Patty Murray's Washington View

Statement

PATTY MURRAY'S WASHINGTON VIEW

U.S. Senator Patty Murray's Weekly Report to the People of Washington -

FLOODING: Touring Flooded Western Washington Communities, Working
to Secure Emergency Funding

This week communities throughout Western Washington were devastated by record-level flooding. On Friday, I took tours with officials in a number of communities to survey the damage to homes, roads, and businesses. I spoke with families in Orting who lost their homes and saw farms and roads that have been washed away in Chehalis and Centralia. I also invited the federal Transportation Secretary out to Washington state, where she
announced $2 million in emergency federal funding to clear debris and get our state's roads and highways up and running. I will continue to fight for federal funding to help get our state's families back on their feet.

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I have included valuable contact information and resources on my website for
Washington residents affected by last week's devastating storms. The information includes contacts for county emergency management offices, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommended flooding websites and information on where to report storm damages.

GANGS: Working to Support Intervention Programs and Make our Streets
Safer

This week, I co-sponsored major legislation in the new Congress to combat gang violence in our state and nation. The bill, the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2009, authorizes over $1 billion in federal funding for areas hard-hit by gang violence. The resources included in the bill can be used for law enforcement efforts, prevention programs, and to target at-risk youth for gang intervention efforts.

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HEALTH CARE: Putting our State's Health Care Concerns Front and Center
During Daschle Confirmation Hearing

On Thursday, I discussed critical shortages of health care workers and our state's difficulties getting adequate Medicare reimbursements during Senator Tom Daschle's confirmation
hearing to become the next Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). If confirmed, I will work with Senator Daschle to address many of the pressing health care challenges facing our state.

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