View source for Ed Markey

{{Short description|American politician (born 1946)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Ed Markey
| image               = Julie Su and Ed Markey (FsUCK14WYAI6WVy) (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Markey in 2023
| office              = Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]
| term_start          = January 3, 2025
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Joni Ernst]]
| successor           = 
| jr/sr1              = United States Senator
| state1              = [[Massachusetts]]
| alongside1          = [[Elizabeth Warren]]
| term_start1         = July 16, 2013
| term_end1           = 
| predecessor1        = [[Mo Cowan]]
| successor1          = 
| office2             = Chair of the [[United States House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming|House Global Warming Committee]]
| term_start2         = March 8, 2007
| term_end2           = January 6, 2011
| predecessor2        = Position established
| successor2          = Position abolished
| state3              = [[Massachusetts]]
| term_start3         = November 2, 1976
| term_end3           = July 15, 2013
| predecessor3        = [[Torbert Macdonald]]
| successor3          = [[Katherine Clark]]
| constituency3       = {{ushr|MA|7|7th district}} (1976–2013)<br />{{ushr|MA|5|5th district}} (2013)
| office4             = Member of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]]
| term_start4         = January 3, 1975
| term_end4           = November 2, 1976
| predecessor4        = Edward Dickson
| successor4          = John McNeil
| constituency4       = [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 26th Middlesex district|26th Middlesex]]
| term_start5         = January 3, 1973
| term_end5           = January 3, 1975
| predecessor5        = [[William R. Callahan (state representative)|William Callahan]]
| successor5          = Richard McGrath
| constituency5       = [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 16th Middlesex district|16th Middlesex]]
| birth_name          = Edward John Markey
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1946|7|11}}
| birth_place         = [[Malden, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Susan Blumenthal]]|1988}}
| education           = [[Boston College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| signature           = Sen. Ed Markey signature.png
| website             = {{url|markey.senate.gov|Senate website}}
| allegiance          = United States
| branch              = {{tree list}}
* [[United States Army]]
** [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]]
{{tree list/end}}
| serviceyears        = 1968–1973
| rank                = [[Specialist (rank)#Specialist (1955–present)|Specialist 4]]
|module      = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = Ed Markey questions witnesses on healthcare worker shortages.ogg
|title       = Markey's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Markey questions witnesses on healthcare worker shortages<br/>Recorded February 16, 2023}}
}}
'''Edward John Markey''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɑr|k|i}} {{respell|MAR|kee}}; born July 11, 1946) is an American politician serving as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|junior]] [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from the state of [[Massachusetts]], a seat he has held since 2013. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he served 20 terms (18 full, two partial) as the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|MA|7}} from 1976 to 2013. Before his congressional career, he was a member of the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]] from 1973 to 1976. When [[Ted Kennedy]] died in 2009, Markey became the dean of [[United States congressional delegations from Massachusetts|Massachusetts's congressional delegation]].

In 2013, after [[John Kerry]] was appointed [[United States Secretary of State]], Markey was elected to serve out the remainder of Kerry's Senate term in a [[2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts|2013 special election]]. Markey defeated [[Stephen Lynch (politician)|Stephen Lynch]] in the Democratic primary and [[Republican party (United States)|Republican]] Gabriel E. Gomez in the [[2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts|general election]]. He was elected to a full term in the Senate in [[2014 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|2014]]. Markey fended off a primary challenge from [[Joe Kennedy III|Joseph Kennedy III]] and was [[2020 United States Senate election in Massachusetts|reelected in 2020]] by a wide margin.

Markey is a [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] who has focused on [[climate change]] and [[energy policy of the United States|energy policy]] and was chair of the [[United States House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming|House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming]] from 2007 to 2011. He is the Senate author of the [[Green New Deal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/691997301/rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-releases-green-new-deal-outline|title=Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Releases Green New Deal Outline|author=Kurtzleben, Danielle|work=NPR|date=February 7, 2019|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref> He is now the longest-serving Democrat in Congress, having served since 1976. His progressive policies have led to widespread support among young voters.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sommer |first1=Liz |title=Gen Zers stan Ed Markey. Here Are The Memes To Prove It. |url=https://stayhipp.com/internet/memes/gen-zers-stan-ed-markey-here-are-the-memes-to-prove-it/ |website=Stay Hipp.|date=August 25, 2020 }}</ref> ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' has called him "an icon to [[Generation Z|Gen Z]] activists".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Birenbaum |first1=Gabby |title=Inside Ed Markey's unlikely emergence as an icon to Gen Z activists |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/513131-inside-ed-markeys-unlikely-emergence-as-an-icon-to-gen-z-activists/ |website=The Hill|date=August 22, 2020 }}</ref>
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==Early life and education ==
Markey was born on July 11, 1946, in [[Malden, Massachusetts]], the son of Christina M. (née Courtney) and John E. Markey, a milkman. Markey's mother was the valedictorian of her high school class but was unable to attend college because her mother died and she was needed to care for the family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1976/11/22/ed-markey-the-milkmans-son-who/|title=Ed Markey: The milkman's son who broke the rules|work=The Harvard Crimson|author=Hilder, David B.|date=November 22, 1976|language=en|access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/56441073.html?FMT=ABS | work=Boston Herald | title=Obituary; John E. Markey, at 89, manager for H.P. Hood | date=July 14, 2000 | access-date=July 6, 2017 | archive-date=November 5, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105084419/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/56441073.html?FMT=ABS | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/32366457.html?FMT=ABS | work=Boston Herald | title=Obituary; Christina M. Markey, congressman's mother | date=July 24, 1998 | access-date=July 6, 2017 | archive-date=November 5, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105084428/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/bostonherald/access/32366457.html?FMT=ABS | url-status=dead }}</ref> The family was [[Irish Catholic]], and Markey was educated at Immaculate Conception School and [[Malden Catholic High School]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bachrach |first=George |date=2020-09-25 |title=Markey didn’t reinvent himself, he was rediscovered |url=https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/markey-didnt-reinvent-himself-he-was-rediscovered/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=CommonWealth Beacon |language=en-US}}</ref>

Starting in the summer of 1965, Markey was the driver and salesperson for an [[Ice cream van|ice cream truck]] in [[Lexington, Massachusetts]]. He was known as "Eddie the Ice Cream Man" to neighborhood children and used the proceeds from the [[HP Hood]] route to pay tuition at Boston College. In the late 1960s Markey was cited by the Lexington Police for the ringing of his bell to announce the ice cream truck's presence. Soon after the citation, the selectmen of Lexington changed the ordinance and he was allowed to ring his bell.<ref>{{cite news |last=Aveson |first=Heather |url=https://colonialtimesmagazine.com/eddie-the-ice-cream-man-2/ |title="Eddie" the Ice Cream Man |work=Colonial Times Magazine |date=August 24, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926151952/http://colonialtimesmagazine.com/eddie-the-ice-cream-man-2/ |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |access-date=July 28, 2019 }}</ref>

Markey graduated from [[Boston College]] in 1968 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] and from [[Boston College Law School]] in 1972 with a [[Juris Doctor]].<ref name="cong-bio">{{cite web| url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=m000133 | work=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]] | title=Markey, Edward John |publisher=[[United States Congress]]}}</ref>

==Career==
[[File:1975 Edward Markey Massachusetts House of Representatives.png|thumb|upright=0.60|Edward Markey, 1975]]
After graduating, Markey worked as a lawyer in private practice. He served in the [[United States Army Reserve]] from 1968 to 1973, attaining the rank of [[Specialist (rank)|Specialist 4]].<ref name="Bierman">{{cite news |last=Bierman |first=Noah |date=April 21, 2013 |title=A Drive That Stunned Markey's Family, and Never Ebbed: Representative Came in as a Rebel, Then Rose |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/04/20/markey-rode-anti-vietnam-post-watergate-yearnings-seat-congress/geRkNb4wX1HRtZElFpXpgI/story.html |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |location=Boston, MA |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He joined while a junior in college, and has said that he enlisted before knowing whether he would receive a [[Vietnam War]] draft notice.<ref name="Bierman"/>{{efn|Markey was not drafted.  His birth date corresponded to number 248 in the 1969 military draft. The highest number called up for military service was 195.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sss.gov/About/History-And-Records/lotter1 |title=The Vietnam Lotteries |website=History and Records |publisher=United States Selective Service System |location=Washington, DC |access-date=September 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904185904/https://www.sss.gov/About/History-And-Records/lotter1 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}} Markey also said that even though he opposed the war, he would have answered the induction notice and gone to [[Vietnam]] if he had been drafted, despite having secured a position in the Reserve.<ref name="Bierman"/> His [[South Boston, Massachusetts|South Boston]] reserve unit included [[Thomas P. O'Neill III]], [[Steve Grossman (politician)|Steve Grossman]], and Markey's brothers Richard and John.<ref name="Bierman"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Nickisch |first=Curt |date=April 24, 2013 |title=Markey, U.S. Congressman For 36 Years, Sets His Sights On The Senate |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2013/04/24/edward-markey-senate-profile |work=[[WBUR-FM]] Radio |location=Boston, MA}}</ref>

Markey was elected to the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives]], where he represented the [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 16th Middlesex district|16th Middlesex]] district ([[Malden, Massachusetts|Malden]] and [[Melrose, Massachusetts|Melrose]]) and [[Massachusetts House of Representatives' 26th Middlesex district|26th Middlesex]] district from 1973 to 1976.<ref>{{cite book |title=Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |volume=1973, 1975 |url=http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/40890/browse?type=dateissued  |publisher=[[Massachusetts General Court]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date= September 4, 2020 |work= PD43+ |author= Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Elections Division |url= https://electionstats.state.ma.us/candidates/view/Edward-J-Markey |title= Candidates: Edward J. Markey }}</ref>

==U.S. House of Representatives==

===Elections===
[[File:Ed Markey 101st Congress portrait.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Markey during the [[101st United States Congress]] (1989)]]
On May 21, 1976, incumbent Congressman [[Torbert Macdonald]] died in office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/05/22/archives/rep-macdonald-58-dies-led-election-law-reform-powerful-legislature.html|title=Rep. Macdonald, 58, Dies; Led Election Law Reform|work=The New York Times|author=Hanley, Robert|date=May 22, 1976|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref> Markey, who had just been elected to a third term in the state house, entered a twelve-candidate Democratic primary<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Barone (pundit) |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant |title=The Almanac of American Politics 1988|work=[[National Journal]] |year=1987 |page=561|title-link=The Almanac of American Politics }}</ref> for what was then the [[Massachusetts's 7th congressional district|7th district]]. In the primary—the real contest in this heavily Democratic district—Markey won the nomination with a plurality of 22% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=374833 |title=MA District 07 – D Primary Race – Sep 14, 1976 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> In the November 1976 election he defeated Republican Richard Daly 77%–18%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=32052 |title=MA District 07 – Special Election Race – Nov 02, 1976 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> That election doubled as both a special election for the balance of Macdonald's 11th term and a regular election for a full two-year term, and so Markey took office later that night. This gave him greater seniority than other Representatives first elected in 1976.

