Minority News Releases

01.24.25

FACT SHEET: Trump’s Illegal and Unconstitutional Scheme to Withhold Funding Headed to Communities Across America

  Senator Murray details how Trump wants to illegally override Congress’ spending decisions and hold up investments for the American people   Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released a fact sheet on the sweeping executive orders Trump signed this week directing agencies to immediately withhold funding that was provided by Congress and signed into law. The fact sheet details how presidents lack power to unilaterall… Continue Reading


01.23.25

Senator Murray: “No Senator Who Believes Congress Holds the Power of the Purse Should Vote for Russ Vought”

WATCH: Senator Murray urges colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reject Vought’s nomination to be OMB Director   Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee; Tim Kaine (D-VA); and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) at a press conference to call out Trump’s extreme pick to lead the Office of Management and … Continue Reading


01.22.25

Senator Murray Grills OMB Nominee Russ Vought—Slamming Trump Executive Orders to Illegally Withhold Funding for Communities Across America

Murray also calls out Vought’s extreme anti-abortion views WATCH: Senator Murray questions Russ Vought   Washington, D.C. — Today—during the Senate Budget Committee’s hearing to consider the nomination of Russ Vought to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)—Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Budget Committee, pressed Vought on his vocal support for President Trump flouting f… Continue Reading


01.14.25

Senator Murray Statement on Meeting with OMB Nominee Russ Vought

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after meeting with Russell Vought, President-elect Trump’s nominee for Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).   “This afternoon, I met with Russ Vought to talk about his nomination and what I expect to see from the Office of Management and Budget in the new administration… Continue Reading


12.21.24

Chair Murray Statement on Senate Passage of Disaster Relief Package and CR

  Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on final passage of the disaster relief package and CR that cleared the Senate in an 85-11 vote.   “Tonight, we prevented a needless shutdown before the holidays and finally delivered much-needed relief to help communities that have been struck by disasters all across the country. I worked hard to get these resources across the finish line—and to ensure th… Continue Reading


12.20.24

Chair Murray Statement on Government Funding

  Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the path forward to fund the government:   “I’m ready to stay here through Christmas because we’re not going to let Elon Musk run the government. Put simply, we should not let an unelected billionaire rip away research for pediatric cancer so he can get a tax cut or tear down policies that help America outcompete China because it could hurt his bottom l… Continue Reading


12.17.24

Chair Murray Statement on Disaster Relief Package and Continuing Resolution

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the continuing resolution (CR) and disaster relief package just released.   “With so many communities across the country still reeling from devastating disasters, this package will deliver much-needed, overdue relief—to help people get back on their feet and help communities rebuild. I have been pushing for a comprehensive bill that addresses the wide scop… Continue Reading


12.17.24

Senator Murray Comments on Need to Pass CR and Disaster Relief Package

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Democrats’ weekly leadership press conference and spoke about the need to quickly pass a continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown and a comprehensive disaster relief package.   Senator Murray's remarks, as delivered, are below:  “Thank you. We have been working around the clock to wrap up the CR and the disaster relief bill. We should be done but, unfortunately… Continue Reading


11.22.24

Senator Murray Statement on Trump’s Nomination of Russ Vought to Lead the Office of Management and Budget

  Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to President-elect Donald Trump announcing his intention to nominate Russ Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget.   “Surprising no one, Donald Trump has selected a chief architect of Project 2025 to manage his budget and spending priorities. Russ Vought is a far-right ideologue who has tried to break the law to give President Trump … Continue Reading


11.20.24

Senator Murray Chairs Hearing on Disaster Funding Needs, Underscores It’s Time for Congress to Deliver Relief

   WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks   WATCH: Senator Murray questions agency heads about disaster needs   Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired a hearing on disaster relief needs across the country and underscored that Congress needs to finalize and pass a bipartisan disaster package before the end of the year. On Monday, President Biden submitted an updated request to Congress for additional disaste… Continue Reading


11.20.24

Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Hearing on Disaster Relief Needs

