WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on Friday voted against the minibus appropriations package due to the inclusion of a policy rider that significantly rolls back the background checks system for firearms, puts thousands of veterans at risk, and makes it more difficult to address our nation’s gun violence epidemic.  

“I cannot in good conscience support a bill that includes a dangerous policy rider which jeopardizes the lives of veterans and will ultimately make communities in Connecticut and across our country less safe. This rider, pushed by House and Senate Republicans, upends the background check system that, for the last 30 years, has helped prevent veterans who are experiencing a serious mental health crisis, including those who are actively suicidal, from purchasing firearms. It’s bad policy that puts the lives of veterans at risk, and I will fight like hell to remove it in future appropriations bills.

“I want to be clear that I did not make this decision lightly. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I fought hard to make sure this bill included funding for a lot of important Connecticut priorities, including services for victims of domestic violence, affordable housing projects, conservation efforts, and support for community centers. These are projects and programs that I care about and that deserve federal support, but I refuse to allow Congress to return to a time when Republicans and the gun lobby could use appropriations bills to push through dangerous policies the American people and the people of Connecticut do not support.”

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