, a full year later, without a finalized rule to help ensure tobacco companies aren't profiting off of selling our children an addictive, hugely harmful bill of goods. Today, tobacco companies are marketing e-cigarettes with celebrity endorsements and cartoons that are geared toward a younger audience--using tactics that they are banned from using to promote traditional cigarettes. They are producing kid- enticing candy and drink flavored products, which we know children are more likely to use. In fact, because they are unregulated, children can go online and buy them without their parents knowing. Mr. President, it is unacceptable that e-cigarette companies are using the same tactics that tobacco companies used for years to promote smoking. So we should be doing everything we can to right this wrong, and prevent our youngest generation from becoming a new generation of smokers. We know just how harmful and addictive these products can be and I am proud my home State of Washington has begun to regulate these products and is taking strong steps towards combatting their use among children. But, there is still much more work to do to across the country to keep e-cigarettes and other unregulated tobacco products out of the hands of our kids, and that work starts with making sure the FDA finalizes its deeming rule. So I stand with all of my colleagues today to urge the FDA to move quickly to finalize and implement last year's proposed rule, and put in place restrictions that would: Prevent marketing targeted to minors, Eliminate the sale of flavored e-cigarettes that appeal to children, And end online sales. These would be strong steps to further protect our children and I look forward to working with my colleagues, and the FDA to ensure they are implemented as quickly as possible.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, last week marked an important step as we worked in a bipartisan manner to improve the lives of survivors of trafficking. We were able to move the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act forward and help provide direct supports and services for these survivors, thanks to support from the Community Health Center Fund. Community health centers are the safety net providers of our health care system. In my home State of Washington, they provide full health care services for working families across the State, and they work tirelessly to ensure that individuals get the supports and services they need. Community health centers help keep health care costs down and keep people out of the emergency room by improving health outcomes for the populations they serve. Our community health centers were strengthened by the work in the Affordable Care Act, and I am proud that we were able to once again work together to strengthen them as part of the Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act earlier this year. This was a very unique circumstance, and it is not a precedent for Congress to draw on the Community Health Center Fund for other purposes. It is my hope and intention that this was the one and only time Congress draws money from the health center fund to pay for other programs. This funding was intended to keep the health centers program whole so that more than 1,300 health centers nationwide can continue to provide access to care for their patients for the next 2 years.

Mrs. MURRAY. I am proud of the progress we have been able to make for survivors of trafficking and that we were able to use community health centers funding to help this very vulnerable population at a time when they need it the most.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, today I express my deep gratitude and appreciation for the National Association of Letter Carriers, especially its members in my home State of Washington. On Saturday, May 9, letter carriers throughout Washington State will join their colleagues from around the country for their Stamp Out Hunger food drive, an annual event that has provided needed meals to so many. In more than 10,000 cities and towns across our country, letter carriers use our mail delivery network to collect donated food. The food drive, now in its 23rd year, is a shining example of their commitment to our communities. In addition to the excellent service they provide as part of their daily work, these dedicated men and women will be picking up donated food on a Saturday to deliver to food banks and pantries in their communities. In 2010, the food drive reached an amazing milestone as it surpassed the 1-billion-pound mark for collections. I thank the men and women of the National Association of Letter Carriers for their hard work and commitment to their communities, and I wish them the best with this year's Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5 minutes as in morning business.

Mrs. MURRAY. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY. If I could just thank the Senator. I was very impressed with the work of Senator Alexander on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. He worked with all our members to make sure we replace the No Child Left Behind Act--which I think most Americans agree is not working today--with a bipartisan approach. I am hopeful we can bring it to the Senate floor and move it through quickly because this is a law that does need to be fixed.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I believe that we in Congress should be working to grow the economy from the middle out, not from the top down, and we should make sure that our government is working for all of our families, not just the wealthiest few. An important part of this is making sure that workers have access to a safe and healthy workplace and the basic protection of earning a living without fearing for their safety. That effort takes on special meaning today. April 28, today, is Workers' Memorial Day, the day when we remember those who lost their lives just for doing their job. When a worker is injured or is killed on the job, it has devastating impacts for their families and their communities. In 2014, more than 4,500 workers were killed on the job. That is more than 12 deaths every single day. So we need to do everything we can to make sure employers are taking the necessary precautions to keep their workers safe. So today, let's keep the families and communities that have suffered from these losses in our thoughts, and let's make sure this Workers' Memorial Day is about recommitting ourselves to improving safety protections at workplaces across the country. Every worker in every industry should have basic worker protections. While workers are doing their jobs, employers should be doing everything they can to protect them. In 1970, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act to protect workers from unsafe working conditions. Back in 1970, that law finally gave workers some much needed protection so they could earn a living without sacrificing their health or safety. Since then, of course, American industry has changed significantly. Businesses have become more complex. Workers are performing 21st- century tasks, but we are still using a 1970s approach to protect employees. That doesn't make sense, and it is time for it to change. I support the bill Senator Franken introduced today called Protecting America's Workers Act. I want to note that Senator Franken is the new ranking member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. In that role, he will bring a focus and a passion for moving this legislation forward, and I look forward to working with him to that end. The Protecting America's Workers Act is a long overdue update to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and is a good step toward making workplaces across America safer and healthier. The legislation will increase protections for workers who report unsafe working conditions, and adding these whistleblower protections will protect workers from retaliation. The bill will make sure workers have the option to appeal to Federal courts if they are being mistreated for telling the truth about dangerous practices. This bill will also improve reporting, inspection, and enforcement of workplace health and safety violations. It expands the rights of victims of unsafe workplaces and makes sure employers quickly improve unsafe workplaces to avoid further endangering worker health and safety because we owe it to all workers to make sure they are truly protected on the job. Our economy is finally recovering after the worst downturn since the Great Depression. We are not all the way back yet, and there is a lot more that needs to be done to create jobs and help our middle class and working families. But while we continue that work, we must also recommit to our bedrock responsibilities to workers and their safety. Workers should be able to go to work confident their employers are doing their part to provide safe and healthy workplaces, and they should know their government is looking out for them, their families, and their economic security. Today, I urge my colleagues to reflect on the workers who lost their lives this past year. I am hopeful we can honor their legacy by working together to pass the Protecting America's Workers Act and make these commonsense updates to meet our obligations to the best workforce in the world and continue our work growing the economy from the middle out, not the top down.