Strickland, Kilmer Advance Legislation to Bolster Federal Support for Puget Sound Restoration

Press Release

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Congressman Derek Kilmer (WA-06), the Co-Chairs of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, released the following statement after their bill, the Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound (PUGET SOS) Act of 2021, was marked up, and successfully passed out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today. The PUGET SOS Act would enhance the federal government's role and investment in the Puget Sound, the nation's largest estuary by volume and the heart of Washington state's identity and economic engine.

"The passage of the PUGET SOS Act out of committee today brings us one step closer to ensuring that the Sound receives the national recognition, federal support, and environmental stewardship it deserves. Puget Sound is a treasure to our region, and our bill is an investment in equity for our tribal communities, Washingtonians, and our entire nation. I thank Chairman DeFazio for bringing this bill up for markup today and look forward to continuing to work with Congressman Kilmer to make our bill into law so that we can heal the Sound for future generations," said Strickland.

"Puget Sound is our region's most iconic body of water, a place on which generations of our friends and neighbors have built their lives and made their livelihoods. But if future generations are going to have those opportunities, we've got to take action now to protect and restore the Sound -- and we need a strong federal partner in those efforts," said Kilmer. "That's why I introduced the PUGET SOS Act with Rep. Strickland - to ensure the federal government steps-up to be the partner that state, tribal, and local entities need to save our Sound -- and to assist regional efforts to restore salmon and orca populations, ensure future generations can dig for clams, and uphold tribal treaty rights. I'm proud to see this bill pass out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today -- and I'll keep pushing to see it become law!"

The PUGET SOS Act helps build a stronger partner in the federal government for critical Puget Sound recovery and restoration efforts in three main ways:

First, the bill establishes a Puget Sound Recovery National Program Office in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to coordinate protection and restoration efforts related to Puget Sound.
Second, it codifies the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force, which was first created through a 2016 Memorandum of Understanding by executive action. The Task Force consists of representatives from various agencies that have a role in Puget Sound recovery.
Third, the bill authorizes $50 million for five years to carry out the provisions above.

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