Press Releases
Senator Warren Denounces Republican Obstructionism of Gina McCarthy Nomination for EPA Administrator
WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Elizabeth Warren delivered remarks on the floor of the Senate today calling for a vote to confirm Massachusetts native Gina McCarthy as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and denouncing Senate Republicans' obstructionism. Last week, Senate Republicans took the highly unusual step of boycotting the Environment and Public Works Committee markup - a procedural stunt to stall McCarthy's nomination. In Senator Warren's remarks, she called on Republicans … Continue Reading
May 14, 2013
Senator Warren to Federal Reserve, DOJ, SEC: Have You Researched Costs to the Public of Settlement without Admission of Guilt?
WASHINGTON, DC - Following up on an exchange with Comptroller Thomas J. Curry, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren today sent a letter to Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission Mary Jo White to request the disclosure of any research and analysis done on the costs to the public of settling an enforcement action without requiring an admission of guilt. Following a February 14, 2013 Banking Committee … Continue Reading
May 13, 2013
MA To Receive Over $1.8 Million for Airport Safety Improvements
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Elizabeth Warren and William "Mo" Cowan, along with Congressman Bill Keating, announced today that airports in Barnstable, Nantucket, and Provincetown will receive over $1.8 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration that will be used to make critical safety improvements. I'm glad the FAA has awarded these grants to airports on the Cape and Nantucket. The funding will help provide critical safety upgrades … Continue Reading
May 10, 2013
Statement by Senator Warren on Senate Republicans' Steps to Block Obama Administration Nominations
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement on Senate Republicans' actions this week to block the votes of Obama Administration nominations of Gina McCarthy and Tom Perez: "Gina McCarthy is an extraordinary public servant who is highly qualified to serve as the next Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. She was unanimously confirmed to her previous position at the EPA, and the Republicans know they have no grounds for opposing her, … Continue Reading
May 10, 2013
Sen. Warren's Remarks at HELP Committee Hearing on Pharmaceutical Compounding
WASHINGTON, DC - At a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing today (5/9), Sen. Warren discussed the ongoing public health threat posed by inadequate regulation of the pharmaceutical compounding industry. Massachusetts was home to New England Compounding Center, the compounding pharmacy responsible for a fungal meningitis outbreak that killed 53 people and made 733 ill. "As the senior Senator from Massachusetts, I feel a special duty to ensure that we do … Continue Reading
May 08, 2013
Fact Sheet: Bank on Students Loan Fairness Act
To view a one-page fact sheet with information about the Bank on Student Loans Fairness Act, please click here. The full text of the bill may be viewed … Continue Reading
May 08, 2013
Senator Warren Introduces Legislation Extending to Students Same Interest Rates Enjoyed By Big Banks
WASHINGTON, DC - In a speech delivered on the floor of the United States Senate today, Senator Elizabeth Warren called on Congress to stop student loan interest rates from doubling this summer and introduced her first piece of stand-alone legislation, which would allow students to pay the same interest rate on their government loans as big banks. On July 1st of this year, student loan interest rates are set to jump from 3.4 to 6.8 percent, while banks can borrow from the Federal Reserve's … Continue Reading
May 07, 2013
Senator Warren Calls for Repeal of Sequester
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren is advocating for the Job Preservation and Sequester Replacement Act, a bill sponsored by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse that would repeal sequestration by closing corporate tax loopholes and passing the Buffett Rule. This legislation would level the playing field so that middle class families, children and seniors, are no longer supporting tax breaks for millionaires and billion dollar companies. "Sequestration is ugly. It attacks our most … Continue Reading
May 03, 2013
USDA Announces Plan to Purchase Up to $5 Million of Cranberry Concentrate
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren and William "Mo" Cowan, along with Congressmen James McGovern, William Keating, and Joseph P. Kennedy III, today applauded the decision of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase up to $5 million of cranberry concentrate for federal nutrition assistance programs, including food banks. "I'm pleased the USDA has announced plans to buy cranberry products for federal nutrition assistance programs," said Senator Warren. … Continue Reading
May 02, 2013
Senator Warren, Senate Colleagues Send Letter Urging Action by President Obama to End Veterans' Disabilities Claims Backlog
WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday, April 29th, United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) signed onto a bipartisan letter with 66 of her Senate colleagues urging President Obama to take action to end the current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability claims backlog. "Our men and women in uniform serve our country with honor and courage, putting themselves in harm's way to protect us," said Senator Warren. "We have an obligation to do all we can to support our veterans and their families, … Continue Reading
