{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"WA\" and year = 2021 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-names-winners-2021-congressional-app-challenge", "Newhouse Names Winners of 2021 Congressional App Challenge", "2021-12-30", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) announced the winners of the 2021 Central Washington Congressional App Challenge, an app competition for middle and high school students. Three 8th graders from the West Valley Innovation Center \u2013 Andrew Modine, Torin Rauch, and Tyler Iverson \u2013 have been named the competition winners. Their winning app, Beating Heart Health, aims to promote teen health and wellness by offering tools to practice and improve mindfulness and healthy sleep habits. Click here to see a preview of the winning app.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Andrew, Torin, and Tyler on their winning app, Beating Heart Health!\u201d said Rep. Newhouse. \u201cEnsuring American students are equipped with the necessary tools to succeed in an increasingly competitive global economy is of paramount importance. Each year, I am impressed by the enthusiasm for STEM exhibited by Central Washington students who make submissions to the App Challenge, and I am confident that our region will continue to cultivate young professionals who will be leaders in the field.\u201d\n\nThe winning app was selected by a panel of expert judges from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The winners will receive a computer science mentorship session with scientists from the laboratory. The winning app will be featured on a video display in the U.S. Capitol building, as well as House.gov and the Congressional App Challenge website.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe CAC was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation and that the U.S. has been falling behind on these fronts. By some estimates, the U.S. may be short by as many as 1 million programmers by 2021. These are high-paying, high-demand jobs. To maintain American competitiveness, it\u2019s crucial that the United States invests in our youth now and helps them acquire these valuable skills. The CAC encourages students to pursue those skills and recognizes them for their efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-signing-fy22-ndaa-law", "Rep. Smith Statement on the Signing of the FY22 NDAA into Law", "2021-12-28", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "December 28, 2021\n\nSEATTLE, WA - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) was signed into law for the 61st consecutive year by President Joe Biden. S. 1605, the bipartisan, bicameral final text of the FY22 NDAA, passed the House by a vote of 363-70 and the Senate by a vote of 88-11.\n\n\"After months of working together on a bipartisan, bicameral basis, this week the President signed the NDAA into law for the 61st consecutive year. It is crucial that Congress passes this bill every year so that the legislative branch can continue to exercise our oversight responsibilities over the Department of Defense. This year's NDAA also makes progress on several important issues. Specifically, the NDAA will improve the lives of our service members and their families, promote the health and future of our planet, and support diverse and equitable communities to meet our nation's biggest challenges.\n\n\"One of the issues that sets this year's NDAA apart from prior defense bills is a package of significant modifications to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which will dramatically change how the U.S. military will handle sexual assault crimes. These reforms empower a new special prosecutor to take control of the charging and prosecution of all sex crimes and any crime related to a sex crime, removing these responsibilities from the normal chain of command. Removing the prosecution of these crimes from the chain of command is a dramatic change that is strongly supported by advocates for survivors of sexual assault. These updates to the UCMJ will create a strong pathway for survivors to achieve justice and for perpetrators to be held accountable - representing the most transformational change to the UCMJ in my 25 years of service on the Armed Services Committee.\n\n\"Passing any legislation is difficult - particularly legislation that wins such broad and bipartisan support - and the hard work required to craft this year's bill, which is now the law, has paid off.\"\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe final text of the FY22 NDAA includes the following.\n\nImproving the Lives of our Service Members and Their Families\n\nThe FY22 NDAA supports the thousands of service members at Washington State's military bases and all the service members and military families across the country.\n\nThe NDAA makes transformational reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) - which are supported by longstanding advocates for survivors of the sexual assault crisis in the military. The reforms will take the prosecution of all sex crimes in the military away from the control of the military commander. Instead, qualified, independent, uniformed attorneys \u2014 ultimately overseen by the civilian Service Secretaries \u2014 will have the sole authority for charging decisions and the responsibility to prosecute those charges. The NDAA also includes solutions to tackle the military's sexual harassment crisis, making the military justice system the first and only jurisdiction in America where sexual harassment is a criminal offense.\n\nBuilding on previous attempts to close the pay gap, the NDAA supports a well-deserved pay raise of nearly 3 percent for our men and women in uniform.\n\nAfter many years of advocacy from nutrition advocates here in Washington State such as Food Lifeline, the bill authorizes a basic needs allowance for qualified service members.\n\nThe bill increases allowable parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers, including foster parents, and expands the in-home childcare pilot program, providing financial assistance for in-home childcare, and supporting military families who have family members with special needs.\n\nThe bill supports our service members by creating a pilot program to provide direct assistance for mental health care and requiring a thorough review of suicide prevention and response programs.\n\nThe bill establishes a three-year pilot program to provide employment support to spouses of members of the U.S. military through a paid fellowship with employers across a variety of industries.\n\nPromoting the Health and Future of our Planet\n\nTo address the existential threat of our time - climate change - the FY22 NDAA builds on ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote green energy, and enhance energy resiliency within the military. Notably, the NDAA pushes the Department of Defense (DOD) to be a leader in clean energy by requiring military instillations like those in Washington State to increase clean energy usage, making our communities healthier, safer, and more resilient.\n\nThe bill requires the DOD to ensure that a portion of its major military installations achieve energy, water, and waste net-zero by 2035 and requires energy and water efficiency targets to be set for DOD data centers - helping to mitigate the Department's impact on the environment. The NDAA also establishes a new initiative within the DOD, working with the Department of Energy, to promote the development of long duration energy storage technologies and help spur their use as a tool to promote clean energy and energy resiliency.\n\nWashington State faces immense challenges with detecting and cleaning up harmful, long-lasting pollutants known as PFAS, a huge financial burden for state and local governments and a threat to public health. The NDAA will ensure that the DOD adequately addresses PFAS contamination in and around military installations by authorizing $517 million above the President's budget request for cleanup of impacted military communities and puts in place important restrictions to help minimize future PFAS contamination at military instillations.\n\nSupporting Diverse and Equitable Communities to Meet our Nation's Biggest Challenges\n\nThe FY22 NDAA invests in America's rich pool of diverse talent to meet our biggest national security challenges by prioritizing diversity and inclusion initiatives across the U.S. military and promoting equity and fairness across America's research and development landscape, which includes top research universities in Washington State.\n\nThe NDAA updates outdated diversity training requirements to ensure ongoing training includes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming to reduce discrimination and bias based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity, among other items.\n\nThe bill makes significant new investments in academic partnerships, and it more than doubles the President's budget request for support for activities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).\n\nTo support minority institutions' efforts to compete more effectively for federal research funding opportunities, the NDAA requires the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to promote defense research at minority institutions.\n\nThe bill also authorizes funding for research and development in areas such as energy, technology, and innovation conducted at leading universities like the University of Washington.\n\nAdditional Wins for Washington's Ninth District\n\nThe NDAA includes Rep. Smith's bill, the Promoting Affordable Housing Near Transit Act. This bill, which is supported by local and national housing organizations, will help facilitate creative ways to develop new, affordable housing units along transit lines. Transit entities like Sound Transit will now be able to transfer unused land to community and housing organizations for the purposes of building affordable, transit-accessible housing for those who need it most. As we invest in the expansion of public transit and work to combat the housing crisis, the Promoting Affordable Housing Near Transit Act gives our communities another tool to increase affordable housing along public transit corridors.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/12/28/media-press-releases-strickland-champions-17-defense-budget-wins-law-military-families-service/", "Strickland Champions 17 Defense Budget Wins into Law for Military Families & Service Members", "2021-12-28", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Olympia, WA\u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after President Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 into law. The Defense Budget includes 17 priorities and provisions Strickland secured to support service members and their families at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) and across our nation to address housing security, hunger, military spouse employment and more.\n\n\u201cInvestments in military personnel and their families are an investment in our nation\u2019s readiness. Every defense budget must demonstrate that we value service members and their families, like those at Joint Base Lewis McChord, who sacrifice so much to keep us safe and secure,\u201d said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. \u201cI am pleased to have secured several provisions in this year\u2019s NDAA to address housing security, hunger, and help all service members and their families thrive. The wins in this agreement will serve as a strong foundation to build on as we continue to address housing in high-cost regions, food insecurity, racial equity, extremism and more. As this budget is signed into law, I\u2019m proud to have worked with Chairman Smith and my colleagues in crafting a defense budget that supports our national security, military survivors of sexual trauma, a much-deserved pay increase for service members, and critical steps forward to address housing and hunger.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks to the leadership of Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration, the NDAA now enters its seventh decade as the bipartisan legislative foundation for U.S. national security priorities and policy. I want to thank Congresswoman Strickland for her tireless work in our Committee to ensure a defense bill which addresses crucial needs of service members and their families, including military hunger, housing security and other priorities, in Washington and across our nation,\u201d said Chairman Adam Smith (WA-9). \u201cThere\u2019s a lot to be proud of in this bill. The FY22 NDAA supports a well-deserved pay raise for our service members, diversity and inclusion initiatives across our military, and the Department of Defense\u2019s role in the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s whole-of-government response to the climate crisis. Ultimately, this year\u2019s NDAA focuses on what makes our country strong: our economy, diversity, innovation, allies and partners, democratic values, and our troops.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud the United States Congress for their hard work in championing a new study and taking this important step in supporting our military spouses,\u201d said Kathy Roth-Douquet, Chief Executive Officer and Board President of Blue Star Families. \u201cOur mission is not only to provide resources and support directly to military families, but to make sure their voices are heard and concrete actions are taken by decision makers. We thank Senators Warnock and Blackburn and Representative Strickland for answering that call.\u201d\n\n17 Strickland wins were included in the bicameral, bipartisan FY22 Defense Budget and signed into law:\n\nHelping Military Families Make Ends Meet: The bill contained compromise language related to the Military Hunger and Prevention Act which Congresswoman Strickland co-led. The compromise language authorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay a basic needs allowance to a qualified service member, and take into account those who are in high-cost areas. The DoD is required to conduct a study on food insecurity in the Armed Forces. This is a step towards tackling food insecurity among service members and military families, but this is only a first step.\n\nSupporting an Equitable Housing Allowance For Military Families: Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S. based allowance intended to provide uniformed Service members equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets. Strickland\u2019s amendment would commission a study that would determine whether BAH is currently sufficient to support the average family size for service members disaggregated by Armed Force, rank, and military housing area.\n\nSupporting off-base housing solutions by examining the Rental Partnerships Program: Strickland\u2019s amendment directs the Department of Defense to evaluate the Rental Partnership Program, which provides off-base housing information and resources, including participation and awareness of the program among service members and their families, and whether Congress should provide dedicated funding for the program.\n\nShielding service members from unreimbursed moving expenses: Service members and their families move every 2-3 years and military families can spend thousands of dollars on moving expenses, some of which are not reimbursable. Strickland\u2019s amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on unreimbursed moving expenses incurred by members of the Armed Forces and their families by branch, rank, and military housing area, examine the root causes of the unreimbursed expenses, and establish a policy regarding this issue.\n\nShortening Wait Times for On-Base Housing: Strickland\u2019s amendment responds to the wait times military families are experiencing to get into housing at JBLM and on bases located in competitive housing markets across our nation, and directs the Department of Defense to provide a briefing on wait times for housing located on military installations in competitive housing markets, create a strategy to address housing demand, and determine the threshold for acceptable wait times.\n\nConnecting Military Families with Local Nonprofit Services: Within many communities near military installations there are nonprofit providers who can assist military families find affordable housing and provide other necessary wraparound services. However, families are not always aware of these services, or may have trouble accessing them. Strickland\u2019s amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on how and the extent to which commanders of military installations connect military families with local nonprofits and government entities that provide services to the military, including assistance with housing.\n\nExamining Temporary Lodging Reimbursements when relocating to competitive housing markets: Strickland\u2019s amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report regarding the extent to which military families are aware of and access Joint Travel Regulation reimbursements when searching for new housing ahead of a Permanent Change of Station. It also examines whether giving service members and their spouses a maximum of 10 days reimbursement per diem is appropriate based on the time it takes to secure housing in highly competitive housing markets, such as the area around JBLM.\n\nSupporting Military Spouse Employment and Addressing Employment Discrimination: Strickland secured language requiring a report on employment discrimination against military spouses in the civilian job market and any policy solutions that could prevent such discrimination.\n\nSecuring $4.8 million for Procurement Technical Assistance Programs (PTACs): This funding will help the Thurston County Economic Development Council and other programs across our nation as they support businesses pursuing contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and local governments and with government prime contractors.\n\nSupporting Local Employers: Congresswoman Strickland supported language that ensured that advanced degaussing system is incorporated into any Arleigh Burke class destroyer procured in fiscal year 2025 or any subsequent fiscal year pursuant to a covered contract.\n\nSupporting Tribal Nations: Congresswoman Strickland supported language that directs the Secretary of the Army to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than February 1, 2022, on the status of negotiations, and, if agreed, a specific timeline for the exchange of land.\n\nSupporting National Guard Readiness: Congresswoman Strickland supported a whole host of issues including the total cost and any barriers to convert 1,000 traditional Guard positions to Active Guard positions every year for the next 10 years, for a total of 10,000 nationwide.\n\nEnsuring Timely Emergency Response on Military Installations: Provisions ensure that the Defense Information Systems Agency will provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 15, 2022 on an update of ongoing efforts and plans to modernize emergency alert systems on domestic installations; a discussion on the specific challenges to modernizing emergency alert systems on domestic installations; an assessment of the possible use of an outside project manager or consulting service to assist in Department efforts to modernize emergency alert systems on domestic installations; and a description of next steps for the implementation of this program.\n\nSupporting an Equitable Military Justice System: The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment will submit a report to the House Committee on Armed Services by February 15, 2022, assessing the use of body cameras by military law enforcement.\n\nSupporting the Health of Service Members and Dependents: The Secretary of Defense will provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than March 1, 2022, on how the Department of Defense can optimize medications and reduce adverse drug events (ADEs) among service members and dependents.\n\nModernizing Forms: The committee directs the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer to provide a briefing to the House Committee on Armed Services not later than February 15, 2022, on its current trajectory toward form modernization.\n\nThe FY2022 NDAA also:\n\nSecures a 2.7 percent pay increase for service members\n\nExpands parental leave, child care, and improves mental health care services\n\nMakes historic and significant changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to combat sexual assault and related crimes in the military\n\nInvests in Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help build a more diverse Armed Services\n\nMakes key investments to address the threat of climate change and bolster energy resiliency.\n\nA summary of the provisions in the FY22 NDAA is available here.\n\nStrickland is a strong advocate for service members, military families, defense communities, and veterans in Congress. In December, Strickland and Rep. Young led a bipartisan letter urging the Appropriations Committee to raise the base pay for service members. Strickland co-led the introduction of the bipartisan Military Hunger Prevention Act to help low-income military families living with food insecurity make ends meet. In June, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland co-led the entire bipartisan Washington House delegation in sending a letter urging the US Department of Veterans Affairs to take immediate action to resolve the systemic issues plaguing the veterans\u2019 health care system. In May, Strickland made a statement to the Veterans Affairs Committee, to shine a light on the delays and communications breakdowns that veterans living in Washington\u2019s 10th Congressional District are experiencing through the VHA\u2019s Community Care program. In March, Strickland co-led a letter to President Biden urging a boost in funding for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which would enable investments to enhance military family quality of life, resilience, or military value \u2013 including at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In July, Strickland secured inclusion of $75 million in funding for DCIP in the FY22 Defense Appropriations bill. She also led her fellow Korean American Members of Congress in introducing legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Colonel Young Oak Kim in recognition of his extraordinary heroism, leadership, and humanitarianism.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/12/23/media-press-releases-strickland-introduces-military-spouse-entrepreneurs-act/", "Strickland Introduces the Military Spouse Entrepreneurs Act", "2021-12-23", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Olympia, WA\u2014Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced legislation to advance contracting opportunities for military spouse-owned businesses. Supporting military spouse employment is not only the right thing to do, it helps the military remain a competitive place to serve. This legislation has been endorsed by the U.S. Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce. Original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07).Please find the bill text here.\n\n\u201cMilitary spouses step up in service to our nation in many meaningful ways, but employment discrimination, lack of adequate or affordable child care, the pandemic, and other challenges continue to take a toll on their ability to stay employed. It is only rightthat we ensure resources are available for those who serve, and their families, to support themselves. By helping military spouses thrive, this legislation is giving military families the support they deserve and building an inclusive economy for our communities,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland.\n\n\u201c24% of military spouses were unemployed during the last decade, but COVID-19 created crisis-level unemployment at nearly 40%. The average American household requires dual incomes to survive. It\u2019s due time military spouses are recognized as a government contracting set-aside so they can compete for business in their own backyard,\u201d said Jaime Chapman, COO & Co-Founder, U.S. Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nAccording to aBlue Star Families annual survey of military families, in 2019, military spouses faced a 24% unemployment rate, with almost 77% reporting underemployment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this number has only increased \u2013a report from the National Military Spouse Network found that the unemployment rate was 25% for military spouses in 2021. According to the Washington State Employment Security Department, 56 percent of military spouses report being underemployed, and military spouses earn 27 percent less on average than their non-military spouse peers. Furthermore, the spouse unemployment rate is 10% higher in active-duty spouse respondents of color (27% vs.17%) and recently relocated spouses (31% vs. 16%), according to Blue Star Families.\n\nThe Military Spouse Entrepreneurs Act would help bridge the unemployment gap and support military spouse entrepreneurs by giving them an advantage in competing for federal contracts. Specifically, the Military Spouse Entrepreneurs Act would create a 5-year federal contracting pilot program for military spouse-owned small businesses. It would also require the Small Business Administration to submit a report to Congress at the conclusion of the program with data on the number of businesses who participated in the program; the effectiveness of the program; whether the federal government\u2019s goal of awarding 5% of all federal contracting dollars to military spouse owned businesses was met each year the program was in effect; data on oversight of the pilot program; recommendations for improvements to the pilot program and whether to make the program permanent.\n\nStrickland is a strong advocate for service members and their families, defense communities, and veterans in Congress. In December, Strickland and Rep. Young led a bipartisan letter urging the Appropriations Committee to raise the base pay for service members.Strickland co-led the introduction of the bipartisan Military Hunger Prevention Act to help low-income military families living with food insecurity make ends meet. In July, Strickland secured inclusion of $75 million in funding for DCIP in the FY22 Defense Appropriations bill. In June, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland co-led the entire bipartisan Washington House delegation in sending a letter urging the US Department of Veterans Affairs to take immediate action to resolve the systemic issues plaguing the veterans\u2019 health care system. In May, Strickland made a statement to the Veterans Affairs Committee, to shine a light on the delays and communications breakdowns that veterans living in Washington\u2019s 10th Congressional District are experiencing through the VHA\u2019s Community Care program. In March, Strickland co-led a letter to President Biden urging a boost in funding for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which would enable investments to enhance military family quality of life, resilience, or military value \u2013 including at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. She also led her fellow Korean American Members of Congress in introducing legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Colonel Young Oak Kim in recognition of his extraordinary heroism, leadership, and humanitarianism.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and is the first African-American elected to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2578", "Larsen Calls for China Strategy to Increase U.S. Competitiveness, Enhance U.S. Leadership", "2021-12-21", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released an updated China White Paper outlining a comprehensive China strategy to boost U.S. competitiveness and enhance American global leadership.\n\n\u201cCongress and the Biden administration must think more broadly about its \u2018China agenda.\u2019 Instead of thinking defensively, the U.S. needs to have a proactive agenda that increases U.S. competitiveness,\u201d said Larsen, co-founder and co-chair of the U.S.-China Working Group (USCWG). \u201cThe advantage of my strategy, with a larger focus on skills, education, and multilateral relationships, is it enhances U.S. competitiveness, not just vis-\u00e0-vis China, but worldwide.\u201d\n\nIn his China White Paper, Larsen outlines out a four-point framework oriented around:\n\n\u00b7 Recognizing existing areas of conflict and competition;\n\n\u00b7 Expanding the playbook to include both offensive and defensive measures to compete with China;\n\n\u00b7 Identifying areas where bilateral cooperation is in both nations\u2019 interest; and\n\n\u00b7 Getting our own house in order.\n\nThe updated white paper builds on Larsen\u2019s December 2019 edition, including new priorities and recommendations while retaining the framework of the original White Paper.\u2013 The original report is available here.\n\nIn 2005, Larsen co-founded the U.S.-China Working Group with then-Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) to build diplomatic relations with China and educate Members of Congress through meetings and briefings with business, academic and political leaders from the U.S. and China. Today, Larsen co-chairs the USCWG with Rep. Darin LaHood (IL-18). The White Paper represents Larsen\u2019s views only - not those of the USCWG or its members. It is the product of Larsen\u2019s review of a variety of scholarship on China and extensive conversations with leaders in academia, think tanks, labor, government, international relations and industry.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-appointment-teresita-batayola-presidents-advisory", "Rep. Smith Statement on Appointment of Teresita Batayola to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders", "2021-12-20", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), today issued the following statement after President Biden announced his intent to appoint Teresita Batayola, President and Chief Executive Officer of International Community Health Services, to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI):\n\n\"Teresita Batayola is a true leader in our region and a champion for the health and wellbeing of the Asian and Pacific Islander community in Washington State. As President and Chief Executive Officer of International Community Health Services - Washington state's largest Asian and Pacific Islander non-profit health center - Teresita has been, and continues to be, a strong advocate for health care access, equity, and addressing social determinants of health. Her work has helped countless people, many of them immigrants and refugees, get access to affordable and comprehensive health care.\"\n\n\"I commend President Biden's decision to appoint Teresita to his Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, which will advise the President on the many ways we can advance equity and opportunity for every AANHPI community. The work of this commission will also be critical to our collective response to the disturbing rise in incidents of anti-Asian xenophobia and violence. Teresita will be a leading voice in these conversations, where she will bring her extensive knowledge and experience from her work in the community to the table.\"\n\n\"Congratulations to Teresita on your appointment. I look forward to seeing all the great work you do for the AANHPI community across the country and in Washington State.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3014", "DelBene, Bucshon Call on Biden Administration to Prioritize Kidney Innovation in FY 2023 Executive Budget", "2021-12-20", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congressional Kidney Caucus Co-Chairs Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Larry Bucshon (IN-08) called on the Biden administration to prioritize investments in kidney innovation and research in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Executive Budget. In a letter signed by 18 members of Congress, the lawmakers urged the administration to include $25 million for KidneyX, a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Society of Nephrology, to accelerate chronic kidney disease research and improve kidney care.\n\n\u201cFor KidneyX to meet its full potential and continue to foster the development of technologies such as a wearable or implantable artificial kidney and xenotransplantation, the federal government must increase its support for KidneyX by including $25 million for KidneyX in the FY 2023 President\u2019s Budget,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cIncluding a full $25 million for KidneyX in the FY 2023 President\u2019s Budget would allow the program to expand its record of success and continue to drive innovation for people with kidney diseases.\u201d\n\nMore than 37 million Americans\u2014disproportionately people of color\u2014are living with chronic kidney disease today, and nearly 800,000 are living with kidney failure, a life-threatening, incurable condition. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare dedicated $130 billion, or 25 percent of all traditional Medicare fee-for-service spending, to the care of all kidney diseases, including $50 billion, or 7 percent of Medicare fee-for-service spending, to manage kidney failure alone.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3012", "DelBene Hosts Roundtable on Major Broadband Investments Headed to Washington", "2021-12-18", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Yesterday, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) held a roundtable with constituents and local leaders at the Monroe Public Library to discuss how the pandemic has exacerbated digital inequality and highlight upcoming investments from the bipartisan infrastructure law that will help improve broadband access and affordability around the state.\n\nIn Washington state, around 8.5% of residents live in areas without any broadband access, and many more live in areas with insufficient access or face cost barriers. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was supported by DelBene and signed into law by President Biden on November 15, allocates a minimum of $100 million to Washington state to help expand broadband coverage to the at least 241,000 Washingtonians who currently lack it. The law also will make 1.4 million residents (19 percent of the population) eligible for subsidies that will make broadband more affordable.\n\n\u201cPart of my district is a global technology and innovation hub but you can drive less than an hour away from there to rural areas without broadband or cell phone access. And when it is available, it is often unaffordable,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cThe conversation we had highlighted the enduring challenges that our communities are facing without affordable, reliable access to the internet. The bipartisan infrastructure law will make historic investments in expanding broadband and bridging the digital divide.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhether in-person or online, libraries connect us. From supporting economic, educational, and social recovery during a global pandemic to nurturing the youngest of readers, our dedicated attention to community needs are the foundation of our service model,\u201d said Lois Langer Thompson, Executive Director of Sno-Isle Libraries. \u201cWe appreciate the leadership and advocacy of Congresswoman DelBene to increase broadband access and digital resilience in Washington State. Equitable access is a core value in the services that public libraries provide.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3011", "Digital Trade Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on Canadian Pursuit of Digital Services Tax", "2021-12-17", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Darin LaHood (IL-18), Co-chairs of the Digital Trade Caucus, issued the following statement on Canada\u2019s decision to move forward with a unilateral Digital Service Tax (DST):\n\n\u201cWe are concerned with Canada\u2019s decision to move forward with a unilateral DST. If enacted, this tax would erode confidence in the October 8 OECD/G20 agreement reached by the United States, Canada, and more than 130 other countries. This agreement was designed to address global taxation issues and end the worldwide proliferation of DSTs, which disproportionately hurt American businesses and their workers. Although Canada\u2019s proposed DST would not go into effect until 2024, it would apply retroactively to all earnings starting January 1, 2022, putting at risk the long-term stability of the global tax agreement and creating immediate, significant tax complexities for American companies.\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the strong, historic relationship between the U.S. and Canada and urge the Canadian government to not enact a new DST and instead support international efforts to reach a consensus on these complex issues.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/12/17/media-press-releases-strickland-and-young-lead-bipartisan-letter-raise-base-pay-service-members/", "Strickland and Young Lead Bipartisan Letter to Raise Base Pay for Service Members", "2021-12-17", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Olympia, WA\u2014Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Congressman Don Young (AK-At Large) led 12 Members of Congress on a bipartisan letter urging the Appropriations Committee to raise the base pay for service members. The current base pay doesn\u2019t provide adequate support for service members or reflect their contributions to our country. While military pay is raised incrementally every year, it is imperative that Congress re-asses and raise base pay to ensure that the military remains a competitive place to serve. Strickland and Young were joined in sending the letter by Representatives Andr\u00e9 D. Carson (IN-7), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jared Golden (ME-02), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Sara Jacobs (CA-53), Ro Khanna (CA-17), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Kim Schrier, M. D. (WA-08), Gwen Moore (WI-04, Marc Veasey (TX-33), Chris Pappas (NH-1).The letter is attached and below.\n\n\u201cIn order for our military to truly be the best in the world, we must ensure that our service members are paid fairly,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland. \u201cI\u2019ve heard heart-wrenching stories from service members in my district who are struggling to find affordable housing or put food on the table for their families. I\u2019m urging Congress to raise base pay now because our servicemembers and their families deserve our help to meet their basic needs. It\u2019s the right thing to do for the people who keep us safe and our nation secure.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur brave servicemembers put their lives on the line for our nation. As a country, we should be empowering them to do their vital jobs, but too many of our heroes struggle to make ends meet. I am proud to join my friend, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, on this effort to ensure our servicemembers have a salary floor, which is especially crucial for junior enlisted soldiers. Military service serves as a viable career path for many young Americans. However, without a basic pay threshold, we hurt recruitment efforts and put our national security at risk. I am calling on the Appropriations Committee to stand by our fighting men and women by raising their base pay. This needed change will help our nation\u2019s military recruit top talent and prevent financial hardship that continues to impact too many military families,\u201d said Congressman Don Young.\n\nThe full letter text can be found below.\n\nDecember 17, 2021\n\nChair Rosa L. DeLauro\n\nHouse Committee on Appropriations\n\nH-307, The Capitol\n\nWashington, DC 20515\n\nRanking Member Kay Granger\n\nHouse Committee on Appropriations\n\n1036 Longworth House Office Building\n\nWashington, DC 20515\n\nChair Betty McCollum\n\nHouse Committee on Appropriations\n\nDefense Subcommittee\n\nH-405 The Capitol\n\nWashington, DC 20515\n\nRanking Member Ken Calvert\n\nHouse Committee on Appropriations\n\nDefense Subcommittee\n\n1036 Longworth House Office Building\n\nWashington, DC 20515\n\nDear Chairs DeLauro and McCollum and Ranking Members Granger and Calvert,\n\nAs you develop the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bills, we strongly urge you to reassess compensation for service members and set base pay to the equivalent of $15.00 an hour or $31,200.00 a year for new or current service members below this threshold. This pay floor is crucial for junior enlisted service members who are struggling to make ends meet.\n\nThe military is a compelling career path for many young Americans \u2013 it instills strong values, develops skills, creates robust personal networks, and provides excellent benefits. However, military pay increasingly lags behind other fields. As wages and salaries increase across many industries economy-wide, the military is now falling behind in the competition for quality recruits\u2014in large part to the base pay issue. As the number of qualified and willing people to serve continues to diminish, the ability of our military to recruit top talent is starting to become a national security issue. Congress must address this pay issue now before it becomes a more significant area of concern.\n\nAdditionally, we have heard from countless junior enlisted service members (E-1 to E-4) and their families about the financial difficulties they are experiencing, from finding affordable housing to the many families facing food insecurity. It is disappointing that service members often receive advice when they experience financial difficulties is to go to counseling instead of commanders and senior leadership recognizing that there is a problem. While there have been some encouraging steps to improve the quality of benefits and entitlements for the service members, base pay continues to lag.\n\nSome will argue that Regular Military Compensation (RMC), the sum of base pay, basic allowance for housing (BAH), basic allowance for subsistence (BAS), and the federal income tax advantage from tax-free allowances, is the approximate amount of an equivalent salary in the civilian sector. However, not everyone receives full BAH or BAS, which results in many service members having wildly different discretionary incomes.\n\nAn E-1 with less than two years of service makes around $1,785.00 per month or roughly $21,420.00 a year pre-tax. It takes at least four years of service and achieving the rank of E-4 to make at least $2,713.50 per month or approximately $32,562.00 annualized pre-tax. Service members will only achieve this if they decide to stay longer than the standard four-year contract. Furthermore, service members are frequently ordered to move, which causes an additional financial burden on families due to spousal unemployment and lack of licensure reciprocity among states. As a result, a service member cannot support a family of two, three, or even four on $20,000.00 a year without depending on other forms of government assistance.\n\nAdditionally, it is time to recognize that service members often do not work the standard 40-hour work schedule and may sometimes have a 70-hour week. In deployments away from home, the hours can rise to at least a 12-hour shift, seven days a week. We need to recognize that and work to ensure that their compensation reflects those efforts.\n\nPay plays a vital role in retaining a ready force. One way to ensure service members and their families remain prepared is to receive the proper entitlement benefits. Service members and their families make an enormous sacrifice for our country, and inadequate compensation should not be one of these sacrifices.\n\nWe look forward to hearing from the Committee as you develop the FY23 appropriations bills and work to ensure that service members can provide for their families.\n\nSincerely,\n\nMarilyn Strickland\n\nMember of Congress\n\nDon Young\n\nMember of Congress\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and is the first African-American elected to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3010", "DelBene Announces Nearly $900M in Funding for WA Roads and Bridges Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law", "2021-12-16", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced that Washington state will receive nearly $900 million in federal funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law to improve our roads and bridges, help create good-paying jobs, and grow our regional economy. This is the first round of funding for Washington highways under the law.\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan infrastructure law is delivering for Washington state with nearly $900 million for our roads and bridges after decades of neglect and underinvestment,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cThese federal dollars are a transformative and necessary step toward strengthening essential infrastructure across our state that will help cut down commute times and emissions, improve public safety, and make our roadways resilient as we prepare our region for the next 50 years.\u201d\n\nThe historic, bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law by President Biden on November 15, releasing new federal funding to repair highways and bridges across the country. These funds, administered by the Federal-aid Highway Program, can be used for construction, reconstruction, or improvement.\n\nThe American Society of Civil Engineers gave Washington state a \u2018C\u2019 rating on its 2019 Infrastructure Report Card, finding that 416 bridges and over 5,400 miles of highway were in poor condition and require immediate attention.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-carter-introduce-bill-hold-biden-administration-accountable", "Newhouse, Carter Introduce Bill to Hold Biden Administration Accountable for Energy Crisis", "2021-12-16", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced the Make Energy Affordable Act, a bill to hold the Biden Administration accountable for the ongoing energy crisis.\n\nSince President Biden took office, gas prices nationwide have spiked 56%. Home heating costs will rise as much as 54% this winter, and the cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline forced the termination of 11,000 good-paying energy jobs. The Make Energy Affordable Act will require the Administration to create a report on rising energy prices in the U.S. and a plan to combat it. The plan must consider all energy sources, include regulatory and permitting reforms, and monthly updates on how energy prices are impacting consumers.\n\n\"The Biden Administration's failed energy policies have had an impact on every individual, family, and business in Central Washington,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"On top of the highest rate of inflation we've seen in the last 40 years, gas prices have shot through the roof directly as a result of President Biden's attack on our domestic energy production. The American people deserve answers and our bill helps us deliver them by requiring the Administration to take responsibility for the energy crisis they've created and increase transparency around how their decisions are affecting the American people.\"\n\n\"This bill is a no-brainer. The American people are feeling the squeeze of Joe Biden's energy policies, and it's time his Administration recognizes the hardships they are inflicting on the working class,\" said Rep. Carter. \"If the Biden Administration truly stands by the energy-related decisions they've made since coming to power, then they should welcome this bill as an opportunity to demonstrate the impacts of those decisions on our energy sector.\"\n\nRead the full text of the Make Energy Affordable Act here.\n\nThe bill was introduced with the support of Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Troy Balderson (R-TX), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Randy Weber (R-TX), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), David Valadao (R-CA), and Dave Joyce (R-OH).\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Make Energy Affordable Act requires the Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, Secretary of Interior, Secretary of Labor, the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to create a report on rising energy prices in the United States.\n\nThe report must include:\n\nHow higher energy prices have led to increases in consumer prices across the economy, and how many energy sector jobs have been lost since January 1, 2021\n\nAn assessment of federal actions that contribute to energy prices that must include the specific effects of ending the Keystone XL pipeline, the moratorium on fossil energy development on federal lands, a ban on oil exports, and releases from the SPR.\n\nLists of energy projects awaiting federal permits or approval, and projects requiring state and local action.\n\nanalyses and projections for residential and commercial energy prices for the next year\n\nDescription of actions the Federal government is taking now to address the current high energy prices and shortages.\n\nPlan to address rising energy prices that considers all energy sources, regulatory and permitting reforms, and ensures U.S. energy independence.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3009", "DelBene Closes Shipbuilding Loophole in Defense Authorization Bill", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, the U.S. Congress approved the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes a provision championed by Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) to close a loophole that enabled the Navy to purchase a critical ship component from foreign sources, circumventing the law and President Biden\u2019s Buy America directive. DelBene\u2019s fix will protect the sole remaining U.S. supplier of anchor chain, bring jobs back to Washington state, and ensure we can manufacture this critical defense component here in America.\n\nThe 2022 NDAA requires the Defense Department to purchase anchor chains of all sizes from countries within the U.S. national technology and industrial base, which includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In practice, this will ensure that the anchor chains used by the Navy will be made in America and not be outsourced to countries like China and South Korea.\n\nThe Navy has been exploiting a loophole to avoid purchasing American-made chain by accepting a design change for a new class of fleet oilers, enabling the military to skirt existing Buy America rules and instead procure chain from an overseas supplier. The total savings from this design change were marginal but had a significant negative impact on U.S. manufacturers, including the only remaining domestic producer of anchor chain, Lister Chain & Forge, a small business of 36 employees, located in Blaine, WA.\n\n\u201cIf recent supply chain bottlenecks have taught us anything, it is we need a strong domestic manufacturing base, especially for military technologies and equipment,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cMy fix in the 2022 NDAA will ensure that our Defense Department follows the letter and spirit of the law by bringing critical manufacturing and jobs back to Washington state.\u201d\n\nFor more than two decades, Congress has included domestic content preferences for anchor chain in its annual defense authorization bill. Shortly after taking office, President Biden took executive action to bolster these efforts by calling on all federal agencies to buy goods, products, and materials from American companies whenever possible. Yet, this loophole remained and allowed the Defense Department to purchase foreign-made products to cut costs and undercut the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.