The Senate Finance Committee passed an amendment to the America’s Healthy Futures Act of 2009 sponsored by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell that will for the first time provide states with the ability to negotiate with health insurers in order to provide high quality health care coverage at a lower cost.

US Senator Maria Cantwell offered her strong support for a public option during today's Senate health care debate, according to a news release from her office.

The Senate Finance Committee’s health care reform bill unveiled today includes newly-accepted language authored by Senator Maria Cantwell to fundamentally transform America’s health care payment system so that it focuses on quality, not quantity of care.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray, and Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler released the following statements in response to the White House’s release of their report on “The Burden of Health Insurance Premium Increases on American Families.”

Seeking to prevent Enron-style market manipulation in commodities and derivatives markets, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell has introduced legislation strengthening enforcement powers over commodities trading.