U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) has helped secure funding for U.S. Highway 2, Naval Station Everett and other critical Snohomish county priorities including transportation and law enforcement as part of an end-of-the-year appropriations bill passed by Congress. The House and Senate passed the bill this week and have sent it to the President to be signed into law. Larsen released the following statement:
“This legislation will help keep Snohomish County’s transportation system safe and strong for the 21st century. Senator Murray and I secured critical funding to improve the safety of U.S. Highway 2, invest in Mukilteo’s multimodal terminal redevelopment project, and create an alternate route for truck traffic to make downtown Granite Falls safer for drivers and pedestrians.
“Funding for the Sultan Police Department will help them purchase new technology to fight crime and keep the community safe.”
“Resources for the Everett Senior Activity Center will help improve the quality of life for local seniors with meals, medical services and social and educational opportunities.”
“Funding for Naval Station Everett will create new training opportunities for sailors and make this homeport even more attractive for new assets in the future.
“I appreciate Senator Murray’s leadership in helping deliver these important resources for Northwest Washington. Time and again, she has been a champion for local priorities.
“For families in Snohomish County and across the country, this legislation makes critical investments in veterans’ services, health care, education and other priorities here at home.
“However, this bill is not perfect. It does not make the full investments I would have hoped in many of our nation’s priorities because of the President’s failure to compromise. But it does represent an important step forward and delivers needed resources for Northwest Washington.
“This Congress has made significant progress. We have invested in our economy, national security, veterans’ health care, education and energy independence, making substantial improvements in the lives of Americans.
“There is more work to be done, and we will work to accomplish it with the best interests of the American people in mind.”
Larsen helped secure the following resources in the bill for Snohomish County and Northwest Washington:
$637,000 for safety improvements to U.S. Highway 2;
$558,000 for the Everett Senior Activity Center to provide meals, medical services and social and educational opportunities for local seniors;
$1.03 million for an alternate truck route to improve the safety of downtown Granite Falls;
$980,000 for the Mukilteo multimodal terminal redevelopment project;
$10.9 million for a new Fleet Region Readiness Center for Naval Station Everett;
$117,500 to help the Sultan Police Department improve the technology they use in fighting crime;
$400,000 to help the Northwest Agriculture Business Center create a technological network connecting producers, retailers and distributors so local farmers can get their products to market more efficiently;
$1.8 million to help the Washington State Meth Initiative fight meth and keep our communities safe; and
$714,400 to create a National Meth Center to help local leaders across the country use the most effective strategies to fight the meth epidemic.
