Senator Murray’s Statement on Republicans Ending Shutdown, Committing to Work with Democrats on Long-Term Deal

(Washington DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after voting to support legislation to end the Republican shutdown and fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“I am very glad that President Trump and Republican leaders have stepped back from the precipice and have ended their government shutdown and committed to allowing Democrats and Republicans to work together on legislation to address the many challenges facing the families we represent. I know that there will be legitimate concerns and questions about the commitments that Republican leaders have made today. I share those concerns, and I am going to be watching Republican leaders’ actions over the coming weeks, not just their words—and I stand ready to hold this Republican Congress accountable for results.

I support this short-term agreement not because I blindly trust Republican leaders to deliver on their commitments, but because I believe this path offers us the best chance to reach a comprehensive deal to protect families and communities in this Republican Congress.  Republican leaders clearly understand that a majority of Democrats and Republicans support bipartisan solutions to the challenges in front of us, and they now realize that they can’t keep the government shut down in an attempt to stop that work from being done. If Republican leaders renege on their commitment to work with us and to allow votes on the critical issues before us, they will shut down the government in just a few weeks and the pressure will be right back on them to work with us.

“Democrats and Republicans agree that we should increase investments in health care, education, veterans’ care, and other domestic and defense priorities—and now that Republicans have ended their shutdown, we need to work together to get that done.

“Democrats and Republicans agree that we should finally pass a long-term extension of the critical primary care programs that Republicans have allowed to expire months ago— and now that Republicans have ended their shutdown, we need to work together to get that done.

“Democrats and Republicans agree that since the Trump Administration abruptly ended the DACA program last fall, we should finally pass legislation to protect our DREAMers who have known no home but America and who live in constant fear for their futures— and now that Republicans have ended their shutdown, we need to work together to get that done. Republican leaders have made a commitment on this, and I am going to be holding their feet to the fire.  

“There are bipartisan solutions to all of these challenges, and now that Republicans have stepped back from their completely unnecessary government shutdown and say they are ready to work with us on responsible solutions—we need to tackle them together, right now, without delay.”