Senator Patty Murray Makes History as the First Woman Chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee

EMILY's List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, today released this statement congratulating Senator Patty Murray on her history-making role as the first woman to chair the Veterans' Affairs Committee.

"Patty Murray will continue to serve as a fierce advocate for American veterans and their families," said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY's List. "Sen. Murray's passionate defense of our veterans and her pioneering leadership will hold our government accountable to those who have served. She is an outspoken activist who has served as the conscience on the Veterans' Affairs committee. The first woman to represent Washington State in the U.S. Senate and now the first woman to chair the Veterans' Affairs committee – Sen. Murray is an inspiration to EMILY's List members."

Senator Murray has been a member of the Veterans' Affairs committee since 1995. She has been honored for her extensive work by American Ex-POW’s, the Vietnam Veterans of American, and the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. Senator Murray has fought to give veterans increased access to healthcare and quality benefits. She was instrumental in passing the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act to improve coordination of care for service members transitioning from the military to the VA. In addition she led the passage of a new G.I Bill that improves educations benefits for troops and veterans who have served since September 11.

In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY's List raised more than $38.5 million to support its mission of recruiting and supporting women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and mobilizing women voters to turn out and vote. With a community of more than 600,000 members across the country, EMILY's List is one of the largest political action committees in the nation. Since its founding in 1985, EMILY's List has worked to elect 84 pro-choice Democratic women to the U.S. House, 16 to the U.S. Senate, nine governors, and hundreds of women to the state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and other key local offices. In the 2009-2010 cycle, EMILY's List had the largest number of members and donors in our 25 year history.