(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray took a major step to strengthen Naval Station Everett by including $10.9 million in a Senate bill to construct a new facility that will train more than 10,000 sailors.
Murray’s funding was approved this morning by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MilCon/VA) on which Murray serves. Murray heard about the need from community leaders and is using her position in the Senate to meet the need.
"When the Commanding Officer, the Chamber of Commerce and community leaders told me this was a top priority, I got to work in the Senate and now that funding is moving forward," Murray said. "We’re going to ensure our sailors have the best training, and together we’re going keep Naval Station Everett a world-class facility to meet our country’s military needs for decades to come."
Currently, Naval Station Everett does not have adequate training facilities to support its home-ported ships. As a result, it has to send sailors out of state for required training at a cost of over $3 million a year. The need to leave Naval Station Everett for training means some sailors don’t get full training. It also hurts the local economy and disrupts the quality of life of sailors and their families. The new training center, formally called the "Fleet Regional Readiness Center," will alleviate these needs. The new facility will cover about 28,000 square feet and will provide training for sailors in Everett and throughout the region.
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson applauded the progress.
"We deeply appreciate the leadership of Senator Murray in providing funding for the construction of the Fleet Regional Readiness Center at Naval Station Everett," Mayor Stephanson said. "The center will increase the effectiveness of crewmember training throughout the Pacific Northwest and is a critical component to ensure the continued success of our military. Senator Murray’s efforts to accelerate this project will pay tremendous dividends for our sailors and community."
Now that Murray’s funding has passed the subcommittee, it will be voted on in the full Appropriations Committee on Thursday (6/14).
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