  WATCH: Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on disaster funding needs   Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, just gaveled in a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on disaster funding needs across the country and delivered the following opening remarks.   Senator Murray’s opening remarks, as delivered, are below:   “Today, we will hold a hearing to discuss urgent funding needs for communities harmed by the recent natura… Continue Reading


11.18.24

Chair Murray Statement on Disaster Relief Request

  WEDNESDAY: Senator Murray to Chair Hearing on Disaster Funding Needs   Washington, D.C.- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the President’s disaster relief funding request, which was submitted to Congress today.    “Across our country, people are reeling from a devastating string of disasters—some of which occurred as long as two years ago. Congress has never in my memory delayed so long in providing bip… Continue Reading


11.13.24

BILL SUMMARY: Homeland Security Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill

  Washington, D.C. - The Fiscal Year 2025 Homeland Security Appropriations Act provides $66.16 billion in total discretionary funding.   “This bill tackles some of the most urgent challenges facing our country, while also delivering on important Connecticut priorities. It provides important resources to improve border security, help stop the flow of fentanyl and make our immigration system fairer and more efficient. At the same time, we’re restoring FEMA grant funding to help protect nonprofi… Continue Reading


09.25.24

Chair Murray Speaks in Support of Short-term CR, Urges Serious Bipartisan Negotiations of Full-year Funding Bills

ICMYI: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Energy and Water, Defense, LHHS, and Financial Services Appropriations Bills ICYMI: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Commerce-Justice-Science, Interior-Environment, State and Foreign Operations, and Transportation-HUD Appropriations Bills ICYMI: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Subcommittee Allocations, Legislative Branch, Ag-FDA, and Military Construction-VA Bills ***WATCH: VIDEO of Senator Murray’s Floor Speech*** Washington, … Continue Reading


09.22.24

Chair Murray Statement on Bipartisan CR: Urges Swift Passage to Avert Government Shutdown and Finish Full-Year Bills By Year’s End

Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the bipartisan continuing resolution negotiated by all four corners of Congress. “This continuing resolution was a bipartisan compromise—let’s get it passed and ensure we avert a needless and disastrous government shutdown. There are so many urgent national priorities that still must be addressed in our full-year funding bills. I will be working closely with… Continue Reading


09.20.24

Chair Murray Praises Speedy Bipartisan Passage of Critical VA Funding Bill, Urges Same Bipartisan Approach to Fund Government

Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, praised Senate passage of a bipartisan supplemental appropriations bill, the Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act, to avoid Veterans Affairs (VA) having to delay providing veteran pensions and benefits. This bill provides $3 billion in mandatory funding for VA compensation, pensions, and readjustment benefits. “Now that the PACT Act is law, more vet… Continue Reading


09.10.24

Senator Murray Rips House GOP CR as Dangerous and Derelict, Urges Responsible Bipartisan Path Forward

ICYMI: White House Fact Sheet on House GOP CR ***VIDEO of Senator Murray’s Remarks*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) at Senate Democrats’ weekly leadership press conference to outline exactly why the partisan House Republican Continuing Resolution is dangerous and damaging to American interests. “There is an awful lot happening in the world to let House Republicans leave our … Continue Reading


09.06.24

Schumer And Murray Joint Statement On House Republican Funding Proposal

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement in response to the House Republicans' recent funding proposal and the potential for a government shutdown: “As we have said repeatedly, avoiding a government shutdown requires bipartisanship, not a bill drawn up by one party. Speaker Johnson is making the same mistake as former Speaker McCarthy did a year ago, by wasting precious… Continue Reading


08.01.24

Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Energy and Water, Defense, LHHS, and Financial Services Appropriations Bills

  Committee unanimously approves Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill in 28-0 vote   Committee unanimously approves Defense bill in 28-0 vote   Committee approves Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies bill in 25-3 vote   Committee unanimously approves Financial Services and General Government bill in 27-0 vote   ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***   Washington, D.C. — Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee met fo… Continue Reading


08.01.24

Chair Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Markup

  ICYMI: Summary of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill   ICYMI: Summary of the Defense Appropriations Bill   ICYMI: Summary of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill   ICYMI: Summary of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill   WATCH: Chair Murray's opening remarks   Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, ju… Continue Reading

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