“Hanford workers and the people of the Tri-Cities sacrificed to help America win World War II and the Cold War, and I have worked hard in the U.S. Senate to ensure that the federal government meets its moral and legal obligation to clean up Hanford as well as similar sites throughout the country. As a senior member of the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, I have led efforts to increase resources for Hanford cleanup and to ensure that it is being done safely. And I will continue to use my position on those committees to fight to ensure work stays on track.”
My Priorities
- Supporting worker security and safety.
- Fighting for funding to sustain Hanford cleanup.
- Ensuring cleanup is efficient and timely.
- Protecting residents and the adjacent natural resources – including the Columbia River – from contamination and environmental degradation.
- Encouraging continued cooperation between the state of Washington, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
My Accomplishments
- Increased total Department of Energy Environmental Management Program funding to allow cleanup to continue at Hanford and at nuclear weapons sites across the country.
- Supported efforts to designate the B Reactor as a National Historic Landmark so we can remember the role Hanford and the Tri-Cities played in American history.
- Introduced legislation to designate the B Reactor as part of a Manhattan Project National Historic Park
- Encouraged the federal government to adequately compensate Hanford workers and their families for on-the-job illnesses.