Federal Funding for Washington State Projects in Draft Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The City of Pomeroy could receive federal funding of $436,000 for local water system improvements through a Senate Appropriations bill secured by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).

Sen. Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, stated she has secured nearly $230 million in Congressionally-directed spending for Washington state projects in the fiscal year 2023 draft Senate Appropriations bills. The nearly $230 million secured by Sen. Murray represents a 98% percent increase over last year and will fund critical projects across the state, create jobs, expand support services, and more.

Implementation of Sen. Murray’s Congressionally-directed spending requests will be contingent upon passage of the fiscal year 2023 appropriations bill drafts which have been released by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“It’s my job in the Senate to make sure that Washington state’s priorities are the federal government’s priorities. I talk with constituents from every community from every part of our state, and I know the needs of Washington state’s families better than any well-meaning bureaucrat in DC,” said Senator Murray. “Congressionally-directed spending is just another way I can make sure Washington state communities are heard in the other Washington—whether it’s securing direct funding for salmon recovery, affordable housing, or local infrastructure needs. I listen to people from every part of Washington state, and then I bring their voices with me to make sure that the issues they care about are reflected in the laws we pass here in Congress.”

Among the projects for which Senator Murray secured funding:

• $10.6 million to modify fish passages at the Mud Mountain Dam;

• $6 million for aquatic habitat restoration and recovery throughout the Puget Sound

• $3.6 million to the Port of Pasco for construction of an industrial railroad spur;

• $3 million to Kennewick Housing Authority for development of a new affordable housing complex;

• Over $800,000 for Family Solutions, a youth behavioral health clinic Vancouver;

• $1.5 million for water lines and a booster pump station in Cowlitz County;

• $1.9 million to rebuild sewer systems destroyed by fires in Malden;

• $3 million to develop permanent supportive housing and community spaces in Salish;

• $2.5 million for West Richland to replace their drinking water disinfection system;

• More than $2 million for the African Community Housing and Development organization for the construction and development of affordable housing;

• Over $1.5 million to support Operation Military Family’s individualized transition programs for veterans coming home;

• $3 million for the South Central Workforce Council in Yakima and Spokane Counties to provide childcare for people while they receive workforce training.

The investments secured by Sen. Murray will touch every corner of the state and address the issues Washington state families care about most. That includes funding to expand local affordable housing options, major investments in salmon recovery, local infrastructure needs, mental health investments, workforce development programs, support programs for Washington state veterans, and much more.

As the second-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Murray has been instrumental in securing major federal investments for Washington state priorities. Overall, she secured hundreds of millions of dollars in direct funding for local community projects across Washington state. This past March, in the fiscal year 2022 Senate Appropriations bills, Senator Murray secured more than $116 million in Congressionally-directed spending for local projects across Washington state.