Patty Murray

We are here today to discuss a basic issue of fairness and equity.

I have said time and again that as a country we are best when good people are willing to give of themselves in service to others.

This is fundamentally unacceptable. I know you share my commitment to ensuring anyone in Federal custody is treated with the dignity and respect every human being deserves.

I expressed great concern about how waiver implementation may erode protections for our most vulnerable students.

What does blocking a minimum wage increase say about their priorities when it comes to American women?

This is quite different, Mr. Chairman, than most of the Nation. In a lot of the Nation, 80 percent of the kids who enter kindergarten have not had any early learning experiences.

I think everyone knows that early childhood education is near and dear to my heart.

Do you know that, today, 75 percent of the Americans who apply to go into the military are ineligible because of health and academic shortfalls?

If we were to line up 774 people around this building, 774 people making minimum wage, which still keeps them below the poverty level...

So when colleagues talk about raising the minimum wage or equal pay or giving folks a fair shot...

The economy is improving. My biggest concern--and I know many, of my colleagues share this--is that it is not improving for everyone.

We now have total student loan debt over $1 trillion, which is more than credit card debt.

If Sallie Mae violated the law, will you pull the servicing loan contract?

I appeal to all of you to continue America's longstanding bipartisan commitment to investing in education.

We know that education is fundamental to expand opportunities to more Americans.

More broadly, I believe getting a college degree should not be as cost-prohibitive to so many families as it is today.

The Murray-Ryan deal was a strong step in the right direction.

I think that was a very bad model that we had. I criticized it in the past. I certainly do not want to return to that.

I hope Congress will be able to work together to encourage job creation and growth in a bipartisan way.

I am glad the budget would restore job training opportunities for low-income students.

Early learning should not be a partisan issue.

I strongly believe that if we can take this kind of balanced approach, our economic growth will be stronger and more broadly felt.

I think that has a chilling effect on our economy as well, and our ability to attract the private capital to reform Fannie and Freddie.

I really applaud that focus. However, you and I both know that investments in education are trending downwards.

The American dream has always been about opportunity. Today our Nation is failing to live up to that core American ideal for all of our citizens.