url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-statement-on-cash-act-vote/,McMorris Rodgers Statement on CASH Act Vote,2020-12-31,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement after voting on the CASH Act.
This year, I have supported trillions in emergency relief and assistance for those hurt by the COVID-19 crisis and resulting economic shutdowns. That includes this month's bipartisan agreement with increased unemployment assistance, aid to farmers and ranchers, reimbursements for our health care providers, support for small businesses and their employees, and additional direct payments to Eastern Washington families, said McMorris Rodgers. Unfortunately, the CASH Act would add $464 billion to our national debt. I believe assistance should be more targeted. In addition, this bill failed to include the spending reductions that President Trump called for. As I've repeatedly urged Governor Inslee to do, the best and most effective way to help families and restore our way of life is to reopen our economy and safely get people back to work. That's what I am committed to.
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https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-introduces-bill-reduce-methane-emissions-cow-burps,Rep. Schrier Introduces Bill to Reduce Methane Emissions in Cow Burps,2020-12-31,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,schrier,https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ISSAQUAH, WA – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) has introduced the Research to Reduce Agricultural Methane Act. This bill will provide funds to study innovative methods to reduce methane emissions in livestock, including through feed additives such as seaweed.

""We are facing an unprecedented climate crisis and it falls on all of us to find creative solutions to this pressing problem,"" said Rep. Schrier. ""Our farmers are the leading stewards of our land and on the front lines fighting climate change. While they are already innovating with solutions like no-till farming and increased cover crop adoption, we must provide more federal research support and ensure any game-changing products are accessible to our farmers and ranchers. As the only member on the Agriculture Committee from the Pacific Northwest, I will continue to work on common sense solutions that support our farmers while helping to address climate change.""

According to EPA's 2018 Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, enteric fermentation, the digestive process by which cows and other ruminants produce methane, was the largest human-caused source of methane in the United States, representing 28% of domestic methane emissions. Ruminants, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats, have the highest methane emissions per unit of body mass among all animal types.

The amount of methane from livestock production alone is about the equivalent of the emissions from about 650 million cars.

The Reduce Agricultural Methane Act will enable further research in promising methods to reduce agricultural methane emissions including:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-names-senior-staff-for-energy-and-commerce-committee/,McMorris Rodgers Names Senior Staff for Energy and Commerce Committee,2020-12-30,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), incoming Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today announced senior staff for the Committee. Additional staff announcements will be made in the coming days.
The Energy and Commerce Committee is at the very center of our mission for America to win the future. I'm excited to announce members of my senior staff who are uniquely qualified to support this mission, said McMorris Rodgers. They are top-notch talents who have invaluable expertise. I'm grateful for their service and commitment to embracing value-based leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee so every member shines and delivers results to restore, rebuild, and renew the American Dream.
On the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the following staff will serve under Republican Staff Director Nate Hodson.
Sarah Rogers Burke  Deputy Staff Director
Sarah Rogers Burke is returning to the McMorris Rodgers team after serving as Rep. Jason Smith's Deputy Chief of Staff for two years. She previously served under McMorris Rodgers as the Director of Member Services during her tenure as House Republican Conference Chair. Burke's experience also includes working for multiple Members of Congress, in the private sector, and on the Romney  Ryan 2012 Presidential Campaign.
Michael Taggart  Policy Director
Michael Taggart has served as McMorris Rodgers's Legislative Director since 2019. As Policy Director, he will be a senior advisor on policy and strategy, manage the subcommittees, and develop the legislative agenda for Energy and Commerce Republicans. Taggart previously served as Legislative Director to former E&C member Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ).
Olivia Hnat  Communications Director
Olivia Hnat has served as McMorris Rodgers's Deputy Chief of Staff since 2019. Hnat was National Press Secretary for McMorris Rodgers when she chaired the House Republican Conference. She is a former spokesperson for Speaker John Boehner and Communications Director for Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH).
Emily King  Director of Member Services
Emily King will continue serving McMorris Rodgers as Director of Member Services for the Committee. King started her career in the House with McMorris Rodgers five years ago and most recently served as Director of Operations.
Peter Kielty  General Counsel
Peter Kielty is a 20-year veteran of the Energy and Commerce Committee. He has served as Minority General Counsel since 2019 and previously as the Deputy General Counsel. Kielty has advised on parliamentary and jurisdictional matters before the Committee.
Bijan (BJ) Koohmaraie  Chief Counsel
BJ Koohmaraie will serve as Chief Counsel of the Committee, which will include advising McMorris Rodgers on all technology related policy matters across E&C's jurisdiction. He most recently served as the Deputy Chief Counsel to the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee and the Director of Coalitions. Prior to joining the Committee in 2017, Koohmaraie served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Nebraska Attorney General's Office.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-introduces-bill-provide-automatic-rental-assistance-families-response,Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Provide Automatic Rental Assistance to Families in Response to Recessions and Natural Disasters,2020-12-29,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the Crisis Housing Act which would establish a new automatic housing assistance program to provide emergency rental assistance vouchers to households during natural disasters or economic recessions.

""When responding to an unforeseen disaster like a pandemic, hurricane, or economic recession, families cannot wait in uncertainty for a relief bill to pass in Congress,"" said Congressman Adam Smith. ""As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for rental assistance skyrockets in times of economic downturns, and we need a system that can rapidly deploy support to ensure vulnerable families at risk of displacement continue to have access to stable housing. Housing insecurity affects far too many families as is, and this bill would provide an automatic safety net to those most in need during a crisis.""

Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States had an affordable housing crisis, which puts more families on the brink of displacement. The pandemic has further highlighted the heightened vulnerability of families in the case of economic crises in the future. There is currently no housing support program that is automatically triggered when a natural or economic disaster occurs, and this bill would remedy that gap.

The Crisis Housing Act would automatically provide low-income families and individuals with rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when either: the Stafford Act is invoked during a natural disaster, or when the state unemployment rate suddenly increases by a specific amount.

This legislation is the House companion bill to the Crisis Housing Act introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). You can read a one-pager of the bill here and the full bill text here.

Statements of Support:

""One of the fundamental lessons of this pandemic is how important housing assistance is in a crisis or disaster,"" said Stephen Norman, Executive Director of the King County Housing Authority. ""The speed at which aid can be provided is critical. Representative Smith's bill is a common sense approach that lays the groundwork, before a crisis, for the government to respond quickly. He should be commended for paying attention to a nuts and bolts issue in federal policy that will make a real difference in people's lives when assistance is needed.""

""Disasters often hit the lowest income households hardest, yet these same families struggle to receive the housing assistance they need afterwards. The result is often a predictable and entirely preventable rise in eviction and homelessness rates,"" said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. ""If passed, the Crisis Housing Act would play a critical role in providing safe, accessible, and affordable homes to individuals with the greatest needs after a disaster by providing longer-term, flexible, rental assistance - helping them safely recover without the fear of being rendered homeless.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3C6B2B21-E42D-46EE-A400-F9AF5867FF5B,Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Provide Automatic Rental Assistance to Families in Response to Recessions and Natural Disasters,2020-12-29,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the Crisis Housing Act which would establish a new automatic housing assistance program to provide emergency rental assistance vouchers to households during natural disasters or economic recessions.
When responding to an unforeseen disaster like a pandemic, hurricane, or economic recession, families cannot wait in uncertainty for a relief bill to pass in Congress, said Congressman Adam Smith. As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for rental assistance skyrockets in times of economic downturns, and we need a system that can rapidly deploy support to ensure vulnerable families at risk of displacement continue to have access to stable housing. Housing insecurity affects far too many families as is, and this bill would provide an automatic safety net to those most in need during a crisis.
Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States had an affordable housing crisis, which puts more families on the brink of displacement. The pandemic has further highlighted the heightened vulnerability of families in the case of economic crises in the future. There is currently no housing support program that is automatically triggered when a natural or economic disaster occurs, and this bill would remedy that gap.
The Crisis Housing Act would automatically provide low-income families and individuals with rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when either: the Stafford Act is invoked during a natural disaster, or when the state unemployment rate suddenly increases by a specific amount.
This legislation is the House companion bill to the Crisis Housing Act introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). You can read a one-pager of the billhere and the full bill texthere.
Statements of Support:
One of the fundamental lessons of this pandemic is how important housing assistance is in a crisis or disaster, said Stephen Norman, Executive Director of the King County Housing Authority. The speed at which aid can be provided is critical. Representative Smith's bill is a common sense approach that lays the groundwork, before a crisis, for the government to respond quickly. He should be commended for paying attention to a nuts and bolts issue in federal policy that will make a real difference in people's lives when assistance is needed.
Disasters often hit the lowest income households hardest, yet these same families struggle to receive the housing assistance they need afterwards. The result is often a predictable and entirely preventable rise in eviction and homelessness rates,said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.If passed, the Crisis Housing Act would play a critical role in providing safe, accessible, and affordable homes to individuals with the greatest needs after a disaster by providing longer-term, flexible, rental assistance  helping them safely recover without the fear of being rendered homeless.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2689,DelBene Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner,2020-12-29,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"DelBene Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner 
   
    
       
      
  
    
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        Kirkland, WA,
        December 29, 2020
      
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
      
      
      Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today announced the winner of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge from Washington's 1st Congressional District. The winning app, called Distancing Camera, was created by Pierce Zhang, Sidharth Ganesh, and Trung Pham of Tesla STEM High School.
Their app is designed to make social distancing easier by warning users if others are too close. The app uses a phone's camera to measure the distance between the phone and other people or the distance between two people in its view. The app alerts the user if social distancing is being violated in either case. A demo of Distancing Camera can be found here.
As a tech leader before coming to Congress, I know firsthand that innovation requires creative entrepreneurs, said DelBene. I am immensely proud of the students from Washington's 1st Congressional District for their ingenuity, and I thank all those who entered this year's App Challenge for their willingness to share their hard work with us. This year's winner designed and created a useful tool with timely application to the current public health crisis. Congratulations on all your hard work.
The winning app was selected by a panel of impartial judges. Distancing Camera will now go on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year, along with winning apps from other congressional districts.
DelBene has been a Co-chair of the Congressional App Challenge since 2018.
    
  
  
  
    
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      e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-s-vaccines-act-and-bill-protect-salmon-signed-law,Rep. Schriers VACCINES Act and Bill to Protect Salmon Signed into Law,2020-12-29,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,,,legacy,"ISSAQUAH, WA  CongresswomanKim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) announced today that her VACCINES Act and a bill to protect salmon were included in the government funding and COVID-19 relief package that was signed into law by the President on Sunday.
I am proud to have had eight bills signed into law during my first term in office, including two bills this week, said Rep. Schrier. Vaccines were one of the greatest medical accomplishments of the 20th century and remain one of our greatest public health tools to prevent devastating diseases. My VACCINES Act is more important than ever. As we roll out the COVID-19 vaccines, we need to address misinformation about immunizations and increase confidence in the vaccines in order to stop this virus.
In addition to theVACCINES Act (Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety Act), Rep. Schrier had a second bill get signed into law with the government funding package. HR 7657, introduced with Rep. Rick Larsen, will ensure projects benefiting salmon and steelhead receive equal consideration under a federal law.
The package also included provisions to help families and small businesses struggling to weather the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These provisions will:
 Provide up to $600 stimulus checks for individuals earning up to $75k and phasing out at $87k. Married filers with incomes up to $150k would receive $1,200, which phases out at incomes of $174k. Individuals with children will receive $600 per child.
	Increase unemployment benefits by an additional $300 per week through March 2021, including for the self-employed, independent contractors, and individuals who have exhausted their state benefits
  Support small businesses with $284 billion for a second round of forgivable PPP loansfor businesseswith more than a 25% drop in revenue
	Ensure businesses can still deduct expenses on their taxes if paid for using PPP and EIDL funds
	Simplify PPP loan forgiveness application to one page for PPP loans under $150k
	Expand Employee Retention Tax Credit from max $10k/employee to $40k/employee
 Additionally, the package increased funding to agriculture and nutrition programs. These include:
 $1.5 billion that can be used to carry out provisions similar to Rep Schrier'sFarmers Feeding Families Actto purchase and distribute agriculture products to individuals in need
	$13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits
	Additional Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments
	$100 million in additional funding to support specialty crop farmers",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schriers-vaccines-act-and-bill-protect-salmon-signed-law,Rep. Schrier’s VACCINES Act and Bill to Protect Salmon Signed into Law,2020-12-29,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,schrier,https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ISSAQUAH, WA – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) announced today that her VACCINES Act and a bill to protect salmon were included in the government funding and COVID-19 relief package that was signed into law by the President on Sunday.

""I am proud to have had eight bills signed into law during my first term in office, including two bills this week,"" said Rep. Schrier. ""Vaccines were one of the greatest medical accomplishments of the 20th century and remain one of our greatest public health tools to prevent devastating diseases. My VACCINES Act is more important than ever. As we roll out the COVID-19 vaccines, we need to address misinformation about immunizations and increase confidence in the vaccines in order to stop this virus.""

In addition to the VACCINES Act (Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety Act), Rep. Schrier had a second bill get signed into law with the government funding package. HR 7657, introduced with Rep. Rick Larsen, will ensure projects benefiting salmon and steelhead receive equal consideration under a federal law.

The package also included provisions to help families and small businesses struggling to weather the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These provisions will:

Provide up to $600 stimulus checks for individuals earning up to $75k and phasing out at $87k. Married filers with incomes up to $150k would receive $1,200, which phases out at incomes of $174k. Individuals with children will receive $600 per child.

Increase unemployment benefits by an additional $300 per week through March 2021, including for the self-employed, independent contractors, and individuals who have exhausted their state benefits

Support small businesses with $284 billion for a second round of forgivable PPP loans for businesses with more than a 25% drop in revenue

Ensure businesses can still deduct expenses on their taxes if paid for using PPP and EIDL funds

Simplify PPP loan forgiveness application to one page for PPP loans under $150k

Expand Employee Retention Tax Credit from max $10k/employee to $40k/employee

Additionally, the package increased funding to agriculture and nutrition programs. These include:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-applauds-house-passage-bill-increase-direct-cash-payments-2000,"Rep. Smith Applauds House Passage of Bill to Increase Direct Cash Payments to $2,000",2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the CASH Act, a stand-alone bill to increase the economic impact payments in the COVID relief bill from $600 to $2,000.

""I am proud to support passage of the CASH Act today, which would provide $2,000 direct cash payments as an economic lifeline for millions of Americans. After Congress and the Trump Administration reached an agreement on a COVID-19 relief and appropriations funding package, President Trump suddenly decided he would delay signing the bill into law, further exacerbating the struggles facing individuals and families across the country. Democrats have long pushed for increased direct payments, but House and Senate Republicans and the Trump Administration have opposed higher payments at every step of the negotiations.

""Now the President suddenly claims he supports $2,000 direct payments. If the President wants to follow through on his support for $2,000, he would demand that Senate Republicans bring this bill up for a vote immediately. Republicans have repeatedly failed to work with Democrats to provide the health and economic relief needed during this crisis. Signing this bill into law would help families struggling to put food on the table or make next month's rent payment. We will continue to fight to provide Americans with the substantial support they need during this pandemic and economic crisis.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/smith-statement-successful-veto-override,Smith Statement on Successful Veto Override,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.- Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the House voted to override the President's veto of the Conference Report for the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 by a vote of 322 to 87.

""Today the House reiterated - in a resounding, bipartisan way - that our service members and national security are more important than politics. By overriding the President's veto, the House prioritized compromise and sound policy over legislative nihilism and blind political loyalty. By overriding the President's veto, the House asserted the role of the legislative branch and underscored the importance of our constitutional separation of powers. But most importantly, today's veto override ensures that our service members and their families have the resources they need to continue to execute their missions and defend our country.

""Following today's vote in the House, I urge Leader McConnell to move swiftly in the Senate. While procedural hurdles remain, I am confident that the veto override vote will ultimately be successful - not because of politics, but because of the NDAA's merits. It is Congress' constitutional duty to provide for the common defense, and this responsibility should not be taken lightly.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=20B09D74-4F1E-448D-B943-784FA5971061,Smith Statement on Successful Veto Override,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the House voted to override the President's veto of the Conference Report for the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 by a vote of 322 to 87.
Today the House reiterated  in a resounding, bipartisan way  that our service members and national security are more important than politics. By overriding the President's veto, the House prioritized compromise and sound policy over legislative nihilism and blind political loyalty. By overriding the President's veto, the House asserted the role of the legislative branch and underscored the importance of our constitutional separation of powers. But most importantly, today's veto override ensures that our service members and their families have the resources they need to continue to execute their missions and defend our country.
Following today's vote in the House, I urge Leader McConnell to move swiftly in the Senate. While procedural hurdles remain, I am confident that the veto override vote will ultimately be successful  not because of politics, but because of the NDAA's merits. It is Congress' constitutional duty to provide for the common defense, and this responsibility should not be taken lightly.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7E45B39F-A742-420D-875B-9FEA776E9D69,"Rep. Smith Applauds House Passage of Bill to Increase Direct Cash Payments to $2,000",2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the CASH Act, a stand-alone bill to increase the economic impact payments in the COVID relief bill from $600 to $2,000.
I am proud to support passage of the CASH Act today, which would provide $2,000 direct cash payments as an economic lifeline for millions of Americans. After Congress and the Trump Administration reached an agreement on a COVID-19 relief and appropriations funding package, President Trump suddenly decided he would delay signing the bill into law, further exacerbating the struggles facing individuals and families across the country. Democrats have long pushed for increased direct payments, but House and Senate Republicans and the Trump Administration have opposed higher payments at every step of the negotiations.
Now the President suddenly claims he supports $2,000 direct payments. If the President wants to follow through on his support for $2,000, he would demand that Senate Republicans bring this bill up for a vote immediately. Republicans have repeatedly failed to work with Democrats to provide the health and economic relief needed during this crisis. Signing this bill into law would help families struggling to put food on the table or make next month's rent payment. We will continue to fight to provide Americans with the substantial support they need during this pandemic and economic crisis.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2442,Larsen Votes to Override President Trump’s Veto of the National Defense Authorization Act,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,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) voted to override President Trump’s veto of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Larsen, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted by proxy after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus last week.

“I voted to override the president’s veto to support the women and men of the military and strengthen national security,” said Larsen. “The NDAA increases pay for servicemembers, establishes changes to rename military bases after American heroes instead of Confederate traitors, and spurs innovative research to prepare for future conflicts.”

The NDAA includes provisions that benefit Northwest Washington’s military families, installations, communities and veterans.

Supporting Servicemembers, Military Families

The NDAA gives servicemembers a 3 percent raise. The bill includes Larsen’s solution to ensure sailors are paid Family Separation Allowance while under orders to remain on board a ship while at home port. The NDAA also ensures all federal employees benefit from paid parental leave policies. Last year’s NDAA excluded the women and men who work at the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as other civilian employees.

Protecting Communities from PFAS

Larsen is committed to ensuring families living on or around Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) and the Outlying Landing Field in Coupeville have access to safe and clean drinking water. The NDAA takes steps to further protect military communities from PFAS, including $1.4 billion for environmental cleanup.

Mitigating Jet Noise

In communities surrounding military installations like NASWI, aviation noise is a frequent concern. Larsen secured $4 million for jet noise reduction research. Larsen also worked with Senator Maria Cantwell to ensure a 12-month extension of the ongoing real-time sound monitoring study at NASWI.

