Minority News Releases
Currently showing results related to State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
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
01.11.26
Appropriations Committees Release Two-Bill Minibus
Legislation rejects drastic Trump cuts and 80+ extreme Republican riders—protecting key investments in America’s small businesses and reasserting Congress’ control over key spending decisions Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate and House Appropriations Committees released text of two bicameral, bipartisan fiscal year appropriations bills: the Financial Services and General Government and the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs bills. In a statement, Senator P… Continue Reading
07.25.24
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Commerce-Justice-Science, Interior-Environment, State and Foreign Operations, and Transportation-HUD Appropriations Bills
Committee approves Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill in 26-3 vote Committee approves Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill in 28-1 vote Committee approves State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs bill in 24-5 vote Committee approves Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill in 28-1 vote ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee me… Continue Reading
07.25.24
BILL SUMMARY: State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill
Bill provides new investments to strengthen the United States’ global leadership and competitiveness, fortify our alliances, and deliver vital humanitarian aid and development assistance to build a safer, more prosperous world Washington, D.C. - The Fiscal Year 2025 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act provides $61.605 billion in total funding for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other international agencie… Continue Reading
04.09.24
At Hearing on USAID Budget, Senator Murray Discusses Importance of Our Investments in International Development—and of Urgently Getting More Aid into Gaza
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s questioning of Administrator Power*** Washington, D.C. — Today—at a Senate Appropriations State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, discussed our investments in USAID and the urgent need to help ensure more aid gets into Gaza to meet the dire needs on the ground… Continue Reading
03.23.24
Senate Approves Final FY24 Funding Package in Overwhelming 74-24 Vote
Funding legislation strengthens America’s national security and invests in the American people—lowering families’ child care costs, protecting workers’ pocketbooks, investing in people’s health, supporting students, and much more Rejects steep cuts and extreme Republican policy riders that would have set our country back decades ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor remarks after passage of the legislation*** Washington, D.C. - Today, the Senate voted 72-24 to send the final set of bic… Continue Reading
03.22.24
Senator Murray Remarks Urging Swift Senate Passage of Bipartisan Funding Package
House passed legislation in overwhelming bipartisan 286-134 ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s floor remarks*** ICYMI: Murray, Top Appropriators Release Second Funding Package - MORE HERE ICYMI: Former Preschool Teacher Patty Murray Delivers $1 Billion More to Help Families Find and Afford Child Care & Pre-K - MORE HERE Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging swift Senate passage o… Continue Reading
03.21.24
Murray, Top Appropriators Release Second Funding Package
Funding legislation strengthens America’s national security and invests in the American people—lowering families’ child care costs, protecting workers’ pocketbooks, investing in people’s health, supporting students, and much more Rejects steep cuts and extreme Republican riders that would have set our country back decades ICYMI: Former Preschool Teacher Patty Murray Delivers $1 Billion More to Help Families Find and Afford Child Care & Pre-K - MORE HERE Washington, D.C. - Toda… Continue Reading
03.21.24
BILL SUMMARY: State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill
Bill advances America’s national security interests by investing in U.S. global leadership and competitiveness, strengthening our alliances, and maintaining U.S. preeminence in development and humanitarian assistance to build a safer and more prosperous world Rejects draconian cuts and scores of extreme riders that would have undermined U.S. leadership abroad ***Bill text, explanatory statement, & more available HERE*** Washington, D.C. - The Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign … Continue Reading
07.20.23
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Energy and Water Development, State-Foreign Operations, and Transportation-HUD Bills
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee met and approved the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bills. “Today, our Committee will continue passing serious Appropriations bills that can actually be signed into law and making sure the voice o… Continue Reading
07.20.23
Chair Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Markup of Energy and Water Development, State-Foreign Operations, Transportation-Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bills
