Press Releases
Mass. Delegation Applauds U.S. DOL Grant for Paid Family and Medical Leave Studies
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, and Representatives Niki Tsongas, Bill Keating, Joe Kennedy III, and Katherine Clark applauded the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) award of $117,651 to the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards to study the benefits of paid family and medical leave programs. Massachusetts was one of four states to receive funding. "It's tough enough to raise a family and hold down a job, but there's no denying that families … Continue Reading
September 23, 2014
Levin, Reed, Markey, Warren urge SEC to protect investors
WASHINGTON - Four Democratic senators today urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to promptly adopt proposed safeguards designed to protect investors from potential fraud and abuse in private securities offerings. In a letter to SEC Chair Mary Jo White [PDF], Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.; Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass.; and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., write that today is the one-year anniversary of implementation of the SEC's rule allowing "general solicitation" in … Continue Reading
September 17, 2014
Warren-Portman "Smart Savings Act" to Strengthen Retirement Savings Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - On Tuesday evening, the Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to help substantially increase financial returns for federal employees' retirement plans without increasing federal spending. The legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.). The Smart Savings Act would change the automatic enrollment for federal employees enrolling … Continue Reading
September 09, 2014
Sen. Warren: "Our democracy is in real danger...This is the time to amend the Constitution"
Video of the Senator's Remarks Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren today delivered a speech on the floor of the Senate in support of a pending constitutional amendment, introduced by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), that would give Congress and individual states the authority to regulate campaign finance and rein in money pouring into our political process. Senator Warren remarked on the enormous impact of super PAC money in the 2012 presidential election, "32 people spent … Continue Reading
September 08, 2014
Legislators Urge Secretary Burwell to Reevaluate Discriminatory, Inconsistent Blood, Organ and Tissue Donation Policies
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) led a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell expressing continued concern regarding current policies governing blood, organ, and tissue donation by men who have sex with men (MSM) and requesting an update on the Department's progress in reassessing the policies. Legislators wrote to Secretary … Continue Reading
August 18, 2014
Sens. Warren and Vitter, and Congressmen Garrett and Capuano Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Fed to Strengthen Restrictions on Emergency Lending Authority
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and David Vitter (R-La.), and Congressmen Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) and Michael Capuano (D-Mass.), and their colleagues in the Senate and House sent a letter today to Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen calling for the Fed to strengthen restrictions on its emergency lending authority. The letter was signed by 11 additional members of the Senate and House: Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Mazie Hirono … Continue Reading
August 01, 2014
Senators Warren, Markey Applaud Nomination of Allison Burroughs to U.S. District Court in Massachusetts
BOSTON - President Obama has announced that he has nominated Allison Burroughs to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Burroughs was recommended to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey as a top candidate for Boston's federal judicial vacancy by the Advisory Committee on Massachusetts Judicial Nominations. "I was glad to recommend Allison Burroughs to the President for nomination to a District Court vacancy in Boston," Warren said. "Her years of … Continue Reading
July 31, 2014
Sen. Warren Questions Lack Of Private Student Loan Relief Options
Video of Sen. Warren's Q&A is available here WASHINGTON, DC - At a Senate Banking Committee hearing today, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned a top banking lobbyist about the lack of private student loan relief options available to struggling borrowers. Senator Warren explained that in 2005, the banks successfully lobbied Congress to end bankruptcy protections for private student loans. "The banks...get the benefits of the bankruptcy exclusion and don't offer much of … Continue Reading
July 30, 2014
Sen. Warren Denounces Corporations Who "Renounce Their American Citizenship" To Dodge Taxes
Video of Sen. Warren's speech is available here. Full text of Sen. Warren's speech is available here. WASHINGTON, DC - In a speech delivered on the floor of the United States Senate today, Senator Elizabeth Warren called for closing the "corporate inversion" tax loophole, which allows American companies to dodge taxes by filing paperwork claiming foreign citizenship after they merge with another company overseas. Senator Warren urged Congress to pass the Stop Corporate Inversions Act she … Continue Reading
July 30, 2014
Warren-Coburn Truth in Settlements Act Passes Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, Heads to Full Senate
Bill Text Fact Sheet Washington, DC - The Truth in Settlements Act, a bipartisan proposal from Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) to increase transparency around settlements reached by federal enforcement agencies, was approved today by the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee. The bill, which passed the Committee by voice vote, now heads to the floor of the Senate. "When government agencies reach settlements with companies that break the law, they … Continue Reading