Boosting Impact Aid

Impact Aid is important for military students and schools that serve them, including several in Northwest Washington. Larsen successfully included $50 million for supplemental Impact Aid payments to schools that serve military students, like Oak Harbor School District on Whidbey Island.

Ensuring a More Inclusive, Diverse and Representative Military

The NDAA establishes the long-overdue process to remove names of Confederate traitors from Department of Defense bases and other assets. The bill also creates a Chief Diversity Officer and a Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion in each branch of military service, including the Coast Guard.

Developing AI/Emerging Tech

The NDAA includes Larsen’s provision requiring the Secretary of Defense identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in the military’s telecommunications infrastructure. The NDAA also includes legislation to coordinate artificial intelligence (AI) research, establish national AI institutes, fund AI grants to educational institutions and support best practices and standards for AI. The bill also includes workforce recommendations from the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Supporting Vietnam War-Era Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange

The NDAA provides long overdue health coverage for Vietnam War-era veterans by adding Parkinson’s disease, bladder cancer and hypothyroidism to the list of diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure. This change will benefit nearly 34,000 veterans.

Supporting the Coast Guard

The NDAA includes the bipartisan Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 which strengthens maritime security, improves shoreside infrastructure investment, protects the environment and supports more than 87,000 Coasties. The bill also directs the Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide recommendations on Southern Resident Killer Whale conservation in Puget Sound.

Strengthening Relationships with NATO, International Allies and Partners

The U.S. must continue to cooperate with its international allies and partners. Larsen championed a provision to support the Department of Defense’s research and development work by facilitating greater international cooperation on research and development with NATO and allied and friendly foreign countries. The NDAA also authorizes $2.2 billion to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the Asia-Pacific region.

For a full summary of the NDAA, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/weekly-columns-and-op-eds/column-looking-forward-safe-and-joyous-new-year,COLUMN: Looking Forward to a Safe and Joyous New Year,2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"Throughout the past year, I have written a lot about how I have witnessed Central Washington come together in times of crisis. The challenges of a global pandemic are certainly unprecedented, but individuals, families, healthcare providers, and local businesses have stepped up to the plate to provide support for our communities.
The resiliency of our district is inspiring, and while we still have challenges to overcome, I am confident that our nation will defeat this virus. But I hear you: Our government must be responsive to the needs of the people, and I am doing my part.
Assisting Central Washingtonians who need help navigating our federal agencies is one of the most important parts of my job as a U.S. Representative. The gravity of this duty is not lost on me, especially during difficult times. This year alone, my staff and I have worked diligently to return nearly $4 million to individuals and families throughout our district and assist hundreds more with small business grants, Social Security claims, and veterans' benefits.
In a normal year, I look forward to hosting events to help seniors and veterans identify resources and benefits or to connect job seekers with employers. My staff looks forward to hosting Mobile Office Hours across Central Washington to meet one-on-one and face-to-face with constituents throughout our district. Not surprisingly, the circumstances of the pandemic required us to adjust our way of doing things.
While I maintain that nothing can replace in-person interactions, I am grateful for the expansion of technology that allowed us to stay connected. Telephone town halls, conference calls, and virtual meetings provided an opportunity for me to keep in touch and continue learning how I can best represent you in Congress.
Stay-at-home orders and economic lockdowns have changed the way we live, work, learn, and even communicate with one another. Local businesses are hanging on by a thread, and individuals are struggling. My office received tens of thousands of letters, phone calls, and emails looking for help and urging Congress to act.
Unprecedented challenges warrant an unprecedented response, which is why Congress came together to pass one of the largest economic relief bills in history. The federal government enacted historic programs to deliver aid to American families, small businesses, and workers yet we all agree that there is more to be done.
With the COVID-19 vaccine being delivered to front line workers and our most vulnerable populations, we are on our way to restoring our way of life. This is great news for Central Washington, but we are not out of the woods yet.
I am truly grateful, proud, and inspired by the resilience of our communities, and I am more motivated than ever to ensure that our region has the tools and resources we need to emerge from this public health and economic crisis even stronger than before.
Going into 2021, I am hopeful Central Washington can maintain this momentum to rebuild our economy and reopen our society  with each of us doing our part to protect our family, friends, and loved ones. I wish you all a safe and joyous New Year, and I look forward to working together to tackle this virus once and for all to restore our way of life.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwells-comprehensive-bipartisan-bicameral-aircraft-safety-and-certification-reforms-signed-into-law,"Cantwell’s Comprehensive Bipartisan, Bicameral Aircraft Safety & Certification Reforms Signed into Law",2020-12-28,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.28.20
    			 Cantwell's Comprehensive Bipartisan, Bicameral Aircraft Safety & Certification Reforms Signed into Law 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act will strengthen FAA oversight of aircraft manufacturers, reform aircraft certification process, increase Congress' oversight of the certification process, and provide new resources to address emerging technology
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C.  Comprehensive bipartisan, bicameral aviation safety legislation written and negotiated by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and other congressional aviation leaders was signed into law by President Trump last night. The Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act will implement needed new aircraft safety and certification reforms made clear in the wake of the Boeing 737 MAX crashes, including strengthening the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) direct oversight of aircraft certification, implementing new integrated systems analyses of new and derivative aircraft, requiring aircraft manufacturers to disclose technological changes to their aircraft, and implementing new safety reporting requirements and whistleblower protections. The legislation was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. A summary of the bill can be found HERE.
In addition to Cantwell, the legislation was also negotiated by Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D, OR-04) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R, MO-06).
It's so important that we make safety the number one priority in the United States. If we want to be number one in aviation, you have to be number one in aviation safety. Chairman Wicker and I worked with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to produce important legislation that improves the safety reforms needed at the FAA, the safety reforms of oversight of manufacturing and the certification process, and reforms that will help us here in Congress better stay on top of the information as far as the certification process, Senator Cantwell said when the bill passed the Senate. I want to thank all of the families who helped us in communicating why these safety reforms are important  and to let them know that even though we're putting a big down payment on safety reforms in the United States Congress by passing this legislation, this process does not stop with the passage of this legislation.
This historic legislation is a major step to prevent the certification of substandard aircraft and avoidingfuture crashes, said Michael Stumo, whose daughter Samya died in the Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crash. ET302 families across the world have worked hard to eliminate excessive delegationand to hold those who hide safety defects accountable. We are indebted to Chairman DeFazio,Ranking Member Graves, Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cantwell for their hard work anddedication to safety and the future excellence of the US aviation industry.
Key provisions of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act will:
 
Restore FAA Approval of ODA Unit Members:The FAA will be responsible for approving and removing manufacturers' engineers who act on behalf of the FAA  the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) unit members, as found under the FAA's Designated Engineering Representative (DER) delegation program. The bill authorizes $3,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new appropriations for the FAA to provide staffing and resources necessary to undertake this work.
 
 
Enable Direct FAA Oversight and Communication:FAA safety advisors will be assigned to manufacturers' authorized representatives so that the FAA has direct and ongoing oversight and communication with the ODA unit members responsible for certification activities, another key return to the DER program.The Joint Authorities Technical Review identified how the lack of communication and interaction between the FAA and ODA unit members hindered FAA's oversight over the manufacturer and awareness of safety issues with the 737 MAX. 
 
 
Require Integrated Safety Analysis of Design Changes for All New and Derivative Aircraft:The FAA must conduct a rulemaking to require proposals for new aircraft designs (type certificates) and variants of existing aircraft designs (amended type certificates) to undergo an integrated system safety analysis.The bill requires FAA to undertake an analysis of the cumulative effects of proposed design changes to the aircraft, human factors issues, and impacts on training for pilots and maintenance personnel.In the 737 MAX certification process, FAA failed to review the proposed design changes at an aircraft level, which led to FAA misunderstanding how the MCAS system would operate.This reform would help catch how new design features interact with other aircraft systems.
 
 
Ensure New and Derivative Aircraft Comply With Latest Flight Crew Alerting Regulations:The FAA would be prohibited, beginning two years after enactment of the bill, from issuing a type certificate for a new airliner design unless the airplane is equipped with a centralized crew alerting system that helps a pilot differentiate, prioritize, and respond to warnings, cautions, and advisories activated on the airplane.The FAA certified the 737 MAX even though the aircraft's flight crew alerting system did not comply with the latest airworthiness standards.In response to a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, the bill also would ensure for all future airplanes, including the 737 MAX derivatives, a manufacturer will complete a systems safety assessment on the flight deck alerting systems.
 
 
Mandate Safety Management Systems (SMS) for Manufacturers:Safety management systems (SMS) provide a data-based means of managing risk and continuously monitoring hazards in order to mitigate safety risks before they materialize. The bill directs FAA to issue regulations requiring that aviation manufacturers implement SMS, as recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board, Joint Authorities Technical Review, and other leading safety authorities.SMS is recognized as a key tool for improving safety culture.While the FAA has required SMS for airlines, the agency has failed to require the same of manufacturers.
 
 
Require Disclosure of Safety-Critical Information: Manufactures would receive up to a $1 million fine for violating disclosure requirements for safety-critical information.This includes information regarding flight control systems and other systems whose failure or erroneous activation would present a hazardous or catastrophic risk.The FAA is also directed to revoke an airline transport pilot certificate held by an individual who fails to disclose such safety-critical information on behalf of a manufacturer.
 
 
Prohibit Interference with FAA Designees: There are new civil penalties for any manufacturer supervisory employee who interferes with (e.g., harasses, berates, or threatens) an ODA unit member's performance of authorized functions on behalf of the FAA and requires all ODA unit members to promptly report any cases of interference experienced or witnessed at a company.The MAX investigations found numerous instances of managers exerting undue pressure on ODA unit members in conflict with their safety duties.
 
 
Prohibit Incentives for FAA Employees Based on Industry Schedules:The bill repeals existing law allowing FAA employees to receive bonuses or other financial incentive based on meeting manufacturer-driven certification schedules or quotas.
 
 
Repeal Authority for Industry to Set FAA Performance Goals: The bill repeals authority for the industry-friendly advisory panel, the Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee (SOCAC), to set FAA performance goals and metrics for the agency's Aircraft Certification and Flight Standards services that do not prioritize safety in the aircraft certification process.Safety must come first, not accelerated approval schedules.
 
 
Require Up Front Review of Design Assumptions and New and Novel Aircraft Technologies: The bill prohibits the FAA from delegating its authority to ODA unit members until the FAA reviews and validates any underlying assumptions used in critical system design features. It also requires the FAA Administrator to establish an integrated project team of experts from the FAA and federal agencies, such as NASA and the Air Force, to advise the FAA on the certification process for aircraft with new technologies and novel systems. The integrated project teams will give an independent review and verification of the manufacturer's submissions to the FAA, and recommend studies, analyses, and reports to aid in FAA's review.
 
 
Create New Safety Reporting for FAA Employees:FAA employees will have new confidential reporting channels to flag safety concerns during certification or oversight processes.The Administrator will be required to review submitted safety reports, identify the root cause of any safety issue, and take appropriate action to rectify any errors.In a recent FAA internal survey, certification engineers questioned their ability to raise safety concerns without fear of reprisal and FAA leadership's commitment to safety.This provision will provide a channel for FAA employees to report concerns without fear of retribution.The FAA must provide yearly report to Congress on the effectiveness of the safety reporting program.
 
 
Repeal Authority Permitting Self-Certification by Industry:The bill repeals the certified design and production (CDPO) authority and makes clear that aviation manufacturers will not be able to self-certify their own aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers.Congress first granted this CPDO authority in the 2003 FAA Reauthorization and expanded it in the 2012 Reauthorization.While the FAA has not yet implemented this authority, this bill would remove this authority and prevent FAA from further removing itself from the certification process.
 
 
Repeal Authority for Automatic Delegation of Certain Functions: The bill repeals the requirement that the FAA must fully delegate all eligible tasks to an ODA, and repeals the requirement that the FAA must delegate all functions which are deemed by the FAA to be low and medium risk. Without these repeals, FAA would only be able to revoke a task delegated to an ODA if, after an investigation or inspection, FAA determined it was in the public interest. The bill ensures that FAA is in charge of making delegation decisions.
 
 
Provide Expert Project Teams to Advise on Certification:The FAA will be assisted by an integrated project teammade up of technical experts from the FAA and federal agencies such as NASA and the Air Forcefor certification of proposed large commercial aircraft.Throughout the process, the team will advise FAA on the plans, analysis, assessments, and reports necessary to properly evaluate these designs and technologies as well as advise FAA whether a request for an exemption or exception from the latest airworthiness standards is warranted.This team will provide more scrutiny of manufacturers' designs, assumptions, and system safety assessments starting at the beginning of the certification process, providing more transparency to the certification process.The FAA must respond to the team's recommendations in writing and include this in the certification project records.
 
 
Strengthen International Standards:The bill authorizes $5 million annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to enable the FAA to provide increased technical assistance to foreign civil aviation authorities.This is an increase from the $3 million the FAA spends on this work annually.The bill also authorizes $2 million annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new funding to support FAA's efforts to develop international requirements, issued by International Civil Aviation Organization, for training programs and operational policies on pilot training, automation and human-machine interface.
 
 
Require FAA to Review and Verify Human Factor Assumptions:The FAA must review and verify all underlying human factors assumptions before delegating certification tasks related to safety critical design features, such as flight control systems. In the 737 MAX certification process, the FAA failed to review and verify Boeing's assumptions about pilot response time to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) activation (these assumptions turned out to be incorrect), and this bill would ensure that FAA scrutinize those assumptions more closely.
 
 
Establish a National Air Grant Program:The bill establishes a National Air Grant Program that will assist Congress and the FAA with keeping peace with changing technology.The program will create opportunities for graduate and post-graduate students to closely engage with Congress and the FAA to develop policies aimed at promoting U.S.-led growth and innovation in the aerospace sector.The bill authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal year 2021 through 2025 in new funding for the fellowship program.
 
 
Identify Emerging Safety Trends:A new biennial report to Congress, conducted by the Transportation Research Board, will identify emerging safety trends in air transportation.Based on accident investigation data from the National Transportation Safety Board, FAA, air operators, and foreign aviation safety authorities, the report will illuminate the latest trends impacting aviation safety, domestically and internationally, so policymakers and FAA can stay ahead of them.
 
 
Require an Annual Assessment of FAA Safety Culture:The FAA is directed to conduct an annual safety culture assessment to survey aviation safety employees on the state of safety culture at the agency's divisions responsible for the certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness of aircraft.The FAA's internal survey revealed that frontline employees believe that senior leaders at the agency are overly concerned with achieving the business-oriented outcomes of industry stakeholders and are not held accountable for safety-related decisions. This assessment will inform the biennial emerging trends report to Congress.
 
 
Build FAA Expertise for Emerging Technologies:The FAA is required to examine and address any shortfall in the agency's expertise regarding innovative aviation technologies, including future technologies.The bill authorizes $27,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new funding for the FAA to recruit and retain engineers, safety inspectors, human factors specialists, software and cybersecurity experts, and other qualified technical experts who perform certification duties.Building the agency's technical expertise will ensure that safety regulators can keep pace with ongoing technological advancements in the aviation industry.
 
 
Facilitate Continuing Education of FAA Certification Employees:FAA personnel who hold positions involving aircraft and flight standards certification will receive additional continuing education and training, including in human factors, modern flight deck systems, and automation.The bill authorizes $10 million annually in new appropriations for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new funding for this program.
 
 
Establish a New Center of Excellence (COE) on Flight Automation and Human Factors:The new COE will promote and facilitate collaboration among academia, the FAA, and aircraft and airline industry stakeholders to research automation and other technological advancements in aviation and examine issues related to human system integration and flight crew and aircraft interfaces. The bill authorizes $2 million annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new funding for the new COE.
 
 
Increase Funding for Research on Composites and Advanced Aviation Materials: The bill authorizes funding for the FAA's Joint Advanced Materials and Structures (JAMS) at $10 million annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023.Led by the University of Washington and Wichita State University, the center of excellence (COE) conducts research on advanced composites and aerospace materials for commercial aircraft to support the FAA's certification program.Funding for the COE was last authorized from fiscal years 2012 through 2015 at $500,000 per year, and the new authorization is double the approximately $5 million the FAA has funded the COE at in the last five years on average. 
 
Senator Cantwell has been a congressional leader in the push for aviation safety and certification reforms. In November, bipartisan aviation safety legislation she introduced with Chairman Wicker passed the Commerce Committee.
She has introduced multiple other pieces of legislation to codify expert recommendations into law and improve technical expertise to improve aviation safety  many of which have been incorporated into the final text of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act. In October 2019, she introduced a bill to implement aviation safety recommendations from the NTSB, U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General (DOT IG), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that seek to address challenges related to increased automation in commercial aircraft cockpits, as well as how pilots respond to flight deck alerts and uncommanded flight control inputs. Earlier this year, she introduced bipartisan legislation to create one-year paid aerospace policy fellowship roles for graduate and post-graduate students in Congress, at the FAA, and in other federal agencies to help build a pool of talent conversant in emerging technologies for the FAA and Congress to draw from as they make policy in the aviation sector. She also introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize the FAA to work with other countries to strengthen pilot training standards and enable ICAO to further enhance worldwide aviation safety and training standards.
A summary of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act, with explanations of key provisions, can be found HERE. The full text of the legislation can be found HERE, starting on page 2903.
Video of Senator Cantwell's floor speech about the legislation is available HERE and audio is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/smith-statement-president-trumps-harmful-ndaa-veto,Smith Statement on President Trump's Harmful NDAA Veto,2020-12-23,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.- Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 335-78-1 and in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 84-13.

""By choosing to veto the NDAA, President Trump has made it clear that does not care about the needs of our military personnel and their families. If the FY21 NDAA does not become law, more than 100,000 federal employees will be deprived of the paid parental leave benefits they deserve, necessary military construction projects will not move forward on schedule, and our service members who are in harm's way defending our country's principles will not have access to the hazard pay they are owed.

