Majority News Releases
Senators Murray and Collins Issue Statement After First Full Committee Markup in Two Years, Commit to Senate’s Voice Being Heard in Appropriations Process
Washington, D.C. — Senate Appropriators voted unanimously today to advance the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill and the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill. U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee respectively, issued the following statement on the first Senate Appropriations full committee ma… Continue Reading
06.22.23
Chair Heinrich Remarks on Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA Appropriations Bill at Markup
ICYMI: Summary of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill – READ HERE Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks on the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 202… Continue Reading
06.22.23
Chair Murray Remarks on Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill at Markup
ICYMI: Summary of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill – READ HERE Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks on the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill as the Committee … Continue Reading
06.22.23
Chair Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Markup
ICYMI: Summary of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill – READ HERE ICYMI: Summary of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill – READ HERE Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, gaveled in the first Senate Appropriations Committee markup this Congress and delivere… Continue Reading
06.22.23
BILL SUMMARY: Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill
Legislation keeps our promise to veterans by fully funding veterans’ medical care and benefits, strengthens our national security, and supports servicemembers and military families Committee to consider legislation at 10:30 AM ET - TUNE IN HERE Washington, D.C. - The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Act fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill provides the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and related agencies $135.3 billion in non-defense discretionary funding, a… Continue Reading
06.22.23
BILL SUMMARY: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill
Legislation fully funds nutrition assistance programs with a significant funding boost for WIC, invests in agricultural research to support farmers and ranchers, and protects America’s food supply and families’ health Committee to consider legislation at 10:30 AM ET – TUNE IN HERE Washington, D.C. – The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill provides $25.993 billion in funding. … Continue Reading
06.02.23
Murray Statement on Senate Passage of Debt Ceiling Legislation
ICYMI: Senator Murray Delivers Senate Floor Speech on Debt Limit Agreement– MORE HERE ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full floor remarks*** Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on Senate passage of debt ceiling legislation: “Tonight, I joined my colleagues in voting to avoid a default that would have decimated our nation’s economy, families’ financial security, an… Continue Reading
06.01.23
Senator Murray Speaks on Debt Limit Agreement on Senate Floor
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s full floor remarks*** Senator Murray: “The funding decisions we make right here in this chamber are not just numbers on a page. They are investments in people, in families, in our communities, and ultimately: in our country’s future.” Senator Murray: “While I know the President has pushed hard to hold the line on recent progress and protect vulnerable people who need support and reject House Republicans’ most extreme demands, we ha… Continue Reading
05.18.23
ICYMI: Senate Appropriations Hearing Makes Clear: Undercutting American Investments Forfeits Future to China
ICYMI: As Competition with China Intensifies, Senator Murray Makes Clear: America Cannot Stay Ahead Unless Our Investments Keep Pace – MORE HERE ICYMI: Murray and Collins Plan to Begin Bipartisan Senate Appropriations Markups in June – MORE HERE (Washington, D.C.) – In case you missed it: earlier this week, the Senate Appropriations Committee met for a full committee hearing with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Bli… Continue Reading
05.17.23
Murray and Collins Plan to Begin Bipartisan Senate Appropriations Markups in June
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee respectively, announced their plans to hold markups of bipartisan funding bills in June. "As yesterday's hearing made clear, passing bipartisan, on-time appropriations bills is critical if we want to stay ahead of competitors like the Chinese government," said Chair Murray and Vice Chair Collins. "There are countless challenges that hin… Continue Reading
05.16.23
As Competition with China Intensifies, Senator Murray Makes Clear: America Cannot Stay Ahead Unless Our Investments Keep Pace
Senator Murray: “China isn’t debating whether to invest in its future, or cut and cap the investments that keep it competitive, and China does not operate on CRs….If we want to stay competitive—if we want to stay ahead—we have to stay the course and build on our investments.” ***WATCH: Senator Murray’s opening remarks*** ***WATCH: Senator Murray discusses need to ensure our investments keep pace with Secretaries Austin, Blinken, and Rai… Continue Reading
05.16.23
Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Strengthening America's Security and Competitiveness and the Path Ahead for the US-China Relationship
***WATCH: Senator Murray's opening remarks*** Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, led a full committee hearing with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to examine President Biden’s budget request in the context of the U.S.-China relationship and discuss the investments needed in the upcoming fiscal year to stren… Continue Reading
05.11.23
Senator Murray Highlights Critical Importance of Strong Investments in Education and Workforce
***WATCH: Senator Murray discusses importance of investing in students*** Washington, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing on the president's fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Department of Education, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke about the need to invest in education in order to ensure our kids can live up to their full potential and to str… Continue Reading
05.11.23
At Hearing on Defense Budget, Senator Murray Underscores Importance of Passing Timely Funding Bills to Keep Pace with Competitors and Support Military Families
***WATCH: Senator Murray speaks at hearing on Defense budget request*** Washington, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee hearing on the President's fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, highlighted the importance of timely appropriations to keep pace with our competitors' investments, keep our country secure, and deliver the support our servicemembers and mi… Continue Reading
05.10.23
Senator Murray Makes Clear Delivering Resources FBI and DEA Need is Mission-Critical to Keep Communities Across America Safe
***WATCH: Senator Murray discusses importance of investing in keeping communities safe*** Washington, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Appropriations Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing on the president's fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke about the need to ensure our federal law enforcement agen… Continue Reading
05.10.23
Senator Murray: Living Up to Our Nation’s Commitments to Tribes Includes Delivering on Key Federal Investments—Not Slashing Them
***WATCH: Senator Murray discusses importance of our investments in Tribal communities*** Washington, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing on the president's fiscal year 2024 budget request for Indian Country, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, discussed the need for the federal government to better live up to its commitments to our Tribes, which includes providing key federal fu… Continue Reading
05.04.23
Senator Murray at NIH Budget Hearing: We Cannot Afford to Slash Our Investments in Lifesaving Research
***WATCH: Senator Murray discusses importance of funding cutting-edge medical research*** Washington, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing on the president's fiscal year 2024 budget request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, discussed how investing in the scientific research NIH conducts and supports produces brea… Continue Reading
05.03.23
Senator Murray Discusses Efforts to Strengthen U.S. Competitiveness
***WATCH: Senator Murray speaks at press conference*** Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and many of her Democratic colleagues to discuss a new legislative effort to bolster U.S. competitiveness and reiterate the importance of her work as Appropriations Chair to craft and pass funding bills to keep pace with our competitors and keep America on the cutting edge. In her rem… Continue Reading
05.03.23
At EPA Budget Hearing, Senator Murray Highlights How House Republicans’ Cuts Threaten Clean Air & Water, Efforts to Combat PFAS Contamination
***WATCH: Senator Murray speaks at hearing on EPA budget request*** Senator Murray: “PFAS, or forever chemicals, aren’t just toxic—they are everywhere—to the point where they can even be found in our blood. We need to make sure we are cutting down on pollution—not cutting the funding EPA needs to protect our kids.” Washington, D.C. – Today, at a Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing on th… Continue Reading
05.03.23
Senator Murray: Investing in Lowering Energy Costs, Protecting Our Grid, and Cutting-Edge Scientific Discovery is a No-Brainer
***WATCH: At hearing, Senator Murray discusses how investing in DOE's work is critical to stay ahead of our competitors and keep the lights on in America*** ***WATCH: Senator Murray questions witnesses on DOE budget proposal*** Washington, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development subcommittee hearing on the President's fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Department of Energy (DOE), including the National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Senator Patty… Continue Reading