Chairman's Press
Sanders: Economy is stronger but too many middle class families are still struggling
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement tonight after President Barack Obama's State of the Union address: "As President Obama indicated, our economy today is much stronger than it was six years ago. The bad news, however, is that millions of middle-class families continue to struggle economically and we have an obscene level of income and wealth inequality. "I support many of the initiatives the p… Continue Reading
01.18.15
Sanders Says Obama Plan ‘Moves Us in the Right Direction’
BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 18 - U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today issued the following statement on President Barack Obama's proposals to raise taxes on the wealthiest taxpayers and the largest financial firms and cut taxes for working families: "At a time of obscene levels of income and wealth inequality, President Obama's plan moves us in the right direction. I look forward to working with the administration to adopt a tax system that elim… Continue Reading
01.16.15
Sanders Spells out Priorities as Budget Ranking Member
Sanders Spells out Priorities as Budget Ranking Member WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, today warned against Republican efforts to cut Social Security and other programs that help working families. In remarks at a Capitol Hill news conference, Sanders warned that benefits for the disabled and their children face a 20 percent cut next year if the Senate follows the lead of House Republicans. A new House rule creates a lega… Continue Reading
12.11.14
MEMO: Murray Outlines Significant Fiscal Outlook Improvement, Calls for Focus on Jobs and Economic Growth
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released a memo to Senate Democrats on the updated fiscal outlook and its implications for the budget debate next year. The memo features new analysis from the Senate Budget Committee that shows the federal fiscal outlook has improved significantly. Specifically, the memo shows that compared to estimates from 2010, projected federal spending over the next decade is $7.8 trillion lower, projected revenue has declined… Continue Reading
11.20.14
Murray and Ryan Propose Commission to Promote Evidence-Based Policymaking
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D., Wash.) and U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wisc.) announced the Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act of 2014. The bill would establish a 15-member commission to study how best to expand the use of data to evaluate the effectiveness of federal programs and tax expenditures. The commission would also study how best to protect the privacy rights of people who interact with … Continue Reading
11.12.14
Murray Statement on Providing Budget Certainty Through an Omnibus Spending Bill in December
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on providing budget certainty in December: "My Republican colleagues often say they don't want to kick the can down the road when it comes to the budget-but that's exactly what a stopgap spending bill this December would mean," said Senator Murray. "Families and businesses want to see us building on the bipartisan budget deal reached last year and working together to provide certain… Continue Reading
10.08.14
Murray Statement on Congressional Budget Office’s Monthly Budget Review
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office's Monthly Budget Review for September 2014: "Today's announcement from the Congressional Budget Office on the deficit for fiscal year 2014 offers more evidence that our fiscal outlook has continued to improve, with deficits falling by two-thirds in the last five years and by nearly $200 billion since last year. With a strengthened fiscal outlook in… Continue Reading
09.18.14
Statement by Chairman Murray on Passage of a Continuing Resolution in the Senate
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement on the passage of a continuing resolution through December 11th, 2014 in the Senate. "When Chairman Ryan and I reached a two-year budget agreement last year, it was especially important to both of us that we stop the cycle of governing by crisis. So, while I'm disappointed that we were unable to complete the regular appropriations process on time, I'm glad that with today's vote,… Continue Reading
08.27.14
Murray Releases Statement on Updated CBO Projection
Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office's update to the budget and economic outlook from 2014 to 2024: "Today's CBO report is further evidence that our near-term budget outlook has improved significantly, with the deficit declining to one-third of where it was just a few years ago, and shows that we should focus on tackling our other deficits in areas like education, jobs, infrastructure, and research, while… Continue Reading
08.01.14
MEMO: Murray Outlines Fiscal Impacts of Climate Change in Memo to Democratic Caucus
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released a memo to Senate Democrats to outline the serious impacts climate change will have on the economy and the federal budget, and show that failure to confront climate change will make it harder to address our nation's long-term fiscal challenges. The memo uses illustrative examples in the areas of disaster relief, national security, transportation and water infrastructure, and agriculture to show how climate c… Continue Reading
07.30.14
ICYMI: Chairman Murray Holds a Hearing on The Costs of Inaction: The Economic and Budgetary Consequences of Climate Change