""The FY21 NDAA passed with overwhelming, veto-proof support in both the House and Senate, and I remain confident that Congress will override this harmful veto. While the President may not care about our service members and their families, Congress still places an immense value on their service and sacrifice.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=8207C760-DF86-4430-A465-762B4B98AAAE,Smith Statement on President Trump’s Harmful NDAA Veto,2020-12-23,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after President Trump vetoed the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 335-78-1 and in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 84-13.
By choosing to veto the NDAA, President Trump has made it clear that does not care about the needs of our military personnel and their families. If the FY21 NDAA does not become law, more than 100,000 federal employees will be deprived of the paid parental leave benefits they deserve, necessary military construction projects will not move forward on schedule, and our service members who are in harm's way defending our country's principles will not have access to the hazard pay they are owed.
The FY21 NDAA passed with overwhelming, veto-proof support in both the House and Senate, and I remain confident that Congress will override this harmful veto. While the President may not care about our service members and their families, Congress still places an immense value on their service and sacrifice.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmers-bill-to-rename-bremerton-post-office-after-distinguished-us-navy-sailor-signed-into-law,Kilmer’s Bill to Rename Bremerton Post Office After Distinguished U.S. Navy Sailor Signed Into Law,2020-12-23,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.23.20
			 Kilmer's Bill to Rename Bremerton Post Office After Distinguished U.S. Navy Sailor Signed Into Law 
			Washington, D.C.  On December 21, Representative Derek Kilmer's legislation to rename the Bremerton Post Office in honor of John Henry Turpin, a distinguished U.S. Navy sailor, was signed into law by the President.
The legislation, which passed the House and the Senate unanimously this fall, honors the lifelong resident of Bremerton, who is believed to be the first Black American to qualify as a Master Diver, in a civilian capacity, and was one of the first Black Americans to achieve the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. His thirty-year career in the U.S. Navy included service during the Spanish-American War, the Boxer Rebellion, and World War I.
John Henry Turpin's outstanding legacy of service to our country is made even more significant by the era of prejudice and discrimination during which he served. said Rep. Kilmer. Turpin repeatedly answered the call of duty to his country, served with great distinction, and rose in rank throughout his Navy career. His life-long and selfless commitment to the defense of America, American values, and the American way of life is worthy of our recognition and praise. I'm proud that the bill passed through Congress with the support of Democrats and Republicans  and I'm thrilled to see it signed into law.
We are proud and incredibly honored to have our historic downtown post office named after John Henry Turpin, said City of Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler. His courage and his incredible dedication to our nation and to the U.S. Navy set an example for those that served with him and would follow in his footsteps. We are pleased that we can recognize Turpin's extraordinary life and legacy in his home community of Bremerton.
The renaming of the downtown Bremerton post office is an important opportunity to recognize and memorialize a man who was a trailblazer in his field. Bremerton has a very rich history and it's exciting to have this recognition of Mr. Turpin and his groundbreaking accomplishments in the Navy. The Living Arts Cultural Heritage Project is proud that his name and legacy will be further highlighted in the Bremerton community. The late Bishop Lawrence R. Robertson labored diligently for over 40 years in hopes that one day our African American leaders in Kitsap County would be recognized and honored for their contributions, labor and sacrifices. We are sad he isn't here to see it come to pass but we are so proud and greatly appreciative of Congressman Kilmer, said Karen Vargas, Founder, Living Arts Cultural Heritage Project.
Chief Gunner's Mate John Henry Dick Turpin was a trailblazer. Entering in the Navy before it was integrated in 1942 was the beginning of the path he left for those that followed him. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Association (NAACP) established in 1909 considers this honor as a way to educate the public and recognize the contribution of John Henry Turpin as an African American hero, not only for his military service, but the work he did. The NAACP Unit 1134 Bremerton/Kitsap Branch established in 1943 is honored to have had Chief Gunner's Mate John Henry Turpin retire in our community and to support Congressman Kilmer in bringing this honor to the Bremerton Community is near and dear, as a Veteran of the United States Navy, I benefited from his good works, said Tracy S. Flood, ESQ, President, NAACP Unit 1134
Turpin was born in 1876 and enlisted in the Navy at age 20. During his time as a sailor, he served on USS Maine and later saw action in China during the Boxer Rebellion, before being assigned to USS Bennington. As USS Bennington was preparing to sail out of San Diego in 1905, the ship's boiler exploded. Sixty-six members of the 102-person crew were killed in the explosion, which is still regarded as one of the Navy's worst peacetime disasters. Turpin is credited with saving the lives of three officers and twelve sailors by swimming them to shore one at a time.
Turpin went on to serve in World War I, before retiring in 1925 and working as a Master Rigger at Puget Sound Naval Yard. During World War II, Turpin tried to re-enlist but was denied because of his age. Instead, he volunteered to tour Navy training facilities and defense plants to make inspirational visits to Black American sailors. A lifelong resident of Bremerton, having first arrived there in 1896 and returning after his retirement, Turpin died there in 1962. There are no records of any recognition of his accomplishments at that time.
Representative Kilmer's bill designates the United States Postal Service facility located at 602 Pacific Avenue in Bremerton, Washington, as the John Henry Turpin Post Office Building. In recognition of Turpin's achievements and service, almost sixty years after his death and nearly 120 years since his enlistment in the U.S. Navy, this bill would require that any mention in any law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States government properly reference the facility and use the new name.
The legislation was co-sponsored by the entire Washington Congressional Delegation.
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		    	Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/smith-statement-decade-after-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell,"Smith Statement a Decade After Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the end of the military's discriminatory ""Don't Ask, Don't Tell"" policy.

""Ten years ago, the repeal of ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' allowed tens of thousands of LBGTQ service members to serve openly for the first time. Our men and women in uniform are the backbone of our national security - all Americans owe them, and their families, a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The repeal of ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' affirmed that we, as a nation, respect and honor the service of these patriotic men and women, no matter who they love.

""The last decade has shown us that the diversity of our military is a point of strength and has proven when service members serve openly, our national security benefits. Despite the progress we have made these last ten years, working to create a more diverse and inclusive military, there is still much to be done. Because of the Trump Administration's hateful policies, thousands of transgender service members cannot serve openly. These soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines deserve the same honor and respect as their cisgender peers, for their service and sacrifice is no different. Thankfully, President-elect Biden has made it clear he intends to reverse the Trump-era ‘trans ban' immediately so that these patriots can continue to serve their nation as their authentic selves.

""Today is a day to reflect on our progress and reaffirm our commitment to LGBTQ Americans. Our next task must be enactment of the Equality Act, so that the LGBTQ community is protected from discrimination and prejudice.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=80A5ABE7-283E-49AE-B41D-FD9745BD42D8,"Smith Statement a Decade After Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the end of the military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.
Ten years ago, the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell' allowed tens of thousands of LBGTQ service members to serve openly for the first time. Our men and women in uniform are the backbone of our national security  all Americans owe them, and their families, a debt of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell' affirmed that we, as a nation, respect and honor the service of these patriotic men and women, no matter who they love.
The last decade has shown us that the diversity of our military is a point of strength and has proven when service members serve openly, our national security benefits. Despite the progress we have made these last ten years, working to create a more diverse and inclusive military, there is still much to be done. Because of the Trump Administration's hateful policies, thousands of transgender service members cannot serve openly. These soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines deserve the same honor and respect as their cisgender peers, for their service and sacrifice is no different. Thankfully, President-elect Biden has made it clear he intends to reverse the Trump-era trans ban' immediately so that these patriots can continue to serve their nation as their authentic selves.
Today is a day to reflect on our progress and reaffirm our commitment to LGBTQ Americans. Our next task must be enactment of the Equality Act, so that the LGBTQ community is protected from discrimination and prejudice.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2441,Larsen Statement in Response to Oil Train Derailment in Whatcom County,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,larsen,https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"WHATCOM COUNTY, WA - Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement in response to the oil train derailment in Whatcom County:

“I am concerned about the oil train derailment in Custer, WA. I worked closely with the Obama administration to create strong rules to make the transport of oil by rail safer. Clearly there may be more work to do.

“Thank you to the first responders on scene working to assess the situation and to keep communities safe. My staff are gathering more information from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Governor’s office, Whatcom County Emergency Management, BP, and BNSF Railway. I will continue to monitor the situation and await the findings of NTSB’s investigation.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-congressional-aviation-leaders-applaud-comprehensive-bipartisan-bicameral-aircraft-safety-and-certification-reforms-passed-as-part-of-omnibus-funding-bill,"Cantwell, Congressional Aviation Leaders Applaud Comprehensive Bipartisan, Bicameral Aircraft Safety & Certification Reforms Passed As Part of Omnibus Funding Bill",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20
    			 Cantwell, Congressional Aviation Leaders Applaud Comprehensive Bipartisan, Bicameral Aircraft Safety & Certification Reforms Passed As Part of Omnibus Funding Bill 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act will strengthen FAA oversight of aircraft manufacturers, reform aircraft certification process, increase Congress' oversight of the certification process, and provide new resources to address emerging technology
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and other congressional aviation leaders applauded the passage of bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will implement needed new aircraft safety and certification reforms made clear in the wake of the Boeing 737 MAX crashes. The legislation will strengthen the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) direct oversight of aircraft certification, implement new integrated systems analyses of new and derivative aircraft, require aircraft manufacturers to disclose technological changes to their aircraft, and implement new safety reporting requirements and whistleblower protections. The legislation was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed by Congress last night and it and now heads to the President's desk. A summary of the bill can be found HERE.
In addition to Cantwell, the legislation was also negotiated by Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D, OR-04) and Ranking Member Sam Graves (R, MO-06).
It's so important that we make safety the number one priority in the United States. If we want to be number one in aviation, you have to be number one in aviation safety. Chairman Wicker and I worked with our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to produce important legislation that improves the safety reforms needed at the FAA, the safety reforms of oversight of manufacturing and the certification process, and reforms that will help us here in Congress better stay on top of the information as far as the certification process, said Senator Cantwell. I want to thank all of the families who helped us in communicating why these safety reforms are important  and to let them know that even though we're putting a big down payment on safety reforms in the United States Congress by passing this legislation, this process does not stop with the passage of this legislation.
This historic legislation is a major step to prevent the certification of substandard aircraft and avoidingfuture crashes, said Michael Stumo, whose daughter Samya died in the Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crash. ET302 families across the world have worked hard to eliminate excessive delegationand to hold those who hide safety defects accountable. We are indebted to Chairman DeFazio,Ranking Member Graves, Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Cantwell for their hard work anddedication to safety and the future excellence of the US aviation industry.
Key provisions of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act will:
 
Restore FAA Approval of ODA Unit Members:The FAA will be responsible for approving and removing manufacturers' engineers who act on behalf of the FAA  the Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) unit members, as found under the FAA's Designated Engineering Representative (DER) delegation program. The bill authorizes $3,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new appropriations for the FAA to provide staffing and resources necessary to undertake this work.
Enable Direct FAA Oversight and Communication: FAA safety advisors will be assigned to manufacturers' authorized representatives so that the FAA has direct and ongoing oversight and communication with the ODA unit members responsible for certification activities, another key return to the DER program. The Joint Authorities Technical Review identified how the lack of communication and interaction between the FAA and ODA unit members hindered FAA's oversight over the manufacturer and awareness of safety issues with the 737 MAX. 
Require Integrated Safety Analysis of Design Changes for All New and Derivative Aircraft: The FAA must conduct a rulemaking to require proposals for new aircraft designs (type certificates) and variants of existing aircraft designs (amended type certificates) to undergo an integrated system safety analysis. The bill requires FAA to undertake an analysis of the cumulative effects of proposed design changes to the aircraft, human factors issues, and impacts on training for pilots and maintenance personnel. In the 737 MAX certification process, FAA failed to review the proposed design changes at an aircraft level, which led to FAA misunderstanding how the MCAS system would operate. This reform would help catch how new design features interact with other aircraft systems.
Ensure New and Derivative Aircraft Comply With Latest Flight Crew Alerting Regulations: The FAA would be prohibited, beginning two years after enactment of the bill, from issuing a type certificate for a new airliner design unless the airplane is equipped with a centralized crew alerting system that helps a pilot differentiate, prioritize, and respond to warnings, cautions, and advisories activated on the airplane. The FAA certified the 737 MAX even though the aircraft's flight crew alerting system did not comply with the latest airworthiness standards. In response to a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation, the bill also would ensure for all future airplanes, including the 737 MAX derivatives, a manufacturer will complete a systems safety assessment on the flight deck alerting systems.
Mandate Safety Management Systems (SMS) for Manufacturers: Safety management systems (SMS) provide a data-based means of managing risk and continuously monitoring hazards in order to mitigate safety risks before they materialize. The bill directs FAA to issue regulations requiring that aviation manufacturers implement SMS, as recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board, Joint Authorities Technical Review, and other leading safety authorities. SMS is recognized as a key tool for improving safety culture. While the FAA has required SMS for airlines, the agency has failed to require the same of manufacturers.
Require Disclosure of Safety-Critical Information: Manufactures would receive up to a $1 million fine for violating disclosure requirements for safety-critical information. This includes information regarding flight control systems and other systems whose failure or erroneous activation would present a hazardous or catastrophic risk. The FAA is also directed to revoke an airline transport pilot certificate held by an individual who fails to disclose such safety-critical information on behalf of a manufacturer.
Prohibit Interference with FAA Designees: There are new civil penalties for any manufacturer supervisory employee who interferes with (e.g., harasses, berates, or threatens) an ODA unit member's performance of authorized functions on behalf of the FAA and requires all ODA unit members to promptly report any cases of interference experienced or witnessed at a company. The MAX investigations found numerous instances of managers exerting undue pressure on ODA unit members in conflict with their safety duties.
Prohibit Incentives for FAA Employees Based on Industry Schedules: The bill repeals existing law allowing FAA employees to receive bonuses or other financial incentive based on meeting manufacturer-driven certification schedules or quotas.
Repeal Authority for Industry to Set FAA Performance Goals: The bill repeals authority for the industry-friendly advisory panel, the Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee (SOCAC), to set FAA performance goals and metrics for the agency's Aircraft Certification and Flight Standards services that do not prioritize safety in the aircraft certification process. Safety must come first, not accelerated approval schedules.
Require Up Front Review of Design Assumptions and New and Novel Aircraft Technologies. The bill prohibits the FAA from delegating its authority to ODA unit members until the FAA reviews and validates any underlying assumptions used in critical system design features. It also requires the FAA Administrator to establish an integrated project team of experts from the FAA and federal agencies, such as NASA and the Air Force, to advise the FAA on the certification process for aircraft with new technologies and novel systems. The integrated project teams will give an independent review and verification of the manufacturer's submissions to the FAA, and recommend studies, analyses, and reports to aid in FAA's review.
Create New Safety Reporting for FAA Employees: FAA employees will have new confidential reporting channels to flag safety concerns during certification or oversight processes. The Administrator will be required to review submitted safety reports, identify the root cause of any safety issue, and take appropriate action to rectify any errors. In a recent FAA internal survey, certification engineers questioned their ability to raise safety concerns without fear of reprisal and FAA leadership's commitment to safety. This provision will provide a channel for FAA employees to report concerns without fear of retribution. The FAA must provide yearly report to Congress on the effectiveness of the safety reporting program.
Repeal Authority Permitting Self-Certification by Industry: The bill repeals the certified design and production (CDPO) authority and makes clear that aviation manufacturers will not be able to self-certify their own aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers. Congress first granted this CPDO authority in the 2003 FAA Reauthorization and expanded it in the 2012 Reauthorization. While the FAA has not yet implemented this authority, this bill would remove this authority and prevent FAA from further removing itself from the certification process.
Repeal Authority for Automatic Delegation of Certain Functions: The bill repeals the requirement that the FAA must fully delegate all eligible tasks to an ODA, and repeals the requirement that the FAA must delegate all functions which are deemed by the FAA to be low and medium risk. Without these repeals, FAA would only be able to revoke a task delegated to an ODA if, after an investigation or inspection, FAA determined it was in the public interest. The bill ensures that FAA is in charge of making delegation decisions.
Provide Expert Project Teams to Advise on Certification: The FAA will be assisted by an integrated project teammade up of technical experts from the FAA and federal agencies such as NASA and the Air Forcefor certification of proposed large commercial aircraft. Throughout the process, the team will advise FAA on the plans, analysis, assessments, and reports necessary to properly evaluate these designs and technologies as well as advise FAA whether a request for an exemption or exception from the latest airworthiness standards is warranted. This team will provide more scrutiny of manufacturers' designs, assumptions, and system safety assessments starting at the beginning of the certification process, providing more transparency to the certification process. The FAA must respond to the team's recommendations in writing and include this in the certification project records.
Strengthen International Standards: The bill authorizes $5 million annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to enable the FAA to provide increased technical assistance to foreign civil aviation authorities. This is an increase from the $3 million the FAA spends on this work annually. The bill also authorizes $2 million annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new funding to support FAA's efforts to develop international requirements, issued by International Civil Aviation Organization, for training programs and operational policies on pilot training, automation and human-machine interface.
Require FAA to Review and Verify Human Factor Assumptions: The FAA must review and verify all underlying human factors assumptions before delegating certification tasks related to safety critical design features, such as flight control systems. In the 737 MAX certification process, the FAA failed to review and verify Boeing's assumptions about pilot response time to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) activation (these assumptions turned out to be incorrect), and this bill would ensure that FAA scrutinize those assumptions more closely.
Establish a National Air Grant Program: The bill establishes a National Air Grant Program that will assist Congress and the FAA with keeping peace with changing technology. The program will create opportunities for graduate and post-graduate students to closely engage with Congress and the FAA to develop policies aimed at promoting U.S.-led growth and innovation in the aerospace sector. The bill authorizes $15 million annually for fiscal year 2021 through 2025 in new funding for the fellowship program.
Identify Emerging Safety Trends: A new biennial report to Congress, conducted by the Transportation Research Board, will identify emerging safety trends in air transportation. Based on accident investigation data from the National Transportation Safety Board, FAA, air operators, and foreign aviation safety authorities, the report will illuminate the latest trends impacting aviation safety, domestically and internationally, so policymakers and FAA can stay ahead of them.
Require an Annual Assessment of FAA Safety Culture: The FAA is directed to conduct an annual safety culture assessment to survey aviation safety employees on the state of safety culture at the agency's divisions responsible for the certification, production approval, and continued airworthiness of aircraft.The FAA's internal survey revealed that frontline employees believe that senior leaders at the agency are overly concerned with achieving the business-oriented outcomes of industry stakeholders and are not held accountable for safety-related decisions. This assessment will inform the biennial emerging trends report to Congress.
Build FAA Expertise for Emerging Technologies: The FAA is required to examine and address any shortfall in the agency's expertise regarding innovative aviation technologies, including future technologies. The bill authorizes $27,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new funding for the FAA to recruit and retain engineers, safety inspectors, human factors specialists, software and cybersecurity experts, and other qualified technical experts who perform certification duties. Building the agency's technical expertise will ensure that safety regulators can keep pace with ongoing technological advancements in the aviation industry.
Facilitate Continuing Education of FAA Certification Employees: FAA personnel who hold positions involving aircraft and flight standards certification will receive additional continuing education and training, including in human factors, modern flight deck systems, and automation. The bill authorizes $10 million annually in new appropriations for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new funding for this program.
Establish a New Center of Excellence (COE) on Flight Automation and Human Factors: The new COE will promote and facilitate collaboration among academia, the FAA, and aircraft and airline industry stakeholders to research automation and other technological advancements in aviation and examine issues related to human system integration and flight crew and aircraft interfaces. The bill authorizes $2 million annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023 in new funding for the new COE.
Increase Funding for Research on Composites and Advanced Aviation Materials: The bill authorizes funding for the FAA's Joint Advanced Materials and Structures (JAMS) at $10 million annually for fiscal years 2021 through 2023. Led by the University of Washington and Wichita State University, the center of excellence (COE) conducts research on advanced composites and aerospace materials for commercial aircraft to support the FAA's certification program. Funding for the COE was last authorized from fiscal years 2012 through 2015 at $500,000 per year, and the new authorization is double the approximately $5 million the FAA has funded the COE at in the last five years on average. 
 
