Patty Murray

Several Senate Democrats say they are concerned that federal staffing cuts could impact firefighting efforts this summer.  Senators from Oregon and Washington say some firefighters and support staff are gone from the Forest Service.  Oregon’...

On Monday, western Democrats issued a statement over reports the BLM has issued stop work orders connected to projects removing hazardous wildfire fuels.  Oregon’s Jeff Merkley, New Mexico’s Senator Martin Heinrich said their letter, addressed to recently confirmed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Acting Agriculture Secretary Gary Washington, “sounds the alarm”.   They said delaying these treatm

Earlier this week, southwest Washington representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Senator Patty Murray announced a $22.5 million grant through the EPA’s Clean Ports Program for the Port of Vancouver to purchase and install two new electric mobile harbor cranes and improve shore power.    With...

The Columbia Basin Railroad Company, which operates between Moses Lake and Connell in central Washington, has received $11,552,000 to rehabilitate approximately 10 miles of the railroad line.  The proposed project will replace approximately ten miles of rail and approximately 8,000 cross ties on the Columbia Basin Railroad.  Support...

Oregon senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkely as well as Washington’s Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell joined 10 others this week sending a letter to the USDA about the western Drought and conservation priorities.  The lawmakers are asking the agency to give parity to the urgent priorities of Western growers and communities through existing authorities, new funding, and collaboration across government.  

A recent report issued by Washington Governor Jay Inslee and senator Patty Murray attempted to answer questions about the economic impact to SE Washington and beyond if the Snake River dams were removed.  However, according to Darryll Olsen with the Columbia Snake River Irrigators Association, the report offered very few answers and did not clear up confusion between the two sides of the argument.

Thanks to the recent announcement by the Biden Administration, as well as Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Senator Patty Murray, conversations over removing the Snake River dams have intensified.  Michelle Hennings, Executive Director of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers said breaching of those four dams would be detrimental to local wheat growers, and the American ag industry as a who

After Washington Governor Jay Inslee and senior Senator Patty Murray released a draft report on breaching the four lower Snake River Dams, Idaho Senator Jim Risch announced his opposition. “Not even two years ago, the federal government completed a comprehensive and scientific multi-year study of the lower Snake River dams. The ...

A host of Northwest lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday supporters say will protect the Four Lower Snake River Dams. The Federal Columbia River Power System Certainty Act supports the Federal Columbia River Power System improves and maintains hydropower assets, ensuring operations throughout the system are conducted in accordance with the latest federal scientific review, and continuing to

Both Republicans and Democrats have initiated studies looking at removing the lower Snake River dams. One of the more high-profile studies is being supported by Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Washington’s senior senator Patty Murray. Dan ...