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Puget Sound advocates press Congress for restoration funds as federal delays stall grants
Summary
At Puget Sound Day on the Hill, lawmakers and regional leaders urged Congress to protect and increase funding for salmon recovery and estuary programs and flagged continuing delays in grant releases tied to OMB and agency reviews.
Participants at Puget Sound Day on the Hill pressed members of Congress on stalled federal grant releases and urged larger, sustained investments in habitat restoration and salmon recovery.
Organizers, tribal leaders and lawmakers gathered in Washington, D.C., said delays in agency reviews and a 30-day allocation hold have stalled release of grant awards from programs tied to Puget Sound recovery. "There are a lot of reviews going on with that respect," Mindy Roberts, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, told the room, adding organizers were offering help to speed processes where possible.
Why it matters: The group is pushing to restore and expand programs that fund on-the-ground restoration work, including the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) and the Puget Sound geographic program. Rep. Rick Larsen said the delegation has sought $100 million for PCSRF this cycle and urged persistent local engagement to keep those dollars on track. "If you don't, no one else will," Larsen said, urging stakeholders to continue briefing members of Congress about local priorities.
Lawmakers said they are fighting in committee and appropriations to preserve funding. Rep. Pramila Jayapal noted targeted cuts to EPA geographic programs and said Congress must defend NOAA and EPA resources: "It has affected critical grant programs and research," she said, arguing that withheld or reduced funding threatens recovery work and federal–tribal partnerships.
Several speakers described how federal policy changes and administrative review layers are slowing projects. Roberts told participants that OMB and agency-level political-appointee reviews included another round of checks on NOFOs and award administration, complicating timely grant execution. Organizers said an earlier 30-day allocation restriction had prevented some grants from being released but that OMB staff indicated a fix was imminent so remaining funds could move out.
Local leaders sought practical help to translate federal priorities into local projects. Seattle Commissioner Craig Feldman said the region can supply economic data to strengthen congressional cases for shipbuilding, ferry electrification and port modernization investments. "We have a lot of that economic data we'd love to provide you with to give you the amplitude and emission to make a good case," he said.
What’s next: Organizers asked participants to keep legislators informed of specific projects and barriers so congressional offices can press agencies to expedite awards. Mindy Roberts and delegation members requested follow-up on pending NOFOs and continued outreach for the Northwest Straits reauthorization, a bill participants said had advanced out of committee this week and could move in the Senate.
No formal votes or policy changes were taken during the event; lawmakers and advocates said further work will continue through appropriations and authorization paths.