Senator Cantwell has been a congressional leader in the push for aviation safety and certification reforms. In November, bipartisan aviation safety legislation she introduced with Chairman Wicker passed the Commerce Committee.
She has introduced multiple other pieces of legislation to codify expert recommendations into law and improve technical expertise to improve aviation safety  many of which have been incorporated into the final text of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act. In October 2019, she introduced a bill to implement aviation safety recommendations from the NTSB, U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General (DOT IG), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that seek to address challenges related to increased automation in commercial aircraft cockpits, as well as how pilots respond to flight deck alerts and uncommanded flight control inputs. Earlier this year, she introduced bipartisan legislation to create one-year paid aerospace policy fellowship roles for graduate and post-graduate students in Congress, at the FAA, and in other federal agencies to help build a pool of talent conversant in emerging technologies for the FAA and Congress to draw from as they make policy in the aviation sector. She also introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize the FAA to work with other countries to strengthen pilot training standards and enable ICAO to further enhance worldwide aviation safety and training standards.
A summary of the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act with explanations of key provisions can be found HERE. The full text of the legislation can be found HERE, starting on page 2903.
Video of Senator Cantwell's floor speech about the legislation is available HERE and audio is available HERE. 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-murray-call-on-department-of-energy-to-only-consider-qualified-experienced-candidates-for-bpa-administrator-,"Cantwell, Murray Call on Department of Energy to Only Consider Qualified, Experienced Candidates for BPA Administrator",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20
    			 Cantwell, Murray Call on Department of Energy to Only Consider Qualified, Experienced Candidates for BPA Administrator  
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 In a break from norms, DOE has not consulted Senators Cantwell and Murray on potential BPA Administrator candidates
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON DC  U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) made clear their expectations for candidates the Department of Energy (DOE) is considering to head up Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and voiced their displeasure with the lack of transparency in the selection process for BPA Administrator candidates during a Friday call with Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Mark Menezes. The senators also emphasized to Deputy Secretary Menezes that they would not support candidates who do not possess the necessary experience and knowledge of the Pacific Northwest's hydropower system. The call came following a news report that the DOE was moving quickly to fill the current BPA administrator vacancy and considering an unqualified candidate, Gregory Zerzan, who is the current Principal Deputy Solicitor at U.S. Department of the Interior and a former lobbyist for Koch Industries.
BPA Administrator is one of the Pacific Northwest's toughest jobs. The position requires a deep knowledge of our unique grid, strong relationships with regional stakeholders, and an understanding of how to balance the needs of hydropower, agriculture, and salmon. Now more than ever we need an Administrator that can hit the ground running and ensure our region continues to receive the affordable and reliable electricity supplies that have powered our economy for decades, Senator Cantwell said.
I've worked for years to make sure that Bonneville Power Administration maintains the flexibility needed to provide quality, low-cost power to Washington state and the Pacific Northwest,Senator Murray said.So I am not speaking lightly when I say that nominating Greg Zerzan would be disastrous for the BPA and the millions of families that rely on the affordable energy and power it provides. Unlike in years past, this consideration process has lacked transparency, and I strongly urge the Department of Energy to follow its historic precedent and nominate a candidate with the experience and independence required to successfully lead BPA and ensure it remains a valuable public asset.
The BPA Administrator is not an appointed or political position, instead the Administrator is selected by DOE after review by a merit review board. Typically, the Administrator has substantial prior experience at BPA and Pacific Northwestern senators are consulted during the candidate interview and selection process. During the Friday call, Deputy Secretary Menezes confirmed to the Senators that the report that DOE is considering Zerzan, and three internal candidates, to fill the vacancy are true. The Senators voiced their displeasure with the fact that they had not been consulted on these candidates and urged the DOE not to move forward with someone who is unqualified and has no experience at BPA or any similar organization. The Senators also made clear that they would not support a political choice who posed a threat to the apolitical nature of the Administrator position and could lead to the privatization of BPA, something that the Senators have long opposed.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-secures-critical-funding-for-washington-small-businesses-in-covid-stimulus-bill-targeted-relief-for-smallest-businesses-in-underserved-communities,Cantwell Secures Critical Funding for Washington Small Businesses in COVID Stimulus Bill; Targeted Relief for Smallest Businesses in Underserved Communities,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20
    			 Cantwell Secures Critical Funding for Washington Small Businesses in COVID Stimulus Bill; Targeted Relief for Smallest Businesses in Underserved Communities 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Bill includes more than $284 billion for PPP, including $35 billion set aside for smallest businesses
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) highlighted the inclusion of key small business priorities she championed and pushed for in the bipartisan COVID-19 stimulus bill that passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives overwhelmingly last night.
The bill provides $284.5 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a new infusion of cash for a program that has been a lifeline for small businesses across the country, including 108,000 Washington state small businesses and nonprofits who received $12.5 billion in PPP loans. The bill extends PPP through March 31, 2021 and enables small businesses and nonprofits to apply for a 2nd PPP loan of up to $2 million if they have 300 or fewer employees and have experienced a revenue loss of at least 25% between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.
I'm very glad that we were able to get the PPP program that helps small businesses, so that they can continue to try to make ends meet as we continue to work our way through this pandemic, Senator Cantwell said in a speech on the Senate floor on Monday night.
Important Changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
 
The bill expands the types of expenses that are allowable and forgivable to include: 

Payment for any software, cloud computing, and other human resources and accounting needs.
Costs related to property damage due to public disturbances that occurred during 2020 that are not covered by insurance.
Expenditures to a supplier pursuant to a contract, purchase order, or order for goods in effect prior to taking out the loan that are essential to the recipient's operations at the time at which the expenditure was made. Supplier costs of perishable goods can be made before or during the life of the loan.
Personal protective equipment and adaptive investments to help a loan recipient comply with federal health and safety guidelines or any equivalent State and local guidance related to COVID-19 during the period between March 1, 2020, and the end of the national emergency declaration.
The bill repeals the requirement for PPP borrowers to deduct from forgiveness the amount of their Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) grant.
The bill clarifies that federal small business COVID assistance -- PPP forgiven funds, as well as EIDL grants, loan repayment assistance, and grants for shuttered venues -- are not taxable income and that deductions are allowed for otherwise deductible expenses paid with small business assistance funds.
The bill allows small businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industries to receive larger awards (loan would equal 3.5 times average monthly payroll costs, rather than 2.5 times).


 
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Grants
 
The bill contains $20 billion for new EIDL grants. Small businesses and nonprofits in low-income communities are eligible to receive $10,000 grants. Small businesses and nonprofits in low-income communities that received an EIDL Advance previously are eligible to receive the full $10,000 if their award was less in the first round of grants.
Before the EIDL grant program ran out of money in July, more than 96,000 Washington state businesses and nonprofits received more than $308 million in grants.
Cantwell has consistently supported the EIDL Grant program and other grant programs that provide direct cash assistance to small businesses and nonprofits throughout this pandemic. EIDL Grants were included in the Heroes Small Business Lifeline Act, which Cantwell cosponsored. Cantwell also introduced legislation, prior to the CARES Act, along with Senator Cardin, to provide grants of up to $50,000 to small businesses, nonprofits, and small farm cooperatives that were denied an SBA disaster loan.
 
Aid for Smallest Businesses (10 or Fewer Employees)
Many small businesses with 10 or fewer employees have not gotten the help they need to deal with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the smallest businesses are owned by women and minority entrepreneurs in underserved communities. For example, 98% of women-owned businesses and 99% of Black-owned businesses in Washington state have fewer than 10 employees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These smaller businesses faced challenges in getting PPP loans when applying through national banks and often received little to no assistance. The Small Business Administration (SBA) Inspector General found, in a report released on May 8, 2020, that small businesses in underserved communities had not been adequately prioritized by the SBA.
 
The bill contains $35 billion specifically for 1st and 2nd round PPP loans of up to $250,000 for small businesses with 10 or fewer employees and for small businesses in distressed areas.
The bill simplifies the forgiveness process for loans of up to $150,000 and revises the loan processing fee tiers to incentivize lenders to make loans to underserved and underbanked businesses.
The bill also gives borrowers in the microloan program an extra two years to repay their loan, provides funding to deploy $64 million more in loans, and adds flexibility for lenders to counsel and deploy capital faster and where it is needed the most to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cantwell has repeatedly urged SBA Administrator Carranza and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to prioritize helping small businesses with 10 or fewer employees. At a hearing in October, Cantwell said to Administrator Carranza: There are a lot of women and minorities that are small businesses under ten employees, and again, how do they keep that business going if they don't have access to capital. So I hope in this next round we'll prioritize that.
 
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs)
 
In addition to the $15 billion set-aside for community lenders under the Paycheck Protection Program, this bill also contains $12 billion for community lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) to expand capital access and technical assistance to underserved communities. 

$9 billion is provided to create a new Emergency Capital Investment Program, which will provide low-cost, long-term capital investments to CDFIs and MDIs to expand lending and investment activity in low-income and minority communities, especially those that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID pandemic.
$3 billion in emergency assistance directly to the CDFI Fund:

$25 million will be targeted to Native communities
$1.2 billion will be targeted to minority lending institutions, a new category of CDFIs that predominantly serve minority communities.




This funding will benefit the 30+ CDFIs that are in or around the State of Washington including Craft3, Evergreen Business Capital, and Impact Washington, as well as Washington state's four Native CDFIs that are vital to their communities but faced challenges in participating in PPP. This includes the Northwest Native Development Fund, which serves Native-owned small businesses on and around the Colville, Spokane, and Kalispel Reservations.
Cantwell has pushed for increased resources to CDFIs, highlighting their role in helping small businesses access capital: I can see in my state, where the CDFIs are basically getting out and marketing themselves and getting access to capital to, frankly, small businesses that just got turned down by banks.
Cantwell led an appropriations letter earlier this year requesting support for Native American CDFIs, and she signed onto an additional letter in March requesting appropriations funding for CDFIs.
 
SBA Debt Relief Program
 
The bill provides $3.5 billion to renew the SBA Debt Relief Program for three months for all businesses starting February 1, 2021, and then for an additional five months for businesses with SBA microloans or community advantage loans as well as businesses in hard-hit industries like hotels or restaurants.
More than 8,000 small businesses in Washington state currently have traditional SBA loans and would benefit from this relief.
Cantwell cosponsored legislation, along with Senator Chris Coons, (D-DE) to extend this program and supported the program when it was originally included in the CARES Act.
 
Live Venues, Theatres, and Museums
 
The bill includes $15 billion in grants to live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions like museums. The bill includes a set aside of $2 billion for entities with no more than 50 employees.
Without this relief, 63% of Washington state's independently owned clubs would have to permanently close, according to a survey by the Washington Nightlife Music Association.
Cantwell cosponsored the Save Our Stages Act, led by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), which would have provided similar relief grants to live venues.
Cantwell spoke about the impacts that the pandemic has had on the live music industry and the urgent need for Congress to pass relief to these venues at a Commerce Committee hearing in December, saying in part: Even in Spokane, The Pin, a staple of the music scene there, closed its doors. And independent venues like Spokane Arena, the Knitting Factory, Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox, and many others are impacted by these closures and looking for relief. So, when I hear these comments this morning and our colleagues, you'd think this would just be a slam dunk, that we could just, if nothing else, just go ahead and pass legislation. For us, it's 38,000 Washingtonians, about a $2.4 billion music industry overall. So we don't want to see permanent closure, because it's very hard to start these again We have got to get our colleagues to understand, we need to act now on this legislation.
 
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
 
The bill provides $25 million to support MBDA Centers in assisting minority businesses to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.
This would benefit the MBDA Business Center in Tacoma, which provides technical assistance to nearly 200 clients throughout Washington state and the Pacific Northwest from the African, Asian, Hispanic American, American Indian and Alaskan Native communities.
Cantwell has consistently supported the MBDA and is a cosponsor of the Minority Business Resiliency Act, which would codify the MBDA into law, create regional MBDA offices, strengthen its grant-making capacity, and increase its coordination with other agencies.
 
Women's Business Centers (WBCs)
 
The bill extends the waiver, originally included in the CARES Act, that previously required WBCs to match federal funds with a proportion of non-federal funds through June 30, 2021. This will enable WBCs to continue to help female entrepreneurs respond to this pandemic.
 
Tax Relief for Brewers, Vintners, Distillers
 
The bill includes the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, legislation Senator Cantwell cosponsored and pushed for, to level the playing field for small craft beer brewers, cider makers, vintners, and distillers by permanently extending federal excise tax relief.
 
Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)
 
The bill extends the ERTC that was created in the CARES Act through June 30, 2021 and enhances the tax credit by lowering the revenue loss requirement to access this credit from 50% to 20%, increasing the credit rate from 50% to 70% of employee wages and healthcare expenses, and raising the limit on per-employee creditable wages from $10,000/year to $10,000/quarter.
 
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-supported-provisions-in-covid-relief-bill-will-provide-critical-relief-to-hard-hit-music-venues-theaters-museums-,"Cantwell-Supported Provisions in COVID Relief Bill Will Provide Critical Relief to Hard-Hit Music Venues, Theaters, Museums",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20
    			 Cantwell-Supported Provisions in COVID Relief Bill Will Provide Critical Relief to Hard-Hit Music Venues, Theaters, Museums  
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Without relief, 63% of independently-owned clubs in the state would have to permanently close
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, applauded the inclusion in the COVID relief bill of provisions she pushed for that would provide $15 billion in grants to live venues, movie theaters, and museums in Washington state and across the country. The bill also includes a set aside of $2 billion for entities with no more than 50 employees. This achievement builds off of the Save Our Stages Act, legislation Cantwell cosponsored along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Cornyn (R-TX) to provide desperately needed aid to smaller, independent live venues. Without this relief, 63% of Washington state's independently owned clubs would have to permanently close, according to a survey by the Washington Nightlife Music Association.
Cantwell spoke about the urgent need to provide relief for these venues at a Commerce hearing earlier this month, saying in part: You'd think this would just be a slam dunk, that we could just, if nothing else, just go ahead and pass legislation. For us, it's 38,000 Washingtonians, about a $2.4 billion music industry overall. So we don't want to see permanent closure, because it's very hard to start these again We have got to get our colleagues to understand, we need to act now on this legislation. Video from the hearing is HERE.
Steven Severin, the President of the Washington Nightlife Music Association (WANMA), said: This is a huge win for us. The fact that nobody knew our names or the phrase Independent Venues' and then you have people like Sen. Cantwell talk about WANMA and Save Our Stages in a D.C. hearing?... I'm ecstatic. I'm in tears. I'm exhausted. I'm grateful. I watched a few dozen people make a full time job with no payment to make this happen. That's some serious dedication, passion, and fight to Save Our Stages so we can get back to doing what we do. This allows us to help the entire ecosystem of the music industry.
Specifically, Section 324 of the COVID relief bill, Grants for Shuttered Venue Operators:
 
Authorizes $15 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to eligible live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theater operators, or talent representatives who demonstrate at least a 25 percent reduction in revenues.
Sets aside $2 billion for eligible entities that employ 50 or fewer full-time employees.
Allows SBA to make an initial grant of up to $10 million dollars to an eligible person or entity and a supplemental grant that is equal to 50 percent of the initial grant.
Directs the SBA to award grants only to eligible entities that have faced 90 percent or greater revenue loss in the first two weeks, and only to eligible entities that have faced 70 percent or greater revenue loss in the two weeks after that. After the first month, grants can be awarded to all other eligible entities.
Specifies that grants will be used for specified expenses such as payroll costs, rent, utilities, and personal protective equipment.
Requires the SBA Administrator to conduct increased oversight of eligible persons and entities receiving these grants.
 
Video of Senator Cantwell speaking about the need to help live venues at a hearing this month is HERE, and audio is HERE. A transcript of her Q&A with witnesses is HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-touts-biggest-advancements-to-nations-energy-policies-in-over-a-decade-,Cantwell Touts Biggest Advancements to Nation’s Energy Policies in Over a Decade,2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20
    			 Cantwell Touts Biggest Advancements to Nation's Energy Policies in Over a Decade  
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Cantwell's Grid Modernization Act and Smart Building Acceleration Act incorporated into landmark package
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C.Sweeping bipartisan energy legislation was included in the year-end COVID-19 relief and omnibus bill passed by the Senate last night, including many provisions Senator Cantwell authored and introduced while she served as Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the 114th and 115th Congresses. The legislation authorizes over $35 billion for research and development over the next decade in critical areas including renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency, and carbon capture technologies, all of which will be essential to decarbonizing our nation's energy system and addressing the climate crisis. The legislation also reforms the energy loan guarantee program, extends the weatherization program, and provides new tech transfer tools for Energy Department Laboratories like the Pacific Northwest National Lab (PNNL).
Modernizing our nation's energy grid will make America's electricity supplies more secure, abundant, and affordable, said Senator Cantwell. Making our nation's buildings smarter and more efficient will lower utility bills and greenhouse gas emissions from a sector that accounts for 40 percent of all U.S. energy use. All told, these energy provisions are the most progress we've made to our nation's energy policies in a decade.
Two bills authored by Senator Cantwell were incorporated into the landmark package, including Senate Bill 2332, the Grid Modernization Act of 2019, which authorizes over $2.2 billion over the next decade to fund R&D and programs at the Department of Energy aimed at modernizing our nation's electricity grid. Provisions include a grant program aimed atdemonstratingthe value of modernizing our nation's electricity grid, the development of ""off-the-shelf"" tools forlocal and state grid regulators to accelerate the adoption of new technology and grid controls, and a new program focused on developing hybrid microgridsfor isolatedcommunities. The legislation also reauthorizes provisions from Senator Cantwell's Smart Grid title that was included in the 2007 Energy Bill, like the smart grid regional demonstration program.
The omnibus package also incorporated Senate Bill 2335, Senator Cantwell's Smart Building Acceleration Act of 2019, which will support new research into smart buildings, including documenting the costs and benefits of emerging technologies in private-sector and federal government buildings. Specifically, it requires a survey of privately-owned smart buildings, directs smart building retrofits in certain federal buildings to quantify costs and benefits, and directs research and development toward reducing the barriers to the adoption of smart building technologies.
Senate Energy Committee Chair Murkowski, one of the bill's primary champions, expressed her gratitude to Senator Cantwell for her contributions to the bill on the Senate floor on Monday night, saying in part: I see that my friend from the great state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest is here. I am very thankful and appreciative of your leadership and what you have provided over the years, working together with your team we have accomplished good things for the right reasons.
Cantwell has made making our nation's energy system cleaner, more efficient, and more diverse one of her top priorities. She leverages her membership on the Senate Energy, Commerce, and Finance Committees to push her vision of a clean energy economy and to support budding clean energy industries.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/covid-19-package-includes-cantwell-collins-provision-to-make-medical-expense-deduction-permanent,"COVID-19 Package Includes Cantwell, Collins Provision to Make Medical Expense Deduction Permanent",2020-12-22,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.22.20
    			 COVID-19 Package Includes Cantwell, Collins Provision to Make Medical Expense Deduction Permanent 
    			
				
    			WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) announced that a provision they pushed for to assist families who are struggling to afford high medical costs was included in the government funding legislation that passed Congress and will now be signed into law. Companion legislation was sponsored in the House of Representatives by Representatives Katie Porter (D-CA) and David Schweikert (R-AZ).
For those households that spend more than 7.5 percent of their income on medical expenses, this provision, which is based on the Medical Expense Savings Act, Senators Cantwell and Collins introduced in 2019, will allow them to continue to deduct these costs from their tax bill.
Millions of Americans rely on the medical expense deduction. The burden of high medical expenses falls disproportionately on seniors and those with disabilities. The medical expense deduction is vital for those who have pre-existing medical conditions, suffer chronic medical conditions, experience unexpected illnesses or injuries, or face costs for long-term care services that are not covered by insurance.
The medical expense deduction provides much-needed financial relief for Americans with high medical bills, including seniors and individuals with disabilities. The extension we secured is critical for more than 200,000 Washingtonians who claim the deduction in order to lower their health care costs and help pay for unexpected medical expenses and life-saving treatment, said Senator Cantwell.
The medical expense deduction is a lifeline for Americans struggling with high medical costs, particularly seniors and individuals with disabilities, said Senator Collins. By making this deduction permanent, our legislation will help provide certainty for those with pre-existing conditions and support millions of Americans with large medical bills.
AARP applauds Congress for making permanent the 7.5% threshold on medical expenses. This effort has been long in the making. On behalf of the approximately 4.4 million Americans with high health care costs who rely on this deduction, we thank Senator Collins and Senator Cantwell for their bipartisan leadership in the Senate on this important issue, said Megan O'Reilly, Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP.
Senators Cantwell and Collins have long been supporters of the medical expense deduction. AARP estimates that nearly 20,000 Mainers already benefit from this deduction.Following Senators Cantwell and Collin's advocacy, another extension of this provision was secured last year, extending the deduction to the end of this calendar year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-long-overdue-passage-covid-19-relief-package,Rep. Smith Statement on Long-Overdue Passage of COVID-19 Relief Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the COVID-19 relief bill:

""Today the House came to an agreement and passed a COVID-19 relief package that will be a public health and economic lifeline to families and businesses that have been reeling due to the pandemic. However, this is nowhere near the amount of support that Americans need right now. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump have blocked a more robust relief package for seven months as thousands of Americans die every day from COVID-19. We passed this bill to get immediate relief to the people that desperately need it, but we must do more to provide support to struggling families and businesses.

