Senator Murray: “When we invest in our infrastructure and strengthen supply chains, those dollars go a long way towards lowering the prices of products on shelves and creating good-paying, union jobs here in Washington state.”
***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL OF THE EVENT HERE***
***AUDIO OF THE EVENT HERE***
(Longview, WA) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined local leaders from the Port of Longview and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for a tour of the port facilities and a roundtable discussion on recent efforts by Senator Murray to support the Port of Longview, strengthen supply chains, and help create good-paying jobs.
Senator Murray was joined by Dan Stahl, Chief Executive Officer of the Port; Jennifer Brown, Chief Financial Officer of the Port; Christian Clay, Director of Business Development of the Port; and Mike Bridges, Business Representative from IBEW Local 48. During the roundtable, Senator Murray spoke with participants about their ongoing work, the federal funding she has secured for the Port of Longview, and what other ways the federal government can support Washington state ports.
Last year, Senator Murray secured $2.5 million in Congressionally-directed spending through the Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill for the Port of Longview’s Industrial Rail Corridor Expansion (IRCE) project. This project will expand rail capacity to underutilized marine terminals to unleash economic potential for private sector investment. This project will double freight capacity through the corridor, and leverage the Port’s position as an economic engine for the region. Senator Murray also secured a $16 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant for the IRCE in addition to her recent Congressionally-directed spending request.
“The Port of Longview is an important economic driver for the entire region—and it’s my job to support the work that happens here every day,” said Senator Murray. “Whether through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law or my seat on the Appropriations Committee, we have been able to secure some really significant and meaningful federal infrastructure investments for the Port of Longview and all of Southwest Washington. When we invest in our infrastructure and strengthen supply chains, those dollars go a long way towards lowering the prices of products on shelves and creating good-paying, union jobs here in Washington state.”
During the event, Murray, discussed how important RAISE grant funding has been for local infrastructure projects across Washington state. Senator Murray originally created the RAISE program (previously known as TIGER and BUILD) in 2009 and has been a longtime supporter of the program, most recently helping secure $7.5 billion for the RAISE program – a 50% annual increase – in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. RAISE grants can be used for a wide variety of infrastructure projects with local or regional impact. The program is funded specifically via the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, of which Senator Murray is a senior member. Just this month, Senator Murray announced nearly $100 million in additional RAISE grant funding for projects across the state. Senator Murray has secured nearly $460 million in RAISE funding for Washington state projects since she founded the program.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Senator Murray helped pass invests more than $17 billion in port infrastructure and waterways with the primary aim of addressing needed repairs and maintenance backlogs, reducing congestion to strengthen our supply chains and remove bottlenecks to expedite commerce, cutting emissions near ports by boosting electrification, and investing in other low-carbon technologies to reduce environmental impacts on neighboring communities.
In particular, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law designates $450 million annually for the next five years for the Port Infrastructure Development Program. This will allow significant improvements to port facilities and projects that include: loading and unloading of goods at a port; movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port; resilience projects addressing rising sea-level, flooding, extreme weather events, and natural disasters; and environmental and emissions mitigation measures.
Senator Murray has been a longtime advocate of Washington state ports. The 2020 Water Development Resources Act includes changes secured by Murray to the Harbor Maintenance Tax and Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. These changes will provide billions of dollars each year to invest in and enhance the global competitiveness of ports in Washington state and across the country.
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