VIDEO: Senator Murray: “It’s up to President Trump to do the right thing…and if he won’t do that…then it’s up to Senate Republicans to stand with us and send him a bill to reopen the government and end this absurd shutdown”

As the Trump Shutdown stretches into Day 25, Senator Murray urges Senate Republicans to allow a vote on a House-passed bill that would reopen the federal government and restore paychecks for 800,000 federal workers

Senator Murray: “We can have a debate about border security, and even about whether President Trump should ask American taxpayers to pay for the wasteful wall he promised Mexico would pay for, without hurting millions of workers and families in the process”

Today on the Senate floor, Senate Democrats asked for a vote on a House-passed bill to reopen government; Senate Majority Leader McConnell objected

***WATCH VIDEO OF SENATOR MURRAY’S FULL REMARKS HERE***

(Washington, D.C.)  – In a news conference today at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) stressed the urgent need to fully reopen the federal government to provide relief for hundreds of thousands of workers, including nearly 13,000 Washingtonians, whose paychecks have been frozen for weeks. If President Trump won’t act, Senator Murray said, Senate Republicans should work with Democrats to take up a House bill to reopen the federal government. Senator Murray has heard from thousands of Washington state residents affected by the partial federal government shutdown, now in its fourth week.

Watch Senator Murray’s remarks HERE.

Senator Murray’s remarks below, as prepared for delivery:

We are now 25 days into this completely unnecessary and absolutely absurd Trump shutdown. Twenty five days of workers not knowing when their next paychecks will arrive. Twenty five days of families gathered around their kitchen table, trying to figure out which bills to pay and which to let slide.

Twenty five days of trash piling up at our national parks.

Of lines at our airports.

Of small business owners waiting and waiting for their loans.

Twenty five days of chaos and dysfunction caused by this Trump shutdown—and people across the country are paying attention—and they want it to end.

Democrats are united. Our position couldn’t be clearer, and it couldn’t be stronger.  Democrats on the side of anyone who thinks that our government shouldn’t spiral into chaos and dysfunction just because a President has a temper tantrum. Democrats are on the side of anyone who thinks that we can have a debate about border security, and even about whether President Trump should ask American taxpayers to pay for the wasteful wall he promised Mexico would pay for, without hurting millions of workers and families in the process.  Democrats are on the side of opening up our government—ending this madness—without conditions or demands.  We know we are on the right side. The side of people who care more about their government working than excusing and supporting a political temper tantrum. 

So now, it’s up to President Trump to do the right thing. And if he won’t do that, if he is too dug in and committed to hurting people and playing this political game, then it’s up to Senate Republicans to stand with us and send him a bill to reopen the government and end this absurd shutdown.

Democrats are going to keep fighting for that. We’re going to keep the pressure on. And more and more people across the country are paying attention and joining in.