July 28, 2014
Senators Warren, Feinstein & Gillibrand Question FDA About Efforts to Curb Antibiotic Overuse in Food Animals
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) sent a letter today to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg requesting information about the FDA's efforts to curb the overuse of antibiotics in food animal production. "The use of antibiotics in food-producing animals must be reduced as part of the effort to preserve the efficacy of antibiotics," the senators wrote. "Research has shown … Continue Reading
July 25, 2014
Sen. Warren Cosponsors Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Rights Protection Act
Washington, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren today cosponsored the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) Rights Protection Act (S. 1999), a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Jack Reed (D-RI) that would help protect servicemembers' rights regarding their contracts for financial products such as credit cards, mortgages and student loans. "I'm glad to join this fight to protect the basic rights that our servicemembers have earned," said Senator Warren. … Continue Reading
July 23, 2014
Sen. Warren Applauds Senate Vote to Advance the "Bring Jobs Home Act"
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) applauded the Senate's vote today to begin debate on the "Bring Jobs Home Act," of which Senator Warren is a cosponsor. This legislation, introduced by Senators John Walsh (D-Mont.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), would close a tax loophole benefitting companies that send jobs overseas, and use the savings from that loophole to invest in businesses who bring jobs back to the United States. The Senate voted 93-7 today to consider … Continue Reading
July 22, 2014
Miller, Harkin, Warren, DeLauro Introduce Legislation to Establish Fair Work Scheduling Practices
WASHINGTON D.C.-In response to recent workplace treads and supporting research that suggest uncertain work schedules can have broad negative consequences for working families, leading Democratic members of Congress today introduced legislation to stem abusive scheduling practices directed primarily at hourly workers. In some of the economy's fastest-growing and lowest-paying industries-including the retail, food service, and janitorial sectors-workers face erratic and irregular work schedules. … Continue Reading
July 16, 2014
Sen. Warren & Rep. Keating Announce Restoration of Social Security Services on Nantucket
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and Congressman Bill Keating today announced that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will begin offering Social Security services on Nantucket via the use of video teleconferencing technology on July 23rd. Regular monthly visits to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard by SSA representatives ended in early 2011. Senator Warren and Congressman Keating had urged SSA to restore the critical services for residents on Nantucket and Martha's … Continue Reading
July 16, 2014
Sen. Warren Delivers Floor Speech on Hobby Lobby, Urges Passage of "Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act"
Video of Senator Warren's Remarks Available Here Text of Senator Warren's Remarks Available Here Washington, DC - In a speech delivered on the floor of the United States Senate Tuesday evening, Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke about the destructive consequences of the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision, and urged the Senate to pass the Protect Women's Health from Corporate Interference Act to restore basic health care services for women across the country. "I cannot believe that we are even … Continue Reading
July 15, 2014
Sen. Warren Questions Fed Chair Yellen on Oversight of Big Banks, Efforts to End Too Big to Fail
Video of Sen. Warren's Q&A with Fed Chair Yellen is available here WASHINGTON, DC -- At a Senate Banking Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen about the Fed's oversight of big banks and its efforts to end "Too Big to Fail." Under Dodd-Frank, big financial institutions are required to submit plans each year detailing how they could be liquidated without bringing down the nation's economy or needing a bailout. Senator Warren … Continue Reading
July 10, 2014
Congressional Delegation Announces $1.36M In Fire Grants To Mass.
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, and Representatives Richard Neal, Jim McGovern, Stephen Lynch and Bill Keating announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a total of $1,368,830 in grants to five Massachusetts fire departments through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The grants were awarded to the Northbridge Fire Department, Sturbridge Fire Department, Russell Fire Department, Braintree Fire … Continue Reading
June 26, 2014
Statement from Sen. Warren on the Supreme Court's Decision on the Mass. Buffer Zone Law
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement today after the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion holding that the Massachusetts buffer zone law is unconstitutional: "I am deeply disappointed by today's Supreme Court decision striking down the Massachusetts buffer zone law. Make no mistake - it is now more difficult to protect the patients and staff of health clinics from violence, intimidation, and harassment. While I strongly disagree … Continue Reading
June 26, 2014
Statement from Sen. Warren on the Massachusetts Minimum Wage
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement today after Governor Deval Patrick signed into law a bill raising Massachusetts' minimum wage to $11.00 per hour by 2017: "Today, Massachusetts stands up and says that no one who works full time should live in poverty. Raising our state's minimum wage will help hundreds of thousands of workers make ends meet and will give them a fighting chance to build a better future for themselves and for their kids. … Continue Reading