Markey was challenged in a Democratic primary three times, first in 1980, when he won 85%;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=756685 |title=MA District 07 – D Primary Race – Sep&nbsp;16, 1980 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> then in 1984, when he won 54%;<ref name="ourcampaigns.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=501530 |title=MA District 7 – D Primary Race – Sep 18, 1984 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> and finally in 2002, when he won 85% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1455 |title=MA District 7 – D Primary Race – Sep 17, 2002 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref>

Markey was reelected 19 more times from this district, which included most of the northern suburbs of [[Boston]]. His lowest vote total was 62% in 1992, in a three-way election. Markey faced no Republican opposition in eight of his bids for reelection, in 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 1990, 2000, 2002, and 2006.<ref name="clerk">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Office of the House Clerk – Electoral Statistics |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=January 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730201058/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=July 30, 2008  }}</ref><ref name="fedelect">{{cite web|url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/electionresults.shtml|title=Election Results|publisher=[[Federal Election Commission]]|access-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref> His district was renumbered the 5th after the 2010 census, in which Massachusetts lost a district.

===Tenure===
[[File:EdMarkey-Committee on Natural Resources.jpg|right|thumb|Markey as ranking member of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Natural Resources Committee]]]]
Markey was a member of the [[Congressional Progressive Caucus]], and the ''[[National Journal]]'' gave him a "Composite [[Modern liberalism in the United States|Liberal]]" score of 89.2.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H1780103&type=category&category=National%20Journal |title=National Special Interest Groups |work=Vote Smart |access-date=December 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061215062009/http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H1780103&type=category&category=National%20Journal |archive-date=December 15, 2006  }}</ref>

====Environment and energy====
In December 2007, Markey became the first US politician to use [[Second Life]], through which he addressed the delegates of the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|UNFCCC]] in [[Bali]] as part of [[OneClimate]]'s Virtual Bali event. It was estimated that the [[carbon dioxide]] he saved by not flying to Bali was around 5.5 tons.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://globalwarming.markey.house.gov/mediacenter/pressreleases_id=0140.html | title=Remarks of the Avatar of the Hon. Edward J. Markey on the virtual island of Bali, Indonesia in Second Life |website=globalwarming.markey.house.gov| date=December 11, 2008 | access-date=October 19, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030102553/http://globalwarming.markey.house.gov/mediacenter/pressreleases_id%3D0140.html | archive-date=October 30, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Pressure from Markey prompted [[BP]] to provide a live underwater video feed showing oil leaking out of a pipe in the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bp-bows-to-pressure-for-oil-leak-livestream/ |title=BP Bows to Pressure for Oil Leak Livestream |work=[[CBS News]] |date=May 19, 2010 |access-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref> Markey has been a longtime critic of the [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]] (NRC) and has been critical of the NRC's decision-making on the proposed Westinghouse [[AP1000]] reactor design and the NRC response to the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/u-s-regulator-says-fukushima-lessons-can-percolate/ |title=U.S. Regulator Says Fukushima Lessons Can Percolate |author=Wald, Matthew L. |date=July 28, 2011 |work=The New York Times|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/35103/page2/ |title=Fukushima's Spreading Impact |author=Peter Fairley |date=March 15, 2011 |work=[[Technology Review]] }}</ref>

In reply to [[List of Governors of Alaska|Alaska's Governor]] [[Sarah Palin]]'s position on how the [[American Clean Energy and Security Act]] (also known as Waxman-Markey, named after Markey and [[Henry Waxman]]) could have a negative impact for Alaskans,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us4palin.com/governor-palin-opposes-waxman-markey-bill/ |title=Governor Palin Opposes Waxman-Markey Bill |website=us4palin.com|author=Devito, Ron|date=June 30, 2009 |access-date=September 24, 2012}}</ref> Markey wrote an article criticizing Palin's inaction on [[global warming]] and her environmental positions.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2009/06/markey-predicts-us-economy-will-rebound-soon.html |title=Markey predicts U.S. economy will rebound soon |work=Boston Business Journal |date=June 11, 2009 |access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref>

Markey sarcastically suggested in August 2010 that [[climate change denial|global warming deniers]] form their own country on an iceberg: "An iceberg four times the size of [[Manhattan]] has broken off [[Greenland]], creating plenty of room for global warming deniers to start their own country." Markey also said that, at the time, 2010 was the hottest recorded year and that "scientists agree Arctic ice is a canary in a coal mine that provides clear warnings on climate".<ref name="Start country">{{cite news|title=Markey: Deniers of global warming should 'start their own country'|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/168458-markey-deniers-of-global-warming-should-start-their-own-country/|newspaper=The Hill|date=August 7, 2010}}</ref><ref name=Skeptics>{{cite news|title=MA pol: warming skeptics should move to ice island |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/08/07/ma_pol_warming_skeptics_should_move_to_ice_island/%27|newspaper=Boston|date=August 7, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=April 2014|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> Markey has derided Republicans' stance on global warming, stating during a hearing: "I won't physically rise, because I'm worried that Republicans will overturn the law of gravity, sending us floating about the room."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/03/10/174942/markey-flat-earthers/?mobile=nc | title=During Climate Hearing, Markey Asks If Anti-Science GOP Will Repeal Gravity, Heliocentrism, Relativity |work=ThinkProgress|author=Johnson, Brad| date=March 10, 2011 | access-date=September 24, 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902205415/http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/03/10/174942/markey-flat-earthers/?mobile=nc | archive-date=September 2, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In January 2011, House Republicans eliminated the [[United States House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming|Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming]], which [[Nancy Pelosi]] created in 2006 and Markey chaired.<ref name="Kill Committee">{{cite news|title=Republicans kill global warming committee|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/jan/06/republicans-kill-global-warming-committee|newspaper=The Guardian|date=January 6, 2011|first=Kate|last=Sheppard|location=London}}</ref>

====Objection to certifying the 2004 U.S. presidential election results====
Markey was one of the 31 House Democrats who voted not to count Ohio's 20 [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 U.S. presidential election]].<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml Final Vote Results for Roll Call 7]. Clerk.house.gov. January 6, 2005.</ref> In 2004, President [[George W. Bush]] (the Republican nominee) had defeated Senator [[John Kerry]] (the Democratic nominee) in Ohio by 118,457 votes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/politics/ohio-recount-gives-a-smaller-margin-to-bush.html|title=Ohio Recount Gives a Smaller Margin to Bush|first=Albert|last=Salvato|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 29, 2004}}</ref> Without Ohio's electoral votes, the 2004 presidential election would have been decided by the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state having one vote, as dictated by the [[Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution]].

====Domestic initiatives====
Markey introduced legislation to change the duration of [[daylight saving time|Daylight Saving Time]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daylight-saving-time.com/usa/energy-policy-act-2005.htm |title=USA Daylight Saving Time change from 2007 |publisher=daylight-saving-time.com |access-date=December 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302033520/http://www.daylight-saving-time.com/usa/energy-policy-act-2005.htm |archive-date=March 2, 2009 }}</ref> and to increasing privacy controls over children online.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Stecklow |first1=Steve |last2=Angwin |first2=Julia |author-link=Julia Angwin |url=http://voices.allthingsd.com/20110507/house-releases-do-not-track-bill/ |title=House Releases 'Do Not Track' Children Bill |work=All Things Digital |date=May 7, 2011 |access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref>

Markey drew some controversy through his proposal to introduce legislation<ref>{{cite web|title=July 9, 2011: MARKEY TO INTRODUCE ROLLER COASTER SAFETY LEGISLATION|url=http://markey.house.gov/press-release/july-9-2011-markey-introduce-roller-coaster-safety-legislation|website=markey.house.gov|access-date=February 13, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120115183522/http://markey.house.gov/press-release/july-9-2011-markey-introduce-roller-coaster-safety-legislation|archive-date=January 15, 2012}}</ref> that deals with amusement parks' roller coasters, believing that newer, faster rides that exert greater G-pressures on the human body are dangerous mentally and physically, despite a lack of concrete evidence to support these claims,<ref>{{cite web|last=Cooke|first=Charles C. W|title=Ed Markey's Peculiar Crusade|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2013/02/ed-markeys-peculiar-crusade-charles-c-w-cooke/|work=National Review|date=February 9, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref> and contrary to studies that affirmed the safety of roller coasters in general.<ref>{{cite news|last=Collins|first=Dan|title=Researchers: Roller Coasters Are Safe|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/researchers-roller-coasters-are-safe/|access-date=February 13, 2013|newspaper=CBS News|date=February 11, 2009}}</ref>

In 2009, Markey sponsored the [[Internet Freedom Preservation Act]] to enact principles of [[net neutrality]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Text of H.R. 3458 as Introduced in House: Internet Freedom Preservation Act of 2009|url=http://www.opencongress.org/bill/hr3458-111/text|website=opencongress.org|access-date=June 11, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184454/http://www.opencongress.org/bill/hr3458-111/text|archive-date=July 14, 2014}}</ref> The proposed legislation received support from a few dozen co-sponsors and public interest organizations but ultimately died in committee before enactment.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brodsky|first1=Art|title=Public Knowledge Hails Internet Freedom Preservation Act|url=https://www.publicknowledge.org/news-blog/press-release/public-knowledge-hails-internet-freedom-preservati|publisher=Public Knowledge|access-date=June 11, 2014|archive-date=July 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714132801/https://www.publicknowledge.org/news-blog/press-release/public-knowledge-hails-internet-freedom-preservati|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Beijing-Tianjin High Speed Train.jpg|thumb|240px|Rep. Markey (R) with [[Ministry of Railways (China)|Chinese Minister of Railways]] [[Liu Zhijun]] (L) and [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|U.S. House Speaker]] [[Nancy Pelosi]] (C) in May 2009. Behind them is a [[Hexie Hao]] train on the [[Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Railway]].]]

