Senator Murray Secures Over $158 Million for Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Greater Western WA through Congressionally Directed Spending

PASSED: As Appropriations Chair, Murray Secures Billions for WA Priorities in Six-Bill Funding Package; Fully Funds WIC & Protects Programs for Working Families

PASSED: Murray Delivers $372 Million More for Washington State, $1 Billion More for Child Care & Pre-K, Puts Working Families First in Setting Funding Priorities In Second Six-Bill Package

***A FULL LIST OF CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING SECURED BY MURRAY CAN BE FOUND HERE***

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she secured nearly $242 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for projects in every corner of Washington state across the two, bicameral, bipartisan funding packages for fiscal year 2024. The first six-bill package Murray negotiated as Appropriations Chair was passed through the Senate overwhelmingly in a 75-22 vote on March 8th and signed into law March 9th. The second six-bill package, which Murray also negotiated, was passed by the Senate in an overwhelming, 74-24 vote March 23rd and signed into law March 23rd. A full, searchable list of all the local projects in Washington state that Murray secured funding for across the 9 appropriations bills which included CDS can be found HERE. 

***If you are writing about a specific CDS project and would like a quote from Senator Murray on that project, or any additional information, please reach out to press@murray.senate.gov***

In Seattle and King County, Senator Murray secured over $62 million for 25 local CDS projects. This includes funding to support Burien-based CHOOSE 180’s gun violence prevention and re-entry programs to help combat the cycle of youth criminalization, which Senator Murray visited earlier this year, and $3 million for drainage and stormwater management improvements to help the South Park neighborhood become more resilient in the face of future flooding—which Senator Murray spoke about at an event in South Park last summer.

“From supporting Sound Transit’s light rail extension projects to boosting workforce development and small business programs to creating more child care for families and supporting important research happening at UW—these investments are wide-ranging but every one of them will help our communities push ahead on projects that really matter,” said Senator Murray. “I can’t wait to see the difference these federal dollars will make in Seattle and across King County–I’ll keep fighting to make sure Congress invests in organizations like CHOOSE 180 and Rise Above to support the incredible work they are doing to make life better for our families.”

“The biggest issues facing our city and our communities require strong partnership at every level of government, particularly at the federal level. Senator Murray continues to be a champion for Seattle and our entire region in Washington, DC, securing critical funding to support a healthy environment and safe, resilient, and livable communities now and for the future,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “As the mayor of the largest city in our state and one of the fastest growing cities in the country, I am grateful for Senator Murray’s leadership and advocacy on the issues that matter to Seattle and its residents.”

The full list of CDS projects Murray secured for Seattle and King County, in alphabetical order, is: 

• $500,000 for the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association for the construction of a visitors’ center at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial.
• $600,000 for the Ballard Chamber of Commerce to support their small business incubator. 
• $250,000 for Best Buddies International, Inc. in Seattle for workforce development activities for individuals with disabilities.
• $552,000 for CHOOSE 180’s Community Violence Prevention Program in Burien to support staffing and programming for gun violence prevention and reentry programs. 
• Murray visited CHOOSE 180 in February to discuss community-led efforts to break the cycle of youth criminalization and make our communities safer. Photos and b-roll are HERE.
• $3 million for the City of Seattle to improve stormwater drainage in tandem with related roadway improvements. Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.
• Murray hosted a roundtable in South Park in May to discuss this funding and other important climate readiness investments to reduce flooding risk last summer. Photos and b-roll are HERE.

• $750,000 for Consejo Counseling and Referral Service in Renton for a trauma-informed domestic violence therapy and recovery services program.
• $511,000 for Washington FIRST Robotics to expand access to STEM education programs in Kent.
• $4 million for HealthPoint for equipment and construction of their new Tukwila Health and Wellness Center.
• $2 million for the Highline United Methodist Church in Burien for planning, design, and construction of a new shelter and crisis care center.
• $2.2 million for Indian American Community Services in Kent to support the reconstruction of a community hub that will offer everything from small business support to early learning services in South King County. Joint request with Sen. Cantwell and Rep. Smith.
• $5.5 million for important maintenance and repairs to the locks at the Lake Washington Ship Canal in Seattle.  Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.
• $3 million for the Low-Income Housing Institute in Seattle to support the construction of their Aurora Senior Housing project, which will have 90 units of affordable housing for seniors at Aurora and 125th.
• $4.5 million for the Machinists Institute in Seattle for the purchase of equipment and program development for a manufacturing workforce development program, focusing specifically on jobs related to sustainable aviation fuel.
• $1.148 million for Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, in coordination with Mother Nation, in Seattle to construct Spirit Journey Village, a center to provide transitional housing and substance use treatment services for women.
• Murray hosted a roundtable with Mother Nation and other advocates to discuss the Violence Against Women Act. 
• $9.675 million for construction for improvements to drainage of Cascade Creekat Mud Mountain Dam. Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.

