Democratic Sen. Patty Murray today criticized the Obama administration for blocking a plan to make emergency contraceptives more widely available.

“We need to leave decisions about patient protections up to the experts,” the Washington state senator said. “No one should come between women and the experts that are charged with making impartial, non-political decisions about the safety of the drugs they use.”

Murray made her statement after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius overruled the Food and Drug Administration’s decision that the contraceptives be sold over the counter, including to teenagers 16 years old and younger.

The pill …

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Sen. Patty Murray plans to lead a hearing Wednesday that will examine long wait times for veterans who are trying to get mental health care services from the Veterans Administration (VA).

The hearing comes after the Washington state Democrat, who heads the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, released a survey last month that found most VA mental health care providers across the country were ill-equipped to do their jobs.

Among the findings: Nearly 40 percent said they can’t schedule an appointment within 14 days, as required by the VA; 70 percent said they lacked adequate staff or space to meet the …

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WASHINGTON – Democratic Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington state say the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs to do a better job overseeing a federal program that aims to help small businesses that are owned and operated by disabled veterans.

The senators are questioning the effectiveness of the program, noting that as many as 1,400 contracts were awarded to ineligible businesses last year.

The program is operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE). In 2006, in an attempt to support businesses run by disabled veterans, Congress created the Veterans First contracting preference …

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Washington’s two Democratic U.S. senators put out statements Friday in response to President Obama’s statement that “the American war in Iraq” is concluding at year’s end after a nine-year occupation that cost nearly 4,500 U.S. lives.

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Environment Washington used a mobile billboard this week to bring attention to its effort to urge U.S. Sen. Patty Murray to help close $44 billion in tax advantages by oil companies.

The Washington Democrat was targeted because she is co-chairman of the so-called Super Committee which is charged with finding $1.2 trillion in federal budget cuts or new revenues over the next decade.

“Big Oil gets tax breaks,” read the billboard, “We get the pollution.”

“Washington’s Congressional delegation has the opportunity to lead on ending oil subsidies,” said Katrina Rosen, the group’s field director in a press release. “Representative (Jim) …

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WASHINGTON — If you’ve ever dreamed of a summer wedding at a ski area on federal lands, then today is your lucky day.

Following the lead of the House, the Senate voted late Tuesday night to approve the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act, which will allow ski areas in national forests to be used for much more than skiing.

According to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D- Washington, one of the bill’s cosponsors, new activities could include mountain biking, “expanded scenic opportunities,” summit hiking, and “expanded hospitality opportunities” such as restaurants and summer weddings.

She said eight ski areas in …

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WASHINGTON – Democratic Sens. Patty Murray of Washington state and Jon Tester of Montana are urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to improve it work to make sure that all servicemembers who suffer from military sexual trauma (MST) are made eligible for disability payments.

In a letter to the VA, the senators wrote: “Far too many servicemembers, both men and women, are returning home from service carrying the devastating wounds that result from MST. After sacrificing so much to serve their county, they often face tremendous challenges in obtaining the services and benefits they desperately need. That is why …

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WASHINGTON – Democratic Sen. Patty Murray and Alex Glass, her trusted communications director and a senior adviser for more than 10 years, are parting ways – and the Washington state Democrat says she feels like she’s losing a member of the family.

“Over the last 10 years, Alex – you have been like a member of my family – truly, like a daughter to me,” Murray said in a speech on the Senate floor. “You have gone to the mat for me again and again. You have been with me through thick and thin. You have sacrificed so much for me and my office – and I can’t express enough how deeply I appreciate it.”

In her 12-minute speech, delivered on Wednesday, Murray praised Glass, 33, as a woman who always had her back, who always made sure she had cookies in the car on stressful days, and who always had a fantastic sense of humor.

“I don’t think there is anyone I have spent more time with in the car, traveling around Washington state than Alex,” Murray said.

Glass said the speech made her cry. She worked her last official day for Murray on Friday, and on Oct. 24 she’ll begin her new job as a spokesperson for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a government agency that provides U.S. economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide.

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