Minority News Releases
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
09.11.25
Murray, Gillibrand Call on HUD Inspector General to Look Into Trump Admin’s Failure to Award Homeless Assistance Funding, Chaotic Grant Application Process
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, sent a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Inspector General calling for an investigation into the Department’s handling of the grant award process for the Continuum of Care (CoC) Builds program, wh… 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
08.01.25
Senator Murray on OMB Blocking CDC Funds to Protect People’s Health—Just Days After OMB Froze $15 Billion in NIH Funding
Murray slams reckless funding freezes, complete lack of transparency as OMB cuts off funds in secrecy despite legal requirement to make public its funding decisions Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on new reports today that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is preventing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from spending large chunks of funding for mission cri… Continue Reading
08.01.25
Senator Murray Urges Passage of Military Construction-VA, Agriculture-FDA, and Legislative Branch Funding Bills
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 ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks on the Senate Floor*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks on the Senat… Continue Reading
07.31.25
Government Watchdog Finds Trump Has Illegally Impounded Funding for 4th Time in Recent Weeks
GAO finds Trump illegally impounded funding for K-12 schools across America to make energy efficiency upgrades—lowering schools’ costs and upgrading students’ classrooms 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 has—in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA)—illegal… Continue Reading
07.31.25
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Bills
Committee approves Defense funding bill in a 26-3 vote — BILL SUMMARY HERE Committee approves LHHS bill in a 26-3 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 to consider its draft fiscal year 2026 Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations acts. “These are not the bills I would have written on my own—bu… Continue Reading
07.31.25
Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Mark Up of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 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 the draft fiscal year 2026 Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations acts. Senator Murray’s opening remarks, as delivered, are below: “As I have said, these are not the bills I would have w… Continue Reading
07.29.25
Senator Murray Slams Trump Admin for Choking Off Lifesaving NIH Medical Research
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on reports today that President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is now explicitly preventing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from spending funding Congress appropriated for lifesaving research into treatments and cures for devastating diseases. This escalation by the Trump administration would choke off approximately $15 billion i… Continue Reading