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House passes better Hanford budget than Trump administration wanted

In this photo taken July 11, 2016, a sign warns of radioactive material stored underground on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Wash. Washington River Protection Solutions, the Hanford tank farm contractor, is using a new program that monitors workers to stop heat-related disorders from developing before a worker is sickened. (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)
By Annette Cary Tri-City Herald

The U.S. House passed a package of appropriation bills that included a budget for the Hanford nuclear reservation for the next fiscal year before members scattered for a five-week summer recess.

“Reversing the cuts in the president’s budget was the right thing to do to fulfill the federal government’s obligation to clean up Hanford,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash.

Newhouse and other Hanford supporters in the House got $54 million added to the Trump administration’s proposal for Hanford spending in fiscal 2018.

The House version of the Hanford budget would still leave Hanford spending next year about $60 million below current spending of about $2.4 billion.

The Senate’s Hanford budget proposal would add $196 million to the Trump administration’s proposal, largely thanks to the effort of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. The full Senate has yet to consider the spending bill.

The Tri-City Development Council has estimated that the administration’s budget proposal would cost 700 jobs at Hanford and 1,000 jobs at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Newhouse said the spending package approved by the House also would provide “a down payment on congressional support for PNNL to continue its scientific contributions in service of the nation.”