For Immediate Release:

Friday, September 29, 2006

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) today announced that the Senate has approved critical Homeland Security funding for Washington state. The funding, which will support local first responders efforts to keep Washington state safe, will now go to the President to be signed into law.

Senator Murray is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Murray has worked on that subcommittee to reject Bush Administration efforts to severely cut or eliminate critical first responder programs. Senator Murray played an integral part in securing funding for several of Washington state's security priorities that were included in today's bill.

"The abundance of ports, nuclear facilities, and tourist attractions in Washington state means that local officials face difficult security challenges," said Senator Murray. "That is why I continue to pressure this Administration for increased security funding. The funding in this bill means real support for the first responders and emergency managers who are working to keep our communities safe."

"We also need to work quickly to implement the programs in my GreenLane cargo security bill," said Murray. "At a time when intelligence reports suggest that this Administration's foreign policy has left us vulnerable, it is more important then ever to provide additional funding for comprehensive port security."

Funding for Washington state priorities include:

• Providing for 20 additional FTEs at the Bellingham Northern Border Air Wing, bringing it to full staffing.
• $20.6 million for U.S. Coast Guard District 13 in Seattle.
• $24.75 million for the Response Boat Medium program in Kvichak Shipyard in Seattle.
• $2 million for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for use in critical security detection work in the 300 Area of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
• $1.8 million for Coast Guard special purpose craft which are manufactured in Port Orchard.
• Additional funding is also included to finish the breakwater at Neah Bay and the Sector Command building in Seattle.

Funding provided in the Homeland Security Appropriations bill includes:

• $210 million in Port Security Grants.
• $200 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants - Up from $170 million requested by President Bush.
• $662 million for Firefighter Assistance Grants – nearly doubles the President’s $293.5 million request.
• $375 million for the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program – the President’s request would have eliminated this program.
• $33 million for the Metropolitan Medical Response program – the President’s request would have eliminated this program.
• $30 million for Demonstration Training Grants – the President’s request would have eliminated this program.
• The bill also rejects the President’s plan to place an additional tax on air travelers, and provides for an additional 1,500 border patrol agents.