• $772,000 for Multi-Service Center in Federal Way for their workforce development program, which will provide vocational training courses to help participants secure living-wage jobs.
• $1.367 million for Pushing Boundaries in Redmond to purchase additional modernized rehabilitative equipment.
• $500,000 for the Refuge Artisan Initiative’s (RAI) Community and Microbusiness Development Program Initiative in Seattle. RAI partners with refugee and immigrant women to aid their successful transition to the U.S. through artisan skills training and microbusiness development.
• $2 million for Refugee Women’s Alliance in Seattle to provide child care and early childhood education to under-resourced populations.
• $755,000 for Seattle-based Rise Above for a youth mental health and wellness program for Indigenous adolescents statewide.
• Murray met with Rise Above advocates last month to discuss supporting mental health programs.

• $3 million for Sound Transit to support project development activities for the Ballard Link light rail extension.
• $3 million for Sound Transit for project development activities for the West Seattle Link light rail extension.
• $5 million for the University of Washington to purchase new engineering and lab equipment. 
• $2.8 million for the University of Washington to acquire new research instruments for their Molecular Analysis Facility.  Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.
• $5 million for the University of Washington’s Tidal-Powered Ocean Observation project to develop and deploy oceanographic sensing packages powered by tidal currents.  Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.

In Tacoma and Greater Pierce County, Senator Murray secured over $36 million for 12 local CDS projects. This includes funding to support the City of Tacoma’s therapeutic courts and expand medical and behavioral health care in Tacoma—Senator Murray spoke with local officials about the mental health investments in Tacoma in February. It also includes $2.129 million for Tacoma Arts Live’s small business accelerator program, which Murray discussed with local small business owners in a visit to Tacoma Arts Live in May.

“Whether it was funding to help construct a new child care center or funding to expand mental health resources for our kids, I’m proud that the funding bills I negotiated will make life better for families in Tacoma and Pierce County,” said Senator Murray. “It’s important to me that I can hear directly from organizations across Tacoma and Pierce County about what their priorities and challenges are—I’ll continue to listen and make sure their voices are reflected in our federal funding bills.” 

“We are grateful to Senator Murray for her unwavering commitment to delivering impactful projects to the South Puget Sound,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards. “Her efforts continue to show her dedication to improving the lives of all Washington State residents.”

The full list of CDS projects Murray secured for Tacoma and Greater Pierce County, in alphabetical order, is:

• $3.6 million for the National Guard/Reserve Center Building at Camp Murray in Tacoma.
• $545,000 for the City of DuPont to install PFAS treatment units at drinking water wells.
• $500,000 for the City of Tacoma to support their municipal mental health therapeutic courts. 
• Murray hosted a roundtable in February with mental health advocates in Tacoma, including City officials and HopeSparks, and discussed the importance of this funding and other local and federal partnerships around mental and behavioral health care. Photos and b-roll are HERE.

• $2 million for HopeSparks in Tacoma for their Pediatric Medical and Behavioral Health Care Clinic, which will expand pediatric medical and behavioral health care. 
• $7.9 million for planning and design of barracks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
• $7.5 million for planning and design of a vehicle maintenance shop at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 
• $4 million for the Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center, based in Tacoma, to construct 17 Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program classrooms that will provide no-cost early education to children from low-income communities. Joint request with Sen. Cantwell and Rep. Kilmer.
• Murray visited the Center last year and discussed her efforts to secure funding for child care. 

• $1.5 million for Pierce County to widen the road and incorporate complete streets infrastructure as part of their South Hill 122nd Ave Corridor Safety and Relief Project.
• $2.5 million for Pierce Transit to modernize bus shelters and improve passenger experience. Joint request with Rep. Strickland.
• $2.129 million for Tacoma Arts Live’s Small Business Incubator Expansion and capital improvements. 
• Senator Murray visited Tacoma Arts Live and met with local small business leaders who participated in its small business incubator program in May. Photos and b-roll are HERE.

• $1.9 million to continue pre-construction engineering and design for Tacoma Harbor, including deepening the Blair Waterway and channel widening for improved vessel navigation. Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.
• $2.5 million for the University of Washington Tacoma to procure equipment for new laboratories as part of its Milgard Engineering Labs Buildout project.  Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.

In Everett, Bellingham and Northwest Washington, Senator Murray secured over $40 million for 10 local CDS projects.

“Funding I secured in our final appropriations bills will make a big difference in Everett, Bellingham, and across Northwest Washington—from helping the Lummi Nation prevent flooding on their roads to building a new child care center in Whatcom County. We’re talking about tens of millions of dollars going straight to local projects in Northwest Washington to make our communities better—I’m thrilled to be able to make this happen through the funding bills I negotiated,” said Senator Murray. “After convening a roundtable on the fentanyl crisis with Mayor Franklin and other local leaders in Everett last month, I’m glad I can deliver on $4.5 million to help the City of Everett with its emergency response efforts to support individuals who are experiencing behavioral and mental health crises, which is critical to the City’s efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic.”

