Minority News Releases
Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Mark Up of CJS, Ag-FDA, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Bills
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following opening remarks as the committee meets to consider draft fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch appropriations acts. Senator Murray’s opening remarks, as delivered, are belo… Continue Reading
07.10.25
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Ag-FDA and Legislative Branch Bills
Committee approves Agriculture-FDA bill in 27-0 vote — BILL SUMMARY HERE Committee approves Legislative Branch bill in 26-1 vote—BILL SUMMARY HERE ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee met for a full committee markup and approved its draft fiscal year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies and Legislative Branch appropriations bills. The Committee als… Continue Reading
07.09.25
Senator Murray Remarks at “Children’s Congress” Hearing on Type 1 Diabetes
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today—at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on accelerating research and a cure for Type 1 diabetes—the annual “Children’s Congress”—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered opening remarks underscoring the importance of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Special Diabetes Program and how President Trump’s unprecedented attacks on our nation’s premier biom… Continue Reading
07.08.25
Murray, Kaptur Statement on DOE Failure to Comply with Basic Spending Transparency Requirements As Highlighted in New GAO Report
Washington, DC — Today, 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 (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development issued the following joint statement in response to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issuing a report that finds the Department of Energy (DOE) is not in compliance with required reportin… Continue Reading
07.02.25
Murray, Kaptur Blast Energy Department’s Decision to Steer Hundreds of Millions of Dollars Away from Wind, Solar to Favored Industries—In Defiance of Bipartisan Spending Bill
Washington, D.C. — Today, 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, issued the following joint statement on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) decision to illegally cut investments that Congress provided to support the research and development of wind and sol… Continue Reading
07.01.25
Senator Murray Calls on Trump Admin to Immediately Release Billions in Funds K-12 Schools Across America are Counting On
Nearly $7 billion in funding approved by Congress in March is blocked just weeks away from the start of the school year Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement demanding the prompt release of billions of dollars in funding for K-12 schools across America that the Trump administration is blocking just weeks away from the start of the new school year. These funds largely go out the door to … Continue Reading
06.26.25
Senator Murray Presses Air Force Secretary on Servicemembers’ Access to Child Care, Discrimination Against Women Servicemembers
***WATCH: Senator Murray's exchange with Secretary Meink*** Washington, D.C. - Today-at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing to review the Air Force budget request-Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Allvin on the future of tanking missions within the Air Force and at Fairchild Airforce Base in Washington state, the reversal of policies… Continue Reading
06.26.25
Senator Murray Presses Air Force Secretary on Servicemembers’ Access to Child Care, Discrimination Against Women Servicemembers
***WATCH: Senator Murray's exchange with Secretary Meink*** Washington, D.C. - Today-at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing to review the Air Force budget request-Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Air Force Secretary Troy Meink and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General David Allvin on the future of tanking missions within the Air Force and at Fairchild Airforce Base in Washington state, the reversal of policies… Continue Reading
06.25.25
At Hearing with Attorney General Bondi, Senator Murray Slams Trump’s Weaponization of DOJ, Presses AG on Whistleblower Complaint on Ignoring Court Orders, Termination of Public Safety Grants for Communities
***WATCH: Senator Murray's exchange with AG Bondi*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, at a Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the president's fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of Justice (DOJ). Senator Murray spoke about how the Trump administration has attacked DOJ's independence and eroded… Continue Reading
06.25.25
Vought Refuses to Rule Out More Illegal End-Runs Around Congress & Refuses to Detail How Trump Will Execute Cuts If Rescissions Bill Passes—Murray Urges Congress to Reject Package in its Entirety
***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** ***WATCH: Senator Murray questioning Director Vought*** ***WATCH and READ: Senator Schatz’s testimony*** ***FACT SHEET: Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America*** ***FACT-FICTION: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Gut Bipartisan Foreign Policy Investments*** Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request—U.S. S… Continue Reading
06.25.25
