WASHINGTON, D.C.—With passage of the $467.5 billion spending package on Friday, March 8 that avoids a shutdown by funding portions of the federal government until September 30, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), along with Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Rick Larsen (WA-02), secured $19 million for the construction of 88 family-style homes for service members and their families stationed at Naval Station Everett. The housing will be constructed on existing military property at Smokey Point in Snohomish County.
The bipartisan six-bill funding package was passed by the House (339-85) on Wednesday, March 6, and by the Senate (75-22) on Friday and is expected to be signed by President Joe Biden over the weekend.
Naval Station Everett currently has a shortfall of over 150 military family housing units, which will balloon to more than 500 units by 2026 as the Navy homeports 12 new frigates in the region over the next decade. The new housing will be available to active-duty service members and the total rent and utilities will not exceed their Basic Allowance for Housing.
In March of 2023, DelBene, Larsen, and Congresswomen Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Kim Schrier, MD (WA-08) requested funding to the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the construction of the 88 family-style homes at Smokey Point for service members and their families stationed at Naval Station Everett.
“Our most important military asset isn’t our weapons or equipment—it is the brave men and women who sacrifice greatly to keep our country safe,” said Murray. That’s why, as I wrote and negotiated this bill, I worked hard to ensure that federal investments in military construction also meant investments in the infrastructure that really matters to our service members and their families—things like housing and child care centers. I’m proud to have included this funding transfer to enable the construction of badly needed military housing at Smokey Point. I will always work to ensure the priorities of Washington state communities like Everett are the federal government’s priorities.”
“Thanks to the bipartisan spending package, the Navy has the funding it needs to build 88 new affordable housing units at Smokey Point. This is great news for service members and military families homeported in Everett who will be able to live closer to where they work and go to school while having better access to resources at the Fleet and Family Support Center,” said Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02). “There is not enough affordable housing in Northwest Washington. I will continue to work with Congresswoman DelBene, my constituents, and local leaders and stakeholders to address region-wide barriers to affordable housing and support local solutions.”
“The Pacific Northwest has a rich history of hosting American service members from around our country. At the same time, our region is facing increasing rents and a limited supply of affordable housing. With the incoming Constellation-class frigates soon to be ported at Naval Station Everett, we must ensure we have the housing to accommodate this influx of sailors and their families,” said DelBene. “This funding to build housing at Smokey Point will help better support military families as they relocate to Washington and relieve housing cost pressures for the larger community. I want to especially thank the leadership at Naval Station Everett, Senator Murray, and the rest of the congressional delegation for their partnership to get this done.”
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
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