Minority News Releases
Senator Murray Remarks on Senate Republican Bill to Empower Trump with a Forever CR—Giving Up Lawmakers’ Power Over Spending
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s comments*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor ahead of a vote Senate Republicans teed up on a bill introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) that would indefinitely extend an automatic 14-day continuing resolution (CR) in the event of a lapse in appropriations. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “This bill has a nice-sounding name, but th… Continue Reading
09.29.25
Top Watchdog Again Finds Trump Has Illegally Blocked FEMA Funds—Including for Disaster Preparedness Systems
Murray responds as GAO finds—for the 7th time in recent months—that Trump has illegally impounded funding Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on a Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision issued today, which concludes that President Trump has illegally impounded Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) funding in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA). This inclu… Continue Reading
09.26.25
Murray, DeLauro Statement on Supreme Court’s Preliminary Ruling on Trump’s “Pocket Rescission” Gambit
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s preliminary ruling that allows President Trump to continue withholding billions in foreign assistance approved by Congress—including amounts which he is illegally seeking to cancel through a “pocket rescission.” The ruling is not a final decision on wheth… Continue Reading
09.25.25
Senator Murray Statement on OMB Memo Issued Last Night
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last night regarding agency preparations for a potential government shutdown: “Instead of sitting down with Democrats to prevent a shutdown and protect Americans’ health care, President Trump is threatening to inflict more pain on the American people—in red and blue states alike. “Amer… Continue Reading
09.19.25
Senator Murray on Republicans Voting Down Her Bill to Prevent Shutdown, Protect Americans' Health Care
Murray: “Republicans chose to sit on their hands, or not even show up, rather than lift a finger to address the health care crisis they themselves created.” WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke at a press conference with Democratic leadership on Senate Republicans voting down the bill she introduced to prevent a Republican shutdown, protect Congress’ power of the purse, and add… Continue Reading
09.19.25
Senator Murray Remarks Urging Senate to Pass Democratic Bill to Prevent a Republican Shutdown, Protect Americans’ Health Care
Murray: “Instead of so much as talking to Democrats about how to stop millions of Americans from losing their health care or seeing their premiums double or worse, Republican leadership has decided to follow Trump’s orders, blow off Democrats, and risk a Republican shutdown.” Murray: “When Republicans say they don’t want to talk about health care yet, what they are saying is: they don’t want to talk about it until a lot of the damage has been done.” WATCH: Senator Murray’s full flo… Continue Reading
09.19.25
Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin Call on Education Department to Reverse Unilateral Funding Cuts to Critical Education Programs
Over the last two weeks, ED has unilaterally cut or eliminated funding for teacher training, magnet schools, minority-serving institutions of higher education (MSIs), and more Washington, D.C. — Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranki… Continue Reading
09.17.25
Murray, DeLauro Introduce Bill to Prevent a Republican Shutdown
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, introduced a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded and allow negotiations to continue over full-year bills that ensure Congress, not President Trump or Russ Vought, decide how taxpayer dollars are spent. The CR also addresses the health care crisis Republicans have single-handedly created … Continue Reading
09.16.25
Senator Murray Remarks on Republicans’ Refusal to Negotiate Bipartisan Legislation to Keep Government Open
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s Remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks on government funding at this afternoon’s Senate Democratic leadership press conference. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “Look, I have been clear: if Republicans want Democrats’ votes, it’s on them to work with us. “There is nothing partisan or extreme about saying ‘let’s negotiate.’ That’s not … Continue Reading
09.16.25
Murray, DeLauro Statement on Republican Step Toward a Shutdown
Washington, D.C. — Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member, released the following statement on Republicans’ partisan continuing resolution (CR): “House Republican Leadership has decided they would rather take us to the brink of a shutdown instead of working with Democrats on a bipartisan continuing resolution to keep the government funded, protect Congress’ power of the p… Continue Reading
09.15.25
Trump Illegally Blocking FEMA Funds, Top Government Watchdog Concludes
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on a Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision issued today, which concludes that President Trump has illegally impounded Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), which helps local communities address homelessness and provide critical services, as well as the Shelter and Services Pr… Continue Reading
09.09.25
Senator Murray Remarks on Need for Republican Leadership to Act to Avert a Government Shutdown
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks on government funding at this afternoon’s Senate Democratic leadership press conference. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “Well, I did have a productive conversation last night with Chairs Cole and Collins and Ranking Member DeLauro about conferencing the first three bills, and a bipartisan,… Continue Reading
09.08.25
Murray, DeLauro, Baldwin on Trump and McMahon Continuing to Illegally Dismantle Department of Education, Transferring Career & Technical Education Responsibilities to DOL
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee; and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, issued the following statement on th… Continue Reading
09.08.25
NEW: Weeks Away from End of Fiscal Year, Trump is Blocking $410+ Billion Dollars in Funding Owed to Communities Nationwide
Murray, DeLauro release updated tally of federal funds Trump has unlawfully cancelled or frozen—hurting families across the country Billions of dollars in funding that’s held up is set to expire at month’s end unless action is taken—including for K-12 schools, farmers, and medical research ***VIEW UPDATED TRACKER HERE*** Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member… Continue Reading
09.05.25
Murray and Whitehouse Demand DOE’s Sham Climate Report Be “Withdrawn in Shame”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:September 8, 2025 Press Contacts: Dylan Stafford (202) 590-6272 (Appropriations) Erica Handloff 202-941-7251 (EPW) Murray and Whitehouse Demand DOE’s Sham Climate Report Be “Withdrawn in Shame” Washington, D.C.— Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, fired back against the Department of Energy (DOE), denouncing the agenc… Continue Reading
09.03.25
Senator Murray Remarks on Government Funding
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks on government funding at this afternoon’s Senate Democratic leadership press conference. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “Well, less than a month until the next funding deadline, and here’s the bottom line: just as we have worked in a bipartisan fashion here in the Senate on … Continue Reading
08.29.25
Senator Murray Statement on Trump’s Latest Rescission Request
Murray: “No lawmaker should accept this absurd, illegal ploy to steal their constitutional power to determine how taxpayer dollars get spent.” Trump asks Congress to claw back billions in bipartisan national security investments—and incorrectly insists that the timing of his request allows him to zero out the funds unilaterally Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on President T… Continue Reading
08.18.25
Senator Murray on Partial Restoration of Spending Transparency Website After Court Orders Trump, Vought to Stop Breaking the Law to Hide Their Tracks
Murray demands all apportionment data be published online as court order requires Murray: “It’s clear now why Vought and Trump have fought so hard to prevent this information from being public: they have used this process to secretly and illegally exert even more control over funding approved by Congress, freezing key investments from going out the door for agencies to conduct critical work and help the American people.” Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice C… Continue Reading
08.05.25
Trump Illegally Blocking NIH Funding, Top Government Watchdog Concludes
Murray responds as GAO finds Trump has illegally impounded enacted funding for 5th time in recent weeks ICYMI last week: OMB chokes off virtually all NIH research funding, then reverses itself after decision is made public—but billions of dollars remain illegally impounded Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on a Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision issued today, which con… Continue Reading
08.01.25
Senate Passes Bipartisan Bills to Fund VA, Military Construction, Agriculture, FDA, and More
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill — BILL SUMMARY HERE Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies funding bill — BILL SUMMARY HERE Legislative Branch funding bill —BILL SUMMARY HERE Washington, D.C. — Today, in a 87-9 vote, the U.S. Senate passed the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill and the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), … Continue Reading