On Senate Floor, Senator Murray Urges Trump Administration to Support Expedited Emergency Declaration for Spokane Wildfires

ICYMI : Senator Murray Leads Entire WA Delegation in Requesting Expedited Emergency Declaration for Devastating Wildfires in Spokane *** WATCH : Senator Murray’s remarks*** Washington, D.C. – Today, following remarks urging passage of the bipartisan short-term funding bill introduced yesterday, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, briefly spoke on the senate floor about the devastating wildfires sweeping through the Spokane region in Washington state, and urged Trump to approve the Expedited Emergency Declaration for Central and Eastern Washington state. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “Finally, I cannot come to the Senate floor without acknowledging the heartbreaking devastation we are seeing in Spokane and across Eastern Washington. “My heart is with everyone who is affected by these horrific fires, and please know I will keep doing all I can to ensure the federal government steps up. “This short-term funding bill importantly includes flexibilities for the Disaster Relief Fund, so it can serve our communities in need during the CR. “I am glad that FEMA has so far approved the F-MAG requests our local officials have made as they are fighting these wildfires. And last night, our Governor made a formal request to the President for an expedited emergency declaration. “I am leading our entire congressional delegation—Democrats and Republicans—in urging the President to approve that request immediately. “And I do want to say how grateful I am to the fire crews and first responders who are working around the clock to save lives and property. And how inspired I am by the way the Spokane community has come together to support those who have lost their homes or are under evacuation orders. “I will have far more to say on this crisis, but let me close with this: as the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and a voice for Spokane here in the United States Senate, I will do everything in my power to make certain Eastern Washington gets every cent they need to fight these fires, and to rebuild and recover over the long-term.” ###