Chairman's Press
Chairman Patty Murray’s Statement on President Obama’s Budget Proposal
"The President's budget proposal is a strong blueprint for building on our bipartisan budget deal to create jobs, expand opportunities, and tackle our deficits and debt fairly and responsibly. "The two-year bipartisan budget deal signed into law in December was a strong step in the right direction, but it shouldn't be the last step we take. So while the American people have a budget in place and the certainty they deserve that there won't be another budget crisis through the end of 2015, we in … Continue Reading
03.10.14
BUDGET HEARING: The President’s FY15 Budget Proposal
Washington, D.C-Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Proposal with Office of Management and Budget Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell. At the hearing, Murray addressed proposals in the President's budget, discussed the importance of the two-year budget agreement Congress approved in December, and called on Congress to build on that deal and focus on creating jobs, opportunities, and economic growth, while tackl… Continue Reading
03.10.14
Chairman Murray’s Statement on Building on the Two-Year Budget Deal
"I went into my negotiations with Chairman Ryan hoping we could give the American people some much needed certainty after years of lurching to crisis to crisis, and I was very glad that our two-year budget deal accomplished that. Fiscal Year 2015 is settled, the Appropriations Committees are already working with their bipartisan spending levels, and now we should work together to build on our two-year bipartisan budget, not create more uncertainty for families and businesses by immediately relit… Continue Reading
03.10.14
Chairman Murray Releases Memo To The Caucus On Updated Fiscal Outlook, Opportunity To Refocus on Creating Jobs And Investing in Opportunity
(Washington, D.C.) - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released a memo to Senate Democrats that outlines the $3.3 trillion in deficit reduction put in place since August 2010. The memo describes the improved near-term fiscal outlook, and makes the case for focusing more on job creation, expanding opportunity and generating broad-based economic growth while looking for ways to tackle our long-term debt challenges using a balanced and responsible approach. See below for Senator… Continue Reading
02.25.14
Murray on GOP Debt Limit Turnaround: Republican Leaders Finally Bowed to Reality, Put Economy Before Tea Party
Washington, D.C-Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Budget Committee released the following statement on the House Republican plan to move forward with a debt ceiling bill with no ransom demands attached, as she and other Democrats have been demanding. "I'm glad that Republican leaders finally bowed to reality and put families and the economy before the Tea Party. The era of economic hostage-taking, ransom demands, and manufactured crises should finally be behind us, and we now… Continue Reading
02.25.14
BUDGET HEARING: Murray Calls for Investments in Broad-Based Growth, Fair and Responsible Deficit Reduction
Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing with Congressional Budget Office Director Dr. Douglas Elmendorf, who testified and answered questions about CBO's Budget and Economic Outlook: 2014 to 2024. At the hearing, Murray highlighted that while many in Congress have singularly focused on reducing the budget deficit, it has left a deeper deficit in areas including infrastructure, education, job training and innovation, and that these job creating prioriti… Continue Reading
02.25.14
DEBT LIMIT: Murray Calls for Compromise and Bipartisanship Following GOP Turnaround On Debt Limit
Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Budget Committee released the following statement after the Senate vote on a clean debt limit bill. "I am pleased that Congress has put the latest round of threats and brinkmanship firmly behind us, hopefully for the last time. We have taken another basic but critical step toward showing the American people that their leaders can focus on the real challenges workers and families face, rather than getting caught up in the manufactured crises we… Continue Reading
02.25.14
BUDGET HEARING: Murray Hears From Americans on How Federal Budget Decisions Affect Them
Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the Economic and Budget Outlook for Individuals, Families, and Communities. Majority witnesses included Neera Tanden, President of the Center for American Progress, Edith Kimball, Elementary School Food Services Professional at Lee Elementary School, and Courtney Johnson, High School English Teacher at Fort Hayes Arts and Academic High school. In her opening statement, which was submitted for the record, Murray highl… Continue Reading
02.05.14
Murray Statement on Congressional Budget Office Projections That Repealing Critical Affordable Care Act Program Would Increase Deficits
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement on Congressional Budget Office projections showing that risk corridors in the Affordable Care Act will result in net savings for the federal government. "Today's CBO report shows that Republicans' most recent debt-limit ransom idea would not only cause premiums to skyrocket for American families, it would also add billions to the deficit. It's a reminder that Republicans are so desperate to a… Continue Reading
02.05.14
BUDGET HEARING: Murray Calls on Congress to Expand Opportunities for Families and Communities, Stop Playing Games With Economic Recovery
Washington, D.C- Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on transitioning from constant crises to broad-based economic growth in 2014. Democratic witnesses included Dr. Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody's Analytics and Robert Greenstein, President of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities At the hearing, Murray highlighted that while gridlock and dysfunction have had serious consequences for economic growth in the past few years, the Bipartisan … Continue Reading