ICYMI: Summary of the Energy and Water Development Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill – READ HERE ICYMI: Summary of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill – READ HERE ICYMI: Summary of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill – READ HERE Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriat… Continue Reading
07.20.23
BILL SUMMARY: State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill
Bill strengthens America’s security and competitiveness, maintains our global leadership, strengthens engagement in the Indo-Pacific, invests in global health security, and delivers much-needed humanitarian aid Washington, D.C. – The Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act provides $61.608 billion in total discretionary funding for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and ot… Continue Reading
03.22.23
Senator Murray’s Remarks at Hearing on State Department’s Budget
***WATCH: Senator Murray's remarks*** (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke at a State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs subcommittee hearing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the President's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State. Senator Murray's remarks, as delivered, are below: "Thank you very much, Chair Coons and Ranking Member Graham. "I'm really glad to jo… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Opening Remarks of Chairman Leahy on the Appropriations Hearing on the FY 2022 State Department Budget Request
Welcome Secretary Blinken. I will begin by making my opening statement. I understand Vice Chairman Shelby will defer to Senator Graham, Ranking Member on the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee for his opening statement. Then I will turn to Senator Coons, our new Chairman of the State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee, for his opening statement. Mr. Secretary, this Committee funds every aspect of the State Department's operations and programs. You cannot turn the lights on, or power your … Continue Reading
03.05.20
Senate Approps. Vice Chair Leahy Statement Ahead of Senate Passage of the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental
This week, Congress showed strong, decisive leadership in addressing the novel coronavirus. As Appropriators often do, and as members of Congress proved they are still capable of doing even in the most partisan times, we put our labels aside and came together for the American people. Unfortunately, this is something the President has not done. By actively spreading misinformation on national television and downplaying the potential risks to the American people, I am concerned the President… Continue Reading
02.13.20
Statement of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Coronavirus Virus
Since first emerging in Wuhan, China on December 31st, the outbreak of a new coronavirus, COVID-19 ("novel coronavirus"), has spread to 25 countries, infected more than 44,000 people, caused at least 1,100 deaths, forced entire cities into lockdown, triggered hundreds of international flight cancelations, restricted hundreds of Americans to U.S. military bases in a federal government quarantine, and caused significant economic harm to countries and businesses around the globe. All this in only … Continue Reading
01.27.20
Dispelling The Myth That President Trump’s Ukraine Aid Freeze Was Rooted In His Desire To Combat Corruption
After President Trump's illegal Ukraine aid freeze scheme was exposed, he has claimed that he froze the aid out of a desire to fight corruption. That is a myth. There is no evidence that he cares about fighting corruption in Ukraine or anywhere else. The Trump administration has sought to gut foreign aid accounts that help fight corruption, including in Ukraine; has not sought to freeze aid to governments widely considered to have more corruption challenges than those in Ukraine; and is actively… Continue Reading
01.24.20
FACT CHECK: President Trump’s False Claim Equating His Illegal Ukraine Aid Freeze With President Obama’s Lawful, Legitimate Pauses On Aid
President Trump has argued that the House Managers' case against his Ukraine aid freeze is "loaded with lies and misrepresentations" because it fails to acknowledge that the "Obama administration withheld aid from many countries." This argument, which has been echoed by other Republicans, draws patently false equivalence between Trump's misconduct and President Obama's actions. Unlike Trump's Ukraine aid freeze, which was for personal, political purposes and which the Government Accountability … Continue Reading
09.26.19
SUMMARY: Fiscal Year 2020 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. (Thursday, September 26, 2019) - The bill provides $55 billion in discretionary budget authority, including $8 billion for overseas contingency operations (OCO). The allocation is $11.6 billion above the President's request as scored by CBO, and $782 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, said: "The President sent us a budget … Continue Reading
09.26.19
Statement Of Vice Chairman Leahy On Committee Consideration Of Five FY 2020 Appropriations Bills
The Committee has five bills before it today-the Interior bill, the State, Foreign Operations bill, the Commerce, Justice, Science bill, the Homeland Security bill, and the Legislative Branch bill. In a moment I will read the motion to report all five bills. I recommend an AYE vote on four of these bills -Interior, State, Foreign Operations, CJS, and Legislative Branch - and for reasons I will talk about in a moment, I urge a NO vote on the Homeland Bill. I want to thank Chairman Murkowski a… Continue Reading