Patty Murray

I was really proud last year that Democrats and Republicans did work together to break through the partisan gridlock here and succeed in passing this legislation.

I believe it's really critically important that a diverse group of stakeholders provide input and inform how States implement the law.

Now, under the Every Student Succeeds Act, we're going to see a lot of the responsibilities of Federal Government under No Child Left Behind shift to our States.

It is critical that this is done as soon as possible so that eligible ports have access to the appropriated funding.

Mother Nature has a way of providing us with surprises. There will be more in the future.

I think that is a really good recommendation, to include the asymptomatic women, because we do know that four out of five people don't know they have had the virus, because they don't have any reaction.

Can you talk a little bit about what the implications of Zika are for our blood supply? And should people who have returned from traveling overseas give blood?

I'm very hopeful that we can put politics aside and work across the aisle to protect our families and communities.

It cannot just be words at a committee hearing. It has to be action. And these numbers continue to be really disconcerting.

If the Air Force is committed to its plan to buy the full number of tankers and rebalance to Asia and support operations around the world, Fairchild Air Force Base is the absolute best location for main operating base 4.

Hatch-Waxman has been an incredible success and has provided patients and families with access to high-quality, lower-cost drugs.

We have got to keep it up.

We need that legislation passed.

One of your 2016 breakthrough goals is to continue to decrease the number of homeless veterans and families, which I applaud.

We cannot have the message be, 'If you have a problem, call your Senator. They will pass it on.'

If you have a problem, call your Senator. They will get hold of the VA.

I love the words that you say. I do. But how do you have accountability for that?

I have gotten complaints of the Seattle VA refusing to help a veteran who was in serious pain.

Veterans deserve a system that works.

I want to emphasize that point--this Committee, and this Congress, wants to help VA in this effort.

So, we know that the current system is not working. The question I pose today: is VA ready to step up and change course?

I think everyone in this room agrees that our country has a duty to do everything it can to care for its veterans.

Those are just a few of the problems I am hearing, and they are deeply disconcerting.

I am very frustrated that the Senate has been unable to advance common sense and bipartisan measures to bolster both the enforcement of our existing gun laws but also to pass additional safety provisions.

I applaud the President for taking the small steps to strengthen the enforcement of existing Federal gun laws.