Washington state will receive over $63 million from the Federal Highway Administration to reimburse money the state spent to repair roads after several incidents of flooding over the past three years, including the December 2007 floods.

Sen. Patty Murray, who chairs the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, worked in conjunction with the state to acquire this reimbursement from highway administration after the Bush Administration did not request any funding to help repair the federal highways in Washington state that had been damaged. Funding was also secured to reimburse the state for repairs to the Alaskan Way Viaduct stemming from the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

"With our state's budget tightening, we can't afford to be forced to foot the bill for repairing federal roads and highways that have been damaged by natural disaster," said Murray. "That's why it has been so important to work to secure these funds after the Bush Administration left our state to fend for itself. I'm proud to have worked in partnership with Governor Gregoire to secure these funds and will continue to work with her to help our residents and infrastructure recover without burdening the state budget."