WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced he will join two new U.S. Senate Committees in the 114th Congress. Murphy will join the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, which is responsible for funding all of the federal government’s agencies, departments, and organizations. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Murphy will focus on securing funding for Connecticut’s priorities, such as defense manufacturing, transportation infrastructure, and federal safety net programs. Murphy will also be a strong voice in pushing back against Republican attempts to defund the Affordable Care Act, anti-gun violence programs, and U.S. diplomatic efforts abroad. Connecticut has not had a U.S. Senator on the Appropriations Committee since 1987.


Murphy will also join the Senate Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee. This Committee helps drive the Democratic agenda in the U.S. Senate by convening advocacy groups, intergovernmental organizations, and members of Congress around key policy priorities, like universal health care, comprehensive immigration reform, and affordable higher education.


Joining the Appropriations Committee has been a priority for me since I joined the Senate, and I'm honored to have won a slot in just my third year here. The Appropriations Committee is so vital to Connecticut - it makes decisions on how much money is spent on submarines, helicopters, and jet engines for our military, and it funds work on Connecticut's interstates and rail lines.


I’m also excited to serve on the prestigious Senate Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee. Democrats had a lot to learn from the last campaign cycle, and this is the place where we can reevaluate our approach to our priorities. I’m looking forward to working with Senate leadership and a host of advocacy groups as a member of this committee so we can identify the best ways for Democrats to fight for the middle class.


Finally, it’s a privilege to be able to continue my service on the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, and the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. These two committee assignments have been perfect places from which to fight for Connecticut, and I thank Senator Reid for his confidence in me to continue my work to fight for the Affordable Care Act, and a foreign policy that prioritizes diplomacy over military aggression.