Senator Murray Touts Salmon Recovery and Culvert Replacement Efforts Alongside Secretary Buttigieg, WA Congressional Delegation Members

Statement

Yesterday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, alongside Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA-08), Rep. Rick Larson (D-WA-02), King County Executive Dow Constantine, Muckleshoot Tribe Chairman Jaison Elkins, and others visited the Carey Creek Culvert in Issaquah to highlight federal investments in culvert replacement and salmon recovery. At the event, Secretary Buttigieg also announced that grant applications for the $1 billion culvert replacement grant program included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is now open. Senator Murray fought to include this historic investment and other salmon recovery funds when the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was being negotiated last year.

"When I go to the other Washington, it's my job to make sure Washington state's priorities are the federal governments priorities as well. I fought for salmon recovery to be included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law," said Senator Murray. "I was able to secure one billion dollars--with a "B"!--exclusively for the improvement and restoration of fish passages. Salmon recovery in Washington state has got to be an all-hands on deck effort--and I'm committed to doing my part on the federal level."

In August, Senator Murray visited the Howard Hanson Dam with Rep. Schrier and Tribal leaders to highlight the $220 million they secured to create a new fish passage at the dam that will be critical for salmon recovery efforts in Washington state and the Pacific Northwest. Investing in salmon recovery was a major priority for Senator Murray when negotiating the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which delivered the $1 billion for culvert removal, replacement, and restoration in addition to $172 million for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF); and $207 million for the Coastal Zone Management Program, among other habitat investments.

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