Senator Murray met with local leaders from Central Washington representing local organizations to highlight her work to secure federal funds for Central Washington projects through the appropriations process.
Senator Murray: “It’s an important priority for me that kids in rural communities have every single opportunity that kids in Seattle do—the return of Congressionally-directed spending helps make that possible.”
***WATCH VIDEO OF THE ROUNDTABLE HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual roundtable with local leaders from Central Washington representing local groups for which Senator Murray gained federal funds in the 2022 government funding package. During the event, Senator Murray highlighted her work to get direct federal funds for local projects in Central Washington through the appropriations process.
“One way that I can fight for people in Washington state is by fighting for direct funding for local projects right here in Central Washington state,” said Senator Murray. “I meet with folks from Central Washington all the time. I am a lifetime Washington state resident—I know my state better than any well-meaning bureaucrat in DC, so it matters to me that I can personally secure federal dollars for projects like this.
“The Lake Chelan Valley doesn’t have a Boys and Girls Club or YMCA, so the money for their community center will go a long way. As a former preschool teacher, I know how much of a difference investing in education and nutrition programs will make for kids in rural Yakima Valley. It’s an important priority for me that kids in rural communities have every single opportunity that kids in Seattle do—the return of Congressionally-directed spending helps make that possible.”
Senator Murray was joined by Ben Williams, founder and Chairman of the Seven Acres Foundation; Maribel Cruz, Center of Operation Lead for the Seven Acres Foundation; Amee Bartlet, WA State Director for Save the Children; Suzy Diaz, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Heritage University and Director for Collective Impact; Craig Maloney, Mayor Pro-Tem, city of Pasco; and Dave Zabell, Pasco City Manager.
As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray has fought to secure investments to better serve communities across Washington state. Because of Senator Murray’s work, communities in Central Washington will see development of new projects and facilities to support kids and families. Projects highlighted during the press call include:
- Seven Acres Foundation Community Center at Lake Chelan: $900,000 will go to the Seven Acres Foundation for the construction of a new community center at Lake Chelan, complete with a gymnasium, office spaces, classrooms, and more.
- Martin Luther King Center in East Pasco: Martin Luther King Community Center in East Pasco will receive $3 million for rehabilitation and expansion to provide accessible classrooms, meeting spaces, a gymnasium, and a business development center.
- Save the Children Child Education and Food Security Programs in Yakima County: Save the Children will receive over $1,236,000 million in federal awards to support the delivery of child education and food security programs in rural Yakima Country.
Senator Murray secured almost $116 million in direct assistance for local community projects throughout Washington state. A full list of local projects in Washington state that Murray secured funding for can be found HERE. Notably, Senator Murray also secured record federal funding to support nuclear cleanup at the Hanford site.
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