Senator Schatz Testimony at Hearing on President Trump’s Rescission Package
***WATCH: Senator Schatz’s testimony*** ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray's opening remarks*** ***FACT SHEET: Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America*** ***FACT-FICTION: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Gut Bipartisan Foreign Policy Investments*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, testified on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission r… Continue Reading
06.25.25
Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Trump’s Rescission Package
WATCH: SENATOR MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS FACT SHEET: RESCISSION PACKAGE WOULD DEVASTATE LOCAL PUBLIC RADIO, TV STATIONS ACROSS AMERICA ***FACT-FICTION: TRUMP’S RESCISSION PACKAGE WOULD GUT BIPARTISAN FOREIGN POLICY INVESTMENTS*** Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Full Committee hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in her opening remarks how… Continue Reading
06.24.25
Senator Murray Grills Navy Secretary Phelan on Politicization of Civilian Hiring, Navy Hospital Staffing Cuts Eliminating Health Care on Base for 15,000 Servicemembers
ICYMI: Murray Sounds Alarm on Chronic Staffing Shortages at Naval Hospital Bremerton, Presses for Answers from Defense Health Agency ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s questioning*** Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on the President’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for the Department of the Navy, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan and Acting Chief of Naval… Continue Reading
06.18.25
Murray, DeLauro, Scott, Baldwin Call on Department of Education to Immediately Cease Illegal Plan to Transfer Career and Technical Education Program Responsibilities to Labor Department
As McMahon and Trump attempt to illegally dismantle ED, top lawmakers call on McMahon to follow the explicit mandates in key authorizing and appropriations laws—ensuring essential educational programs are faithfully administered for students nationwide 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… Continue Reading
06.16.25
Whitehouse, Murray, Heinrich Statement on Trump Firing NRC Commissioner Hanson
Washington, D.C.—After Trump fired Commissioner and former Chair Chris Hanson from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), an independent agency created by Congress that is charged with ensuring the safe use of radioactive materials, Senator Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee; Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee; and Senator M… Continue Reading
06.16.25
Government Watchdog Finds Trump Admin is Illegally Impounding Funding for Museums and Libraries Across America; Senator Murray Responds
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on another Government Accountability Office (GAO) decision announced this morning, which concludes that President Trump is illegally impounding funding approved by Congress for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA): “Here again, it is clear as day President Trump is breaking the law to… Continue Reading
06.11.25
Senator Murray Slams HUD Secretary Turner on Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Attacks on Affordable Housing & Homelessness Prevention
Trump budget proposes halving HUD’s budget as key staff are let go in droves & funds signed into law are illegally frozen ICYMI: In Everett, Murray Holds Roundtable on Trump Putting $16.7 Million for Snohomish County Homelessness Prevention at Risk, Hears from Affected Organizations—Vows to Fight Housing Budget Cuts ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s exchange with Secretary Turner*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations… Continue Reading
06.11.25
Senator Murray Presses US Forest Service Chief on Wildfire Preparedness Amid Mass Layoffs & Funding Freezes at Hearing on Forest Service Budget
ICYMI: Murray, Schrier, Larsen, WA Colleagues Urge U.S. Forest Service to Reinstate Fired Employees Critical to Wildfire Response, Timber Harvest ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s exchange with Schultz*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Chief of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Tom Schultz, at a Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on the president’s fi… Continue Reading
06.11.25
Senator Murray Slams Secretary Hegseth for Playing Politics with America’s National Security
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s exchange with Secretary Hegseth*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, questioned Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth at a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for DOD. Senator Murray pressed Secretary Hegseth on firing skilled Navy shipbuilders, firing qualified and experienced military leaders, Trump’s rec… Continue Reading
06.11.25
Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Hearing on Army Corps, Bureau of Reclamation Budgets
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee hearing on the president’s fiscal year 2026 budget requests for the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, underscored the indispensable role each agency plays in ensuring America’s waterways are flowing, supp… Continue Reading