Senator Murray Secures Over $9 Million for the Port of Olympia

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced a federal grant of over $9.2 million through the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the Port of Olympia. The funding comes as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law--which Senator Murray was a leader in negotiating and passing--and will improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within the port.

"Our state's ports are absolutely critical to our regional economies, so it's really important to me that they have the investments they need to keep supply chains strong, costs down, and shelves fully-stocked for Washington state families. I was proud to fight to deliver critical funding to the Port of Olympia to ensure it can meet ongoing demands--and open the door for more good-paying jobs right here in Western Washington," said Senator Murray. "I will keep fighting to do everything I can to support our ports, strengthen our economy, and cut costs for families."

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 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 long fought for Washington state's ports and waterways. Earlier this month, Senator Murray announced a federal grant of over $4.1 million from the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration for the purchase of an electric dock crane at the Port of Vancouver. In August, Senator Murray held a roundtable discussion in Longview on her recent efforts to support the Port of Longview, strengthen supply chains, and help create good-paying jobs.

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