Senator Murray Visits Downtown Vancouver, Highlights Importance of Federal Investment Amid Local Concerns Over Trump Funding Freezes, Tariff Chaos

ICYMI: In Vancouver, Senator Murray Meets with Local Businesses, ILWU, Port Commissioner to Discuss How Trump's Chaotic Trade War is Hurting Washington State

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Vancouver, WA- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured businesses in downtown Vancouver, as part of the Main Street Promise project, to see how federal investment has supported their growth and how Trump's chaotic trade war and federal funding freezes are harming the local economy. Senator Murray was joined for the tour by Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle; Michael Walker, Executive Director of the Vancouver Downtown Association; Chris Harder, Deputy Economic Development Director for the City of Vancouver; Julie Arenz, Small Business Connector and Advocate for the City of Vancouver; Ryan Hart, Chair of Visit Vancouver and Chief External Affairs Officer for the Port of Vancouver; Kelsey Jennings, Owner of Ronald Records in downtown Vancouver; and Crystal Lary, Owner of Eryngium Papeterie in downtown Vancouver.

During the visit, Senator Murray heard from business owners and leaders at the City of Vancouver about how federal investment in Vancouver has helped lay the groundwork for thriving small businesses and spurred other construction and renovation projects in the downtown core. The City of Vancouver has been working on a 20-year revitalization effort that Senator Murray helped kickstart by securing initial federal funding for the Waterfront Redevelopment Project in 2009. The Main Street Promise Project is one of the last phases of the revitalization effort and was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act Senator Murray played a leading role in crafting as then-Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The major reconstruction project on Main Street broke ground in December 2024-with original planning work done in 1993 with the goal of improving the heart of Vancouver. The Main Street Promise Project will reconstruct Main Street to provide a safe, accessible, and connected transportation system to support existing small businesses along Main Street and attract more visitors to Downtown Vancouver.

Senator Murray also heard from small business owners and local leaders about how the Trump administration's illegal withholding of federal funding owed to communities across the country and his reckless trade war is leading to serious uncertainty for businesses, consumers, and communities across Southwest Washington. Trump is currently taxing goods from every country-including close allies like Canada-at a minimum 10 percent tariff rate across-the-board, and he has significantly escalated his trade war with China, with 145 percent tariffs on Chinese goods-meaning higher prices and serious pain for families and small businesses across the country. Even with his 90-day "pause" on reciprocal tariffs, Trump's new tariffs are still the highest tariff rates in decades, and are estimated to cost American families more than $4,000 per year-the largest tax increase since 1968.

"It's wonderful to see how the federal investment I've fought to bring to Southwest Washington over the years has helped downtown Vancouver thrive-with so many great small businesses and new infrastructure and renovation projects that are making the heart of Vancouver a destination for shopping, eating, nightlife, and more," said Senator Murray. "Trump is putting all the progress our communities have made at risk by illegally canceling and holding up federal funding our communities are owed, and he is putting businesses in constant turmoil with his pointless and destructive trade war. I will continue to sound the alarm on the consequences Trump's illegal funding freezes and his ham-fisted trade war will have for American families, and I will always lift up the voices and concerns of people in Washington state."

"The transformation of Vancouver's downtown into a regional and national destination is years in the making," said Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. "The current reconstruction of Main Street into a pedestrian-centered and vibrant commercial corridor represents downtown Vancouver's most recent evolution. Over the past 20+ years, Senator Murray has been one of Vancouver's biggest champions, helping to steer critical federal funds, such as American Rescue Plan Act dollars, to our community to help fund placemaking and infrastructure investments. The City of Vancouver would like to thank Senator Murray for her leadership and we are grateful for her willingness to partner on important local projects like Main Street Promise."

"The Main Street Promise is a realization of a vision that's been decades in the making. This is the third time our community has tried to bring this project to life, and now-thanks to Senator Patty Murray and the American Rescue Plan-we finally have what we need to get it done," said Michael Walker, Executive Director of Vancouver's Downtown Association. "This is the largest investment in Main Street in 116 years, and it's going to reshape the heart of our downtown into a safer, more connected, and more accessible place for everyone. This project is about building a strong foundation for the future of our downtown-leaving something great for the next generation and beyond. Senator Patty Murray's steadfast advocacy on behalf of Vancouver has helped us achieve real outcomes in the heart of our community-improving quality of life, supporting local businesses, and strengthening our downtown economy for the long term."

"In addition, thanks to the unique opportunity provided by ARPA dollars, we're able to go beyond traditional infrastructure work," Walker continued. "We have staff on the ground every day and thoughtful mitigation efforts in place-like block-by-block construction-to help minimize disruption. Businesses are staying open, sidewalks remain accessible, and we've built a strong network of peer support to help keep our business community resilient and thriving throughout the process. For a project of this scale, we're doing everything we can to make sure it's as smooth and supportive as possible.

Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs tied to international commerce. Washington state is the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries-all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada. Additionally, more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will be unlikely to be able to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs. Canada is Washington's largest trading partner, accounting for nearly $20 billion in imports and $10 billion in exports. China is the world's second-largest economy and Washington state exported over $12 billion in goods to China last year-making China Washington state's top export partner-and imported $11.2 billion in goods, the most in imports from any country aside from Canada. Trump's tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state-for example, India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples, causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.

Senator Murray has been a vocal opponent of Trump's chaotic trade war and has been lifting up the voices of people in Washington state harmed by this administration's approach to trade and calling on Republicans to end Trump's trade war-which Congress has the power to do-and take back Congress' Constitutionally-granted power to impose tariffs. Earlier this month, Senator Murray brought together leaders across Washington state who highlighted how Trump's ongoing trade war is already a devastating hit to Washington state's economy, businesses, and our agriculture sector. Senator Murray also took to the Senate floor to lay out how Trump's chaotic trade war is seriously threatening our economy, American businesses, families' retirement savings, and so much else. Earlier this week, Senator Murray joined her colleagues in pressing U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on how the Trump administration's tariffs are affecting farmers across the country.

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