Senator Murray: “Congress is Not Donald Trump’s Customer Service Line,” Outlines How Democratic Majority Will Fight to Lower Costs, Stop Corruption, and End War with Iran

Murray: “Congress is a co-equal branch of government—not Donald Trump’s customer service line. Republicans may have forgotten that, but the American people just sent them a reminder that will echo for years to come.” Murray : “We are fighting a deeply entrenched and lawless Administration. So, it is not going to be easy or quick. The only way to accomplish our goals is the hard way. We are going to have to roll up our sleeves, and grind it out. It’s going to take hard work, sustained pressure, and sharp political strategy. Building something is always going to be harder, slower work than burning it down.” *** WATCH : Senator Murray’s full speech*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke on the Senate floor on how the incoming Democratic Congress will fight to lower costs, help families get by, put an end to Trump’s reckless war of choice with Iran, and fight the rampant corruption coming out of every corner of this administration. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “Last week the American people used their voices. They used their votes. They did their job. Now, it is time for Congress to finally get back to its job. We are here to be a voice for the American people, not a rubber stamp for the President. “Look, Congress is a co-equal branch of government—not Donald Trump’s customer service line. Republicans may have forgotten that, but the American people just sent them a reminder that will echo for years to come. “And now, Democrats are going to try something Republicans seem to have forgotten about: keeping our promises. We are going to hit the ground running by fighting to lower costs, to stop corruption, and to end Trump’s war with Iran. That’s what America voted for. And that’s what we will work to deliver. [TRUMP’S TARIFFS AND TRADE WAR] “A Democratic Congress means pressing to put an end to Trump’s stupid tariffs and trade wars. Nobody in America wants to pay more for groceries just so Trump can pick a fight with Canada. [ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ICE] “A Democratic Congress means real accountability for ICE. Republicans wrote ICE a blank check. We are going to be writing them subpoenas. [CRACKING DOWN ON CORRUPTION] “A Democratic Congress means cracking down on corruption: insider trading, selling pardons and access, crypto scams, no-bid contracts, war profiteering—all of it. “If you thought Trump was your ticket to get rich quick by breaking laws, abusing power, and defrauding the American people, you thought wrong. When the gavels change hands, the days of rampant, consequence-free grifting will come to an end. Bet on that. [ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE] “And of course, when it comes to health care, a Democratic Congress means reversing health care cuts —just for a start. Every time Republicans take power, they make a mess out of health care. “We have got to reverse the Medicaid cuts that are shutting down our hospitals. We have got to restore the ACA tax credits that make health care far more affordable for families. And we need to stop Trump’s plan to use AI to cut seniors off from their Medicare benefits. “But we can’t stop there—because if Republicans’ health care strategy is ‘death by a thousand cuts,’ Democrats have to be more than the party of a thousand band-aids. “We need a robust public option, and universal coverage. And we are going to have that conversation in the next Congress. [PUBLIC HEALTH] “We are also going to have a conversation about undoing all the damage RFK Jr. has done to our health in this country. “A Democratic Congress means putting science back in public health. “Right now, measles cases are at record levels. Instead of solving the problem, our nation’s highest health official is covering it up. Instead of championing vaccines, RFK Jr. has been championing conspiracies. He should be fighting viruses, not vaccines. “Americans don’t want viruses that we eliminated roaring back and killing babies. Americans don’t want lettuce to give them diarrhea. They don’t want promising clinical trials cut off, or respected researchers sacked. They don’t want FDA’s gold standard overruled by Secretary Kennedy’s wildest conspiracies or Trump’s biggest donors. “Chaos and corruption may have spread like a plague under Trump and RFK Jr, but you know what they say: sunlight is the best disinfectant. Accountability is coming. And RFK Jr. is far from the only person we will be holding accountable. [HOLDING VOUGHT ACCOUNTABLE] “A Democratic Congress means Russ Vought’s days of breaking our laws and extorting our communities without consequence are coming to an end. As incoming Chair of the Appropriations Committee, you better believe I am going to be demanding answers and accountability for the brazen robbery and illegality we have seen from Trump’s OMB director. “I’m going to have hearings, and I’m going to use our funding bills to rein in the abuses and corruption of this administration while we invest in our American families. I will expose this administration’s corruption and the games Russ Vought and OMB have been playing with our American tax dollars. “I am going to drag this Administrations’ crooked schemes into the light of day for every American to see—and you better believe I am going to stamp this president’s very ugly and very un-American brand of politics and corruption into the dust. [MAKING CHILD CARE AFFORDABLE] “Now let me just say: I am going to make certain a Democratic Congress means getting serious about the child care crisis. Child care is too hard for parents to find. It’s too expensive for families to afford. It is too tough for providers to keep their daycare facilities open. And this all is crushing our families and our economy. “I have been fighting for child care since my first day in politics—and you can bet that next Congress I am going to be loud about beating the drum, pounding the pavement, and