22/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 23/07/2024 02:00
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced more than $28 million in funding for three projects in Washington state that aim to restore the habitat of threatened salmon species.
The grants were awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Program. The funding for these three grants was secured by Senators Cantwell and Murray in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
"These grants will help build vital habitat for endangered salmon in the Puyallup River Basin, Whidbey Basin, and Queets-Clearwater watershed," said Sen. Cantwell. "The projects will bring back natural features like log jams and river channels that protect young salmon as they grow and help restore our natural ecosystems, tribal and other fisheries, and Puget Sound orcas."
"Salmon play an absolutely critical role in Washington state's economy, culture, history, and traditions," said Sen. Murray. "The funding we secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as the additional funding I've secured as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is going to make a huge difference as we work to restore these critical salmon habitats. I'm thrilled these grants are finally making their way to Washington state and I'll continue to fight to strengthen federal investments to save our salmon."
The following three projects in Washington state were awarded funding:
Throughout their time in the Senate, Sens. Cantwell and Murray have been staunch advocates for protecting and strengthening critical salmon populations. Sens. Cantwell and Murray secured a historic $2.85 billion investment in salmon and ecosystem restoration programs in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $400 million for a new community-based restoration program focused on removing fish passage barriers.
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