====National defense====
In 2003, Markey called attention to the lack of security surrounding air cargo placed on commercial passenger planes, arguing that if passenger baggage is screened for explosive devices, cargo on the plane should be as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x370073525/Markey-targets-air-cargo-loophole|title=Markey targets air cargo loophole|date=November 1, 2010|access-date=December 30, 2012|author=Kathy Uek|work=[[The MetroWest Daily News]]}}</ref> In 2007, he succeeded in getting a 100% air cargo screening requirement signed into law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-233251749.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111044433/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-233251749.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2013|title=Markey cites progress on 100% air cargo screening, says more needs to be done.|date=July 31, 2012|access-date=December 30, 2012|work=States News Service}}</ref> In the law codifying the recommendations of the [[9/11 Commission]], Markey wrote the mandate requiring all cargo on passenger planes to be screened.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-ed-markey/commerce-wont-trump-homel_b_37914.html|title=Commerce Won't Trump Homeland Security in the 110th Congress|author=Markey, Ed|date=January 5, 2007|access-date=December 30, 2012|work=[[The Huffington Post]]}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce|Committee on Energy and Commerce]]
** [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Communications and Technology|Subcommittee on Communications and Technology]]
** [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Power|Subcommittee on Energy and Power]]
** [[United States House Energy Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations|Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations]]
* [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|Committee on Natural Resources]] (Ranking Member)
** As Ranking Member, Markey served as an ''[[ex officio]]'' member on [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources#Subcommittees|all Subcommittees]]

==U.S. Senate==

In 2004, Markey was considered a contender for [[John Kerry]]'s seat in the [[United States Senate]] if Kerry were to be elected [[President of the United States]].<ref name="Markey Senate Bid">{{cite news|title=Markey weighs Senate bid|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0909/Markey_weighs_Senate_bid_.html|newspaper=Politico|date=September 7, 2009}}</ref> He was also considered a leading contender in the [[United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2010|2010 special election]] to replace the late [[Ted Kennedy]], but on September 12, 2009, he announced his decision not to run and endorsed fellow Congressman [[Michael Capuano]], who went on to lose the Democratic primary to [[Martha Coakley]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Markey not running for Kennedy seat| date=September 12, 2009 | publisher=[[Boston.com]] | url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/09/markey_not_runn.html | first=Foon | last=Rhee}}</ref>

===Elections===

==== 2013 special ====
[[File:Edward Markey, official portrait, 114th Congress.jpg|thumb|Official portrait in 2013]]
{{Main|2013 United States Senate special election in Massachusetts}}

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Ed Markey for Senate.jpg|right|thumb|Markey campaigning for U.S. Senate]] -->
On December 27, 2012, Markey was the first to announce his candidacy to run in a special election to fill Kerry's seat after [[Barack Obama]] nominated him for [[United States Secretary of State]].<ref>{{cite news | title=US Rep. Markey to run in Senate special election| date=December 27, 2012 | publisher=[[Boston.com]] | url=https://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/12/27/rep-markey-run-senate-special-election/1aidfQ9YeNT0xXXPnWuS8I/story.html | first=Mark | last= Arsenault}}</ref> Several politicians, including Kerry, endorsed Markey even before the Senate confirmed Kerry.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Phillips |first1=Frank |title=Leaders in party support Markey |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=2012-09-29 |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2012/12/29/kerry/zv5LFPFt1wWjvtlLug5I4K/story.html |language=en-US |access-date=2021-05-21 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> On April 30, 2013, Markey won the Democratic nomination by defeating fellow Congressman [[Stephen Lynch (politician)|Stephen Lynch]] in the primary election.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Steve|last1=LeBlanc|first2=Bob|last2=Salsberg|work=The Huffington Post|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/30/ed-markey-wins_n_3189362.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501013314/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/30/ed-markey-wins_n_3189362.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 1, 2013|title=Ed Markey Wins Massachusetts Democratic Senate Primary|date=April 30, 2013}}</ref> He defeated Republican challenger [[Gabriel E. Gomez]] in the general special election on June 25 and completed the remaining 17 months of Kerry's term.<ref name="BG Markey keeps party's hold">{{cite news|last=Levenson|first=Michael|title=Edward Markey keeps party's hold on Senate seat|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/06/25/markey-wins/u1MDyv4iv1xsIu6YGbJVbI/story.html|access-date=June 26, 2013|newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=June 26, 2013|author2=Frank Phillips|archive-date=June 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629175158/http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/06/25/markey-wins/u1MDyv4iv1xsIu6YGbJVbI/story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/massachusetts-special-senate-election.html?hp | title =Democrat Wins Special Election for Kerry's Senate Seat | author =Seelye, Katharine Q.| work=The New York Times| date =June 25, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

Markey is the longest-tenured House member ever elected to the Senate, with his 36-plus years of service exceeding that of [[Frederick H. Gillett]], who served in the House for 32 years before moving to the upper chamber in 1925.<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael A.|last=Memoli|work=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-pn-massachusetts-senate-markey-20130625,0,4311632.story|title=Rep. Edward Markey Wins John Kerry's Senate Seat in Massachusetts|date=June 25, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2013/06/27/paying-his-dues-markey-shatter/ |title= Paying His Dues: Markey Shatters Senate Record for Prior House Service |work=Smart Politics |first=Eric |last=Ostermeier |date= June 27, 2013}}</ref> He is the 11th oldest candidate to win a U.S. Senate special election out of more than 170 people since the passage of the [[Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|17th Amendment]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://editions.lib.umn.edu/smartpolitics/2013/06/26/how-long-will-ed-markey-serve/ |title= How Long Will Ed Markey Serve? |work=Smart Politics |first=Eric |last=Ostermeier |date= June 26, 2013}}</ref>

==== 2014 ====
{{see also|2014 United States Senate election in Massachusetts}}
Markey sought a full six-year term in 2014. He defeated Republican [[Hopkinton, Massachusetts|Hopkinton]] [[board of selectmen|selectman]] Brian Herr with 62% of the vote.

==== 2020 ====
{{see also|2020 United States Senate election in Massachusetts}}
In the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries]], Markey endorsed fellow Massachusetts Senator [[Elizabeth Warren]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2019/02/09/elizabeth-warren-endorsements-2020 |title=Ed Markey endorses Warren for Democratic Primary |work=Boston.com|author=DeCosta-Klipa, Nik |date=February 9, 2019 |access-date=August 5, 2020}}</ref> After Warren withdrew in early 2020, he endorsed [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.edmarkey.com/press/senator-markey-endorses-joe-biden-for-president/ |title=Senator Markey Endorses Joe Biden for President |date=April 16, 2020 |website=edmarkey.com |publisher=Office of U.S. Senator Ed Markey |location=Washington, DC|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

Several Massachusetts Democrats announced primary challenges to Markey in the September 1, 2020 election,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2019/09/03/massachusetts-primary-senate-house-races|title=Joe Kennedy isn't the only one. These people are all thinking about challenging incumbents in Massachusetts|work=[[Boston.com]]|author=DeCosta-Klipa, Nik|date=September 3, 2019|access-date=September 3, 2019}}</ref> but all but [[MA-04|4th district]] Representative [[Joe Kennedy III]] dropped out, leaving Kennedy as the sole challenger.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Anthony |title=Liss-Riordan Drops Out Of Senate Race; Kennedy Now Lone Markey Challenger |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/01/17/shannon-liss-riordan-senate-campaign-end |website=[[WBUR]]|date=January 17, 2020|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref> On September 13, 2019, Representative [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]], with whom Markey has collaborated on the proposed [[Green New Deal]], endorsed Markey.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pindell |first1=James |last2=McGrane |first2=Victoria |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/09/13/aoc-endorses-markey-for-election/WT32VASrDLneIqIG24caeO/story.html |title=Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorses Markey for reelection |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=September 13, 2019 |access-date=September 13, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Friedman|first=Lisa|date=2019-02-21|title=What Is the Green New Deal? A Climate Proposal, Explained|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/climate/green-new-deal-questions-answers.html|access-date=2020-09-25|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Markey defeated Kennedy with 55.6% of the vote, with overwhelming margins in Boston and the surrounding suburbs, including Kennedy's Newton, and in the college towns of Western Massachusetts. The primary race was seen by many as a showdown between the Democratic establishment, represented by Kennedy, and its new and growing progressive wing, embodied by Markey.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Conradis|first=Brandon|date=2020-09-01|title=How Markey took down a Kennedy|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/514702-how-markey-took-down-a-kennedy/|access-date=2020-09-25|website=The Hill|language=en}}</ref> Despite the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]]'s longstanding opposition to Democratic primary challengers, House Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] endorsed Kennedy, whose fundraising and campaigning efforts she credited for returning the House to Democratic control in the 2018 midterm elections.<ref name="pelosi">{{Cite web|title=Nancy Pelosi defends endorsement of Joe Kennedy over Ed Markey|first=Nik|last=DeCosta-Klipa|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/08/24/nancy-pelosi-endorsement-joe-kennedy-ed-markey|date=August 24, 2020|access-date=2020-09-25|website=Boston.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Meanwhile, Markey had the support of Senate Minority Leader [[Chuck Schumer]], Senator Elizabeth Warren, Ocasio-Cortez, and the youth-led [[Sunrise Movement]] founded in 2017 to promote the Green New Deal as a solution to the [[climate crisis]].<ref name="pelosi"/><ref>{{Cite web|first=Victoria|last=McGrane |date=July 8, 2020|title=Elizabeth Warren tiptoes into Markey-Kennedy primary fight|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/07/08/metro/elizabeth-warren-tiptoes-into-markey-kennedy-primary-fight/|access-date=2020-09-25|work=The Boston Globe|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/01/us/politics/massachusetts-senate-vote-results.html|title=Markey Holds Off Joseph Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate Race|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Martin, Jonathan|date=September 1, 2020|access-date=September 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>[https://www.democracynow.org/2020/9/2/the_end_of_oil The End of Oil? Pandemic Adds to Fossil Fuel Glut, But COVID-19 Relief Money Flows to Oil Industry], ''[[Democracy Now]]'', September 2, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.</ref>

Markey defeated Republican Kevin O'Connor in the general election.

