HANFORD: Rejecting Short-sighted White House Proposal to Cut Back on Cleanup, Senator Murray Successfully Secures $315 Million Increase for Nuclear Waste Cleanup in Newly-released Senate Bill

Senator Murray: “I will never stop fighting to make sure the federal government remembers just how much this community sacrificed in order to help our country win World War II and the Cold War” 

Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Bill, made public today, also includes investments Senator Murray fought for, including investments in Pacific Northwest National Lab, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and Army Corps projects across Washington state 

(Washington DC)  – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, announced the Senate not only rejected a short-sighted budget proposal from the White House but in fact added $315 million in federal funding critical to nuclear waste cleanup at Hanford. The Fiscal Year 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, which cleared a Senate committee today, includes $838 million for Richland Operations, which has more work to do on several high-risk cleanup projects along the Columbia River and on the Central Plateau of Hanford, and $1.57 billion for the Office of River Protection, which has a clear and demonstrated need for additional investments to support removing and treating tank waste. After passing the Senate Committee on Appropriations today, the legislation now moves to the full Senate.

“I’m so glad that once again, the Senate has rejected the White House’s attempt to shirk its responsibility to the Tri-Cities community,” El senador Murray dijo. “Cleaning up Hanford is a complex, long-term project that requires significant resources, and I will never stop fighting to make sure the federal government remembers just how much this community sacrificed in order to help our country win World War II and the Cold War.”

In addition to Hanford funding, Senator Murray also fought to ensure the bill included a number of things important to Washington state:

• Increased investments in scientific and energy research and development programs important to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), significantly restoring Trump Administration funding cuts which could negatively affect science and engineering jobs at PNNL;
• Prevented the President’s proposal to privatize portions of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA);
• Urged the Department of Energy not to change the long-standing practice of having BPA report to the Deputy Secretary; and
• Increased investments for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support our ports and waterways, which are essential to the economic security and health of communities across Washington state.

Highlights of the FY 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill: 

• $2.411 billion for nuclear waste cleanup at Hanford

  • $838.171 million for Richland Operations, $180 million more than the President’s budget proposal
  • $1.573 billones para Office of River Protection, $135 millones más que la propuesta de presupuesto del presidente

• $20 million for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, supports operation, maintenance, and cleanup activities at the Hanford and Los Alamos, New Mexico sites

• $6.65 billion for Department of Energy’s Office of Science, supports 10 national laboratories, including PNNL ($1.259 billion more than the President’s budget proposal)

  • $715 million for Biological and Environmental Research, apoya la Molecular Ambiental Laboratorio de Ciencias e Instalación de Usuario de Medición de Radiación Atmosférica en PNNL. Estas instalaciones para usuarios científicos brindan acceso a equipos únicos y de última generación para más de 1.800 usuarios al año.
  • $35 million for the Energy Sciences Capability, supports a construction project at PNNL to provide modern lab space and equipment

• $260 million for Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, apoya la investigación y el desarrollo en PNNL, Washington State University (WSU), servicios públicos e industria en el noroeste

• $2.322 billion for Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ($1.626 billion more than the President’s budget proposal); supports research and development efforts at PNNL, WSU, University of Washington, and more

• $6.927 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ($2.142 billion more than the President’s budget proposal)

  • $50 million to support small ports, including the Ports of Bellingham, Ilwaco, Chinook, Ridgefield, Skagit, Willapa Harbor, and more
  • $50 millones para apoyar a los puertos de transferencia de energía y donantes, incluida la Northwest Seaport Alliance
  • $6 millones para ayudar a combatir las especies invasoras en la cuenca del río Columbia a través de estaciones de inspección de embarcaciones, respuesta rápida y monitoreo