""First and foremost, this package includes significant resources to help combat the pandemic. It includes critical funding for accelerating vaccine distribution that will help make the vaccine free and widely accessible and communicate to the public about the importance of the vaccine. The package also includes funding for local public health departments who are on the frontlines of COVID-19 response and on the brink of cutting staff and services.

""This bill also adds additional economic support for families that are struggling to pay rent, unable to put food on the table, or who are unemployed. The bill makes a significant investment in additional funds for rental and housing assistance while also extending the eviction moratorium through the end of January 2021. It provides direct cash payments of $600, and we successfully fought to expand eligibility to mixed status families who were kept out of direct payments under the CARES Act. The pandemic and economic downturn have caused millions of people to become unemployed - this bill gives an additional $300 per week to each recipient and extends the enhanced pandemic unemployment programs through March 31, 2021.

""Food insecurity has grown significantly during the pandemic and this bill includes additional funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food programs for struggling families. The agreement also provides funding for schools and colleges to mitigate virus transmission, and funding for child care assistance to help parents get back to work and keep child care providers open. The package also includes the largest expansion of Pell Grant recipients in over a decade, ensuring more than 1.5 million students will now receive the maximum benefit.

""Over the course of the pandemic, I have met with countless small businesses in dire need of help. This package adds additional funding to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), improves the requirements to make it more accessible for small businesses, and allows some small businesses that are still struggling to get a second round of PPP loans to help retain workers and allow their businesses to survive.

""Every American needs to understand that Mitch McConnell, Congressional Republicans, and President Trump fought against us every step of the way as we worked to provide as much relief as possible. The support provided in this package is necessary, but insufficient. I look forward to working with the incoming Biden-Harris Administration in the new Congress to build on this package.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=49A194FD-3583-4475-A84B-AD8BB998DEE3,Rep. Smith Statement on Long-Overdue Passage of COVID-19 Relief Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the COVID-19 relief bill:
Today the House came to an agreement and passed a COVID-19 relief package that will be a public health and economic lifeline to families and businesses that have been reeling due to the pandemic. However, this is nowhere near the amount of support that Americans need right now. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump have blocked a more robust relief package for seven months as thousands of Americans die every day from COVID-19. We passed this bill to get immediate relief to the people that desperately need it, but we must do more to provide support to struggling families and businesses.
First and foremost, this package includes significant resources to help combat the pandemic. It includes critical funding for accelerating vaccine distribution that will help make the vaccine free and widely accessible and communicate to the public about the importance of the vaccine. The package also includes funding for local public health departments who are on the frontlines of COVID-19 response and on the brink of cutting staff and services.
This bill also adds additional economic support for families that are struggling to pay rent, unable to put food on the table, or who are unemployed. The bill makes a significant investment in additional funds for rental and housing assistance while also extending the eviction moratorium through the end of January 2021. It provides direct cash payments of $600, and we successfully fought to expand eligibility to mixed status families who were kept out of direct payments under the CARES Act. The pandemic and economic downturn have caused millions of people to become unemployed  this bill gives an additional $300 per week to each recipient and extends the enhanced pandemic unemployment programs through March 31, 2021.
Food insecurity has grown significantly during the pandemic and this bill includes additional funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other food programs for struggling families. The agreement also provides funding for schools and colleges to mitigate virus transmission, and funding for child care assistance to help parents get back to work and keep child care providers open. The package also includes the largest expansion of Pell Grant recipients in over a decade, ensuring more than 1.5 million students will now receive the maximum benefit.
Over the course of the pandemic, I have met with countless small businesses in dire need of help. This package adds additional funding to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), improves the requirements to make it more accessible for small businesses, and allows some small businesses that are still struggling to get a second round of PPP loans to help retain workers and allow their businesses to survive.
Every American needs to understand that Mitch McConnell, Congressional Republicans, and President Trump fought against us every step of the way as we worked to provide as much relief as possible. The support provided in this package is necessary, but insufficient. I look forward to working with the incoming Biden-Harris Administration in the new Congress to build on this package.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2688,"DelBene Shapes Bipartisan COVID-19 Deal, Calls for More Relief",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced that several of her priorities were included in the bipartisan COVID-19 relief deal that was reached between House and Senate leaders over the weekend. The House approved the legislation today with DelBene's support.
Compromise is difficult but in a time of divided government, it's the only way we get things done. This important deal will provide meaningful relief to Americans during this challenging time and I secured several provisions in the package. It is only a portion of what is needed to help families across the country and for what our economy is facing, said DelBene. This virus will not simply vanish starting next year and additional relief must be Congress' top priority going forward. As the incoming Chair of the New Democrat Coalition, I am ready to work with congressional leaders and a new, engaged White House to craft additional relief legislation immediately.
DelBene's priorities have been centered around providing relief to workers, families, small businesses, and strengthening our public health response. Provisions she secured in the deal include:
 
    Incentivize the hiring and retention of workers through a 70 percent credit on up to $10,000 of wages per employee per quarter by enhancing the Employee Retention Tax Credit and allow the credit to work with Paycheck Protection Program loans. DelBene has been pushing to expand the credit to help keep businesses open and workers off unemployment. 
    Providing more money to families by allowing them to use their 2019 earnings when calculating their 2020 Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. DelBene is a lead sponsor of legislation that would also increase the Child Tax Credit amount and provide payments monthly. 
    Creating over 130,000 more affordable homes by making these housing developments more financially secure. DelBene introduced bipartisan legislation that would increase affordable housing production by expanding on the proven success of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.
    Extending how long state, local, and tribal governments can use CARES Act funding to help support the public health response to COVID-19 and pay police, firefighters, teachers, and other essential workers. DelBene's district has been responding to COVID-19 the longest and frontline responders need resources to keep fighting the virus.
    Expanding telehealth access for seniors seeking mental health care through a bill DelBene introduced.
 
This agreement is the most significant COVID-19 relief legislation to pass Congress since the CARES Act in March. Many of the provisions in the CARES Act have run out of funding or expire at the end of the year and this package will extend those programs into 2021 and provide additional funding. The bill also includes:
 
    $600 stimulus checks for adults and children
    $300 per week in renewed unemployment assistance
    $284 billion in small business loans
    $82 billion to help reopen schools and colleges
    $73 billion for the public health response, including vaccine distribution, testing, and contact tracing
    $25 billion in rental assistance and an extended eviction moratorium
    $13 billion in nutritional support
    $7 billion to increase access to broadband
 
The bill also funds the federal government through the end of Fiscal Year 2021 and includes legislation that will end surprise medical bills.
More information about the package can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-votes-for-critical-covid-19-relief-secures-funding-for-regional-priorities,"Kilmer Votes for Critical COVID-19 Relief, Secures Funding for Regional Priorities",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20
			 Kilmer Votes for Critical COVID-19 Relief, Secures Funding for Regional Priorities 
			Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support an COVID-19 relief and omnibus spending bill (omnibus) consisting of all 12 fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, coronavirus relief, and authorizations. The legislation passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Package
Today's legislation included $900 billion in emergency coronavirus relief to protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people.
Over the last nine months, I have spoken with folks across our region who have lost jobs, lost their small businesses, and lost loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People in our region need help. With that in mind, this new bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill is progress, said Rep. Kilmer. This bill will help make a down payment on giving our communities resources they need to help beat back this virus and distribute vaccines, and provide vital support to families and local employers. Having said that, we know more is needed to help people who are hurting. People shouldn't have to risk losing their homes, going hungry, or having their utilities shut off, due to something that's not their fault. I'll keep working to make sure that the federal government steps up to have the backs of folks in our neck of the woods.
Among its provisions, the bill provided billions in funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of vaccines to as many Americans as soon as possible, to implement a national testing and tracing strategy, and to support health care workers and providers on the frontlines.
The legislation also included critical support for Washington's small businesses, including minority-owned businesses and nonprofits. The bill includes over $284 billion for first and second forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, expanded PPP eligibility for nonprofits and local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters, key modifications to PPP to serve the smallest businesses and struggling non-profits and to better assist independent restaurants, and includes $15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions. The agreement also includes $20 billion for targeted EIDL Grants (with grants of up to $10,000) which are critical to many smaller businesses on Main Street. In addition, the bill includes dedicated PPP set-asides for very small businesses and support for small businesses in low-income and underserved communities that may be disproportionately impacted by the economic effects of the COVID19 pandemic.To support workers, the agreement also extends and improves the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers in their jobs during coronavirus closures, or reduced revenue, and also provides a tax credit to support employers offering paid sick leave, based on the framework of earlier COVID relief legislation.
Additionally, the legislation included critical funding to help the American people make ends meet. This includes a new round of direct payments worth up to $600 per adult and child. The legislation also included a provision to avert the sudden expiration of Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits for millions and added a $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work. The bill also included $25 billion in rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes and, importantly, included an extension of the eviction moratorium. In addition, the legislation made a $13 billion investment in increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure.
The legislation also included provisions to help working families by making improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit to help ensure that families who face unemployment or reduced wages during the pandemic are able to receive a strong tax credit based on their 2019 income, preserving vital income support for vulnerable families.
Additionally, the omnibus included critical funding for education, child care and students - including a $82 billion investment in colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms, and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.The package includes the largest expansion of Pell Grant recipients in over a decade, reaching 500,000 new recipients and ensuring more than 1.5 million students will now receive the maximum benefit.
The omnibus also included a $7 billion investment to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families, and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.
Government Funding for Regional Priorities
Today's legislation also included the 12 fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, which make strong investments to provide pathways to better schools, expand access to housing, tackle food insecurity, protect the environment, and combat climate change.
Today, I also voted to keep the government open and to fund critical priorities for our region that will create jobs, said Rep. Kilmer. As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I am pleased that it includes vital investments in Puget Sound recovery and restoring our salmon, a much-deserved pay raise for our military and for civilian federal workers, support for Indian Country and veterans, investments in jobs at Naval Base Kitsap, and funding for broadband and rural economic development.
Kilmer added, This is not the agreement I would have written on my own - there are some provisions that I would have excluded, and others I fought to have included that weren't. But, to avert a government shutdown we needed to reach an agreement with a Republican Senate and a Republican President whose values are different than those of a majority of folks in our region. While not perfect, today's legislation responsibly funds our government, prevents another damaging government shutdown, and invests in our region.
Among its provisions, the bill:
Provides Critical Funding for Puget Sound Restoration
The omnibus spending bill made important investments in restoring Puget Sound, including $33.75 million for the Puget Sound Geographic Program, which provides critical grant support to state, local, and tribal governments to implement projects to improve water quality, protect shorelines, and enhance fish passage and salmon habitat. The increase over the Fiscal Year 2020 enacted level, which Rep. Kilmer fought to secure as a member of the Appropriations Committee, rejects a Trump Administration proposal to eliminate the program altogether and represents an important investment in projects that will help recover iconic species, like salmon and orca, and continue to improve the health of the Sound.
This vital increase in funding for the Puget Sound Geographic Program will drive conservation and restoration projects and help us achieve our twin goals of Puget Sound recovery and economic recovery. We know that every $1 million spent on watershed restoration produces $2.5 million in total economic activity and approximately 16 new or sustained jobs. Increased investment in Puget Sound restoration and salmon recovery yields real and lasting benefits for people and our economy. With this increase in federal funding, we will continue to make progress towards a healthy and vibrant Puget Sound, said Laura Blackmore, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership. We are thankful to our strong delegation for fighting for the protection and restoration of Puget Sound. Special thanks go to Congressmen Kilmer and Heck for leading the Puget Sound caucus and working to build bipartisan and national support for Puget Sound recovery. We are also grateful for the dedication and advocacy of our partners, who have worked to ensure that investing in Puget Sound recovery to achieve economic recovery remains a top priority for the federal government.
Invests in Rural Broadband
The omnibus invests over $7 billion in the expansion of broadband service to provide economic development opportunities and improved education and health care services, including $300 million for rural broadband and $250 million for telehealth.
The increase in investment, which Rep. Kilmer fought to secure as a member of the Appropriations Committee, also includes $635 million for the ReConnect program, which aims to increase access to broadband connectivity in underserved rural areas. These significant investments in broadband reflect a commitment to enabling Americans in rural communities to access digital tools necessary to improve health, educational, and economic outcomes.
The bill also included an effort by Rep. Kilmer to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take action to increase access to broadband on rural Tribal lands. That provision directs the USDA to work with tribal communities to better understand the unique infrastructure challenges they face and to ensure that tribal communities are not held at a competitive disadvantage when competing for broadband resources.
In addition, the bill called on the USDA to develop strategies that utilize telehealth technologies to help improve care options for seniors, expectant mothers, infants, and others in rural areas.
Supports Shipyard Workers, Defense Communities
The omnibus also included critical investments in our nation's defense communities, including a $20 million investment championed by Rep. Kilmer to fund the Navy Facility Sustainment, Modernization, and Restoration Program, which will invest in critical infrastructure upgrades at the nation's four public shipyards  including Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton  to improve resiliency to fires, earthquakes, and other natural hazards.
In addition, the legislation included a $60 million investment Rep. Kilmer advocated for to the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, which funds projects that address commuter workforce issues, school construction, and other local infrastructure that support military installations like Naval Base Kitsap and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Kilmer has worked with the City of Bremerton and Kitsap County in hopes of securing federal funds to reduce congestion into the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Finally, the bill includes a three percent pay increase for members of the armed forces and preserves a one percent pay raise for federal civilian employees next year.
Rep. Kilmer spoke in support of the provisions before the Appropriations Committee in July.
Advances Kilmer-led Priorities to Combat Climate Change, Invest in Resiliency
The omnibus also included several initiatives led by Rep. Kilmer to increase federal investments in climate resilience and help communities that are dealing with persistent flooding. The bill provides funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support communities across the region that are working to manage flood risks and threats from coastal hazards. The $10 million included in the bipartisan agreement represents a $5 million increase over the current funding level. The bills also provides $78.5 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Zone Management Grants and $34 million for the National Coastal Resilience Fund, rejecting the Trump Administration's proposal to eliminate these key programs which provide critical planning and technical assistance to states and tribes to deal with persistent flooding.
Rep. Kilmer also successfully fought against efforts by the Trump Administration to defund the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) housed at the University of Washington (UW). He successfully worked to secure nearly $42 million to grow investments in the nation's eight regionally-focused CASCs, which provide actionable science and research that directly address many of the climate-related challenges unique to different regions of the country. In addition, he fought to include $182 million for NOAA's Climate Research programs, including funding to support cutting-edge research on climate, ocean, and fishery science.
Rep. Kilmer also ensured that the bill provided $17 million for the Tribal Climate Resilience program and included language directing the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to coordinate with federal agencies to leverage other federal resources to support a comprehensive approach to support coastal tribal communities  including the Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah tribes,  that are actively working to make their communities more climate resilient.
In addition, Rep. Kilmer worked to secure critical funding to support early warning capabilities for natural hazards and disasters, including: more than $28 million NOAA's Tsunami Warning Centers and for the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program to support hazard identification and response; $25.7 million for the USGS for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a West Coast Earthquake Early Warning System; a total of $30.26 million for the Volcano Hazards program to maintain support for next generation lahar detection operations and infrastructure on Mount Rainier and other high-threat volcanoes; and, $8.04 million for the Landslides Hazards program, which will help to prevent human and economic loss through the development of methods and models for landslide hazard assessment, monitoring, and tools for landslide early warning and situational awareness.
Includes Kilmer-led Priorities to Support Timber Communities
The omnibus also included a measure led by Rep. Kilmer to support timber communities and the effort to grow rural jobs. Kilmer's proposal highlights the value of collaborative forest management and directs the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to prioritize resources to expedite project development and approval of forest treatments developed by collaboratives.
In 2015, Rep. Kilmer helped launch the Olympic Forest Collaborative  an effort to bring leaders from the timber industry, environmental community, and local government to work together to create economic opportunity on the Olympic Peninsula. The Collaborative works to advance forest treatments that increase harvest levels while also achieving much needed environmental benefits like landscape restoration, watershed protection, and habitat conservation. The provisions Rep. Kilmer secured in the appropriations bill will help collaboratives  like the Olympic Forest Collaborative  to create more economic opportunity.
The omnibus also included investment championed by Rep. Kilmer to supply $27 million to the USFS Forest Products Laboratory to continue research to advance wood markets, including research on wood-based nanotechnology; advanced wood products that incorporate carbon fiber, and wood use in building construction, including research on the life cycle of impacts of wood as a building material. These funds could complement the work being done by organizations, like the Composite Recycling Technology Center in Port Angeles, to drive innovation in this arena with a goal of creating jobs on the Olympic Peninsula.
The legislation also included provisions to support public/private partnerships that provide assistance, education, and resources related to the design of non-residential and multi-family wood buildings, and that leverage research and technology investments to create new and expanded wood product markets.
Finally, Rep. Kilmer advanced a provision recognizing the benefits of utilizing Cross Laminated Timber and other mass timber products in military construction projects and directing the Secretary of Defense to expand the application of these innovative technologies in future projects.

