Murray Slams Republicans for Attacking Women’s Health Care Instead of Addressing the Ongoing Trump Shutdown

Republicans are preparing to vote on backwards legislation to undermine women’s health care and chip away at their constitutionally protected reproductive rights

Republicans are not preparing to vote on legislation to open the government, pay workers across the country, and end the chaos caused by President Trump’s shutdown

Murray: “All it would take [to end the shutdown] is a vote—we know it would pass… But what have Republican leaders done instead? …They’ve scheduled a vote to attack women and their health care.”

Murray: “Instead of ending the chaos and dysfunction, and getting our country back on track [Republicans] want to chip away—again—at every woman’s constitutionally protected right to make her own health care decisions.”

***Watch Senator Murray’s full speech HERE***

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, took to the Senate floor today to criticize Republicans for focusing on legislation to undermine women’s health care even as the ongoing Trump Shutdown, the longest in the country’s history, continues to cause chaos and dysfunction. While families, workers, businesses, and people across the country have been calling on Republicans to join Democrats and vote to open the government and end the Trump Shutdown, instead Republicans leaders scheduled a vote on anti-abortion legislation that would undermine women’s constitutionally protected reproductive rights by making it harder for them to get the insurance coverage they believe is right for them.  

Key excerpts of Senator Murray’s speech:

“All it would take is a vote—we know it would pass—and we can move it through the House and send it to the President. But what have Republican leaders done instead? What have they done instead of scheduling a vote to help workers, families, small business owners, and our economy? What have they done instead of standing with their constituents to reopen the government and end this madness? They have done what they’ve always done when they don’t know what else to do! They’ve scheduled a vote to attack women and their health care.”

“Instead of voting to pay federal workers, they’re trying to tell women what kinds of health insurance they can and can’t have. Instead of working to make sure our airports are secure, they want to undermine women’s access to the health care they choose. Instead of ending the chaos and dysfunction, and getting our country back on track they want to chip away—again—at every woman’s constitutionally protected right to make her own health care decisions. Instead of working with us to end this shutdown, and then having a debate on border security or anything else they want to talk about—they are planning a vote that won’t do anything but tell women across the country what they already know:  Republicans in Washington D.C. think they know better than you about your health care. Well, let me be clear: they don’t.”

Video of Sen. Murray’s speech available HERE.

Full text below of Sen. Murray’s speech:

“M. President, we are 26 days into President Trump’s completely unnecessary government shutdown.

“26 days of pain and uncertainty.

“26 days of missed paychecks and missed bills.

“26 days—the longest in our country’s history.

“I have heard from so many constituents in my home state of Washington who have been impacted by this shutdown.

“Heart-wrenching stories.

“Workers who don’t know how much longer they can make it without a paycheck.

“Members of the U.S. Coast Guard—the very men and women who stand ready, 24/7, to make harrowing rescues and keep our country safe—didn’t get paid yesterday, marking the first time ever that servicemembers have not been paid because of a shutdown.

“Small business owners who don’t know when their SBA loans will come through.

“People dedicated to our national parks—our national treasures—who are in despair as they hear about trash piling up and irreparable damage being done.

“People waiting in lines at airports.

“Worried about food inspections.

“Worried about losing their homes, their cars, their jobs.

“Entire families—entire communities—impacted, uncertain, and scared. 

“In my home state of Washington and in every state in the country.

“M. President—I have come to the floor time and again to share these stories—along with so many of my Democratic colleagues.

“And we have called on Republican leaders to stand with us—stand with their constituents—and schedule a vote to end this shutdown.

“All it would take is a vote—we know it would pass—and we can move it through the House and send it to the President.

“But what have Republican leaders done instead?

“What have they done instead of scheduling a vote to help workers, families, small business owners, and our economy?

“What have they done instead of standing with their constituents to reopen the government and end this madness?

“They have done what they’ve always done when they don’t know what else to do!

“They’ve scheduled a vote to attack women and their health care.

“M. President—I almost couldn’t believe it when I heard it.

“The government is shut down.

“People are hurting.

“They want solutions and for the government to open.

“And Republicans are going to vote to effectively ban abortion coverage.

“Instead of voting to pay federal workers, they’re trying to tell women what kinds of health insurance they can and can’t have.

“Instead of working to make sure our airports are secure, they want to undermine women’s access to the health care they choose.

“Instead of ending the chaos and dysfunction, and getting our country back on track they want to chip away—again—at every woman’s constitutionally protected right to make her own health care decisions.

“Instead of working with us to end this shutdown, and then having a debate on border security or anything else they want to talk about—they are planning a vote that won’t do anything but tell women across the country what they already know:  Republicans in Washington D.C. think they know better than you about your health care.

“Well, let me be clear: they don’t.

“M. President—this is truly disgusting. And women and men across the country aren’t going to stand for it.

“We can vote—right now—to reopen the government.

“We can vote—right now—to help workers and families.

“We can vote—right now—to end this governing-by-Presidential-tantrum.

“If Republicans don’t do this—if they choose to attack women and throw their health care under the bus instead of doing their basic jobs—their basic jobs—then people across the country are going to see exactly where they stand.

“Not with them.

“Not with their families.

“Not with their communities.

“And certainly not with women.

“M. President, I urge Republican leaders to end this madness, pull this anti-women’s health vote, and schedule a vote to reopen the government.

“Thank you.”

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