***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE***

Darrington, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, met with Darrington Mayor Dan Rankin and members of the Darrington Collaborative to tour several timber sales and thinning facilities. The Darrington Collaborative is a partnership between disparate stakeholders including major conservation organizations, local STEM education programs, the local timber industry and the Darrington community with the goal of increasing environmentally sustainable timber harvesting in the Darrington region, creating jobs and improving and restoring forest and watershed health.

Established in 2015, the Darrington Collaborative is the result of leaders from diverse sectors of the timber industry, conservation, and government working together to achieve shared goals for forest and community health. Senator Murray helped convene this collaborative process following the Oso landslide.

“It was great to meet some members of the Darrington Collaborative in the beautiful Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and hear about their work to create a more resilient forest,” said Senator Murray. “The Collaborative has been instrumental in protecting our forests, securing jobs, and even launching local STEM education programs. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for the greatest possible investments to protect our forests and public lands.”

Senator Murray has long been an advocate for protecting Washington’s public lands and natural resources. As Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Murray secured critical investments in the U.S. Forest Service, wildfire mitigation and prevention measures, and more in last year’s budget package. It included over $4 billion for wildfire preparedness and response, over $6 billion for the U.S. Forest Service, and millions in congressionally mandated spending for conservation projects in Washington state.

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***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE***

Darrington, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, met with Darrington Mayor Dan Rankin and members of the Darrington Collaborative to tour several timber sales and thinning facilities. The Darrington Collaborative is a partnership between disparate stakeholders including major conservation organizations, local STEM education programs, the local timber industry and the Darrington community with the goal of increasing environmentally sustainable timber harvesting in the Darrington region, creating jobs and improving and restoring forest and watershed health.

Established in 2015, the Darrington Collaborative is the result of leaders from diverse sectors of the timber industry, conservation, and government working together to achieve shared goals for forest and community health. Senator Murray helped convene this collaborative process following the Oso landslide.

“It was great to meet some members of the Darrington Collaborative in the beautiful Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and hear about their work to create a more resilient forest,” said Senator Murray. “The Collaborative has been instrumental in protecting our forests, securing jobs, and even launching local STEM education programs. As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight for the greatest possible investments to protect our forests and public lands.”

Senator Murray has long been an advocate for protecting Washington’s public lands and natural resources. As Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Murray secured critical investments in the U.S. Forest Service, wildfire mitigation and prevention measures, and more in last year’s budget package. It included over $4 billion for wildfire preparedness and response, over $6 billion for the U.S. Forest Service, and millions in congressionally mandated spending for conservation projects in Washington state.

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