Questioning DOE official in Charge of 300 Area Replacement

Today, Senator Murray expressed her concerns regarding the progress of the Hanford 300 Area replacement project while questioning the Department of Energy's (DOE) Undersecretary of Science, Dr. Raymond Orbach.




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Improving Quality of Life in the Tri-Cities - Beginning the Soundwall Second Phase

Senator Murray joined Richland Mayor Rob Welch, Rep. Hankins, Richland Mayor Pro Tempore Carol Moser and others to break ground on the second phase of the project, which will extend the soundwall further.





Senator Murray's Remarks - Text | Audio

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Murray Expresses Disapproval over Bush Budget

In addition to cutting the cleanup workforce, the Bush budget proposal eliminates all funding for the HAMMER training facility, which prepares workers to handle toxic nuclear waste. Last year, the Bush administration proposed a $400 million cut to Hanford cleanup. Murray worked with her colleagues to restore the funding. (04/18/02)

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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust Board

It was great to see members of the Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust Board at the farmworker housing celebration in Buena. As I told them in my remarks, "You turned farmworker housing from a stalemate to a success. You built a partnership that is housing families, helping growers, and supporting communities."




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Murray Fights Cuts to Hanford Clean Up

Speaking at a Senate hearing, Senator Murray (right) continued her fight against the Bush Administration's plan to cut funding and delay cleanup at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in the Tri-Cities.




President Bush’s budget for 2006 cuts Hanford funding by $297 million. At this hearing, Senator Murray questioned Paul Golan (left), the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management about the President’s $89 million cut to Hanford’s Tank Farm program. More




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Assistant Secretary Roberson Responds to Murray

Senator Murray asked why the Bush Administration is cutting the workforce at the Office of River Protection(ORP), even though Hanford officials believe ORP needs more workers, not fewer. (04/18/02)

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Senator Murray with TRIDEC President and CEO Carl F. Adrian

Senator Murray meets with Tri-Cities Community Leaders in Kennewick. During the meeting, Senator Murray listened to area leaders discuss priorities including transportation, economic development, law enforcement, infrastructure, and housing.

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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Maria Aguiar

Maria Aguiar, a resident, told us: "Keep fighting for this. There are a lot of us who will need this type of housing. We cannot afford elegant housing some place else. This is a nice house and we like it here."




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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Ruthanna Rebman

Ruthanna Rebman, chair of the Buena Nueva Community Council, told the crowd, "It has been helpful for many people to have a good, clean, reliable, desirable place to live."




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Sen. Murray meets with Greg Hughes, Exec. Dir., of the Hanford Reach National Monument

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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - State Representative Phyllis Kenney

Representative Kenney shared her own experiences:




"Doing what is right is not always easy at times. Coming from a farmworker family, having lived in the car, having lived by the riverbanks, having lived in chicken coops, I know what it is like first hand. And to see people working together to create housing like this, it is not only right but it is absolutely great. And as Senator Murray says, people have the right and the dignity to live good lives like human beings and all citizens of this state should have that right, and especially farmworkers who are a critical part of our economic stability in this state and economic development because without them, this state would not do as well as it does…This housing project is beautiful because it tells you that when we come together to do the right thing, things will happen."




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Improving Quality of Life in the Tri-Cities

On a sunny Tuesday in Richland, Senator Murray joined more than a dozen neighbors and local leaders to celebrate the completion of a soundwall along SR 240 between Hanford and the Tri-Cities. The community-driven effort will improve the quality of life for everyone who lives near that busy stretch of road.




Senator Murray's Remarks - Text | Audio

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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Eric Nicholson

Eric Nicholson of United Farmworkers of America spoke about how farmworkers and growers work together.




"We have monthly meetings where we duke it out. We figure out how we are going to do this and recognize we have a crisis. The only way we are going to solve it is by working together, talking, and figuring out a common solution," Nicholson said.




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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Children Present Drawings of Their Homes

At the end of the program, children presented me with drawings of their homes.




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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Mike Gempler

Mike Gempler, executive director of the Washington Growers League, spoke about why growers are committed to addressing farmworker housing.




"The reason the Washington Growers League is involved in this is because the Washington State Housing Trust and the work that it is doing and the funding secured by Senator Murray are all good for growers. It is good for growers because it helps our industry be stable over the long-term. This funding and the state's Farmworker Housing Trust will help growers and communities build housing that is needed for the workers who come and grow and harvest our crops," Gempler said.




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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Juan Aguilar

Juan Aguilar spoke at the celebration. He is a co-chair of the Farmworker Housing Trust Board.




"In the coming months, the Trust Board will work to double this appropriation by securing grants from foundations that have expressed an interest in the work of the Trust. You [Senator Murray] have given us a tremendous boost in that effort. Senator Murray, we are profoundly grateful," Aguilar said.




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Honoring a Meals on Wheels Volunteer

Senator Murray visited the Yakima Senior Center to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Meals on Wheels Program in Yakima County.

In her remarks, Murray recognized Clara Kemper (left), who has been volunteering with Yakima County Food Services since 1985. (03/27/02)

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Murray Chairs Hearing on Hanford Cleanup

Senator Murray is working to clean up Hanford. On April 18, she chaired a hearing of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee to review the Bush administration's work at Hanford and other sites. (04/18/02)

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Supporting Washington's Seniors

After visiting the Yakima Senior Center, Senator Murray delivered hot meals to senior citizens in Yakima County.

