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:
“Democrats are ready to avert a shutdown. We have 5 bills we all agree on—about 95 percent of the remaining budget—it is ready to go.
“We can pass these five bills no problem—all Leader Thune has to do is tee them up for a vote. The ball is in the Republicans’ court.
“But when it comes to DHS, we cannot ignore what happened on Saturday, especially after what we’ve seen over the last twelve months.
“We have to split this bill off and grapple with the brutal reality that ICE and CBP are out of control—and endangering American citizens.
“The brutal killing of Alex Pretti was an inflection point for this country. We are saying enough.
“DHS agents shot and killed another person in broad daylight. He was a legal observer. He went to just help a woman. And then he was tackled, disarmed, and shot in the back.
“Then, instead of conducting the most basic oversight—the administration has attempted the most blatant cover up. Instead of even acknowledging this was a tragedy—they tried to slander a VA nurse as a ‘domestic terrorist.’ This cannot stand in America.
“That’s why we are demanding Republicans work with us on serious reforms to rein in this department.
“That is what the vast majority of the American people are demanding we do—and what many Republicans are now calling for as well.
“So, we need members on both sides to sit down and include critical reforms and accountability measures within the DHS bill. And there is no reason whatsoever for that work to hold up the other five bills and cause a shut down.
“We do this all the time—we move forward on the areas where we have an agreement, we roll up our sleeves and keep negotiating on other issues.
“And it’s not like the House can’t come back and vote on this too. That’s what the Senate did—when the House rewrote a spending agreement back in 2018—right after we had left for the holidays.
“So there is no good reason for Republicans not to work with us here. They know as much as we do that Noem, ICE, and CBP need to be reined in.
“We have heard them talk for years about government overreach, and out-of-control federal agencies, and the importance of things like the First, Second, and Fourth amendments.
“Well, that’s exactly what we’re seeing right now: rogue federal agencies infringing on Americans’ most basic rights and making our communities less safe.
“We need to remember: Republicans already gave ICE an enormous slush fund, which every Democrat voted against.
“Republicans voted to cut Secretary Noem a blank check—and to fund these roving bands of federal agents who have been knocking down doors without the slightest cause, and without legal warrants.
“Republicans voted for federal agents attacking, detaining, and killing Americans simply because they disagree with the administration’s brutal tactics.
“Republicans voted for that unprecedented funding—with no oversight, no accountability—which has now resulted in federal officers and agents first, killing a mother in her minivan trying to drive away, and now, has led to a legal gun owner, with the legal right to conceal and carry, being killed and slandered as a terrorist by this administration.
“Republicans voted to put federal agents in the streets with barely any training, who are not focused on de-escalation, not wearing body cameras, and explicitly not working with local law enforcement and officials—all of which makes our communities less safe.
“Now is the time for senators to sit down and find a path forward to address what Republican senators finally agree is a problem.
“And while we do that, are they really going to insist on shutting down child care, and clinical trials, and air traffic control, and so much more—if DHS doesn’t get all of its funding right now? Well, I really hope not.
“I know there are senators on both sides of the aisle who want to get these other five bills passed as soon as possible.
“And I also know there are members on both sides who are horrified by the killing we saw Saturday—and the way ICE and CBP have operated. There are Republicans who agree with us on these reforms.
“So, now is the time to stand together, pass these five bills, and work on those badly-needed reforms.”