Murray secured $125 million through the appropriations process over many years to make this project a reality
Senator Murray: “Because of WSU’s work, we aren’t just a leader in agricultural production, we are a leader in ag research as well. Over many years—and countless breakthroughs—WSU has earned a reputation for excellence in the field of ag research and built a very special relationship with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.”
Agriculture Appropriations bill Senator Murray wrote and passed through Appropriations Committee as Chair provides $48.6 million boost in funding for Agricultural Research Service
ICYMI: Senator Murray Secures Millions for WA Agriculture Priorities in Draft Appropriations Bill – MORE HERE
***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL OF THE EVENT HERE***
Pullman, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a Washington State University (WSU) alum, attended the groundbreaking for a brand-new Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Plant Sciences Building on WSU’s campus—Senator Murray led the fight to secure $125 million in federal funding for the building through the appropriations process over many years.
Once completed, the new building will provide cutting-edge facilities for four ARS research units and in-house researchers focused on improving the health, sustainability, and profitability of dryland and irrigated agriculture in the Pacific Northwest—helping scientists address critical challenges facing national and global agriculture. ARS is the chief in-house scientific agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and ARS research significantly advances U.S. production of food, feed, fiber, and biobased fuels. Senator Murray was joined at the groundbreaking by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and other local officials and elected leaders.
“As a proud coug alum, it is so good to be back at WSU, and especially to celebrate a groundbreaking that has been such a long time coming. In Congress—just like in farming and research—good things often take patience and persistence,” said Senator Murray. “As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have been pushing to get the federal funding we need for this project for more than a decade, so I was thrilled to announce a few years ago that I secured that funding.”
“From economic crises to budget fights to pandemics, it’s been a long road to this groundbreaking—with plenty of hurdles and surprises along the way. I’ve never stopped fighting for this—because I know how important this project is for Washington State University, how important the research that happens here is for farmers across the state, and how important the crops we grow in Washington are for families across the country—and the world,” Murray continued. “And because of WSU’s work, we aren’t just a leader in agricultural production, we are a leader in ag research as well. Over many years—and countless breakthroughs—WSU has earned a reputation for excellence in the field of ag research and built a very special relationship with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. WSU has, deservedly, become one of the most trusted partners for ARS—and the WSU-ARS partnership has been incredibly fruitful.”
“Robust and innovative agricultural research is a requisite to confronting many of the challenges we are facing, from feeding a growing world population and improving farming practices, to tackling the effects of a changing climate,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I am honored to stand alongside Senator Murray as we celebrate this collaboration between USDA and Washington State University. Today’s groundbreaking opens a new era in a long research partnership and pushes the boundaries of what is possible for agriculture through a commitment to ensuring our farmers are equipped with world-class research that leads to real-world, practical solutions. ”
As a senior appropriator and—now—Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray led the effort in Congress to secure $125 million in federal funding for the ARS building over multiple fiscal years. After pushing for the project for many years, Murray secured $105 million in the Fiscal Year 2019 funding bill for ARS to construct the new facility. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, supply chain issues and inflation delayed the project and increased the estimated cost of the building. In last year’s funding bill, Murray secured an additional $20 million for the project, allowing WSU and ARS to finally move forward with construction.
Senator Murray has been a longtime advocate for Washington state’s farmers and has always advocated for major investments in cutting-edge agricultural research—like the research conducted at Washington State University, ARS, and all across Washington state. The Senate agriculture appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024 that Senator Murray wrote as Chair of the Appropriations Committee provides $1.792 billion —$48.6 million over last year’s funding level—for the Agricultural Research Service, including more than $8 million in increases to support research that is important to various agricultural stakeholders in Washington state and WSU. In last year’s government funding package, Senator Murray also secured key investments to support Washington state agricultural priorities, including funding for key research initiatives at WSU.
Since its origins in 1931, collaborations between WSU and ARS have exemplified one of the strongest federal-state partnerships in the nation. These collaborations benefit growers, commodity groups, agricultural businesses, and U.S. consumers who rely on this partnership to find solutions to agricultural and environmental problems. When completed, the new Plant Sciences Building will provide cutting-edge facilities for four ARS research units where scientists will investigate wheat health, genetics and quality; grain genetics and physiology; sustainable Pacific Northwest agroecosystems; and plant germplasm introductions and evaluations. Members of the WSU Departments of Plant Pathology, Crop and Soil Sciences, and Horticulture will share space and work closely in the new facility alongside federal researchers on projects that improve crops and sustainable practices and reduce the impacts of weeds, pests, and diseases on agriculture in the Pacific Northwest. More information on the project is HERE.