Yesterday, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the Costs of Inaction: The Economic and Budgetary Consequences of Climate Change. In her opening statement, Chairman Murray discussed how climate change is not only an environmental and economic challenge, but also increasingly a fiscal challenge. "This isn't just an environmental issue. It also poses serious risks to our economy and the federal budget. And if we fail to address these threats, it will wea… Continue Reading
07.29.14
BUDGET HEARING: The Costs of Inaction: The Economic and Budgetary Consequences of Climate Change
Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the Costs of Inaction: The Economic and Budgetary Consequences of Climate Change with majority witnesses Mindy Lubber, President of Ceres, Inc., Alfredo Gomez, Director of Natural Resources and Environment for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and Sherri Goodman, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for CNA Corporation and the former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Environmental Security). At the hear… Continue Reading
07.29.14
The Costs of Inaction: The Economic and Budgetary Consequences of Climate Change - Opening Statement of Chairman Murray
"This hearing will now come to order. "I'd like to thank the Ranking Member, Senator Sessions, and all of our colleagues for joining us today. "And I'd like to especially thank our witnesses for taking the time to be here. "Today, we'll hear from Mindy Lubber the president of Ceres, Inc. an organization that works with businesses, investors, and other groups on issues like climate change. "Alfredo Gomez joins us from the Government Accountability Office, where he leads the Natural Resources … Continue Reading
07.11.14
Murray Statement on the OMB FY15 Mid-Session Review
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on the Office of Management and Budget's FY15 Mid-Session Review: "Today's report from the Office of Management and Budget shows once again that our fiscal outlook has improved significantly in the near-term, and while we need to continue to tackle long-term deficits fairly and responsibly, we have room to focus on other deficits in areas like jobs, innovation, infrastructure, and edu… Continue Reading
07.10.14
Senate Confirms Shaun Donovan as OMB Director in Strong Bipartisan Vote
Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Shaun Donovan to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget by a strong bipartisan vote of 75-22. Prior to the vote, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) spoke on the Senate floor to urge her colleagues to support Donovan's nomination. "I look forward to working with Secretary Donovan to strengthen our fiscal outlook over the long term, and ensure we can make critical investments in jobs and opportunity to suppor… Continue Reading
06.24.14
Senate Budget Committee Approves Nomination of OMB Director Shaun Donovan in Bipartisan Vote
Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a markup of the nomination of Secretary Shaun Donovan to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget. The nomination passed through the Committee with a roll call vote of 15-6, and will now head to the Senate floor. Murray released the following statement after the vote: "I am pleased that the Senate Budget Committee has approved Secretary Donovan's nomination with bipartisan support. Secretary Donovan will be a gr… Continue Reading
06.16.14
Murray Delivers Speech on Averting a Highway Trust Fund Shortfall and Construction Shutdown
(Washington, D.C.) -Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor, continuing her effort to warn colleagues of the looming construction shutdown when the Highway Trust Fund reaches critically low levels this summer. Murray highlighted examples of various states already preparing for this potential crisis that could jeopardize thousands of transportation projects, and have a serious impact on construction jobs. Murray called on Congress to replenish the Highway Tru… Continue Reading
06.11.14
BUDGET HEARING: Consideration of OMB Director Nominee Shaun Donovan
Washington, D.C. - Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Secretary Shaun Donovan to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget. In her opening statement, Murray praised Donovan's leadership at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, highlighting his commitment to expanding opportunity for families and communities, his history of working in a bipartisan manner, and ability to tackle major challenges, inclu… Continue Reading
06.05.14
ICYMI: Chairman Murray Holds a Hearing on The Impact of Student Loan Debt on Borrowers and the Economy
Yesterday, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the Impact of Student Loan Debt on Borrowers and the Economy with majority witnesses Rohit Chopra, Student Loan Ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and Brittany Jones, recent college graduate and Former President of the Student Virginia Education Association. In her opening statement, Chairman Murray addressed how student loan debt has lasting repercussions for young adults as they start… Continue Reading
06.04.14
Chairman Murray’s Statement on the Nomination of Shaun Donovan as OMB Director
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan's nomination to become the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). "President Obama has made a great decision in nominating Shaun Donovan to lead the Office of Management and Budget. As Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Donovan has been a strong manager, taking on challenges like overseeing the governme… Continue Reading