\n\nIn April, DelBene sent a letter to House appropriators calling for this change in the annual defense bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-biden-abandon-your-vaccine-mandate", "Newhouse to Biden: Abandon Your Vaccine Mandate", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) joined Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and 11 other colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to drop his plans to mandate a COVID-19 vaccination for essential travelers, such as those engaged in trade and emergency management.\n\n\"We write to you expressing our deep concerns over your Administration's plan to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for essential travelers entering the United States starting in January 2022,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"Such a requirement will have significant negative impacts on essential cross-border trade and exacerbate the severe supply chain disruptions hindering our economic recovery.\n\nThey continued, \"Our nation is already facing the most significant supply chain disruptions in generations. An ill-conceived policy that would require essential travelers to be vaccinated to enter the United States will only exacerbate our supply chain crisis. As you know, the large majority of goods transiting North America are transported via overland trucking. A vaccine mandate for essential travel will be disruptive to millions of individuals in the trucking industry alone, as well as countless others involved in emergency response and other critical functions.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded, \"We urge you to abandon this effort to institute such a mandate and work with the Canadian government to ensure no further damage is done to our cross-border economic partnership. After over 20 months of pandemic-related restrictions, it is past time to facilitate a return to normal cross-border travel between the U.S. and Canada.\"\n\nYou can read the full letter here and below.\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe write to you expressing our deep concerns over your Administration's plan to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for essential travelers entering the United States starting in January 2022. Such a requirement will have significant negative impacts on essential cross-border trade and exacerbate the severe supply chain disruptions hindering our economic recovery.\n\nAs you know, when the U.S. and Canada mutually agreed to restrict non-essential travel across the U.S. - Canada border in March 2020, essential travel was permitted to continue without restriction. In establishing and extending the restrictions on non-essential travel, the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged that maintaining essential travel throughout the pandemic was necessary so that such restrictions did \"not interrupt legitimate trade between the two nations or disrupt critical supply chains that ensure food, fuel, medicine, and other materials reach individuals on both sides of the border.\" While the number of COVID-19 infections have fluctuated since the onset of the pandemic, we are not aware of any indication or evidence that individuals engaged in essential cross-border travel have had a substantive effect on COVID-19 transmission.\n\nOur nation is already facing the most significant supply chain disruptions in generations. An ill-conceived policy that would require essential travelers to be vaccinated to enter the United States will only exacerbate our supply chain crisis. As you know, the large majority of goods transiting North America are transported via overland trucking. A vaccine mandate for essential travel will be disruptive to millions of individuals in the trucking industry alone, as well as countless others involved in emergency response and other critical functions.\n\nAmericans have experienced extraordinary hardships from the sluggish economic recovery, the skyrocketing price of everyday goods due to inflation, and continued supply chain disruptions. As President, you have the power to alleviate these burdens on the American people and ensure that the policies you enact do not worsen the already difficult conditions for millions of citizens. Instituting this vaccine mandate for essential cross-border travel will have profound negative consequences on millions of Americans, as well as on our economy.\n\nWe urge you to abandon this effort to institute such a mandate and work with the Canadian government to ensure no further damage is done to our cross-border economic partnership. After over 20 months of pandemic-related restrictions, it is past time to facilitate a return to normal cross-border travel between the U.S. and Canada.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-questions-gov-inslees-hypocritical-climate-proposals", "Newhouse Questions Gov. Inslee\u2019s Hypocritical Climate Proposals", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\"This week, in the latest of his questionable moves, Governor Inslee released a climate proposal intended to support Washington's \"clean energy and economic growth\" while actively working to tear down our dams, the very same clean energy infrastructure that serves as the backbone of the Pacific Northwest's renewable, affordable, carbon-free energy. As if that wasn't hypocritical enough, his plan focuses on benefitting Seattle and other West-side communities at the expense of our communities in Central Washington.\n\nGovernor Inslee is clearly more concerned with appearing climate-friendly than actually supporting the clean energy infrastructure communities in Central Washington and across the state rely upon. No matter how big a bow he ties, Central Washington won't be fooled by this package.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/12/15/media-press-releases-icymi-over-898-million-new-funding-roads-and-bridges-headed-washington-state/", "ICYMI: Over $898 Million in New Funding for Roads and Bridges Headed to Washington State, First Round of Highway Funding Under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law", "2021-12-15", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Olympia, WA\u2013 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland announced that Washington State will receive over $898 million in new federal funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to create thousands of good-paying jobs for Washingtonians that will improve roads and bridges across the state. This is the first round of funding authorized by this new law.\n\n\u201cWith this new funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we will be able to start fixing our roads and bridges so that South Sound residents travel on infrastructure that is safe and reliable,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland. \u201cThanks to the bold leadership from President Biden, House Democrats and our entire delegation, these federal dollars will be critical in taking much-needed steps to rebuild our state\u2019s roads and bridges while creating thousands of good-paying jobs. South Sound residents can look forward to cuts in commute times and the ability to help small businesses get goods to market in more efficient ways. I was proud to vote for this historic legislation \u2013 which will make a tremendous difference in the lives of South Sound residents \u2013 and I look forward to seeing more federal funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law flow into our communities.\u201d\n\nThe historic and bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Biden on November 15th, secured new federal funding for highway and bridge repair for communities across the nation. The funds, administered by the Federal-aid Highway Program, can be used for the construction, reconstruction or improvement. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave Washington State a C on its Infrastructure Report Card, finding many deficiencies that require immediate attention. With this funding \u2013 and more to come over the next five years \u2013 the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will create good-paying union jobs strengthening this crippled infrastructure.\n\nUnder the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the following will be allocated to Washington State programs to improve roads, bridges, and highways:\n\nNational Highway Performance Program: $487,224,663\n\nSurface Transportation Block Grant Program: $237,028,214\n\nHighway Safety Improvement Program 2: $50,828,528\n\nRailway- Highway Crossings Program: $4,418,093\n\nCongestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement: $40,262,733\n\nMetropolitan Planning: $9,659,520\n\nNational Highway Freight Program: $23,510,296\n\nCarbon Reduction Program: $21,135,016\n\nPROTECT Formula Program: $24,032,027\n\nLearn more about theU.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Federal Aid Highway Program Apportionments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To read more about our state\u2019s apportionments.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and is the first African-American elected to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/american-rescue-plan-delivers-3956-million-king-county-metro-transit", "American Rescue Plan Delivers $395.6 million to King County Metro Transit", "2021-12-14", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "December 14, 2021\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement after the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a $395.6 million grant award of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to King County Metro Transit in Seattle, Washington.\n\n\"As the Puget Sound Region continues to grow, strengthening and expanding our transit network is crucial. The funds from the American Rescue Plan awarded this week will allow King County Metro to advance its mission of creating an accessible, affordable, and reliable transit system that helps the people of King County get where they need to go. Additionally, King County Metro has committed to move to a 100 percent zero-emissions fleet powered by battery-electric buses no later than 2040. This initiative puts us on a path towards a carbon free economy, and the funds announced today will help us move forward on that path.\"\n\n\"As we all know, the transportation sector has been hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will help King County Metro maintain service and retain jobs as we continue to recover. The riders and the employees of King County Metro will benefit greatly, as will our region.\"\n\n\"The American Rescue Plan was signed into law by President Biden in March of this year and its impacts have been felt across the country, enabling communities to come back stronger from the pandemic. I am proud to see these funds come to Washington State. As federal agencies begin to distribute funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was signed into law in November, and as Congress works to pass President Biden's Build Back Better Act, we will continue to work towards our vision of an expansive, effective, and sustainable transportation system.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-legislation-increase-food-donations-promote-food", "Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Increase Food Donations & Promote Food Security", "2021-12-13", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced the bipartisan Food Donation Improvement Act to expand food donation efforts across the country. With millions of Americans facing food insecurity, ambiguous, outdated, and limited liability protections often prevent many businesses and organizations from donating food. The Food Donation Improvement Act would encourage food donation efforts by extending liability protections to food donors when food is either given directly to a person in need or when a recipient pays a deeply reduced cost.\n\n\"The law should never discourage people from helping their neighbors or encourage them to throw away perfectly good food,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"The Food Donation Improvement Act will enact logical reforms that will provide clarity and protections to farmers, retailers, and non-profits seeking in good faith to assist the hungry, helping those in need have access to food that would otherwise go to waste.\"\n\n\"Making it easier for restaurants, grocery stores, farms, and other businesses to donate food to their neighbors is a commonsense tool to help communities fight hunger,\" said Rep. Walorski. \"Americans have long been characterized by a spirit of generosity, and Congress stands ready to eliminate burdensome barriers to this charitable giving. Tackling hunger is a bipartisan priority, and the Food Donation Improvement Act has the potential to make a huge difference for Americans facing food insecurity.\"\n\n\"Despite the crisis of hunger and food insecurity we face, billions and billions of pounds of food go to waste in this country every single year,\" said Rep. McGovern. \"We have plenty of food to feed everyone in America. Our legislation seeks to bridge the gap between abundance and need by removing roadblocks in the way of food donation and making it easier to prevent food waste\u2014putting perfectly good food to use by feeding those who struggle with hunger.\"\n\n\"In 2021, it's estimated that approximately 85,000 Mainers experience very low food security, representing a 10-percent increase from before the pandemic. Meanwhile, $161 billion worth of food is wasted each year. Confusing and limited liability protections discourage food donations and add to our nation's unacceptable and staggering waste. Rather than hindering donation efforts, this bill will encourage food donations to help fill the plates of those who need it most,\" said Rep. Pingree.\n\nThe Food Donation Improvement Act would extend liability protections to food donors when food is given directly to a person in need rather than a nonprofit intermediary, or when food is given at a deeply reduced cost. Expanding these protections would allow retail grocers, wholesalers, agricultural producers, restaurants, caterers, school food authorities, and higher education institutions to increase the quantity and efficiency of their food donation efforts. The bill would also clarify labeling standards that food products must meet to be eligible for liability protections.\n\nClick here to read the full text of the Food Donation Improvement Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3008", "DelBene Statement on Supreme Court\u2019s Texas Abortion Ban Ruling", "2021-12-10", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in Whole Woman\u2019s Health v. Jackson on the Texas abortion ban.\n\n\u201cAbortion rights are under unrelenting assault in this country. Today's Supreme Court ruling on the Texas abortion ban makes one thing absolutely clear - the Senate needs to immediately pass the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act and send it to President Biden so these rights are enshrined into law for all Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-urges-irs-address-backlog-help-central-washington-taxpayers", "Newhouse Urges IRS to Address Backlog, Help Central Washington Taxpayers", "2021-12-10", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), released the following statement after joining 98 of his colleagues in sending a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig requesting information on how the agency plans to resolve its process and prepare for the upcoming 2022 tax filing season, given the current backlog of unprocessed returns.\n\n\"In Central Washington alone, I have received numerous calls from concerned constituents who are unable to communicate with the IRS on their own, and receive threatening, misleading letters from the agency even after their cases were supposedly resolved,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"This is no way to run an organization, and I urge the IRS to address this backlog and put in place measures to ensure they are prepared for the coming tax filing season.\"\n\nRep. Newhouse's office has been contacted by dozens of constituents who have not yet received their 2020 tax returns and/or are unable to get in contact with employees at the IRS. So far this year, there is a backlog of more than 9.6 million paper returns, and district representatives in Rep. Newhouse's office have been informed there is a processing wait time of up to 30 days for congressional inquiries.\n\nYou can read the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Commissioner Rettig:\n\nAs the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) prepares for the 2022 tax filing season, we write with great concern regarding the backlog of unprocessed returns from the current 2021 and 2020 filing seasons. Our concern is underscored by the frequent outreach we are receiving from our constituents about the processing delays and inadequate taxpayer assistance associated with the backlog. Moreover, the Taxpayer Advocate Service's (TAS) recent decision to no longer accept any cases regarding amended returns will only exacerbate this problem.\n\nThis massive backlog is causing significant and unnecessary burdens for families and small businesses who can't get answers from the IRS about why their returns have not been processed. The IRS is in danger of falling into a vicious backlog cycle that will harm millions of taxpayers.\n\nIRS and TAS employees are to be commended for the tremendous work they do to ensure that taxpayers receive high levels of service and assistance as they navigate the tax filing season. We are concerned, however, that they have not been given the tools to succeed, which in turn degrades the level of service American taxpayers expect and deserve.\n\nDespite a voluntary compliance rate of over 80 percent in the United States, the Biden Administration has focused its advocacy efforts on securing mandatory funding for tens of thousands of additional IRS auditors and for provisions that would require financial institutions to transmit their customers' private, sensitive data to the IRS. Given the feedback we are receiving from our constituents, it's clear that too little attention is focused on the first aspect of the IRS's stated mission: to \"provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities.\"\n\nAccording to recent data provided to Congress by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), there are currently more than 9.6 million unprocessed paper returns received in Calendar Year 2021, while an additional 5 million paper and e-file returns have been suspended during processing. Some portion of those 5 million returns is from the 2020 filing season, though we understand that TIGTA is unable to categorize returns in suspension by tax year.\n\nOn December 1, 2021, the IRS launched its \"Get Ready for Taxes\" campaign for the 2022 tax season. While we appreciate the IRS's outreach to encourage taxpayer preparedness, we have serious doubts about the IRS's own preparedness for the new season. To that end, we request that you provide Congress with information regarding the steps the IRS is taking to ensure today's backlog of unprocessed and suspended returns do not roll over to the 2022 tax filing season, which would effectively guarantee that the backlog will persist indefinitely. Specifically, we request a response to the following questions:\n\nWhat is the IRS's plan to process all paper returns before the official start of the 2022 tax filing season?\n\nWhat steps is the IRS taking to resolve issues with returns that were suspended while processing during the 2021 filing season?\n\nHas the IRS fully returned to regular, in-person work? If not, what steps is the IRS taking to bring employees back and provide a safe working environment for them?\n\nWill the IRS use its existing authority to hire any additional non-enforcement employees specifically to help process tax returns this year and next year, if necessary?\n\nFor taxpayers who have 2021 returns (or 2020 returns) that have not yet been processed by the start of the 2022 filing season, what will the IRS do to alleviate their burdens and help them navigate a season for which, at no fault of their own, they are not prepared?\n\nThe agency must take urgent action now to alleviate the backlog and be ready for the start of the 2022 filing season. We request that you provide answers to our questions by December 17, 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schriers-bill-prevent-medicare-cuts-signed-law", "Rep. Schrier\u2019s Bill to Prevent Medicare Cuts Signed Into Law", "2021-12-10", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "December 10, 2021\n\nThis is Rep. Schrier\u2019s 12th bill signed into law since taking office\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today President Joe Biden signed a bill that U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) introduced earlier this week. The Supporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act will mitigate Medicare payment cuts to providers. Without this law, cuts would have gone into effect next month, threatening to close practices and interrupt care. This is a necessary law that to support providers and keep the health care system stable in this pandemic, allowing patients to receive the care they need.\n\n\"A pandemic is not the time to be cutting access to doctors for patients on Medicare,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"I'm so glad that President Biden signed our legislation to bring some stability to the Medicare payment system to ensure patients can keep seeing their doctors. And doctors, who have been on the frontlines during this pandemic, will now be able to keep their doors open.\"\n\nThe Supporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act, now law will:\n\nDelay the 2% Medicare sequester payment reductions for three months (January 1-March 31, 2022), followed by a reduction to 1% for three months (April 1-June 30, 2022)\n\nProvide a one-year increase (through December 31, 2022) in the Medicare physician fee schedule of 3% to adjust for changes and provide support to fatigued health care providers during the COVID-19 public health emergency\n\nDelay Medicare payment reductions to the clinical laboratory fee schedule for one year (through December 31, 2022) in order to preserve access to testing and laboratory services\n\nDelay the implementation of the Medicare radiation oncology model for one year (through December 31, 2022) to ensure access to care for cancer patients\n\nIn addition to the Supporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act, Rep. Schrier has had 11 other bills signed into law since she took office almost three years ago.\n\nBills signed by President Trump:\n\nProtecting Access to Biosimilars Act, which will speed up production of biosimilars (generic drugs), helping bring down the cost of medications like insulin.\n\nNo Cost for COVID-19 Testing Act that codifies the promises of insurers that all COVID-19 tests will be administered at no cost to the patient.\n\nYakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III Act, introduced with Rep. Dan Newhouse, which will ensure Washington has a reliable water supply for years to come.\n\nSpecialty Crop Research Initiative fix to the 2018 Farm Bill, which will help farmers access critical research grants.\n\nHR 1932 to help home health workers save for retirement\n\nWIC Waiver Extension Act, makes it easier for moms and children to access critical nutrition services during the pandemic\n\nVACCINES Act (Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety) to combat misinformation about vaccines and improve vaccine rates\n\nHR 7657, introduced with Rep. Rick Larsen, will ensure projects benefiting salmon and steelhead receive equal consideration under a federal law\n\nBills signed by President Biden\n\nWIC Benefit Flexibility During COVID-19 Act to boost WIC nutrition assistance for women and infants by $35/month for fruits and vegetables\n\nEmergency Funding for Child Protection Act provides $500 million for child protective services through the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) state grant program. This money will be flexible and available for a range of emergency uses\n\nLegacy Roads and Trails Actcarrying out critical deferred maintenance, urgent repairs, road and trail relocation on National Forest System roads and trails, and restoring passages for fish and other aquatic species by removing or replacing unnatural barriers\n\nSupporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3007", "DelBene Leads the Call for Enhanced Campaign Cybersecurity in Democracy Reform Bill", "2021-12-09", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Our Democracy Act (H.R. 5314) that contains an amendment spearheaded by Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). The Protecting Our Democracy Act is landmark democracy reform legislation that would help prevent presidential abuse of power and reinforce our Constitutional system of checks and balances. DelBene\u2019s amendment would help enhance cybersecurity across political campaigns and protect personal data collected.\n\n\u201cProtecting our democracy also means improving how political campaigns safely store and protect the information they collect,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cThese groups collect a significant amount of voter data, ranging from public to personal information. Americans should have the confidence that their data is protected from cybercriminals and foreign advisories and cannot be used to influence our elections or spread disinformation.\u201d\n\nThe amendment that DelBene secured would direct the Federal Elections Committee (FEC) to provide guidance for campaigns on cybersecurity risks and best practices in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and other relevant agencies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-legislation-increase-border-security", "Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Increase Border Security", "2021-12-09", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after introducing the Upholding the Law at Our Border Act. This legislation would require the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the vetting and processing of migrants apprehended along the southern border and to ensure that all laws are being upheld.\n\n\"The responsibility for the crisis at our southern border lands squarely at the feet of the Biden Administration, whose policies have directly led to an exponential increase in border crossings and drug trafficking,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"This bill will hold the Biden Administration accountable and ensure that it upholds its most basic duty of enforcing our nation's laws.\"\n\nThis bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) on November 18, 2021.\n\nClick here to read the full text of the Upholding the Law at Our Border Act.\n\nBackground:\n\nSpecifically, this bill would require the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an investigation and submit a report to Congress with:\n\nVetting procedures of those apprehended along the southern border of the United States;\n\nTotal number of illegal migrants who were processed and released into the interior of the United States;\n\nNumber of individuals who received parole;\n\nResults of the audit of parole applications;\n\nTotal number of illegal migrants who have been placed in removal proceedings including how many have been removed and how many are eligible for immigrant benefits;\n\nResults of the audit of asylum applications;\n\nTotal number of illegal migrants who have been placed in expedited removal proceedings;\n\nEfforts of the Department of Homeland Security to continually monitor all of the individuals who were apprehended along the southwest border of the United States and then released on parole;\n\nTotal number of illegal migrants who were processed and released into the interior of the United States without participating in an alternative to the detention program; and\n\nStates and counties in which the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Health and Human Services has resettled illegal migrants since January 20, 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-leads-bipartisan-legislation-identify-ways-mitigate-supply-chain", "Rep. Schrier Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Identify Ways to Mitigate Supply Chain Issues, Manufacture More Goods in U.S.", "2021-12-09", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This week U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) and Rodney Davis (R-IL) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act. The goal of this legislation is to identify how supply chain issues can be mitigated and how more goods, that come with jobs, can be created in the United States.\n\n\"There is no silver bullet solution for the ongoing supply chain disruption. But a clear understanding of what products can and should be manufactured in the United States would help greatly. The last year has shown us that we can no longer rely on just a handful of other countries to lead the way in manufacturing critical parts and products,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"I'm proud to introduce this commonsense, bipartisan bill that will allow us to make evidence-based, thoughtful decisions about the role domestic manufacturing will play in the years ahead.\"\n\n\"The best way to insulate our country from global supply chain crises is to manufacture goods right here at home in the United States of America. We should never let our critical infrastructure sectors live or die at the mercy of foreign nations, particularly adversaries like China. That's why it's so important we do everything we can to bring manufacturing back to our country, especially in our rural communities. That's why I'm leading a bipartisan effort in Congress to identify how we can manufacture more goods in America. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to pass this bill so we can create jobs and limit the negative effects of supply chain issues,\" said Rep. Davis.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3006", "DelBene Announces WA-01 Winner of 2021 Congressional App Challenge", "2021-12-08", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced the winner of the 2021 Congressional App Challenge from Washington\u2019s 1st Congressional District. The winning app, DermDetect, was created by Soham Bhosale from Bothell High School.\n\nBhosale designed an initial screening tool for users concerned about potentially cancerous and abnormal skin lesions. The app analyzes lesions, provides recommendations, and documents abnormal skin growth by reminding users to take follow-up pictures over time. It also uses geolocation to direct users to nearby health clinics for care. A demo of DermDetect can be found here.\n\n\u201cTelehealth and health apps have grown rapidly in recent years and are playing an important role in connecting Americans with doctors during the pandemic. DermDetect is a great example of how we can leverage technology to help people stay on top of their health care and encourage them to seek preventive care,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cCongratulations to Soham and all our participants on a job well done. I continue to be amazed at your ingenuity, compassion, and resourcefulness, evident in the submissions we see year after year.\u201d\n\nThe winning app was selected by a panel of impartial judges. DermDetect will be on display in the U.S. Capitol for the next year, along with winning apps from other congressional districts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schriers-bill-clean-damaged-forest-lands-passes-house-strong-bipartisan", "Rep. Schrier\u2019s Bill to Clean-Up Damaged Forest Lands Passes House with Strong Bipartisan Support", "2021-12-08", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House passed Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)'s bipartisan bill to fund the remediation and restoration of damaged public lands with a vote of 385-42. The National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act (HR 4489) was introduced earlier this year with Representatives Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA). This bill would allow the Forest Service to collect and keep the interest earned on settlement funds in order to supplement restoration efforts. It passed unanimously in the House Agriculture Committee last month.\n\nRep. Schrier's remarks on her bill can be found here.\n\n\"The Forest Service is responsible for overseeing the remediation and restoration of lands damaged by mining activities and human-caused wildfires. When the negligent actions of companies or individuals result in damages to Forest Service property, officials enter a settlement agreement with the responsible parties to hold them accountable,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"This bipartisan, commonsense legislation would allow the Forest Service to collect and keep the interest earned on settlement funds, much like other Federal agencies do, in order to supplement restoration efforts. As we confront another potentially devastating wildfire season, it's important to ensure the Forest Service can use accrued interest to protect and remediate forests.\"\n\n\"Congresswoman Schrier's bill is a testament to her hard work and commitment to the people of her district and our Western forest communities. Coming off years of historic wildfires, ensuring that the Forest Service has every tool available for wildfire remediation and restoration is imperative. I enthusiastically support this bipartisan legislation,\" said House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott.\n\n\"The National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act is common-sense legislation that would allow the Forest Service to use accumulated interest on settlement agreement funds to restore and protect damaged forest lands without any additional costs to taxpayers. While the Department of the Interior is already able to use interest on settlement funds, the Forest Service is not\u2014which leads to delays in restoration work and has the potential for budget shortfalls. I'm happy to join Congresswoman Schrier in this bipartisan effort to restore and preserve damaged public lands\u2014and pleased to see our bill pass the House,\" said Rep. Rosendale.\n\nRight now, the Forest Service does not have the authority to retain interest on settlement funds like other Federal agencies, such as the Department of Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency.\n\nThe National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act would allow the Forest Service to retain interest on settlement funds and apply those additional resources to complete necessary restoration work. Without this additional funding, the value of settlement funds diminishes over time and the Forest Service can face long-term budget shortfalls for environmental clean-up. If this bill had been in place between Fiscal Years 2015 and 2019, the Forest Service would have received more than $7.5 million to supplement environmental restoration.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/12/08/media-press-releases-strickland-secures-over-10-wins-military-families-servicemembers-defense/", "Strickland Secures Over 10 Wins for Military Families & Servicemembers in Defense Budget Agreement", "2021-12-08", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed S. 1605, the bipartisan, bicameral text of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022 by a vote of 363-70. The NDAA includes over ten provisions Strickland secured to support servicemembers and their families at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) and across our nation to address housing security, hunger, and more.\n\n\u201cInvestments in military personnel and their families are an investment in our nation\u2019s readiness. Every defense budget must demonstrate that we value servicemembers and their families, like those at Joint Base Lewis McChord, who sacrifice so much to keep us safe and secure,\u201d said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10). \u201cI am pleased to have secured several provisions in this year\u2019s NDAA to address housing security, hunger, and help all servicemembers and their families thrive. The wins in this agreement will serve as a strong foundation to build on as we continue to address housing in high-cost regions, food insecurity, racial equity, extremism and more. As this agreement heads to the Senate, I\u2019m proud to have worked with Chairman Smith and my colleagues to advance a defense budget that supports our national security, military survivors of sexual trauma, a much-deserved pay increase for servicemembers, and critical steps forward to address housing and hunger issues.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud that this year\u2019s NDAA will include transformational policy reforms that will benefit our service members and their families, take on the military sexual assault crisis, and deliver results for other national security priorities of the American people. I want to thank Congresswoman Strickland for her tireless work in our Committee to ensure a defense bill which addresses crucial needs of servicemembers and their families, including military hunger, housing security and other priorities, in Washington and across our nation,\u201d said Chairman Adam Smith (WA-9). \u201cExpeditious passage of S. 1605 by the Senate and signature by President Biden will strengthen our national security by giving these critical reforms the force of law.\u201d\n\nSeveral Strickland priorities were included in the bicameral, bipartisan FY22 NDAA agreement, which passed the House yesterday, ten of which are listed below:\n\nBasic Need Allowance for Servicemembers \u2013 The bill contained compromise language related to the Military Hunger and Prevention Act which Congresswoman Strickland co-led. The compromise language authorizes the Secretary of Defense to pay a basic needs allowance to a qualified service member. This is the first step in tackling food insecurity among servicemembers and military families, but this is only the first step.\n\nSupporting an Equitable Housing Allowance For Military Families: Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S. based allowance intended to provide uniformed Service members equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets. Strickland\u2019s amendment would commission a study that would determine whether BAH is currently sufficient to support the average family size for servicemembers disaggregated by Armed Force, rank, and military housing area.\n\nSupporting off-base housing solutions by examining the Rental Partnerships Program: Strickland\u2019s amendment directs the Department of Defense to evaluate the Rental Partnership Program, which provides off-base housing information and resources, including participation and awareness of the program among servicemembers and their families, and whether Congress should provide dedicated funding for the program.\n\nShielding servicemembers from unreimbursed moving expenses: Servicemembers and their families move every 2-3 years and military families can spend thousands of dollars on moving expenses, some of which are not reimbursable. Strickland\u2019s amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on unreimbursed moving expenses incurred by members of the Armed Forces and their families by branch, rank, and military housing area, examine the root causes of the unreimbursed expenses, and establish a policy regarding this issue.\n\nExamining Wait Times for On-Base Housing: Strickland\u2019s amendment responds to the wait times military families are experiencing to get into housing at JBLM and on bases located in competitive housing markets across our nation, and directs the Department of Defense to provide a briefing on wait times for housing located on military installations in competitive housing markets, create a strategy to address housing demand, and determine the threshold for acceptable wait times.\n\nConnecting Military Families with Local Nonprofit Services: Within many communities near military installations there are nonprofit providers who can assist military families find affordable housing and provide other necessary wraparound services. However, families are not always aware of these services, or may have trouble accessing them. Strickland\u2019s amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on how and the extent to which commanders of military installations connect military families with local nonprofits and government entities that provide services to the military, including assistance with housing.\n\nExamining Temporary Lodging Reimbursements when relocating to competitive housing markets: Strickland\u2019s amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to submit a report regarding the extent to which military families are aware of and access Joint Travel Regulation reimbursements when searching for new housing ahead of a Permanent Change of Station. It also examines whether giving servicemembers and their spouses a maximum of 10 days reimbursement per diem is appropriate based on the time it takes to secure housing in highly competitive housing markets, such as the area around JBLM.\n\nSupporting Military Spouse Employment and Addressing Employment Discrimination: Strickland\u2019s amendment requires a report on employment discrimination against military spouses in the civilian job market and any policy solutions that could prevent such discrimination.\n\nSecuring $4.8 million for Procurement Technical Assistance Programs (PTACs) \u2013 This funding will help the Thurston County Economic Development Council and other programs across our nation as they support businesses pursuing contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and local governments and with government prime contractors.\n\nSupporting Local Employers \u2013 Congresswoman Strickland supported language that ensured that advanced degaussing system is incorporated into any Arleigh Burke class destroyer procured in fiscal year 2025 or any subsequent fiscal year pursuant to a covered contract.\n\nThe FY2022 NDAA also:\n\nSecures a 2.7 percent pay increase for servicemembers\n\nExpands parental leave, child care, and improves mental health care services\n\nMakes historic and significant changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to combat sexual assault and related crimes in the military\n\nInvests in Historically Black Colleges and Universities to help build a more diverse Armed Services\n\nMakes key investments to address the threat of climate change and bolster energy resiliency.\n\nA summary of the provisions in the FY22 NDAA is available here.\n\nStrickland is a strong advocate for servicemembers, military families, defense communities, and veterans in Congress. Strickland co-led the introduction of the bipartisan Military Hunger Prevention Act to help low-income military families living with food insecurity make ends meet. In June, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland co-led the entire bipartisan Washington House delegation in sending a letter urging the US Department of Veterans Affairs to take immediate action to resolve the systemic issues plaguing the veterans\u2019 health care system. In May, Strickland made a statement to the Veterans Affairs Committee, to shine a light on the delays and communications breakdowns that veterans living in Washington\u2019s 10th Congressional District are experiencing through the VHA\u2019s Community Care program. In March, Strickland co-led a letter to President Biden urging a boost in funding for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which would enable investments to enhance military family quality of life, resilience, or military value \u2013 including at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. In July, Strickland secured inclusion of $75 million in funding for DCIP in the FY22 Defense Appropriations bill. She also led her fellow Korean American Members of Congress in introducing legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Colonel Young Oak Kim in recognition of his extraordinary heroism, leadership, and humanitarianism.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is a member of the New Democrat Coalition, is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and is the first African-American elected to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-opposes-new-cms-vaccine-mandate", "Newhouse Opposes New CMS Vaccine Mandate", "2021-12-07", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), along with over 100 of his colleagues, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure opposing the Biden administration's vaccine mandate for Medicare and Medicaid service providers.\n\nCMS's vaccine mandate, issued in November, requires health care workers whose employers participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs be fully vaccinated by January 4. There are approximately 76,000 providers that employ over 17 million health care workers that would be required to comply with the mandate. Many of America's physicians also operate as small businesses and would be required to comply with these new rules and regulations, the same as large hospitals.\n\n\"We fully support your agency's goal of \"[e]nsuring patient safety and protection,\" but if seniors are unable to access care because their provider no longer participates in the Medicare program, this rule will undermine its stated goal,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"By subjecting providers to egregious federal overreach, our nation's most vulnerable populations will be at risk and America's seniors will bear the brunt of any provider loss due to non-compliance with this heavy-handed and constitutionally dubious vaccine mandate.\"\n\nWhile the implementation of the final CMS rule is on hold until it works its way through the court system, fully abandoning this one-size-fits-all federal mandate will relieve any undue burden on America's already-struggling health care providers.\n\nYou can read the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Administrator Brooks-LaSure:\n\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on the American public both physically and emotionally for almost two years. In that time, though, multiple vaccines have become widely available for those wishing to be vaccinated. According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly 60 percent of the United States population over the age of 12 is fully vaccinated, including over 83 percent of the Medicare-aged population.\n\nThankfully, the United States has seen an overall decrease in new COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths since vaccines became readily available, and while we are not yet out of the woods, many are saying the end of the pandemic is in sight. Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. recently stated the pandemic \"may well be over\" by January 4, which is the deadline the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) set for complying with either its vaccination mandate or enforcing the continued use of masks and weekly testing.\n\nAt a time when we are facing a growing health care workforce shortage \u2013 including a projected physician shortage of more than 100,000 by 2034 \u2013 implementing a federal vaccine mandate will only serve to exacerbate the problem. By your own admission, \"[t]hese requirements will apply to approximately 76,000 providers and cover over 17 million health care workers across the country.\" It is difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile the rationale for implementing a mandate like this at the tail end of the pandemic while we, as a nation, are struggling to staff hospitals, physician offices and other ancillary providers.\n\nWe fully support your agency's goal of \"[e]nsuring patient safety and protection,\" but if seniors are unable to access care because their provider no longer participates in the Medicare program, this rule will undermine its stated goal. By subjecting providers to egregious federal overreach, our nation's most vulnerable populations will be at risk and America's seniors will bear the brunt of any provider loss due to non-compliance with this heavy-handed and constitutionally dubious vaccine mandate. Americans are quitting their jobs at a record pace, and this new federal mandate will only make matters worse and keep more Americans out of the workforce.\n\nThere are over 54 million Medicare-aged Americans, and it is our duty as Members of Congress representing those seniors to ensure they maintain access to their preferred health care provider. This is especially true when that means opposing an administrative agency's actions that will lead to fewer options for our constituents; longer wait times; and the inevitability of adverse health outcomes due to fewer available providers.\n\nWe strongly urge you to abandon implementing this onerous new rule and instead heed current statistics that show seniors are vaccinated at a higher rate than the rest of the population of vaccinated Americans while also uniquely vulnerable to disruptions in the health care system and consider the potentially negative consequences this mandate will have on the size and strength of our health care workforce. To truly ensure patient safety and protection, we must preserve Americans' access to their preferred providers rather than impose a new one-size-fits-all federal mandate on our nation's health care providers at a time when they can least afford it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-pingree-blumenthal-reintroduce-bicameral-bill-standardize-food", "Newhouse, Pingree, Blumenthal Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Standardize Food Date Labels, Cut Food Waste", "2021-12-07", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Food Date Labeling Act, a bill designed to end consumer confusion around food date labeling and ensure Americans do not feel it is necessary to throw out safe, useable food. Studies have shown that Americans are confused by food date labels, resulting in a significant amount of edible food ending up in landfills. The Food Date Labeling Act will reduce food waste by standardizing date labels on food products.\n\n\"To allow confusing food labeling practices to contribute to unnecessary food waste is absurd \u2013 especially when there are tens of millions of Americans experiencing food insecurity,\" said Rep. Newhouse, co-chair of the Bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus. \"This is a commonsense solution to a pervasive problem, and as co-chair of the Food Recovery Caucus, I am proud to partner with Rep. Pingree and Sen. Blumenthal to reintroduce this legislation which will reform outdated labeling practices, reduce food waste, and help Americans save money.\"\n\n\"It's estimated that around 90 percent of Americans prematurely throw out perfectly safe food, in part because of confusion about what date labels mean. Meanwhile, more than 38 million Americans\u2014including 12 million children\u2014are food insecure, the climate crisis is worsening by the day, and our economy is losing billions every year due to food waste. This staggering waste is not only unacceptable\u2014it's avoidable,\" said Rep. Pingree, co-chair of the Bipartisan Food Recovery Caucus. \"Our current food labeling practices are outdated, confusing, and completely arbitrary. The Food Date Labeling Act gives us an opportunity at the federal level to ensure food is being used and eaten, rather than being thrown out.\"\n\n\"This bill will help prevent perfectly safe food from going to waste simply because of confusing labeling. Nearly half of our country's food gets thrown out each year while millions of Americans go hungry and the climate crisis worsens,\" said Sen. Blumenthal. \"The Food Date Labeling Act would create a uniform food date label that gives consumers a clear understanding of when food is still safe to eat\u2014helping keep good food out of landfills and on Americans' plates.