Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of the Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound Act, or the PUGET SOS Act, and I thank my good friend and colleague, Representative Strickland, for her partnership on this important legislation.

Madam Speaker, those of us who are lucky to call the better Washington home know that Puget Sound is our most iconic body of water. Generations of our friends and neighbors have built their lives and earned their livelihoods on the Sound.

We know the Puget Sound is critical to the environmental and economic future of our region. And some of our region's most iconic species, including salmon, orca, and Dungeness crab, rely on a healthy Puget Sound.

But despite years of efforts to protect and restore Puget Sound, we still have a lot of work to do to address the significant challenges, including storm water runoff, habitat loss, and harmful algal blooms, that continue to threaten this crown jewel of our region's identity and economy.

That is why I am proud to see the House advance this critical bill, which will finally bring to bear the coordinated Federal resources necessary to save our Sound. If we are going to recover our salmon and orca populations, if we are going to ensure future generations can dig for clams, if we are going to respect and uphold Tribal treaty rights, we need the Federal Government to step up and support the work already being done by the State, Tribes, local communities, and businesses that all depend on a vibrant and healthy Puget Sound.

Madam Speaker, I am proud that this bill represents meaningful progress toward these goals. If future generations, including my two kiddos, are going to have the opportunities to enjoy these treasures and to build their livelihoods in our region, we have to act now to protect and restore the Sound.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical bill.

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