For Immediate Release:

Sunday, December 18, 2005

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) today toured the Salishan public housing development in Tacoma to get an update on the progress of a major renovation she helped fund. Murray, a member of the committee that oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been a strong supporter of improved access to affordable housing.

Salishan is the Tacoma Housing Authority's largest public housing development, and is currently undergoing a large-scale revitalization. Senator Murray has secured $35 million to date for the project as the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, the Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development.

"For too many families in our state, affordable housing is out of reach," Murray said. "At a time when so many people in our state are struggling, we should be tearing down barriers to affordable housing – not building new ones.

"Salishan is about more than just building homes. It's about revitalizing and strengthening a community – from the ground up," Murray said.

Senator Murray's remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow:

Thanks so much for having me here today. It’s exciting to learn more about the progress being made at Salishan. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together to make Phase One of this project a reality.

Salishan is about more than just building homes. It's about revitalizing and strengthening a community – from the ground up.

All of us here today know that for too many families in our state, affordable housing is out of reach. Whether it’s a young couple looking to buy their first home, a single mother searching for rental housing near her job and childcare, a senior citizen who wants access to social services, or a disabled veteran who needs an accessible place to live, it's harder than ever to find affordable housing.

And we know that to move our state forward, all of us must move forward. Affordable housing is critical to Washington state’s economy and quality of life – both now and in the future.

That's why the work you do every day is so critical – and why we need to make sure the federal government continues to support your efforts. That’s my job, and I want you to know I take it very seriously. As the top Democrat on the Senate committee that funds HUD, I’m working hard to ensure everyone in our state has the opportunity to build a brighter future.

At a time when so many people in our state are struggling, we should be tearing down barriers to affordable housing – not building new ones. So I’m proud to be your partner in the United States Senate, and I’m going to continue to fight for working families and communities here in Tacoma – and across our state.