Gluesenkamp Perez Delivers More Than $10.5 Million for Critical Local Projects Across Southwest Washington
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), announced that she secured more than $10.5 million for eight local projects in communities across Southwest Washington through the Community Project Funding (CPF) program. She has now brought home more than $16.8 million in CPF funding during the FY2026 appropriations process.
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez requested this funding and it was included in the 2026 funding bills that were recently signed into law. The remaining CPF request that Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez submitted will be under consideration as Congress continues to deliberate funding for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026.
“Everywhere I go in Southwest Washington, I see hardworking folks doing everything they can to make their communities stronger. It’s my job in Congress to support their work,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “Things like dredging our ports, keeping our water clean or dealing with invasive sea lions may not be the flashiest priorities in the world, but they’re important to our neighbors. I’ll keep working with whoever I need to make sure that our federal government focuses on nuts and bolts issues like these.”
Below are the eight CPF awards secured by Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez, broken out by bill and then listed by county alphabetically:
Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies
Districtwide: $1,031,000 for Columbia River Sea Lion Management
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez speaks with fishermen about growing sea lion populations on the Columbia River.
The funds will be used for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s permitted program to remove sea lions consuming salmon and steelhead on the lower Columbia River and its tributaries.
“The Columbia River chapter of NW Steelheaders and all SW WA salmon and steelhead anglers thank Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez for her help in securing this funding for the pinniped issue on the Columbia River. It’s finally time to get something done and this funding is going to allow it to happen,” said Keith Hyde, Government Affairs Director of the Columbia River chapter of NW Steelheaders.
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez recently joined a House Committee on Natural Resources hearing to discuss more efficient sea lion removal strategies. She has also called on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to continue pinniped predation mitigation efforts on the Columbia River and examine best practices for sea lion removal, including direct, lethal removal and secured language in the FY26 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill (see page 26) in pursuit of that same goal.
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Clark County: $1,092,000 for City of Vancouver Wastewater Aeration Blower Upgrades
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez visits the City of Vancouver’s Marine Park Wastewater Treatment Facility.
The funds will be used for the City of Vancouver to replace the aeration blower for their Industrial Pretreatment Lagoon Facility to improve performance and reliability. The replacement will protect water quality and reduce energy consumption at the facility which treats industrial food process wastewater before it enters the municipal wastewater system.
“This federal investment in Vancouver’s wastewater system will allow us to replace 1970s equipment, improving the system’s treatment performance and resiliency, while decreasing energy consumption and requiring less maintenance. It is a win, win, win – for water quality, the City’s climate goals, and Vancouver’s utility ratepayers,” said Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle.
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.
Clark County: $2,215,000 for Wallace Heights Septic Elimination Project
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez holds a water and wastewater roundtable with public works staff from across Clark County.
The funds will be used for the Clark Regional Wastewater District to construct sewer mains to serve 66 residential properties with failing septic systems, an urgent public health need, in Wallace Heights. Clark County recognizes tributary streams in the vicinity to be in poor health due in part to elevated levels of bacteria and nutrients that are contributing to stream health degradation.
“The District greatly appreciates Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez’s continued support for our mission to protect local waterways and provide reliable, affordable wastewater service to our communities,” said Clark Regional Wastewater District General Manager John Peterson. “The Wallace Heights septic elimination project will bring sewer service to an area with aging and failing septic systems near local streams, parks and schools, while significantly lowering connection costs for homeowners who have sought this project for many years.”
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.
Clark County: $1,092,000 for City of Ridgefield Kennedy Farms Well Project
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez meets with City of Ridgefield leaders.
The funds will be used for the City of Ridgefield to develop two new source wells to increase water resilience, accommodate economic growth, and support a steady supply of water during emergencies. Water demand is projected to exceed supply in 2026 or 2027, and each well is anticipated to provide up to 300 gallons per minute for water distribution.
“The development of Kennedy Wells is an essential water resilience project for Ridgefield. The City has been working for years to activate our water rights through extensive State and Federal processes. With the help of funding secured by Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez, our city will now see this project provide the necessary water capacity needed to support Ridgefield’s community now and into the future,” said Ridgefield Mayor Matt Cole.
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.
Cowlitz County: $1,092,000 for City of Longview Dedicated Fill Line to Water Reservoir Project
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez tours the City of Longview’s Water Treatment Facility.