02.05.14
Murray Statement on Congressional Budget Office Budget and Economic Outlook
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office's Budget and Economic Outlook for 2014 through 2024. "Today's announcement from the Congressional Budget Office offers encouraging evidence that our near-term fiscal outlook continues to improve, although there is much more we need to do to tackle our long-term budget challenges. I am committed to finding fair and responsible ways to bring down our long-term … Continue Reading
02.05.14
SOTU: Murray Delivers Floor Speech Urging Republicans to Build on Bipartisanship for Year of Action
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor following President Obama's State of the Union Address last night. Murray highlighted polices from the President's speech including raising the minimum wage, ensuring women have equal economic opportunity, and investing in a national preschool initiative, which would bolster economic growth now and in the future. Murray called on Republicans to build on bipartisan progress demonstrated in the budget deal… Continue Reading
01.27.14
Chairman Murray Again Calls on Republicans to Drop Debt Limit Brinkmanship, Build on Bipartisan Budget Work
(Washington, D.C.) -Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to her colleagues reiterating that Democrats will once again not negotiate over whether or not the United States will pay its bills, and calling on House Republicans in advance of their conference retreat next week to not engage in another pointless and damaging round of brinkmanship and hostage-taking over the debt limit. Along with her letter, Murray re-released the September 2013 memo she and Senate… Continue Reading
01.27.14
Murray Statement on Senate Passage of the 2014 Bipartisan Government Funding Bill
U.S Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee released the following statement after the Senate voted to approve the 2014 bipartisan government funding bill. "I'm pleased that Congress has come together to fill in the details of the framework Chairman Ryan and I agreed on in December and fund the government in a way that invests in families and communities across the country. Moving forward I hope we will build on this bipartisan work rather than returning to the eco… Continue Reading
01.16.14
Murray Urges Senate to Build on Bipartisan Budget Deal, Support Critical Investments in Families, Communities, and National Security
(Washington, D.C.) - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor in support of appropriations legislation that fills in the details of the Bipartisan Budget Act that Murray negotiated with House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) in December. Murray highlighted key investments in families and communities in Washington State and across the country, and called on Congress to pass the legislation and build on it by renewing emergency unemployme… Continue Reading
01.16.14
Murray Delivers Floor Speech Commemorating Lyndon Johnson’s “War On Poverty,” Calls On Congress To Keep Up The Fight
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor commemorating the 50thanniversary of President Lyndon Johnson declaring a "War on Poverty." Murray explained that while progress has been made since President Johnson's declaration, Congress must continue to provide, and work to strengthen, the programs that give struggling Americans economic security and a chance to succeed. During the speech, Murray highlighted her first-ha… Continue Reading
01.16.14
Chairman Patty Murray’s Statement On Janet Yellen Confirmation To The Federal Reserve
U.S Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee released the following statement after Janet Yellen was confirmed by the Senate to lead the Federal Reserve. "I was proud to vote to confirm Janet Yellen to lead the Federal Reserve at a time when it is absolutely critical that everything possible is being done to boost the economy and create jobs. Dr. Yellen's outstanding qualifications and experience uniquely position her to lead this vital institution at this critical t… Continue Reading
12.30.13
MURRAY - RYAN BIPARTISAN BUDGET COMPROMISE PASSES SENATE; HEADS TO PRESIDENT'S DESK FOR SIGNATURE
Prior to passage, Murray spoke on the Senate floor, urging support for the bill (Washington, D.C.) - Today, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, the bipartisan compromise reached by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), passed the Senate by a vote of 64-36. The bill, which passed through the House of Representatives last week by a 332-94 majority, now heads to the President's desk for signature. Prior to Senate passage, Chairma… Continue Reading
12.30.13
Chairman Murray Urges Senate to Support Bipartisan Budget Act; Bill Heads to Final Passage
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. Murray called on members of the Senate to support the bipartisan compromise she reached with House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). The bill cleared a key procedural hurdle by a vote of 67-33, and now heads for a final vote in the Senate. The House Of Representatives passed the bill last week by an overwhelming 332-94 majority. Since the … Continue Reading
12.30.13
Chairman Patty Murray's Statement on House Passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013
"We are now one step closer to a bipartisan budget that would prevent another crisis and roll back devastating cuts to education, medical research, and investments in economic growth. This compromise bill isn't what either side would have written on our own, but it is a strong step in the right direction and can hopefully serve as the foundation for continued bipartisan work. I commend Chairman Ryan and Ranking Member Van Hollen for their work moving this bill through the House, and I am confide… Continue Reading