===Tenure===
[[File:Ed Markey in Boston 2015.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Senator Markey attending the Greater Boston Labor Council's 2015 annual Labor Day Breakfast in Boston.]]
Markey resigned his House seat on July 15, 2013, and was sworn into the Senate on July 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/07/special_election_set_for_dec_1.html |title=Special election set for Dec. 10 to fill Ed Markey's U.S. House seat |website=masslive.com |date=July 15, 2013|author=Schoenberg, Shira |access-date=February 19, 2014}}</ref> Although he is the dean of the Massachusetts delegation, he is the state's junior Senator, since [[Elizabeth Warren]] took office six months before he did.

Markey is known for the "blizzard" of public letters he posts on his website and sends to the press to draw attention to his favored issues.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Byers|first1=Alex|title=Ed Markey's policy strategy: Letter rip|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/ed-markey-privacy-103401.html|access-date=August 13, 2014|work=Politico|date=November 2, 2014}}</ref>

Markey was on Capitol Hill to participate in the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]] when Trump supporters [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|attacked the U.S. Capitol]]. During the attack, he and his staff sheltered in place in an undisclosed location. During the siege, he tweeted, "Donald Trump is responsible for the coup that is unfolding at the Capitol. He is a fascist and a direct threat to our country."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Connolly |first1=Brynne |last2=Barnett |first2=Byron |title=Massachusetts officials react as rioters overtake US Capitol |url=https://whdh.com/news/massachusetts-officials-react-as-rioters-overtake-us-capitol/ |work=WHDH |access-date=11 January 2021 |date=6 January 2021}}</ref> After the Capitol was secure, Markey tweeted that Trump should be impeached.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newhauser |first1=Daniel |title=Some Dems urge another impeachment of Trump following insurrection at U.S. Capitol |url=https://www.azmirror.com/2021/01/06/some-dems-urge-another-impeachment-of-trump-following-insurrection-at-u-s-capitol/ |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=Arizona Mirror |date=6 January 2021}}</ref> When Congress returned to count the electoral votes, Markey gave his remarks, calling Republicans who objected to the count [[seditious]].<ref name="Pietrewicz">{{cite news |last1=Pietrewicz |first1=Ana |title='They were literally pounding on the windows': Mass. lawmakers who were in Capitol building react to insurrection |url=https://dailycollegian.com/2021/01/they-were-literally-pounding-on-the-windows-mass-lawmakers-who-were-in-capitol-building-react-to-insurrection/ |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=Massachusetts Daily Collegian |date=7 January 2021}}</ref> The next day, he called for the [[Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution]] to be invoked.<ref name="Kail">{{cite news |last1=Kail |first1=Benjamin |title=President Trump considering pardoning himself as Democrats demand removal |url=https://www.masslive.com/politics/2021/01/no-one-may-be-a-judge-of-their-own-case-ed-markey-pushes-back-against-president-donald-trumps-suggestion-of-pardoning-himself.html |access-date=11 January 2021 |work=MassLive |date=7 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

Markey was rated among the top ten most popular senators in a Morning Consult poll from April 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McNamara |first1=Neal |title=Gov. Healey, Sens. Warren, Markey Among Most Popular In U.S.: Poll |url=https://patch.com/massachusetts/across-ma/gov-healey-sens-warren-markey-among-most-popular-u-s-poll |website=Patch |access-date=7 October 2024 |date=22 April 2024}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* [[United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation|Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senate: Committee Assignments of the 119th Congress|url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htmm|access-date=2025-02-07|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband|Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security|Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard|Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard]]
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Science and Space|Subcommittee on Science and Space]] 
** [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security|Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]] 
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife|Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife]] 
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health|Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security|Subcommittee on Primary Health & Retirement Security]] (Chair)
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety|Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship]] (Ranking Member)

===Caucus memberships===
* [[Rare Disease Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Rare Disease Congressional Caucus|author=|url=https://everylifefoundation.org/rare-advocates/rarecaucus/rarecaucus-members/|format=|publisher=Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases|date=|accessdate=21 March 2025}}</ref>
* [[Senate Taiwan Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Taiwan Caucus 118th Congress (2023-2024)|author=|url=https://fapa.org/senate-taiwan-caucus/|format=|publisher=Formosan Association for Public Affairs|date=February 5, 2004|accessdate=25 March 2025}}</ref>

==Political positions==

=== Abortion ===

When he was first elected to Congress, Markey opposed abortion and supported a constitutional amendment to ban it. He described his opposition as a matter of conscience.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ed Markey: The milkman's son who broke the rules|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1976/11/22/ed-markey-the-milkmans-son-who/}}</ref> Starting in 1983, he began moving away from his opposition, voting against measures that blocked funding for abortion for federal employees unless their life was at risk. During his 1984 Senate campaign, Markey said that while he still personally opposed abortion, he believed that it should remain legal. Since then, he has opposed restrictions on abortion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ebbert |first1=Stephfanie |title=Markey says abortion shift was personal |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/02/27/markey-once-abortion-opponent-picks-endorsement-from-naral/kBe3hYmPw5gVbdapN273xN/story.html |website=The Boston Globe |date=February 27, 2013|access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ed Markey's Anti-Abortion Past|date=February 28, 2013 |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2013/02/28/ed-markeys-anti-abortion-past/}}</ref> Markey wore a pin to the [[2023 State of the Union Address]] with the word ABORTION with a heart in place of the central portion of the letter O.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Ed Markey |user=SenMarkey |number=1623123614915493890 |title=I'm wearing my abortion pin from @PPFA to tonight's State of the Union address.}}</ref> He attended the event with Kate Dineen, an abortion rights advocate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-to-bring-kate-dineen_forced-to-travel-across-state-lines-for-abortion--to-state-of-the-union |title=SEN. MARKEY TO BRING KATE DINEEN – FORCED TO TRAVEL ACROSS STATE LINES FOR ABORTION – TO STATE OF THE UNION |date=2023-02-06 |accessdate=2023-02-08 }}</ref>

=== Antitrust, competition and corporate regulation ===
In June 2019, Markey was one of six Democrats led by [[Amy Klobuchar]] who signed letters to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice recounting that many of them had "called on both the FTC and the Justice Department to investigate potential anticompetitive activity in these markets, particularly following the significant enforcement actions taken by foreign competition enforcers against these same companies" and requesting that each agency confirm whether it had opened antitrust investigations into each of the companies and pledge that it would publicly release any such investigation's findings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/449754-senate-dems-press-regulators-over-reported-tech-investigations/|title=Senate Democrats press regulators over reported tech investigations|first=Harper|last=Neidig|date=June 21, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Child care ===
In 2019, Markey and 34 other senators introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act, a bill that they claim would create 770,000 new childcare jobs and ensure that families making less than 75% of the state median income would not pay for child care, with higher-earning families having to pay "their fair share for care on a sliding scale, regardless of the number of children they have." The legislation also supports universal access to high-quality preschool programs for all 3- and 4-year-olds and changes child care compensation and training.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-child-care-for-all/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Legislation to Ensure Child Care for All|date=March 1, 2019|work=urbanmilwaukee.com|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Children's programming ===
In 2019, after the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) announced changes to the Children's Television Act of 1990, Markey and eight other Democratic senators signed a letter to FCC Chairman [[Ajit Pai]] that expressed concern that the proposed changes "would limit the reach of educational content available to children and have a particular damaging effect on youth in low-income and minority communities" and asserted that the new rules would decrease access to valuable educational content through over-the-air services.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/democratic-senators-oppose-fcc-changes-to-kidvid-rules|title=Democratic Senators Oppose FCC Changes To KidVid Rules|first=Michael|last=Balderston|work=TV Technology|date=July 2, 2019|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Climate change ===
[[File:GreenNewDeal Presser 020719 (7 of 85) (46105849995) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Senator Markey speaks on a [[Green New Deal]] in front of the Capitol Building in February 2019]]

In November 2018, Markey was one of 25 Democratic senators to cosponsor a resolution in response to the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change report and National Climate Assessment findings. The resolution affirmed the senators' acceptance of the findings and support for bold action to [[climate change mitigation|address climate change]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/merkley-resolution-urges-quick-climate-change-action/895812840 | title=Merkley resolution urges quick climate change action | date=November 27, 2018 | publisher=ktvz.com | access-date=February 6, 2019 | archive-date=February 7, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207020905/https://www.ktvz.com/news/merkley-resolution-urges-quick-climate-change-action/895812840 | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2019, the [[League of Conservation Voters]], which works to elect pro-environment candidates, endorsed Markey.<ref>{{cite web |title=LCV Action Fund Endorses Sara Gideon for Senate |url=https://www.lcv.org/article/lcv-action-fund-endorses-sara-gideon-senate/ |website=LCV |date=November 14, 2019|access-date=August 20, 2020}}</ref>

Markey is the Senate author of the [[Green New Deal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2019/4/16/18306596/green-new-deal-climate-change-ed-markey|title=Sen. Ed Markey: "We are now in the era of the Green New Deal"|author=Roberts, David|date=April 16, 2019|access-date=September 21, 2020|work=Vox}}</ref> In February 2019, Markey and Representative [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] released a 14-page summary of their [[Green New Deal]] plan to address climate change. It calls for implementing the "[[social cost of carbon]]" that was part of the Obama administration's plans to address climate change and transitioning the United States to 100% renewable, zero-emission energy sources, zero-emission vehicles, and high-speed rail systems. It also aims to provide new jobs and alleviate poverty.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/07/politics/green-new-deal-details/index.html | title = Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal: What's in it | first= Lydia | last = DePillis | date =February 7, 2019 | access-date= February 7, 2019 | work = [[CNN]] }}</ref> On March 26, in what Democrats called a "stunt", Republicans called for an early vote without allowing discussion or expert testimony. Markey said Republicans were trying to "make a mockery" of the Green New Deal debate and called the vote a "sham". In protest, Democrats, including Markey, voted "present" or against the bill, resulting in a 57–0 defeat on the Senate floor.<ref name="GND_vote">{{Cite web | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/03/climate-change-which-democrats-oppose-green-new-deal/585802/ | title=The 3 Democrats Who Voted Against the Green New Deal | last=Meyer | first=Robinson | work=The Atlantic | quote=The Senate rejected the Green New Deal on Tuesday, in a decisive 57–0 vote that Democrats decried as a political stunt meant to divide their caucus. All the Republican senators opposed the measure. They were joined by four senators who caucus with the Democrats: Senator Joe Manchin, from the coal-heavy state of West Virginia, along with Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Doug Jones of Alabama, and Angus King of Maine. | date=March 26, 2019 | access-date=March 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Battenfeld, Joe | title=Green New Fail as Dems shun GOP-forced vote on climate bill | url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/03/26/green-new-fail-as-dems-shun-gop-forced-vote-on-climate-bill/ | access-date=March 27, 2019 | work=Boston Herald | date=March 26, 2019 | quote=an early vote on the Green New Deal on Tuesday and not a single U.S. Senator — including the measure's sponsor, Massachusetts' Ed Markey — signed on to the overly ambitious environmental overhaul}}</ref>