Senator Murray’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Thank you! As a proud coug alum—it is so good to be back at WSU! And especially to celebrate a groundbreaking that has been such a long time coming.
In Congress—just like in farming and research—good things often take patience and persistence. And that’s exactly what happened here.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have been pushing to get the federal funding we need for this project for more than a decade, so I was thrilled to announce a few years ago that I secured that funding!
But then? COVID hit: we were dealing with major supply chain issues, and costs went up. So, I went right back to work pushing for more funding—which we passed last year.
And I am going to continue doing what it takes in Congress to make sure we see this project through—especially as the new Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
From economic crises to budget fights to pandemics—it’s been a long road to this groundbreaking, with plenty of hurdles and surprises along the way.
But I’ve never stopped fighting for this—because I know how important this project is for Washington State University, how important the research that happens here is for farmers and producers across the state, and how important the crops we grow in Washington are for families across the country—and the world.
Washington state has 35,000 farms, with nearly 15 million acres of farmland, growing over 300 different commodities.
We are talking: apples, pears, peaches, and potatoes, blueberries, cherries, chickpeas, wheat, hops, barley—and so much more!
And what grows in Washington state—goes all over the world! Our farmers sell their produce to Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, South Korea, and so many other countries.
And because of WSU’s work—we aren’t just a leader in agricultural production, we are a leader in ag-research as well. The projects students and researchers take on here are truly impressive: developing quinoa varieties that are helping countries in Africa improve nutrition and food security, or grasses that can make our communities more resilient to drought, and help restore land after fires.
And, forget new iPhones, iPads, and laptops—because WSU researchers announced the most exciting new apple product this year! And it’s one you can actually eat!
Over many years—and countless breakthroughs—WSU has earned a reputation for excellence in the field of ag-research and built a very special relationship with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.
WSU has, deservedly, become one of the most trusted partners for ARS—and the WSU-ARS partnership has been incredibly fruitful. Which is why this new facility has long been a top priority for the Department—as I know Secretary Vilsack will tell you.
And it’s a top priority for farmers and producers across our state too: because they know your work here will be critical to investigating, and solving, some of the pressing challenges they are dealing with—and that we are facing globally.
We need to determine strategies and develop tools to mitigate herbicide resistance, and maintain our high quality wheat in the face of the changing climate.
We need to protect potatoes from pests, and barley from insects, viruses, and fungi that can wipe out crops farmers and communities rely on.
We want to develop berry and grape varieties that allow us to reduce input costs, and produce greater quality and quantity.
And we need to realize the potential of new technology in agriculture, like artificial intelligence—an area where WSU is already leading the way.
In a state where agriculture accounts for more than 150,000 jobs, and billions in economic activity, these are questions of enormous consequence—and my money is on WSU and ARS to answer them.
That’s why I fought so hard, for so long—and worked with so many of the stakeholders here today—to get the funding for this new building.
This new building is going to provide cutting edge facilities for ARS and WSU researchers, with state of the art labs to test soil, evaluate crop quality, investigate genetics, and more
And importantly—it will all connect to the campus’ five-building research and education complex—nurturing the curious minds of students and researchers who will deliver the advances of tomorrow.
There is just so much to be excited about! And there is something very fitting about celebrating it all with a groundbreaking.
Because, just like with farming—what we are doing today is digging up soil, and putting down roots, that are going to grow into something truly special.
Of course, there is still more work we have to do before this particular crop comes in; so, in the Senate, I am going to continue to champion support for WSU’s ag-research leadership and our farmers and producers both through the appropriations process, and—especially this year—in the Farm Bill reauthorization.
Before I was a U.S Senator—before I was even a mom in tennis shoes—I was a coug. This is where I met my husband. It’s where I won my first political fight—so women could wear pants to the dining hall. You might not believe it now, but that was a real fight back then!
And every time I come back, I can’t help but think—not just about my past time here, but about the future ahead of all the students here today—what will they go on to do? What will they discover? What will they create?
I’m sure they will make breakthroughs I can’t even imagine, perhaps in the very building we are breaking ground on today!
So it means a lot to me that I was able to help get this project funded and I can’t wait to come back again when the building is up, and open—and bustling with students, researchers, and ideas. Thank you.
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