Murray Slams Trump for Illegal Impoundment

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump's illegal attempt to do an end run around Congress with a "pocket rescission." While the president has called out over $800 million in federal funding that he intends to impound, Senate Appropriations Committee Democrats have identified additional funding that the Trump administration is on track to either illegally impound or spend in defiance of Congress. That includes additional funding for critical health research, funds to combat the international illicit narcotics trade, and more.

"This is theft from the American people, plain and simple. These are funds Congress has delivered on a bipartisan basis and should be helping people-not cut off by a president more focused on building a ballroom than investing in families. Every Republican who voted for these bills should be furious because Vought is saying their votes don't count.

"In negotiations over the recently enacted CR, Democrats fought to include language to prevent the Trump administration from once again usurping Congress' power-but for the second time in a year, Republicans refused to take common sense action and prevent this from happening. While Trump spends tax dollars on ads promoting himself, Congress needs to reassert its powers to help people, and it's past time Republicans join us in that fight. Russ Vought's message to Congress is that your votes don't count, and your laws are optional. It is now time for my Republican colleagues who said they would never let this happen to stand up and join us to stop this, and remind this administration this is not how this works."

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