Minority News Releases
Senate Republicans Once Again Block Bill to Pay TSA Agents
This marks the 7th time Senate Republicans have blocked legislation to fund TSA, CISA, Coast Guard, FEMA, & other important DHS functions as talks to rein in ICE & CBP continue Washington, D.C. — This afternoon, Senate Republicans once again blocked legislation offered by Senate Democrats to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers while negotiations over common-sense reforms to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (C… Continue Reading
03.12.26
In 24 Hours, Senate Republicans Block Five Separate Bills to Fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, Coast Guard, & Other DHS Functions
Senate Republicans have now blocked Democratic attempts to fund critical parts of DHS six times in total Washington, D.C. — Over the last 24 hours, Senate Republicans have blocked five separate bills offered by Senate Democrats to fund key components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)—while ne… Continue Reading
03.11.26
Senate Republicans Again Block Bill to Fund TSA, FEMA, & Cyber Defense Agency
Senate Republicans once again block Murray’s bill to fund everything at DHS but ICE and Border Patrol, as they drag their feet on common-sense reforms to protect Americans from violence at the hands of ICE Murray: “Right now, TSA agents are going without pay because Republicans and the White House have decided they would rather shut down all of DHS than pass some very basic reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.” Murray: “Democrats are not going to write a blank check for rogue ag… Continue Reading
03.05.26
Senate Republicans Block Bill to Pay TSA Agents, Fund FEMA & Cyber Defense Agency as They Drag Their Feet on Common-Sense Reforms to Protect Americans from Violence at the Hands of ICE
Murray: “It has become all too clear that Republicans would rather keep DHS shut down than work with Democrats to prevent more Americans from being killed by masked federal agents.” Murray: “Instead of blocking bills to pay TSA agents—or wasting time with dead-on-arrival legislation—Republicans should finally listen to their constituents who want to see ICE reined in—and work with us to enact the reforms we need. I remain ready to get it done.” ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor rema… Continue Reading
03.03.26
Senator Murray Calls on Congress to End War with Iran, Demands White House Take DHS Reforms Seriously
Murray: “Donald Trump promised lower costs and no more foreign wars. Instead, he has given us higher costs and a new, costly war in the Middle East. It is hard to imagine a more straightforward betrayal.” Murray: “If Republicans want to know who is actually undermining our cyber defenses and our counter-terrorism work, all they have to do is look across town at Kristi Noem’s DHS and Kash Patel’s FBI.” ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator P… Continue Reading
02.27.26
Senator Murray on the Latest Status of the Disaster Relief Fund
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on news that—after spending the last year holding up disaster aid and weakening FEMA— Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem is now taking some steps to release long-held up disaster relief from FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). “These resources should have gone out the door many months ago, but Secretary Noem has personally pr… Continue Reading
02.25.26
As Energy Department Allocates Funds in Defiance of Spending Law, Murray and Kaptur Renew Call for GAO to Investigate Misuse of Clean Energy Funding
Washington, D.C. — Today—as the Department of Energy (DOE) makes funding available in defiance of the fiscal year 2025 continuing resolution—Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, renewed their request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issu… Continue Reading
02.23.26
Senator Murray Statement on Secretary McMahon’s Newest Efforts to Dismantle the Department of Education and Jeopardize Support for Students
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Department of Education’s announcement today that it is inking two additional Interagency Agreements (IAA) to illegally spin off core departmental responsibilities to other federal agencies. “These illegal agreements aren’t just creating pointless new bureaucracy that burdens our already-overworked teachers and schools; they are actively je… Continue Reading
02.12.26
On Senate Floor, Murray Calls Out Abuses by ICE and CBP: “Americans are demanding accountability, and we will settle for nothing less.”
