Senator Murray Secures $190 Million for Howard Hanson Dam; Local Officials Celebrate Murray’s Successful Effort to Undo Trump’s Corrupt Army Corps Takeover & Restore Lost Funding

ICYMI: PASSED: Murray Secures Over $5 Billion for WA Priorities in Three-Bill Funding Package; Historic Funding for Hanford, $190 Million for Howard Hanson Dam, Rejecting Trump Cuts

In major triumph over Trump, Murray undoes Russ Vought's cancellation of funding for Howard Hanson Dam, singlehandedly steers major federal funding back to HHD

Senator Murray: "My message to Donald Trump: don't mess with our water. Don't mess with our fish."

***VIDEO OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE HERE***

Ravensdale, WA - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a press conference just downstream of the Howard Hanson Dam to celebrate the $190 million she secured this month for a critical water storage and fish passage project at Howard Hanson Dam that will reduce flood risk, address fish passage, and ensure long-term water reliability for over one million people in the region, including in Tacoma and Covington. Senator Murray secured the funding in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2026 she negotiated-the legislation passed through the Senate on Thursday after passing the House, and is expected to soon be signed into law.

Last year, the Trump administration zeroed out funding for the Howard Hanson Dam and stripped Army Corps construction dollars from blue states including Washington, directing these funds to red states instead-an outrageous abuse of power made possible by a Republican slush-fund continuing resolution that handed even more authority to Trump and his Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought. Senator Murray-who fought hard to prevent the Republican bill from passing in the first place-sounded the alarm, calling out the Trump administration's "corrupt BS" and making the case to her Republican colleagues that Congress must work together to prevent this from happening again. This month, Senator Murray secured passage of bipartisan funding bills she negotiated as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee that boost Army Corps funding, prevent Trump from corruptly messing with Army Corps projects like he did last year, and deliver crucial funding for Howard Hanson Dam and other important Army Corps projects across Washington state.

Specifically, Senator Murray secured in the bill $190 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for construction at Howard Hanson Dam, alongside language in the bill that will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to incrementally fund the Howard Hanson Dam project by modifying the existing design and construction contract within 60 days of this bill's enactment. While the project originally needed $500 million to move forward with construction, this language allows the Corps to get the Howard Hanson Dam project back on track with this award. Overall, Senator Murray secured $412.5 million for Army Corps of Engineers projects and $80.955 million for Bureau of Reclamation projects across Washington state in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2026.

"Last week, we passed a funding bill that ended Trump's political games and got funding flowing once again to Howard Hanson Dam. Last week, I secured $190 million for the Howard Hanson Dam, so we can finally begin construction on this critical project to protect our communities from flooding and [ensure] long-term water reliability for over one million people. And now Trump is going to sign a bill in a few days that continues the same construction at the Howard Hanson Dam that he tried to eliminate not even a year ago," Senator Murray said at today's press conference.

In her remarks, Senator Murray touted the project as the most ambitious and important salmon restoration project in Western Washington-a win for Tribes, for our economy, and our environment. Murray also pointed out how the Howard Hanson Dam played a critical role in protecting communities during last month's historic flooding, when record amounts of water were stored behind the dam-preventing an estimated five feet of additional flooding in Auburn and protecting communities in Kent, Renton, and Tukwila, among other places.

"I'm as clear eyed as everyone about the fact we still have work ahead," Murray continued in her remarks. "But we have won a huge rebuke of Trump's effort to cut Howard Hanson, a huge chunk of change to get construction going, and I even secured language that allows us to get started with these funds while we continue to fight for the rest. And I am going to promise you all right now, I will not stop fighting for Howard Hanson Dam until the construction is done. I will fight for this project down to the last penny. And my message to Donald Trump: don't mess with our water. Don't mess with our fish. Just like salmon-I'm never giving up. We're going to muscle upstream, and get this project, and win this fight."

