Sen. Murray: ‘Moms Deserve Better’ Than President Trump’s Backward Agenda

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release:

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- In a floor speech ahead of Mother's Day, Senator Murray criticizes Trump Administration's agenda on issues important to women and families across the country

- Senator Murray shared stories from Washington state mothers illustrating the harm of President Trump's attacks on women's health and the need to address challenges families face

- Trump Administration's changes to Title X family planning program jeopardize access to care for millions

- Murray emphasized the need to address challenges like the nation's maternal mortality crisis as new CDC data shows 3 in 5 pregnancy related deaths are preventable

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Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor to commemorate Mother's Day. In her remarks, Senator Murray shared the stories of women in Washington state as she criticized President Trump's harmful agenda for women and families and outlined some of her own priorities to move the country forward.

Senator Murray criticized President Trump for arguing in court to undermine families' health care, for jeopardizing care for millions of women who rely on Title X funded providers like Planned Parenthood, and for working to pack the courts with of far-right, anti-choice judges. She also criticized the Trump Administration for the damage it has caused to families through its cruel family separation policy. Senator Murray then went on to outline some of the pressing issues Congress should be working to address for mothers and families across the country. Senator Murray called for continued work to address the maternal mortality crisis--which disproportionately affects African American women--and emphasized the need to help parents by providing paid family leave and addressing the nationwide child care crisis.

Senator Murray ended her remarks by thanking the many mothers in Washington state and across the country who shared their stories with her and promising to keep fighting for them in the Senate.

Key excerpts of Senator Murray's speech:

"When it comes to health care, President Trump is working to sabotage the care moms and their families rely on. He changed federal rules to let insurance companies sell junk coverage that doesn't cover maternity care, and is arguing in court to strike down protections for women and people with pre-existing conditions in all plans insurers sell."

"We should be supporting providers that help women like them get the care they need--not burdening them with restrictions designed to force out Planned Parenthood, or 'gag clauses' that prevent providers from even discussing a patient's right to a safe legal abortion. Moms deserve better."

"We should be working to take action to stop so many mothers from dying in childbirth, and building on the $50 million Maternal Mortality Initiative I fought to enact in this year's funding bill to expand evidence-based programs to prevent maternal mortality and advance maternal health equity."

"We should be working to make sure all parents can go to work knowing their children are being well cared for."

"Just last week I attended a rally here in Washington, D.C. and met a mom who came all the way from Washington state to speak up for families like hers. I know what it's like to be in her shoes--or tennis shoes I should say-- and I know that when people like her speak up and fight for change they can make a real difference. Which is why I'm so inspired by the moms whose stories I've shared today, and the many others who've shared their stories with me back in Washington state. So I want to wish all the moms out there a happy Mother's Day. I know you're going to keep fighting for your families, and I want you to know that I'm going to keep fighting for you."

Watch Senator Murray's full speech HERE (https://youtu.be/LoulIV7bNGQ).

Full text of Sen. Murray's speech below:

"Thank you M. President.

"This week families across the country are preparing to celebrate Mother's Day, and recognizing the hard work women do to support their families, and build a brighter future in their communities.

"Here in Congress we should be working to help moms back in Washington state, and across the country.

"Unfortunately, instead of looking for ways to support women--President Trump has been pushing an ideological agenda that undermines their health, reproductive rights and freedom, and economic security.

"When it comes to health care, President Trump is working to sabotage the care moms and their families rely on. He changed federal rules to let insurance companies sell junk coverage that doesn't cover maternity care, and is arguing in court to strike down protections for women and people with pre-existing conditions in all plans insurers sell.

"And instead of supporting the Title X family planning program, which has a history of bipartisan support and a tremendous track record helping women get critical low-cost family planning and preventative health care services, President Trump is chipping away at it and working to strip Title X grants from Planned Parenthood--which serves tens of thousands of women in Washington state each year and millions more nationwide.

