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Rep. Jayapal Introduces Resolution Marking 100 Years of Ballard Locks

SEATTLE – Today, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal announced the introduction of a resolution marking the 100th anniversary of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks —commonly known as the Ballard Locks—in Ballard, Washington, a neighborhood within Jayapal’s 7th Congressional District.

“The Ballard Locks are the most heavily used locks in the entire United States, with more than 40,000 transits and over one million tons of freight moving through each year,” said Rep. Jayapal. “People visiting the Locks generate $40 million in spending impacts and the Locks generate approximately $545 million in revenue for fisheries from Oregon to the North Pacific.”

H. Res. 471, Jayapal’s resolution, celebrates the centennial of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, honors the 100 years of service to the Locks by the Army Corps of Engineers, and marks Locks infrastructure funding and resource preservation as national priorities. The resolution recognizes ways in which the Locks have grown our national maritime economy and, at the same time, acknowledges how its construction harmed the traditions and livelihoods of Native communities.

“At the same time that we celebrate the economic boon to our region, we must also acknowledge what was taken from and lost by the Native communities whose livelihoods, cultures and practices suffered as a result of its construction,” continued Jayapal.

The resolution commends the Army Corps of Engineers for their century of stewardship to maintaining this infrastructure. It also highlights the need for federal investment in modernizing the Locks and continuing community education on natural resource preservation and the history of the Locks.

“I am proud to recognize the Locks’ significance in our community and bring national recognition to this important centennial,” Jayapal added.

H. Res. 471 is co-sponsored by Washington Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Denny Heck (WA-10) and Derek Kilmer (WA-06).

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