The Northwest Straits Commission is a community-led effort to restore marine habitats in the Northwest Straits region and address local threats to marine environments.
Yesterday, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02)’s bill to reauthorize the Northwest Straits Commission for seven years passed the House of Representatives on a 374-49 vote.
“The Commission’s bottom-up approach has ensured that local communities have the resources and expertise they need to keep marine habitats healthy and recover endangered and threatened species, including Southern Resident Killer Whales and salmon,” said Rep. Larsen, who serves as the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “This bill provides the necessary funding so that the Commission can continue its work to restore the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits region and support local jobs.”
In April 2025, Rep. Larsen introduced the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025 alongside Representative Emily Randall (WA-06) and Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Rep. Larsen previously introduced the bill in the 118th Congress.
“From abalone beds and oysters, to the rugged coastline that stretches for hundreds of miles, folks from Washington's 6th District know there's no place quite like home. The Northwest Straits Commission has been a lifeline for our communities, providing critical resources like the Marine Resources Committees in Jefferson and Clallam counties, and working alongside Tribes all across the state,” said Rep. Randall. “Their collaborative efforts to restore and protect our marine habitats are a testament to what makes this place so special. I’m proud to co-lead this legislation to reauthorize and continue the Commission's important work so we can continue working together to safeguard the precious marine resources that make our community and our state one-of-a-kind.”
The Northwest Straits Commission is a community-led effort to restore marine habitats in the Northwest Straits region of Puget Sound. The Commission provides funding, training, and support to seven county-based Marine Resources Committees (MRCs). Five out of the seven MRCs are located in Northwest Washington. The Commission advises local officials on how to best carry out environmental projects and provides expertise to community organizations to help them be partners in their work.
“I am continually amazed how well the Northwest Straits Commission and Marine Resources Committees build lasting partnerships and bring people together to steward marine resources in our region,” said Lucas Hart, Director of the Northwest Straits Commission. “Using a bottom-up approach, the Initiative encourages people and communities to take positive action, often as volunteers, to conserve our waters and shorelines. Last year, we worked with over 70 partners and generated nearly 10,000 volunteer hours to advance numerous regional and local projects. Reauthorization of the Initiative will help continue these critical partnerships and the volunteer engagement that benefits all who rely on marine resources."
Larsen Fights to Protect Northwest Washington’s Environment
Protecting Washington state’s environment is a top priority for Rep. Larsen. Larsen is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Estuary Caucus and his bill to reauthorize the National Estuary Program passed the House in December. He has been a leader in Congress on salmon recovery, including by preserving the National Culvert Program in the BUILD America 250 Act and leading annual efforts to fund the Pacific Coastal Salmon Restoration Fund (PCSRF) and Washington’s Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups. His bill to expand federal protections for marine mammals, including Southern Resident Killer Whales in Puget Sound, was included in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
Larsen Takes to the House Floor to Support the Northwest Straits Commission
On Tuesday, Rep. Larsen delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of his bill to reauthorize the Northwest Straits Commission in the Puget Sound:
“Mister Speaker, I rise in support of my bill H.R. 2860, the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act.
“The Northwest Straits initiative started as a bipartisan, homegrown idea.
“Thanks to the foresight and hard work of Democratic Senator Patty Murray, and my predecessor in the U.S. House of Representatives, former Republican Representative Jack Metcalf and local stakeholders, Congress created the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Commission in 1998.
“The Commission works with seven county-based marine resources committees, or MRCs, in Northwest Puget Sound.
“Five of those seven MRCs are in the five counties I represent in Northwest Washington state.
“Over the past 28 years, the Commission’s bottom-up approach has ensured that local communities and tribes have the resources and expertise they need to keep marine habitats healthy and recover endangered and threatened species, including the Southern Resident killer whales and salmon.
“My bill would reauthorize the Northwest Straits Commission for seven years, ensuring the Commission can continue its work to restore the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits region, including by:
- Restoring shoreline in Skagit County;
- Conserving Olympia oysters in Whatcom County;
- Monitoring kelp beds in Island County;
- Removing derelict vessels in San Juan County; and
- Surveying forage fish eggs in Snohomish County.
“Now, all these project works in tandem, or work together, throughout the Puget Sound in order to increase the whole health of the Puget Sound.
“Not only do these projects restore the environment, but they’re also supporting local jobs.
“According to the Commission, the Northwest Straits region contributes 16,000 jobs to Washington’s commercial and recreational fishing industries and $150 million in economic output for the state’s aquaculture industry.
“The Commission partners with ports, local authorities, state agencies, marine-based businesses and tribes – on everything from trapping invasive European green crab that threaten local shellfish economies, to helping boaters identify and communicate eelgrass locations, which are poor anchorage sites and important for commercial and recreational marine species.
“This is locally-driven, job-creating work that Congress should continue to support.
“I want to thank Representative Emily Randall for co-leading the bill, Senators Murray and Cantwell for their partnership in the Senate, and Representatives Marilyn Strickland, Suzan DelBene, Adam Smith, Pramila Jayapal and Kim Schrier, my colleagues here in the House for cosponsoring the bill.
“I want to thank the many partner organizations in Washington state whose advocacy and hard work has gotten the bill to this point, particularly the Northwest Straits Commission and Puget Sound Partnership.
“Finally, I want to thank Ranking Member Huffman and Chair Westerman, and the entire House Natural Resources Committee and the folks on the Committee and the staff for working with my office to move this bill forward.
“I urge my colleagues to support this bill to keep the momentum going to restore marine habitats, protect Washington State’s environment and create more jobs in Northwest Washington.