\"\n\nClick here to read the full text of the Food Date Labeling Act.\n\nBackground:\n\nCurrently, there are no federal regulations related to date labels on food products, aside from infant formula. Date labeling regulations are left up to states, which means consumers are left trying to sort out a patchwork of confounding terms. \"Sell by,\" \"use by,\" \"freshest on,\" and \"expires on\" are just a few of the phrases currently being used on food products. The bipartisan Food Date Labeling Act establishes an easily understood food date labeling system\u2014\"BEST If Used By\" communicates to consumers that the quality of the food product may begin to deteriorate after the date and \"USE By\" communicates the end of the estimated period of shelf life, after which the product should not be consumed. Under the legislation, food manufacturers will decide which food products carry a quality date or a discard date. This legislation will also allow food to be sold or donated after its labeled quality date, helping more perfectly good food reach those who need it.\n\nForty percent of all food produced in the U.S. is wasted, costing our nation $161 billion annually. It is estimated that if all food waste represented an individual country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally. Domestic food production accounts for 50 percent of U.S. land use, 80 percent of freshwater consumption, and 10 percent of our total energy budget. Consequently, recovering food helps to ensure that the hard work and resources that go into producing food is not wasted.\n\nINDUSTRY AND ADVOCACY STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT FOR THE FOOD DATE LABELING ACT\n\nEmily Broad Leib, Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic: \"Clarifying and standardizing date label language is one of the most cost-effective and commonsense methods to reduce the 40% of food that goes to waste each year in the United States. Action at the federal level will help ensure that businesses and consumers alike can use and understand date labels more effectively, standardizing these labels across food products and around the country in order to reduce food that ends up in landfill and encourage more donation of safe surplus food. I am thrilled to see the leadership that Representatives Pingree and Newhouse and Senator Blumenthal have taken by introducing the Food Date Labeling Act as a vehicle to address both hunger and environmental impacts of food waste.\"\n\nYvette Cabrera, Director of Food Waste, Natural Resources Defense Council: \"Date label confusion is a leading cause of food waste in the U.S. The Food Date Labeling Act would standardize date labels, build consumer awareness around them, and make donating safe food easier. This low-cost solution would keep money in people's pockets and food on people's plates instead of in landfills, where it produces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.\"\n\nHerrish Patel, Executive Vice President, Foods & Refreshment, Unilever North America: \"On behalf of Hellmann's, we greatly appreciate your leadership introducing the Food Date Labeling Act. We are committed to helping reduce the 54 million tons of food that go to waste every year in the United States. This bipartisan, bicameral solution will help to do just that while eliminating the patchwork of state laws that confuse consumers, increase food waste, and reduce the availability of safe foods for donation to food insecure Americans. Hellmann's is committed to inspiring more than 100 million people around the world to waste less food each year through consumer education, policy advocacy, and strategic philanthropy. This effort is part of a larger commitment to help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goal of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030. As food manufacturers, we believe this bill is an important and simple step to address food waste and eliminate consumer confusion in America.\" Click here to read Patel's full letter of support.\n\nPete Pearson, Senior Director, Food Waste, World Wildlife Fund: \"In the US, it's estimated that 30-40 percent of our food supply is lost or wasted. At the same time, the footprint of agriculture continues to expand, threatening the last remaining biodiverse regions on our planet; places like the native grasslands of the Northern Great Plains. When we waste food, we waste the land, water, and energy used to produce it. We also generate significant methane emissions as this food decomposes in landfills. We need to conserve our vital resources to ensure future generations inherit a planet where food production and consumption exist in balance with nature. In this context, preventing food waste represents a critical act of conservation. The Food Date Labeling Act along with nationwide consumer education will help ensure more food reaches people who need it, heighten awareness on food waste, and help us all navigate confusing expiration dates so that we can all waste less and save more. This is a win-win for consumers and the environment.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-introduces-bill-prevent-medicare-cuts", "Rep. Schrier Introduces Bill to Prevent Medicare Cuts", "2021-12-07", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Supporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act that will mitigate Medicare payment cuts to providers. Without this legislation, cuts would go into effect next month, threatening to close practices and interrupt care. This is necessary legislation to support providers and keep the health care system stable in this pandemic, allowing patients to receive the care they need.\n\n\"A pandemic is not the time to be cutting access to doctors for patients on Medicare,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"This legislation will bring some stability to the Medicare payment system to ensure patients can keep seeing their doctors. And doctors, who have been on the frontlines during this pandemic, can continue to keep their doors open.\"\n\n\"With less than four weeks until Medicare reimbursement rate cuts go into effect, Congress has no time to waste. I'm proud to introduce the Supporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act, a common-sense solution to stop provider cuts and protect Medicare recipients,\" said Congressman Steven Horsford. \"In Nevada's Fourth District, our physicians have made clear that these cuts would hurt access to care for seniors and people with disabilities. As we confront a new variant of the COVID-19 virus, I urge my House and Senate colleagues to come together and help us pass Supporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act before the new year.\"\n\nThe Supporting Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic Act will:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-passing-former-congresswoman-jolene-unsoeld", "Rep. Smith Statement on passing of Former Congresswoman Jolene Unsoeld", "2021-12-05", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "December 5, 2021\n\nSEATTLE, WA - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on the passing of former Congresswoman Jolene Unsoeld.\n\n\"With the passing of Congresswoman Unsoeld, Washington State - and the entire country - have lost a true champion for women, children, and the health of our planet. Congresswoman Unsoeld understood that few things are more important than protecting our environment, and she was a force for women's rights. My thoughts are with Congresswoman Unsoeld's family and loved ones as they mourn their loss.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-supports-parents-role-greater-transparency-education", "Newhouse Supports Parents\u2019 Role, Greater Transparency in Education", "2021-12-03", "2021", "2021-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after cosponsoring H.R. 6056, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. This legislation would put practices in place that facilitate meaningful dialog between a family and their child's school and lead to more parental input throughout the learning process. It amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to ensure that federally-funded schools provide parents with the transparency they deserve.\n\n\"Parents know what's best for their children and are their greatest advocates. Ensuring that they have a say in their child's education is just common-sense,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"I'm proud to sponsor this legislation that will provide families with more options to collaborate with school districts, have more access to information regarding their children's education, and ultimately provide a better curriculum and learning experience for our next generation of leaders.\"\n\nClick here to read the full text of H.R. 6056.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Parents Bill of Rights is built on five core principles that would apply to all schools nationwide that receive federal funding.\n\nParents have the right to review their school's curriculum, reading materials, and state academic standards.\n\nRequires school districts to post their curriculum publicly\n\nRequires states to provide the public a copy of any revisions to the state's academic standards or learning benchmarks\n\nRequires that school districts give parents notice of any plan to eliminate gifted and talented programs\n\nRequires schools to provide parents with a list of books and reading materials available in the school library.\n\nParents have the right to lawfully engage with their local school board and educators.\n\nRequires teachers to offer two in-person meetings with parents each year\n\nRequires parents be allowed to address the school board\n\nIncludes new protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and updates and clarifies provisions in the Protection of Pupil Rights Act (PPRA).\n\nParents have the right to see a school's budget and spending, including detailed information about revenues and expenditures.\n\nParents have the right to protect their child's privacy.\n\nBans schools from sharing student data with tech companies without parental permission\n\nBans schools from selling student data for commercial purposes\n\nRequires parental input when schools develop or update their student privacy policies and procedures\n\nParents also must consent before any medical exam takes place at school, including mental health or substance use disorder screenings\n\nParents have the right to keep their child safe and be updated on any violent activity at school.\n\nRequires schools to notify parents of violent activity occurring on school grounds or at school-sponsored events while still protecting the privacy of students", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-kicks-8th-district-infrastructure-tour", "Rep. Schrier Kicks Off 8th District Infrastructure Tour", "2021-12-03", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 This week Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) kicked off her 8th District infrastructure tour, visiting projects that could be expanded with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that President Biden signed earlier this month.\n\n\"People often think of infrastructure as roads and bridges, and there is significant funding for them in the infrastructure law,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"Infrastructure also means accessible high-speed internet, new water pipes, and easing the congestion at our ports. We expect millions of dollars to become available in the next few months for cities and towns to use to upgrade infrastructure. And I want to make sure they are prepared.\"\n\nSo far Rep. Schrier has visited the following sites. She is expected to visit many more projects in the coming months.\n\nSammamish Plateau Water District has been working on identifying and treating PFAS present in their groundwater wells. The proposed treatment plant would make drinking water safer for residents by removing these \"forever chemicals\". The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $4 billion to remove PFAS from drinking water.\n\nRep. Schrier visited the City of Auburn to look at improvements to Auburn Way South. These projects will improve traffic, pedestrian and cyclist safety, and access for residents along the road. The improvements are coordinated with a new elementary school to ensure students and parents can safely enter and exit campus. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will increase funding to local governments like City of Auburn for these important surface transportation projects.\n\nIn North Bend, Rep. Schrier visited Truck Town in North Bend, the only full-service truck stop between Ellensburg and the ports in Seattle and Tacoma. The city shoulders an increasingly heavy burden of traffic as trucks wait to go to the ports, or wait for Snoqualmie Pass to clear. There has been such a backup of trucks, that Truck Town can't accommodate them all, and now trucks are parking on the highway and North Bend streets. Federal infrastructure investment could help ease port congestion and also provide more safe places for drivers to rest.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2571", "Larsen Announces Run for Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee", "2021-12-02", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced he will run for Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the 118th Congress. Larsen, a senior member of the Committee and Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, made the announcement in a letter to colleagues after Chair Peter DeFazio (OR-04) announced his retirement at the end of his term.\n\nText of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Colleague:\n\nI have decided to seek the top Democratic leadership spot on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. I bring two decades of service in working with my Committee colleagues, passing legislation in both the majority and minority, and responding to members\u2019 needs.\n\nCommittee Service\n\nServing on this Committee was my day one priority as a Member of Congress. As a former local elected official, I saw firsthand the importance of robust infrastructure to the quality of life of my constituents. That commitment and my interest in improving infrastructure has never wavered. I will bring this same commitment and focus to your district\u2019s needs as Chair of the Committee.\n\nGetting Things Done\n\nI get things done. I helped author and pass parts of key legislation: the 2002 Pipeline Safety Act; multiple WRDA bills; the 2005 transportation bill; multiple Coast Guard bills; and the 2018 FAA bill. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act reflects my legislation to boost the use of low/no emission transit and ferries and promote a more diverse transportation workforce.\n\nRecently, I worked with Chair DeFazio to craft the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act as part of the American Rescue Plan, protecting thousands of U.S. jobs in the aviation supply chain. Last year, I helped lead the Committee\u2019s response to two Boeing 737 MAX crashes, writing a bipartisan overhaul of aircraft certification that improves the safety of the flying public.\n\nServing Members\n\nI am ready to help members as Committee leaders have helped me. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation, I have been responsive to members\u2019 requests for oversight on issues such as noise around local airports and addressing emerging issues such as new entrants in U.S. airspace. I will measure my success as a leader by the success of every Democratic member on this Committee.\n\nMoving forward, the Committee must continue to build on Chair DeFazio's work that recognizes the transportation sector is a major contributor to climate change. The Committee must invest in a cleaner and greener transportation system. And we must continue to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for the women and men that make our country go.\n\nDemocrats still have work to do. Over the next year, I will continue to help Chair DeFazio achieve his goals for the Committee and support the fight to keep the majority in 2023 while seeking your support to lead Committee Democrats in the 118th Congress.\n\nSincerely,\n\nRick Larsen\n\nU.S. Representative\n\nWashington State, Second District\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2567", "Larsen Statement on Retirement of Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio", "2021-12-01", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, released the below statement after Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (OR-04) announced his retirement at the end of his term:\n\n\u201cIt has been an honor to work with Pete DeFazio, my colleague and friend, on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the last two decades looking out for the interests of the people of Washington and Oregon. Pete has made his mark with his steadfast leadership on behalf of the safety of the traveling public and the women and men who build, maintain and repair our nation\u2019s infrastructure, as well as in seeking to build a cleaner and greener transportation system.\n\n\u201cWorking with Pete, we were able to pass a bipartisan law to change how the FAA certifies aircraft after the crash of two Boeing 737 Max airplanes, increasing the safety of air travel in the future. The guidance he provided me in crafting the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act has helped save thousands of jobs nationwide in this critical industry.\n\n\u201cWithout Pete\u2019s leadership, we would not be able to say that from here on out, every day will be infrastructure day. The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will form only part of his legacy as a Chair of the Committee and as a Member of Congress.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. House of Representatives will miss Pete\u2019s leadership in the coming years. However, he still has time to continue to add to his impressive list of accomplishments over the next year, and I will do whatever I can to support him.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/12/01/media-press-releases-strickland-calls-immediate-action-protect-reproductive-health-rights-under/", "Strickland Calls for Immediate Action to Protect Reproductive Health Rights Under Attack (VIDEO)", "2021-12-01", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013 As the Supreme Court takes up oral arguments in the Dobbs v. Jackson case threatening Roe v. Wade, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) released the following statement. Strickland delivered remarks on the House floor today calling for urgent action to protect reproductive health rights. In September, Strickland joined a bicameral amicus brief in the case and joined the House in passing the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act, a bill to protect reproductive health rights and access, which is awaiting Senate action. (Watch Strickland\u2019s remarks here.)\n\n\u201cThis is a pivotal moment for the Supreme Court to show that it decides cases based on precedent and rule of law, not politics or ideology. With abortion rights and access on the line like never before, the Senate must join the House in passing the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act. With this bill, we can put an end to alarming state-based attacks on reproductive freedom in Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, and across the country.\u201d said Strickland. \u201cDuring a global pandemic and a maternal mortality crisis, the people who are hurt the most by limiting abortion restrictions are those who already experience health inequities in the first place \u2014including people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and many other vulnerable communities.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Strickland\u2019s full remarks are transcribed below.\n\nToday, the Supreme Court is hearing one of the most important abortion rights cases in generations. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization, marks the first time in 50 years the Court agreed to hear a case on the constitutionality of a pre-viability abortion ban.\n\nIn other words, the State of Mississippi has asked the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.\n\nLet me be clear \u2013 reproductive health access is a fundamental right. This is about supporting body autonomy and wellbeing, and it\u2019s also about economic justice and social freedom.\n\nThe people hurt most by abortion restrictions and bans are those who already face barriers to getting access to health care in the first place \u2014women, people of color, those working to make ends meet, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, immigrants, young people, those in rural communities, people with disabilities and others.\n\nWe can look to Texas as a real-time example. Texas banned almost all abortion in the state, forcing people to travel across state lines to receive care.\n\nNow is the time for the Supreme Court to show that it decides cases based on precedent and rule of law, not politics, not ideology.\n\nEvery person should be free to make the best health care decisions. We must make abortion access equitable for all people \u2014regardless of who they are or where they live.\n\nCongresswoman Strickland is a strong advocate for reproductive rights in Congress, the New Member Liaison in the Pro-Choice Caucus and a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. In November, Strickland led a letter encouraging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reduce barriers to continuous access to birth control by requiring insurance companies to cover, without cost-sharing, a 12-month supply of birth control. In April, Strickland co-led the introduction of the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act, legislation to ensure military families receive the quality reproductive health care they deserve. In April, Strickland also led Pro-Choice Caucus members on a letter to advance and protect reproductive health rights in the US and across the globe. In March, Strickland co-led the introduction of the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, legislation to repeal the Helms Amendment and advance reproductive and economic freedom and equity worldwide. A member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Strickland is an original cosponsor of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 and the Healthy MOM Act, legislation which comprehensively addresses the maternal health crisis in America.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/12/01/media-press-releases-strickland-introduces-legislation-help-servicemembers-access-fertility-care/", "Strickland Introduces Legislation to Help Servicemembers Access Fertility Care and Start a Family", "2021-12-01", "2021", "2021-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a leader in the Pro-Choice Caucus, led the introduction of the Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act, which would expand TRICARE coverage to make Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) services available to all active-duty servicemembers (including the Reserve and National Guard) and dependents \u2013 regardless of service-connection requirements, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or marital status of the servicemember. This bill has been endorsed by the Center for Reproductive Rights and Modern Military Association of America. The legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-at-large), Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Mark Takano (CA-41), and Carolyn Maloney (NY-12). (Please find the bill text at this link.)\n\n\u201cAnswering the call to serve often means making a great number of sacrifices for your country. Being able to start a family should not be one of them. My bill, the Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act, removes current barriers in TRICARE and helps ensure that all servicemembers can access the fertility care they deserve to start a family,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland.\n\n\u201cAll servicemembers deserve equitable access to infertility care without discrimination. The Expanding Access to Fertility Care for Servicemembers and Dependents Act is an important step toward that goal. This Act would remove legal barriers to infertility care for active duty servicemembers that render many of them ineligible for coverage, including single servicemembers, servicemembers in same-sex partnerships, and servicemembers impacted by unexplained infertility. This Act would also bring us closer to the day when all servicemembers have equitable access to comprehensive infertility care that helps them reach their goal of building a family,\u201d said Karla Torres, Senior Human Rights Counsel, Center for Reproductive Rights.\n\nAccording to the New York Times, one of the first issues that service members struggling with infertility face is insurance coverage. TRICARE currently pays for assisted-reproductive procedures if a loss in reproductive ability is a result of a service-connected injury. Otherwise, servicemembers must pay out of pocket.\n\nEven for those who are eligible for TRICARE fertility care, a report by Service Women\u2019s Action Network found that women who were not straight or not married seemed to receive very mixed infertility care, and in some cases were denied infertility treatments. According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, an estimated 16 percent of female servicemembers and four percent of male servicemembers identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Additionally, unmarried servicemembers represent approximately 43 percent of active duty servicemembers, 52 percent of National Guard and Reserve members, and 40 percent of veterans.\n\nBILL SUMMARY:\n\nThe bill expands TRICARE to cover Assisted Reproductive Technology services for all active-duty servicemembers and dependents, ensuring that service-connection, sex, gender, sexual orientation, and marital status are not barriers to building a family.\n\nCurrently, TRICARE limits coverage to certain assisted reproductive services when medically necessary and combined with natural conception. To be eligible for these, servicemembers must prove they:1) are active duty, 2) have a serious illness or injury while on active duty, 3) lost their natural reproductive ability due to that illness or injury, 4) can provide their own genetic material to get pregnant, and 5) have a lawful spouse who can also provide their own genetic material.These current narrow requirements put assisted reproductive services out of reach for our servicemembers and their spouses who are ineligible to receive care. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures,the average cost per IVF cycle can range between $12,000 to $17,000. Additionally, under TRICARE\u2019s requirements, servicemembers who are unmarried, in same-sex marriages, and cannot prove that a service-connected illness or injury caused their infertility are automatically excluded from being eligible to receive care. This legislation would eliminate these exclusions.\n\nCongresswoman Strickland is a strong advocate for reproductive rights in Congress, a freshman leader in the Pro-Choice Caucus and a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. In November, Stricklandled a letter encouraging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reduce barriers to continuous access to birth control by requiring insurance companies to cover, without cost-sharing, a 12-month supply of birth control. In April, Strickland co-led the introduction of the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act, legislation to ensure military families receive the quality reproductive health care they deserve. In April, Strickland also led Pro-Choice Caucus members on a letter to advance and protect reproductive health rights in the US and across the globe. In March, Strickland co-led the introduction of the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, legislation to repeal the Helms Amendment and advance reproductive and economic freedom and equity worldwide. A member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Strickland is an original cosponsor of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 and the Healthy MOM Act, legislation which comprehensively addresses the maternal health crisis in America.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:37:48Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2566", "DeFazio, Larsen, and Stanton Seek Answers from FAA on Apparent Lack of Boeing Accountability for Longstanding 737 MAX Issues", "2021-11-29", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Subcommittee on Aviation Member Greg Stanton (D-AZ) asked Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Stephen Dickson to provide more complete responses to questions he was asked at a subcommittee hearing last month regarding efforts to hold Boeing accountable for two key issues regarding the 737 MAX. In the letter sent to FAA Administrator Dickson today, the Members asked what FAA has done, if anything, to hold Boeing employees who were responsible for Boeing\u2019s apparent violation of its approved 737 MAX type design, as well as evidence of an internal plan to downplay the significance of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), a system connected to two deadly 737 MAX crashes, accountable.\n\n\u201c[W]e are deeply troubled by the absence of rigorous accountability for Boeing\u2019s past transgressions related to the 737 MAX and the FAA\u2019s failure to hold those who violated the public\u2019s trust accountable,\u201d said the Members in the letter.\n\nThe first issue concerns Boeing\u2019s handling of a non-functioning Angle of Attack (AOA) Disagree alert on more than 80 percent of MAX aircraft. After discovering the problem in August 2017, Boeing decided to wait nearly three years to fix the issue. In the meantime, Boeing continued to produce MAX aircraft with the nonfunctioning alert and the company failed to notify the FAA, its 737 MAX customers, or MAX pilots that the alert was not functioning until after the Lion Air crash in October 2018. A Boeing Authorized Representative, a Boeing employee authorized to conduct work on behalf of the FAA, concurred with Boeing\u2019s decision to delay fixing the AOA Disagree alert. However, according to a letter then-Acting FAA Administrator Dan Elwell wrote to the committee in July 2019, \u201cAlthough an AOA disagree message was not necessary to meet FAA safety regulations, once it was made part of the approved type design, it was required to be installed and functional on all 737 MAX airplanes Boeing produced.\u201d\n\nIn today\u2019s letter, the Members wrote, \u201cOur committee highlighted this issue, and Boeing\u2019s action, in our investigative report on the 737 MAX not because we believed it was a safety issue, but because it was clearly a glaring issue of lax accountability and oversight. Yet, to date, we are unaware of any actions the FAA has taken to hold Boeing accountable for violating the approved type design of the 737 MAX, knowingly continuing to manufacture the aircraft regardless of this known defect and failing to inform your agency\u2014or 737 MAX customers\u2014of this nonfunctioning component on the aircraft until after the Lion Air crash.\u201d\n\nThe second issue addressed in the letter concerns a 2013 internal Boeing record, a copy of which was enclosed as part of the letter and can be found here, that was initially released as part of the committee\u2019s investigation. It documents an explicit plan within Boeing to downplay the significance of MCAS externally, including to regulators. Meeting minutes in the document explained, \u201c[i]f we emphasize MCAS is a new function, there may be a greater certification and training impact.\u201d This set a plan in motion to limit the use of the MCAS nomenclature externally and to downplay the system as \u201cnew,\u201d by describing it as \u201can addition to Speed Trim.\u201d Multiple Boeing employees participated in formulating the plan and a Boeing Authorized Representative signed off on the plan.\n\nThe letter asks if FAA has spoken with the Authorized Representative who approved this plan, if FAA took any actions to hold any of the individuals engaged in formulating the plan to limit certification scrutiny and pilot training requirements accountable, and whether FAA regards the actions laid out in this plan as acceptable conduct by Boeing.\n\n\u201cWe would like to know what, if any, actions FAA has taken to evaluate and investigate the efforts by Boeing to downplay MCAS, particularly to U.S. and foreign regulators,\u201d wrote the Members in today\u2019s letter. \u201cWe are interested in any actions by the FAA to hold individuals accountable for their actions.\u201d\n\nAlthough the letter focuses on two specific and highly questionable past actions Boeing took in regards to the 737 MAX, the Members emphasized that they were concerned that FAA ensure it is keeping a close eye on Boeing\u2019s actions in regards to ongoing issues in other programs and noted that the bipartisan Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (ACSAA), which is currently being implemented, will help strengthen the FAA\u2019s ability \u201cto perform effective safety regulation and oversight.\u201d\n\nThe Members wrote, \u201cWith continuing issues with the Boeing 737 MAX and the 787, and the ongoing certification of the Boeing 777X, it is more critical than ever that the FAA takes its role as regulator seriously. FAA must fully investigate actions by Boeing or others that jeopardize the public\u2019s safety or disregard FAA\u2019s regulations and hold responsible parties accountable. Our hope is that with continued implementation of the ACSAA, issues like those discussed above do not arise in the future.\u201d\n\nA response from FAA was requested by December 13, 2021.\n\nThe full letter can be found below and here.\n\nNovember 29, 2021\n\nThe Honorable Stephen M. Dickson\n\nAdministrator\n\nFederal Aviation Administration\n\n800 Independence Avenue S.W.\n\nWashington, D.C. 20591\n\nDear Administrator Dickson:\n\nThank you for testifying before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure\u2019s Subcommittee on Aviation last month. I appreciate the FAA\u2019s ongoing work to implement the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act (ACSAA) to hold Boeing and other aviation manufacturers accountable and to ensure the agency has the expertise and processes in place to perform effective safety regulation and oversight. However, during the hearing, two issues arose regarding your recollection of Boeing\u2019s past actions in which we would like to receive a more complete account from FAA.\n\nAngle of Attack Disagree Alert\n\nThe first issue, as raised by Rep. Sharice Davids, concerns Boeing\u2019s actions regarding the Angle of Attack (AOA) Disagree alert. As documented in our September 2020 investigative report, in August 2017 when Boeing first discovered that this alert was inoperable on more than 80 percent of 737 MAX aircraft, Boeing decided to wait nearly three years to fix the problem so it could execute the fix as a part of its then-planned rollout of the 737 MAX-10 in 2020.[1] Boeing also did not notify the FAA, its MAX customers, or MAX pilots that the alert was not working and continued to manufacture hundreds of more 737 MAX aircraft with the same non-functioning alert.[2] Boeing failed to divulge the fact that the alert was not functioning until October 2018, only after the fatal Lion Air crash.[3]\n\nBoeing defended its actions by saying this was not a safety issue, and they highlighted the fact that a Boeing Authorized Representative, an individual authorized to perform work on behalf of the FAA, concurred with Boeing\u2019s decision to delay the fix.[4] However, the nonfunctioning AOA Disagree alert appears to have violated the 737 MAX type design. As then-Acting Administrator Dan Elwell said in a letter to our committee in July 2019:\n\nOnce certified by the FAA, all features included on the airplane become part of the certified type design or approved type design. These features are mandatory in each airplane produced to that type design thereafter, whether or not they are required for safety . . . Although an AOA disagree message was not necessary to meet FAA safety regulations, once it was made part of the approved type design, it was required to be installed and functional on all 737 MAX airplanes Boeing produced.[5] [Emphasis added.]\n\nOur committee highlighted this issue, and Boeing\u2019s action, in our investigative report on the 737 MAX not because we believed it was a safety issue, but because it was clearly a glaring issue of lax accountability and oversight. Yet, to date, we are unaware of any actions the FAA has taken to hold Boeing accountable for violating the approved type design of the 737 MAX, knowingly continuing to manufacture the aircraft regardless of this known defect and failing to inform your agency\u2014or 737 MAX customers\u2014of this nonfunctioning component on the aircraft until after the Lion Air crash.\n\nBoeing has claimed its senior leadership was unaware of these issues at the time. However, our report showed that multiple individuals across the company were aware of this issue. If Boeing\u2019s senior management was unaware of these issues impacting more than 80 percent of the 737 MAX fleet that rolled off its assembly line, then that should have raised serious questions within the company about its ability to manage the production of its commercial aircraft fleet effectively and safely.\n\nBoeing\u2019s actions showed an utter disregard for the FAA\u2019s regulatory process. I acknowledge that in your testimony you mentioned that you are taking steps to implement and improve your oversight of Boeing. However, my direct questions are:\n\nWhat specifically has the FAA done to hold Boeing accountable for deceiving its customers and violating the FAA\u2019s regulations by knowingly producing 737 MAX aircraft with nonfunctioning AOA Disagree alerts that resulted in the production of nonconforming aircraft prior to the Lion Air crash.\n\nPlease be specific in your response and provide all records that indicate any actions the FAA took against Boeing regarding the issues outlined above. As part of your response, please also inform the committee of whether the Boeing Authorized Representative who concurred with Boeing\u2019s decision to delay fixing the AOA Disagree alert for three years is still authorized to conduct work on behalf of the FAA.\n\nBoeing Efforts to Downplay MCAS\n\nThe second issue raised at the October 21, 2021, hearing, by Rep. Greg Stanton, concerns the degree of FAA\u2019s awareness about efforts within Boeing to downplay MCAS.\n\nAs you know, in January 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with Boeing in which Boeing admitted that, \u201cthrough two of its 737 MAX Flight Technical Pilots,\u201d Boeing deceived the FAA AEG about MCAS,[6] and more recently DOJ announced an indictment against former Boeing Chief Technical Pilot Mark Forkner for deceiving the FAA about MCAS.[7] The DOJ determined that an independent compliance monitor was unnecessary for its deferred prosecution agreement for several reasons, including their conclusion that, \u201cthe misconduct was neither pervasive across the organization, nor undertaken by a large number of employees, nor facilitated by senior management\u2026\u201d[8]\n\nAt the hearing last month, Rep. Stanton referenced a Boeing internal document from 2013 uncovered as part of our committee\u2019s investigation, a copy of which is enclosed for your convenience. This document, which summarizes the minutes of an internal Boeing meeting, details an explicit plan by multiple Boeing employees to downplay MCAS externally, including to regulators. The rationale for doing so was laid out explicitly in the document, which said, \u201c[i]f we emphasize MCAS is a new function, there may be a greater certification and training impact.\u201d[9] This set a plan in motion to limit the use of the MCAS nomenclature externally and to downplay the system as \u201cnew,\u201d by describing it as \u201can addition to Speed Trim.\u201d A Boeing Authorized Representative signed off on the plan.\n\nThe document shows that multiple individuals were involved in this plan and does not identify any of them as technical pilots, which was the job description of those identified in recent DOJ filings. In addition, we know from our committee\u2019s investigation that the Chief Project Engineer on the 737 MAX acknowledged that achieving \u201cLevel B\u201d (non-flight simulator) training requirements for pilots or less was a \u201cdesign objective\u201d of the 737 MAX program.[10] This was a directive designed and enforced by Boeing\u2019s senior most management and, as our report showed, it had ripple effects throughout the MAX program. This \u201cdesign objective\u201d combined with the 2013 meeting minutes help to highlight the fact that there were multiple efforts at Boeing from the top of the company on down that emphasized both the critical importance of avoiding flight simulator training as an FAA requirement and the fact that full and clear knowledge of MCAS by external parties, including regulators, could jeopardize that corporate goal.\n\nAfter describing the 2013 document, Rep. Stanton asked if you were aware of anyone at Boeing, other than the two technical pilots referenced in DOJ\u2019s deferred prosecution agreement, who tried to downplay the significance of MCAS to regulators. You responded, \u201cI am not aware of any particular individuals.\u201d When Rep. Stanton followed up to ask you whether you believe there were more than two Boeing employees who tried to downplay the significance of MCAS, you said, \u201cI believe that MCAS should have been included in the materials and that it was a safety critical system. Whether there was any intentionality on the part of others I can\u2019t speak to.\u201d[11] I believe the attached document makes it abundantly clear that there was an intentional plan to downplay the significance of MCAS to regulators by multiple individuals at Boeing.\n\nAs you recall, the issue was not just whether FAA was aware of MCAS, but how MCAS was presented to the FAA. According to the Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR), which was convened by your agency to review the 737 MAX crashes:\n\nThe FAA was not completely unaware of MCAS; however, because the information and discussions about MCAS were so fragmented and were delivered to disconnected groups within the process, it was difficult to recognize the impacts and implications of this system. If the FAA technical staff had been fully aware of the details of the MCAS function, the JATR team believes the agency likely would have required an issue paper for using the stabilizer in a way that it had not previously been used. MCAS used the stabilizer to change the column force feel, not trim the aircraft. This is a case of using the control surface in a new way that the regulations never accounted for and should have required an issue paper for further analysis by the FAA. If an issue paper had been required, the JATR team believes it likely would have identified the potential for the stabilizer to overpower the elevator.[12]\n\nWhile I appreciate FAA\u2019s current efforts to implement the ACSAA and the recommendations of the JATR, which will help to enhance FAA\u2019s oversight of Boeing and will improve the accountability of Boeing employees or others who endanger the safety of the flying public in the future, I am deeply troubled by the absence of rigorous accountability for Boeing\u2019s past transgressions related to the 737 MAX and the FAA\u2019s failure to hold those who violated the public\u2019s trust accountable. We must continue to move forward on improving the safety of our nation\u2019s aviation certification process, while at the same time not losing sight of past missteps or misdeeds.\n\nI would like to know what, if any, actions FAA has taken to evaluate and investigate the efforts by Boeing to downplay MCAS, particularly to U.S. and foreign regulators. I am not asking you to rehash the efforts the FAA has taken to establish JATR or other bodies to review the certification process or the MAX accidents, or what Boeing ultimately disclosed to FAA about MCAS. I am interested in any actions by the FAA to hold individuals accountable for their actions.\n\nHas the FAA identified the Authorized Representative who concurred with the plan to downplay MCAS?\n\nIf so, has the FAA interviewed this individual and/or requested related documents?\n\nIs this Authorized Representative still authorized to conduct work as a Boeing ODA Unit Member on behalf of the FAA?\n\nPlease provide the committee with copies of all records related to the FAA\u2019s efforts, if any, regarding the above questions.\n\nDid the FAA ever investigate the circumstances or individuals involved in Boeing\u2019s 2013 plan to downplay MCAS?\n\nPlease provide the committee with copies of all records related to the FAA\u2019s efforts, if any, regarding the above question.\n\nWhat, if anything, has FAA done to hold any of the individuals at Boeing accountable who took part in Boeing\u2019s 2013 efforts to downplay MCAS?\n\nPlease provide the committee with copies of all records related to the FAA\u2019s efforts, if any, regarding the above question.\n\nDoes FAA regard the actions memorialized in the enclosed Boeing document as acceptable?\n\nThank you for your time in addressing these important matters. Please provide a response to this letter by Monday, December 13, 2021. I look forward to continuing to work with the FAA to implement the ACSAA to improve safety, oversight, and accountability. Due to continuing issues with the Boeing 737 MAX and the 787, and the ongoing certification of the Boeing 777X, it is more critical than ever that the FAA takes its role as regulator seriously. FAA must fully investigate actions by Boeing or others that jeopardize the public\u2019s safety or disregard FAA\u2019s regulations and hold responsible parties accountable. My hope is that with continued implementation of the ACSAA, issues like those discussed above do not arise in the future.\n\nSincerely,\n\nPETER A. DeFAZIO\n\nChair\n\nSubcommittee on Aviation\n\nRICK LARSEN\n\nChair\n\nGREG STANTON", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-announces-5m-grant-enhance-central-washington-healthcare", "Newhouse Announces $5M Grant to Enhance Central Washington Healthcare", "2021-11-29", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $5,030,719 to the Columbia Basin Health Association (CBHA) through its Health Center Cluster program. This grant was funded from FY21 appropriations, which Republicans approved in December of 2020.\n\n\"Organizations like the Columbia Basin Health Association are critical to ensuring our rural communities receive the same standard of healthcare as our urban counterparts,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"I am pleased HHS has awarded this much-needed funding to the CBHA, and I look forward to continuing to partner with these organizations to deliver the affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare the people of Central Washington deserve.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nThrough the Health Resources & Services Administration, HHS awards grants to organizations that meet standards of federally qualified health centers. HRSA defines Health Centers as organizations that:\n\nDeliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high quality primary health care, as well as supportive services such as health education, translation, and transportation.\n\nProvide services regardless of patients' ability to pay and charge for services on a sliding fee scale.\n\nDevelop systems of patient-centered and integrated care that respond to the unique needs of diverse medically underserved areas and populations.\n\nPrivate non-profit or public entities, including tribal and faith-based organizations, that operate under the direction of a patient-majority governing board.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-mcmorris-rodgers-urge-president-biden-support-colville", "Newhouse, McMorris Rodgers Urge President Biden to Support Colville Disaster Recovery", "2021-11-29", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) urged President Joe Biden to approve a Major Disaster Declaration for the Colville Confederated Tribes (CCT). If approved, Public Assistance would be made available to remove debris, rebuild roads and bridges, and address recovery efforts on the Colville Indian Reservation in the wake of extreme wildfires earlier this year.\n\n\"The Colville Indian Reservation sustained damage from five uncontrolled fires that burned between July and September. The Chuweah Creek and Summit Trail Fires grew quickly and merged with smaller fires. When they were finally contained, another storm system passed through the region and ignited additional blaze on Reservation lands,\" the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThey continued, \"Despite full mutual aid response from surrounding fire districts, the CCT lost major power and communications infrastructure, primary homes, outbuildings, and vehicles and equipment. Now, much of the Reservation is at risk of flooding and erosion.\"\n\nThey concluded, \"The damage sustained is beyond the capacity of the CCT to address on its own. [We] request that the CCT's request for a Major Disaster Declaration and aid from Public Assistance Programs receive full and fair consideration.\"\n\nNOTE: Approval of a Major Disaster Declaration would allow funds from the Public Assistance Program to be used for debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and contents, public utilities, as well as parks, recreational, and other facilities.\n\nYou can read the full letter here and below.\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nWe are writing in support of the Colville Confederated Tribes' (CCT) recent request for a Major Disaster Declaration, following extreme fire and straight-line winds that led to extensive damage on the Colville Indian Reservation from July 12, 2021 through September 24, 2021.\n\nDue to the severity and magnitude of the disaster and damages, the CCT has requested assistance from all categories within the Public Assistance Program, including debris removal, emergency protective measures, roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and contents, public utilities, as well as parks, recreational, and other facilities.\n\nWe are in full support of this request and ask that it receive full and fair consideration.\n\nThe Colville Indian Reservation sustained damage from five uncontrolled fires that burned between July and September. The Chuweah Creek and Summit Trail Fires grew quickly and merged with smaller fires. When they were finally contained, another storm system passed through the region and ignited additional blaze on Reservation lands. Despite full mutual aid response from surrounding fire districts, the CCT lost major power and communications infrastructure, primary homes, outbuildings, and vehicles and equipment. Now, much of the Reservation is at risk of flooding and erosion.\n\nThe damage sustained is beyond the capability of the CCT to address on its own. Again, we request that the CCT's request for a Major Disaster Declaration and aid from Public Assistance Programs receive full and fair consideration.\n\nShould you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Liz Payne (Liz.Payne@mail.house.gov) or Stephanie McBath (Stephanie.McBath@mail.house.gov) in our offices.