Statement from Inslee on Proposed Increased Funding for Hanford

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Governor Jay Inslee released a statement Wednesday in response to the White House’s amended funding proposal for the cleanup of radioactive waste at the Hanford nuclear site. The administration reversed course on a proposed $172 million funding cut and is now proposing increased spending on the cleanup site by more than $18 million over the next fiscal year.

The governor wrote the administration a warning about the impacts of potential budget cuts in May and visited Hanford last week to ask for more funding as well.

“I am deeply grateful to President Biden for today’s announcement that his administration will request an additional $191 million for the Hanford cleanup in fiscal year 2023. In taking this action, the President signaled the end of cycle of presidential administrations reducing Hanford’s funding and placing the burden on Congress and Washington State. The President’s announcement is a significant victory for Washington State.

“Last week when I visited Hanford I saw the opportunity for great progress at the Hanford site – because I also saw that we have a huge amount of work to do. I am encouraged by the commitment I’ve seen in the Tri-Cities to work together to get this cleanup on track, including through significant additional funding from the federal government Today shows that the voices of these communities are being heard at Washington, D.C.

“I hope today’s announcement represents the start of a sustained commitment to adequately fund the cleanup of Hanford in the years to come. We continue to believe that the President’s budget request for the Fiscal 2024 should bring us much, much closer to a number consistent with the terms of our legal agreements with the federal government. I look forward to working with President and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to build on the progress of ‘today.

“I want to thank the entire Washington State Congressional delegation for their advocacy for the Hanford cleanup, especially Senator Patty Murray for her indispensable leadership in the Senate to help achieve this outcome.

“I am also so grateful to the incredible workforce at Hanford for the progress they have made and to the voices from across the state and the Tri-Cities community who share the commitment to safe cleaning. , effective and efficient of the Hanford site. . I am also grateful for the partnership with the US Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency to make this possible.”

“Let’s get to work.”