“The behavioral health crisis touches just about every member of our city, and like many across the country, Everett is struggling with the growing crisis and the changing needs for support,” said Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin. “Thanks to the fierce advocacy of Senator Murray, Everett will get the funding needed to launch a new alternative response program.  This program will build on our early work of embedding social workers with our emergency first responders in our police and fire departments and enable us to be more responsive to the growing behavior health emergencies and substance use disorders our residents are facing.”

The full list of CDS projects Murray secured for Everett, Bellingham and Northwest Washington, in alphabetical order, is:

• $4.5 million for City of Everett for an alternative response team to support individuals experiencing behavioral and mental health crises.
• In February, Murray hosted a roundtable at the Everett Fire Station with City of Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin and other local officials to discuss federal investments to combat the opioid epidemic, including the $4.5 million CDS. Photos and b-roll are HERE. Murray also recently convened a discussion with Washington state mayors, including Mayor Franklin, on the state’s efforts to tackle the fentanyl crisis.

• $2.5 million for Island Hospital in Anacortes to modernize their surgical center and improve services for patients, as well as assist with provider recruitment.
• $4 million for Island Transit for preconstruction and construction activities for the multimodal South Whidbey Transit Center facility. Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.
• $8 million for the Lummi Nation to elevate Slater Road in Whatcom County to preserve access and mobility during frequent flooding events. Joint request with Sen. Cantwell and Rep. Larsen.
• $4 million for the Meridian School District to construct a new early learning center in Whatcom County.
• Murray visited the Center last August and discussed her work to invest in child care. Photos and b-roll are HERE.

• $436,000 for City of Mount Vernon School District 320 to improve student safety and provide outreach for drug-impacted and gang-involved youth.
• $11.1 million for planning and design of the E/A-18G Aircraft Regional Service Facility at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
• $2.425 million for Western Washington University in Bellingham to purchase research equipment for their Advanced Technology Laboratory. 
• $2.5 million for Whidbey Health Medical Center in Coupeville for surgical suite ventilation upgrades.
• $943,000 for YMCA of Snohomish County to expand access to early childhood education.
• Murray visited the YMCA last month and discussed her efforts to boost funding for child care. Photos and b-roll are HERE.

In Olympia and the Olympic Peninsula, Senator Murray secured nearly $19 million for 8 local CDS projects.

“Congressionally Directed Spending I secured in our government funding bills is going to be put to great use across the Olympic Peninsula— helping South Kitsap Helpline expand food distribution services to boosting workforce development for veterans, and helping Jefferson County hospital better serve local seniors,” said Senator Murray. “And it’s especially important to me that the funding bills I negotiated will provide $5 million to help the Nisqually Tribe construct a new substance use disorder treatment clinic in Olympia that will serve 500 people a day—this is a badly needed investment as the opioid epidemic continues to devastate our communities.”

“The South Puget Sound is fortunate to have Senator Murray in her position on the Senate Appropriations Committee as her efforts to fund projects in the City of Olympia and in neighboring areas are beneficial to our entire community. In particular, the Nisqually Substance Use Disorder Clinic is important as this project will help fill a gap in much-needed critical substance abuse treatment services in our community,” said Olympia Mayor Dontae Payne.

The full list of CDS projects Murray secured in Olympia and the Olympic Peninsula, in alphabetical order, is:

• $2.135 million for Evergreen State College in Olympia to acquire new laboratory equipment.
• $2 million for Jefferson County Public Hospital District 2, Jefferson Healthcare, for the construction of new space to serve seniors in Jefferson County.  Joint request with Sen. Cantwell and Rep. Kilmer.
• $3.7 million for the Makah Indian Tribe to make road improvements on the Makah Passage in Clallam County.  Joint request with Sen. Cantwell.
• $5 million for the Nisqually Indian Tribe to construct a Substance Use Disorder Integrated Care Clinic in Olympia. The clinic will serve up to 500 clients per day from the Olympia/Lacey/Tumwater/Thurston County area.
• $1.5 million for Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council in Olympia for workforce development services for veterans.
• $1.936 million for Peninsula College in Port Angeles to help fund a dental hygienist program.
• $1.755 million for the South Kitsap Helpline in Port Orchard to support a new Food Distribution Center to allow for expanded services.
• $750,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington (BBBSSWA), based in Olympia, to expand their career mentoring and exploration program for rural high school students.
  • In February, Murray met with local high school students, mentors, and partners of BBBSSWA to discuss their efforts to connect local high school students with mentorship opportunities and pathways to rewarding careers, and how federal funding will help them expand their footprint into more rural communities in Southwest Washington. Photos and b-roll are HERE.

***If you are writing about a specific CDS project and would like a quote from Senator Murray on that project, or any additional information, please reach out to press@murray.senate.gov***

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