Puget Soundkeeper and our partners are poised to take action to advance several bills that remain a top priority for legislators, despite the narrow focus of the 2021 legislative session. In September, state officials projected that Washington will experience a $4 billion budget shortfall for the next three years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s economic inactivity this year. Natural resource agencies could experience significant budget cuts as a result. Soundkeeper will be working to ensure that water quality in the Sound continues to be protected and not sacrificed due to outside budgetary considerations.
In 2021, Soundkeeper will continue to advance our plastics agenda and advocate for environmental justice. We are also poised to watchdog and defend essential funding to protect clean water. As part of this platform, we strongly support funding for municipalities to implement new Clean Water Act requirements for municipal sewage treatment plants, funding for increased water quality cleanups, and funding for salmon recovery.
Review our 2021 legislative policy priorities HERE.
Join us in safeguarding clean water in Washington this legislative session. Together, we protect and preserve Puget Sound and the communities and ecosystems that depend on healthy and clean water.