In March 2019, Markey was one of 11 senators to sponsor the Climate Security Act of 2019, legislation to form a new group within the State Department to develop strategies to integrate climate science and data into national security operations as well as to restore the post of special envoy for the Arctic, a group that President Trump dismantled in 2017. The envoy would advise the President and the administration on the potential effects of climate on national security and be responsible for facilitating all interagency communication between federal science and security agencies.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/433704-new-bill-aims-to-counter-controversial-white-house-climate-security/ | title=Democrats offer legislation to counter White House climate science council | first=Miranda | last=Green | date=March 12, 2019 | work=The Hill|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

Markey was a member of the Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, which published a report of its findings in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate Democrats' Special Committee on the Climate Crisis {{!}} Senate Democratic Leadership |url=https://www.democrats.senate.gov/about-senate-dems/climate |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=www.democrats.senate.gov |language=en}}</ref>

===COVID-19 vaccine equity===
Markey proposed that the [[COVID-19 vaccine]] be distributed to underserved areas and communities of color as a priority for [[racial justice]]. On February 20, 2021, he said, "Even though Black and Hispanic residents have borne the brunt of this pandemic here in Massachusetts and all across the country, these communities are not receiving the vaccine in proportion to their share of their population."<ref>{{cite news |last=McKinley Becker |first=Kaitlin |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/lawmakers-in-mass-push-for-vaccine-equity-say-racial-justice-must-be-priority/2308485/ |title=Lawmakers in Mass. Push for Vaccine Equity, Say Racial Justice Must Be Priority |work=[[NBC 10 Boston]] |date=2021-02-21 |accessdate=2021-02-22 }}</ref>

=== Disaster relief ===
In April 2018, Markey was one of five Democratic senators to sign a letter to [[FEMA]] administrator [[Brock Long]] calling on FEMA to enter an agreement with the [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development]] that would "stand up the Disaster Housing Assistance Program and address the medium- and longer-term housing needs" of evacuees of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of [[Hurricane Maria]]. The senators asserted that "FEMA's refusal to use the tools at its disposal, including DHAP, to help these survivors is puzzling—and profoundly troubling" and that hundreds of hurricane survivors were susceptible to being left homeless if FEMA and HUD continued not to work together.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/politics/2018/04/us_sens_elizabeth_warren_ed_ma_19.html|title=US Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey urge FEMA and HUD to find long-term housing fix for Hurricane Maria survivors|author=Young, Shannon|date=April 20, 2018|work=Masslive.com|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-hurricane-housing-20180423-story.html|title=A FEMA program has sheltered thousands of Puerto Ricans since Hurricane Maria. But now the evacuees fear its days are numbered|date=April 23, 2018|author=Hennessy-Fiske, Molly|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Drug policy ===
In December 2016, Markey was one of 17 senators to sign a letter to President-elect Trump asking him to fulfill a campaign pledge to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, stating their willingness "to advance measures to achieve this goal", and calling on Trump "to partner with Republicans and Democrats alike to take meaningful steps to address the high cost of prescription drugs through bold administrative and legislative actions."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/311202-senate-dems-sanders-to-trump-help-lower-drug-prices/|title=Senate Dems, Sanders ask Trump to help lower drug prices|date=December 20, 2016|work=The Hill|author=Carney, Jordain|access-date=December 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028112209/https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/311202-senate-dems-sanders-to-trump-help-lower-drug-prices|archive-date=October 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2018, Markey was one of 21 senators to sign a letter to [[Commissioner of Food and Drugs]] [[Scott Gottlieb]] stating their approval of the actions of the [[Food and Drugs Administration]] to hinder youth access to e-cigarettes and urging the FDA "to take additional, stronger steps to prevent and reduce e-cigarette use among youth."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://halfwheel.com/21-senators-send-letter-urging-fda-to-ban-flavored-tobacco-menthol/286639|title=21 SENATORS SEND LETTER URGING FDA TO BAN FLAVORED TOBACCO, MENTHOL|first=Charlie|last=Minato|date=December 7, 2018|website=halfwheel.com|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref> In 2023, Markey introduced [[Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act|legislation to expand access]] to [[methadone]] for patients with [[opioid use disorder]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ovalle |first=David |date=2023-03-05 |title=Experts, lawmakers push for expanded access to methadone to save lives |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/03/05/methadone-addiction-treatment-prescription/ |access-date=2023-07-25 |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref>

=== Economy ===
In February 2019, Markey was one of eight senators to sign a letter to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] and [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] asking that regulators prohibit a proposed $26-billion merger between [[T-Mobile US|T-Mobile]] and [[Sprint Corporation|Sprint]] because American enforcers have understood for the last 30&nbsp;years "that fostering robust competition in telecommunications markets is the best way to provide every American with access to high-quality, cutting-edge communications at a reasonable price" and the merger would result in a return "to the dark days of heavily consolidated markets and less competition, with all of the resulting harms."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/429618-dem-senators-urge-fcc-justice-department-to-reject-t-mobile-sprint-merger/|title=Dems urge regulators to reject T-Mobile, Sprint merger|date=February 12, 2019|first=Emily|last=Birnbaum|website=The Hill}}</ref>

In March 2019, Markey was one of six senators to sign a letter to the [[Federal Trade Commission]] requesting that it "use its rulemaking authority, along with other tools, in order to combat the scourge of non-compete clauses rigging our economy against workers" and saying that non-compete clauses "harm employees by limiting their ability to find alternate work, which leaves them with little leverage to bargain for better wages or working conditions with their immediate employer." The letter added that the FTC was responsible for protecting consumers and workers and needed to "act decisively" to address their concerns over "serious anti-competitive harms from the proliferation of non-competes in the economy."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/434992-warren-klobuchar-call-on-ftc-to-curtail-use-of-non-compete-clauses/|title=Warren, Klobuchar call on FTC to curtail use of non-compete clauses|date=March 20, 2019|last1=Axelrod|first1=Tal|website=The Hill}}</ref>

=== Foreign policy ===
[[File:Bongbong Marcos and Ed Markey.jpg|thumb|Senator Markey meets with Philippine president [[Bongbong Marcos]] in [[Manila]] in August 2022]]
In December 2016, Markey and Senators [[Chris Coons]] and [[Marco Rubio]] suggested to the [[United States Department of State|Department of State]] that the U.S. curtail assistance to the [[Philippines]]' [[Philippine National Police|law enforcement]] units due to alleged [[extrajudicial killings]] and other human rights violations in Philippine president [[Rodrigo Duterte]]'s [[Philippine drug war|drug war]], in adherence to the [[Leahy Law]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Duterte's drug war a 'campaign of mass atrocities': US senators |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/24/16/dutertes-drug-war-a-campaign-of-mass-atrocities-us-senators |access-date=August 22, 2022 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=December 24, 2016}}</ref> In April 2019, Markey and four other Democratic and Republican senators introduced a resolution urging the release of Philippine senator [[Leila de Lima]], a key proponent of the inquiry on the Duterte administration's reported human rights violations who has been detained since 2017 for suspected [[New Bilibid Prison drug trafficking scandal|drug trafficking]]; the senators believed that De Lima's detention was [[Political prisoner|politically motivated]]. In January 2020, Markey revealed that the Philippine government had declared him and Senators [[Dick Durbin]] and [[Patrick Leahy]] (principal sponsor of the Leahy Law) ''[[persona non grata]]'' to the country.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeCosta-Klipa |first1=Nik |title=Ed Markey has been banned from the Philippines |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/01/02/ed-markey-philippines/ |access-date=August 22, 2022 |work=Boston.com |date=January 2, 2020}}</ref> After Duterte stepped down from office in 2022, Markey visited the Philippines and met with De Lima privately.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mendoza |first1=John Eric |title=US lawmakers visit De Lima in detention |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1650230/us-lawmakers-visit-de-lima-in-detention |access-date=August 22, 2022 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=August 20, 2022}}</ref>

In October 2017, Markey condemned the [[Rohingya genocide|genocide]] of the [[Rohingya people|Rohingya Muslim]] minority in [[Myanmar]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sen. Todd Young urges action to end Muslim genocide in Myanmar |url=https://eu.indystar.com/story/news/2017/10/20/sen-todd-young-urges-action-end-muslim-genocide-myanmar/784590001/ |work=IndyStar |last1=Hussein|first1=Fatima|date=October 22, 2017}}</ref>

In 2018, Markey cosponsored the Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party's Political Influence Operations Act, a bill introduced by Rubio and [[Catherine Cortez Masto]] that would give the U.S. [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] and the [[Director of National Intelligence]] (DNI) the authority to create an interagency task force to examine Chinese attempts to influence the U.S. and key allies.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sunshinestatenews.com/story/marco-rubio-catherine-cortez-masto-take-aim-china-new-legislation|title=Marco Rubio, Catherine Cortez Masto Take Aim at China in New Legislation|first=Kevin|last=Derby|website=Sunshine State News|date=July 2, 2018|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2018, Markey was one of eight senators to sign a letter to [[Director of National Intelligence]] [[Dan Coats]] requesting a classified briefing on what the American intelligence community knew about threats to U.S.-based [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] journalist [[Jamal Khashoggi]] so that the senators could fulfill their "oversight obligation" as members of Congress.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/413958-dem-senators-request-classified-briefing-on-khashoggi/|title=Dem senators request classified briefing on Khashoggi|last1=Carney|first1=Jordain|date=October 30, 2018|website=The Hill}}</ref> In March 2019, Markey was one of nine Democratic senators to sign a letter to [[Salman of Saudi Arabia]] requesting the release of human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair and writer Raif Badawi, women's rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul and Samar Badawi, and Dr. Walid Fitaih. The senators wrote, "Not only have reputable international organizations detailed the arbitrary detention of peaceful activists and dissidents without trial for long periods, but the systematic discrimination against women, religious minorities and mistreatment of migrant workers and others has also been well-documented."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/434752-senate-dems-petition-saudi-king-to-release-dissidents-us-citizen/|title=Senate Dems petition Saudi king to release dissidents, US citizen|first=Zack|last=Budryk|date=March 19, 2019|website=The Hill}}</ref>

