Senate advanced package in 80-13 preliminary procedural vote on Monday night
Package of funding bills rejects draconian cuts and policies pushed by President Trump, House Republicans—and reasserts congressional control over key funding decisions
ICYMI: Murray, Top Appropriators Release Three-Bill Minibus
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s Remarks***
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at this afternoon’s Senate Democratic leadership press conference on the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills as the U.S. Senate considers the package this week.
Text, summaries, and more information on the three bills in the package are available HERE.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below:
“This week, the Senate has an opportunity to pass three of our funding bills. They were bills that were a product of a lot of hard work and some serious negotiations.
“Was there more that I would have liked to do? Of course, but you don’t win anything if you take your ball and go home.
“The programs that are funded in these bills are meaningful—and because Democrats were at the negotiating table, we were able to protect resources for programs that families rely on. We protected programs that help lower families’ energy bills. We protected funding to prevent violence against women. We honored our commitments to our Tribes and our Indian Country—and a lot more.
“These are bills that reject the devasting cuts Trump demanded in his deeply unserious budget he sent to Congress about a year ago. When just about every Secretary came before our Appropriations Committee to advocate for those Trump funding cuts, I made clear to them I planned to rip up his budget and write a newone—and that is exactly what we are doing.
“Congress has a choice to do our most fundamental job which is writing and passing these funding bills or hand the pen over to Donald Trump and Russ Vought. I’m here to do my job.
“I was elected to be a voice for the state of Washington, so I’m going to vote to pass bills that include the priorities that are important to my state. And bills that reflect the input of nearly every Member of this Congress. Bills that reassert Congress’ control over spending decisions by providing hundreds and hundreds of directives that were not provided last fiscal year. I have zero intention of letting Donald Trump and Russ Vought decide how our taxpayer dollars get spent.
“Congress is the people’s representative; we hold the power of the purse. We are the check on this [president] and on any president.
“So, I am urging my colleagues to join me. We’ve got very limited time. And we want to hopefully pass these bills before the week is over.”
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