Investigation revealed more than 1 million personal data requests each year in 2011 and 2012 from local and state law enforcement agencies   Washington (May 21, 2015) – With the U.S. Senate debating the end of the government practice of bulk collection of Americans’ phone records, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) continued his... Read More

New legislation would require education on responsible prescribing of opioid pain medication   Calls on VA, Defense Dept., Indian Health Services participate in state efforts to monitor prescription drugs   Leads bipartisan group urging DEA to reinstitute successful National Drug Take Back Days   Washington (May 20, 2015) – As... Read More

Lawmakers repeatedly called for nationwide recall of all defective Takata airbags   Washington (May 19, 2015) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, released the following statement today after the Department of Transportation announced the... Read More

Lawmakers call for Surgeon General’s report on opioid epidemic, ask how success of federal efforts to reduce opioid dependence and abuse will be measured   Nearly 25,000 Americans die each year from an opioid overdose Washington (May 19, 2015) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) today... Read More

Text of the amendment is available here WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Edward J. Markey joined United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) and 12 of their colleagues to introduce an amendment that would prevent "Fast Track" authority from being used to pass trade deals that include Investor-State Dispute... Read More

Lawmakers asked for review of consumers’ access to broadband performance information   Washington (May 18, 105) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Rep. Prank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the new report... Read More

Bill would temporarily suspend new coal leases until reforms are implemented  Washington (May 15, 2015) – In an effort to reform the broken federal coal program that is potentially costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, this week, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Coal Oversight and Leasing (COAL) Reform Act... Read More

Lawmaker is the House author of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act   Washington (May 14, 2015) –The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently considering weakening Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) rules that prevent most autodialing calls to land lines and mobile phones. The TCPA was passed 20 years ago to protect... Read More

Washington – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), top Democrat on the Africa and Global Health subcommittee, released the following statement on recent events in Burundi. “I am deeply concerned by recent events in Burundi. Violence in the streets and the death of protestors paints a clear picture of instability. President Nkurunziza... Read More

Focuses on need to protect students, provide tools to parents when information is shared with third parties   Washington (May 13, 2015) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today reintroduced the “Protecting Student Privacy Act”, legislation that would help safeguard the educational records of students in... Read More

Bills would close free drilling loophole in Gulf of Mexico, increase fines for oil and gas spills or violations   Washington (May 13, 2015) – Senator Edward J.  Markey (D-Mass.) continued his legislative push on energy today with the introduction of two bills that would hold gas and oil companies accountable for their drilling... Read More

Sen. Markey Reintroduces Resolution Declaring September Brain Aneurysm Month   Washington (May 12, 2015) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today introduced Senate Resolution 176, designating the month of September 2015 the “National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month”. The aim of the resolution is to raise awareness about the... Read More

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement on General Motors’ (GM) compensation fund’s approval of the 100th death claim related to faulty ignition switches:   “With today’s grim milestone, we now know that at least 100... Read More

Meeting highlighted need for federal, state and local action to prevent opioid overdoses Washington (May 12, 2015) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today met with Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello and Massachusetts State Rep. Donald Wong to discuss solutions to the prescription drug and heroin epidemic plaguing Gloucester, Cape... Read More

National RES would pump nearly $300 billion into economy, create tens of thousands of jobs, help combat climate change   WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii)... Read More

(U.S. Senate) - Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) are introducing legislation to protect grieving parents from losing their jobs in the event of their child's death.The Parental Bereavement Act would amend... Read More

Hundreds of student veterans using post-9/11 GI Bill benefits were enrolled at one of 28 for-profit colleges that is now closed  (Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Charles... Read More

In Letter, Sens. Markey, Franken and Colleagues Urge FCC to Abandon Misguided Proposal That Would Benefit Giant Cable Corporations, Leave Minnesota Communities and Consumers Behind   Washington (May 12, 2015) —Today, Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Al Franken (D-Minn.) and others pressed for action to help ensure that consumers... Read More

Washington (May 11, 2015) – The Massachusetts Congressional delegation today sent a letter to President Obama supporting the formal appeal request from Governor Charlie Baker to extend the FEMA designated 48-hour period of snow assistance to a 72-hour period for eligible applications. In the letter, the Massachusetts lawmakers point to the... Read More

Trio of bills would reduce wasteful natural gas flaring, incentivize oil and gas co’s to produce on the drilling leases they already own, and study the impacts on ratepayers of energy auctions   Washington (May 11, 2015) – As the Senate begins the process of developing an energy bill, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today... Read More