Joining Senator Murray for the press conference today were: Jackie Flowers, Director of Tacoma Public Utilities; Chairman Jaison Elkins, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe; John O'Loughlin, Chair of Tacoma Public Utility Board; and Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen. Following the press conference, Senator Murray and others received a tour of the fish ladder and fish trap and haul onsite at the Tacoma Public Utilities facility just downstream of the Howard Hanson Dam.

"I want to extend a huge amount of gratitude and say thank you to Senator Murray for being a tireless champion of the Howard Hanson Dam Additional Water Storage Project," said Jackie Flowers, Director of Tacoma Public Utilities. "The benefits from this significant investment will be felt in this community for generations."

"The Muckleshoot Tribe appreciates Senator Murray's steadfast support for ensuring that our future generations are able to enjoy robust salmon runs. The funding secured for Howard Hanson Dam is pivotal to achieving this goal," said Muckleshoot Chairman Jaison Elkins.

"The senator's efforts in Washington DC over many years have made it possible for the TPU team here at the Headworks and in Tacoma to deliver water reliably to our communities. Completing the Additional Water Storage Project is key to our region's economic vitality," said John O'Laughlin, Chairman of Tacoma Public Utilities. "Thank you, Senator Murray, for your hard work bringing this investment to our community."

"The Additional Water Storage Project highlights the importance of partnerships and perseverance," said City of Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen. "Having a senator and leader in Washington, DC like Senator Murray is incredibly important for local governments to make these critical projects become reality. Receiving this funding is a testament to her hard work and commitment to Washington State."

Supporting the Howard Hanson Dam has been a longtime priority for Senator Murray, and she has pressed the Army Corps to prioritize funding for the Dam for years. Under the last administration, Senator Murray was able to secure critical funding boosts for Howard Hanson Dam, including $220 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $50 million to begin construction of the Fish Passage facility in the funding bills for Fiscal Year 2024 that Murray wrote as then-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. Back in 2010, Murray secured $44 million in badly needed emergency funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the Howard Hanson Dam.

In the draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill, Senator Murray secured $500 million for the water storage project, an amount that also included in the House's draft fiscal year 2025 appropriations bill. But instead of working with Democrats to pass full-year fiscal year 2025 appropriations bills, Republicans in Congress put forth a yearlong continuing resolution (CR) early last year that failed to include hundreds of specific directives on how funding must be spent-allowing the Trump administration to unilaterally defund Army Corps construction projects in blue states like Washington, which they proceeded to do. For months, Senator Murray had warned of the dangers of passing Republicans' slush fund CR, noting, for example, that it would allow the administration to zero out funding for Army Corps projects.

Senator Murray's full remarks at today's press conference are below:

"Thank you, all for being here and joining us, it's good to be here with so many longtime partners in the fight for Howard Hanson Dam, the Muckleshoot Tribe, the city of Tacoma, and Tacoma Public Utilities are all represented here along with many other people.

"I want to thank all of you for being here with today-and being here every step of the way for the push for Howard Hanson. And of course it is always good to be with you when there is good news-and the good news is that we have $190 million in federal dollars coming, to get construction underway!

"You know, for over six decades Howard Hanson Dam has been critical to ensuring our communities have safe drinking water and protecting them from flooding, and it will be another six decades so long as I have anything to say about this!

"I have had to go to bat for this dam-I almost said damn dam!-time and time and time again, when it comes to infrastructure like this, it's not always an easy fight, but we never give up.

"People over in D.C. who don't know where the city of Kent is or can't find Pierce or King County on a map to them, infrastructure like this might feel like something they can just write off. But you better believe: no Trump appointee is going to ever write off what's important to Washington state while I hold the pen on government funding bills.

"I still remember when I was convincing the Senate to pass $44 million in emergency money to repair the dam, just like today we brought a lot of people together, we ignored the voices that said: 'I don't think it can be done.' And you know what? We got it done.

"But there's more work ahead to make sure this dam can continue to work for our Tribes, our families, and yes-even our salmon. Because here in Washington state-salmon are not just fish-they are a crucial part of our economy, our Tribes' way of life-treaty rights, and of our identity!