The funds will be used for the City of Longview to install a dedicated fill line from the Mint Farm Treatment Plant to the Main Reservoir. This would reduce the possibility of overflows and incidences of “cloudy” water, lower operating costs, and support consistent and reliable water treatment.
“Ever since the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, the City of Longview has struggled with its water supply. Our current water treatment plant at the Mint Farm has faced challenges with water quality and maintaining steady pressure. The funding Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez secured helps by stabilizing water pressure and chlorine dosage while reducing energy costs. The Congresswoman’s support helps us provide safe, reliable drinking water to our community members and businesses,” said Jennifer Wills, Longview City Manager. Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Pacific County: $2,700,000 for Port of Chinook Capital Dredging Event
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez meets with crab fishermen and shellfish growers.
The funds will be used for the Port of Chinook to remove 65,000 yards of material from the marina to ensure transit of vessels to and from moorage slips and wharf hoists. Certain slips in the port are unusable at low tides, threatening commercial access, and port tenants have noted a two-year window remains before they must seek another cargo transit port, threatening the local economy and community.
This project will allow the port to protect 100 to 150 jobs and $50 million in annual catch volume and support another 40 to 50 new jobs and $12 million in new product volume.
“These funds for a major dredging event at the Port of Chinook will be the source of a local economic renaissance and will keep our Port competitive for many years,” said Port Commissioner Nicholas Matson.
“On behalf of the Port of Chinook and the entire community, I express our gratitude to Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez for her diligence in shepherding this through the legislative process. The impact of these funds will be long lasting and will reinvigorate commerce and employment opportunities for the Port and the surrounding community,” said Richard Wright, Port Director.
“It takes the right person at the right time to bring things across the finish line. Marie was that person by securing 2.7 million in funds for dredging the Port of Chinook,” said Bryan McHale, Member, Columbia River Crab Fishermen Association. “We also need to thank Senator Cantwell for advocating for the port of Chinook as well.”
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.
Thurston County: $850,000 for Regional Meat Processing Infrastructure
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez speaks at the grand opening of the Agriculture Innovation Park in Tenino.
The funds will be used for the City of Tenino to prep the site of a meat processing facility for producers at the SW WA Agricultural Business and Innovation Park. There is a major gap in processing facilities in western Washington, with 78 local producers waiting up to a year to get a scheduled appointment time or facing significantly increased costs of shipping their animals long distances to eastern Washington or Oregon. The regional meat processing facility will provide much-needed animal harvest, cut and wrap, and cold storage services for small and medium-sized businesses located in the 14 counties surrounding Thurston County – resulting in a much shorter supply chain for local meat production.
“The lack of USDA meat processing in Southwest Washington has created significant challenges for livestock producers, and limited their ability to provide locally raised meat to consumers, schools, and hunger relief agencies,” said Jennifer Colvin, Owner of Colvin Ranch. “In order for agriculture to remain viable in our region, we need the infrastructure that helps local producers get food from the field to people’s plates. This USDA meat processing facility in Tenino will expand market access for producers, reduce processing costs, and strengthen local food systems, benefitting both ranchers and the community.”
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.
Last year, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez delivered remarks at the opening of the SW WA Agricultural Business and Innovation Park, after securing $500,000 in FY24 Community Project Funding to continue the buildout of a comprehensive business support ecosystem in support of the region’s small scale agricultural producers.
Wahkiakum County: $500,000 for the Upper Grays River Community Forest
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez tours Grays Bay with the Wahkiakum County Sheriff.
The funds will be used for Wahkiakum County to purchase roughly 500 acres of the Upper Grays River Community Forest. Completing this first acquisition will facilitate local forestland ownership and management that will ensure sustainable economic, environmental, and community benefits.
Dramatic changes in the commercial timber economy have fragmented the forests, prohibited community access, and threatened watershed health, and community members currently have a limited say in how the forests in the Grays River Watershed are logged and maintained.
“Cannot thank the Congresswoman enough for her support for our counties,” said Wahkiakum County Commissioner Dan Cothren (District 2). “This will be the kick start to get our Community Forest off and moving ahead. With that said, from the bottom of my heart this means the future to our counties — Pacific and Wahkiakum.”
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s funding request can be found here, and community letters of support can be found here.
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