In the Senate, Murray has increased funding for Meals on Wheels and congregate meals. She has also worked to ensure the program serves rural residents, minorities, and hard to reach groups.

This year, Murray is working to double funding for the Meals on Wheels program. (03/27/02)

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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Touring a Buena Nueva Home

Maria Ramirez, a resident of Buena Nueva, gave me and Mario Villanueva a tour of her beautiful home.




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Opening a New National Guard Facility in Yakima

Senator Murray secured funding for a facility to maintain and repair National Guard vehicles at the training center in Yakima.

Murray attended the ribbon cutting and thanked members of Washington's National Guard for their service. (03/27/02)

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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Isabel Suarez

Isabel Suarez, a Buena resident who has eight children, told the celebration, "More than anything else, I am happy to see that my children are living in a place that is very appropriate for them."




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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - WA State House Speaker Frank Chopp

Washington State House of Representatives Speaker Frank Chopp talked about progress at the state level to support farmworker housing.




"This session, we doubled the amount of money for farmworker housing from $8 million to $16 million—$16 million dollars to help duplicate this kind of great effort."




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Sen. Murray tours the Apple Packing Warehouse in Yakima

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Supporting Jobs and Science in the Tri-Cities

Senator Murray visits the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland to get an update on cutting-edge scientific research and to review plans to build a new research campus, a model of which is pictured above. PNNL is an economic engine for the region, and Senator Murray has worked to keep it strong.




Above, Dr. Len Peters, director of PNNL, introduces Senator Murray to Theresa Bergsman (PNNL Project Manager, 300 Area Capabilities Replacement).




The Hanford clean-up will dismantle the 300 Area, which puts the jobs of about 1,000 people who work there in jeopardy unless new space is built. Senator Murray secured $18 million to build a new Research Campus of the Future, which will ensure these workers stay in Richland and can expand their work.




In addition, Murray secured another $18 million for various research projects at the lab. Scientists updated the Senator on how her funding supports research on breast cancer, port security, and nuclear waste cleanup. Senator Murray secured the funding as a member and conferee of the Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee. President Bush signed the funding into law on November 19, 2005.

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Improving Quality of Life in the Tri-Cities - Soundwall Name Plate in Richland

Senator Murray joined Rep. Shirley Hankins (holding paintbrush) and others as they filled in the “R” in the word “Richland” on the soundwall’s name plate.





Senator Murray's Remarks - Text | Audio

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Sen. Murray meets with the Yakama Tribal Council to discuss the BPA budget for the Fish and Wildlife program.

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Innovative Job Training Programs in Moses Lake

Senator Murray speaks with some young adults preparing to enter the workforce at the Skill-Source Training Center in Moses Lake. Workforce training is a top priority for Senator Murray who is the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate HELP Committee’s Employment, Safety & Training Subcommittee.

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Murray Questions VA Secretary on Walla Walla and NW Washington VA Clinics

Senator Murray talks with Secretary Nicholson before a hearing today, where she got commitments and new details from the Secretary for Washington's veterans.




Listen to Senator Murray's...





Opening Statement | Q and A with Secretary Nicholson

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Working for the Multi-Modal Project in Port of Quincy

Senator Murray met with Port of Quincy officials about the Multi-Modal Project. Murray also toured the site for which she is working to secure federal funding. Murray's Remarks | Update: Project Receives Federal Funding

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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing

I spoke at a celebration at the Buena Nueva housing community in Buena, Washington (just outside of Yakima). Tomás Villanueva, a farmworker advocate, translated my remarks into Spanish. Thank you, Tomas!




"All of us recognize that farmworker housing is a moral issue, an economic issue, and a family issue. Too many workers and their families face very difficult living conditions. Some live in their cars. Others share run-down, overcrowded rooms with other families. These are not the kinds of living conditions we can tolerate in the United States in the 21st Century. They are certainly not suitable for the people who help put food on our tables and who keep our state's economy strong. We can do better, and all of you recognized that and got to work."




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Murray Congratulates Award Winners

Senator Murray congratulated award winners from Washington state who received the Presidential Environmental Youth Award. (04/18/02)

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A Conversation with Yakima Farmers about this Year's Farm Bill

Senator Murray meets with Yakima area farmers to discuss the critically important Farm Bill which the U.S. Congress must pass in order to provide support for our farmers. Much of the discussion centered on the specialty crops that dominate the agricultural economy in central Washington. Senator Murray has worked with colleagues to ensure this Farm Bill included help for specialty crop farmers because of their unique struggles.

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Preserving Jobs at Hanford

Senator Murray receives a briefing from Pete Knollmeyer of Fluor Hanford regarding work at the Waste Receiving and Processing facility.  This facility prepares Transuranic Waste to be safely shipped off the Hanford site to the Waste Isolation Pilot Project in New Mexico.

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Sen. Murray Meets with Port of Benton Commissioners

Sen. Murray discussed the Vernita Bridge Transload facility with Port of Benton Commissioners, Jane Hagarty, Robert Larson (both pictured), Hal Lindberg and Exec. Dir. Scott Keller. (02/25/03)

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Celebrating Our Progress on Farmworker Housing - Mario Villanueva

Mario Villanueva thanked the broad group of supporters. He is Executive Director of the Diocese of Yakima Housing Services.




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