Cantwell Votes to Grow Washington State's Economy, Create Jobs, and Strengthen Communities

Press Release

Cantwell Votes to Grow Washington State's Economy, Create Jobs, and Strengthen Communities

Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell voted to grow Washington state's economy, create jobs and strengthen communities. With passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 (H.R. 1105), Washington state is poised to receive funding for critical transportation and infrastructure projects, employment training, methamphetamine education and prevention, and programs to support the state's agriculture producers and to protect the state's natural resources. In particular, Cantwell was instrumental in securing $2 million for the acquisition of a Coastal Weather Radar system to help the state get one step closer to being able to better predict severe storms and weather.

"Funding these federal programs that invest in and help grow our country's economy and workforce is not only critical for immediate economic recovery, but also for our ability to compete on a global, 21st century scale," said Cantwell. "From investing in transportation and infrastructure projects, to protecting our kids from the dangers of gangs and meth, to providing our communities with a safety net to better predict severe storms, this bill makes investments in our state's future."

The Omnibus Act is an appropriations bill that contains the nine Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bills not completed in the 110th Congress. Last year, the Bush Administration and Congress could not reach a compromise to finish these bills that make investments in our nation's energy, health care, education, environment, law enforcement, and diplomatic and global health initiatives.
If enacted, this bill would make fiscally-responsible investments that reflect the priorities of America's families with funding for Agriculture; Commerce, Justice, Science;Energy and Water Development; Financial Services; Interior and the Environment;Labor, Health and Education;Legislative Branch;State and Foreign Operations;andTransportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Homeland Security.

The legislation carefully balances the need to make critical investments in our nation's future while ensuring strict accountability measures to ensure American tax dollars are spent wisely and cutting and eliminating programs that haven't performed the way they should. The Congressionally-directed spending, or "earmarks," in the legislation are reduced by five percent below last year's levels, building on last year's 43 percent reduction.
Specifically, Washington state will see the following benefits from enactment of the Act:

* Coastal Weather Radar. $2 million toward the acquisition of a Coastal Weather Radar system off Washington's coast. This system is critical for the protection of the population and economy of Washington State from severe weather and to enhance weather prediction.

* Increased funding for Washington state farmers and agriculture producers to remain competitive in a growing trade dependent climate.

* Increased funding to treat soldiers with traumatic brain injury at Madigan Army Medical Center.

* Gang and Methamphetamine prevention. Increased funding for local law enforcement to educate communities about the dangers of gangs and meth, and provide law enforcement agencies with more equipment, resources and staff to combat crime.

* Protect forests in Washington state. Funding to reduce backlogs in the Legacy Road and Trail program, create approximately 14 jobs per each $1 million spent on road decommissioning, saving taxpayers up to $1,200 per mile in reduced maintenance costs per year.

Source