WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Patty Murray issued the following press release:

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks on government funding at this afternoon's Senate Democratic leadership press conference.

Senator Murray's remarks, as delivered, are below:

"Democrats are ready to avert a shutdown. We have 5 bills we all agree on-about 95 percent of the remaining budget-it is ready to go.

"We can pass these five bills no problem-all Leader Thune has to do is tee them up for a vote. The ball is in the Republicans' court.

"But when it comes to DHS, we cannot ignore what happened on Saturday, especially after what we've seen over the last twelve months.

"W...