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/24/media-press-releases-strickland-honors-local-vietnam-veterans/", "Strickland Honors Local Vietnam Veterans", "2021-11-24", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Olympia, Washington \u2014 During National Veterans and Military Families Month, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) hosted a Vietnam Veterans Pinning Ceremony to honor local veterans in partnership with the US Vietnam Veterans Pin Commission. During the ceremony, Strickland recognized the service of each veteran or their surviving family member, and presented honorees with a ceremonial lapel pin as a symbol of our immense gratitude for their service to our country. The pinning ceremony is part of an ongoing national effort to honor all Vietnam War period veterans who served from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.\n\n\u201cAs the daughter of a veteran who served in two wars, I know that military families and veterans deserve our deepest respect and gratitude,\u201d Strickland said. \u201cDuring National Veterans and Military Families Month and as we approach the season of giving thanks, it is my honor to recognize ten Vietnam veterans and their families for their extraordinary service and sacrifice. Our nation and our community owes each of these local heroes a debt of gratitude.\u201d\n\nPlease find a list of the Vietnam veterans Congresswoman Strickland honored at the ceremony below.\n\nLeroy Painter-Smith\n\nMarrianne Backous (receiving the on behalf of her father, Henry Backous)\n\nWilliam Backous\n\nSteven Brklycica\n\nLois Simko\n\nLarry Grubb\n\nDonald Baker\n\nRoy Rhoades\n\nSteven \u201cChauncey\u201d Bradley\n\nWalter Simonsen\n\nJeff Dunlap\n\nStrickland has made helping veterans a top priority in Congress. She currently serves as a HillVets House Ambassador, committing to helping veterans seek a \u201csecond service\u201d career in policy, publicly supports their fellowship program, and considers their fellows for initial placement and permanent positions within their office. Strickland introduced the HOMES For Our Veterans Act which reduces barriers and makes it easier for organizations who provide homes and services to veterans experiencing homelessness to access federal capital grants. Strickland has also led numerous bipartisan letters urging the VA to improve veterans\u2019 access to health care, including addressing issues with the VA\u2019s Community Care program.\n\nIn 2007, the United States Congress passed legislation to conduct a nationwide program commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The program was launched in 2012 by President Barack Obama and concludes on Veterans Day in 2025, marking 50 years from the Vietnam War\u2019s end in 1975. As part of that program, the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration and its Commemorative Partners like Trahan have partnered together to honor the 6.2 million Vietnam veterans living at home and abroad, as well as the 9 million families of all who served.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-torres-urge-action-savannas-act", "Newhouse, Torres Urge Action on Savanna\u2019s Act", "2021-11-23", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting an update on the implementation of Savanna's Act, legislation passed last year to address the disproportionately high number of missing or murdered Native American women. The bill requires the Department of Justice to implement additional law enforcement protocols for investigating such cases.\n\n\"Savanna's Act was signed into law over a year ago and requires the Department of Justice to update Congress on how the reforms and guidelines are being implemented to better protect native women and communities. I am deeply disappointed this statutory deadline has not been met, given the dire state of the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women in Central Washington and across the country,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"We worked hard with our tribal partners and local advocates to get Savanna's Act signed into law, and now we urge Attorney General Garland to act swiftly to execute these bipartisan policies in order to deliver justice to the families and loved ones of these women.\"\n\nThe full text of the lawmakers' letter is here and below.\n\nDear Attorney General Garland:\n\nWe write to you today to respectfully inquire about your implementation of Savanna's Act (Public Law 116-165), bipartisan legislation that was signed into law on October 10, 2020. The law addresses the disproportionately high number of missing Native American women by directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review, revise, and develop law enforcement protocols, increase coordination, and improve data collection to address missing or murdered Native Americans. Additionally, the law authorizes the Department to provide grants to carry out these activities. Savanna's Act was signed into law more than a year ago and we are eager for your report on how DOJ has implemented these reforms to better protect indigenous women.\n\nAll too often, cases involving indigenous women go unreported, despite the fact that they are murdered and disappeared at unconscionably high rates. For instance, federal statistics show that Native American women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average and yet are the least likely of all ethnic groups to have newspaper coverage. Native Americans, women of color, and their families deserve the primetime coverage and government and public response that other cases have received. According to a Government Accountability Office report released on November 1, 2021, the implementation of Savanna's Act would, \"present opportunities to increase and improve data on the number of missing or murdered Indians, including AI/AN women\" (GAO-22-104045).\n\nWe understand that the change in executive administration and agency leadership has adversely impacted your ability to meet the deadlines set forth in the law, but our communities cannot wait any longer. You play a pivotal role in the national effort to find justice for these women, and we urge you to provide Congress with an update on your efforts to implement Savanna's Act. We hope you will do your utmost as Attorney General to oversee a robust law enforcement agency response to cases of missing or murdered Native Americans, the recording of Tribal enrollment information or affiliation of victims in Federal databases, and the reporting of this data to the public. We are requesting complete transparency in the implementation process of this legislation, which calls for a report from the Department detailing the annual data on missing Native Americans and the law enforcement agencies that provide such data.\n\nThank you for your unwavering commitment to finding justice for those who lack a voice. We appreciate your assistance in this matter and look forward to your response.\n\nBackground:\n\nOn May 14, 2019, Rep. Newhouse joined Reps. Norma Torres (D-CA) and Deb Haaland (D-NM) to introduce Savanna's Act, a bill that aims to address the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW) across the country. The bill develops guidelines and best practices for law enforcement agencies across the country, improves coordination between law enforcement agencies, and enhances reporting, record keeping, and communication for law enforcement and families of victims.\n\nSince the bill's introduction, Rep. Newhouse has continued to urge Congress to act and pass legislation to provide relief to Native communities. In October 2020, he hosted an hour-long bipartisan call-to-action on the House floor. Click here to watch remarks by Rep. Newhouse and his colleagues.\n\nLater that month, Rep. Newhouse arranged meetings with House leadership for two Yakama Nation leaders, then-Chairman JoDe Goudy and Councilwoman Lottie Samm, who traveled to Washington, D.C., to express the impact the MMIW crisis was having on local communities and to discuss the importance of passing legislation like Savanna's Act.\n\nSavanna's Act was referred to the House Judiciary Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. While House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-CA) did not meet with the delegation, Rep. Newhouse and the Yakama Nation leaders met with Chairman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) of the House Natural Resources Committee, Chairman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indigenous Peoples, and Chairwoman Karen Bass (D-CA) of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.\n\nFollowing the announcement of the Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, or Operation Lady Justice, Rep. Newhouse invited Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney to Central Washington to hear firsthand from tribal leaders. The group discussed how federal actions and legislation would help Native communities more effectively investigate crimes and deliver justice to the loved ones of these women. Click here to read more about the meeting in the Yakima Herald-Republic.\n\nLast month, Rep. Newhouse convened a similar meeting, inviting U.S. Attorney Bill Hyslop to meet with local, state, and tribal law enforcement officers and discuss the challenges they face in curbing the disproportionately high murder and violence rates against Native American women. At this meeting, Rep. Newhouse discussed how Savanna's Act would aid law enforcement agencies to track findings and more effectively investigate cases of MMIW. The U.S. Attorney also announced Operation White Swan, a federal effort that aims to curb violence on the Yakama Nation reservation.\n\nOn March 11, 2020, Savanna's Act passed through the House Judiciary Committee unanimously. Rep. Newhouse issued a statement of support.\n\nOn July 17, 2020, Rep. Newhouse led a bipartisan letter to Speaker Pelosi, urging congressional action on Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act before August recess. The letter has not received a response.\n\nOn September 17, 2020, Rep. Newhouse was joined by his Congressional Western Caucus colleagues, Reps. Chris Stewart (R-UT), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), to demand a House vote on Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act.\n\nOn September 21, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act unanimously.\n\nOn October 10, 2020, President Trump signed Savanna's Act and the Not Invisible Act into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-washington-democratic-congressional-delegation-urges-prioritization", "ICYMI: Washington Democratic Congressional Delegation Urges Prioritization of Howard Hanson Dam Fish Passage Facility to Receive Infrastructure Funding", "2021-11-23", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ISSAQUAH, WA \u2013 This week, nine members of the Washington Democratic congressional delegation led by Rep. Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Connor and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young requesting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and OMB prioritize funding for the planned Howard A. Hanson Dam fish passage facility on the Green River as part of the $17.1 billion in funding included for the Corps in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).\n\n\"Completing the downstream fish passage facility would ensure drinking water storage capacity, continue to protect the Green River Valley from flooding, and reopen over 60 miles of prime habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed salmon and steelhead populations, which also support the endangered Southern Resident orca population,\" the members wrote to Assistant Secretary Connor and Acting Director Young.\n\n\"Securing funding for construction will also leverage significant investments made by non-federal partners and complete a multi-benefit infrastructure project that could make the largest single gain in salmon production in Puget Sound.\"\n\nThe letter was signed by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08), Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), and Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available HERE and below.\n\nNovember 16, 2021\n\nDear Assistant Secretary Connor and Acting Director Young,\n\nWe write to request that funding for the construction of a downstream fish passage facility at Howard A. Hanson Dam (HAHD) be prioritized from funding made available to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) appropriated under Title III \u2013 Construction of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Completing the downstream fish passage facility would ensure drinking water storage capacity, continue to protect the Green River Valley from flooding, and reopen over 60 miles of prime habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed salmon and steelhead populations, which also support the endangered Southern Resident orca population.\n\nIn February 2019, the Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agreed to the Howard A. Hanson Dam Biological Opinion (BiOP) which outlined the Corps' responsibility to design and construct a downstream fish passage facility to improve the recovery of salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act and uphold the federal government's treaty and trust responsibilities to Native American Tribes. The BiOp requires an operational downstream fish passage facility by 2030 and funding is needed to commence construction and meet this obligation. Securing funding for construction will also leverage significant investments made by non-federal partners and complete a multi-benefit infrastructure project that could make the largest single gain in salmon production in Puget Sound.\n\nDownstream fish passage at HAHD is an urgent priority that is supported by members of Washington's federal Congressional delegation, the state of Washington, and local governments. Completion of this significant water storage and ecosystem restoration project that will benefit communities and critically threatened species in Washington state. It is vital that funding for construction of this fish passage facility at HAHD is prioritized by the Corps.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/22/media-press-releases-media-advisory-strickland-honor-local-vietnam-veterans-pinning-ceremony-lacey/", "**MEDIA ADVISORY**  Strickland to Honor Local Vietnam Veterans with Pinning Ceremony in Lacey", "2021-11-22", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Olympia, WA\u2014 On Tuesday, November 23rd at 10:00 AM PT, during National Veterans and Military Families Month, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) will hold a Vietnam Veterans Pinning Ceremony to honor local veterans in partnership with the US Vietnam Veterans Pin Commission. During the ceremony, Strickland will recognize the service of each veteran or their surviving family member, and present honorees with a ceremonial lapel pin as a symbol of immense gratitude for their service to our country. The pinning ceremony is part of an ongoing national effort to honor all Vietnam War period veterans who served from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-passage-build-back-better-act", "Rep. Smith Statement on the Passage of the Build Back Better Act", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "November 19, 2021\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) issued the following statement after he voted to pass H.R. 5376 the Build Back Better Act.\n\n\"Thanks to President Biden's vision and Speaker Pelosi's leadership, today the House passed one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in our nation's history. The Build Back Better Act will make transformational investments in communities across the country to improve the lives of our children and families.\n\n\"The Build Back Better Act represents an incredible opportunity to address the greatest existential threat of our time - climate change -while creating good-paying, unions jobs and building a sustainable, resilient economy. This bill is the largest investment to combat climate change that our nation has ever seen, with massive investments in clean energy and zero-emissions technology. The Biden-Harris Administration and Democrats in Congress have committed to making climate change a top priority and this legislation follows through on that commitment.\n\n\"This bill tackles some of the biggest issues facing individuals and families and helps grow our economy in a more equitable way, leveling the playing field for working families across the country. Build Back Better includes investments in, universal pre-k, affordable child care, an expanded child tax credit, and universal paid family and medical leave. This bill will also improve the health care system for millions of Americans by reducing premiums, lowering drug prices, and closing the Medicaid coverage gap. It makes significant investments in our workforce by making higher education more affordable, expanding workforce development and training programs, and enhancing worker protections. The bill will also help create a more equitable future by making large investments in affordable housing, alleviating the burden of rising costs of housing for countless people across the United States - including my constituents in the Puget Sound region. I am also pleased to see important immigration provisions included in this bill in an effort to keep all options on the table in the Senate for meaningful immigration reform. Crucially, these improvements to the lives of our families and communities are paid for by creating a fairer tax code - ensuring the wealthy and corporations finally pay their fair share.\n\n\"The negotiations and process to get to this point has certainly been challenging, and I appreciate the leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Chair Jayapal to push for important policy priorities in the Build Back Better Act. Today's passage of the Build Back Better Act in the House demonstrates the importance of the Democratic party coming together to deliver real results to the American people.\n\n\"It is now time for the Senate to swiftly take up the Build Back Better Act so that Americans don't have to wait any longer. Inaction by the Senate is not an option and I have faith in the President that he will continue to move the Build Back Better Act forward.\"\n\n###\n\nWhite House: Build Back Better Homepage\n\nSpeaker Pelosi: Build Back Better Factsheet\n\nBACKGROUND: The Details of the Build Back Better Act\n\nInvestments in Clean Energy and Combatting Climate Change\n\nThe Build Back Better Act will invest $555 billion in clean energy and climate programs, the largest single investment in our clean energy economy in history. As our economy moves toward electrification, these investments will help clean up all sectors including buildings, transportation, industry, electricity, and agriculture.\n\nClean Energy Tax Credits ($320 billion): Ten-year expanded tax credits for utility-scale and residential clean energy, transmission and storage, clean passenger and commercial vehicles, and clean energy manufacturing to meet President Biden's goal of reducing U.S. carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2030 while creating good, well-paying jobs.\n\nResilience Investments ($105 billion): Investments and incentives to address extreme weather (wildfires, droughts, and hurricanes, including in forestry, wetlands, and agriculture), legacy pollution in communities, and establishing a Civilian Climate Corps.\n\nInvestments and Incentives for Clean Energy Technology, Manufacturing, and Supply Chains ($110 billion): Targeted incentives to spur new domestic supply chains and technologies, like solar, batteries, and advanced materials, while boosting the competitiveness of existing industries, like steel, cement, and aluminum.\n\nClean Energy procurement ($20 billion): Provide incentives for government to be purchaser of next gen technologies, including long-duration storage, small modular reactors, and clean construction materials.\n\nGreenhouse Gas Reduction Fund: Invests $29 billion in nonprofit, state, and local climate finance institutions that support the rapid deployment of low and zero-emissions technologies, including zero-emissions vehicles. At least 40 percent of investments from the und will be made in low-income and disadvantaged communities.\n\nEnvironmental and Climate Justice Block Grants: Provides $3 billion to community-led projects that address environmental and public health harms related to pollution and climate change, giving direct funding to communities most impacted by climate change and environmental injustice.\n\nInvestments in Children and Families that Grow the Economy's Capacity\n\nUniversal Preschool for all 3- and 4-year Olds: Expand access to free high-quality preschool for more than 6 million children. This is a long-term program, with funding for six years.\n\nAffordable High Quality Child Care: Limit child care costs for families to no more than 7% of income, for families earning up to 250% of state median income. It enables states to expand access to about 20 million children. This is a long-term program, with funding for six years.\n\nExpanded Child Tax Credit: Extend for one year the current expanded Child Tax Credit for more than 35 million American households, with monthly payments for households earning up to $150,000 per year. Make refundability of the Child Tax Credit permanent.\n\nComprehensive Paid Family and Medical Leave: Establishes the first ever universal paid leave benefit for all U.S. workers, giving all workers an opportunity to receive up to four weeks of paid leave for new parents, workers dealing with their own serious medical conditions, and those who need leave to care for a loved one.\n\nImproving Health Care for Millions of Americans\n\nImproving Affordability and Reducing Premium Costs: Extends the expanded Affordable Care Act premium tax credits through 2025. Experts predict that more than 3 million people who would otherwise be uninsured will gain health insurance.\n\nClose the Medicaid Coverage Gap: Make the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits available through 2025 to 4 million uninsured people who live in states that have chosen not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.\n\nAllow Medicare to cover the cost of hearing. Establish a hearing benefit in Medicare, a crucial benefit to our seniors for a reasonable cost.\n\nReduce the costs of prescription drugs: Allows the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate prices for high-cost prescription drugs under Medicare, lowering drug costs for seniors. In addition, it sets a cap at $2,000 on the amount that seniors pay annually for prescription drugs under Medicare Part D. The Build Back Better Act also holds drug manufacturers accountable by imposing a penalty on them if they increase their prices faster than inflation and stops price gouging on insulin by limiting the costs to $35 per month for insulin for Americans with diabetes.\n\nEnhancing Maternal Health Equity: Improves maternal health outcomes for vulnerable populations by ensuring that all pregnant people on Medicaid can keep their health insurance for the first year postpartum, while also making significant public health investments to reduce inequities in maternal health outcomes and strengthen the maternal health workforce.\n\nMaking Permanent the Children's Health Insurance Program: Permanently extends funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which will ensure low-income children will always have access to quality, affordable health insurance.\n\nExpanding access to home and community-based services: Invests $150 billion to expand access to home and community-based services (HCBS) to older adults and individuals with disabilities, resolve the existing backlog to receive these services, and strengthen the HCBS workforce by enhancing protections and increasing pay.\n\nInvesting in Workers through Education and Workforce Development\n\nMaking Higher Education More Affordable: Increases the maximum Pell Grant award by $550 for enrollment at public and private non-profit institutions of higher education, the cornerstone of financial support for low-income individuals accessing higher education. Expands eligibility for financial aid programs, including Pell Grants, to certain immigrants in the United States under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).\n\nSupporting HBCUs, HSIs, MSIs, and TCUs: Invests $6 billion to increase mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges & Universities (\"HBCUs\"), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Minority Serving Institutions (\"MSIs\"), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (\"TCUs\") and provides $3 billion for a new competitive grant program to improve the research capacity and infrastructure of HBCUs, MSIs, and TCUs.\n\nInvesting in Workforce Development and Training: Includes $20 billion in investments across the workforce development system, including community college workforce programs, sector-based training, and registered apprenticeships. Reauthorizes Trade Adjustment Assistant (TAA) programs to provide a critical lifeline to workers, firms, and communities that have been harmed by trade.\n\nSupporting K-12 Education: Invests over $600 million in elementary and secondary education programs, including funding for educator training programs at HBUCs and the development of personnel to serve children with disabilities.\n\nEarned Income Tax Credit for 17 Million Low-Wage Workers: Extends for one year the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit for childless workers included in the American Rescue Plan, helping millions of workers stay out of poverty and increase their take-home-pay.\n\nEnhances Worker Protections: Rebuilds and expands the capacity of worker protection efforts at the Department of Labor with a nearly $2 billion investment.\n\nExpanding Access to Broadband: Invests $300 million to the Emergency Connectivity Fund, which gives schools and libraries the ability to provide students, teachers, and library patrons with Internet connectivity and connected devices. Provides $295 million to establish a program employing public-private partnerships to improve affordable broadband service in urban areas, specifically in communities of color and to low and middle-income consumers.\n\nAlleviating the Housing Crisis\n\nInvests $150 billion in housing affordability and reducing price pressures, and will go towards building, preserving, and improving more than 1 million affordable rental and single-family homes.\n\nRepairing and Expanding our Public Housing Infrastructure: Provides $65 billion to fully address the capital needs backlog of public housing.\n\nHousing Vouchers and Rental Assistance: Allocates $24 billion for Housing Choice Vouchers and supportive services, including set asides specifically for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking.\n\nBuilding and Preserving Affordable Homes: Provides $10 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to fund the construction, purchase, or rehabilitation of affordable homes for low-income people, and includes $15 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund to build and preserve over 150,000 new affordable, accessible rental homes for households with the lowest incomes.\n\nHistoric Expansion of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit: Invests in affordable housing through a historic expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) that is estimated to increase the number of affordable units by over 800,000 in the next decade. It better targets LIHTC investments for the most vulnerable by providing enhanced credits for certain projects serving extremely low-income tenants as well as certain tribal projects.\n\nCreating a Fairer Tax Code to Pay for the Build Back Better Act\n\nBelow is an overview of the eight sources of revenues in the Build Back Better Act. Under this legislation, no one making less than $400,000 a year will pay one cent in additional taxes.\n\nA 15 Percent Corporate Minimum Tax: Establishes a new \"minimum tax\" of 15 percent on all U.S. corporations earning more than $1 billion a year in profits. The minimum tax would be assessed on \"book\" income reported to shareholders, rather than profits reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).\n\nStrengthening the Global Minimum Tax for Large Multinational Corporations: Ensures that U.S. companies pay a minimum tax of 15 percent on profits they earn overseas, as part of our international agreement to end the \"race to the bottom\" in taxing large corporations.\n\nA Surcharge on the Wealthiest 0.02 Percent of Americans: Provides a new surtax on the income of multi-millionaires and billionaires - the wealthiest 0.02 percent of Americans. The surtax would apply a five percent rate above income of $10 million, and an additional three percent surtax on income above $25 million.\n\nIRS Investments to Close the Tax Gap: Provides for closing the tax gap - the difference between what is owed to the IRS in taxes and what is actually collected each year. Provides that the Administration will invest $80 billion in the IRS for the hiring of new agents and modernization of the agency's technology. The new funds will help enable the IRS to pursue wealthy tax cheats.\n\nClosing Medicare Tax Loophole for Wealthy: Closes the loopholes that allow some wealthy taxpayers to avoid paying the 3.8 Medicare tax on their earnings.\n\nLimiting Business Losses for the Wealthy: Limits the business losses the wealthy can claim to reduce their tax liability. For example, some high-income taxpayers claim their business losses against their investment income, zeroing out their tax bill. This limits the amount of business loss that can offset non-business income.\n\nTax on Stock Buybacks: Provides a one percent surcharge on corporate stock buybacks, which corporate executives too often use to enrich themselves rather than investing in workers and growing their businesses.\n\nRepealing Trump Rebate Rule: Repeals the Trump rebate rule, saving taxpayers and seniors money. Among its negative effects, the Trump rebate rule increased the monthly Medicare premium that seniors pay.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3001", "House Passes Historic Investment in American Families and Economy", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, the House of Representatives, with Congresswoman Suzan DelBene\u2019s (WA-01) support, passed the Build Back Better Act, a once-in-a-generation investment that will create jobs, grow our economy, and uplift families. As the Vice Chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and Chair of the New Democrat Coalition, DelBene was a key player throughout negotiations and helped shape this bill with her priorities.\n\n\u201cWith the Build Back Better Act, we are making smart investments that will grow our economy, get Americans back to work, and build a brighter future for our kids,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cThis historic legislation includes policies I fought for that will have an immediate effect on our communities and spur long-term economic growth and jobs. It\u2019s time that we show the American people that governance can work.\u201d\n\nDelBene secured a number of major legislative provisions in the bill to help Washingtonians including:\n\nContinuing the successful monthly Child Tax Credit payments of up to $300 per child through 2022. This is a historic tax cut for middle-class families, which has already helped over 3.3 million families put food on the table for their children and lifted 3.5 million children out of poverty. The bill also makes the credit permanently fully refundable, meaning the families most in need will continue to receive the full credit going forward. In Washington state, 1,381,000 kids qualified for Child Tax Credits in the most recent round of payments.\n\nExpanding the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) that will finance the creation or rehabilitation of more affordable housing. The provisions in this bill will build or preserve over 800,000 units and create 1.2 million jobs over the next decade.\n\nEstablishing a national paid family and medical leave policy that guarantees American workers 4 weeks of paid family and medical leave. Until now, the U.S. was one of the only developed countries without a national paid leave policy.\n\nLowering the cost of child care and achieving universal pre-K, helping parents go back to work and making long-term investments in our children's future.\n\nDecreasing the cost of health care for 9 million Americans and over half a million Washingtonians by continuing the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies through 2025.\n\nIncentivizing clean energy innovation and direct carbon capture technology with tax provisions I led to help lower carbon emissions.\n\nModernizing the Trade Adjustment Assistance program by expanding federal assistance for workers hurt by tariffs and international competition. This includes expanding eligibility, increasing benefits to displaced workers, and targeting support for trade-affected communities.\n\nSupporting local journalism with tax credits that help local, print, and digital publications grow sustainably and retain local journalists.\n\nThe Build Back Better Act now goes to the Senate for consideration.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2565", "Larsen: Build Back Better Ensures All Washingtonians Benefit from Economic Recovery", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) supported House-passage of the Build Back Better Act (BBB), historic legislation that creates millions of well-paying union jobs, drives long-term economic recovery and growth, and enables Northwest Washington communities to combat the climate change crisis. BBB passed the House of Representatives by a final vote of 220 to 213 and now heads to the Senate.\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) supported House-passage of the Build Back Better Act (BBB), historic legislation that creates millions of well-paying union jobs, drives long-term economic recovery and growth, and enables Northwest Washington communities to combat the climate change crisis. BBB passed the House of Representatives by a final vote of 220 to 213 and now heads to the Senate.\n\n\u201cNorthwest Washington is defeating the pandemic, but it has not yet been defeated; the economy is recovering, but it has not yet recovered,\u201d said Larsen. \u201cThis bold, FDR-like investment enables all Washingtonians to benefit from the economic recovery by putting more people to work, empowering working families, ensuring seniors can afford prescription drugs, building more affordable housing and combating the climate change crisis.\u201d\n\nAccording to White House estimates, the bipartisan infrastructure law and BBB together will add, on average, around 2 million U.S. jobs per year over the course of the next decade. BBB addresses many of Larsen\u2019s local priorities, including:\n\nQuality, Affordable Child Care\n\nMaking it easier for working families to pay for child care empowers parents who want to go back to work.\n\nThe Build Back Better Act provides access to safe, affordable child care for more than 470,000 Washington state children (ages 0-5) per year for families earning under 2.5 times the Washington median income (about $254,421 for a family of four). BBB also ensures these families pay no more than 7% of their income on high-quality child care.\n\nBBB enables Washington to expand access to free, high-quality preschool for more than 181,000 additional 3- and 4-year-olds per year in Washington state and increase the quality of preschool for children who are already enrolled.\n\nBBB extends for one year the expanded Child Tax Credit Larsen supported in the American Rescue Plan that cut childhood poverty in half nationwide. In October, an estimated 76,000 Second District families received an average of $438 to pay for child care, groceries and other essential items.\n\nBBB permanently authorizes the first-ever national paid family and medical leave guarantee for U.S. workers for up to four weeks.\n\nMore Well-Paying Clean Energy Jobs\n\nBuilding back better means funding historic investments in electric vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure, incentivizing utilities to switch to cleaner power generation and establishing tax credits for green aviation fuels and electric vehicles to create well-paying union jobs.\n\nThe Build Back Better Act is the largest single effort to combat the climate crisis in U.S. history, investing $555 billion over 10 years to cut pollution, reduce energy costs and create well-paying jobs to ensure the United States leads the clean energy economy.\n\nBBB establishes a nationwide 300,000+ member Climate Conservation Corps that puts Washingtonians to work conserving public lands, bolstering local resilience and addressing climate change.\n\nBBB extends and expands clean energy tax credits to invest more than $300 billion to support clean energy investments and deployment, improve energy efficiency and encourage vehicle electrification.\n\nBBB invests $20 billion nationwide in workforce development initiatives that prepare Washingtonians for in-demand jobs in clean energy, child care, public health, manufacturing and IT.\n\nBBB contains $10 billion for the full replacement of lead pipes in drinking systems throughout the country.\n\nBBB enables Washington\u2019s 34 public community colleges to benefit from federal grants to develop and deliver innovative training initiatives and expand successful existing initiatives.\n\nMore Affordable Housing\n\nIt is clear from my conversations with residents, stakeholders and local officials there is not enough affordable housing in communities across Northwest Washington. Approximately 487,000 Washington renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent, while homeownership remains out of reach for many in the Pacific Northwest.\n\nThe Build Back Better Act makes a $151 billion investment toward affordable housing solutions nationwide, including $24 billion for critical rental assistance.\n\nBBB includes provisions Larsen advocated that increase the availability of high-quality housing through the construction and rehabilitation of more than 1 million affordable units nationwide, creating jobs in construction and more housing for Washingtonians.\n\nLower Drug and Health Care Prices\n\nSeniors have long paid too much for prescriptions. Currently, Medicare is prohibited by law from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies over the price of medications.\n\nThe Build Back Better Act empowers the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate directly with drug companies to lower drug prices for the nearly 1.4 million Medicare beneficiaries in Washington state.\n\nBBB lowers insulin costs for all insured Americans and caps insulin copays at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries.\n\nBBB creates a new, out-of-pocket cap of $2,000 on what seniors pay for their drugs in Medicare Part D.\n\nBBB closes the Medicaid coverage gap to help millions of Americans gain health insurance, extends through 2025 the American Rescue Plan\u2019s health insurance premium reductions for those who buy coverage on their own and helps older Americans access affordable hearing care by expanding Medicare. In Washington state, that means 108,000 uninsured people will gain coverage and 89,300 will on average save hundreds of dollars per year.\n\nFor a summary of the Build Back Better Act, click here.\n\n###\n\nRelated News\n\nLarsen Supports Pay for Hard-Working Public Servants\n\nMarch 26, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Demands Trump Admin Mobilize All Options to Prepare for Upcoming Wildfire Season\n\nMarch 26, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Invites Students to Participate in 2026 Congressional Art Competition\n\nMarch 12, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Announces $17.5 Million Investment in Skagit Transit\n\nMarch 12, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Announces Release of Flood Recovery Funds\n\nMarch 11, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-stands-against-socialist-spending-spree", "Newhouse Stands Against Socialist Spending Spree", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\"Today's vote leaves me concerned for the future of our country, and I am deeply disappointed in my Democratic colleagues for pushing through this partisan package.\n\n\"The American people are already struggling to make ends meet thanks to the skyrocketing inflation that has negatively impacted wage growth, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increasing gas prices we've been experiencing under the Biden Administration. Not only will this package raise taxes on Washington families, but it goes even further by borrowing against our children's future, raising our national debt by $367 billion dollars.\n\n\"Our national debt has already surpassed $28 trillion \u2013 to put that number in perspective, that's roughly 230 thousand dollars per taxpayer. Speaker Pelosi and other Democratic leaders might have 230 thousand dollars just lying around, but most people\u2014the vast majority of the people I represent\u2014don't.\n\n\"Now, Speaker Pelosi and the Democrat leaders are throwing more of your money down the drain as they seek to achieve their socialist dream of expanded government by adding more IRS agents, taxing our small businesses, preventing domestic energy production, creating Green New Deal programs, and eliminating work requirements for welfare benefits.\n\n\"It is abundantly clear that this legislation will be devastating for the men and women I represent in Central Washington who produce so much of the food and fiber that feeds our nation, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to prevent this piece of legislation from going any further.\n\n\"We owe our children, grandchildren, and future generations a return to fiscal responsibility. That starts with legislating responsibly and thoughtfully, not just catering to the radicals in the Democratic Party. It's time that they learn: We don't need bigger government, we need better leadership.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-votes-pass-historic-build-back-better-act", "Rep. Schrier Votes to Pass Historic Build Back Better Act", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) voted to pass the Build Back Better Act, which will bring down the cost of health care and prescription drugs, set the United States on course to meet its climate goals, create millions of family wage jobs, and ensure families have access to affordable, quality child care and pre-K.\n\n\"As a mom and pediatrician, I've seen firsthand the urgent need for a historic investment in middle class families to ease the growing burdens they are facing. That's why I am delighted that the Build Back Better Act not only makes significant investments in America's future, it lowers costs for working families by extending the monthly Child Tax Credit, capping the cost of child care, and setting every child up for lifelong success with universal preschool,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"This bill will also make health care more affordable for Washingtonians by capping prescription drug costs for seniors, lowering premiums for people who buy insurance on their own, and stopping drug companies from price gouging.\"\n\nThe Build Back Better Act will make generational investments including:\n\nEarly Education: Right now, only 22% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Washington state have access to publicly funded pre-K, while the average cost of private pre-K in the state is $8,600. The Build Back Better Act will expand access to free, high-quality pre-K for all Washington children\n\nTax Cut for Middle Class Families: The Build Back Better Act extends the enhanced Child Tax Credit for another year to give almost 80% of 8th District families a tax cut, and make it available as a monthly benefit of up to $300 per month per child under 6, and up to $250 per month for each child 6 - 17 years old.\n\nHealth Care: The Build Back Better Act will save Washingtonians thousands of dollars each year by capping ACA health insurance premiums so no family pays more than 8.5% of their income on premiums, expanding Medicare to cover hearing aids, and making reforms to crack down on drug companies and ensure seniors can afford their medications.\n\nLowers insulin prices so people with diabetes pay no more than $35 per month\n\nCaps drug costs for older Americans at $2,000/year\n\nGives Medicare the power to negotiate the best price for the most expensive medications\n\nHolds down drug prices for everyone by penalizing companies that raise their prices faster than inflation\n\nChild Care: The average annual cost for childcare in Washington state is $16,000! The Build Back Better Act will help families afford childcare by ensuring that families making less than $200,000 per year will pay no more than 7% of their income on childcare. This means the parents of 470,178 young children in Washington will save an average of $5,000 per year and can afford to go back to work.\n\nCombating Climate Change: From 2010 to 2020, Washington experienced 10 extreme weather events, costing up to $5 billion in damages. And as climate change worsens, wildfires are getting hotter and more destructive. The Build Back Better Act sets the United States on course to meet its climate targets of 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. And it will create family wage jobs and grow domestic manufacturing industries to support clean energy technology.\n\nRepresents the largest-ever single investment in our clean energy economy\u2014across buildings, transportation, industry, electricity, agriculture, and climate smart practices in our lands and waters\n\nStrengthens U.S. manufacturing and supply chains for critical goods, benefiting American businesses, workers, consumers, and communities\n\nRep. Schrier continued, \"As we face the increasing threat of climate change, significant investments in forest management, wildland firefighting and mitigation, and agriculture research will allow for better wildfire preparedness and help specialty crop farmers. This legislation also includes electric vehicle tax credits and other rebates that help save families money while moving our country toward a cleaner, more energy efficient future. This bill will create jobs in the 8th district, cut middle class taxes, and give our communities and working families the tools they need to thrive.\"\n\nWildfire Preparedness: The Build Back Better Act makes the most significant investment in history for forest management to ensure Washington state has healthy, resilient forests.\n\nIncludes $14 billion for prescribed fire and thinning, provisions Rep. Schrier championed in her National Prescribed Fire Act\n\n$450 million for Legacy Roads and Trails program. Rep. Schrier introduced bipartisan legislation and led Congressional efforts to fund this program, including $250 million authorized in the recently-signed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act\n\nSupports local fire departments with $150 million for State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Assistance Programs\n\n$775 million for Wood Innovation Grants, which could support efforts in Chelan County to develop a small-diameter sawmill, helping forests and creating jobs and building materials\n\nChild Nutrition: More than 230,000 children in Washington live in households that struggle with hunger. The Build Back Better Act builds on Rep. Schrier's previous work to ensure all kids have a healthy start by expanding access to school meals and healthy food in the summer.\n\nCuts red tape to make it easier for schools to serve lunch to any child who needs it\n\nExpands the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program to provide more than 481,000 Washington students with resources to purchase food over the summer when they may not be able to otherwise rely on school meals\n\nAgriculture Research and Protecting Salmon:\n\n$1 billion for Pacific salmon conservation and habitat restoration\n\n$60 million for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Since March 2019, Rep. Schrier has been a major champion of SCRI funding to support specialty crop producers and researchers", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/19/media-press-releases-strickland-votes-build-back-better-act-invest-women-working-families-and/", "Strickland Votes for the Build Back Better Act to Invest in Women, Working Families, and Caregivers", "2021-11-19", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, sending it to the Senate for consideration.\n\n\u201cWhen we invest in women, families, and caregivers, we power an economic recovery that benefits all of us,\u201d said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. \u201cWith the Build Back Better Act, Congress will deliver life-changing benefits for families in the South Sound and across our nation \u2013 all without adding to the national debt. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join me and vote in favor of this transformational bill that will address housing, lower health care costs, affordable child care and in-home care, education, climate change and much more.\u201d\n\nThis transformative package will:\n\nReduce Housing Costs and Expand Housing Options: 487,000 renters in Washington are rent burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent, while homeownership remains out of reach for many families. This package invests $150 billion nationwide with targeted funding streams for new construction and preservation of housing, rental and down payment assistance, sustainable and resilient housing, and fair housing enforcement, among other investments. The Build Back Better framework will expand rental assistance for Washington renters, while also increasing the supply of high-quality housing through the construction and rehabilitation of over 1 million affordable housing units nationwide. It will address the capital needs of the entire public housing stock in America and it includes one of the largest investments in down payment assistance in history, enabling more first-generation homebuyers to purchase their first home.\n\nLower Health Care Costs: negotiating lower drug costs for seniors; halting Big Pharma\u2019s outrageous price hikes above inflation; and expanding the ACA to make coverage more affordable for those who buy insurance on their own. In Washington, that means 108,000 uninsured people will gain coverage and 89,300 will on average save hundreds of dollars per year.\n\nCut Taxes and Lower Costs for Families and Workers\n\nThe bill will extend Child Tax Credit (CTC) increases of $300/month per child under 6 or $250/month per child ages 6 to 17. Enable Washington to provide access to child care for 470,178 young children (ages 0-5) per year from families earning under 2.5 times the Washington median income (about $254,421 for a family of 4), and ensure these families pay no more than 7% of their income on high-quality child care. This will continue the largest one-year reduction in child poverty in history. And critically, the agreement includes permanent refundability for the Child Tax Credit, meaning that the neediest families will continue to receive the full Child Tax Credit over the long-run. Prior to the pandemic, 9% of children under the age of 18 in Washington lived in poverty. The bill will bolster financial security and spur economic growth in Washington by reducing taxes on the middle class and those striving to break into it.\n\nProvide a tax cut of up to $1,500 in tax cuts for 358,300 low-wage workers in Washington by extending the American Rescue Plan\u2019s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansion.\n\nEnable Washington to expand access to free, high-quality preschool to more than 181,109 additional 3- and 4-year-olds per year and increase the quality of preschool for children who are already enrolled. Only 22% of the 233,030 3- and 4-year-olds in Washington have access to publicly-funded preschool.