"This funding would reopen over 100 miles of critical habitat for our salmon-this is the most ambitious and important salmon restoration project in Western Washington. It is a win for our Tribes, for our economy, and our environment. I'm not about to let Trump step between our Tribes and communities when it comes to saving our salmon.

"And if anyone doubted how crucial Howard Hanson is to keeping our communities safe, we had a very clear demonstration last month. When historic, devastating floods swept across our state, Howard Hanson stood strong. In fact-it stored a record amount of water which helped protect Kent, Auburn, Renton, and Tukwila-to just name a few examples.

"Howard Hanson is there for us-but we have to be there for it-there are crucial updates and upgrades ready to get underway.

"As you all know, I have pounded the pavement to get this project done. And in recent years, we have been making some very serious progress.

"In 2022, I secured $220 million for Howard Hanson Dam in our bipartisan infrastructure law. I remember coming right here afterwards-and celebrating that victory as a watershed moment for the next chapter of the dam. And we kept the momentum going-when I worked during the Biden years to secure a $50 million down payment ahead of construction.

"And this time last year, about right now, we were on track to make the biggest progress yet. After hard negotiations and long talks, we were on track to get this project crucial funding in our bipartisan Senate bill-$500 million dollars to execute a necessary construction contract.

Howard Hanson was even fully funded in the House Appropriations bill drafted by Republicans-every cent! This was an effort years in the making.

"But then-of course-Donald Trump and Russ Vought took a wrecking ball to this project.

"They announced a brazen, partisan plan to blatantly rob blue states and completely politicize federal funding for crucial Army Corps projects. And part of that scheme-was to completely zero out Howard Hanson funding.

"No heads up. No explanation after. Just sheer-partisanship. Truly one of the most blatant acts of political thuggery I have seen from an American President in my time in the Senate.

"Now of course, when I see a problem like that-I don't just get angry, I got to work. You would think Trump would learn by now, but they never do.

"Whenever someone tries to get me to roll over, I roll up my sleeves instead-and that's exactly what I did for this project.

"I wasted no time, I called out Trump's corrupt BS, I called on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and I made it clear to anyone and everyone I was not going to let this stand. No way. It wasn't easy, but when has it ever been?

"When I raised the alarm, some people said I was acting like a 'town crier' in D.C., hopelessly appealing to Republicans to do the right thing.

"Look, as someone who has negotiated more bipartisan deals than just about any member of the Senate, I don't just hope Republicans do the right thing. I get to work and strike a deal to put Washington state first and our values first.

"Now some people will always underestimate me, they always do-they say I am just a mom in tennis shoes, but I have got to tell you I've worn these tennis shoes on the Senate floor for a long time, and I know how to get things done with these tennis shoes on.

"And last week-it happened for this project. Last week, we passed a funding bill that ended Trump's political games and got funding flowing once again to Howard Hanson Dam.

"Last week, I secured $190 million for the Howard Hanson Dam, so we can finally begin construction on this critical project to protect our communities from flooding and [ensure] long-term water reliability for over one million people.

"And now Trump is going to sign a bill in a few days that continues the same construction at the Howard Hanson Dam that he tried to eliminate not even a year ago. Now I'm as clear eyed as everyone about the fact we still have work ahead, we are still short of the full $500 million he robbed us of last year.

"But we have won a huge rebuke of Trump's effort to cut Howard Hanson, a huge chunk of change to get construction going, and I even secured language that allows us to get started with these funds while we continue to fight for the rest.

"And I am going to promise you all right now, I will not stop fighting for Howard Hanson Dam until the construction is done. I will fight for this project down to the last penny.

"And my message to Donald Trump: don't mess with our water. Don't mess with our fish. Just like salmon-I'm never giving up. We're going to muscle upstream, and get this project, and win this fight.

"So thank you all so much for joining me today, and more importantly for fighting with me, all of you, throughout this long fight. I'm so grateful to have all of you by my side, I couldn't get it done without you. So thank you to everyone here."

###