Oil
Spill: NOAA’s Seattle Facility Monitors Environmental Impact
Last
Tuesday, I visited NOAA’s Seattle facilities to see how they are supporting the
oil spill clean-up effort in the Gulf Coast. I also received a briefing on the
Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s work to monitor the impacts on the
ecosystem in the Gulf Coast.
I have recently co-sponsored a bill that would make sure oil
companies are held accountable for the enormous economic costs resulting from
spills. Currently, the responsible party in an oil spill must cover all costs
related to clean up; however there is a $75 million cap on its liability for
economic damages, such as lost business revenues from fishing and tourism,
natural resources damages or lost local tax revenues. I am working to ensure
that there is no liability cap so that oil companies like BP will have to take
full responsibility for the disastrous effects of these spills.
“Seattle NOAA
staff taking the spill to the web” – The Seattle Times
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Veterans:
Increasing Care for Veterans in Central
Washington
On
Friday, I traveled to Lewis County to visit the new VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Chehalis. The clinic first started seeing patients in
mid-May, and expects to see 6,000 veterans in its first year. The clinic will
allow veterans the ability to transfer to the clinic which will save them from
driving to Tacoma, Seattle, or Federal Way for primary and mental health care,
social work, lab, and basic X-ray services.
“Murray
and veterans celebrate clinic’s opening at mall” – Centralia Chronicle
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Everett
Naval Station: New Training Facility Allows Sailors to Train Close to Home
Last Tuesday, I spoke at the
ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the new Fleet Regional Readiness
Center at Naval Station Everett. I am proud to have secured nearly $11 million
for the construction of this training center in the Fiscal Year 2008 Military
Construction Appropriations bill. The new training facility will allow sailors
stationed at Everett to receive on-base training, saving travel costs for the
Navy and allowing sailors to remain with their families.
“Active Duty”
– The Everett Herald
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Financial
Aid: Major Changes Helping Students File for Aid
Last Wednesday, I visited the University of Washington to
discuss major 
changes to financial aid as students across the
state prepare to graduate high school and gather with their families to fill
out student aid forms for the first time and many more Washington college
students plan how they will continue to afford school.
This year I helped pass legislation that will eliminate
subsidies to unnecessary middlemen in the student aid process and provide
struggling Washington students and their families with increased aid.
“Sen. Murray
speaks on campus about Pell Grant expansion”
– The Daily (University of
Washington)
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Business:
Clean Energy Construction and Economic Growth in Spokane
Last
Thursday, I visited Spokane to celebrate the expansion of McKinstry Company’s
Spokane facility which will be used to support clean energy construction and
retrofitting projects throughout the region, creating hundreds of jobs and
economic growth.
“McKinstry to
expand in Spokane” – Spokesman Review
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Transportation:
Repairing Olympia’s Percival Landing
On Friday, I traveled to Olympia to celebrate a project to
replace the oldest portion of Percival Landing, an aging marine transportation
access point to Olympia’s downtown and waterfront businesses.
“Murray tours
Percival Landing work” – The Olympian
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