Murray: “The American people need us to meet this moment. We need to rein in ICE and CBP. We need to call out the avalanche of lies. And most importantly, we need to stand up for our communities—because they are being terrorized by their own government.” Murray: “If Republicans want Democratic votes to fix that—then they need to understand half-measures will not cut it. What Democrats are demanding is reasonable and it is necessary. None of what we are asking for is extreme for local la… Continue Reading
02.04.26
Senator Murray: Republicans Must Work with Us on Common Sense Reforms to Rein in ICE and CBP
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined House and Senate Democratic leaders at a press conference following a bicameral meeting on negotiations over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill and delivered the following remarks. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “I did not come from Brooklyn, nor did I come from the House, but … Continue Reading
02.03.26
Senator Murray Calls on Senate Republicans to Work with Democrats on Serious Reforms to Rein in ICE and CBP
Murray: “We cannot fund DHS if we do not rein in DHS.” ***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 at the Senate Democratic Leadership press conference regarding negotiations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “Last week, we wrapped up 11 of our 12 fundin… Continue Reading
01.30.26
Senator Murray Floor Remarks on Senate Passage of Five More Funding Bills
ICYMI: Senate Passes Five Funding Bills, Strips Out DHS Bill to Ensure Negotiations Proceed to Rein in ICE and CBP ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor after Senate passage of five more fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills she helped negotiate: the Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education,… Continue Reading
01.30.26
Senator Murray Remarks at Press Conference Following Senate Vote to Pass Five Funding Bills While Splitting Off DHS Bill
WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks ICYMI: Senate Passes Five Funding Bills, Strips Out DHS Bill to Ensure Negotiations Proceed to Rein in ICE and CBP Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at a press conference, alongside Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), after final passage of five more fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills. The amended pac… Continue Reading
01.30.26
Senate Passes Five Funding Bills, Strips Out DHS Bill to Ensure Negotiations Proceed to Rein in ICE and CBP
Washington, D.C. — Today, in a 71-29 vote, the Senate passed five more fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills: the Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bills. The amended package strips the Homeland Security bill out of the six-bill package sent over by the House las… Continue Reading
01.28.26
Senator Murray Calls on Senate Republicans to Work with Democrats to Quickly Pass Five Funding Bills While Working on Serious Reforms to Rein in ICE and CBP
***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: “Democrats are ready to avert a shutdown. We have 5 bills we all agree on—about 95 percent of the remaining budget—it is ready to go. “We can pass these f… Continue Reading
01.28.26
Senator Murray Floor Remarks on Horrific Shooting of Alex Pretti and the Imperative for Republicans to Work with Democrats to Rein in ICE and CBP and Quickly Pass Other Five Funding Bills to Avert an Unnecessary Shutdown
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s Remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about the killing of Alex Pretti and the violence we are seeing from ICE and CBP agents in Minneapolis and all across the country—and the urgent need to rein in these rogue agencies. Senator Murray emphasized that Democrats are ready to avert a Republican shutdown by passing the five other appropriations bill… Continue Reading
01.20.26
Appropriations Committees Release Remaining Funding Bills
Legislation rejects draconian Trump cuts and 85+ Republican poison pill riders—protecting investments in Americans’ health, financial security, and futures while reasserting Congress’ power of the purse Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees released text of the four remaining fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills: the Defense; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Develop… Continue Reading
01.15.26
Senate Passes Three-Bill Funding Package in 82-15 Vote
Democrats protect funding to lower families’ energy bills, key investments in scientific research, and much more Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate, in a 82-15 vote, passed three bicameral, bipartisan fiscal year appropriations bills: the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bills. The bills now head to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The House cleared the package in an overwhelming 397-… Continue Reading
01.15.26
Senator Murray Urges Colleagues to Support Final Passage of Three-Bill Funding Package
ICYMI: Murray, Top Appropriators Release Three-Bill Minibus ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s Remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Ahead of the Senate’s vote today on final passage of a three-bill funding package, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks, encouraging passage of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies fiscal year 2026 … Continue Reading
01.14.26
Senator Murray Statement on Trump Axing Thousands of Grants to Treat and Prevent Addiction, Provide Mental Health Services
Overnight, Trump admin wiped out billions in mental health and substance use disorder grants awarded by SAMHSA to communities nationwide—including in Washington state Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s decision overnight to reportedly terminate as many as 2,800 grants totaling approximately $2 billion for communities across the country to combat substa… Continue Reading