In November 2018, Markey, Senators Chris Coons and [[Elizabeth Warren]], and a bipartisan group of lawmakers sent the Trump administration a letter raising concerns about the [[People's Republic of China]]'s undue influence on [[Media of the United States|media outlets]] and [[Education in the United States|academic institutions]] in the United States. They wrote: "In American news outlets, Beijing has used financial ties to suppress negative information about the CCP... Beijing has also sought to use relationships with American academic institutions and student groups to shape public discourse."<ref>{{cite web |title=Sen. Coons, colleagues, raise concerns over potential threat of Chinese attempts to undermine U.S. democracy |url=https://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-coons-colleagues-raise-concerns-over-potential-threat-of-chinese-attempts-to-undermine-us-democracy |website=coons.senate.gov|date=June 11, 2018|access-date=September 21, 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

In February 2019, ahead of the [[2019 North Korea–United States Hanoi Summit]], Markey said that it was "pretty clear that [[Kim Jong-un|Kim]] wants to have a personal meeting with Trump with hopes that he can, in fact, elicit concessions from President Trump that might not otherwise be possible if it was just our diplomats talking one-on-one" and that the US "could run the risk that Kim is given concessions which are not accompanied by real concessions that the United States is receiving in return from Kim and his regime." Markey called for Trump to receive commitments on denuclearization from Kim Jong-un before making commitments in return.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/431321-dem-senator-pretty-clear-kim-wants-one-on-one-with-trump-to-elicit/|title=Dem senator: 'Pretty clear' Kim wants one-on-one with Trump to 'elicit concessions'|first=Brett|last=Samuels|date=February 24, 2019|website=The Hill}}</ref>

In April 2019, Markey was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to Trump encouraging him "to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America", asserting that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance" since becoming president and that he was "personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity" by preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding. The senators argued that foreign assistance to Central American countries created less migration to the U.S. by helping to improve conditions in those countries.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/americas/437463-more-than-30-dem-sens-ask-trump-to-reconsider-cutting-foreign/|title=More than 30 Senate Dems ask Trump to reconsider Central American aid cuts|first=Rachel|last=Frazin|date=April 4, 2019|website=The Hill}}</ref>

In October 2020, Markey accused [[Turkey]], a [[NATO]] ally, of inciting [[Second Nagorno-Karabakh War|war]] between [[Armenia]] and [[Azerbaijan]] over the disputed region of [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] and called on the Trump administration to immediately suspend [[United States military aid|U.S. military aid]] to Azerbaijan<ref name="armenianweekly">{{cite news |title=Senate and House Leaders to Secretary of State Pompeo: Cut Military Aid to Azerbaijan; Sanction Turkey for Ongoing Attacks Against Armenia and Artsakh |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2020/10/02/senate-and-house-leaders-to-secretary-of-state-pompeo-cut-military-aid-to-azerbaijan-sanction-turkey-for-ongoing-attacks-against-armenia-and-artsakh/ |work=The Armenian Weekly |date=October 2, 2020}}</ref> sent through the [[United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]]'s "building partner assistance program".<ref name="defensenews">{{cite news |title=Democrats urge halt to security aid to Azerbaijan in Armenia conflict |url=https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2020/10/06/democrats-urge-halt-to-security-aid-to-azerbaijan-in-armenia-conflict/ |work=[[Defense News]] |date=October 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=US Allocates $100 million in Security Aid to Azerbaijan in 2018-19 |url=https://armenian.usc.edu/us-allocates-100-million-in-security-aid-to-azerbaijan/ |work=USC Institute of Armenian Studies |date=July 17, 2019}}</ref> According to critics, the aid could be used in the [[Nagorno-Karabakh conflict]].<ref name="defensenews"/><ref>{{cite news |title=During Major Azerbaijani War Games, US Pulls Plug on Artsakh Demining |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2020/05/22/during-major-azerbaijani-war-games-us-pulls-plug-on-artsakh-demining/ |work=[[Armenian Weekly]] |date=May 22, 2020}}</ref> He co-signed a letter to Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] that read: "If Turkey is unwilling to step back from active engagement in the conflict, then the State Department should immediately suspend all sales and transfers of military equipment to Ankara."<ref name="armenianweekly"/>

In January 2024, Markey voted for a resolution proposed by Senator [[Bernie Sanders]] to apply the [[human rights]] provisions of the [[Foreign Assistance Act]] to [[Israel–United States military relations|U.S. aid to Israel's military]]. The proposal was defeated, 72 to 11.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Alexander|last1=Bolton|access-date=2024-01-17|title=Democratic rebels send Biden stern message on Gaza|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4412586-democratic-rebels-send-biden-stern-message-on-gaza/|newspaper=The Hill|date=2024-01-16}}</ref> In April 2025, Markey voted for a pair of resolutions Sanders proposed to cancel the [[Second presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration's]] sales of $8.8 billion in bombs and other munitions to Israel. The proposals were defeated, 82 to 15.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neukam |first=Stephen |date=April 3, 2025 |title=15 Senate Dems vote to cancel billions in Israeli military aid |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/04/03/senate-democrats-cancel-military-aid-israel |access-date=April 3, 2025 |website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |language=en}}</ref>

==== Iraq War ====
On October 10, 2002, Markey voted in favor of the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002]], authorizing the use of the [[United States Armed Forces]] against [[Saddam Hussein]]'s government in what became [[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Iraq War Resolution, Roll Call Vote - House|url=http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2002&rollnumber=455|website=clerk.house.gov|date=October 10, 2002|access-date=September 1, 2020}}</ref> As of March 2020, Markey has said that voting for the authorization was a "mistake", and that he did so because "[[George W. Bush|George Bush]] lied, [[Donald Rumsfeld]] lied, [[Dick Cheney]] lied to the American people about the presence of nuclear weapons in Iraq. I'm still angry about that lie to the American people."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/03/02/old-iraq-syria-votes-come-back-to-haunt-markey/|title=Old Iraq, Syria votes come back to haunt Markey|author=Lucas, Peter|work=Boston Herald|date=March 2, 2020|access-date=September 1, 2020}}</ref>

===Government shutdown ===
In March 2019, Markey and 38 other senators signed a letter to the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations Committee]] opining that contractor workers and, by extension, their families "should not be penalized for a government shutdown that they did nothing to cause" while noting that there were bills in both chambers of Congress that if enacted would provide back pay to compensate contractor employees for lost wages. The letter urged the Appropriations Committee "to include back pay for contractor employees in a supplemental appropriations bill for FY2019 or as part of the regular appropriations process for FY2020."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-urges-inclusion-of-contractor-back-pay-in-upcoming-disaster-package/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Urges Inclusion of Contractor Back Pay in Upcoming Disaster Package|date=March 11, 2019|website=Urban Milwaukee}}</ref>

===Gun law===
Markey supports [[gun control]], including improved background checks, ending illegal gun trafficking, and closing loopholes on gun purchases.<ref name="WBUR1004G">{{cite web|title=U.S. Sen. Markey Pushing For Tougher Gun Control Measures|url=http://www.wbur.org/news/2015/10/13/markey-tougher-gun-control|website=WBUR|date=October 13, 2015 |access-date=October 4, 2017|language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, he proposed a "smart gun" bill that aimed to equip [[handgun]]s with technology, making them usable by only the purchaser.<ref name="Everett1004G">{{cite web|last1=Everett|first1=Burgess|title=Markey to introduce 'smart gun' bill|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/ed-markey-gun-bill-103728|website=Politico|date=February 20, 2014|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>

In January 2016, Markey led 18 senators in signing a letter to [[Thad Cochran]] and [[Barbara Mikulski]] requesting that the Labor, Health and Education subcommittee hold a hearing on whether to allow the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) to fund a study of gun violence and "the annual appropriations rider that some have interpreted as preventing it" with taxpayer dollars. The senators noted their support for taking steps "to fund gun-violence research, because only the United States government is in a position to establish an integrated public-health research agenda to understand the causes of gun violence and identify the most effective strategies for prevention."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/265241-senate-dems-want-hearing-on-gun-violence-research/|title=Senate Dems call to revisit gun violence research|first=Jordain|last=Carney|date=January 8, 2016|work=The Hill|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

After the [[Orlando nightclub shooting]], Markey called for more gun regulations and supported the Feinstein Amendment, which would have made it illegal for suspected terrorists to buy guns. He also supports [[universal background checks]].<ref name="Schoenberg1004g">{{cite web|last1=Schoenberg|first1=Shira|title=Sen. Ed Markey calls for stronger gun control after Orlando shooting|url=http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/06/sen_ed_markey_calls_for_strong.html|website=MassLive|date=June 17, 2016|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>

In response to the [[2017 Las Vegas shooting]], Markey said, "This Congress has the responsibility to make sure the NRA stands for 'not relevant anymore' in American politics, and we have to begin this debate now."<ref name="DeMetrick">{{cite web|last1=DeMetrick|first1=Alex|title=Calls For Tougher Gun Control Laws Grow After Las Vegas Attack|url=http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/10/03/gun-control-after-vegas-shooting/|website=CBS Baltimore|date=October 3, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2017|language=en}}</ref> He co-sponsored a proposal to ban [[bump stock]]s, which make [[semi-automatic weapon]]s act like [[automatic weapon]]s.<ref name="Kellar1004G">{{cite web|last1=Kellar|first1=Travis|title=Sen. Bob Casey, other lawmakers introduce legislation to outlaw bump stocks, similar devices|url=http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/10/sen_bob_casey_other_lawmakers.html|website=PennLive.com|date=October 4, 2017|access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>

In November 2017, Markey was a cosponsor of the Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act, a bill to create a charge of domestic violence under the [[Uniform Code of Military Justice]] (UCMJ) and stipulate that convictions must be reported to federal databases to keep abusers from purchasing firearms within three days in an attempt to close a loophole in the UCMJ whereby convicted abusers retain the ability to purchase firearms.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bigislandnow.com/2017/11/15/sen-hirono-introduces-military-domestic-violence-reporting-enhancement-act/|title=Sen. Hirono Introduces Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act|date=November 15, 2017|work=Big Island Now|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

