Photo credit: Elaine Thompson, AP

“Puget Sound lost a champion when Congressman Norm Dicks retired last year. Two freshman U.S. Representatives have formed a special caucus to fill the void.

At the Center for Urban Waters in Tacoma, Congressmen Derek Kilmer and Denny Heck [August 20] have the attention of several dozen experts whove been working on restoring health to Puget Sound. After two hours of speeches about accomplishments and challenges, Heck has a basic question.

‘If we do nothingif we do nothing new, nothing different than what we’re doing now, what’s the Puget sound going to look like in…50 years?’ Heck asked the room. ‘Whats going to happen out here?’

He wants to take the answer back to the other Washington to build a case for more funding to fuel the work of the Puget Sound Partnership, the umbrella organization setting priorities for the Sounds cleanup.”

“Heck and his co-chair on the new caucus are doing their best to keep those funds flowinga job theyve inherited from Dicks, who left congress last year.”

“The new caucus has given hope to many people who’ve worked on the issue for years. David Troutt of the Nisqually Tribe, who chairs the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council, says the Sound needs advocates in Washington, D.C.,” quoting Bellamy Pailthorp for NPR’s Tacoma affiliate, KPLU.
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