"Including mothers like Shannon.

"Shannon first went to Planned Parenthood when she was 18 for what turned out to be endometriosis a condition that causes severe menstrual pain, and can also affect fertility.

"Thanks to the treatment she received at Planned Parenthood, today Shannon is managing her chronic pain, and raising an adorable little girl.

"When I was in Seattle a few weeks ago, another constituent, Cindy, shared how a routine screening at Planned Parenthood saved her life by detecting cancer early on and giving her the head start she needed to beat it.

"Today Cindy's not just a survivor--she's a mother. She was able to get pregnant after she went into remission.

"We should be supporting providers that help women like them get the care they need--not burdening them with restrictions designed to force out Planned Parenthood, or 'gag clauses' that prevent providers from even discussing a patient's right to a safe legal abortion.

"Moms deserve better.

"Unfortunately President Trump's attacks on women's reproductive rights go well beyond his changes to the Title X program.

"Since day one he's been working to jam our courts full of far-right judges to appease extreme Republicans who want to see Roe v. Wade struck down.

"When President Trump nominated Justice Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, we heard from women and men across the country concerned about what his confirmation would mean.

"Countless women shared their personal stories about what life was like before Roe v. Wade, and what the right to get a safe, legal abortion has meant to their families.

"And while Republicans continue to press ahead with extreme, harmful legislation like the bill they just passed in Georgia--and President Trump continues to tell outright lies meant to demonize women and their health care providers--people are going to continue calling out the lies, calling out the attempts to turn back the clock, and standing in solidarity with women across the country.

"President Trump's harmful attacks on women's health care are hardly the only time he's ignored how his policies would hurt women and their families.

"He also cruelly and unnecessarily separated hundreds of migrant parents and their children.

"Like Yolany, a mother who was detained in Tacoma, Washington while her six-year-old son was sent to New York.

"According to media reports they were kept apart for almost two months before being reunited--and their story is just one of many pointless tragedies President Trump's heartless family separation policy has caused.

"Moms deserve better.

"Especially when there are so many other challenges they need us to lead on.

"There's the maternal mortality crisis--and the appalling fact that our country has the highest maternal death rate in the developed world.

"We know this crisis is worse for women of color--African American women in particular--who face an even higher maternal death rate.

"And thanks to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we also know that three out of five pregnancy-related deaths in our country are preventable.

"We should be working to take action to stop so many mothers from dying in childbirth, and building on the $50 million Maternal Mortality Initiative I fought to enact in this year's funding bill to expand evidence-based programs to prevent maternal mortality and advance maternal health equity.

"There's also the child care crisis, and the reality that for too many parents quality, affordable child care just isn't available.

"One mother in Washington state told me how she struck out with more than 10 child care centers before finding one that could care for her son--but that when she did find it, it cost more than her mortgage.

"We should be working to make sure all parents can go to work knowing their children are being well cared for.

"And we should be fighting for paid family leave so people have the time they need to welcome new members to their family and start building bonds that last a lifetime, and so no parent has to choose between their paycheck and caring for a sick child.

"At a time when there is so much we could be doing to make life better for mothers, fathers, and families across our country, it's disappointing that President Trump has spent so much time looking for ways to make things worse.

"But while the Trump Administration may not be fighting for families--moms are.

"Just last week I attended a rally here in Washington, D.C. and met a mom who came all the way from Washington state to speak up for families like hers.

"I know what it's like to be in her shoes--or tennis shoes I should say-- and I know that when people like her speak up and fight for change they can make a real difference.

"Which is why I'm so inspired by the moms whose stories I've shared today, and the many others who've shared their stories with me back in Washington state.

"So I want to wish all the moms out there a happy Mother's Day.

"I know you're going to keep fighting for your families, and I want you to know that I'm going to keep fighting for you.

"Thank you."

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- Watch Senator Murray's full speech HERE (https://youtu.be/LoulIV7bNGQ)