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmers-committee-to-fix-congress-extended-to-117th-congress,Kilmer’s Committee to Fix Congress Extended to 117th Congress,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20
			 Kilmer's Committee to Fix Congress Extended to 117th Congress 
			
				 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Praises Kilmer's Integrity & Vision; Calls Him a Leader and Innovator
			 Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (Select Committee), led by Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), will be extended through the 117th Congress.
Created by an overwhelming bipartisan vote at the beginning of the 116th Congress, the Select Committee (often referred to as the Fix Congress Committee) was tasked with crafting recommendations to make Congress work better. Over the last two years, Democrats and Republicans on the Select Committee have worked together to pass 97 recommendations to make Congress more effective, efficient, accessible, and transparent for the American people. Speaker Pelosi's announcement today ensures the committee's bipartisan work can continue.
As Speaker of the House, it is a privilege to once again appoint Congressman Derek Kilmer as Chairman of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress where he will continue his respected, effective work For The People, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Chairman Kilmer is a leader and innovator, whose integrity and vision have guided the Select Committee in its efforts to advance bipartisan solutions to make the House more transparent, efficient and responsive to the needs of our communities. Strengthened by the historic diversity and dynamism of the 117th Congress, Chairman Kilmer and Members of the Select Committee will continue to champion the best ideas that ensure that the People's House can carry on its vital work now and for years to come.
Through bipartisan collaboration and a commitment to reform, I'm proud that this Committee has approved nearly 100 recommendations over the course of the last year and a half to make Congress work better for the American people. But our work is only getting started, said Chair Kilmer. I'm grateful for the Speaker's support and the extension of the Select Committee through the 117th Congress. Together, Democrats and Republicans can continue to work together and make government function better for the folks we serve.
The 97 recommendations passed by the Select Committee aim to make Congress work better for the American people; streamlining and reorganizing House Human Resources, overhauling the onboarding process and providing continuing education for Members; modernizing and revitalizing House technology; making the House accessible to all Americans; encouraging civility and bipartisanship in Congress; streamlining processes and saving taxpayer dollars; increasing the quality of constituent communications; improving continuity of operations; improving the congressional schedule and calendar; boosting congressional capacity; reclaiming Congress' Article One responsibilities, and; reforming the budget and appropriations process.
In March, the House passed H. Res. 756, the Select Committee's resolution to implement nearly 30 of these recommendations.In total, the House has implemented 38 of the Select Committee's recommendations, including the most recent during New Member Orientation to allow for a paid transition staffer.
Many outside experts, congressional scholars and groups committed to congressional reform have shared their support for the committee's extension. A few highlights can be seen below:
Letter to House leadership signed by more than 50 groups and individuals committed to congressional reform: We write to encourage the House of Representatives to re-establish the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress in the 117th Congress. The Select Committee made great strides during the 116th Congress toward improving the House of Representatives, as demonstrated by its in-depth hearings and nearly 100 recommendations, many of which were enacted by the House. The Select Committee demonstrated it is an effective model to further reform in the House and we believe it should be afforded the opportunity to build upon its successes and tackle additional issues.
Meredith McGehee, Executive Director, Issue One: The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, which was created almost two years ago, was tasked with investigating and improving legislative operations. Despite gridlock in Congress, this bipartisan panel, with six Democrats and six Republicans, issued nearly 100 unanimous recommendations to make the branch more functional, accessible, transparent, representative, and technological. These recommendations were an excellent start toward helping Congress better fulfill its constitutional role. But much more has to be done. Given its limited time, the panel focused on solutions that had strong consensus among members. There is a greater task at hand with how to tackle more controversial, but just as necessary, systemic issues in Congress.
Michele Stockwell, Senior Vice President, Bipartisan Policy Center: The Modernization Committee and its members have rightly earned accolades, and their work could not be more important in a time when faith in government institutions is low. We should trust the committee and its members' judgment that there are significant areas which still require attention, allow them to continue their work, and extend the committee with robust resources in the 117th Congress.
The Select Committee was tasked to produce recommendations on rules to promote a more modern and efficient Congress; procedures, including the schedule and calendar; policies to develop the next generation of leaders; staff recruitment, diversity, retention, and compensation and benefits; administrative efficiencies, including purchasing, travel, outside services, and shared administrative staff; technology and innovation; and the work of the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards. On October 14, 2020, the Select Committee released its final report for the 116th Congress, which details all 97 recommendations and the committee's research, conversations with experts, staff and Members throughout its two year lifespan. You can read the full report here.
You can learn more about the Select Committee here.
You can follow updates from the Select Committee on Twitter here.

###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2439,"Larsen: Pandemic Relief is a Down Payment to Protect Washingtonians’ Health, Economic Security",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,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) voted to deliver much needed relief to families and small businesses in Northwest Washington who continue to struggle from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With a third wave of COVID-19 spreading across the country, this long-overdue pandemic relief package addresses the continued public health crisis and delivers relief for Washingtonians. While the bill does not include every one of my priorities, it serves as a down payment to protect Washingtonians’ health and economic security.”

“The public health response will lead to economic recovery. I will continue to work with community leaders, the incoming administration and Washington state’s congressional delegation to deliver real relief for Washingtonians in the new year.”

The bipartisan package addresses several of Larsen’s priorities based on conversations with Second District families, business owners and community leaders.

Support for Equitable Vaccine Distribution

The arrival of the first vaccines doses in Washington state is a light at the end of the tunnel. More than 26,300 people in the five counties of the Second District tested positive for COVID-19 and nearly 800 died since the pandemic began. The virus continues to disproportionately affect BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities. The relief package includes $69 billion for COVID-19 vaccine development and equitable distribution, virus testing, contact tracing and mental health programs.

Unemployment Benefits, Direct Payments

During the week of December 6, nearly 3,000 people who live in the five counties of the Second District filed an initial claim for unemployment. The relief package includes a $300 per week increase in federal unemployment benefits to help unemployed Washingtonians pay bills and put food on the table. The bill also includes $600 direct economic impact payments for individuals making up to $75,000 per year and $1,200 for married couples making up to $150,000 per year, including checks for mixed-status households

Rental and Housing Assistance

Volunteers of America Western Washington’s Dispute Resolution Center has experienced an increase of more than 1400 percent in cases for housing assistance since March. One in five renters in Washington state has little to no confidence they will have the ability to pay next month’s rent. The relief package includes $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the federal eviction moratorium to ensure Washingtonians can stay in their homes.

Emergency Funding for Child Care

With many school districts opting for remote learning, issues surrounding child care are exacerbated by the pandemic. According to the Washington State Department of Commerce, the capacity for child care in Whatcom and San Juan counties decreased by nearly 50 percent between the beginning of the pandemic and the end of June. The relief package includes $10 billion for emergency child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.

Fighting Hunger

Feeding America estimates between 2018 and 2020, hunger increased by 48 percent in Snohomish County; by 42 percent in San Juan County; by 40 percent in Skagit County; by 36 percent in Island County; and by 30 percent in Whatcom County. The relief package includes $13 billion to expand the monthly SNAP benefit by 15 percent and increases funding for vital nutrition programs to improve families’ access to healthy, nutritious meals.

Bridging the Digital Divide

Reliance on remote learning during the pandemic has highlighted inequities in access to computers and high-speed internet. For example, Arlington School District estimated that 20 percent of students at the start of the school year lacked adequate internet access for distance learning. The relief package includes $7 billion to increase broadband access for students, teachers and families.

Support for Small Businesses, Nonprofits

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has helped 8,570 Second District small businesses and nonprofits save more than 60,000 jobs during the pandemic. The relief bill improves and expands the PPP to ensure more small businesses, including those in underserved communities, can prevent layoffs and keep Washingtonians off unemployment.

Support for State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Governments

State, local, tribal and territorial governments and employees are on the frontline of pandemic response in Northwest Washington. The relief package includes a one-year extension of eligibility for state, local, tribal and territorial governments to pay for pandemic-related expenses under the CARES Act. The package also includes $10 billion for state Departments of Transportation and $14 billion for local transit agencies.

More funding for these frontline workers will be one of my top priorities in the next Congress.

Saving Aviation Jobs

In response to the pandemic, Congress created the Payroll Support Program (PSP) which helped save 950,000 airline jobs in Washington state and across the country. The relief package includes $15 billion for an extension of the PSP through March 31, 2021, and $1 billion for aviation contractors, like Aviation Technical Services in Everett, to pay employees. The relief package also provides $2 billion for the nation’s airports and airport concessionaries.

For a summary of COVID-19 relief included in the year-end funding package, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-statement-on-consolidated-appropriations-act/,McMorris Rodgers Statement on Consolidated Appropriations Act,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act to fund the government and secure additional resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this agreement, Republicans pushed back against frivolous spending while making sure American families and small business owners are taken care of. To help those hurt by the pandemic, the COVID-19 relief effort will send checks directly to families in Eastern Washington, increase unemployment benefits for those who have lost their jobs, support farmers and ranchers, and extend the PPP program for small businesses owners all throughout America, said McMorris Rodgers. I was also proud to secure wins for Eastern Washington in this omnibus bill, including extending the Teaching Health Center program for three years, passing my American COMPETE Act to promote American leadership against China in emerging tech, securing a pay raise for our troops, fully funding the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, and extending the Water Resources Development Act to support our ports and river system. This package isn't perfect, but it's important we took action, after months of partisan delays, to provide relief to Eastern Washington families.
Read a summary of the COVID Relief package by clicking here.
Read a summary of the Omnibus funding bill by clicking here.
# # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/weekly-columns-and-op-eds/column-celebrating-spirit-christmas,COLUMN: Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"As we enter the 10th month of the COVID-19 crisis, I find myself looking forward to this Christmas season. Festivities and celebrations will undoubtedly look different, and some traditions and customary gatherings may not be feasible this year  but holiday spirit is just as important as ever.
As it is for most Christians, Christmas time is a sacred and special time for my family because it is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ and the salvation of humanity. It is a time of hope and faith, community and family, and kindness and generosity. I am reminded of the words that the angel spoke to the shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth:
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Unfortunately, for too many of our neighbors, the good tidings and great joy will be replaced with anxiety and worries about putting food on the table. Food insecurity poses a particularly disheartening challenge for many families, especially at this time of year when budgets are tight and expenses are high. What's more, under the growing strain of the pandemic's economic shutdowns, an estimated one in six Americans are predicted to face hunger at some point this year. Food banks help meet the basic needs of millions of Americans each year, but they are subjected to increased pressures and experience heightened demand and shortages around the holidays.
One of many inspiring qualities that Central Washingtonians possess is their sense of community, responsibility, and the willingness to rise to a challenge when presented with one. Our region is home to countless farmers, ranchers, and other producers who are ready and eager to help meet the needs of others by donating their products to food banks and other food distribution services. Frustratingly, current policies create unnecessary barriers between the food our producers grow and distribution to those who need it.
To help address this problem, I introduced the American Farms, Food Banks, and Families Act. This bill will authorize a new position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Agriculture Supply Chain Administrator, who will be charged with developing efficiencies and addressing the key challenges within the domestic agriculture food supply chain.
In addition, and perhaps most importantly, the bill will establish a national database to record and report excess agricultural products and food distribution organizations in need of the available products. These steps will remove unnecessary barriers that prevent excess goods from reaching those who need them. This is an important policy solution that will address the roadblocks standing in the way of feeding our nation's families, and I will continue to work toward its passage into law.
While there are steps that government can take to address the problem of food insecurity, each of us has an individual role to play as well. In the spirit of giving, if you are able, I encourage you to donate to or volunteer at a local food bank to share the joy this season is meant to bring with neighbors in need. When we come together as a community, we can spread blessings to those who need it most.
As this truly unprecedented and challenging year comes to a close, my prayer is that each of us finds peace and joy during this holiday season. I wish you all a safe, blessed, and very merry Christmas.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-s-statement-covid-19-relief-package,Rep. Schriers Statement on COVID-19 Relief Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC CongresswomanKim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) released the following statement about the COVID-19 relief package and government funding bill:
My constituents and the American people have been hurting and needing assistance for months. This package does not go far enough. But it has some very important wins for families and small businesses, and we should never let perfect be the enemy of good. Among other wins, this bill will protect patients from surprise bills, one of the many issues I have been fighting for this Congress. This package will also fund the government through September 2021, averting a shutdown like the one we had two years ago. I will be voting in support of this package later today.
Over the coming months, the House, Senate, and President-elect Biden must do everything we can to provide meaningful aid, kickstart our economy, get children back into school, and allow our country to build back better.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schriers-statement-covid-19-relief-package,Rep. Schrier’s Statement on COVID-19 Relief Package,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,schrier,https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) released the following statement about the COVID-19 relief package and government funding bill:

""My constituents and the American people have been hurting and needing assistance for months. This package does not go far enough. But it has some very important wins for families and small businesses, and we should never let perfect be the enemy of good. Among other wins, this bill will protect patients from surprise bills, one of the many issues I have been fighting for this Congress. This package will also fund the government through September 2021, averting a shutdown like the one we had two years ago. I will be voting in support of this package later today.

