Senator Murray: “My job in the Senate is to make sure Spokane’s priorities or Malden’s priorities are the federal government’s priorities. That’s what I’m fighting for every time I talk with my colleagues about these appropriations bills. When I’m in the other Washington, I’m thinking about concrete ways I can work to make life better for people back home—that’s the bottom line for me.”
***WATCH VIDEO OF THE ROUNDTABLE HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member on the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a virtual roundtable to highlight federal funding she secured in the 2022 government funding package for local projects in Eastern Washington. During the event, Senator Murray highlighted millions in Congressionally-Directed Spending she secured for public entities and nonprofits in Eastern Washington. Senator Murray was joined by Kelley Charvet, CAO of Community Health Association of Spokane (CHAS) Health; Ben Small, Executive Director of LaunchNW; Pam Haley, Mayor of the City of Spokane Valley; and Dan Harwood, Mayor of the Town of Malden.
“When it comes to knowing what exactly families want to see happen where they live—to make life better for them and their children—I am certain that I know the needs of Washington state better than any well-meaning bureaucrat in a federal building somewhere in DC,” said Senator Murray. “Part of the reason why I hold roundtables like this one, is to hear about all the different ways I can support people in Eastern Washington, and then go back and fight for it in the other Washington. So the return of Congressionally-directed spending after about ten years is a great thing for Eastern Washington state.”
“My job in the Senate is to make sure Eastern Washington’s priorities are the federal government’s priorities. That’s what I’m fighting for every time I talk with my colleagues about these appropriations bills. When I’m in the other Washington, I’m thinking about concrete ways I can work to make life better for people back home—that’s the bottom line for me.”
The federal funds Senator Murray secured through appropriations will be used to help CHAS Health develop a healthcare workforce training program, build needed transportation infrastructure in Spokane Valley, provide seed-money to help the Innovia Foundation provide free college tuition to students in the region and provide the Town of Malden with planning and design money for a new sewer system. Projects highlighted during the roundtable include:
- Community Health Association of Spokane: $3 million will go to Community Health Association of Spokane to establish a new health care training facility and address skilled workforce shortages.
- The Innovia Foundation: $2.5 million will go to the Innovia Foundation which will establish a LaunchNW chapter to serve 10 counties in Eastern Washington.
- City of Spokane Valley: $3 million will go to the City of Spokane Valley for the widening and reconstruction of South Barker Road corridor along Interstate 90.
- Town of Malden: $3.5 million will go to the Town of Malden to fund a new sewer system for wastewater management
As the second-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray has been instrumental in securing major federal investments for Washington state priorities. Overall, Senator Murray secured more than $116 million in direct funding for local community projects across Washington state. A full list of local projects in Washington state that Murray secured funding for can be found HERE.
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