\n\nExpand free school meals for an additional 5,000 WA students during the school year and provide 481,943 WA students with resources to purchase food over the summer.\n\nProvides for Home and Community-Based Services with an investment of $150 billion to expand access to quality home-based care for millions of older adults and people with disabilities. This funding includes resources to improve our national care infrastructure by strengthening the direct care workforce.\n\nMake the Largest Investment to Combat Climate Crisis in History: cutting pollution, reducing energy costs, creating good paying jobs with a transformational investment to ensure America leads the clean energy economy. The package will strengthen domestic manufacturing and supply chains for critical goods, benefiting American businesses, workers, consumers, and communities.\n\nInvest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs) to build capacity, modernize research infrastructure, and provide financial aid to low-income students.\n\nFor a Fact Sheet on the impact on Washington State, visit this link. For a comprehensive Fact Sheet on the impact nationwide, visit this link\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-introduces-bill-address-aviation-noise-and-emissions-matter", "Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Address Aviation Noise and Emissions as a Matter of Environmental Justice and Health Equity", "2021-11-18", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act, which would help communities near airports and airflight pathways monitor and mitigate aviation noise and emissions.\n\n\"For far too long, communities near airports and airflight pathways have been left to deal with the harm caused by aviation noise and pollution on the local level, without robust federal support. Today, with the introduction of my legislation, that changes. We know that aviation noise and emissions have disproportionately affected low-income communities and communities of color. As such, we must treat these issues as a matter of environmental justice and health equity.\n\n\"While the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies have developed programs to address environmental justice, none are focused specifically on the communities - like those in my district - who are negatively affected by aviation noise and emissions. The legislation introduced today will help us to better understand the effects of noise and emissions in our communities and fund initiatives driven by communities to mitigate these effects on the environment, public health, and quality of life of residents living near airports and airflight pathways.\"\n\nThe Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act is supported by Quiet Skies Puget Sound, the Beacon Hill Council, the King County International Airport Community Coalition, and the Quiet Skies Coalition (King County).\n\nOriginal cosponsors: Rep. Eleanor Norton (D-DC, Quiet Skies Caucus Co-Chair), Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA, Quiet Skies Caucus Co-Chair), Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Tom Souzzi (D-NY)\n\n###\n\nBackground\n\nStudies have demonstrated that communities near airports and airflight pathways are exposed to higher proportions of pollution and harmful particles from aviation emissions. This can lead to increased risks of breast cancer, heart disease, asthma, and a variety of other lung and cardiovascular conditions. In addition to poor air quality, communities impacted by aviation are increasingly subject to high levels of aircraft noise due to the uptick in air travel over the last several decades. A number of studies have found correlations between exposure to high levels of airport noise and poor health outcomes and negative impacts on children's learning.\n\nIn order to better support communities impacted by higher level of noise and emissions, the federal government must invest new resources into research and data on community-level impacts and grants to mitigate these impacts.\n\nThe Aviation Noise and Emissions Mitigation Act would create two new pilot grant programs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for studies of air quality and noise and for mitigation projects in these communities:\n\nNoise and Air Quality Monitoring and Research Grant Program - a three-year grant at the EPA for higher education institutions, health entities, or local governments to measure noise and emissions levels, and its impacts, on local communities. It would require grantees to collect data and produce neighborhood-levelmaps on the impact of aviation noise and emissions, the sources of the noise and emissions, and identify disproportionately impacted communities.\n\nMitigation and Support Services Grant Program - to be established following the noise and air quality monitoring program, this grant program would fund initiatives to mitigate aviation noise and emissions in communities. Eligible entities including community-based non-profit organizations, local or Tribalgovernments, or local health departments could use the funds for a range of activities such as:\n\nnoise mitigation packages for homes or other weatherization, retrofitting, or energy efficiency upgrades that have noise reduction, environmental, or health benefits;\n\nprograms to promote environmental and public health in impacted communities; and\n\nhealth care services or other interventions that address underlying impacts from aviation noise and pollution on health and quality of life.\n\nThe legislation would require the EPA to prioritize mitigation grants to communities found to be disproportionately impacted by aviation noise and emissions, and disadvantaged communities with higher prevalence of diseases associated with environmental exposure. Grantees would be required to demonstrate how their project addresses environmental or health disparities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3002", "DelBene Helps Secure $22.1 Million for Granite Falls Bridge Replacement", "2021-11-18", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced that with her support Snohomish County was awarded a $22.1 million grant to replace the Granite Falls Bridge #102 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).\n\nThe Granite Falls Bridge #102 is an essential part of the roadways that serve the communities of Granite Falls, Verlot, Robe Valley, and Silverton in Snohomish County. The bridge replacement will expand recreation and tourism by providing direct access to the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It will also connect a vital freight route used to transport natural resources like timber, sand, and gravel across Washington. In its current state, the bridge is considered functionally obsolete. If the bridge were to fail or close, the detour route is a 94-mile distance and would significantly impair emergency services.\n\n\u201cThe Granite Falls Bridge #102 is a prime example of Washington state infrastructure that has been neglected through years of underinvestment. This grant will help make sure this vital recreational and economic transportation route is available to the Snohomish County community for the next generation,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cI worked hard to help secure this $22.1 million USDOT grant and will continue fighting for additional federal investments in our local infrastructure.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are incredibly grateful to Rep. DelBene, Sen. Cantwell, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the members of our congressional delegation, and many others for helping us secure a $22.1 million RAISE grant to fund the replacement of the Granite Falls Bridge,\u201d said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. \u201cWe have been working for many years to fix this key link in our north county transportation network, and now we can finally get down to work. The replacement of this vital bridge will ensure people and goods can get to where they need to go. Our economy and the vitality of our community depend on maintaining our infrastructure.\u201d\n\nThe project is being awarded a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity Discretionary (RAISE) grant, a program that is dedicated to investing in critical road, rail, transit, and port projects across the country. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was passed by the House and signed into law this month, increased funding for the grant program to a total of $7.5 billion.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2563", "Larsen, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Southern Resident Killer Whales, Marine Mammals", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) introduced bipartisan legislation to protect marine mammals nationwide, including Southern Resident Killer Whales (orcas).\n\nThe Protecting Our Marine Mammals (POMM) Act expands federal protections for marine mammals to include vessel speed mitigation measures, monitoring of underwater soundscapes and grants to support research and development into marine mammal monitoring technologies.\n\n\u201cIn the Pacific Northwest, Southern Resident Killer Whales are an important cultural symbol and environmental linchpin,\u201d said Rep. Larsen. \u201cI am encouraged by the Navy and Coast Guard\u2019s recent efforts to work together to enhance protection of Southern Resident Killer Whales in Puget Sound. My bipartisan POMM Act builds on this critical work by enhancing ongoing conservation, science and technology measures to protect and conserve marine mammals.\u201d\n\n\u201cDeclining marine biodiversity and habitat loss remain the most significant threats to marine mammal species,\u201d said Rep. Fitzpatrick. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation will expand conservation efforts and underwater monitoring technologies to ensure our at-risk marine mammals are protected from further harm.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to join Representative Larsen in introducing this bipartisan bill full of commonsense steps to protect whales and other marine life,\u201d said Rep. Grijalva, Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. \u201cWhales face a number of threats from our busy oceans, but technology and innovative strategies like the ones in this bill can help protect these sensitive populations.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur oceans are diverse, incredible ecosystems with some of the most important creatures and organisms on the planet \u2013 including the orca, our state marine mammal. Orcas are not only valuable to the Pacific Northwest ecosystem, but they also have profound cultural value, as well,\u201d said Rep. Kilmer. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to support Rep. Larsen\u2019s bipartisan legislation to take steps to further protect orcas and other marine mammals in our region and ensure we do all we can to recover the Southern Resident orca population.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarine mammals like Southern Resident Killer Whales are cherished by communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. We must do more to ensure their wellbeing and one proven way to protect these creatures is to limit the impacts of vessel traffic in their habitats,\u201d said Rep. DelBene. \u201cI\u2019m supporting this bill so that marine mammals throughout the country can thrive and future generations can continue to appreciate them.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to support Rep. Larsen\u2019s POMM Act that takes a science and evidence-based approach to protecting whales from collisions with and noise from ships. Our beloved and endangered native orca populations and other marine mammals are critical to the Pacific Northwest ecosystems. We must continue to do all that we can to protect them,\u201d said Rep. Schrier.\n\n\u201cWithout protection, endangered mammals like the iconic Puget Sound orca pods will continue to be in harm's way. With only 73 southern resident orcas left in the wild, protecting these animals and other species from threats including fast-moving vessels is vital. I\u2019m proud to join Representative Larsen in introducing legislation to expand federal protections and support for marine mammals nationwide before it\u2019s too late,\u201d said Rep. Strickland.\n\nThe bipartisan POMM Act received endorsements from several key stakeholders and organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Seattle Aquarium, Friends of the San Juans, Defenders of Wildlife, the Oceanic Preservation Society, Ocean Conservation Research, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Gotham Whale, the Center for Biological Diversity and Cetacean Society International.\n\n\u201cCollisions with ships and underwater noise pollution are threatening the recovery of critically endangered marine mammals, such as Southern Resident orcas and North Atlantic right whales,\u201d said Regan Nelson, Senior Oceans Advocate, NRDC. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will jumpstart innovative solutions that address these threats, such as technologies that quiet ships and real-time alert systems that help mariners avoid whales.\u201d\n\n\u201cFriends of the San Juans is grateful for Rep. Larsen\u2019s leadership on this bipartisan bill. The POMM Act will mitigate vessel traffic impacts and will provide funding for further research and protection measures for Southern Residents and other whales,\u201d said R. Brent Lyles, Executive Director, Friends of the San Juans.\n\n\u201cVulnerable marine mammals like the endangered Southern Resident orcas urgently need additional protections to reduce the risk of harm from vessel impacts,\u201d said Robert W. Davidson, President and CEO, Seattle Aquarium. \u201cWe are grateful for Representative Larsen\u2019s leadership in championing this bill to directly address that need as well as increase monitoring of underwater noise.\u201d\n\nLarsen, a founder and co-chair of the Congressional Estuary Caucus, has been a leading voice in Congress to protect marine mammals and ecosystems in Puget Sound and across the country. Earlier this year, Larsen successfully included his amendment in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act to expand federal protections for marine mammals.\n\nTo read the POMM Act, click here.\n\nFor a fact sheet of Larsen\u2019s actions to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/17/media-press-releases-strickland-and-aarp-host-live-tele-town-hall-caring-caregivers/", "Strickland and AARP Host Live Tele-Town Hall on Caring for Caregivers", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 During National Family Caregivers Month, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and AARP held a live tele-town hall to take questions, provide resources, and highlight how we must better support caregivers and families, especially as the House considers the Build Back Better Act. Strickland was joined by Cathy MacCaul, Advocacy Director for AARP Washington State and Bea Rector, Director of the Home and Community Services (HCS) Division within the Aging and Long-Term Support Administration in Washington State\u2019s Department of Social and Health Services. (Listen to the Town Hall at this link.)\n\n\u201cI am grateful to the many caregivers and families for sharing their stories and needs with me, and to AARP Washington for their advocacy on behalf of caregivers in my district. November is National Family Caregivers Month and I know that a crucial part of building back better is supporting our care workers and all who take on caregiving responsibilities for their loved ones,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland. \u201cThat\u2019s why I fought to include policies like the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan. As Congress advances the Build Back Better Act, we must do more to meet the needs of caregivers and families.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe stresses of the pandemic took a significant toll on family caregivers. When we surveyed family caregivers last winter, about 60% said they were feeling more worry and anxiety due to the pandemic,\u201d said Cathy MacCaul, AARP Washington Advocacy Director. \u201cWe are fortunate to have champions like Congresswoman Strickland, who recognize the challenges of family caregiving and can advocate for a more supportive care infrastructure.\u201d\n\nConstituents led the conversation, asking questions specific to their personal experiences with caregiving including raising issues such as habitable and accessible housing, multigenerational housing, ageing with dignity, respite care, lowering the cost of care and more. Strickland answered questions on federal support for caregiving infrastructure, including passing the American Rescue Plan\u2019s Child Tax Credit, cosponsoring the Credit for Caring Act to assist with out-of-pocket caregiving costs, fighting to strengthen social security, and more. Strickland provided an update on crucial policies she is currently fighting to include in the Build Back Better Act including home-based services for older adults and people with disabilities, investments in the caregiving workforce and much more.\n\nRESOURCES:\n\nFor assistance with long-term care programs in Washington state, visit the Washington State Aging and Long-Term Support Administration\u2019s website. Visit AARP\u2019s website or call 1-877-333-5885 (English) or 1-888-971-2013 (Spanish) for toll-free family caregiving resources. Call 1-800-677-1116 or visit this website for resources from the U.S. Administration on Aging to connect individuals to care for older adults and families. Constituents of Washington\u2019s 10th Congressional District may also call Congresswoman Strickland\u2019s office at (360) 459-8514 or visit www.strickland.house.gov if they have any questions, comments or concerns.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/17/media-press-releases-strickland-murray-hirono-clark-pressley-garcia-slotkin-lead-over-80-lawmakers/", "Strickland, Murray, Hirono, Clark, Pressley, Garcia, Slotkin Lead Over 80 Lawmakers in Reintroducing the BE HEARD Act to Address Workplace Harassment", "2021-11-17", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-MA-5), Assistant Speaker of the House, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-8) reintroduced the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act of 2021, which takes critical steps to prevent workplace harassment and ensure workers can seek accountability and justice. Strickland, Murray, Hirono, Clark, Pressley, Garcia, and Slotkin were joined by 68 House cosponsors, and 20 Senate cosponsors, listed below.\n\n\u201cAll workers, regardless of their background or their occupation, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Yet, many across our nation continue to face sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace without adequate recourse. With the Be HEARD Act, we are listening to workers\u2019 voices and calling on Congress to provide the full protections, accountability and justice everyone deserves in the workplace,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland.\n\nEven years after the #MeToo movement first began, workers across the country continue to face sexual harassment at work. For some workers, the pandemic has only made already pervasive sexual harassment even worse\u2014particularly for women in the food service industry, who have reported a dramatic increase in sexual harassment, including customers harassing them to take off their masks in order to judge their looks. The continuing epidemic of sexual harassment at work highlights the urgent need to pass the BE HEARD Act, particularly as workers across the country return to in-person work.\n\nThis legislation includes key reforms including ending mandatory arbitration and pre-employment NDAs to help ensure transparency, expanding civil rights protections for workers\u2014including independent contractors and interns, extending the time limit for reporting and challenging harassment, and ending the tipped minimum wage\u2014a key reform to ensure workers don\u2019t have to endure harassment from customers because their wages depend on tips.\n\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter who you are, or where you work\u2014everyone deserves to be treated fairly, respectfully, and with dignity.\u201d said Senator Murray. \u201cYet for too many workers, going to work still means putting up with sexual harassment and discrimination\u2014and in some cases, the pandemic has only made this pervasive problem that much worse. This critical legislation will change that, by expanding protection for workers and ensuring they get the accountability and justice they deserve. I\u2019m so proud to re-introduce the BE HEARD Act alongside my colleagues\u2014because so long as workers continue to face sexual harassment, we will keep demanding better and fighting for change.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is no question that workers face discrimination and sexual harassment in our workplaces. Even with the laws we have on the books and the #MeToo movement shedding light on this problem, it\u2019s still way too easy for employers to get away with committing these offenses. Every worker deserves to be treated with dignity and respect no matter their sexual orientation, gender identity, or their personal decision to start a family. I\u2019m proud to join Senator Murray and my House colleagues in re-introducing the BE HEARD Act which will take important steps to protect and empower workers, and stop employers from silencing anyone,\u201d said Senator Hirono.\n\n\u201cToday, we\u2019re saying enough is enough: no more silence, no more complacency. Whether you\u2019re an assistant, an actress, a waitress, or an executive, workplace harassment is unacceptable, and victims must have the ability to seek justice. The Be Heard Act will broaden civil rights protections, ensure access to a legal process, expand victims\u2019 rights, and help change the culture of silence and abuse. This is about justice and respect for every worker, and nothing less should be tolerated under the law,\u201d said Assistant Speaker Clark.\n\n\u201cEvery worker deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, but far too many workers are subjected to workplace violence, toxic harassment and discrimination on the job. That must change,\u201d said Rep. Pressley. \u201cOur bill would address this crisis head on by extending critical protections against harassment and discrimination to all working people and supporting workers as they seek accountability, justice and healing. For too long, too many of our most vulnerable workers have been forced to suffer in silence. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this comprehensive bill that will help us legislate justice and center their voices and lived experiences once and for all.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many workers wake up every day in fear of going to work because they know they will be harassed, disrespected, or worse,\u201d said Congresswoman Garcia. \u201cThis problem has only gotten worse as the COVID-19 pandemic has placed additional strain on workers and resulted in increased harassment. Everyone should feel safe in their workplace and be treated with the dignity and respect that we all deserve. That\u2019s why I am proud to join my colleagues and grateful for their support in re-introducing this important bill. By passing the BE HEARD Act, Congress will stand firm on the side of workers in my district and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur national conversation around sexual harassment is long overdue. For too long, women across industries and backgrounds have been unable to come forward to report harassment, or have been met with obstacles and retaliation for demanding their right to work free of harassment or discrimination,\u201d said Rep. Slotkin. \u201cI\u2019m proud to stand alongside my colleagues and survivors in reintroducing the Be HEARD Act \u2013 not just to update our laws and keep workers safe in the workplace, but to help change the leadership climate and culture that has for too long tolerated harassment and abuse. Enough.\u201d\n\nThe BE HEARD Act will:\n\nStrengthen understanding of workplace harassment and help businesses prevent it: The BE HEARD Act invests in research about the economic impact of workplace harassment, requires regular reporting on the prevalence of workplace harassment, and ensures that workers have access to more information and training about what constitutes harassment and their rights if they are harassed.\n\nHelp ensure transparency: The BE HEARD Act puts an end to mandatory arbitration and pre-employment non-disclosure agreements, which prevent workers from coming forward and holding perpetrators and businesses accountable.\n\nBroaden and expand civil rights protections to all workers: The BE HEARD Act builds on and strengthens existing civil rights laws by expanding protections for workers, while also safeguarding existing antidiscrimination laws and protections. It strengthens civil rights protections for all workers and makes clear that the Civil Rights Act protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the context of workplace discrimination. It also ensures that no matter where you work\u2014and whether you are an independent contractor or an intern\u2014your rights are protected.\n\nEmpower workers who come forward with reports of harassment or retaliation to ensure they get support: The BE HEARD Act allows workers more time to report harassment, authorizes grants to support legal assistance for workers who have low incomes, invests in delivering more resources to the state level to help workers ensure their rights are protected, and lifts the cap on damages when workers pursue legal action and win their cases.\n\nEliminate the tipped wage: The BE HEARD Act eliminates the tipped minimum wage, because tipped workers are disproportionately vulnerable to sexual harassment and discrimination by both clients and supervisors.\n\nIn addition to Representatives Strickland, Clark, Pressley, Garcia, and Slotkin, the House bill is cosponsored by: Reps. Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n, Karen Bass, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Suzanne Bonamici, Jamaal Bowman, Julia Brownley, Andre Carson, Matt Cartwright, Sean Casten, Judy Chu, Steve Cohen, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Peter A. DeFazio, Suzan DelBene, Debbie Dingell, Adriano Espaillat, Dwight Evans, Lois Frankel, John Garamendi, Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda, Raul Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson Jr, William R. Keating, Robin Kelly, Daniel T. Kildee, Derek Kilmer, Ann McLane Kuster, Brenda L. Lawrence, Al Lawson, Barbara Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Andy Levin, Ted W. Lieu, Alan Lowenthal, Stephen Lynch, Carolyn B. Maloney, Lucy McBath, Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Seth Moulton, Marie Newman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Donald M. Payne, Jr., Mark Pocan, Jamie Raskin, Kathleen Rice, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Smith, Jackie Speier, Thomas R. Suozzi, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, Norma J. Torres, Lori Trahan, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Peter Welch, Nikema Williams, Frederica S. Wilson, John Yarmuth, Jake Auchincloss, and Eddie Bernice Johnson.\n\nIn addition to Senators Murray and Hirono, the Senate bill is cosponsored by: Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ben Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).\n\nThe legislation has been endorsed by: Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, National Women\u2019s Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, A Better Balance, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Building Pathways, Inc, California Employment Lawyers Association, Chicago Women in Trades, Clearinghouse on Women\u2019s Issues, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Economic Policy Institute, Equal Rights Advocates, Family Violence Law Center, Feminist Majority, Gender Equality Law Center, Inc., Human Rights Campaign, Justice for Migrant Women, KWH Law Center for Social Justice and Change, Legal Momentum, The Women\u2019s Legal Defense and Education Fund, Mississippi Workers\u2019 Center for Human Rights, National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, National Center for Women\u2019s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment, National Council for Occupational Safety & Health, National Council of Jewish Women, National Employment Law Project, National Employment Lawyers Association, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Organization for Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, Now VA, Inc, Philly CLUW , Public Citizen, ROC United, Service Employees International Union, The Purple Campaign, The Women\u2019s Law Center of Maryland, Women Employed, Women\u2019s Law Project, Working IDEAL, and Workplace Fairness.\n\n\u201cWomen know all too well that workplace harassment is still commonplace in every industry and every type of job,\u201d said Emily Martin, NWLC Vice President for Education & Workplace Justice. \u201cThe pandemic and economic uncertainty exacerbate vulnerability to abuse, especially among low-paid women of color who often must remain silent and endure the harassment to hold on to their jobs. Finally, there\u2019s help on the way: the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act ensures that all workers have legal protections against harassment and abuse, activates bold reforms to promote transparency and accountability in the workplace, and removes barriers to securing justice\u2014like ending short statutes of limitations. This bill is long overdue. Every working person deserves to have safety and dignity at work.\u201d\n\n\u201cHarassment and discrimination remain a painful reality of the workplace, denying workers equal employment opportunities and dignity. Women workers, especially those who labor in low wage jobs, continue to shine a light on this insidious problem. Today, members of Congress have responded to a call for action by introducing the BE HEARD in the Workplace Act. The bill strengthens and expands our nation\u2019s antidiscrimination laws and addresses harassment on the basis of sex\u2014including sexual orientation and gender identity\u2014as well as race, ethnicity, age, disability, and religion. As a result, survivors of sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination will have more legal protections and fewer barriers to justice. We are proud to support a bill that protects the civil rights and dignity of millions of workers and moves us towards lasting, systemic change,\u201d said Vania Leveille, Senior Legislative Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union.\n\n\u201cHarassment and abuse have no place on the job. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly with dignity and respect at work. But too many have been forced to endure abusive work environments, denied opportunities, or pushed out of jobs entirely because of unchecked harassment and discrimination. The BE HEARD in the Workplace Act would strengthen our civil rights laws and provide meaningful tools to prevent and address these unjust practices that often have devastating consequences, especially for historically marginalized and low-paid working people. We urge Congress to act on this bill to protect working people\u2019s civil rights and promote economic security,\u201d said Wade Henderson, interim President and CEO of The Leadership Fund on Civil and Human Rights.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2995", "DelBene \u2018Breakthrough\u2019 Legislation Included in CURES 2.0 Package", "2021-11-16", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) welcomed the inclusion of legislation that she introduced to expand patients\u2019 access to breakthrough medical devices in the bipartisan CURES 2.0 Act introduced by Representatives Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Fred Upton (MI-06) today.\n\nThe Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act (H.R. 4043), which DelBene introduced with Representatives Jackie Walorski (IN-02), Tony C\u00e1rdenas (CA-29), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Terri Sewell (AL-07), and Upton, would guarantee Medicare beneficiaries access to cutting-edge medical innovation.\n\n\u201cI worked hard to make sure that the CURES 2.0 package included critical reforms I championed to ensure patients can access cutting-edge medical technology and care,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cBy guaranteeing coverage of breakthrough products, the CURES 2.0 Act is welcoming the way for future innovation and making sure our seniors are not waiting on new cures and therapies that could improve or save their lives.\u201d\n\nCurrently, Medicare does not automatically cover the latest advances in medical technology, even when the products are approved or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and designated as a breakthrough product. FDA-approved products can take up to three years to go through the Medicare coverage determination process, delaying vital treatments to millions of seniors.\n\nThe legislation would require Medicare to temporarily cover all breakthrough products approved through the FDA for four years. During this period, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would be required to make a permanent coverage determination. This allows patients and their providers access to the most cutting-edge, innovative care as soon as it comes to market.\n\nIn January, CMS finalized the Medicare Coverage for Innovative Technology (MCIT) rule, which like the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act would provide temporary Medicare coverage for products that have received breakthrough designation by the FDA and help Medicare beneficiaries access these new technologies. However, the CMS has since rescinded the rule but has pledged to redo it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3004", "DelBene Statement on Flooding in Western Washington", "2021-11-16", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on the historic flooding throughout Western Washington.\n\n\u201cMy heart is with the communities and families that are being devastated by flooding across Western Washington. I want to commend the emergency responders and local officials working around the clock to preserve lives and property during this incredibly difficult time.\n\n\u201cClimate change is making these once-in-a-generation floods a more frequent reality for our state. I am pushing to get out federal resources as soon as possible to respond to this extreme flooding but also to make the necessary investments over the long term to address the growing threat of climate change.\u201d\n\nIn addition to existing FEMA resources, the bipartisan infrastructure law that President Biden signed yesterday will help improve our communities\u2019 resilience to flooding. The law includes loans and grants for communities facing rising water levels, coastal erosion, and flooding as well as financial and technical assistance for states and communities to reduce the risk of flood damage to homes and businesses.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-bill-protect-critical-workers-and-supply-chain", "Newhouse Introduces Bill to Protect Critical Workers and Supply Chain from President Biden\u2019s Overreach", "2021-11-16", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after introducing H.R. 5978, the Exemptions for Critical Workers Act. This legislation would provide an exemption for federal workers identified as \"critical\" and/or \"essential\" by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the Biden Administration's overreaching vaccine mandate that all federal employees receive a COVID-19 vaccine by November 22nd or face termination.\n\n\"Our supply chain is already experiencing nationwide shortages and delays exacerbated by the Biden Administration's reckless policies. Now, President Biden is holding the workers who keep our country running, and who have been on the frontlines since the onset of the pandemic providing essential service, hostage through his vaccine mandates, further threatening the stability of our economy.\n\n\"Countless federal employees throughout Central Washington who operate and protect critical facilities are facing termination over what should be a personal medical decision. Mandates are not the answer to the economic problems that families in my district are facing, and I stand with our essential workers in calling for an end to the Biden Administration's overreach.\n\n\"Let me be clear: our frontline workers do not deserve to be fired. My legislation ensures these critical workers who have kept our key industries functioning long before there was a vaccine available to them, can make the health decision that is right for them, while continuing to do their important work.\"\n\nOriginal cosponsors include:\n\nReps. David McKinley, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, David Rouzer, Randy Weber, Tracey Mann, and Rick Crawford.\n\nClick here to read the full text of H.R. 5978.\n\nBackground:\n\nOn September 9, 2021, President Biden released an Executive Order requiring all federal employees and contractors be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22, 2021 or face the risk of termination.\n\nVaccination rates in Central Washington currently hover around 60 percent fully vaccinated and continue to go up.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency defines \"Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers\" as \"Workers who support crucial supply chains and enable cyber and physical security functions for critical infrastructure. The industries that essential workers support represent, but are not limited to:\n\nMedical and healthcare\n\nTelecommunications\n\nInformation technology systems\n\nDefense\n\nFood and agriculture\n\nTransportation and logistics\n\nEnergy\n\nWater and wastewater\n\nLaw enforcement\n\nOn October 26, Rep. Newhouse introduced the Options Over Terminations Act, which provides federal employees and contractors with the option to provide proof of prior COVID-19 infection and antibody presence as an exemption from President Biden's federal vaccine mandate.\n\nAccording to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention report on October 28 and November 5 previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) or COVID-19 vaccination can provide immunity and protection from subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection and illness.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2559", "Larsen Applauds Signing of Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, President Joe Biden will sign into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, bipartisan legislation Larsen supported that makes bold, long-term investments in the nation\u2019s infrastructure to create well-paying jobs and keep Washingtonians and the economy moving.\n\n\u201cWith the President signing this historic investment in infrastructure into law, Northwest Washington can focus on creating more jobs, driving economic recovery and growth and building a cleaner and greener transportation network,\u201d said Larsen, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. \u201cI will continue to push for bold, FDR-like investments in infrastructure priorities not included in the final bill, such as targeted federal funds to address immediate local needs like the Guemes Island Ferry Replacement Project, Zylstra Lake Multi-Modal Trail in Friday Harbor, the 169th Street Connecting Segment in Arlington, the US-2 Trestle connecting Everett and Lake Stevens, and South Whidbey-Clinton Area Transportation Infrastructure Improvements.\n\n\u201cCongress must now advance the Build Back Better plan to empower working families, invest in quality, accessible child care, create more well-paying clean energy jobs, build more affordable housing and lower prescription drug costs for seniors.\u201d\n\nWashington state is expected to receive the following infrastructure investments over five years, per White House estimates:\n\n$4.7 billion to repair and rebuild highways\n\n$1.79 billion to improve public transportation options, including $380 million for Sound Transit\n\n$882 million to improve water infrastructure and ensure clean, safe drinking water\n\n$605 million to replace and repair bridges\n\n$384.7 million to keep airport infrastructure projects on track\n\n$172 million for NOAA\u2019s Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund to support state and Tribal salmon habitat restoration projects\n\nAt least $100 million to provide reliable broadband coverage statewide to at least 241,000 Washingtonians\n\n$89 million for EPA\u2019s Puget Sound Geographic Program to support state, local and Tribal projects to improve water quality and enhance fish passage and salmon habitat\n\n$71 million to support the expansion of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network\n\n$39 million to protect against wildfires\n\n$18 million to protect against cyberattacks\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act addresses many of Larsen\u2019s local infrastructure priorities, including:\n\nCleaner and Greener Buses\n\nLocal transit agencies like Everett Transit and the Whatcom Transportation Authority are expanding electric bus fleets to keep people moving while reducing maintenance costs, lowering energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a provision based on Larsen\u2019s GREEN Buses Act that commits $2.34 billion for low- or zero-emission bus grants for bus transit programs.\n\nCleaner and Greener Ferries\n\nStates like Washington \u2013 where ferries account for 73% of WSDOT\u2019s annual carbon emissions \u2013 and localities across the country are ready to commit to cleaner and greener passenger ferry fleets, but still need robust federal investment to support their efforts. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a provision based on Larsen\u2019s GREEN Ferries Act that directs $250 million for a pilot initiative to help states and localities purchase electric or low-emission ferries and construct related infrastructure.\n\nPromoting Transportation Jobs, Boosting Diversity\n\nThe need is growing for more professional airline pilots, air traffic controllers, railroad workers and truck drivers, mechanics and other professions as industry stakeholders face increased competition worldwide. The transportation workforce also faces a diversity issue: nearly 90% of professional airline pilots and nearly 70% of truck drivers are white males. The Investment Infrastructure and Jobs Act includes Larsen\u2019s bipartisan provision to grow the next generation workforce by promoting career opportunities and boosting diversity in the U.S. transportation industry. The bill also establishes apprenticeship goals by employing traditionally underrepresented populations to create a more diverse construction workforce.\n\nRepairing Washington\u2019s Bridges\n\nAccording to a recent report, nearly 400 bridges in Washington state are structurally deficient and the state has identified more than 6,500 bridges in need of repair. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes approximately $605 million over five years to make an important down payment on Washington\u2019s bridge safety needs and an additional $12.5 billion for the Bridge Investment Program. The bill also requires states to use a greater percentage of their federal funding allocation on bridge repair and rehabilitation projects.\n\nKeeping Rail on Track\n\nReliable and efficient passenger rail service is essential to connecting communities like Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon and Bellingham in the Second District to Seattle, Spokane, Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes robust federal funding Larsen advocated to renew and support long-distance and state-supported Amtrak routes like Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and Cascades that serve more than 13.1 million customers in Washington state annually. The bill also strengthens freight rail safety, requiring freight trains to have a certified engineer and a certified conductor on board.\n\nExpanding the Bike/Pedestrian Network\n\nTo ensure safety comes first for vulnerable road users, Second District communities like Bellingham and Lynnwood depend on federal resources to invest in bike lanes, sidewalks and trails. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes provisions Larsen supported to boost federal funding for communities to have the resources needed to improve safety and equity for all road users, increase mobility and reduce traffic congestion and pollution.\n\nUsing Innovative Construction Materials\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes provisions Larsen advocated to improve research on and expand the use of cutting-edge materials in infrastructure projects to improve safety, promote resiliency, reduce carbon emissions and support local jobs.\n\nReplacing Fish Barriers and Culverts\n\nAccording to the state\u2019s Department of Transportation, Washington\u2019s highway network includes approximately 1,995 fish barrier culverts built to federal design standards. Due to changes in the landscape resulting from development, logging and fire, these culverts unintentionally block endangered salmon species from accessing critical habitat, spawning grounds and food sources. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes language Larsen supported to authorize $1 billion to improve habitat connectivity which will help Washington replace more than 400 fish barrier culverts across the state.\n\nFor a summary of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, click here.\n\nFor Larsen\u2019s Second Congressional District transportation report, click here.\n\nFor a video of Second District mayors advocating federal investment in infrastructure, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/president-biden-signs-rep-schriers-legacy-roads-and-trails-bill-law", "President Biden Signs Rep. Schrier\u2019s Legacy Roads and Trails Bill into Law", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) joined President Joe Biden for the signing of the bipartisanInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in the Rose Garden today. Included in the IIJA was Rep. Schrier's 11th bill to be signed into law, the Legacy Roads and Trails Act. The Legacy Roads and Trails Act was introduced by U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Mike Simpson (ID-02), and Derek Kilmer (WA-06) on Earth Day this year.\n\n\"I'm thrilled that the Legacy Roads and Trails Act has been signed into law, and it was an honor to join President Biden for the signing ceremony,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"In Washington state, the Legacy Roads and Trails (LRT) program has been particularly impactful, facilitating hundreds of culvert repairs for fish passage\u2014including salmon. Headwaters located in national forests are critical to salmon populations downstream. Chronic underfunding has left a long backlog of projects so I am glad that this legislation will provide significant funding to this important program.\"\n\nLRT projects include repairing roads and trails used for public access, replacing failed or undersized culverts to reconnect fish habitat, and storm proofing or reclaiming roads to prevent sediment pollution from entering waterways important for salmon, trout, and drinking water. Few programs deliver such environmental, recreational, and economic benefits.\n\nThe IIJA authorizes $250 million for the Legacy Roads and Trails program. Specifically, the funding will be used for:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/15/media-press-releases-media-advisory-strickland-aarp-host-live-tele-town-hall-caring-caregivers/", "**MEDIA ADVISORY** Strickland, AARP to Host Live Tele-Town Hall on Caring for Caregivers", "2021-11-15", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 On Tuesday, November 16th at 10:30 AM PT/1:30 PM ET, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and AARP will hold a live tele-town hall. The town hall will focus on what resources are available now and how we must better support caregivers and families, especially as the House considers the Build Back Better Act. In addition to securing policies like the Child Tax Credit, Strickland has consistently advocated for investments in caregiving infrastructure, co-authoring an op-ed in the Seattle Times on the topic.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-visits-wenatchee-va-clinic-sends-letter-va-secretary-ongoing", "Rep. Schrier Visits Wenatchee VA Clinic, Sends Letter to VA Secretary on Ongoing Issues That Compromise Care for Veterans", "2021-11-12", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ISSAQUAH, WA \u2013 This week Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) visited the Wenatchee Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) that serves Veterans in six Washington counties. After her visit, Rep. Schrier sent a letter to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough asking the VA to investigate ongoing failings at the CBOC.\n\nFor multiple years, Rep. Schrier and her office have heard from local Veterans that they have struggled to access the care they deserve. One issue is that the new electronic records system used at the CBOC is difficult to navigate and often crashes for Veterans and staff at the facility. This means that many Veterans are forced to call the facility for assistance. And the calls often go unanswered. This has led to lessened morale and burnout for staff, and Veterans unable to receive the care they need.\n\nIn her letter the Congresswoman said, \"I visited the Wenatchee CBOC and spoke with staff there about these issues. I truly believe the doctors and nurses in Wenatchee are doing the best they can under challenging circumstances to care for Veterans, but their jobs have been made exponentially more difficult by the failed rollout of the Cerner health records system in the last year. One doctor told me that she is only able to see half the number of patients she used to. She attributes this to inefficiencies and technology breakdowns of the Cerner electronic health record. While in Wenatchee I was assured that VA leadership in Spokane is working to improve the phone system. That was good to hear, but because this has been such a long-standing problem, I will remain skeptical until I begin hearing from Veterans in my District that their experiences are improving.\"\n\nA sample of complaints Rep. Schrier's office has heard are:\n\n\"We cannot reach our clinic and the phone line never goes through.\" \u2013 Mark, Vietnam Era Veteran\n\n\"I waited 20 months for a colonoscopy referral.\" \u2013 Vic, US Army Veteran\n\n\"I've waited four months for my glasses.\" \u2013 Michael, Vietnam Era Veteran\n\n\"I have personally dialed the Wenatchee VA CBOC phone number up to 45 times in a row on one instance, just to see how many times it would take to get through, and every single time I got a busy fax signal.\" \u2013 Tony, Chelan County Veteran Service Officer\n\nRep. Schrier ends her letter saying, \"My staff and I have been working to understand the causes of the communication dysfunction at the Wenatchee clinic, and it seems there is no one root of the problem, just as there is no one solution. The phone system is clearly not adequate and acts as a barrier to care for far too many patients. The Cerner records system is decreasing productivity among clinic staff and resulting in widespread burnout, which of course impacts patients as well. Iurge you to investigate both of these failings in Wenatchee, so Veterans in North Central Washington can consistently rely on the CBOC to receive timely care. Those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country deserve the best service possible from the VA.