Over the coming months, the House, Senate, and President-elect Biden must do everything we can to provide meaningful aid, kickstart our economy, get children back into school, and allow our country to build back better.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-secures-provision-to-increase-affordable-housing-production-in-covid-relief-bill_,Cantwell Secures Provision to Increase Affordable Housing Production in COVID Relief Bill,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20
    			 Cantwell Secures Provision to Increase Affordable Housing Production in COVID Relief Bill   
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Provision could build more than 130,000 affordable homes in the next decade; more than 6,300 additional units in Washington
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced the inclusion of a key provision to increase affordable housing production in the COVID-19 relief bill. The provision establishes a permanent 4 percent floor under the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which will help close the funding gap for affordable housing projects and provide more predictability and flexibility in Housing Credit financing. Cantwell's provision could increase affordable housing production by at least 130,000 affordable homes over the next 10 years and build more than 6,300 additional affordable housing units in the State of Washington. This would create 170,000 jobs and inject $18.5 billion into the economy. The COVID-19 relief bill also includes a one-month eviction moratorium and $25 billion for rental assistance, of which Washington state will receive $508,706,000.
The Affordable Housing Tax Credit (also called the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, or LIHTC) is responsible for funding 90 percent of the federally-funded affordable housing construction in our country, and has financed over 3 million affordable homes, including nearly 75,000 in Washington state, since its creation in 1986. The number of affordable housing units the Affordable Housing Tax Credit has built in each Washington state county can be found here.
Establishing the 4% floor for the Affordable Housing Tax Credit could help us build more than 6,000 additional affordable housing units in the State of Washington and more than 130,000 affordable homes across the nation in the next decade, said Senator Cantwell. It will help close the funding gap for affordable housing projects and provide more predictability and flexibility in Housing Credit financing, which in turn will allow developers to target more affordable rental apartments to those who need it mostincluding extremely-low income households. This bill is a significant step forward in the fight against the affordable housing crisis.
When the Housing Credit was created in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Congress set the Housing Credit rate at 4 percent for the acquisition and rehabilitation, or new development, of affordable housing financed by multifamily housing bonds. The credit rate determines how much Housing Credit equity can go into a particular project. However, the actual Housing Credit rates in the market fluctuate according to a formula related to federal borrowing rates. Cuts to federal borrowing rates have dropped interest rates to all-time lows, and as a result, the Housing Credit rates have sunk the 4 percent rate is now actually between 3.07 and 3.09 percent in the market.
This means that there is roughly 23 percent less equity per development than Congress originally intended, which has led to less investment in affordable housing. Providing a floor under the 4 percent Affordable Housing Tax Credit will help close the funding gap and provide more flexibility and predictability in Housing Credit financing.
More than 221,000 Washingtonian households are extremely low-incomemeaning their incomes are at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median incomeand 72% of those households spend more than half of their incomes on housing, according to a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. There are only 31 available affordable rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Washington state.
Senator Cantwell has been a longtime champion of the need for more affordable housing. In June, Cantwell introduced legislation that would preserve and expand affordable housing amid the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis and build more than 500,000 new affordable housing units. In 2019 she introduced the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to expand and strengthen the Affordable Housing Tax Credit and better serve at-risk-and underserved communities, and she joined housing advocates around Washington state and throughout the country in a push to improve and expand the credit. And in 2018, Cantwell successfully secured a nearly $3 billion down payment toward addressing the affordable housing crisis, helping to build over 28,000 units and support an additional 32,000 jobs.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/covid-relief-bill-includes-1-billion-for-tribal-broadband-and-250-million-for-fcc-telehealth-program-in-provisions-sought-by-cantwell,COVID Relief Bill Includes $1 Billion for Tribal Broadband and $250 Million for FCC Telehealth Program in Provisions Sought By Cantwell,2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20
    			 COVID Relief Bill Includes $1 Billion for Tribal Broadband and $250 Million for FCC Telehealth Program in Provisions Sought By Cantwell 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Bill represents first significant package to address Tribal broadband gap
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, today hailed the inclusion of key broadband priorities in the bipartisan Senate COVID-19 relief bill. This package provides money for broadband connectivity and is one of the only broadband packages to specifically address the critical connectivity needs of Tribes, including in the State of Washington. This package also provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for its COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which was first authorized under the CARES Act.
This legislation that we're going to be voting on includes $7 billion dollars for more broadband priorities; $1 billion dollars for connectivity issues for Tribal country, Senator Cantwell said in a speech on the Senate floor this evening.
Indian Country needs a lot of connectivity. So getting more broadband into those communities will be very helpful. The COVID package also contains money for telehealth. Telehealth is a critical path during the COVID crisis to make sure that communities have the ability to get expert advice into our homes, into our communities, to connect people with information. So this telehealth grant is a very important program in the State of Washington.
According to a report issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in May 2019, less than half of households in Indian Country have access to high-speed broadband service. This represents a nearly 27-point gap compared to non-Tribal rural areas. According to the same report, this gap only widens when compared to the country-wide average; 31 percent of households on Tribal lands lack access to high-speed broadband service compared to seven percent of Americans in non-Tribal areas. Cantwell has been outspoken about the need to close the Tribal digital divide.
Grants would be directed to Tribal governments to be used not only for broadband deployment on Tribal lands, but also for telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability initiatives, and digital inclusion efforts.This $1 billion grant program for broadband connectivity would be distributed on an equitable basis among Tribes throughout the country and in Washington state.
Telehealth has been a critical way for providers to deliver quality medical care during the pandemic while keeping doctors and patients safe. The FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program supports eligible health care providers by funding their telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to provide telehealth services. The program has previously provided close to $8 million dollars to health providers in the State of Washington for telehealth services during the pandemic, including at health centers in Tacoma, Yakima, Spokane, and Seattle. A full list can be found here. This national program will now receive an additional $250 million more from the broadband package.
In her floor speech, Cantwell also expressed disappointment that E-Rate funding was not included in the final bill: I am disappointed that we did not include priorities in here for the E-Rate program to help close the homework gap This legislation provides the ability to hotspots for people who may be going to college and I think that that is a good idea. But we were prohibited from doing the same thing for students at the K-12 level. If [there is] one thing the pandemic has showed us, it's that students are at home and need to be able to connect, to stay connected to their education schedule, to do their homework, and be part of the education system. So I hope that we will address this inequity in the bill in the future.
Cantwell is a cosponsor of the Emergency Educational Connections Act, legislation that would appropriate $4 billion to be delivered through the E-Rate program to ensure all K-12 students have adequate home internet connectivity and devices during the pandemic. In March, and then again in September, Cantwell urged the FCC to use its existing authority and programs to facilitate at-home connectivity for students to keep up with remote schoolwork.
Video of Senator Cantwell's floor speech on the broadband provisions in the COVID relief bill is available HERE and audio is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/federal-support-for-former-boeing-intalco-workers-approved-in-covid-19-relief-package,"Federal Support for Former Boeing, Intalco Workers Approved in COVID-19 Relief Package",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20
    			 Federal Support for Former Boeing, Intalco Workers Approved in COVID-19 Relief Package 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Extension of Health Coverage Tax Credit could help thousands of Trade Adjustment Assistance-eligible workers in WA who have been laid off, covers 72.5% of COBRA health care premiums
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) helped secure a provision in the COVID-19 relief bill that provides a one-year extension of the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), which helps individuals eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) reduce their health care costs. The credit covers a significant portion of health care premium costs for those enrolled in TAA. Thousands of former Boeing workers who were or could be laid off between May 2019 and May 2021, and more than 700 workers who were laid off from Alcoa's Intalco plant in Ferndale, are eligible for TAA.
We've been able to expand the COBRA tax credit program to help people who have been unemployed continue health insurance. This is very important for laid off workers in the State of Washington like the aerospace workers, Senator Cantwell said in a speech on the Senate floor this evening.
COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) is a federal law that allows individuals and their immediate family members to stay on their employer-sponsored health coverage for up to 18 months after the individual leaves their job or is laid off. Individuals enrolled in Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), including former Boeing and Intalco workers, are eligible for a Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), which covers 72.5% of their COBRA health care premiumsapproximately the amount that would have otherwise been covered by their employer.
The HCTC extension in the COVID relief bill will save thousands of formerly employed Boeing and Intalco workers in Washington state from having to pay the majority of their health care premium costs out of pocket.
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is provided to workers who are displaced to outsourcing overseas and international trade pressures, and who have had a TAA petition approved by the Department of Labor. Senator Cantwell led delegation letters supporting TAA petitions for Boeing workers and Intalco plant workers in Ferndale, which have since both been granted. In March, Senator Cantwell introduced a bill that would expand the Health Coverage Tax Credit to all aerospace manufacturing workers, regardless of TAA status, and extend the credit for two years.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/local-news-outlets-made-eligible-for-relief-funds-to-keep-journalists-on-the-job-report-news_cantwell-ppp-fix-included-in-covid-stimulus-bill,"Local News Outlets Made Eligible for Relief Funds to Keep Journalists on the Job, Report News – Cantwell PPP Fix Included in COVID Stimulus Bill",2020-12-21,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.21.20
    			 Local News Outlets Made Eligible for Relief Funds to Keep Journalists on the Job, Report News  Cantwell PPP Fix Included in COVID Stimulus Bill 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Cantwell fix would make more than 100 WA newspapers and broadcasting stations eligible for PPP funding, more than 2,000 newspapers, 3,384 TV and radio stations, and hundreds of public broadcasters newly eligible nationwide
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, DC  A provision authored by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and included in the bipartisan COVID stimulus package would make thousands of small local newspapers, radio, and television broadcasters, and hundreds of public broadcasting stations that produce and distribute local news and emergency information, eligible for emergency federal support under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The bill provides $284.5 billion for the entire Paycheck Protection Program, a new infusion of cash for a program that has been a lifeline for small businesses across the country, including 108,000 Washington state small businesses and nonprofits who received $12.5 billion in PPP loans. Cantwell's provision makes over 100 newspapers and broadcasting stations throughout Washington newly eligible for PPP funding, and more than 2,000 newspapers and 3,384 TV and radio stations newly eligible nationwide.
During this pandemic, local newspapers and broadcasters must continue to communicate vital COVID health data, including lifesaving information about public health guidance, the vaccines, and vaccine distribution, said Senator Cantwell. Local news is essential. It makes our communities  and our country  stronger by asking important questions, providing accurate facts, and countering misinformation and disinformation. This bill will make more newspapers, TV and radio stations, and public broadcasters eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program so local reporters can keep us informed.
Jon Schleuss, President of the News Guild, said: Local journalism is facing an extinction-level event and this is an important step to stem the layoffs and closures of newsrooms across the country. This yearmore than any otherhas shown how essential local news is to our lives as folks ask which hospitals are overcrowded, whether schools are meeting in person and when we'll get the vaccine to end this pandemic. I applaud Congress' bipartisan support to save local news jobs.
Keith Shipman, President and CEO of the Washington State Association of Broadcasters, said: Broadcast stations across the state of Washington are deeply grateful for Sen. Cantwell's months of leadership and tireless efforts to now ensure that all of our local stations can access much needed PPP loans for employee payroll support. There is no greater advocate for our continued service to Washingtonians and the truly trusted, local and emergency information that we provide. We thank Senator Cantwell for this bipartisan success and her continued work in support of local journalism and our democracy.
David Chavern, CEO of News Media Alliance, said: Newspapers across the country will benefit from the availability of small business loans made available through the affiliation waiver included in the stimulus package. Local news coverage during this pandemic has been critical, and reporters have continued to work. We greatly appreciate the leadership and fortitude of Senator Cantwell on this important legislation.
Bruce Pinkleton, Dean of the Edward R. Murrow College at Washington State University, which houses Northwest Public Broadcasting, said: Local information is critical for our rural listeners, especially during a crisis. We are grateful for continued support for journalists and media outlets at NWPB because it allows us to continue important operations at a time when our region and country need it most.
Cantwell's provision provides a fix to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) affiliation rule, which previously prevented local news outlets that were owned by larger parent companies from accessing PPP funding. The provision would make newspapers and local radio and TV stations that produce and distribute local news and emergency information eligible for PPP funds even if owned by a larger entity as long as the individual radio or TV station has no more than 500 employees or the individual newspaper has 1,000 or fewer employees. The provision would also make public broadcasters that are operated by large universities eligible for PPP, which would benefit public radio stations like those run out of the University of Washington and Washington State University.
Additionally, for these loans to be forgiven, the local newspaper or broadcast station must spend at least 60% of the loan funds on payroll in order to keep journalists, newsroom workers, and other essential employees on the job. Cantwell also secured language in the stimulus package that waives affiliation rules for local newspapers and radio and TV stations so that they can qualify for a second round of PPP funding. To qualify, an individual newspaper or station must have 300 employees or fewer and meet revenue loss requirements.
Local news is a critical source of trusted information in minority communities and other underserved communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Black-owned newspapers and radio stations and Spanish-speaking stations have gained trust with their communities over decades, and these outlets are often the go-to sources of information for minority-owned businesses. Cantwell's provision ensures that these newspapers and stations that were not previously eligible based on their affiliations will now be able to access PPP funding.
The inclusion of this provision in the Senate bill comes after Cantwell introduced the bipartisan Local News and Emergency Information Act of 2020 along with Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and with the support of Ben Cardin (D-MD), to expand PPP eligibility to local news outlets that had previously been left out. U.S. Representatives David Cicilline (D, RI-01), Jim Sensenbrenner (R, WI-05), and Nydia Velazquez (D, NY-07), were critical in ensuring that similar provisions to make local media outlets eligible for funding were included in the House bill.
In April, Cantwell sent a bipartisan letter urging Senate leadership to ensure that future COVID relief legislation included the fix. Cantwell has repeatedly raised the issue of expanding PPP eligibility to local media outlets with hearing witnesses, and she has spoken on the Senate floor about the issue as well.
In October, Cantwell released a comprehensive report on the state of local journalism and local media outlets in the United States. The report highlighted that local news outlets are highly trustedone study found that Americans trust local news outlets over national news outlets by a two-to-one margin to report the news without bias. However, local news outlets have been decimated over the last two decades. By the end of 2020, analysts estimate overall newspaper revenue will have dropped 70% as compared to 20 years ago. Local broadcasters lost more than 40% of their advertising revenue between 2000 and 2018, and they face an additional 40% loss this year alone due to the impacts of COVID-19. And since 2005, newspapers have lost more than 40,000 newsroom employees  roughly 60% of their overall workforce. Analysts expect local newspapers to lay off another 7,000 newsroom employees as a result of COVID-19, leaving only 30,000 left.
Video of Senator Cantwell's April 2020 floor speech about helping local media can be found HERE, and audio can be found HERE. A transcript is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/weekly-columns-and-op-eds/op-ed-defense-our-constitution,Op-ed: In defense of our Constitution,2020-12-20,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"Originally published in the Yakima Herald-Republic on December 20, 2020
A December 16 article in the Yakima Herald-Republic states that I am repeating unspecified concerns about the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. This is simply not true, and frankly I take offense to the allegation that, as a U.S. Representative, I would sign my name to a legal document without legitimate reasoning.
These unspecified concerns refer to an amicus brief I joined 125 of my colleagues in filing in support of a Supreme Court case, Texas v. Pennsylvania. The brief described several areas of concern  specifically  about the processes by which several state election officials administered the balloting process while encouraging the Supreme Court to examine the situation further and provide appropriate remedy where necessary. Here are the specific issues outlined state-by-state:
 In Pennsylvania, the Secretary of State ignored a statutory requirement for signature verification of ballots without approval by the state legislature.
 In Georgia, election officials altered a tabulation procedure so that statutory requirements for signature verification of absentee ballots were not followed.
 In Michigan, the Secretary of State violated statutory requirements that local election officials be the ones to distribute absentee ballots.
 In Wisconsin, the Elections Commission violated a statutory prohibition against drop boxes, placing hundreds of them around the state.
Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that state legislatures are responsible for establishing the manner by which presidential electors are selected. In these four states, it was Secretaries of State or election boards, not legislatures, that approved these critical components of the state's election system. While media outlets like the Herald-Republic may label these concerns unfounded, it is clear why this  rightfully  spurred constitutional concerns.
In fact, as I write this, the U.S. Senate is conducting a hearing to discuss election security and irregularities within the 2020 election.
Unfortunately, far too many news articles have conflated my concerns over the election protocols raised in the brief with other claims of widespread fraud  something the brief did not raise. To make such insinuations is irresponsible at best, and deliberately misleading at worst.
I have explained in several statements that my intention behind joining this amicus brief was to defend our Constitution and instill confidence in our election system. I maintain, despite the numerous media reports to the contrary, that this brief  and this case  was not about overturning election results. The consequences of a lack of confidence in our election system are not just for this election, but for future national elections as well. If now is not the time to stand up for our Constitution, when is?
I was born and raised in Central Washington, and I am proud to have represented the 4th District for the past six years. Those who have met me and followed my work should know that I am not a conspiracy theorist, nor do I take my responsibilities in Congress lightly. I did not sign onto this amicus brief with the intention of overturning the results of the 2020 election, but to defend the law and uphold the values of our Constitution, as I swore an oath to do.
My concerns regarding upholding the Constitution are not unfounded or unspecific. Take the time to read the amicus brief I signed onto, and you can see for yourself the specific issues raised and the serious implications posed by these unconstitutional election processes.
If the American people can't have confidence that our elections are safe, fair, and constitutional, we will not keep our Republic. I will continue to work in Congress to instill this confidence, produce integrity, and promote transparency in our election system.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/my-votes-week-of-december-14th/,My Votes – Week of December 14th,2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"Result and Date
Bill #
Bill Title
My Vote
What it means for you and your family
12/16/2020
PASSED
380-0
S. 2216
TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act
YES
This bill would require the VA to report to Congress on the feasibility and advisability of formally recognizing all veterans' caregivers by identifying them in the electronic health record (EHR) of the veteran. It would also require notifications be sent to certain approved and potential caregivers under the VA's Family Caregivers Program regarding all decisions affecting assistance.
12/17/2020
PASSED
387-5
H.R. 3250
Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act of 2020
YES
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to study the sites associated with the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald, a part owner and President of Sears, Roebuck and Company and a noted philanthropist who helped finance construction of 5,357 schools in 15 southern states between 1912 and 1932. The study shall include a special emphasis on specified sites, including certain Rosenwald Schools. In conducting such study, Interior shall evaluate the national significance of the sites; and determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the sites as a unit of the National Park System, including an interpretive center in or near Chicago, Illinois.
12/18/2020
PASSED
386-1
S. 979
Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement Act
YES
This legislation amends the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 to incorporate the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office relating to advance contracts.
12/18/2020
PASSED
320-60
H.J. Res. 107
Making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes
YES
This joint resolution provides continuing FY2021 appropriations to federal agencies through December 20, 2020. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and prevented a government shutdown that would have otherwise occur if the FY2021 appropriations bills have not been enacted when the existing CR expired on December 18, 2020.
12/18/2020
PASSED
329-65
H.J. Res. 110
Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021
YES
This joint resolution provides continuing FY2021 appropriations to federal agencies through December 21, 2020. It is known as a continuing resolution (CR) and prevented a government shutdown that would have otherwise occur if the FY2021 appropriations bills have not been enacted when the existing CR expired on December 20, 2020.
12/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7105
Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020
YES
Addresses the administration of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and benefits for homeless veterans during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
12/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 2216
HEALTHIER Act of 2019
YES
Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award two-year grants to states that adopt laws permitting the provision of specified volunteer health care services. Such laws must require that volunteer health care services are administered by a health care provider that is licensed in another state, within the scope of practice of such provider, and provided to a rural or impoverished area within the state receiving the grant.
12/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 3312
Crisis Stabilization and Community Reentry Act of 2020
YES
This bill authorizes the Department of Justice to award grants for state and local correctional facilities to provide clinical services for people with serious mental illness who need post-release mental health services.
12/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 2174
Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2019
YES
To the extent provided in advance in appropriations Act, authorizes the Attorney General to use funds appropriated for the operationalization, maintenance, and expansion of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
12/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 1694
One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act
YES
Requires a federal agency that issues a license for the conduct of a lunar activity to require that each license applicant agree to abide by recommendations, guidelines, or principles issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) related to the protection and preservation of U.S. government lunar artifacts.
12/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 2472
Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility Act
YES
Redesignates the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Plum Brook Station in Ohio as the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at the Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility.
12/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 3989
United States Semiquincentennial Commission Amendments Act of 2020
YES
Modifies certain requirements of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which was established to provide for the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and related events.
12/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 6535
To deem an urban Indian organization and employees thereof to be a part of the Public Health Service for the purposes of certain claims for personal injury, and for other purposes
YES
This bill extends federal torts claim coverage for certain personal injury claims (i.e., medical malpractice liability protection) to urban Indian organizations and their employees by deeming them as part of the Public Health Service. Currently, such coverage is provided to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Indian contractors, and their employees.
12/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7460
Peace Corps Commemorative Work Extension Act
YES
Extends through January 24, 2028, the authority of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate the mission of the Peace Corps and the ideals on which the Peace Corps was founded.
12/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5472
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park Redesignation Act
YES
Redesignates the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Georgia as the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.
12/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5852
Weir Farm National Historical Park Redesignation Act
YES
Redesignates the Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut as the Weir Farm National Historical Park.
12/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 3418
STORM Act
YES
This bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enter into agreements with any state or Indian tribal government to make capitalization grants for the establishment of hazard mitigation revolving loan funds. Such funds shall provide funding assistance to local governments to carry out projects to reduce disaster risk in order to decrease the loss of life and property, the cost of insurance claims, and federal disaster payments. FEMA shall not be liable for any claim based on the exercise or performance of, or the failure to exercise or perform, a discretionary function or duty by FEMA or by a FEMA employee in carrying out this bill.
12/11/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 2730
Drone Advisory Committee for the 21st Century Act
YES
This bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take appropriate steps to encourage direct representation of county and tribal governments, as well as agriculture, forestry, rangeland sectors, and other rural interests on the Drone Advisory Committee.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-sponsored-bipartisan-nasa-authorization-bill-unanimously-passes-senate-,Cantwell-Sponsored Bipartisan NASA Authorization Bill Unanimously Passes Senate,2020-12-18,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.18.20
    			 Cantwell-Sponsored Bipartisan NASA Authorization Bill Unanimously Passes Senate  
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Cantwell: With this legislation our state is poised to be a key part of NASA's return to the Moonmaybe even with a woman from Washington taking that historic first step.
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, passed the Senate by unanimous consent. The NASA Authorization Act of 2020 provides the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) the clear direction needed to advance the nation's space initiatives and investments and assert American global leadership in the final frontier.
The State of Washington has played a key role in American space exploration since NASA was first founded. The Lunar Roverthe first and only crewed surface transportation system designed to operate on the Moonwas designed and built in Kent, WA. Three of the Kent-built Lunar Rovers remain on the Moon today. And earlier this month, NASA announced that two women from WashingtonKayla Barron and Anne McClainwere among the 18 astronauts chosen for its Artemis mission, which seeks to return humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972.
Washington state is home to more than three dozen space-related companies and over 1,400 aerospace companies. The space industry employs more than 6,200 workers in Washington and generates $1.78 billion in economic activity throughout the state. Because of the state's leadership, Forbes in 2016 called Seattle a silicon valley for space.
""Congress just took a big step forward in authorizing the Artemis Program, which will send women to lead our next mission to the Moon, Senator Cantwell said. It also includes authorizations for continued space exploration and growing the space economy, including extending the International Space Station and supporting the lunar lander system. For more than 50 years, the State of Washington has been a leader in the space program, and with this legislation our state is poised to be a key part of NASA's return to the Moonmaybe even with a woman from Washington taking that historic first step.
The NASA Authorization Act of 2020 would:
 
Support NASA's human spaceflight and exploration efforts to return American astronauts to the Moon and prepare for future journeys to Mars;
Leverage private sector investment to bolster human space exploration with the Artemis Program and NASA's Human Landing System, which Blue Origin is building in Kent, WA;
Extend authorization for the International Space Station (ISS) through 2030 and direct NASA to take steps to grow the space economy;
Require the United States to maintain a continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit through and beyond the useful life of the ISS;
Support NASA's leadership in coordinating the development of next generation spacesuits;
Support vital life and physical science research to ensure that humans can live in deep space safely;
Supports a robust space science program and directs NASA to continue developing the WFIRST astronomy mission, which NASA is developing in partnership with the University of Washington
Direct NASA to improve upon its planetary defense measures in order to protect Earth from asteroids and other near-Earth objects;
Affirm NASA's commitment to aeronautics research by supporting a robust X-plane program as well as work on efficient propulsion concepts and advanced composites; and
Support NASA's STEM education and workforce efforts, including authorization of NASA's Space Grant program which provides education and training opportunities to thousands of Washington students through partnership with the University of Washington.
 
In addition to Cantwell, the legislation is also sponsored by Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Aviation and Space.
The full text of the bill is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-selected-serve-powerful-house-energy-and-commerce-committee,Rep. Schrier Selected to Serve on Powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee,2020-12-17,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,schrier,https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ISSAQUAH, WA – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) today announced that she has been selected to serve on the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the 117th Congress. The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest continuous standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives and has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in the House. It legislates on many issues including health care, climate change, energy policy, environmental protections, medical research, and telecommunications.

""I am honored and thrilled to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee next Congress,"" said Rep. Schrier. ""As our country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, I am eager to put my two decades of health care experience to work overseeing our public health response. As the only woman doctor and first pediatrician to serve in Congress, I look forward to being a voice for America's 74 million children and to continue my work to lower health costs for families, expand health care access for children and to improve vaccine confidence and coverage. This committee provides the platform to address many of the issues that matter most to my constituents—like rural health care, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, progress toward a carbon neutral future, closing the digital divide and supporting the innovators and job creators in our state's strong digital, commercial aerospace, and life sciences sectors.""