In January 2019, Markey was one of 40 senators to introduce the Background Check Expansion Act, a bill requiring background checks to sell or transfer all firearms, including unlicensed sellers. Exceptions to the bill's background check requirement included transfers between members of law enforcement, loaning firearms for either hunting or sporting events temporarily, giving firearms to members of one's immediate family, firearms being transferred as part of an inheritance, or giving a firearm to another person temporarily for immediate self-defense.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-helps-introduce-background-check-expansion-act-to-reduce-gun-violence/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Helps Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence|date=January 9, 2019|work=urbanmilwaukee.com|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Health care ===
Markey supports the creation of a [[Single-payer healthcare|single-payer]] federal healthcare program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Health Care|url=https://www.edmarkey.com/priorities/healthcare/|access-date=2020-07-13|website=edmarkey.com|language=en}}</ref> In September 2017, he was one of 16 senators to cosponsor the 2017 Medicare for All Act introduced by [[Bernie Sanders]], which proposes establishing a federal health insurance program by expanding [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] coverage to all United States residents.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sanders|first=Bernard|date=2017-09-13|title=S.1804 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Medicare for All Act of 2017|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1804|access-date=2020-07-13|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref>

In June 2019, Markey was one of eight senators to cosponsor the Territories Health Equity Act of 2019, legislation that would remove the cap on annual federal Medicaid funding and increase the federal matching rate for Medicaid expenditures of territories along with providing more funds for prescription drug coverage to low-income seniors in an attempt to equalize funding for American territories [[Puerto Rico]], the [[Virgin Islands]], [[Guam]], [[American Samoa]], and the [[Northern Mariana Islands]] with that of U.S. states.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/448059-2020-dem-senators-introduce-bill-to-expand-health-care-in-territories/|first=Tal|last=Axelrod|title=Democratic White House hopefuls push to expand health care in US territories|date=June 11, 2019|work=The Hill|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Housing ===
In April 2019, Markey was one of 41 senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising the [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development]]'s Section 4 Capacity Building program as authorizing "HUD to partner with national nonprofit community development organizations to provide education, training, and financial support to local community development corporations (CDCs) across the country" and expressing disappointment that President Trump's budget "has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development." The senators hoped the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-merkley-urge-more-affordable-housing-funds/1069680950|title=Wyden, Merkley urge more affordable housing funds|date=April 16, 2019|publisher=ktvz.com|access-date=April 17, 2019|archive-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418125917/https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-merkley-urge-more-affordable-housing-funds/1069680950|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
In July 2019, following reports that the Trump administration intended to cease protecting spouses, parents and children of active-duty service members from deportation, Markey was one of 22 senators led by [[Tammy Duckworth]] to sign a letter arguing that the protection gave service members the ability "to fight for the United States overseas and not worry that their spouse, children, or parents will be deported while they are away" and that its termination would both cause service members personal hardship and negatively affect their combat performance.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://wset.com/news/nation-world/senate-democrats-to-trump-dont-deport-military-families|title=Senate Democrats to Trump: don't deport military families|first=Ida|last=Domingo|date=July 11, 2019|website=wset.com|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

Also in July 2019, Markey and 15 other Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act, which would require, except in special circumstances,  that [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] agents get approval from a supervisor before engaging in enforcement actions at sensitive locations and that agents receive annual training in addition to reporting annually on enforcement actions in those locations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.10news.com/news/bill-would-block-immigration-raids-at-schools-courthouses|title=Bill would block immigration raids at schools, courthouses|date=July 11, 2019|first=Zac|last=Self|website=10news.com|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Internet ===

==== Internet security ====
On October 27, 2006, Markey called for the arrest of security researcher [[Christopher Soghoian]] for creating a website to generate fake boarding passes.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Singel |first1=Ryan |title=Congressman Ed Markey Wants Security Researcher Arrested |url=https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2006/10/congressman_ed_/ |magazine=Wired |date=October 27, 2006}}</ref> At 2 AM on October 28, 2006, [[FBI]] agents seized computers and other materials from Soghoian's house.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Krebs |first1=Brian |title=Student Unleashes Uproar With Bogus Airline Boarding Passes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103101313.html |date=November 1, 2006|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

On October 29, 2006, Markey issued a statement revising his previous comments, stating that the [[Department of Homeland Security]] should instead "put him to work showing public officials how easily our security can be compromised". The statement was critical of Soghoian's disclosure method—deeming it "ill-considered"—but also said that "he should not go to jail for his bad judgment".<ref>{{cite web |title=OCTOBEr 29, 2006 - MARKEY: DON'T ARREST STUDENT, USE HIM TO FIX LOOPHOLES |url=https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/october-29-2006-markey-dont-arrest-student-use-him-to-fix-loopholes |website=markey.senate.gov |language=en|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

==== Net neutrality ====
[[File:FCC Net Neutrality 143579 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Markey speaks at a rally on Net Neutrality in 2017]]
In May 2014, days before the FCC was scheduled to rewrite its net neutrality rules, Markey was one of 11 senators to sign a letter to FCC Chairman [[Tom Wheeler]] arguing that Wheeler's proposal would destroy net neutrality and urging the FCC to "consider reclassifying Internet providers to make them more like traditional phone companies, over which the agency has clear authority to regulate more broadly."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/205743-senate-dems-protest-fcc-plan-for-internet-fast-lanes/|title=Senate Dems protest FCC plan for Internet 'fast lanes'|date=May 9, 2014|work=The Hill|author=Tummarello, Kate|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

In September 2017, Markey was one of nine senators to sign a letter to [[Federal Communications Commission]] Chairman [[Ajit Pai]] accusing the FCC of failing "to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on the tens of thousands of filed complaints that directly shed light on proposed changes to existing net neutrality protections."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/351785-senate-dems-ask-fcc-to-delay-net-neutrality-repeal/|title=Senate Dems ask FCC to delay net neutrality repeal|first=Harper|last=Neidig|work=The Hill|date=September 21, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2018, Markey was one of ten senators to sign a letter spearheaded by [[Jeff Merkley]] lambasting Pai's proposal to cut the Lifeline program during a period when roughly 6.5 million people in poor communities relied on it for access to high-speed internet, writing that it was Pai's "obligation to the American public, as the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, to improve the Lifeline program and ensure that more Americans can afford access, and have means of access, to broadband and phone service." The senators also wrote, "Lifeline reaches more Americans in need of access to communication services."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/380870-democrats-slam-fcc-head-over-plan-to-limit-internet-access-funding-for-low/|title=Dems slam FCC head for proposed limits to low-income internet program|date=March 29, 2018|work=The Hill|author=Breland, Ali|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

==== Internet privacy ====
In February 2019, Markey, [[Richard Blumenthal]], and [[Josh Hawley]] sent [[Facebook]] CEO [[Mark Zuckerberg]] a letter about Project Atlas and its relevance to "longstanding concerns that Facebook has used its products to deeply intrude into personal privacy."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/429028-senators-demand-answers-from-facebook-on-paying-teens-for-data/|title=Senators demand answers from Facebook on paying teens for data|first=Harper|last=Neidig|work=The Hill|date=February 7, 2019|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Labor ===
In May 2018, Markey led 11 senators in signing a letter to the Chairman of the [[Federal Labor Relations Authority]] [[Colleen Kiko]] urging the FLRA to end efforts to close its Boston regional office until Congress debated the matter because the closure would place staff farther away from the federal employees whose rights they protect.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/e08031199f58416180004c0c0e722fab|title=US senators oppose closing federal labor relations offices|date=May 1, 2018|work=AP News|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== LGBT rights ===
In 1996, Markey voted against the [[Defense of Marriage Act]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1996/roll316.xml |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call |access-date=October 22, 2020}}</ref>

In September 2014, Markey was one of 69 members of the US House and Senate to sign a letter to then-FDA commissioner [[Sylvia Burwell]] requesting that the [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] revise its policy banning donation of [[corneas]] and other tissues by men who have had sex with another man in the preceding five years.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Baldwin |first1=Tammy |last2=Harkin |first2=Tom |author-link2=Tom Harkin |date=2014-09-08 |title=Letter to the Honorable Sylvia Mathews Burwell |url=https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/9.8.14%20Bicameral%20Letter%20to%20HHS%20on%20MSM%20Policies.pdf |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=www.baldwin.senate.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/biologics-guidances/tissue-guidances|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319073505/https://www.fda.gov/Cber/gdlns/tissdonor.htm#iv|title=Tissue Guidances|first=Center for Biologics Evaluation and|last=Research|date=December 4, 2020|archivedate=March 19, 2008|journal=FDA|via=www.fda.gov}}</ref>

In May 2017, Markey was one of 46 senators to introduce the Equality Act of 2017, described by Representative [[David Cicilline]] as ensuring "that every LGBT person can live their lives free from the fear of discrimination. Above all, it's about honoring the values that have guided our nation since its founding. It's critical that Congress pass the Equality Act into law."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/historic-comprehensive-lgbt-non-discrimination-legislation-re-introduced-in-congress/|title=Historic, Comprehensive LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation Re-Introduced in Congress|date=May 2, 2017|work=Urban Milwaukee|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2018, Markey was one of 20 senators to sign a letter to Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] urging him to reverse the rolling back of a policy that granted visas to same-sex partners of LGBT diplomats who had unions that were not recognized by their home countries, writing that too many places around the world have seen LGBT individuals "subjected to discrimination and unspeakable violence, and receive little or no protection from the law or local authorities" and that refusing to let LGBT diplomats bring their partners to the US would be equivalent of upholding "the discriminatory policies of many countries around the world."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/10/11/democratic-senators-lgbt-diplomats-894174|title=Democratic senators demand Pompeo reverse visa denials for LGBTQ diplomats' partners|first=Jesus|last=Rodriguez|date=October 11, 2018|work=Politico|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

In June 2019, Markey was one of 18 senators to sign a letter to Pompeo requesting an explanation of a State Department decision not to issue an official statement that year commemorating [[Gay pride#LGBT Pride Month|Pride Month]] nor to issue the annual cable outlining activities for embassies commemorating Pride Month. They also asked why the LGBT special envoy position remained vacant and asserted that "preventing the official flying of rainbow flags and limiting public messages celebrating Pride Month signals to the international community that the United States is abandoning the advancement of LGBTI rights as a foreign policy priority."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.masslive.com/politics/2019/06/us-sens-markey-warren-question-state-department-refusal-to-fly-rainbow-flags-at-embassies-during-pride-month.html|title=US. Sens. Markey, Warren question State Department refusal to fly rainbow flags at embassies during Pride month|date=June 14, 2019|first=Ray|last=Kelly|work=MassLive|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2023, Markey and Representative [[Pramila Jayapal]] introduced the Transgender Bill of Rights,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-resolution/144|title=S.Res.144 — 118th Congress|date=March 30, 2023|work=Congress.gov|access-date=December 22, 2024}}</ref> a resolution that recognizes the federal government's duty to protect the rights of transgender and nonbinary people. The bill strives to codify under law protections to ensure trans and nonbinary Americans are not discriminated against for their gender identity or gender expression.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sen-markey-and-rep-jayapal-introduce-the-trans-bill-of-rights-ahead-of-international-transgender-day-of-visibility|title=Sen. Markey and Rep. Jayapal Introduce the Trans Bill of Rights Ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility|date=March 30, 2023|work=Ed Markey Senate.gov|access-date=December 22, 2024}}</ref>