\"\n\nEarlier this month Rep. Schrier joined the House Veterans Affairs Committee for a hearing with Deputy VA Secretary Donald Remy that was specifically about the Cerner electronic records system that is being first rolled out at the Spokane VA facility and the Wenatchee CBOC satellite facility. In her testimony, Rep. Schrier highlighted that Veterans in the 8th District have been experiencing unacceptable delays in care and specialist referrals, inability to schedule appointments online, and impossible wait times on the phone.\n\n###\n\nFull text of the letter can be found below:\n\nSecretary McDonough:\n\nThank you for all you do for the health and well being of our Veterans. I write to you today about an ongoing issue at the Outpatient VA Clinic in Wenatchee.\n\nThe Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Wenatchee serves Veterans in six counties in rural North Central Washington. For many Veterans, the Wenatchee CBOC is their only connection to the health care system. Before it opened in 2006, Veterans in the region were limited to a one-day-per-month mobile clinic visits from the Spokane VA Medical Center's motor coach. Local Veterans with more serious problems or those who could not wait for mobile clinics were forced to drive to either Seattle or Spokane for care which, during the winter, could be treacherous routes over mountain passes.\n\nFor all these reasons, the opening of the Wenatchee CBOC was cause for much optimism 15 years ago. Unfortunately, access to care in the region remains difficult. I have heard from countless Veterans in Central Washington who tell me the Wenatchee clinic's phone system is difficult to maneuver and unreliable. Here is just a sample of the many complaints I have heard:\n\n\"We cannot reach our clinic and the phone line never goes through.\" \u2013 Mark, Vietnam Era Veteran\n\n\"I waited 20 months for a colonoscopy referral.\" \u2013 Vic, US Army Veteran\n\n\"I've waited four months for my glasses.\" \u2013 Michael, Vietnam Era Veteran\n\n\"I have personally dialed the Wenatchee VA CBOC phone number up to 45 times in a row on one instance, just to see how many times it would take to get through, and every single time I got a busy fax signal.\" \u2013 Tony, Chelan County Veteran Service Officer\n\nMy staff conducted its own test, calling the CBOC several times a day for one week in September. They experienced repeated busy signals, dropped calls, and long wait times.\n\nMany of the Veterans in this region are older, having served during the Vietnam War era or earlier. They are not comfortable with online portals and ever-changing systems of communication. They are frustrated by dropped calls, multiple transfers between faraway call centers, and what they perceive to be an intentional wall that stands between them and the care they are entitled to. They just want to be able to pick up a phone and speak to someone who can answer their questions and get them the help they need.\n\nA system that leaves Veterans unable to reach their providers, especially during a public health emergency, is troubling. Keeping people out of emergency rooms to lessen constraints due to COVID-19 cases is critical. We must be doing what we can to lessen emergency room traffic and decrease the potential spread of this deadly virus. It is also important that Veterans continue to build a relationship with a provider that they trust. Patients who have consistent relationships with their providers have better health outcomes. With many Veterans suffering from co-occurring conditions, putting them on the path to the best potential health outcome is a goal we share; this is impossible with the current phone situation.\n\nYesterday I visited the Wenatchee CBOC and spoke to staff there about these issues. I truly believe the doctors and nurses in Wenatchee are doing the best they can under challenging circumstances to care for Veterans, but their jobs have been made exponentially more difficult by the failed rollout of the Cerner health records system in the last year. One doctor told me she is able to see just half the number of patients each day now than one year ago due to inefficiencies and technology breakdowns under Cerner. While in Wenatchee I was assured that VA leadership in Spokane is working to improve the phone system. That was good to hear, but because this has been such a long-standing problem, I will remain skeptical until I begin hearing from Veterans in my District that their experiences are improving.\n\nMy staff and I have been working to understand the causes of the communication dysfunction at the Wenatchee clinic, and it seems there is no one root of the problem, just as there is no one solution. The phone system is clearly not adequate and acts as a barrier to care for far too many patients. The Cerner records system is decreasing productivity among clinic staff and resulting in widespread burnout, which of course impacts patients as well. Iurge you to investigate both of these failings in Wenatchee, so Veterans in North Central Washington can consistently rely on the CBOC to receive timely care. Those who have dedicated their lives to serving our country deserve the best service possible from the VA.\n\nThank you for all you do to serve our Veterans and our nation, and I look forward to working with you to implement a solution that will serve out Veterans in North Central Washington.\n\nSincerely,\n\nKim Schrier, M.D.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/10/media-press-releases-vice-chair-strickland-addresses-discrimination-federal-rail-contracting-video/", "Vice Chair Strickland Addresses Discrimination in Federal Rail Contracting (VIDEO)", "2021-11-10", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, questioned witnesses at a hearing on discrimination in federal passenger rail contracting. Strickland\u2019s questions reinforced the need for equity and focused on witnesses\u2019 experiences with racial and gender discrimination, and incidents of intimidation by business owners in the rail contracting space. (Watch Strickland\u2019s remarks at this link, and the full hearing at this link.)\n\n\u201cI am proud to co-lead efforts with Chairman Payne to expedite the implementation of a disparity study through the Federal Railroad Administration. There is ample evidence of racial and gender discrimination in the rail industry \u2014 through the stories and experiences spoken of today, and through the number of other minority business owners who have been denied contracts, opportunities, and fair consideration,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland. \u201cDespite efforts to address this discrimination, clearly more needs to be done and hearing about this discrimination directly from business owners in this forum is a key step.\u201d\n\nUpon being asked by Strickland about the toll it takes on a contractor or business owner to respond to this discrimination, witness Ken Canty, President and CEO of Janus Materials, replied, \u201cWe\u2019re all people and the toll it takes on a person is indescribable. It\u2019s indescribable. It\u2019s the worst and I wouldn\u2019t wish this on anybody\u2026The toll it has on your family, the toll it has then on your ability to provide for your family, your ability to provide for your employees \u2013 is huge. There is a net ripple effect of bills that literally just can\u2019t get paid.\u201d\n\nThe hearing was held in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. Witnesses included Mr. Ken Canty, President and CEO, Janus Materials; Mr. Melvin Clark, Chairman and CEO, GW Peoples Contracting Company; Ms. Victoria Malaszecki, President and CEO, Envision Consultants; Mr. Francisco Otero, President and CEO, PACO Group; Mr. Gnanadesikan \u201cRam\u201d Ramanujam, President and CEO, Somat Engineering; and Ms. Evalynn Williams, President, Dikita Engineering.\n\nFrom the railroads\u2019 Western expansion federal land grants that violated federal treaties with Indian tribes to limiting Black, Asian-Pacific Islanders and Latino American employment opportunities, railroad expansion in the United States has historically depended upon discriminatory practices.\n\nThis effort follows up on Strickland\u2019s work in Congress as a strong advocate for equity in American rail infrastructure. In July, Strickland led the Congressional Black Caucus in a call to establish a DBE program within the Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/09/media-press-releases-strickland-congressional-coalition-adoption-institute-hold-roundtable/", "Strickland, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Hold Roundtable on Supporting Foster Youth (VIDEO)", "2021-11-09", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Olympia, WA\u2013 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) held a virtual roundtable discussion with State Senator T\u2019wina Nobles (28th LD) and Amara, a Pacific Northwest based nonprofit that serves children in foster care, their families, and adoptees. The roundtable discussion focused on the impacts of the opioid crisis on the U.S. foster care system, and explored how Strickland\u2019s bipartisan FOSTER Act, along with state and local efforts, can better support foster youth. (Watch the roundtable at this link.)\n\n\u201cToo often, children are the silent victims of the opioid crisis. Opioid use among parents can push children into an overloaded foster care system without sufficient resources. With the FOSTER Act, we are calling on Congress to support foster children and caregivers affected by the opioid crisis,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland. \u201cSupporting foster youth takes our entire community. I thank the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Senator T\u2019wina Nobles, and Amara for their advocacy and partnership in making sure foster youth and families have the resources they deserve.\u201d\n\nStrickland, a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus, recently introducedH.R. 5469, the Furthering Opioid Services, Training, and Education Resources (FOSTER) Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide support, training, and resources to foster children and caregivers affected by the opioid crisis. It would also amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide grants to states and localities providing child protective services to train staff and caregivers about the impact of opioid addiction on children under their care.\n\n\u201cWe know children who experience foster care face higher risks of poverty, homelessness, incarceration, early parenthood and substance use disorders after exiting the foster care system. As someone who went through this system, I know how important it is to receive intervention and support. It is our paramount duty as public servants to do the work for students who rely on us to set them up to succeed in school and in life. We must keep exploring strategies for intervention so these youth can also experience success. They deserve the absolute best we can do,\u201d said State Senator T\u2019wina Nobles, 28th Legislative District.\n\n\u201cThe Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is appreciative to Representative Strickland and State Senator Nobles for hosting a roundtable event focused on the need of supports for children and families that have been impacted by the opioid crisis. We must provide resources at every level to support children and parents affected by the epidemic. CCAI would like to thank Representative Strickland and Senator Nobles for combining efforts at the state and federal level to focus on this important issue,\u201d said Kate McLean, Executive Director, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.\n\n\u201cAmara sees this key legislative effort as an important step in recruiting, training, and supporting caregivers to understand the substance use recovery journey. Our goal is for parents and caregivers to create relationships focused on child wellbeing during and after placement in foster care. We thank Representative Strickland and Senator Nobles for their work,\u201d said Nicole Mazen, LMFT, Chief Program and Policy Officer, Amara.\n\nThe opioid epidemic has affected countless families and communities across the United States. 1.6 million people had an opioid use disorder in 2019, and the situation worsened in 2020 with the United States experiencing its highest number of reported overdose deaths. In Washington State alone, 58,000 kids were affected by the opioid epidemic in 2017, including 7,500 removed from home for foster or kinship care. Children are entering foster care at higher rates alongside the rise in the opioid crisis, with the rate of child removals primarily attributed to parental substance use doubling from 18.5% in 2000 to 36% in 2018. Congress must provide dedicated resources to support children in foster care affected by the opioid crisis and to support parents with substance use disorders working to maintain custody of their children.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-votes-no-hr-3684", "Newhouse Votes No on H.R. 3684", "2021-11-08", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\"Friday's vote represented a complete and total failure on the Democrats' part to listen to the American people.\n\n\"After months of backroom dealings with no input from Republicans, Speaker Pelosi held a vote in the dead of night to pass the \"Bipartisan\" Infrastructure Package and tee up the massive socialist spending spree linked to it, known as the Build Back Better Act.\n\n\"I voted against these bills because I could never in good faith vote to pass legislation that would harm the people I took an oath to represent.\n\n\"Not only does the infrastructure package fall short of providing the much-needed reforms and funding Central Washington deserves, but the House Democrat leadership refused to consider any amendments offered by Republicans throughout this so-called process. Both pieces of legislation are directly tied to tax increases on Washington families who are already struggling with crippling inflation and supply chain shortages.\n\n\"If the Democrats had truly operated in good faith, we could have provided more to the American people while costing them less. The Democrats' inability to do so is a failure to provide the leadership to the American people they purport to represent.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/06/media-press-releases-strickland-votes-bipartisan-infrastructure-package-create-jobs-support-workers/", "Strickland Votes for Bipartisan Infrastructure Package to Create Jobs, Support Workers & Families", "2021-11-06", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Senate amendment to H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.\n\n\u201cI will always vote for tangible benefits and good-paying jobs for the people of the South Sound, \u201d said Strickland. \u201cThese transformational and long overdue investments will address climate change and encourage transit-oriented development, with funding for broadband, clean water, mass transit, repairing crumbling roads and bridges, and more. I now look forward to helping people meet their basic needs with the Build Back Better Act, and empowering millions of women and families by investing in caregiving, affordable housing and healthcare. It\u2019s how we power an inclusive economy that works for all of us.\u201d\n\nThis bipartisan legislation includes $550 billion in new federal investment in our nation\u2019s infrastructure, and a 5-year reauthorization of the Surface Transportation programs which were set to expire on October 31, 2021. The infrastructure funded by this bill includes roads, bridges, transit, passenger and freight rail, electric vehicle charging stations, electric school buses, reconnecting communities harmed by previous highway projects, airports, ports, clean drinking water, including to replace lead service lines and PFAS, wastewater, energy, environmental remediation, and high-speed internet. In addition to promoting economic growth, this package is a critical step to combat climate change, increase resilience, and advance environmental justice.\n\nSpecifically, this legislation will make investments across Washington state to address:\n\nHealthy, sustainable mass transit options. Washington would expect to receive $1.79 billion over five years to improve public transportation options across the state.\n\nHigh-speed internet. 8.5% of Washingtonians live in areas where, under the FCC\u2019s benchmark, there is no broadband infrastructure. Washington will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the at least 241,000 Washingtonians who currently lack it. 1,409,000 or 19% of people in Washington will be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.\n\nThe impacts of climate change, cyber attacks, and extreme weather events. Washington will expect to receive $39 million over five years to protect against wildfires and $18 million to protect against cyberattacks. Washingtonians will also benefit from the bill\u2019s historic $3.5 billion national investment in weatherization to reduce energy costs for families.\n\nClean drinking water and eliminate the nation\u2019s lead service lines and pipes. Washington will expect to receive $882 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.\n\nImprove our nation\u2019s airports. Airports in Washington would receive approximately $385 million for infrastructure development for airports over five years.\n\nEV chargers to facilitate long-distance travel and provide convenient charging options. Washington would expect to receive $71 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state. Washington will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.\n\nFixing crumbling roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians. In Washington there are 416 bridges and over 5,469 miles of highway in poor condition. Washington would expect to receive $4.7 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs and $605 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years. Washington can also compete for the $12.5 billion Bridge Investment Program for economically significant bridges and nearly $16 billion of national funding in the bill dedicated for major projects that will deliver substantial economic benefits to communities.\n\nClick here for a Fact Sheet from the White House on the impact on Washington State, and here for a Fact Sheet on the impact nationwide.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-passage-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-and-build-back", "Rep. Smith Statement on the Passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Build Back Better Act Rule", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "November 5, 2021\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) issued the following statement after he voted to pass H. Res. 774, the rule that will allow for the final passage of H.R. 5376 the Build Back Better Act, as well as H.R. 3684 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the bipartisan infrastructure deal or BIF.\n\n\"It is no secret that our infrastructure is crumblingacross the country- from roads, railways, and bridges to public transit and ports -andour communities desperately need investmentso that our economy can continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\n\"I support both the Build Back Better Act and the infrastructure bill and agreed with Democratic Leadership and the President that these bills should move together, as we indicated early on in this process. Linking these bills was important to help ensure that Congress could fulfill as much of President Biden's Build Back Better agenda as possible. After months of difficult negotiations, extensive progress has been made and the Build Back Better Act is on a path to advancing.\n\n\"In just the last few weeks, we have seen legislative text and reached agreement on the vast majority of the Build Back Better Act. I commend the leadership of Chair Jayapal and the Congressional Progressive Caucus in helping us get to this point. Based on this substantive progress, and because of the assurances that our colleagues provided us about their firm support for the Build Back Better Act, today I felt comfortable sending the bipartisan infrastructure legislation to President Biden's desk.\n\n\"The bipartisan infrastructure bill doesn't just make vitally needed investment in our transportation system. It provides historic funding for clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, reliable high-speed broadband, and our electric grid. I appreciate the leadership of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair DeFazio and wish this legislation incorporated more of his Committee's perspectives, especially as it relates to climate. The bill falls short when it comes to sufficient action to address this existential threat, however, the Build Back Better Act addresses this shortcoming.\n\n\"Based on the progress that has been made in recent weeks, I voted to pass BIF today while we continue the difficult process of advancing the Build Back Better Act.I strongly believethat Speaker Pelosi and the President can, and will, close this deal.\"\n\n###\n\nBACKGROUND MATERIALS\n\nWhite House: BIF Factsheet\n\nWhite House: Build Back Better Homepage", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2990", "Congress Passes Transformational Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, the House of Representatives passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684) with the support of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). This bipartisan legislation makes critical investments in infrastructure across the country to address deteriorating roads and bridges, achieve universal broadband, modernize public transit, and tackle climate change.\n\n\u201cAddressing our nation\u2019s crumbling infrastructure and helping create good-paying union jobs is a top priority for Democrats and President Biden as we continue to recover from the pandemic and look towards the next 50 years,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cThe bipartisan infrastructure bill is the largest investment in our infrastructure in U.S. history and a win for the American people. It will transform our communities, making them more equitable and better prepared to fight the climate crisis. This is a big step forward for the President\u2019s Build Back Better agenda to provide a strong future for our families, communities, and our country.\u201d\n\nThe bill now heads to President Biden\u2019s desk and is expected to be signed into law.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2558", "Larsen: Bold Investment in Nation\u2019s Infrastructure Creates Jobs, Builds Greener Transportation Network", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Tonight, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) supported passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, bipartisan legislation that makes bold, long-term investments in the nation\u2019s infrastructure to create well-paying jobs, keep the economy moving and fight climate change. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed the House of Representatives by a final vote of 228 to 206 and now heads to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThis is the bold, long-term investment in infrastructure the nation needs to create more jobs, drive economic recovery and growth, and build a cleaner and greener transportation network,\u201d said Larsen, a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. \u201cNow is the time to focus on advancing the Build Back Better plan to empower working families, invest in quality, accessible child care, create more well-paying clean energy jobs, build more affordable housing and lower prescription drug costs for seniors.\u201d\n\nWashington state alone needs more than $222 billion in infrastructure investments, according to the Association of Washington Business. Washington state is expected to receive the following infrastructure investments via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act over five years, per White House estimates:\n\n\u00b7 $4.7 billion for highways\n\n\u00b7 $1.79 billion to improve public transportation options\n\n\u00b7 $882 million to improve water infrastructure and ensure clean, safe drinking water\n\n\u00b7 $605 million for bridge replacement and repairs\n\n\u00b7 $385 million for airport infrastructure\n\n\u00b7 At least $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state to at least 241,000 Washingtonians\n\n\u00b7 $71 million to support the expansion of an electrical vehicle (EV) charging network\n\n\u00b7 $39 million to protect against wildfires\n\n\u00b7 $18 million to protect against cyberattacks\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act addresses many of Larsen\u2019s local infrastructure priorities, including:\n\nCleaner and Greener Buses\n\nLocal transit agencies like Everett Transit and the Whatcom Transportation Authority are expanding electric bus fleets to keep people moving while reducing maintenance costs, lowering energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a provision based on Larsen\u2019s GREEN Buses Act that commits $2.34 billion for low- or zero-emission bus grants for bus transit programs.\n\nCleaner and Greener Ferries\n\nStates like Washington \u2013 where ferries account for 73% of the state\u2019s annual transportation carbon emissions \u2013 and localities across the country are ready to commit to cleaner and greener passenger ferry fleets, but still need robust federal investment to support their efforts. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a language based on Larsen\u2019s GREEN Ferries Act that directs $250 million for a pilot initiative to purchase electric or low-emission ferries.\n\nPromoting Transportation Jobs, Boosting Diversity\n\nThe need is growing for more professional airline pilots, air traffic controllers, railroad workers and truck drivers, mechanics and other professions as industry stakeholders face increased competition worldwide. The transportation workforce also faces a diversity issue: nearly 90% of professional airline pilots and nearly 70% of truck drivers are white males. The Investment Infrastructure and Jobs Act includes Larsen\u2019s bipartisan provision to grow the next generation workforce by promoting career opportunities and boosting diversity in the U.S. transportation industry. The bill also establishes apprenticeship goals by employing traditionally underrepresented populations to create a more diverse construction workforce.\n\nRepairing Washington\u2019s Bridges\n\nAccording to a recent report, nearly 400 bridges in Washington state are structurally deficient and the state has identified more than 6,500 bridges in need of repair. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes approximately $27.5 billion over five years to make an important down payment on the nation\u2019s bridge safety needs and an additional $9.24 billion for the Bridge Investment Program. The bill also requires states to use a greater percentage of their federal funding allocation on bridge repair and rehabilitation projects.\n\nKeeping Rail on Track\n\nReliable and efficient passenger rail service is essential to connecting communities like Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon and Bellingham in the Second District to Seattle, Spokane, Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes robust federal funding Larsen advocated to renew and support long-distance and state-supported Amtrak routes like Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and Cascades that serve more than 13.1 million customers in Washington state annually. The bill also strengthens freight rail safety, requiring freight trains to have a certified engineer and a certified conductor on board.\n\nExpanding the Bike/Pedestrian Network\n\nTo ensure safety comes first for vulnerable road users, Second District communities like Bellingham and Lynnwood depend on federal resources to invest in bike lanes, sidewalks and trails. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes provisions Larsen supported to boost federal funding for communities to have the resources needed to improve safety and equity for all road users, increase mobility and reduce traffic congestion and pollution.\n\nUsing Innovative Construction Materials\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes provisions Larsen advocated for to improve research on and expand the use of cutting-edge materials in infrastructure projects to improve safety, promote resiliency, reduce carbon emissions and support local jobs.\n\nReplacing Fish Barriers and Culverts\n\nAccording to the state\u2019s Department of Transportation, Washington\u2019s highway network includes approximately 1,995 fish barrier culverts built to federal design standards. Due to changes in the landscape resulting from development, logging and fire, these culverts unintentionally block endangered salmon species from accessing critical habitat, spawning grounds and food sources. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes language Larsen supported to authorize $4 billion to improve habitat connectivity which will help Washington replace more than 400 fish barrier culverts across the state.\n\nFor a summary of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, click here.\n\nFor Larsen\u2019s district transportation report, click here.\n\nFor a video of Second District mayors advocating federal investment in infrastructure, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-legislation-block-biden-administration-paying", "Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Block Biden Administration From Paying Off Illegal Immigrants", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after joining Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) and 145 colleagues in introducing the Illegal Immigrant Payoff Prohibition Act of 2021. This legislation will prevent the Attorney General from making settlement payments to individuals and families who entered the United States illegally. It is a direct response to reports that the Biden Administration is proposing to pay as much as $450,000 per person to compensate migrant families that unlawfully entered the United States and were separated at the border.\n\n\"The Biden Administration is now openly advocating for individuals to not only cross our border, but to be paid over 13 times the median American income for doing so,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"It is completely unacceptable for this Administration\u2014whose policies created this border crisis\u2014to signal to the rest of the world that we are no longer a nation that enforces our laws. The perpetuation and exacerbation of this border crisis lands squarely on their shoulders.\"\n\nClick here to read the full text of the bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-votes-pass-historic-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-including", "Rep. Schrier Votes to Pass Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Including Legacy Roads and Trails Legislation", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) voted to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will provide critical infrastructure investments throughout Washington state and the nation. The bill also includes Rep. Schrier's Legacy Roads and Trails Act and her priorities to curb wildfires, repair crumbling infrastructure, and generate hydropower all while protecting our wildlife and waterways.\n\n\"Whether it's rush-hour traffic congestion, difficulty getting local goods to port, or trouble connecting rural areas both physically and virtually, we've all noticed the need for infrastructure improvements in our everyday lives,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"That's why I'm proud to pass this historic bipartisan infrastructure and jobs bill, and secure funding for very necessary investments in communities throughout Washington and the country. As we recover from the coronavirus pandemic, this bill will help create jobs in the 8th district and strengthen our economy by investing in resilient 21st century infrastructure.\"\n\nThe Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act further helps Washingtonians by including one of Rep. Schrier's bills and provisions two other bills she has led, specifically:\n\nThe Legacy Roads and Trails Act, which leverages public and private funding to address our national backlog of deteriorating infrastructure, while protecting American rivers and streams, endangered fish, and community water systems\n\nThe National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021, which makes forests healthier, more resilient, and more resistant to catastrophic wildfires by increasing the pace and scale of prescribed burns, training firefighters in the use of prescribed fire, and streamlining smoke regulations in winter months to allow for more extensive wildfire prevention.\n\nTwenty-First Century Dams Act, which would enhance the safety, grid resilience benefits and power generating capacity of America's dams and provide historic funding to remove dams that are no longer necessary.\n\nIn addition, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will:\n\nImprove our highways and interchanges, while better connecting rural communities.\n\nFunding for projects with local or regional significance, including highways, bridges, culvert replacement, public transit, passenger rail, port infrastructure, and airport improvements including an estimated:\n\n$4.7 billion for Washington highways and $605 million for Washington bridge repairs\n\n$5.2 million for Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee\n\n$71 million to expand the Electric Vehicle charging network in Washington\n\nFunding for surface transportation grants to reduce congestion and get local goods to port\n\nIncrease access to affordable and reliable high-speed internet\n\nFund culvert replacement and improve salmon recovery\n\nNew $1 billion program to remove, replace or restore culverts\n\nMitigate wildfires and protect forests\n\nMore than $8 billion for forests and wildfire risk reduction including Rep. Schrier's prescribed fire provisions, funding for the firefighting workforce, new satellite and radio equipment, and assistance to states, local governments and tribes\n\nIncludes wildfires in the eligibility for the Stafford Act hazard mitigation program\n\nThe REPLANT Act which Rep Schrier helped lead to plant 1.2 billion trees on national forest lands creating nearly 49,000 jobs\n\nUpgrade water infrastructure\n\nFunding water recycling and reuse projects, dam safety projects, and rural water projects, including the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan, to manage increasingly scarce water resources.\n\nFunding to make sure our children aren't exposed to lead in their school's drinking water.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/05/media-press-releases-media-advisory-strickland-congressional-coalition-adoption-institute-host/", "**MEDIA ADVISORY**  Strickland, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute to Host Roundtable on Supporting Foster Youth", "2021-11-05", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 On Monday, November 8th at 4:00 PM PT, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) will hold a virtual roundtable discussion with State Senator T\u2019wina Nobles (28th LD) and Amara, a Pacific Northwest based nonprofit that serves children in foster care, their families, and adoptees. The discussion will focus on the impacts of the opioid crisis on the U.S. foster care system and how we can better support foster youth. Strickland, a member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth and the Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus, recently introduced the FOSTER Act, bipartisan legislation to provide support, training, and resources to foster children and caregivers affected by the opioid crisis.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-demands-pelosi-reveal-price-tag-massive-socialist-tax-and", "Newhouse Demands Pelosi Reveal Price Tag of Massive Socialist Tax and Spending Spree", "2021-11-04", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) joined Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and members of the House Republican Conference in sending a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi demanding she postpone a vote on H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, until the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) can assign a score to the bill and determine its costs and economic impacts.\n\n\"If you take a moment to look at the state of our country today, it's clear: we are in a time of crisis thanks to the extremist policies of President Biden and the Democrats in Congress,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"Now, the Biden Administration is doubling down with one of the most expansive socialist spending sprees this country has ever seen: the \"Build Back Better\" agenda.\"\n\nRemarks as prepared are below:\n\n\"If you take a moment to look at the state of our country today, it's clear: we are in a time of crisis thanks to the extremist policies of President Biden and the Democrats in Congress.\n\nNow, the Biden Administration is doubling down with one of the most expansive socialist spending sprees this country has ever seen: the \"Build Back Better\" agenda.\n\nThis legislation would be devastating for the men and women I represent in Central Washington who produce so much of the food and fiber that feeds our nation. And the worst part? We don't even know how much it will cost us in the long term. Talk about fiscal insanity.\n\nToday, I stand with the members of the Republican Conference to call attention to this madness and ask that Speaker Pelosi do what's right: postpone the vote on a bill that will, quite literally, change the course of this country, until the Congressional Budget Office has had to opportunity to conduct an analysis on this legislation. It would be irresponsible for Members to vote on this bill before fully understanding the economic, fiscal, and tax implications this legislation will have.\n\nOur national debt has already surpassed $28 trillion \u2013 to put that number in perspective, that's roughly 230 thousand dollars per taxpayer. Now, Speaker Pelosi and other Democratic leaders might have 230 thousand dollars just lying around, but most people\u2014the vast majority of the people we all represent\u2014don't.\n\nWe owe our children, grandchildren, and future generations a return to fiscal responsibility. That starts with legislating responsibly and thoughtfully, not just catering to the radicals in the Democratic Party.\"\n\nThe full text of the lawmakers' letter is here and below.\n\nDear Madam Speaker and Majority Leader Hoyer,\n\nWe write to you requesting you permit the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to fulfill its responsibility and publish a full cost estimate for the fiscal year 2022 reconciliation bill, H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, before the House of Representatives considers and votes on this legislation.\n\nFor months, Congress has been engaged in ongoing debate about what will be included in the reconciliation bill and its overall cost. While we the undersigned have serious concerns with the portions of the bill that we have seen, certainly we should all be able to agree that Members of Congress should have a full accounting of how this bill will impact spending, deficits, and debt now and in the future. To date, CBO has provided estimates for less than ten percent of the bill reported by the Budget Committee. Based on the available estimates, three authorizing committees have exceeded their respective reconciliation targets.\n\nAs we approach the end of the year without having completed the annual appropriations process as well as facing a looming debt ceiling cliff, it would be unconscionable to commit to the purported trillions of dollars that the reconciliation bill might cost without knowing its true price tag. Given that the price of this bill makes it the most expensive piece of legislation in American history, it is imperative Members of Congress are not asked to vote on it until a full cost estimate is available for their review. The Administration claims that the plan will add nothing to the federal deficit. Given the policies that may or may not be included in the final package at this point, we find that difficult to believe. According to some estimates, the current form of the reconciliation bill would add as much as $3 trillion to our national debt, which already sits at more than $28 trillion.\n\nOur nation is also experiencing record levels of inflation, and many economists cite increased federal spending as a root cause. Inflation is on pace to exceed 7 percent this year \u2013 the highest it's been in forty years. Americans are facing increased costs for everyday necessities \u2013 gas prices are up 58 percent, meat prices are up 14.5 percent, clothing prices are up 10.5 percent, and coffee prices are up 6.1 percent. All Americans are experiencing this inflation crisis, particularly working-class families. As Congress considers spending trillions more of American taxpayer dollars, then as stewards of the public trust we should not commit to do so until a full accounting of this legislation's potential fiscal impact is available, both in the short and over the long term.\n\nGiving the CBO time to provide Congress with this critical analysis will ensure we know the potential impact of this legislation before making this critical decision. Allowing the CBO to do its job before a vote on this legislation will help answer these questions. Both the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 and House Rule XIII require a formal score of this bill prior to House consideration. It would be both imprudent and a disservice to Congress and the American people to ignore these requirements given the broad scope and reported cost of this legislation.\n\nWe thank you for your consideration of this request and hope you will give Congress and the American people a chance to know what the reconciliation bill will cost before voting on it.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-we-must-enforce-our-immigration-laws", "Newhouse: \u201cWe Must Enforce Our Immigration Laws\u201d", "2021-11-04", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) along with nearly 100 of his Republican colleagues, sent a bicameral letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas regarding the organized caravan of 3,000 migrants heading towards our southern border and his agency's preparedness to handle the situation.\n\n\"We are writing today with serious concerns about the organized migrant caravan currently on its way from southern Mexico toward the United States. It is estimated over 3,000 migrants from Haiti, South America, and Central America will reach our southern border within the corning weeks,\" wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \"In the past year alone, U.S. Border Patrol has recorded nearly 1.7 million migrant apprehensions at the southern border, which is the highest number of illegal crossings in history. If the Administration does not begin to appropriately respond to these caravans and the ongoing border crisis, these surges will surely continue.\"\n\nThey concluded, \"We must enforce our immigration laws as we do any other laws and ensure migrants in this caravan with nonexistent asylum claims will not be released into the United States. The safety of our American citizens and future migrants depends on your actions.\"\n\nRead the full letter here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas:\n\nWe are writing today with serious concerns about the organized migrant caravan currently on its way from southern Mexico toward the United States. It is estimated over 3,000 migrants from Haiti, South America, and Central America will reach our southern border within the corning weeks.\n\nAs you know, the caravan has already surged past a blockade of 400 Mexican law enforcement officers in Tapachula, who were prepared in anti-riot gear and attempted to block their path from getting to the U.S.-Mexico border. It has been reported that a number of minors were injured as a result of the breakthrough. We are deeply concerned about what the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is doing to prevent a similar situation at our southern border, especially when Customs and Border Protection (CBP) field agents are already overworked, undermanned and under-supplied as a result of the influx of migrants this year.\n\nAdditionally, this caravan comes only weeks after ten thousand migrants flooded Del Rio, Texas, overwhelming border personnel and later gaining entry into the United States. While the strategy DHS released on September 18, 2021, stated that migrants \"who cannot be expelled under Title 42 and do not have a legal basis to remain will be placed in expedited removal proceedings,\" this did not occur in Del Rio. In fact, Senior Executive Branch officials stated that migrants were released into the United States on a \"very, very large scale.\" We believe this incentivized the recent caravan to journey to the United States.\n\nTo better understand DHS 's preparation strategy and make sure individuals with nonexistent asylum claims are placed in expedited removal proceedings, we ask that you respond to the following questions:\n\nWhat has DHS done to prepare for this caravan, including diplomatic efforts with Central American countries to stop it as it gains momentum?\n\nHow is DHS collecting, receiving, and sharing intelligence on this caravan through the interagency process to ensure malign actors are not making their way to---and into---the United States?\n\nHow are these actions different from the actions taken in Del Rio?\n\nWill OHS expel migrants encountered at the border using Title 42?\n\nWhat are OHS' plans to process and deport migrants who cannot be expelled under Title 42 and do not have a legal basis to remain in the U.S.?\n\nIn the past year alone, U.S. Border Patrol has recorded nearly 1.7 million migrant apprehensions at the southern border, which is the highest number of illegal crossings in history. If the Administration does not begin to appropriately respond to these caravans and the ongoing border crisis, these surges will surely continue. In fact, organizers made migrants who wished to participate in the current caravan \"register with a QR code on their phones or a web link to participate.\" As this shows, the situation at our border is only getting worse.\n\nWe must enforce our immigration laws as we do any other laws and ensure migrants in this caravan with nonexistent asylum claims will not be released into the United States. The safety of our American citizens and future migrants depends on your actions. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter, and we look forward to your response.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-calls-cbo-report-economic-cost-bidens-socialist-agenda", "Newhouse Calls for CBO Report on Economic Cost of Biden's Socialist Agenda", "2021-11-03", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) along with nearly three dozen of his House Republican colleagues, sent a letter to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Phillip Swagel requesting the CBO to analyze the economic, tax, and fiscal impacts of President Biden's Build Back Better Act.\n\n\"While text of the Build Back Better Act is not yet finalized, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated she is ready to schedule the bill for a vote in the House of Representatives,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"This bill is long, expensive, and will fundamentally alter social programs and tax structures in our country. It is essential that each member of Congress have a complete and full understanding of such an expansive piece of legislation prior to voting on it. Members need to make informed decisions on behalf of their constituents.\"\n\nThe House Committee on Rules is expected to debate the Build Back Better Act soon. If the Rules Committee votes to advance the bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can schedule the Build Back Better Act for a vote on the House Floor.\n\nRead the full letter here and below:\n\nDear Director Swagel,\n\nThank you for your nonpartisan work to produce budgetary and economic analyses of proposed legislation. Especially now, as bills often exceed a thousand pages, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) ensures hidden and costly provisions are properly noticed. I write today to request information on the financial impacts of the Build Back Better Act.\n\nWhile text of the Build Back Better Act is not yet finalized, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated she is ready to schedule the bill for a vote in the House of Representatives. This bill is long, expensive, and will fundamentally alter social programs and tax structures in our country. It is essential that each member of Congress have a complete and full understanding of such an expansive piece of legislation prior to voting on it. Members need to make informed decisions on behalf of their constituents.\n\nI respectfully request CBO answer the following questions after analyzing the ten-year impact of the Build Back Better Act:\n\nWhat is the total cost of new and expanded federal programs?\n\nHow much federal government revenue will be raised through this legislation?\n\nHow much will the implementation of this bill increase the national deficit?\n\nWhat is the net impact on the national deficit, excluding projected economic growth attributed to new and expanded programs?\n\nTo what extent will revenue-raising measures within the bill impact American households earning less than $400,000 and small businesses?\n\nI appreciate your attention to these important questions as the Build Back Better Act awaits final consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-seeks-answers-supply-chain-disruption-during-agriculture-hearing", "Rep. Schrier Seeks Answers on Supply Chain Disruption During Agriculture Hearing", "2021-11-03", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) participated in a House Agriculture Committee hearing centering on the immediate challenges to Washington state and the nation's food supply chain. During the hearing, Rep. Schrier called attention to the effects of supply chain disruption and dysfunction in the 8th District. You can view those remarks here.\n\n\"Supply chain dysfunction made worse by the pandemic was first brought to my attention by hay growers in Ellensburg, Washington in my district in 2020. Since then, I have been in frequent communication with growers and exporters around the 8th District, about the issues they are facing,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"For more than a year, they have shared with me how pandemic conditions and the behavior of foreign-owned shipping carriers are hurting their industries, threatening export markets and relationships they have developed over decades.\"\n\nDuring her line of questioning, Rep. Schrier sought answers on the role that the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) can play to alleviate the backlog at Washington's ports. Recently, Rep. Schrier met with the White House Port EnvoyJohn Porcari, to address ongoing supply chain disruptions and the need to address gaps in the FMC's regulatory abilities.\n\nRep. Schrier also mentioned that her office has heard from schools, parents and local officials in the last few weeks about insufficient food stocks at schools and the inconsistent supply of school lunch products. Rep. Schrier expects to send a letter soon to the U.S. Department of Agriculture about their recent announcement of $3 billion to alleviate supply chain issues and their plans to get that funding to school districts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2989", "DelBene, Jayapal Demand Public Apology, Report from CBP on January 2020 Iranian-American Detention Incident", "2021-11-02", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswomen Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) demanded a formal apology from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the January 2020 detention and increased scrutiny of Iranian-Americans at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine in DelBene\u2019s district. In a letter to Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller, the lawmakers also requested the publication of an internal report detailing the incident and public renunciation of the agency\u2019s actions.