Washington

November 17, 2009 -- OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Commerce awarded $6.4 million in competitive Recovery Act grants to 43 applicants in small cities and counties for energy efficiency and conservation projects. Projects include energy audits and building retrofits, as well as energy efficient traffic signals and street lighting.

The funding is targeted to reduce fossil fuel emissions and help communities be more environmentally sustainable through reduced energy usage and improved energy efficiency in the building and transportation sectors. The work is also expected to save or create more than 100 jobs.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the $398.8 million for military installations in Washington state passed the full Senate. The funding will be used to make improvements to a number of installations that facilitate training and care for service members and their families.

The funding is also expected to create family-wage construction jobs in communities throughout the state. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction Appropriations bill, which passed the Senate today 100-0.    » read more »

Bill contains billions of dollars for medical care, women veterans, homeless veterans; includes specific language on Walla Walla VA, South Puget Sound CBOC

November 17, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) helped pass legislation through the full Senate that provides $109 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The bill passed by a 100-0 vote.

The funding, which is included in the fiscal year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs funding bill, is $150 million more than the President requested. The majority of the funding will go directly to health care services which will help cut wait-times, increase access to quality care and mental health services for our veterans.    » read more »

Pilot program that Murray pushed for in Wounded Warriors bill will mean single medical examinations and transparent rating system for returning service members disability claims

November 16, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Thousands of returning service members will have access to a streamlined disability claims system at Fort Lewis Army Medical Center because of a pilot program that U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) helped pass into law.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- OLYMPIA, WA – The National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that Washington state will receive a grant of approximately $2.2 million to fund broadband mapping and planning activities under the State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program.

The program enables collection of data to show which areas of each state are in the most need of increased broadband infrastructure and adoption. The data collected will be used to create an interactive and searchable map for use by the public with information such as where broadband service is available and at what speeds, and the type of technology used.    » read more »

November 9, 2009 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has directed that flags at all Washington state agency buildings be lowered to half-staff Thursday, Nov. 12, in memory of U.S. Army Specialist Aaron S. Aamot of Custer. Aamot was killed last week in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Thursday, or first thing Friday morning, Nov. 13.

Congress amended the U.S. Flag Code to give governors the authority to lower flags when a state resident in the military is killed in the line of duty. Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join in this recognition.

Source: Washington Governor

Funding Represents Federal Investment Championed by Cantwell to Make the Nation's Electricity Grid Smarter, Stronger, More Efficient, and Reliable

October 27,2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that Snohomish Public Utility District (PUD) will receive a federal investment of $15,825,817 to implement smart grid technologies that will create jobs and lead to lower electricity bills for consumers.

The funding will be used to install a smart grid framework, including a digital telecommunications network, substation automation and a robust distribution system infrastructure. This will enable the implementation of future smart grid technologies, including smart meters that will provide real-time energy use information to customers.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- EVERETT – Gov. Chris Gregoire today joined leaders in the aerospace industry, Snohomish County elected officials and community college presidents to announce $1.5 million in Workforce Investment Act funds to support the state’s aerospace training programs. Gregoire made the announcement at Everett Community College’s Aviation Maintenance and Technical School at Paine Field.

“We know we have two fundamental challenges in keeping our competitive edge in the aerospace industry,” Gregoire said. “We have to recruit new workers, and we have to make sure both our current and incoming workers have cutting-edge skills. To accomplish that, we must invest in our education and training system.”

Of the $1.5 million for aerospace training programs:    » read more »

Legislation will protect endangered species habitat salmon

October 13, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 1593) to designate Illabot Creek in Skagit County as a component of the Wild and Scenic River System. The House legislation, sponsored by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), will permanently protect the free flowing nature of this tributary of the Skagit River. This legislation was introduced in March of this year and earned widespread local support, including endorsements from environmentalists, Skagit County Commissioners, fishing groups, and farmers.    » read more »

October 9, 2009 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today announced more than $14 million in grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for programs providing energy efficiency upgrades to middle income homes and small businesses in Washington.

Eight private and public projects across the state – including Pioneer Human Services, the Opportunity Council, the City of Ellensburg, Snohomish County PUD, Sustainable Living Center, Sustainable Works, the Thurston Economic Development Council, and Clark Public Utilities – were selected by an independent review committee based on their ability to:

· Increase energy efficiency in residential and small commercial buildings – reducing energy use and utility expenses for middle-income residents of our state.    » read more »

Murray worked to include funding that will benefit farmers and consumers, give Washington state's highest employing industry a competitive economic edge

October 8, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the millions of dollars in federal funding she included for Washington state agriculture research priorities in the 2010 Senate Agriculture Appropriations has been passed by both houses of Congress and is expected to be signed into law.

This funding will support ongoing research for a wide range of Washington agricultural goods, including legumes, potatoes, wine grapes, organic foods, and berries. The final version passed the Senate today by a vote of 76-22.    » read more »

October 7, 2009 -- SPOKANE – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today joined more than 200 aerospace executives at the 3rd annual Governor’s Aerospace Summit in Spokane, where she discussed “The Business Case for Consolidating Boeing 787 Assembly in Washington,” and other advantages for the aerospace industry in Washington state.

“In Washington, we’ve built a home that encourages aerospace,” Gregoire said. “Our basic taxes, including property, sales and business and occupation taxes are below or very near the comparable taxes in our competitor states. We’ve reduced the B&O tax rate for aerospace, and created credits for new buildings, new machinery, and land used for manufacturing to ensure our aerospace companies statewide succeed.”    » read more »

October 5, 2009 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Commerce today announced the recipients of more than $20 million in grants and loans from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean technology programs throughout the state. The funding addresses a specific goal to reduce energy consumption by at least 25 percent of the state’s 1990 per capita energy use by 2012.    » read more »

Funding will create family wage jobs and help Washington state remain at the forefront of technology, research, and innovation

October 6, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that the $63 million in federal defense work for Washington state companies that she included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations bill has passed the full Senate. Senator Murray is a senior member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.    » read more »

September 30, 2009 -- LOS ANGELES – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today welcomed attendees to this year’s Governors’ Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles. The summit brings together governors and local government leaders from around the world to develop strategies that will grow a clean energy economy, increase the use of sustainable clean energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on foreign oil. Strategies developed at the summit will be taken to the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark.    » read more »