U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) has helped secure federal dollars for Snohomish County priorities in the Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill heading for a House vote this week. The omnibus appropriations bill is the result of negotiations between House and Senate leadership and must pass both Houses of Congress before it can be signed into law.
“I am pleased that Snohomish County priorities – including resources to improve public safety on US 2 and strengthen local law enforcement – are on track to get federal funding, and I thank my partner in the Senate, Senator Patty Murray, for helping deliver needed resources for the 2nd Congressional District and our state,” said Larsen.
Larsen helped secure the following appropriations:
$2 million for the Washington State Department of Transportation to construct safety improvement projects on US 2 between Snohomish and Skykomish
“Improving public safety on US 2 has been one of my top priorities since I was first elected to Congress,” said Larsen, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “US 2 is a critical transportation corridor for Snohomish County families and businesses, and we must do more to make it safe.”
$50,000 to purchase new equipment for the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force
“Methamphetamine and other drugs continue to threaten our communities,” said Larsen, co-chair of the House Meth Caucus. “In this time of tight budgets, we must ensure that local law enforcement officers have the tools they need to keep us safe. We cannot afford to short-change law enforcement and community efforts to fight drugs and crime.”
“This type of federal funding is crucial for local drug task forces to keep up with the escalating illicit drug threat we are facing,” said Pat Slack, Commander of the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force, in June 2008.
The omnibus appropriations bill also includes:
$1.1 million for the Washington State Methamphetamine Initiative
$2,375,000 for Snohomish County to help complete an alternate route for truck traffic to bypass downtown Granite Falls, improving safety for drivers and pedestrians
$500,000 to help the City of Snohomish upgrade their wastewater treatment plant to improve Snohomish River water quality