\n\nOn January 5, 2020, more than 80 Americans of Iranian descent were held in secondary inspection at length and questioned. Some individuals claimed to have been held for over 10 hours. Those held in secondary inspection included U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and people of all ages including the elderly and children. Individuals had their passports confiscated and they were questioned about their political views and allegiances without explanation.\n\n\u201cMen, women and children legally entering or returning to the United States at a designated port of entry should not be arbitrarily held and questioned solely based on their religion, ethnicity, or national origin,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cIn conjunction with the Iranian community, we eagerly await the development and release of a corrective action plan to assure that these events do not recur.\u201d\n\nDelBene and Jayapal listed three specific demands to be met before the second anniversary of this incident:\n\nA formal apology from CBP regarding the tweet posted on January 5, 2020, which denied that the Iranian-Americans were being subject to increased scrutiny at the Peace Arch Border Crossing in Blaine, WA.\n\nThe prompt publication of the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties\u2019 report describing what happened at the Peace Arch Border Crossing between January 4-5, 2020.\n\nA press conference for CBP to publicly renounce their actions and commit to changes moving forward.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/national-diabetes-awareness-month-rep-schrier-and-diabetes-caucus-introduce", "For National Diabetes Awareness Month, Rep. Schrier and Diabetes Caucus Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Diabetes Care for Seniors", "2021-11-02", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today U.S. Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) along with members of the Diabetes Caucus, introduced the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act that will make it easier for people with diabetes to access training to manage their blood glucose levels and prevent hospitalization.\n\n\"As someone who has managed my own Type-1 Diabetes for 36 years, I understand that it can be complicated. And if you get it wrong, it can be life-threatening,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"I'm happy to work with the Diabetes Caucus to introduce this bipartisan bill during National Diabetes Awareness Month to remove barriers to self-management training. We know that self-management training helps people with diabetes live healthy lives and stay out of the hospital.\"\n\nThe Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act:\n\nEliminates cost-sharing for diabetes self-management training (DSMT) so seniors do not face cost barriers to care\n\nRemoves the deadline for DSMT, allowing seniors to use all 10 hours of training as they need it\n\nMakes it possible to receive Medical Nutrition Therapy services and DSMT together on the same day\n\nExpands providers who eligible to refer patients for DSMT services\n\nCreates a pilot program to test virtual DSMT\n\n\"We care about people who are living with diabetes and it is only fair that they have access to the knowledge and resources they need to manage their disease,\" said Diabetes Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Tom Reed. \"Medicare spends a third of its dollars on treating diabetes. Expanding access to diabetes self-management training is a common sense, bipartisan way to save taxpayer dollars, and most importantly, help people struggling with this condition.\"\n\n\"Nearly one-third of all adults in this country have either diabetes or prediabetes,\" said Rep. Diana DeGette, who co-chairs the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. \"Studies have shown that by changing the way they eat and live, many people are able to prevent or delay the development of diabetes. While Medicare provides its beneficiaries a free training course to teach them ways to prevent and manage the disease, only a small percentage of beneficiaries take advantage of it. Our goal in expanding this important program is to make it more accessible to more people.\"\n\n\"As a physician, I've treated patients in the emergency department whose insulin levels fluctuated to life-threatening levels,\" said Dr. Raul Ruiz, Vice-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. \"The millions of Americans living with diabetes deserve access to education and disease management that can help them live healthy, productive lives. I am proud to cosponsor this common-sense legislation, which will empower patients to effectively manage their diabetes.\"\n\n\"This Diabetes Awareness Month, we are introducing legislation to empower Americans with diabetes to live full and healthy lives. More than 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, and the Expanding Access to Self-Management Training Act of 2021 would equip patients with the resources they need to make the health decisions that are right for them. By expanding access to diabetes self-management, we are putting patients at the center of their care,\" said Rep. Suzan DelBene.\n\n\"I am proud to cosponsor this legislation to improve outcomes for those living with diabetes. This legislation will equip patients with the education, tools, and support they need to manage their diabetes care. The United States continues to increase their spending on diabetes and The Expanding Access to Self-Management Training Act of 2021 will serve as a critical solution to the future of care,\" said Rep. David Schweikert.\n\n\"Diabetes affects just about every family here in Michigan and nationwide. More than 34 million Americans live with diabetes and some 88 million are managing a prediabetes diagnosis,\" said Rep. Fred Upton. \"Fortunately, we know that folks can take a number of steps to manage this condition and lead a healthy lifestyle. This bipartisan legislation would expand access to critical diabetes self-management services that allow folks on Medicare to take control of their own wellbeing and have the peace of mind we all want in terms of our health. I would encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bipartisan bill and help get it signed into law for the millions of folks who would benefit from this program.\"\n\n\"We need to shift our health care economy to from a model focused only on sick care to one which prioritizes wellness and healthy lifestyles. Diabetes self-management training is an important tool for individuals with diabetes to manage their condition and live healthier, more fulfilled lives. Too often, seniors in the Medicare program don't have access to the same tools as individuals on private insurance. This bill will close that gap for diabetes self-management, and I'm proud to be co-leading along with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle,\" said Rep. Mike Kelly.\n\nThese changes in the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act will allow people living with diabetes to receive care earlier and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries living with diabetes have the tools to live full, healthy lives.\n\n\"The Diabetes Advocacy Alliance (DAA) applauds the sponsors of the Expanding Access to DSMT Act for introducing legislation that would provide improved and more equitable access to diabetes care for Medicare beneficiaries,\" said Hannah Martin, MPH, RDN, DAA co-chair. \"DSMT services are shown to improve health outcomes, reduce complications and decrease health care costs, yet utilization around the current Medicare benefit for DSMT remains low.\"\n\n\"The current Medicare benefit for DSMT has been available to Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes for over 20 years, yet there are barriers that contribute to the utilization of the benefit,\" said Kate Thomas, DAA co-chair. \"This legislation addresses these barriers and seeks to increase beneficiary access to diabetes services by making it easier for providers to refer for these services, reducing out of pocket costs for beneficiaries, and adding additional flexibilities to meet beneficiaries where they are with their self-management needs.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/11/02/media-press-releases-strickland-bonamici-speier-lead-70-members-letter-calling-hhs-reduce-barriers/", "Strickland, Bonamici, Speier Lead 70 Members on Letter Calling on HHS to Reduce Barriers to Birth Control", "2021-11-02", "2021", "2021-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a leader in the Pro-Choice Caucus, member of the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus and Black Maternal Health Caucus, along with Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Jackie Speier (CA-14) led a letter encouraging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance requiring insurance companies to cover, without cost-sharing, a 12-month supply of birth control. While the Affordable Care Act requires insurance coverage of contraception without cost sharing, insurance companies often limit coverage to a one- or three-cycle supply, imposing barriers to continuous access. Please find the letter text and the full list of 70 signers attachedand below.\n\n\u201cImproving access to a longer supply of birth control supports body autonomy, health, and economic freedom for millions and I am proud to champion this effort to do just that. During a global pandemic, a maternal mortality crisis, and as reproductive rights are under attack, the people who are hurt the most by limited access to contraceptives are those who already experience health inequities in the first place \u2014including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other vulnerable communities.\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland.\n\n\u201cAccess to birth control is essential to reproductive freedom, health, and economic stability,\u201d said Congresswoman Bonamici. \u201cWe must make birth control as easy to access as possible, especially at a time when reproductive rights are under attack and health care has been disrupted. Making a 12-month supply of contraceptives available and affordable will reduce barriers and increase autonomy for millions.\u201d\n\nThe letter has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women\u2019s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Upstream USA, National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association.\n\n\u201cAccess to affordable contraception is critical to reproductive freedom and health equity. Everyone, no matter their insurance provider or income, should be able to obtain the tools necessary to decide if and when they become a parent, and to manage chronic reproductive health conditions,\u201d said Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. \u201cToo often, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, people with low incomes, and people living in rural communities face greater and sometimes insurmountable barriers to basic health care. We thank Reps. Strickland, Bonamici, and Speier for leading on this issue to improve birth control access for all people.\u201d\n\n\u201cReproductive Justice demands that women, femmes, and gender-expansive people have the right to make decisions about planning their own families. In fact, a recent poll commissioned by In Our Own Voice found that 92% of respondents believe a woman\u2019s ability to control whether or when she has children is an important part of financial stability for herself and her family,\u201d said Marcela Howell, president & CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women\u2019s Reproductive Justice Agenda. \u201cWe encourage the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue guidance requiring insurance companies to cover, without cost-sharing, a 12-month supply of birth control to people seeking contraceptive care.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring health care coverage for a full-year supply of contraception without cost-sharing would eliminate unnecessary barriers to health care, particularly for those who already face difficulties accessing care. Moving forward with guidance on this proposal would represent another important step that HHS could take to expand access to contraception,\u201d said Clare Coleman, President & CEO, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA).\n\nThe full letter text can be found below.\n\nDear Secretary Becerra,\n\nAccess to sexual and reproductive care is a health, economic, and racial justice issue. We fully support giving people the resources they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. That starts by making reproductive healthcare, including access to contraceptive care, equally available to those who want it. While best practices in contraceptive care have evolved over the past decade, this unfortunately was not adequately reflected in government policy in the previous administration. That is why we are encouraging the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) to issue guidance requiring insurance companies to cover, without cost-sharing, a 12-month supply of birth control. Typically, health insurance companies limit birth control coverage, without cost-sharing, to a one- or three-cycle supply. This policy is a barrier that prevents people from fully accessing birth control when they need it, at their convenience, and fails to meet the intent behind the ACA\u2019s contraceptive coverage requirement.\n\nContraception has numerous benefits for Black, Latina, AAPI, Indigenous, and other people of color, and increases the ability to improve personal health, economic stability, and educational outcomes. Access to effective contraception has reduced the number of unintended pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies, and maternal and infant deaths. Additionally, contraception has been proven an effective option for addressing fibroids, minimizing endometriosis-related pain, and preventing ovarian cysts. Contraceptive equity is needed now more than ever as draconian laws in states like Texas and Mississippi have nearly banned access to abortion care outright for Black, Latina, AAPI, and Indigenous people. Worse, those who are forced to carry out an unwanted pregnancy must give birth in a country with one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the developed world. In the U.S., Black women are nearly four times more likely than white women to die from a pregnancy-related complication and are twice as likely to suffer a near-death experience.\n\nEquitable access to contraceptive care is critical for people of reproductive age, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, where new challenges in access have arisen during the ongoing public health crisis. However, inequities in reproductive health care, including access to contraceptive care, have long existed in the United States. The people hurt most by this are those who already face the greatest barriers to accessing health care in the first place \u2014including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+ individuals, those working to make ends meet, immigrants, those living in rural communities, and others. According to a 2018 poll by the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, 41% of Latina voters under age 45 had gone without the birth control method they wanted in the past two years because of access issues. Additionally, a barrier that low-income people and people living in rural areas experience is the need for repeat appointments to access contraceptive care and trips to the pharmacy to refill their prescription \u2013 due to lack of transportation, the inability to take paid time off work, inconsistent work schedules, and other economic justice issues that prevent ease of access. This is of particular concern to those who use contraception with the intention of preventing unintended pregnancies as it can lead to a lapse in birth control usage and a higher risk of pregnancy. In fact, it\u2019s been proven that providing people with a 12-month supply of birth control helps prevent a lapse in usage and reduce the risk of pregnancy. A study conducted by the University of San Francisco in 2011, found that dispensing a 12-month supply of birth control resulted in a 30% reduction in the odds of pregnancy compared with dispensing just one or three packs.\n\nProvider bias, discrimination, and stigma is also often encountered by people of color seeking reproductive health and contraception services \u2013 from recommended family planning services, to coercion about contraceptive choices, and the inability to access the full range of contraceptives. The more access an individual has to the contraception of their choice, the more they will be able to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. In the United States, there is a long history of contraception, specifically long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods, being promoted at times coercively to people of color and people with low-incomes. As reproductive health technologies were developed, women of color were also subjected to exploitation. The first oral contraceptive, Enovid, was tested on Puerto Rican and Haitian women in the 1950s, before the Food and Drug Administration approved it for distribution in 1960. In the seventies, Mexican American women became unknowing participants in medical testing for contraception. These past examples of racism in contraceptive access still impact communities today. A recent In Our Own Voice: National Black Women\u2019s Reproductive Justice Agenda poll found that 62% of respondents think racism affects the Black community\u2019s ability to have access to affordable birth control. By bringing equity to contraceptive care in our country, we can create ease of access and empower people to self-determine what birth control method is best for them \u2013 free of coercion.\n\nGiven the evidence and benefits of providing a 12-month supply of birth control to patients who want this option, we encourage the Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 (HHS) to issue guidance requiring insurance companies to cover, without cost-sharing, a 12-month supply of birth control.\n\nThank you for your time and consideration on this matter and we look forward to hearing from you.\n\nSincerely,\n\nMarilyn Strickland\n\nMember of Congress\n\nSuzanne Bonamici\n\nMember of Congress\n\nJackie Speier\n\nMember of Congress\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-rejects-biden-administrations-million-dollar-payout-rewarding", "Newhouse Rejects Biden Administration\u2019s Million Dollar Payout Rewarding Illegal Immigration", "2021-11-01", "2021", "2021-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) along with 75 of his Republican colleagues, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting information regarding President Biden's intent to reward illegal immigrants almost $1 million for breaking our nation's laws.\n\n\"According to an October 28th Wall Street Journal article, the Biden administration is considering offering almost $1 million per family to those who were taken into custody and separated after illegally crossing our southern border,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"If finalized, the total settlement could reach $1 billion or more. Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a litany of issues created by extreme policy changes that have led to the ongoing, persistent, and preventable historic humanitarian crisis at our border. These changes have signaled to human traffickers and drug cartels that the United States southern border is open for business, so long as you are not entering legally.\"\n\nThe Members requested information to confirm the Administration's intent with this policy, and whether the award amount would in fact be larger than that dispensed to the victims of the September 11th terrorist attack, as reported.\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \"While immigration has been a bedrock of the United States since its founding, we should not be creating policy that encourages individuals to illegally enter our country by traveling thousands of miles through some of the most dangerous parts of the world organized by international criminal syndicates responsible for thousands of murders throughout Mexico and the U.S. \u2013 all during a global pandemic.\n\nRead the full letter here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas, Attorney General Garland, and Secretary Becerra:\n\nAccording to an October 28th Wall Street Journal article, the Biden administration is considering offering almost $1 million per family to those who were taken into custody and separated after illegally crossing our southern border. If finalized, the total settlement could reach $1 billion or more. Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a litany of issues created by extreme policy changes that have led to the ongoing, persistent, and preventable historic humanitarian crisis at our border. These changes have signaled to human traffickers and drug cartels that the United States southern border is open for business, so long as you are not entering legally.\n\nWhile immigration has been a bedrock of the United States since its founding, we should not be creating policy that encourages individuals to illegally enter our country by traveling thousands of miles through some of the most dangerous parts of the world organized by international criminal syndicates responsible for thousands of murders throughout Mexico and the U.S. \u2013 all during a global pandemic. Furthermore, it is ironic that this administration would focus on the well-being of illegal immigrants when, in July 2021, several whistleblowers came forward to shed light on the deplorable conditions at a Ft. Bliss detention center responsible for overseeing the care of more than 5,000 children. The reports claimed that COVID spread among the kids, contractors hired by the Department of Health and Human Services lacked childcare experience, and it took months to receive supplies to quell a lice outbreak among the young people. Unconscionably, bureaucrats in Washington advised those on the ground to paint a rosy picture and to not allow the public to find out how decrepit the conditions were.\n\nThe family separation policy was ended in June 2018, and, in some cases, already resolved for far less than the reported figures this administration is discussing. To better understand this negotiation, we request you answer the below questions expeditiously.\n\nIs the reporting correct and could families who illegally crossed the southern border and were separated receive larger settlements than the victims of the September 11th terrorist attack?\n\nWhat is the total amount of American taxpayer dollars that the administration plans to authorize to settle these cases?\n\nWill those families who illegally crossed the southern border and were separated be given preferential treatment to remain in the United States over those attempting to legally immigrate?\n\nWe appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to hearing your response.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:30:49Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2554", "Washington Congressional Delegation: Seattle is Ready to Host 2026 FIFA World Cup", "2021-10-31", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2013 Today, Washington state\u2019s congressional delegation, led by Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02), co-chair of the Congressional Soccer Caucus, and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), whose district includes Lumen Field, home of the Seattle Sounders, and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, called on FIFA leadership and tournament organizers to consider Seattle as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.\n\n\u201cAs members of Washington state\u2019s congressional delegation, we are excited to share what makes our state special. We look forward to working with FIFA, as well as our state and local partners, to host the world in 2026,\u201d the lawmakers wrote in a letter addressed to leaders from FIFA, CONCACAF and the U.S. Soccer Federation.\n\nRepresentatives Adam Smith (WA-09), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) joined Larsen and Jayapal\u2019s letter to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Washington.\n\nPlease read the letter below and attached.\n\nColin Smith\n\nChief Competitions & Events Officer,\n\nF\u00e9d\u00e9ration Internationale\n\nde Football Association\n\nFIFA Strasse 20\n\nP.O. Box 8044\n\nZurich, Switzerland\n\nVictor Montagliani\n\nPresident, Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football\n\n161 NW 6th Street\n\nSuite 1100\n\nMiami, FL 33136\n\nCindy Parlow Cone\n\nPresident, U.S. Soccer Federation\n\n1801 South Prairie Avenue\n\nChicago, IL 60616\n\nDear Mr. Smith, Mr. Montagliani and Ms. Parlow Cone:\n\nWe encourage you to consider Seattle as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As members of the Washington state congressional delegation, we know Seattle would be an excellent host city and we welcome the opportunity to share with the world all that makes Washington special.\n\nThe Pacific Northwest represents the future of soccer in North America. Puget Sound is home to the third-most attended National Women\u2019s Soccer League (NWSL) team, Tacoma\u2019s OL Reign, and the second-most attended Major League Soccer (MLS) team, the two-time MLS Cup Champion Seattle Sounders. Youth soccer is also the most-played organized sport in the region, with 93,000 participants in Washington Youth Soccer programs. Our region is where soccer is growing, and Seattle will have a guaranteed fan base to welcome the World Cup.\n\nFor international fans, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is an ideal international gateway, with the third-most direct flights to Asia of any airport in the western United States. Nearby airports in Everett, Portland and Vancouver, British Columbia expand our capacity to host the world as fans and families plan their vacations around a match at Lumen Field.\n\nWhen guests arrive, they will be able to access matches and tourist destinations easily, thanks to robust local, state and federal investments in public transportation. Light rail connects guests straight from Sea-Tac airport to downtown hotels and Lumen field, while Amtrak connects the entire Northwest from Portland to Vancouver, and Spokane to Seattle. Downtown Seattle is ready to host guests in nearly 15,000 hotel rooms; throughout the surrounding counties, all connected by light rail, there are more than 57,000 available rooms.\n\nFor visitors, Washington boasts a wealth of culinary, tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities. Guests can explore the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest on one of 3,897 hiking trails, or visit one of Washington\u2019s more than 1,000 wineries, 420 breweries or booming cideries. Across the state, guests will find rock climbing and alpine spas in central Washington, a thriving music and arts scene in Spokane, and restaurants serving everything from locally-sourced shellfish to beef raised on Eastern Washington\u2019s ranches.\n\nAs members of the Washington congressional delegation, we are excited to share what makes our state special. We look forward to working with FIFA, as well as our state and local partners, to host the world in 2026.\n\nSincerely,\n\nRick Larsen\n\nMember of Congress\n\nPramila Jayapal\n\nMember of Congress\n\nPatty Murray\n\nMember of Congress\n\nMaria Cantwell\n\nMember of Congress\n\nAdam Smith\n\nMember of Congress\n\nCathy McMorris Rodgers\n\nMember of Congress\n\nJaime Herrera Beutler\n\nMember of Congress\n\nSuzan DelBene\n\nMember of Congress\n\nDerek Kilmer\n\nMember of Congress\n\nDan Newhouse\n\nMember of Congress\n\nKim Schrier, M.D.\n\nMember of Congress\n\nMarilyn Strickland\n\nMember of Congress\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-applauds-2753-million-american-rescue-plan-grant-sound-transit", "Rep. Smith Applauds $275.3 Million American Rescue Plan Grant to Sound Transit", "2021-10-29", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "October 29, 2021\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement after U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration is awarding $275.3 million of American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to Sound Transit, which serves riders in the Central Puget Sound in Washington.\n\n\"Public transportation plays a crucial role in American life, and Washingtonians across King County and the Puget Sound rely on our local transit system to be safe and reliable. As our communities continue to rebound from the pandemic, it is more important than ever that people can get where they need to go. The funding provided by President Biden's American Rescue Plan will protect employees from potential layoffs and help Sound Transit continue to expand its services. This funding could not come at a more important time as the region works to aggressively expand public transit and decarbonize the transportation sector - and this is only the beginning. The President's bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Build Back Better Act that we are advancing through Congress will provide even more investments in our public transit systems and a cleaner transportation future. I was proud to vote for the American Rescue Plan and to see the real impacts this law will have in the 9th District.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-announces-5m-grant-support-northwest-hop-research", "Newhouse Announces $5M Grant to Support Northwest Hop Research", "2021-10-28", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded $4,853,908, under the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) grants program, to Washington State University to conduct research on enhancing supply chain sustainability and global competitiveness for pacific northwest hops. This funding was authorized through the 2018 Farm Bill.\n\n\"As one of the leading producers of specialty crops in the country, our regional future depends on finding ways to ensure that our farmers can get their products to market,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"This funding will go a long way toward ensuring that our producers are able to weather unstable and broken supply chain conditions like the ones we are currently experiencing. I applaud the USDA on this decision to support Central Washington's hop industry, and I congratulate WSU on this well-deserved funding award.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nUSDA awarded a total of $74 million to 21 recipients through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) grants program. SCRI program investments address critical challenges facing conventional and organic food and agricultural production systems across the specialty crop industry. The program's priority focus areas include improving crop characteristics, managing threats from pests and diseases, improving production efficiency, profitability, and technological innovation, and mitigating food safety hazards. SCRI gives priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary, and include ways to communicate results to producers and the public.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-leads-inquiry-overreaching-vaccine-mandate-national-wildfire", "Newhouse Leads Inquiry into Overreaching Vaccine Mandate on National Wildfire Preparedness", "2021-10-28", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) led a bicameral letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland requesting information regarding the impacts President Biden's vaccine mandate will have on national wildfire preparedness.\n\nPresident Biden's COVID-19 vaccine mandate requires federal employees to be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021 and federal contractors to be fully vaccinated by December 8, 2021. The loss of essential employees across the country who will be terminated or who leave the workforce due to the mandate will undermine federal wildland firefighting efforts.\n\n\"Due to these trends, we are concerned the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees may adversely affect the number of wildland firefighters serving at USDA and DOI,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"Coupled with other factors contributing to the depletion of federal firefighter ranks and the lack of management fueling longer, more sever wildfire seasons, President Biden's actions may exacerbate challenges in the ongoing effort to combat wildfires.\"\n\nThe Members requested Secretaries Vilsack and Haaland produce documents and comprehensive analyses on the mandate's impact and to determine if an exemption for USDA and DOI firefighters is appropriate to preserve our ability to combat and prevent wildfires throughout the United States.\n\nThey continued, \"Understanding the adverse impact of President Biden's mandate on USDA's and DOI's federal wildland firefighter force is critical to assessing the federal government's ability to effectively manage and respond to wildfires.\"\n\nRead the full letter here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Haaland,\n\nAs of October 15, 2021, almost 6.5 million acres in the United States burned from more than 47,000 wildfires since the beginning of the year. The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for wildfire management and response for 193 million acres of the National Forest System (NFS) while the Department of the Interior (DOI) manages response for more than 400 million acres of public land. These 593 million federal acres have 14,500 Department of Agriculture (USDA) and 5,000 DOI wildland firefighters dedicated to protecting our federal lands.\n\nIn their roles, these federal wildland firefighters also coordinate emergency responses with state, local, and tribal partners, and are the tip of the spear to combat ongoing wildfire threats. As President Joe Biden stated earlier this year, \"we've got to be prepared and have every resource available to make sure we're there for the American people.\" The full availability of these federal firefighters is imperative to the health and safety of our federal lands and the communities near those lands. Therefore, we seek to assess the consequences of President Biden's recent vaccination mandates on the staffing of USDA and DOI wildland firefighters.\n\nDue in large part to decades of inadequate forest management, wildfire seasons now last year-round and put increasingly significant strains on our federal wildland firefighters and firefighting resources. This year, the United States spent more consecutive days at the highest wildfire preparedness level, Preparedness Level 5, than in any other year. According to FS Chief Randy Moore, firefighting resources are already stretched to the limit and the agency continually struggles to recruit and retain new firefighters. The Biden Administration's policies forcing our wildland firefighters, who professionally risk their lives, to choose between their livelihood and their own personal health decision is therefore counterintuitive to ensuring necessary recruitment and retention.\n\nRather than allowing federal employees to consult with their doctor to determine appropriate medical actions, President Biden mandated that federal employees and contractors receive COVID-19 vaccinations. Federal employees must be fully vaccinated by November 22, 2021, and federal contractors must be fully vaccinated by December 8, 2021. Employees not in compliance with this requirement will face consequences, including termination of employment.\n\nSeveral federal employee advocacy groups criticized President Biden's vaccine mandate as misguided and an inappropriate overreach. For example, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association opposed the mandate and encouraged its members to seek individual medical advice about vaccinations. Numerous Members of Congress also urged President Biden to reconsider the mandate. Similar vaccination mandates at state and local levels received negative reactions, particularly from firefighters. Across the country, essential employees left the workforce because of COVID-19 vaccination mandates.\n\nDue to these trends, we are concerned the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal employees may adversely affect the number of wildland firefighters serving at USDA and DOI. Coupled with other factors contributing to the depletion of federal firefighter ranks and the lack of management fueling longer, more severe wildfire seasons, President Biden's actions may exacerbate challenges in the ongoing effort to combat wildfires.\n\nAdditionally, many stakeholders are concerned about the vaccination mandate's harmful impact to federal contractors, specifically those completing critical forest management projects that are essential to reducing the risk and severity of catastrophic wildfires and improving forest health. We echo their concerns that the mandate is likely to disrupt work in rural America, ultimately jeopardizing wildfire prevention efforts and potentially endangering hundreds of communities at risk of destruction due to catastrophic wildfire.\n\nThese trends also raise doubts about USDA's and DOI's ability to maintain the appropriate level of preparedness necessary to effectively respond to wildfire threats. President Biden's actions, however, ignore the reality of the unique environments in which wildland firefighters must work, and the efficacy of COVID-19 precautions. In Chief Moore's recent congressional testimony, he confirmed that \"the Forest Service and our interagency partners have seen success with our COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures.\" Two weeks ago, the Mine Safety and Health Administration determined that the strength of existing mine worker protections are sufficient to not require COVID-19 vaccinations. USDA and DOI should similarly examine the existing protections for federal wildland firefighters and contractors to determine if an exemption from the vaccination mandates is appropriate. At a minimum, the agencies must evaluate reasonable accommodations and alternatives to vaccinations, such as routine testing.\n\nUnderstanding the adverse impact of President Biden's mandate on USDA's and DOI's federal wildland firefighter force is critical to assessing the federal government's ability to effectively manage and respond to wildfires. Therefore, to assist with our oversight activities, please produce the following, as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00 p.m., October 26, 2021:\n\nA document sufficient to describe the estimated number of fully vaccinated federal wildland firefighters at your Department as of October 19, 2021.\n\nA document sufficient to describe your Department's plan for employees and contractors who do not comply with President Biden's vaccination mandates.\n\nAll documents and communications, including, but not limited to, internal memoranda and e-mails, referring or relating to attrition concerns at your Department because of President Biden's vaccination mandates for federal employees and contractors.\n\nAll documents and communications referring or relating to the decision to implement vaccination mandates between January 20, 2021 and October 19, 2021.\n\nA document sufficient to describe your Department's contingency plan to address the attrition of federal wildland firefighters and relevant contractors because of President Biden's vaccination mandates for federal employees and contractors.\n\nA document sufficient to describe your Department's analysis of working conditions for both federal wildland firefighters and relevant contractors to assess the appropriateness of an exemption from President Biden's COVID-19 vaccination mandates.\n\nAll documents and communications referring or relating to the National Interagency Coordination Center's unfulfilled dispatching or mobilization requests of wildland firefighter crews, staff to assist wildland firefighters, and resources needed to combat wildfires between January 20, 2021 and October 19, 2021.\n\nPlease contact the House Natural Resources Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Minority staff at (202) 225-7107 with any questions about this request and to coordinate the delivery of your response to room 1329 of the Longworth House Office Building.\n\nAn attachment contains additional instructions for responding to this request. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-announces-new-investments-whitestone-reclamation-district", "Newhouse Announces New Investments in Whitestone Reclamation District to Combat Drought", "2021-10-27", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) applauded the $900,000 in funding to help communities and agricultural producers in Okanogan County build drought resiliency and conserve water as part of the WaterSMART Initiative, a joint effort between the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). Through the WaterSMART Initiative, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides targeted Environmental Quality Incentives Program funding for farmers and ranchers, who work in tandem with irrigation districts, water districts and other organizations funded by the BOR. This funding was provided from FY21 appropriations, which Republicans approved in December of 2020.\n\n\"These grants are a major win for Central Washington. In the arid West, water is truly our most precious resource, and our local district managers and operators work around-the-clock to conserve and manage our limited supply,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"These grants \u2013 which are awarded as our district and many like it across the country face devastating drought conditions \u2013 will allow for necessary improvements and for our local water operators to continue to efficiently deliver water to our rural communities and producers.\"\n\nWhitestone Reclamation District: The Whitestone Reclamation District (WRD) in Okanogan County, WA used two Reclamation WaterSMART grants to reduce water loss from seepage and evaporation by lining canals or replacing them with pipe which further allowed increased efficiency from pressurizing the system. The improvements resulted in saving at least 331 acre-feet of water per year from needing to be withdrawn from Toats Coulee Creek. The Okanogan Conservation District will work with the WRD using NRCS tools to measure and help monitor flow rates before and after the upgrades and estimate benefits to the fish, wildlife, and wetlands in the area. Outreach activities include efforts to reach Hispanic owners and or operators in the area. With additional NRCS assistance, more sections of the aging canal and other infrastructure may be lined, piped, or upgraded and farmers will be able to improve irrigation water management for fruit trees, hay, and pasture. In addition to the water savings and drought resiliency benefits, EQIP funds will help improve energy use efficiency and crop productivity and health.\n\nBackground:\n\nPrivate land managers such as farmers and ranchers can leverage money and resources of irrigation districts, water districts, and other organizations with water delivery authority in their community by coordinating their efforts to conserve and use water more efficiently; increasing the production of renewable energy; mitigating future water conflict in areas at a high risk; and other activities that contribute to water supply sustainability in the Western United States. Visit the WaterSMART webpage to learn more.\n\nThrough the WaterSMART Initiative, funds are allocated to targeted areas for eligible participants to enter contracts. Each WaterSMART Initiative project area is carrying out different phases of program delivery at the same time\u2014 funding, implementation and evaluation.\n\nNRCS and Reclamation, the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power, have been coordinating EQIP and WaterSMART investments since 2011, the effort began as a pilot in California.\n\nThis federal collaboration works to provide states, Tribes, local water management entities, and water users alike with coordinated resources to plan and implement actions which balance water supply and demand through modernizing existing infrastructure, improving agricultural landscapes to conserve water resources and bringing attention to local water conflicts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-applauds-mental-health-funding-central-washington-producers", "Newhouse Applauds Mental Health Funding for Central Washington Producers", "2021-10-27", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) applauded the $500,000 in funding to Washington State's Department of Agriculture to support Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) State Department of Agriculture (SDA) projects funded by the 2018 Farm Bill. The Washington State Department of Agriculture will collaborate with Washington Department of Health and Washington State University Extension to create two programs to address suicide prevention and behavioral health.\n\n\"Our farmers and ranchers have been working under intense conditions over the last year and a half to continue ensuring our food supply chain remains uninterrupted, and our grocery store shelves remain full,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"This grant funding will go a long way towards helping these men and women deal with the stress this has caused in a healthy, manageable way.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nLong before the pandemic caused an increase in stress around the world, stress-related mental health was already a rising concern across farm communities coast to coast. USDA-NIFA introduced a competitive grants program, the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), reauthorized by the 2018 Farm Bill, which supports projects that provide stress assistance for people in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations.\n\nFRSAN offers a conduit to improving behavioral health awareness, literacy, and more favorable outcomes for them and their families.\n\nIn fiscal year 2020, NIFA awarded $28.7 million to four regional entities contributing to FRSAN, to ensure vulnerable agricultural producers and their families have more options for high-quality, affordable help close to home.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-honors-true-family-2021-angels-adoption", "Newhouse Honors True Family as 2021 Angels in Adoption", "2021-10-27", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) recognized Yakima residents Pat and Sonia True as Central Washington's 2021 Angels in Adoption. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI)'s Angels in Adoption program honors families, individuals, and organizations making extraordinary contributions to adoption, permanency, and welfare. The True's were nominated by Rep. Newhouse to receive this honor.\n\n\"Pat and Sonia have, time and again, opened up their home to those in need,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"They have provided a sanctuary for children to heal from trauma, mothers to recover from abuse, and families to come together. The True's serve as an inspirational example of how, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. They are angels who truly exemplify the family values we hold dear in Central Washington.\"\n\nOver the last several years, the True's have offered their home and care to a number of families in need, outside of foster care or other state-run systems. They have had custody of several children, four of whom live with them today. These children come from backgrounds of generational poverty, chronic neglect, gang affiliation, drug addiction, absent and/or incarcerated parents. The True's not only offer their home, but they also assist other Central Washington families in overcoming challenges with the hope of bringing families back together. In the last 5 years, the True's have opened their home to more than 20 children, ranging in ages 2 months to 17 years.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is a non-profit organization that works to raise awareness about the needs of children without families and to remove policy barriers that hinder children from knowing the love and support a family provides. CCAI's Angels in Adoption initiative provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to honor an individual or entity from their district which has made an extraordinary contribution on behalf of children in need of homes.\n\nCCAI is a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization dedicated to raising awareness about the tens of thousands of orphans and foster children in the United States and the millions of orphans around the world in need of permanent, safe and loving homes through adoption.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/10/27/media-press-releases-strickland-lamb-blumenthal-payne-jr-introduce-legislation-restore-amtrak/", "Strickland, Lamb, Blumenthal, Payne, Jr. Introduce Legislation to Restore Amtrak Riders\u2019 Legal Rights and Protections", "2021-10-27", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, joined Representative Conor Lamb (PA-17) and Subcommittee Chair Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) in introducing the Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate. This bicameral legislation would prohibit Amtrak from requiring forced arbitration agreements from customers, restoring passengers\u2019 legal right to seek justice and accountability for their claims in the courts. (Read the bill text here.)\n\n\u201cRail travel can reduce emissions, connect underserved communities, and bolster our economy, but these benefits should not come at the cost of passenger rights. When tragedy strikes, passengers deserve their day in court. I\u2019m proud to join Representative Lamb, Representative Payne, Jr. and Senator Blumenthal in introducing legislation to restore the legal rights and protections of Amtrak riders and their families,\u201d said Strickland, Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.\n\n\u201cRequiring forced arbitration agreements unfairly limits consumer rights and protections,\u201d said Lamb, a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. \u201cCongress needs to take action to restore the legal rights of Amtrak passengers and their families.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill will restore vital legal rights to the travelers who are injured on Amtrak trains and seek just redress,\u201d said Blumenthal. \u201cAmtrak\u2019s current forced arbitration and class action ban policies are unjust and unfair. Riders are often unaware they\u2019ve signed away their legal rights with the purchase of a ticket until the worst happens, like so many passengers impacted by the Montana crash discovered first hand. Legal accountability will be a powerful incentive to safer Amtrak practices.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill would ensure customers can pursue legal remedies in court and give them more options to resolve problems they experience with Amtrak travel,\u201d said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. \u201cIn addition, it would hold Amtrak more accountable for actions and issues that occur during rail travel.\u201d\n\nThe Ending Passenger Rail Forced Arbitration Act is endorsed by Public Citizen, American Association for Justice, National Disability Rights Network, and the National Association of Rail Passengers.