May 20, 2019

Representatives Derek Kilmer and Denny Heck, Co-Chairs of Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, Secure Funding Increases for Critical Puget Sound Recovery Programs

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Representative Denny Heck (WA-10) announced proposed funding increases for Puget Sound recovery in the recently released fiscal year (FY) 2020 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered by the House Appropriations Committee this week.

“Puget Sound is an iconic body of water that is critical to the environmental and economic future of Washington state,” said Rep. Kilmer. “Securing additional funding to restore the Sound is a big deal if we’re going to recover our salmon populations, if we’re going to ensure future generations can dig for clams, and if we’re going to respect tribal treaty rights. As co-chair of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus and a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I’ll keep fighting to ensure that the federal government steps up and makes investments in the continued restoration and clean-up of this vital body of water.” 

“It’s time to pony up if we’re going to save Puget Sound,” said Rep. Heck. “This funding is a positive and necessary step toward restoring and revitalizing our sound, but there’s more work to be done. I’m proud to join with the tribal, state, and local governments tackling these issues and helping to support their efforts. The Puget Sound Recovery Caucus will continue to advocate for the federal investments needed to ensure that our sound not only recovers, but thrives.”

The FY 2020 Interior Appropriations Bill includes a $3 million increase in the Puget Sound Geographic Program, which provides grants to state, local, and tribal governments to implement projects that protect jobs and local economies by improving water quality, enhancing fish passage, increasing salmon habitat, and protecting shorelines. The total funding level of $31 million included in the FY 2020 bill is more than a ten percent funding increase from past years and is a larger proportional increase than the Great Lakes Restorative Initiative (2%) and the Chesapeake Bay Program (6%).

Additionally, each of the 28 National Estuary Programs (NEPs) received a $100,000 increase over the FY 2019 enacted level, as well as a $3 million increase for competitive grants. The Puget Sound National Estuary Program is an Environmental Protection Agency place-based program to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries of national significance, including Puget Sound, the nation’s second largest estuary.

The FY 2020 Interior appropriations legislation includes $37.28 billion, an increase of $1.73 billion over the 2019 enacted level, and includes funding for programs within the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other related agencies, including the Indian Health Service.

Congressmen Kilmer and Heck co-founded the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus in 2013 as part of their ongoing commitment to preserving the Puget Sound. The three priorities of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus are to prevent pollution from urban storm water runoff, protect and restore habitat, and restore and re-open shellfish beds.