charting a course towards a future where every family in this country can get quality, affordable child care. And with so many new colleagues now coming who have young kids joining us, I know we are going to make progress. [DEFENDING PUBLIC EDUCATION] “That doesn’t just go for child care though—it also goes for defending public education. “A Democratic Congress means Trump’s plan to demolish the Department of Education is dead in the water. We’ve been fighting these efforts since Trump’s first day in office—but with gavels in hand, we are going to have even more power to put an end to this nonsense once and for all. “There is no world where this former Pre-K teacher will let Trump bulldoze the programs that support our kids, because every student deserves to be able to get a great education—and afford college—no matter their zip code, or the size of their parent’s bank account. [INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE] “And a Democratic Congress means building infrastructure for all Americans —instead of letting Trump build monuments to himself. Republicans have voted to cut off vital investments to create great jobs and rebuild America’s infrastructure. Well guess what? Democrats are going to fight to keep investing in the roads, and bridges, and ports, and airports that people use every day. [FIGHTING FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM] “We are also going to be pushing hard to fight back on abortion. A Democratic Congress means countering Republican attacks on abortion and clawing back the rights they have chipped away. “Make no mistake, Republicans spent decades on their crusade to overturn Roe and rip away women’s rights. So I will spend every day of this majority fighting to win them back. Democrats will be relentless and tenacious. “And that means putting abortion rights to a vote on the floor and making every senator say where they stand. It means protecting Title X, Planned Parenthood, and contraception access from this administration’s attacks. It means elevating the voices of women across the country about being investigated for miscarriages, or forced to death’s door before a doctor could treat them. “I do not expect quick, easy victories—but I am in this fight for as long as it takes. We will claw back every inch we can at every opportunity we can. I will keep pushing until we have the trifecta we need to restore abortion rights in all 50 states. [KILLING TRUMP’S BLANK CHECK FOR WAR] “Now, when it comes to Trump’s wars, let’s be clear: a Democratic Congress means Donald Trump is absolutely not getting his $1.5 trillion war budget, or the nearly $70 billion he wants to bankroll the Iran war. “There is no way on God’s green earth that I am going to let Republicans jam through a funding bill that blows war spending through the roof and at the same time cutting family priorities like child care, housing, and health care. “This war with Iran should never have started. It is putting our service members in harms’ way. It is blowing gas prices through the roof. It is undermining our credibility on the world stage—not to mention weakening our position on other fronts. This administration is responsible for the deaths of nearly 200 Iranian school children, for God’s sake. “Trump’s war has been a disaster from top to bottom. We are going to push to end this war as responsibly as we can, and we are going to hold Trump and Hegseth accountable for starting it in the first place. [LOOKING FORWARD] “Now, there’s going to be a lot more to say on these issues—and many other challenges where Republicans are going to have to accept reality and come to the table to work with us. Like: how do we develop a responsible framework for AI regulation that makes sure regular people are the ones reaping the benefits of this technology, not the ones bearing the burdens of it? “The clock is ticking to get our arms around this. We cannot let this powerful technology—and the companies developing it—run amok. “Or, how do we preserve Social Security in a way that keeps our promise to seniors, and prevents painful cuts to benefits? Social Security is projected to run dry in 2032—meaning every Senator just elected is going to have a say in how we solve this. Those conversations need to start now. “Or, for anyone wondering if I can find common ground with Trump: Let’s pass the Sunshine Protection Act . Let’s give people a bit more sunshine. Let’s finally end the tyranny of changing the clock back and forth just to see the sun set before you leave work. “There is no question we have got our work cut out for us in the Congress ahead. I think we all know this is not going to be easy. I’d like to say the overwhelming results sent an undeniable message to the White House, but we all know this President has no problem denying election results, or spitting in the face of Congress, or flouting our laws. “Republicans forgot Congress is not a rubber stamp. Our challenge is to remember it is not a magic wand. We are a co-equal branch of government. We can check this President, but we still have to contend with his veto power, and we still have to face a conservative Supreme Court. “We can bring down prices, but not with a wave of our hands. We can fight corruption, but not with a strong press statement. And we can end Trump’s war with Iran, but not with a snap of our fingers. “We are fighting a deeply entrenched and lawless Administration. So, it is not going to be easy or quick. The only way to accomplish our goals is the hard way. We are going to have to roll up our sleeves, and grind it out. It’s going to take hard work, sustained pressure, and sharp political strategy. Building something is always going to be harder, slower work than burning it down. “But I want to end with the good news. The American people turned out in a very big way last week. They sent a message as loud and clear as I have ever heard in politics. And as a result, next year Democrats will have more hands to take on that work than at any time in the Trump era. “And we are—every single one of us—ready to meet this moment.” ###