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nAmtrak implemented its forced arbitration and class action ban policy in January 2019, specifically writing it to be \u201cas broad as legally permissible,\u201d including discrimination and any personal injury claims. Under this change, with the purchase of an Amtrak ticket, customers waive their right to sue Amtrak in a U.S. court for any reason. The policy includes passengers who have tickets bought for them, including minors. Forced arbitration also discourages customers from filing complaints for smaller violations by instituting high fees and extended timelines. Airlines are already prohibited from using mandatory forced arbitration.\n\nAmtrak put the policy in place after incidents like the 2015 train derailment in Philadelphia, PA and the 2017 derailment in DuPont, Washington, which resulted in multi-million dollar settlements for the victims. Following a derailment of an Amtrak train in Montana last month, several injured passengers have filed lawsuits against Amtrak, which seek to challenge the company\u2019s forced arbitration policy.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-votes-pass-family-violence-prevention-and-services-improvement-act", "Rep. Smith Votes to Pass Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021", "2021-10-26", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "October 26, 2021\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) voted to pass H.R. 2119, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act (FVPSA) of 2021, which would expand and reauthorize programs under the Family Violence and Prevention Services Act. These programs provide grant funding and technical assistance for critical prevention and protection services for survivors of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence.\n\n\"Today I was proud to vote to pass the Family Violence and Services Improvement Act - legislation that I co-sponsored - to grant coalitions and community-based organizations across our country with funding to provide protection and prevention services to survivors of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. This bill would fund critical services such as emergency shelters, crisis counseling, safety planning, legal assistance in seeking protection orders, assistance recovering from financial abuse, and housing assistance.\n\n\"The updates in this bill are critical to ensuring programs can provide better services for survivors who have been historically marginalized and underserved. With an increased funding authorization, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is directed to award grants to organizations in underserved communities and to community-based organizations that provide culturally appropriate services to racial and ethnic minority groups.\n\n\"Family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence are tragic phenomenon experienced by millions of individuals and families across the country. I am a proud co-sponsor of this bill, which will help incredible organizations in King County and across the United States that work to provide life-saving services. Together, we can work to end this violence in our homes and our communities and to protect our children and families who need the most support.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-newhouse-bill-honor-13-fallen-servicemembers", "House Passes Newhouse Bill to Honor 13 Fallen Servicemembers", "2021-10-26", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after the House passed his legislation to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 U.S. military servicemembers who were killed in Afghanistan: Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan Page, Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, Hospitalman Maxton Soviak, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss.\n\n\"I'm proud the House passed my bipartisan legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal \u2013 Congress' highest honor \u2013 to the brave men and women whose lives were taken far too soon,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"I urge the Senate to quickly take up this legislation and send it to the president's desk, so we can honor their legacy.\"\n\nClick here to read the full text of the bill.\n\nRep. Newhouse introduced the bipartisan legislation with Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and 162 original cosponsors:\n\nReps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Jim Banks (R-IN), Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Larry Buschon (R-IN), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Russ Fulcher (R-IN), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), Bob Gibbs (R-OH), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Bob Good (R-VA), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Yvette Herrell (R-NM), Jody Hice (R-GA), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Richard Hudson (R-NC), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Bob Latta (R-OH), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) Tom McClintock (R-CA), David McKinley (R-WV), Peter Meijer (R-MI), Carol Miller (R-WV), Blake Moore (R-UT), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Burgess Owens (R-UT), August Pfluger (R-TX), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Greg Steube (R-FL), Mike Turner (R-OH), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY) Joe Wilson (R-SC), Randy Weber (R-TX), Roger Williams (R-TX), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Young Kim (R-CA), Ben Cline (R-VA), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Jim Jordan (R-OH), Trent Kelly (R-MS), Al Lawson (D-FL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) John Moolenaar (R-MI), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Steven Palazzo (R-MS), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Bruce Westermann (R-AR), Don Young (R-AK), Rick Allen (R-GA), Mark Amodei (R-NV), Jaime Herrera-Beutler (R-WA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mo Brooks (R-AL), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Jerry Carl (R-AL), Tom Cole (R-OK), John Curtis (R-UT), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Mike Garcia (R-CA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Michael Guest (R-MS), Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Chris Jacobs (R-NY), Dusty Johnson (R- SD), Bill Keating (D-MA), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), David Kustoff (R-TN), Elaine Luria (D-VA), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Brian Mast (R-FL), Greg Murphy (R-NC), Gary Palmer (R-AL), David Rouzer (R-NC), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Darren Soto (D-FL), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), David Valadao (R-CA), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Filemon Vela (D-TX), Andy Harris (R-MD), Liz Cheney (R-WY), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Lee Zeldin (R-NY), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN), Ruben Gallego (D-NV), Jason Smith (R-MO), Ralph Norman (R-SC), G.T. Thompson (R-PA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Buddy Carter (R-GA), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Mike Levin (D-CA), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Garrett Graves (R-LA), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Elise Slotkin (D-MI), Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Greg Pence (R-IN), Barry Moore (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA), Mike Bost (R-IL), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Jim Costa (D-CA), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Jared Golden (D-ME), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Dan Bishop (R-NC), and Byron Donalds (R-FL)", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-legislation-provide-antibody-exemption-federal", "Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Provide Antibody Exemption to Federal Mandate", "2021-10-26", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced the Options Over Terminations Act. This legislation would provide an exemption to any Federal COVID\u201319 vaccine mandate for any Federal employee or contractor who provides proof of COVID\u201319 antibodies.\n\n\"Federal employees who have opted not to receive the vaccine because they have natural immunity developed after recovering from the virus do not deserve to be fired,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"President Biden's overreaching mandate has severe ramifications for communities across the country, especially for communities like Central Washington who make up a large part of the federal workforce. Instead of forcing our federal workforce to choose between employment and vaccination, my bill provides them with an option \u2013 a permissible, science-based exception from President Biden's recent Executive Order.\"\n\nClick here to read the full text of the Options Over Terminations Act.\n\n\"The working families of the UA and our Building Trades have been on the front lines since the beginning of this pandemic, risking their families health and safety to ensure our Federal and State projects never missed a beat. For our members, becoming vaccinated is a personal choice between them and their families, their doctor and their faith. The narrow provisions required under this current executive order, places our members between that intimate personal choice and their ability to earn a living for their families. Safe and effective alternatives to this mandate are paramount in protecting the health and safety of our workplaces and the individual liberties of our members. Congressman Newhouse's legislation will ensure our members have access to the personal options and respect they deserve.\" \u2014Nickolas A. Bumpaous, Assistant Business Manager of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 598 and the President of the Central WA Building Trades Council\n\n\"Reportedly, some 75 million workers in private workplaces across the country continue to show resistance or reluctance to the COVID-19 vaccines. While we encourage our workforce to get vaccinated, it simply is not practical to impose expansive \"one size fits all\" programmatic mandates based on the state of the pandemic. We must also acknowledge the need to develop patient-centered solutions based on the medical evidence. To this end, we strongly urge the acknowledgement of infection-acquired immunity in addition to vaccine-acquired immunity. We thank Rep. Newhouse for introducing this important piece of legislation.\" \u2014National Electrical Contractors Association\n\nBackground:\n\nOn September 9, 2021, President Biden released an Executive Order requiring all federal employees and contractors be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 22, 2021 or face the risk of termination.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2552", "Larsen: The Time is Right to Make Bold Investments in Child Care, Jobs, Affordable Housing, Lower Drug Prices", "2021-10-25", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Thanks to your efforts to get vaccinated and comply with necessary, science-based public health directives, Northwest Washington is defeating the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has not yet been defeated; the economy is recovering, but it has not yet recovered.\n\nTo ensure all Americans can benefit from economic recovery, the time is right for bold, long-term investments that will put Washingtonians to work, empower working families, ensure seniors can afford prescription drugs and build more affordable housing.\n\nAs the White House and Congressional leadership continue to negotiate, I am working with House Democrats to pass legislation that will make prudent investments in the residents and communities I represent and drive economic growth long after the pandemic has been defeated.\n\nMy priorities include:\n\nQuality, Affordable Child Care\n\nMaking it easier to pay for child care means supporting parents who want to go back to work. The bill further supports families by providing twelve weeks of paid family and medical leave for all workers. Together, these investments will help American families, reducing poverty and hunger in our communities and across the nation.\n\nEarlier this year, I gathered virtually with child care providers and stakeholders from across Washington\u2019s Second District. Attendees from organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish County and San Juan Head Start told me quality, affordable child care was getting further and further out of reach for working families \u2013 a persistent issue exacerbated by the pandemic. Earlier this year, the American Rescue Plan included an historic expansion of the Child Tax Credit, thanks to the efforts of leaders like Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01), but Congress must go a step further.\n\nI support extending the expanded Child Tax Credit through 2025 (if you need help claiming the tax credit, please contact my office at 425-252-3188) and other provisions that create more child care opportunities.\n\nMore Well-Paying Jobs\n\nMy recent roundtable with local aerospace companies and workforce representatives at Everett Community College confirmed that pandemic relief initiatives like the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program I championed in the American Rescue Plan are saving well-paying jobs, but Congress needs to invest now to create more jobs and help the Pacific Northwest stay globally competitive.\n\nI support provisions that will create well-paying jobs, particularly in fast-growing clean energy fields. Building back better means funding historic investments in electric vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure, incentivizing utilities to switch to cleaner power generation and establishing tax credits for green aviation fuels and electric vehicles. The bill also funds proven workforce development programs to help workers find well-paying jobs in in-demand fields. Together, these initiatives will create jobs in our region, build a cleaner and greener transportation network and train the next generation workforce to compete against China and the rest of the world.\n\nMore Affordable Housing\n\nAddressing the housing crisis is a priority for me. It is clear from my conversations with residents, stakeholders and local officials there is not enough affordable housing in communities across Northwest Washington. At a recent groundbreaking for Housing Hope\u2019s newest affordable housing development in Marysville, attendees cited several factors for the persistent lack of affordable housing: a skilled labor shortage, low vacancy, a deteriorating housing supply and wages not keeping pace with housing costs.\n\nI support provisions that will provide housing for low-income families, invest in repairs for existing housing and finance the construction of more housing units. These provisions will create jobs in construction and safe, affordable housing for our neighbors.\n\nLower Drug Prices\n\nSeniors have long paid too much for prescriptions they rely on. Currently, Medicare is prohibited by law from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies over the price of medication. This must change.\n\nI support provisions that would finally let Medicare get a better deal for seniors, saving patients up to 55% on some medications. For patients with chronic conditions like arthritis, this legislation could save you thousands of dollars every year.\n\nConclusion\n\nWhile negotiations continue in Washington, D.C. and may look complex, investing now to build back better is simple: better futures for our children, high quality jobs, more affordable housing and lower drug prices. These are the issues I hear about most from my constituents; these are the issues I will continue to champion.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/10/25/media-press-releases-strickland-amendment-strengthen-workplace-equity-women-mothers-passes-house/", "Strickland Amendment to Strengthen Workplace Equity for Women & Mothers Passes House (VIDEO)", "2021-10-25", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), a member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus and a Leader in the Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following statement after the House passed her amendment to H.R.3110, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, legislation which protects workers by expanding access to breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace. Representative Strickland\u2019s amendment strengthens the bill by directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on racial disparities in access to pump breastmilk in the workplace, and requires the GAO to report recommendations to Congress to address those disparities. (Watch Strickland\u2019s remarks here, and read Strickland\u2019s amendment text here.)\n\nStrickland speaks in support of her amendment to H.R.3110 to support workplace equity for women and mothers.\n\n\u201cWomen, and especially women of color, face far too many barriers when they return from maternity leave and re-enter the workforce. Breastfeeding accommodations should not be one of them. My amendment to H.R. 3110, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, ensures that as Congress expands access to breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace, we do so equitably. We must ensure that women and mothers from all backgrounds have the support they deserve in the workplace,\u201d said Strickland.\n\nCongresswoman Strickland\u2019s full remarks are transcribed below.\n\nThere are several contributing factors to why nursing mothers may choose not to breastfeed and pump milk when returning to work. They include inflexible work schedules that make nursing and pumping breast milk regularly difficult; the lack of accommodations to pump and store milk; and concerns regarding support from supervisors and colleagues to pump milk. In addition to these factors, women of color and low-income women often experience the need to return to work shortly after giving birth, in many cases earlier than 12 weeks, and face additional barriers such as racial discrimination and bias.\n\nThat is why I am proud to offer my amendment to H.R. 3110, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act, the underlying bill that protects vulnerable workers by expanding access to breastfeeding accommodations in the workplace. This important piece of legislation advances our goals of equity in the workplace, and my amendment seeks to strengthen this bill by directing the GAO to conduct a study on the racial disparities that exist in access to pumping breastmilk in the workplace. This amendment also requires that the GAO submit a report to Congress on the results of this study with recommendations to address those disparities.\n\nEmployers can begin to address these barriers by offering private lactation rooms, or nursing rooms, for both breastfeeding and pumping with proper cleaning and storage facilities such as a table, sink and small refrigerator, providing employees with adequate pump breaks, allowing flexible work schedules and guaranteeing paid family leave.\n\nIn fact, we can look to my home state of Washington as a prime example of a leader on this issue. In 2019, the state legislature passed and signed into law House Bill 1930, which goes one step further than the current federal law by expanding pump break rights to include both salaried and hourly employees, requiring employers to provide a private space for pumping that isn\u2019t a bathroom, and allowing mothers to get pumping breaks for up to two years after birth. Washington is also one of the very few states that provides people with up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child.\n\nYet, despite current federal law, strong state level protections such as the ones in Washington, and the gains that have been made in this area by employers in different sectors across our country, racial disparities in the workplace still exist for women wishing to pump. My amendment aims to close this gap and equip Congress with the data it needs to create meaningful solutions\n\nWe must ensure that women and mothers everywhere and from all backgrounds have the support they deserve in the workplace. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying bill, the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act.\n\nCongresswoman Strickland is a strong advocate for women and working families in Congress. In August, Strickland and US Labor Secretary Marty Walsh highlighted the need for federal investment in working families, caregivers, and caregiving infrastructure including paid leave, in-home care, the Child Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit and more. In April, Strickland co-led the introduction of the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act, legislation to ensure military families receive the quality reproductive health care they deserve. In April, Strickland also led Pro-Choice Caucus members on a letter to advance and protect reproductive health rights in the US and across the globe. In March, Strickland co-led the introduction of the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, legislation to repeal the Helms Amendment and advance reproductive and economic freedom and equity worldwide. A member of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Strickland is an original cosponsor of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 and the Healthy MOM Act, legislation which comprehensively addresses the maternal health crisis in America.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-announces-2m-rural-broadband-funding-central-washington", "Newhouse Announces $2M in Rural Broadband Funding for Central Washington", "2021-10-22", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded grant funding for telemedicine and distance learning to Yakima County, Yakama Reservation, Adams County, and for teledentistry across Central Washington. The $1,990,193 in grant funding will increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable for rural communities in Central Washington. Funds for these grants is provided from FY21 appropriations, which Republicans approved in December of 2020.\n\n\"Telemedicine is a vital way to reach patients in outlying and underserved areas, particularly in rural communities across Central Washington,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"Supporting the expansion of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring will empower our healthcare providers to ensure that no patient is left behind. These grants will give our rural hospitals, clinics, and community health centers in Central Washington and beyond the tools they need to increase access to quality, effective healthcare.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nRep. Newhouse has taken a number of actions to increase access to rural broadband as well as telemedicine for Central Washingtonians:\n\nIn June 2020, Rep. Newhouse introduced the Increasing Rural Health Access During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Act, a bill that aims to increase telehealth access for rural communities and facilitate the use of remote patient monitoring technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nIn February 2021, Rep. Newhouse introduced the Rural Maternal and Obstetric Modernization of Services Act (Rural MOMS Act). The bill aims to improve healthcare access and outcomes for new and expecting mothers in rural communities across the United States by addressing rural maternal mortality and morbidity rates and expanding access to healthcare services for pregnant women and new mothers in remote areas.\n\nIn June 2021, Rep. Newhouse introduced the Rural Remote Monitoring Patient Act. This legislation would create a pilot grant program within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to facilitate the use of remote patient monitoring technology in rural areas. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA).\n\nIn July 2021, Rep. Newhouse sponsored H.R. 3369, the Broadband for Rural America Act, which provides more than $7 billion in authorizations for USDA broadband connectivity programs.\n\nTo learn more about ReConnect Program eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.\n\nTo learn more about the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-mcmorris-rodgers-herrera-beutler-react-inslee-murrays-dam", "Newhouse, McMorris Rodgers, Herrera Beutler React to Inslee-Murray\u2019s Dam-Breaching Plan", "2021-10-22", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Jamie Herrera Beutler (R-WA) released the following joint statement in reaction to Governor Inslee and Senator Patty Murray's joint statement on their plans to breach the lower Snake River dams:\n\n\"It is becoming more and more clear that the public and stakeholders who rely on the Columbia Snake River System have been shut out of conversations between the Biden administration, federal agencies, and groups whose sole mission is to breach the Lower Snake River dams. The fact that the DOJ announced a settlement to stay the Columbia River System Operation Environmental Impact Statement (CRSO EIS) litigation until July 2022 \u2013 the same time Governor Inslee and Senator Murray plan to release their plans to breach the Lower Snake River dams \u2013 is suspicious at best. This appears to be nothing more than a predetermined backdoor deal in the making, and it should sound the alarm for anyone interested in transparency and a balanced public dialogue over the vital role the dams play in the Pacific Northwest. There is something fishy going on, and it's not just the promising salmon returns we are seeing on the Lower Snake River.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nMay 2021 \u2013 Governor Inslee and Senator Murray publicly rebuke plans to breach Lower Snake River Dams.\n\nOctober 15, 2021 \u2013 Gov. Inslee and Sen. Murray announce plans to assess the breaching of the Lower Snake River dams.\n\nOctober 21, 2021 \u2013 Department of Justice announces a settlement reached between the CRSO EIS plaintiffs and federal agencies on injunctive relief, including a stay on the CRSO EIS litigation until July 2022.\n\nOctober 22, 2021 \u2013 Gov. Inslee and Sen. Murray announce next steps to deliver a report intended to justify breaching the Lower Snake River by July 2022", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2551", "Larsen Opening Statement at Aviation Subcommittee Hearing on \u201cThree Years After Lion Air 610: FAA Implementation of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act\u201d", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee, released the below statement during the Aviation Subcommittee hearing examining ongoing work within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement provisions of the bipartisan Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act. More information about Thursday's hearing, including witnesses and testimony, can be found here. For a recording of Chair Larsen\u2019s opening remarks, click here. For a recording of Chair Larsen questioning FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, click here.\n\nRemarks as prepared for delivery.\n\n\u201cGood morning and welcome to today\u2019s Aviation Subcommittee hearing titled \u201cThree Years After Lion Air 610: FAA Implementation of the 2020 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cNearly three years ago, on October 29, 2018, Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea.\n\n\u201cLess than six months later, on March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed near Addis Ababa.\n\n\u201cThese two tragedies ended the lives of 346 people.\n\n\u201cVictims included parents, children, teachers, friends and humanitarians who deserved to arrive safely at their destinations, but never did.\n\n\u201cFor nearly two years, victims\u2019 families tirelessly lent their support to necessary reforms to the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) certification process to reduce the likelihood other families would experience such devastating loss.\n\n\u201cI want to acknowledge and thank the victims\u2019 families for your presence and your tireless advocacy.\n\n\u201cYou and your loved ones remain at the forefront as this Committee oversees implementation of aircraft certification reform.\n\n\u201cI also want to acknowledge the hardworking women and men who go to work each day at the Boeing plant in Everett and are proud of the product they design, assemble and build.\n\n\u201cThey are distraught this same product contributed to the deaths of so many and the grief of so many others.\n\n\u201cThis hearing and this legislation are not about just one aircraft.\n\n\u201cThey are about making air travel safer, restoring confidence in the aviation industry and ensuring U.S. aviation remains the global gold standard in terms of safety.\n\n\u201cIn an historic effort, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee conducted a nearly two-year investigation into the design, development and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The Committee\u2019s thorough investigation uncovered flawed management decisions and inadequate organizational structures at Boeing and FAA that were necessary to confront.\n\n\u201cLast December, the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act was signed into law to restore the integrity of the FAA\u2019s aircraft certification process and make flight safer.\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation is built upon the lessons learned from the Committee\u2019s investigation and the recommendations of the independent Technical Advisory Board, Joint Authorities Technical Review and other key entities.\n\n\u201cAmong its provisions, the new law will:\n\n\u201cImprove aviation safety culture, by requiring aircraft and aerospace manufacturers to adopt safety management systems;\n\n\u201cEnhance transparency and accountability, by requiring the disclosure of certain safety-critical information related to an aircraft to the FAA;\n\n\u201cAddress undue pressure on employees acting on behalf of the FAA, for example, extending airline whistleblower protections to U.S. aviation manufacturing employees; and\n\n\u201cRequire sufficient evaluation of human factors in the certification process to ensure flight crews can do their jobs safely and efficiently.\n\n\u201cAs with any comprehensive legislation designed to reform a complicated system like the certification of aircraft, implementation should not be expected to occur overnight.\n\n\u201cHowever, the legislation lays out specific timelines for actions by FAA to take place.\n\n\u201cFAA has provided updates on some of these actions but has not yet specific details on progress for many of the requirements.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s hearing is an opportunity for this Subcommittee to hear from the FAA on the status of these reforms, how the agency plans to implement them, and identify any potential causes for delay.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to welcome today\u2019s witness, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson, who has served in this role since August of 2019.\n\n\u201cAdministrator Dickson, the past few years have been a tumultuous time in the agency\u2019s history.\n\n\u201cI appreciate your and your team\u2019s commitment to the implementation of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and your personal involvement in the review of the 737 MAX.\n\n\u201cWhile I am encouraged by the agency\u2019s progress, clearly there is much more work to do.\n\n\u201cThe United States is the leader in global aviation, and the FAA\u2019s actions in the U.S. have profound implications for passenger air travel around the world.\n\n\u201cIt is vital this Subcommittee carry out its responsibility to oversee the FAA\u2019s implementation of the critical reforms enacted under the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act.\n\n\u201cI look forward to today\u2019s discussion on how to best support the FAA\u2019s ongoing work to ensure the safety of the traveling public.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-biden-address-supply-chain-crisis-american-ports", "Newhouse to Biden: Address the Supply Chain Crisis at American Ports", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) joined 160 of his Republican colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden requesting his Administration halt their harmful policy initiatives that have led to the current supply chain crisis.\n\n\"We must address the global supply chain and ports crisis before Congress even considers additional social spending and taxation legislation. Our priority right now should be strengthening our Nation's economy and increasing our global competitiveness,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"The policies of your Presidency and party's leaders in Congress are exacerbating or simply ignoring the underlying supply chain crisis. These policies include the mishandling of the COVID response in ways that are prolonging unemployment and worker shortages across the economy, to your push for a multi-trillion-dollar spending spree that is driving up prices of everything from gas to groceries. These efforts only serve to weaken American competitiveness and shrink our economy, and they will certainly ensure that this Christmas will not be merry.\"\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \"despite calls from the private sector for help addressing growing supply chain issues, like expanding capacity, your Administration has only further fueled the crisis by increasing energy costs, triggering significant inflation through reckless unchecked spending, and attacking American businesses. Ironically, it is now the private sector that you are calling on to \"step up\" and fix the supply chain problems.\"\n\nThe lawmakers concluded, \"Further consideration of your massive expansion of social spending, paid for by anti-competitive tax increases on small businesses and families, only stands to worsen the supply chain crisis. We urge you to call on your Congressional allies to halt discussions on a budget reconciliation bill that aims to reshape the social fabric of this country and instead work on real infrastructure solutions that focus on moving goods and people safely and efficiently throughout our great country and around the world.\"\n\nRead the full letter HERE and below.\n\nDear President Biden:\n\nAs House Republicans, we write because we refuse to stand by and watch as your Administration dilutes America's ability to ensure the safe and efficient movement of goods, people, and services throughout our transportation network. House Republicans have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to work on bipartisan solutions to improve our infrastructure. We regret that our efforts have been spurned as Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, and your Administration use infrastructure as a Trojan horse to push radical polices that make it more difficult and expensive for families to find or afford basic goods and for businesses to continue the long road to recovery from the pandemic.\n\nWe must address the global supply chain and ports crisis before Congress even considers additional social spending and taxation legislation. Our priority right now should be strengthening our Nation's economy and increasing our global competitiveness. The policies of your Presidency and party's leaders in Congress are exacerbating or simply ignoring the underlying supply chain crisis. These policies include the mishandling of the COVID response in ways that are prolonging unemployment and worker shortages across the economy, to your push for a multi-trillion-dollar spending spree that is driving up prices of everything from gas to groceries. These efforts only serve to weaken American competitiveness and shrink our economy, and they will certainly ensure that this Christmas will not be merry.\n\nThe current supply chain crisis exposes how close to its limit our transportation system operates. There is little redundant capacity. Once bottlenecks develop, cargo backs up and remains stranded offshore on ships that overcrowd the coastline, creating additional safety and environmental risks. For example, clustering a large number of container ships waiting to be unloaded increases the risk of large anchors damaging our underwater infrastructure, such as pipelines. This unfortunately was likely the case with the recent Huntington Beach oil spill. Rather than responding to an oil spill, prevention is the best way to avoid environmental damage. We believe this environmental and economic harm could have been avoided in the first place had this Congress and this Administration remained focused on our core transportation network assets. Yet, this oil spill is emblematic of the harm your party's policies are creating for America's broader infrastructure network and the economy. Moreover, despite calls from the private sector for help addressing growing supply chain issues, like expanding capacity, your Administration has only further fueled the crisis by increasing energy costs, triggering significant inflation through reckless unchecked spending, and attacking American businesses. Ironically, it is now the private sector that you are calling on to \"step up\" and fix the supply chain problems.\n\nMr. President, we think it's time that you step up and reevaluate your Administration's priorities. While many in both business and labor have agreed to step up, House Republicans are calling on you, your Administration, and your allies in Congress to do the same. Your Administration must step up for American workers and businesses by halting your reckless tax and spending plan currently pending before Congress. We request that you stop the litany of harmful regulatory actions that are driving up energy costs and to stop disarming the same American businesses you are asking to bail you out with vaccine mandates and excessive benefits that are disincentivizing work. While you might not be able to save this holiday season, you can reverse course and prevent further economic damage.\n\nFurther consideration of your massive expansion of social spending, paid for by anti-competitive tax increases on small businesses and families, only stands to worsen the supply chain crisis. We urge you to call on your Congressional allies to halt discussions on a budget reconciliation bill that aims to reshape the social fabric of this country and instead work on real infrastructure solutions that focus on moving goods and people safely and efficiently throughout our great country and around the world.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-stands-against-bidens-overreaching-irs-proposals", "Newhouse Stands Against Biden\u2019s Overreaching IRS Proposals", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Newhouse joined Rep. Ferguson, along with every Republican member of the Ways and Means Committee, in introducing the Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act. This legislation would prohibit the IRS from implementing any form of the Biden Administration's aggressive bank surveillance scheme. In addition, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) joined Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and 200 of his Republican colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen opposing President Biden's intrusive financial information reporting proposal.\n\n\"President Biden's attempt to weaponize the IRS to \"close the tax gap\" not only further burdens our local banking institutions with additional reporting requirements but is a significant privacy concern for an institution that has already failed to protect the data of American citizens,\" said Rep. Newhouse. \"This action would set an incredibly dangerous precedent for the amount of power the IRS can hold, and I remain unequivocally opposed.\"\n\nClick here to read the full text of the Prohibiting IRS Financial Surveillance Act.\n\nRead the full letter HERE and below.\n\nOn September 13th, 142 Members of Congress wrote to you expressing concern with the Administration's proposal to significantly expand the amount of financial data collected on virtually every American. Since then, hundreds of thousands of our constituents have reached out to our offices \u2013 in addition to every state bank and credit union association, and many state financial officers \u2013 voicing their opposition to this initiative. Your Department's response to these concerns was not only insincere, but it also demonstrated just how out-of-touch the proponents of this effort are with the grave and sincere concerns that millions of Americans have with this idea.\n\nThe Treasury Department's initial plan sought to require financial institutions and other financial services providers to report a range of new data points on accounts with annual gross inflows and outflows totaling more than $600 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). After receiving pushback from Americans in every state, there have been reports that the Administration and the majorities in Congress are considering increasing the threshold from $600 to $10,000 (or an even higher amount).\n\nThe impact that these new reporting requirements will have on tens if not hundreds of millions of unsuspecting Americans cannot be emphasized enough. Arbitrarily increasing the threshold to $10,000, as most recently proposed, will still apply to individuals at every rung of the income ladder.\n\nFurther, your September 29th response cited enhanced transparency, improved tax compliance, and increased federal income as the main reasons for this proposal, while failing to substantively address one of our primary concerns: privacy protections. The IRS's history when it comes to protecting Americans' personal information is suspect at best. Not to mention, one of the foremost reasons so many Americans are unbanked is due to privacy concerns, according to a 2019 survey published by the FDIC.\n\nYour proposal, if enacted and regardless of the compliance threshold, will likely sow further distrust in our financial system due to the ongoing and valid concerns about the IRS's ability to protect the privacy and financial data of the American people and potentially enlarge the unbanked population.\n\nLastly, after a historic year when banks and credit unions were front and center, providing financial lifelines to families, businesses, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot emphasize strongly enough the negative impact that new and additional reporting requirements will have on these same financial institutions by your proposal. Financial institutions already report a tremendous amount of data to the IRS, and there is ample evidence to show that the IRS needs to do a better job using the information it already has to close the \"tax gap.\" The last thing our financial institutions need is another layer of administrative reporting requirements to take away from their daily efforts to provide the capital that is the lifeblood of Main Street America.\n\nIn light of our continuing concerns, and your inability to adequately address them, we ask you to abandon this proposal and encourage congressional Democrats to do the same. We must protect Americans and our financial system, not make them the victim of government overreach in the name of raising revenue.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schriers-bill-clean-damaged-forest-lands-passed-unanimously-out-committee", "Rep. Schrier\u2019s Bill to Clean-Up Damaged Forest Lands Passed Unanimously Out of Committee", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House Committee on Agriculture unanimously passed Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)'s bipartisan bill to fund the remediation and restoration of damaged public lands. The National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act was introduced earlier this year with Representatives Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA). This bill would allow the Forest Service to collect and keep the interest earned on settlement funds in order to supplement restoration efforts.\n\nThe bill now awaits consideration for a vote on the House floor. Rep. Schrier's remarks on her bill can be found here.\n\n\"This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that would allow the Forest Service to collect and keep the interest earned on settlement funds, much like other Federal agencies can,\" said Rep. Schrier, during her remarks. \"The Forest Service provides many important environmental services in Washington state, including mitigating wildfires and improving forest health. This is especially critical in places like Chelan County in my district, where over 80% of the land is owned by the Forest Service. My bill will ensure that we hold bad actors accountable for negligent behavior in a manner that provides the Forest Service with sufficient resources to protect our treasured public lands.\"\n\n\"I was glad that the Agriculture Committee passed this bill unanimously out of Committee today. It allows the U.S. Forest Service to use the additional interest they gather on accounts to continue restoration work. The Department of the Interior already has this authority, and it is time that this is extended to the Forest Service. As the 2021 fire season draws to a close, we unfortunately have millions of acres that will need to be restored. I look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Schrier to ensure that the Forest Service has the authorities and tools they need to properly manage our forests,\" added Rep. LaMalfa, Ranking Member of the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2021/10/21/media-press-releases-strickland-introduces-legislation-end-veteran-homelessness-video/", "Strickland Introduces Legislation to End Veteran Homelessness (VIDEO)", "2021-10-21", "2021", "2021-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), led the introduction of H.R. 5470, the Housing Opportunities to Mitigate Expenses for Services (HOMES) for our Veterans Act. This legislation will reduce barriers and make it easier for organizations who provide homes and services to veterans experiencing homelessness to access federal capital grants. Strickland\u2019s legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Tim Ryan (OH-13), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Derek Kilmer (WA-06). The legislation is supported by the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans (NCHV), and the Lacey Veterans Services Hub. (The bill text can be found here. Watch Congresswoman Strickland\u2019s testimony on the bill before the House Veterans Affairs Committee here.)\n\n\u201cAs the South Sound experiences both a housing shortage and a pandemic, it remains difficult for military veterans to find safe, secure and affordable housing. So many organizations working to end veteran homelessness rely on federal funding, but burdensome and costly red tape can limit their efforts. I am proud to lead the HOMES for our Veterans Act, which empowers service providers to give veterans experiencing homelessness the support they deserve to get back on their feet. We owe it to our veterans to give them the best possible chance to thrive, and that is exactly what this legislation will do.\u201d said Rep. Strickland.\n\n\u201cThe Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program is a vital component of VA\u2019s evidence-based continuum of services to help Veterans experiencing homelessness achieve residential stability, optimum wellness, improved financial health, and greater self-determination,\u201d said Monica Diaz, Executive Director of the Veterans Health Administration Homeless Programs Office. \u201cThe changes proposed to the GPD Program in the \u2018HOMES for our Veterans Act of 2021\u2019 will help advance VA\u2019s goal of accelerating progress in reducing homelessness among Veterans by removing a key barrier to developing VA-funded transitional housing facilities, putting more vulnerable Veterans on the pathway to permanent housing.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Grant Per Diem Program, which allows the community to provide key transitional housing support to our homeless Veterans, has been a crucial part of the VA\u2019s supportive housing strategy. The HOMES for our Veterans Act makes needed changes to the VA\u2019s capital grant awards that will help providers more effectively and efficiently serve veterans experiencing homelessness. We urge passage of this legislation as soon as possible.\u201d said Lacey Veterans Services Hub Manager Keith Looker.\n\n\u201cBy continuing flexibilities for facility improvements, the HOMES for our Veterans Act would allow more homeless veterans to shelter with regard for their health, safety, and well-being as advised by the Centers for Disease Control. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) appreciates the attention Representative Strickland has given to this issue in this crucial legislation and we look forward to working with her to help it become law.\u201d said NCHV CEO Kathryn Monet.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe US Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that over 37,000 veterans in the US experienced homelessness in 2020, with Washington state alone accounting for 5% of these cases.\n\nH.R. 5470 makes it easier and cheaper for veterans\u2019 service providers, known as Grant and Per Diem (GPD) recipients, to access capital grant funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to COVID-19, these providers had to provide 35% of the project cost to access the grant. The HOMES for our Veterans Act would eliminate this match requirement for 5 years, at which point the Secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department may at their discretion reinstate a match requirement of up to 30%. The legislation also eliminates the real property disposition requirement, giving GPD recipients the flexibility to change the services they provide as the needs of their communities shift. This bill is included in Sen. Tester (D-MT)\u2019s Building Solutions for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness Act, which passed out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee by a voice vote in July of 2021.\n\nCongresswoman Marilyn Strickland serves as Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and is the only African-American woman who serves on the House Armed Services Committee. She is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress and the first African-American to represent the Pacific Northwest at the federal level.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:24:51Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 626, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "WA", "p1": "2021"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 490, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 136, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 625, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 1, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "WA", "label": "WA", "count": 626, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2021", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021", "results": [{"value": "2021", "label": "2021", "count": 626, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=WA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2021-10-21,https~3A~2F~2Fstrickland~2Ehouse~2Egov~2F2021~2F10~2F21~2Fmedia-press-releases-strickland-introduces-legislation-end-veteran-homelessness-video~2F", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=WA&year=2021&_next=2021-10-21%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fstrickland~2Ehouse~2Egov~2F2021~2F10~2F21~2Fmedia-press-releases-strickland-introduces-legislation-end-veteran-homelessness-video~2F&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 293.036846909672, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}