Senator Murray Announces Nearly $3 Billion in Funding for Coastal Infrastructure 

The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address the climate crisis and strengthen coastal resilience

ICYMI: Senator Murray Helps Secure Key Funding for Salmon and Coastal Recovery in Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill – MORE HERE

Senator Murray: “This funding will help make an important difference for countless families, our fisheries, and local economies along Washington state’s coasts.”

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced nearly $3 billion in funding opportunities for coastal infrastructure and climate change resilience under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The funding will be administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) over the next five years. The targeted investments will go towards habitat restoration across the country, coastal resilience, and climate data and services to build up climate resilience. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which Senator Murray helped pass, is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and climate resiliency. The significant increase in resources for NOAA will help prepare communities for extreme weather and adapt to climate-driven events. Last November, Senator Murray visited the Skagit County Flood Wall in Mount Vernon after severe flooding devastated the region, during her visit, Senator Murray underscored the need to secure more federal resources for Washington state to help local communities invest further in similar projects to boost climate resilience.

“Washington state’s coastline is an integral part of our state’s culture and economy. We’ve seen the impacts of the climate crisis in our own backyard and understand what is at stake,” said Senator Murray. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I helped pass, NOAA now has the means necessary to make serious investments in climate resiliency along our coasts and help protect communities from the impacts of climate change. This funding will help make an important difference for countless families, our fisheries, and local economies along Washington state’s coasts.”

NOAA will select high-impact projects will support three major initiatives: 

• Climate Ready Coasts will help coastal communities build the future they want to see, investing in natural infrastructure projects that build coastal resilience, create jobs, store carbon, remove marine debris, and restore habitat. ($1.467 billion over five years)
• Climate Data and Services will support a whole-of-government effort to address the climate crisis by getting critical information and tools in the hands of decision-makers, particularly to address floods, wildfire, drought, and ocean health. ($904 million over five years)
• Fisheries and Protected Resources will advance efforts to restore important fisheries habitat and promote community economic development. ($592 million over five years)

In the BIL, Senator Murray secured $1 billion for culvert removal, replacement, and restoration; $172 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF); and $400 million for fish passage restoration at NOAA, and $200 million for the USFWS National Fish Passage Program, among other habitat investments. The BIL also helps fund Washington state’s transition to cleaner energy and electric vehicles, make the electric grid more reliable, help prevent and fight wildfires, and more—all while creating good-paying, union jobs. Investments will be approved through a competitive grant process. For assistance with the grant process, you can contact Senator Murray’s office here.

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