May 01, 2013
$248,000 in FEMA Grants to Assist First Responders in Orleans, Sudbury and Winthrop
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senators Elizabeth Warren and William "Mo" Cowan and Congressmen Ed Markey and Bill Keating announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded grants totaling $248,000 to help meet firefighting and emergency response needs in the cities of Orleans, Sudbury and Winthrop. "These grants will help ensure that firefighters have the resources and equipment they need to be ready in times of emergency and to protect our families, cities, and towns," said … Continue Reading
May 01, 2013
Statement from Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the Nomination of Mel Watt for FHFA Director
WASHINGTON, DC - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today released the following statement on President Obama's decision to nominate Mel Watt to serve as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA): "The President has made an excellent choice in nominating Mel Watt to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Congressman Watt is a thoughtful policymaker with a deep background in finance and a long record as a champion for working families. The Senate … Continue Reading
April 30, 2013
Statement from Sen. Warren on NOAA Announcement Cutting Fish Catch Allocations
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren released the following statement today following the announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of significant cuts to catch allocations for Massachusetts fishermen: "These painful cuts will be felt far beyond the docks and will impose economic hardship on our coastal communities. I am frustrated that the Administration rejected our calls to issue an interim rule that would have balanced protecting the fishing … Continue Reading
April 29, 2013
Senators Warren and Cowan Urge Action by President Obama to Support Massachusetts Fishermen
WASHINGTON, DC - On Thursday, April 25th, United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and William "Mo" Cowan (D-MA) sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging immediate action to aid Massachusetts fishermen. The full text of the letter may be viewed here. In September 2012, the Secretary of Commerce issued disaster declarations for several fisheries, including the Northeast groundfish fishery. The industry currently faces devastating reductions in catch allocations for key fish stocks … Continue Reading
April 27, 2013
Statement from Senators Warren and Cowan on SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan for Boston Businesses
WASHINGTON, DC - On April 27, 2013, Senators Elizabeth Warren and William "Mo" Cowan released statements in support and appreciation of the Small Business Administration's announcement of Economic Injury Disaster Loans made available to Boston businesses impacted by last week's attacks in Boston. In the aftermath of the bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, a 12-block area surrounding the explosions was identified as a crime scene by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) … Continue Reading
April 25, 2013
MassDevelopment Awarded $40 Million in New Markets Tax Credits
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren applauds the decision of the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to award a New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) of $40 million to MassDevelopment New Markets LLC. The Massachusetts delegation sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew in support of MassDevelopment's application and initiatives to stimulate development in low-income communities. The award will allow MassDevelopment to receive a credit against federal income taxes … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
Massachusetts Congressional Delegation Introduces Resolution on Boston Marathon Attacks
WASHINGTON - The Massachusetts Congressional Delegation today introduced a resolution honoring the victims of the bombings at Monday's Boston Marathon, recognizing the first responders who helped those in need, and committing to provide all necessary resources to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice. The full text of the resolution is below, and a link to a copy of the resolution can be found HERE: RESOLUTION Condemning the horrific attacks of April 15, 2013, in Boston, … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
Letter from Senator Elizabeth Warren on the Tragedy in Boston
Each year, during the Boston Marathon, Bostonians are one family. We cheer for each other. We help each other across the finish line. Marathon Monday is always a day of great celebration, but two days ago it was turned into tragedy. When terror strikes, we are one family. We cry together. We pray together. We help each other together. On Monday, on Boylston Street and throughout Boston, people helped however they could. They carried each other, opened their homes, and gave comfort and support … Continue Reading
April 16, 2013
Information and Resources on the Tragedy in Boston
For information and resources on the tragedy in Boston, please visit the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency website … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
Warren and Cummings to OCC and Federal Reserve: Illegal Foreclosures are Not Corporate Trade Secrets
Washington, DC (April 10, 2013)-Today, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry challenging the decision by agency staff not to provide any documents in response to a requestfrom the Members of Congress seeking documents relating to … Continue Reading