PNNL Relocation Project Included in Final Version of Senate Spending Bill, Funding will Preserve Hundreds of Tri-Cities Jobs

 (Washington D.C.)– Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that that the $12 million  she included for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the fiscal year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations bill has been included in the final version of the spending bill. The bill has now been approved by both houses of Congress after passing the Senate today by a vote of 79-19 and will now head to the President who is expected to sign it into law.

The funding will go toward PNNL’s relocation out of facilities that are being decommissioned and demolished as part of the Hanford 300 Area cleanup. The funding for replacement facilities will preserve 800-900 jobs in the Tri-Cities.

"I am proud to support this funding, which will allow PNNL to keep jobs in the community and keep capabilities in place for Department of Energy and Department of Homeland Security missions," said Senator Patty Murray. "Maintaining the research and development infrastructure will also allow PNNL to continue to support national security, homeland security, and scientific projects for our country. Continuing to invest in PNNL creates high tech jobs and new economic opportunities in the Tri-Cities.”

The lab currently has nearly half of its laboratory facilities in Hanford’s 300 Area, facilities it must clear to must make way for the ongoing clean up of the site. This funding supports the construction of the Capability Replacement Laboratory Project by building the Physical Sciences Facility. This new building will house enhanced research capabilities for the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security. 

Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU), the Capability Replacement Laboratory Project is being funded by three federal agencies:  Two agencies in the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security. Since 2006, Senator Murray has had to work to provide adequate funding through the appropriations process so that the Department of Homeland Security could abide by its obligations under the MOU and maintain the current construction schedule.

Senator Murray is a senior member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.