Senator Murray Includes Job-Supporting Coast Guard Funding in Senate Spending Bill

(Washington D.C.) – Today, U.S.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that she included $62 million in the 2011
Homeland Security Appropriations bill to support acquisition of Coast Guard
Response Boats.  The boats are constructed at Kvichak Marine in Kent,
Washington.

“This funding supports an important
Coast Guard project and provides a shot in the arm to Washington state’s
maritime industry at a critical time,” said Senator Murray.  “It
will allow us to move forward with projects that are in our nation’s interest
while supporting new good-paying, high-skilled jobs in our region.” 

“Once
again, Senator Murray has stepped up to help fund the Coast Guard’s Response
Boat Medium (RBM) program.  Kvichak is building the Coast Guard’s newest,
most advanced vessel at our new Kent facility for deployment nationwide. 
Senator Murray’s ongoing support has helped us create close to 100 jobs in a
difficult economy for boat builders.  This additional funding will speed
deployment of RBM’s, one of the Coast Guard’s highest priority procurement
programs.  This is a huge win for the Coast Guard and a huge win for
maritime manufacturing jobs in Washington state at companies like Kvichak
Marine and our suppliers,” said Keith Whittemore, President of Kvichak
Marine, Inc.

Senator
Murray included $62 million for the Response Boat-Medium, which is a $20
million increase over the President’s budget and is a Coast Guard priority.
Kvichak Marine has hired about 100 new skilled workers at its Kent facility to
build the RB-M. The RB-M will replace the Coast Guard’s old 41 foot utility
boats, which have reached the end of their service lives.

Senator
Murray is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Coast
Guard funding was announced today after the Senate Appropriations Committee met
to consider the Fiscal Year 2011 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.