=== Military ===
In August 2013, Markey was one of 23 Democratic senators to sign a letter to the [[United States Department of Defense|Defense Department]] warning that some payday lenders were "offering predatory loan products to service members at exorbitant triple digit effective interest rates and loan products that do not include the additional protections envisioned by the law" and asserting that service members and their families "deserve the strongest possible protections and swift action to ensure that all forms of credit offered to members of our armed forces are safe and sound."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/159307-senate-dems-ask-dod-to-protect-service-members-from-predatory-lenders/|title=Senate Dems ask DOD to protect service members from predatory lenders|date=August 15, 2013|work=The Hill|author=Cox, Ramsey|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Nuclear waste ===
In July 2019, Markey was an original cosponsor of the Sensible, Timely Relief for America's Nuclear Districts' Economic Development (STRANDED) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by [[Susan Collins]] and [[Tammy Duckworth]] that would give local government entities economic impact grants to offset the economic impact of stranded [[nuclear waste]], form a task force to identify existing funding that could be used to benefit communities, and form a competitive innovative solutions prize competition to aid those communities in their search for alternatives to "nuclear facilities, generating sites, and waste sites."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesrecord.com/articles/local/senate-bill-to-help-communities-like-wiscasset-stranded-with-nuclear-waste/|title=Senate bill to help communities like Wiscasset 'STRANDED' with nuclear waste|date=July 10, 2019|work=Portland Press Herald|access-date=September 21, 2020|archive-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711022915/https://www.timesrecord.com/articles/local/senate-bill-to-help-communities-like-wiscasset-stranded-with-nuclear-waste/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Opioids ===
In February 2017, Markey and 30 other senators signed a letter to Kaléo Pharmaceuticals in response to an increase of the [[Opioid epidemic in the United States|opioid-overdose]]-reversing device Evzio's price from $690 in 2014 to $4,500. They requested the detailed price structure for Evzio, the number of devices Kaléo Pharmaceuticals set aside for donation, and the total federal reimbursements Evzio received in the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/02/kaleos-opioid-overdose-drug-went-from-690-to-4500-and-senators-want-answers/|title=Kaléo's opioid overdose drug went from $690 to $4,500—and senators want answers|date=February 9, 2017|work=Ars Technica|author=Mole, Beth|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2017, Markey led 21 senators who signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] that said that 12% of adult [[Medicaid]] beneficiaries had some form or a substance abuse disorder, that one-third of treatment for opioid and other substance use disorders in the United States is financed by Medicaid, and that the American Health Care Act could "very literally translate into a death spiral for those with opioid use disorders" due to inadequate funding, often resulting in individuals abandoning substance use disorder treatment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/baldwin-democratic-senators-call-trumpcare-disastrous-for-battle-against-opioid-crisis/|title=Baldwin, Democratic Senators Call TrumpCare Disastrous for Battle Against Opioid Crisis|date=March 21, 2017|work=Urban Milwaukee|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Pipelines ===
In October 2016, Markey was one of five senators to sign a letter to President Obama requesting the administration halt work on the [[Dakota Access Pipeline]] until the permitting process of the Army Corps was transparent and would "include public notice and participation, formal and meaningful tribal consultation, and adequate environmental review", and stating their support for the "tribes along the pipeline route in their fight against the Dakota Access pipeline project."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/300775-sanders-dem-senators-press-obama-to-halt-nd-pipeline/|title=Sanders, Dem senators press Obama to halt ND pipeline|first=Devin|last=Henry|date=October 13, 2016|work=The Hill|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

===Public transportation===
[[File:Freedom to Move Act FuhJxO7WwAY-qEV.jpg|thumb|April 2023 press conference by Markey (second from right) and Congresswoman [[Ayanna Pressley]] (far right) promoting their "Freedom to Move" legislation. They are joined by Boston Mayor [[Michelle Wu]] (second from left) and others]]

Markey advocates making [[public transit]] fare-free. In June 2020, he and Representative [[Ayanna Pressley]] co-authored the Freedom to Move Act, which would offer $5 billion in annual competitive grants to [[transit agencies]] that offer fare-free transit access. Markey argues that fare-free public transportation would help "provide low-income workers, families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities with improved access to jobs, education, medical care, and other critical services."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Alissa |title=Why Bus-Loving Rep. Ayanna Pressley Wants Transit to Be Free |url=https://archive.curbed.com/2020/7/2/21308773/ayanna-pressley-free-transit-equity |website=Curbed |access-date=26 August 2021 |language=en |date=2 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Legislation Would Support Fare-Free Public Transit Systems |url=https://www.wbur.org/news/2021/03/31/mbta-markey-pressley-free-public-transportation-bill |website=www.wbur.org |agency=The Associated Press |access-date=12 September 2021 |date=March 31, 2021}}</ref> Markey and Pressley reintroduced the bill in April 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Curwin |first1=Eli |title=Pressley and Markey work to make buses fare-free |url=https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2023/04/24/rep-pressley-and-sen-markey-are-working-to-make-bus-fares-free-heres-what-that-would-mean/ |website=www.boston.com |access-date=6 May 2023 |date=April 24, 2023 |archive-date=6 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506203458/https://www.boston.com/news/national-news/2023/04/24/rep-pressley-and-sen-markey-are-working-to-make-bus-fares-free-heres-what-that-would-mean/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Railroad safety ===
In June 2019, Markey was one of ten senators to cosponsor the Safe Freight Act, a bill requiring freight trains to have one or more certified conductors and a certified engineer on board who can collaborate on how to protect the train and people living near the tracks. The legislation was meant to correct a [[Federal Railroad Administration]] rollback of a proposed rule to establish safety standards.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ktvz.com/news/wyden-co-sponsors-bill-to-boost-rail-safety/1089754883|title=Wyden co-sponsors bill to boost rail safety|date=June 27, 2019|website=ktvz.com|access-date=July 10, 2019|archive-date=July 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710131357/https://ktvz.com/news/wyden-co-sponsors-bill-to-boost-rail-safety/1089754883|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== State Department ===
In September 2018, Markey was one of five senators who signed a letter to then-[[United States Secretary of State]] [[Mike Pompeo]] urging him to employ more multifactor authentication measures to secure the State Department's information systems and seeking answers on how the department would boost its security following the [[Office of Management and Budget]]'s designation of the department's cyber readiness as "high risk", what the department would do to address the lack of multifactor authentication required by law and statistics on the department's cyber incidents over the last three years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/406254-bipartisan-senators-urge-state-department-to-employ-basic-cybersecurity/|title=Bipartisan group of senators urge State to employ basic cybersecurity measures|date=September 12, 2018|work=The Hill|author=Beavers, Olivia|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref>

=== Supreme Court ===

In April 2021, Markey sponsored a bill in the Senate to expand the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] from nine to 13 justices.<ref>{{cite news |last=Grim |first=Ryan |url=https://theintercept.com/2021/04/14/house-and-senate-democrats-plan-bill-to-add-four-justices-to-supreme-court/ |title=House and Senate Democrats Plan Bill To Add Four Justices to Supreme Court |work=[[The Intercept]] |date=2021-04-15 |accessdate=2021-04-15 }}</ref>

=== Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 ===
Markey was among the five Senate Democrats who voted against the final passage of the [[Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4031302-here-are-the-senators-who-voted-against-the-bill-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/|title=Here are the senators who voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling|first=Aris|last=Folley|date=June 1, 2023|access-date=June 17, 2023|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

== Recognition ==
Markey received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from [[Tufts University]] in May 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://now.tufts.edu/articles/alfre-woodard-deliver-commencement-address|title=Alfre Woodard to Deliver Commencement Address {{!}} Tufts Now|website=www.now.tufts.edu|date=April 2, 2019|language=en|access-date=March 25, 2020}}</ref>

== Publications ==

=== Articles ===

* "America is both a leader and a laggard on climate action", ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', December 18, 2023<ref>{{Cite web |last=Markey |first=Edward J. |title=America is both a leader and a laggard on climate action - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/12/18/opinion/ed-markey-climate-change-op-ed/ |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Since 1988, Markey has been married to [[Susan Blumenthal]], who served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of [[United States Department of Health and Human Services|Health and Human Services]] for Women's Health and held the rank of [[Rear admiral (United States)|rear admiral]] as Assistant [[Surgeon General of the United States|U.S. Surgeon General]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://susan-blumenthal.org/about/biography/|title=Biography|website=susan-blumenthal.org|date=March 18, 2010 |access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref> From 2005 to 2017, he was a contributing writer for ''[[The Huffington Post]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/author/sen-ed-markey |title=Sen. Ed Markey |work=The Huffington Post|access-date=September 21, 2020}}</ref> He was one of several politicians who had a [[cameo role]] in the 2003 film ''[[Gods and Generals (film)|Gods and Generals]]'', in which he played an [[Irish Brigade (U.S.)|Irish Brigade]] officer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gods and Generals (2003)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0279111/fullcredits|work=IMDb|access-date=August 13, 2018}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Main|Electoral history of Ed Markey}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{CongLinks | congbio=m000133 | votesmart=26900 | fec=S4MA00028 | congress=edward-markey/735 }}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{wikisource author}}
* [https://www.markey.senate.gov Senator Ed Markey] official U.S. Senate website
* [http://www.edmarkey.org/ Ed Markey for Senate]
* {{C-SPAN|260}}
* [https://www.c-span.org/video/?469332-1/massachusetts-us-senate-democratic-primary-debate Complete video of debate], February 18, 2020 – [[C-SPAN]]
* [https://www.c-span.org/video/?474641-1/massachusetts-us-senate-democratic-debate&live Complete video of Markey-Kennedy debate], August 11, 2020 - [[C-SPAN]]

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[[Category:Ed Markey|*]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
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[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Boston College Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from Massachusetts]]
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[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malden Catholic High School alumni]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Democrats]]
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[[Category:Military personnel from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Politicians from Malden, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Progressivism in the United States]]
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[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]