Rep. Schrier will be the first Washington Democrat to serve on the committee since Governor Jay Inslee in 2012. Rep. Schrier has been a member of the Education and Labor Committee and the Committee on Agriculture for the last two years.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2685,"Congress Passes DelBene, Cantwell’s Landslide Preparedness Bill",2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congress passed the National Landslide Preparedness Act (H.R. 8810), bipartisan legislation that will help save lives, protect communities and property, and improve natural disaster emergency preparedness by targeting key gaps in science and mapping critical to understanding landslide hazards. The bill was introduced by Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) in the House of Representatives and Washington Senator Maria Cantwell in the Senate.
This information will help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards, update the nation's topographical maps, and inform public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management. The 2014 landslide near Oso, Washington, which took the lives of 43 people and devastated a community in about two minutes, and the recent landslide in Haines, Alaska, both highlight the urgent need to better understand and prepare for landslide hazards.
Washington state knows too well the devastating impact landslides and natural disasters can have in the blink of an eye. We must do all that we can to safeguard our communities and honor those that we lost. The National Landslide Preparedness Act will help us better prepare for and mitigate future events by collecting invaluable data that will protect lives and property, said DelBene. The next natural disaster should not become our next national tragedy.
Six years after the Oso landslide, everyone in the State of Washington remembers the devastating impacts landslides can have, Senator Cantwell said. This bill would dramatically increase our use of LIDAR data needed to map, identify, and track landslide risk areas. Employing our best science and mapping technologies will help communities across our state save lives, safeguard property, and improve our emergency planning and response.
Landslides kill 25 to 50 people and cause between $1.6 billion and $3.2 billion in damage in the U.S. annually, according to the U.S. Geological Service and National Research Council. These statistics are expected to worsen because of climate change.
I know first-hand the monumental impacts our community was challenged with during the 2014 Oso landslide, said Darrington Mayor Dan Rankin. In just over two minutes, we lost 43 of our family, friends, and neighbors. We lost our main highway for over six months. We lost the ability to communicate beyond the slide via phone or internet for more than 72 hours. Medical services were severely impacted, and prescription services and transactions were also not available. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the immediate impacts of this one event. The legislation that Representative DelBene has brought forward may not prevent another Oso slide but it gives communities like Darrington data that we can use to make important decisions about land use in hazard areas, training for our emergency services, and redundancy in infrastructure so precious time is not lost in a time of need.
The National Landslide Preparedness Act:
 
    Expands early warning systems. The bill expands existing early warning systems for post-wildfire landslides in recently burned areas across the United States. It also requires procedures to be developed for federal monitoring of stormwater drainage in areas with a high risk of landslides, in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.
    Creates a new federal program focused specifically on landslide hazards. The bill would establish a National Landslides Hazard Reduction program through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which would identify risks and hazards from landslides to protect at-risk communities and improve communication and emergency preparedness.
    Develops new maps to help communities prepare for landslide risk. The bill would direct the USGS to implement a 3D Elevation Program to increase data collection and landslide threat identification across the country. Enhanced elevation data, such as LIDAR, is critical for numerous reasonsto help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards; to update the nation's topographical maps; and to inform a myriad of uses including public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management.
    Authorizes new landslide-related grant programs. The bill authorizes new programs to provide funding to state, territorial, local, and tribal governments for landslide research, mapping, assessment, and data collection.
    Establishes committees to better deal with landslide risks. The bill establishes an advisory committee on landslides and creates an interagency committee to coordinate better landslide responses from the multiple government agencies with jurisdiction.
 
The bill first passed the House of Representatives on June 3, 2019, and the Senate on July 30, 2020. Technical differences were worked out between the two chambers. It now goes to the president, who is expected to sign it.
The full text of H.R. 8810 can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-to-hold-end-of-year-telephone-town-hall,Kilmer to Hold End of Year Telephone Town Hall,2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.20
			 Kilmer to Hold End of Year Telephone Town Hall 
			
				 Internationally Renowned Vaccine Expert Dr. Larry Corey to Join Conversation
			 Tacoma, WA  On Tuesday, December 22 at 6:00pm PT, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) will hold a telephone town hall to provide an update on the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to answer questions from constituents. In addition to a discussion on the legislation passed by Congress to support workers and families,Dr. Larry Corey, an internationally renowned expert in virology, immunology and vaccine development at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the co-leader of the vaccine testing program for the COVID-19 Prevention Network, will join the conversation to discuss COVID-19 vaccines and the road ahead.
Even though we can't meet in person right now, it's important for me to hear from as many constituents as possible across our region, said Rep. Kilmer. I hope folks will be able to join the town hall to learn more about COVID-19 recovery, my ongoing efforts to ensure the federal government steps up to lend a hand to families and local employers, and to get your questions answered.
Rep. Kilmer has held town halls so far in the 116th Congress in Port Angeles, Quilcene, Tacoma, Belfair, Poulsbo, Kingston, Gig Harbor, Montesano, Westport, Forks, over the phone, and on Facebook.
Press are welcome to join.

COVID-19 Telephone Town Hall  Tuesday, December 22, 6:00pm PT
WHO: Representative Derek Kilmer, Residents of the 6th Congressional District
WHAT: Telephone Town Hall on COVID-19
WHEN: Tuesday, December 22 at 6:00pm PT
WHERE: Residents of the 6th District can call to join the town hall using the following information  or listen over the internet at www.Facebook.com/Derek.Kilmer
Town Hall Telephone Number: 877-229-8493
PIN to Access Live Event: 111435

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		    	Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/congress-passes-cantwell-delbene-landslide-preparedness-bill,"Congress Passes Cantwell, DelBene Landslide Preparedness Bill",2020-12-16,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.20
    			 Congress Passes Cantwell, DelBene Landslide Preparedness Bill 
    			
				
    			WASHINGTON, DC Today, Congress passed theNational Landslide Preparedness Act(H.R. 8810), bipartisan legislation that will help save lives, protect communities and property, and improve natural disaster emergency preparedness by targeting key gaps in science and mapping critical to understanding landslide hazards. The bill was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01).
This information will help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards, update the nation's topographical maps, and inform public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management. The2014 landslide near Oso, Washington, which took the lives of 43 people and devastated a community in about two minutes, and the recent landslide in Haines, Alaska, both highlight the urgent need to better understand and prepare for landslide hazards.
Six years after the Oso landslide, everyone in the State of Washington remembers the devastating impacts landslides can have,Senator Cantwell said.This bill would dramatically increase our use of LIDAR data needed to map, identify, and track landslide risk areas. Employing our best science and mapping technologies will help communities across our state save lives, safeguard property, and improve our emergency planning and response.
Washington state knows too well the devastating impact landslides and natural disasters can have in the blink of an eye. We must do all that we can to safeguard our communities and honor those that we lost. The National Landslide Preparedness Actwill help us better prepare for and mitigate future events by collecting invaluable data that will protect lives and property,said DelBene. The next natural disaster should not become our next national tragedy.
Landslides kill 25 to 50 people and cause between $1.6 billion and $3.2 billion in damage in the U.S. annually, according to the U.S. Geological Service and National Research Council. These statistics are expected to worsen because of climate change.
I know first-hand the monumental impacts our community was challenged with during the 2014 Oso landslide,said Darrington Mayor Dan Rankin. In just over two minutes, we lost 43 of our family, friends, and neighbors. We lost our main highway for over six months. We lost the ability to communicate beyond the slide via phone or internet for more than 72 hours. Medical services were severely impacted, and prescription services and transactions were also not available. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the immediate impacts of this one event. The legislation that Representative DelBene has brought forward may not prevent another Oso slide but it gives communities like Darrington data that we can use to make important decisions about land use in hazard areas, training for our emergency services, and redundancy in infrastructure so precious time is not lost in a time of need.
The National Landslide Preparedness Act:
 
Expands early warning systems. The bill expands existing early warning systems for post-wildfire landslides in recently burned areas across the United States. It also requires procedures to be developed for federal monitoring of stormwater drainage in areas with a high risk of landslides, in coordination with state, local, and tribal governments.
Creates a new federal program focused specifically on landslide hazards. The bill would establish a National Landslides Hazard Reduction program through the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which would identify risks and hazards from landslides to protect at-risk communities and improve communication and emergency preparedness.
Develops new maps to help communities prepare for landslide risk. The bill would direct the USGS to implement a 3D Elevation Program to increase data collection and landslide threat identification across the country. Enhanced elevation data, such as LIDAR, is critical for numerous reasonsto help communities plan for and respond to natural hazards; to update the nation's topographical maps; and to inform a myriad of uses including public safety, national security, planning, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management.
Authorizes new landslide-related grant programs. The bill authorizes new programs to provide funding to state, territorial, local, and tribal governments for landslide research, mapping, assessment, and data collection.
Establishes committees to better deal with landslide risks. The bill establishes an advisory committee on landslides and creates an interagency committee to coordinate better landslide responses from the multiple government agencies with jurisdiction.
 
The bill firstpassedthe House of Representatives on June 3, 2019, and the Senate on July 30, 2020. Technical differences were worked out between the two chambers. It now goes to the president, who is expected to sign it.
The full text of the bill can be found HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2684,"DelBene, Nadler, Sensenbrenner, & Davis Reintroduce Bill to Bring Email Privacy Into 21st Century",2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Jerry Nadler (NY-10), Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05), and Rodney Davis (IL-13) reintroduced the Email Privacy Act, bipartisan legislation that would create 21st Century protections for personal emails and other digital records.
Currently, law enforcement can seize any email older than 180 days without a warrant. The bill would require law enforcement to obtain a warrant to access emails and other digital records and allow providers to notify customers when government agencies request their data.
Updating our laws to reflect the way the world works in the 21st Century is one of my top priorities in Congress. When laws protect a letter in a filing cabinet more than an email on a server, it's clear our policies are woefully outdated, said DelBene. The Email Privacy Act is a powerful step forward toward enhancing Americans' civil liberties.
A broad range of civil liberties and technology industry stakeholders have supported this legislation in the past.
DelBene is a champion of personal data privacy and updating antiquated technology laws. She is also the sponsor of the Information Transparency and Personal Data Control Act (H.R. 2013), which would give people control over their most sensitive information.
The text of the Email Privacy Act can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-statement-on-the-presidential-election/,McMorris Rodgers Statement on the Presidential Election,2020-12-15,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement after the Electoral College voted to elect Joe Biden as President of the United States:

I want to thank President Trump for four years of strong leadership for our country. Even this week, we are seeing the results of his vision with the approval and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine far more quickly than experts said was possible. I also want to congratulate former U.S. Senator and Vice President Joe Biden on his election as President of the United States, said McMorris Rodgers. While we may disagree, particularly on issues like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal, my goal is to find common ground when possible to get results for people in Eastern Washington. I will also be committed to holding the Biden administration accountable to protect life and free speech, fight for freedom, and to ensure we renew, rebuild, and restore the American Dream. It takes each one of us doing our part to build a more perfect union.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-murray-push-senate-leadership-to-provide-housing-assistance-to-communities-impacted-by-2020-wildfires,"Cantwell, Murray Push Senate Leadership To Provide Housing Assistance To Communities Impacted by 2020 Wildfires",2020-12-14,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.20
    			 Cantwell, Murray Push Senate Leadership To Provide Housing Assistance To Communities Impacted by 2020 Wildfires 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 More than 9.5 million acres burned to date in 2020 fire season, including more than 800,000 in Washington state
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON DC  U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and other Western U.S. Senators in pushing Senate leaders to deliver critical housing assistance to Americans struggling to find reliable shelter in the wake of catastrophic wildfire damage in Washington state and across the Western U.S. This year alone, fires in the West have burned over 5.8 million acres, including more than 800,000 in Washington state; claimed over 30 lives; and forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.
The current wildfires will further exacerbate an already critical affordable housing shortage impacting western states. Oregon, California, and Washington are short over 1.2 million affordable rental housing units, and have an average of 75% of extremely low income renter households dealing with severe cost burden, the senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy.
State resources and funding were already seriously strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, and are now completely depleted by weeks of fighting some of the most dangerous and widespread fires on record. With nowhere else to turn, western states are looking to the Senate to deliver critical housing relief, the lawmakers continued.
The senators' request includes $15 billion for Community Development Block Grants, $3 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund, $2 billion in Emergency Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Funding, and $1 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development and Rural Housing Service. The letter also included specific program guidance to ensure the funds would put much-needed housing assistance funding in the hands of people significantly impacted by fire; help incentivize and prioritize affordable housing rebuilding; ramp up lending capacity in fire impacted states; and help repair and rebuild housing, community facilities, and infrastructure projects.
Senators Cantwell and Murray have forcefully pushed for the State of Washington and communities across the West to receive assistance responding to and recovering from this year's devastating fire season. Just last week, the senators sent a letter to House and Senate leadership requesting that funds for wildfire risk mitigation and recovery efforts be included in the next COVID-19 relief package, and they were joined by the entire Washington state congressional delegation in athird lettersince September urging President Trump and FEMA Administrator Gaynor to support Governor Inslee's request for a statewide federal emergency disaster declaration in response to this year's wildfires. Last month, Cantwell and Murray also asked the National Guard for a report on its readiness to help states prepare for and fight wildfires. And in September, Cantwell and MurrayurgedPresident Trump to provide additional federal assistance to states, Tribes, and communities grappling with wildfires and their aftermath. The senators have been congressional leaders on wildfire management for years, and in September Senator Cantwellintroduced legislationto support pre-fire season controlled burns.
The full text of the letter is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/my-votes-week-of-december-7th/,My Votes – Week of December 7th,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"Result and Date
Bill #
Bill Title
My Vote
What it means for you and your family
12/7/2020
PASSED
386-3-1
H.Res. 512
Calling for the global repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws
YES
This resolution calls on the President and the Department of State to make the repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws a priority in bilateral relationships between the United States and countries that have such laws; designate countries that enforce such laws as countries of particular concern for religious freedom; and oppose efforts by the United Nations to implement an international anti-blasphemy norm. The resolution also calls on the governments of countries that enforce such laws to amend or repeal them and to release anyone imprisoned pursuant to them.
12/7/2020
PASSED
388-6
S. 461
HBCU PARTNERS Act
YES
This important legislation addresses the capacity of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to participate in federal programs. Specifically, the bill requires certain agencies to submit annual plans for strengthening the capacity of HBCUs to participate in federal programs. Among other things, the plans must establish how the agencies intend to increase the capacity of HBCUs to compete effectively for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.
12/8/2020
PASSED
400-1
H.R. 8354
Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act of 2020
YES
Establishes the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative within the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. The initiative will serve as legal and policy advisor on DOJ's efforts to enforce criminal and civil laws that impact service members, veterans, and their families; develop policy recommendations for improved enforcement of federal law to support service members, veterans, and their families; serve as the liaison and point of contact between DOJ and the military departments; provide counsel for the Office of Justice Programs to ensure that funding decisions take into account service members, veterans, and their families; and enforce federal laws that protect service members and veterans.
12/8/2020
PASSED
335-78-1
H.R. 6395
Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 6395
YES
The FY21 NDAA provides $740.5B for national defense discretionary programs, as requested by the President and consistent with the bipartisan budget agreement. This includes: a 3% pay raise for troops, authorizes extra pay for troops in combat zones, and supports their families with the care and benefits they deserve; establishes the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to fund emergent technologies, support our allies, and deter China; and 26 recommendations from the bipartisan Cyber Solarium Commission that strengthen and empower the government to better protect and respond to a cyber-attack. President Trump vetoed the legislation based on: Failure to terminate or make meaningful changes to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act; Requirement to rename certain military installations; Restrictions on the President's ability to preserve national security by limiting the amount of military construction funds that can be used to respond to a national emergency; and Restrictions on the President's ability to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Germany, and South Korea.
12/9/2020
PASSED
343-67
H.R. 8900
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021, and Other Extensions Act
YES
This bill provides continuing FY2021 appropriations to federal agencies and extends expiring programs that address health care (including the Teaching Health Center GME), surface transportation, agriculture, veterans benefits, and other issues.
12/9/2020
PASSED
396-2
H.R. 5758
Ceiling Fan Improvement Act of 2020
YES
Revises the energy conservation standard for ceiling fans. Specifically, it sets forth energy efficiency standards for electricity used by large-diameter ceiling fans manufactured on or after January 21, 2020, and exempts such fans from certain requirements under the rule titledEnergy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Ceiling Fans.
12/10/2020
PASSED
283-105
S. 906
Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act
NO
This bill is a blanket prohibition on the use of drift gillnets in federal waters to catch swordfish, a top down approach that could hurt the economic livelihood of fishermen and fishing communities. Currently, the use of large-scale drift gillnets with a total length of 2.5 kilometers or more is prohibited in the United States. The bill expands the definition of large-scale driftnet fishing to prohibit the use of gillnets with a mesh size of 14 inches or greater.
12/10/2020
PASSED
382-6
H.R. 5040
AIR Safety Act of 2020
YES
This bill directs the Bureau of Land Management to study the effects of drone incursions on the suppression of wildfires concerning lands managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.
12/7/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res 1100
Reaffirming the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and Mongolia
YES
Reaffirms the importance of the strategic partnership between the United States and Mongolia
12/7/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res 823
Condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of' the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
YES
This resolution condemns Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of human rights agreements. Further, it calls on Iran to immediately release all imprisoned or detained Baha'is, and it urges the President and the Department of State to impose sanctions on Iranian officials and others who are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against Iran's Baha'i community.
12/7/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res 189
Supporting sustained United States leadership to accelerating global progress against maternal and child malnutrition and supporting United States Agency for International Development's commitment to global nutrition through its multi-sectoral nutrition strategy.
YES
This resolution expresses support for increased U.S. efforts to combat malnutrition among women and children and acknowledges the contributions of the U.S. Agency for International Development in addressing global nutritional needs.
12/7/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8428
Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act of 2020
YES
Provides for temporary protected status (TPS) and refugee status for qualifying Hong Kong residents and contains other immigration-related provisions.
12/7/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 1153
Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019
YES
This bill establishes criminal penalties for unauthorized access of certain student loan information and expands the requirements for student loan exit counseling.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 1811
Water Resources Development Act of 2020
YES
Extends for an additional five years a pilot program administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of allowing nonfederal interests to carry out flood risk management, hurricane and storm damage reduction, coastal harbor and channel inland navigation, and aquatic ecosystem restoration projects. The bill also authorizes the Corps of Engineers to administer water conservation and efficiency, land idling, and groundwater use programs for waters associated with the Klamath Project in California and Oregon.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 1014
Route 66 Centennial Commission Act
YES
Establishes the Route 66 Centennial Commission to honor U.S. Route 66 on the occasion of its centennial anniversary.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 4902
A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse
YES
Designates the United States courthouse located at 351 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 578
ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019
YES
This bill eliminates the five-month waiting period for disability benefits under the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (a progressive neurodegenerative disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord). Under current law, individuals must wait five months after becoming disabled before their disability insurance benefit payments may begin.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1375
PAID Act
YES
Requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide, in response to an inquiry from certain non-group health plans (e.g., liability insurers), whether an individual was enrolled in Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or the Medicare prescription drug benefit during the preceding three-year period.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 2477
BENES Act of 2020
YES
This bill makes a series of changes to, and requires additional notifications regarding, the Medicare enrollment process. Specifically, the bill changes the Medicare general enrollment period to October 15-December 31, and requires coverage to begin on the first day of the month following enrollment. (Currently, the general enrollment period is January 1-March 31, and coverage begins July 1.) The bill also generally requires coverage to begin on the first day of the month following enrollment for individuals who enroll in the latter months of their initial enrollment period. (Currently, the longer an individual waits to enroll, the more delayed the effective date of coverage.) The bill also requires Social Security account statements for individuals ages 60 to 64 to include information about Medicare eligibility, late enrollment penalties, coordination of benefits, and special enrollment populations (e.g., veterans).
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8161
The One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2020
YES
Authorizes grants to connect offenders transitioning from prisons or jails to the community with local reentry services.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 2258
Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2019
YES
Prohibits employers from retaliating against certain employees who report criminal antitrust violations to the federal government.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 683
PRRADA
YES
This bill requires professionals employed in debt adjustment cases involving Puerto Rico to file verified statements disclosing their connections with the debtor, creditors, and other interested parties before seeking compensation for their services.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 134
Combat Online Predators Act
YES
Increases the maximum prison term for a stalking offense, if the victim is under 18 years of age. The Department of Justice must report on best practices for enforcing laws related to stalking.
12/8/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8235
Open Courts Act of 2020
YES
This bill requires the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts to establish a single electronic system for all public court records that is publicly accessible for free. Under the existing Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system, users are charged fees for accessing court documents.
12/9/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 549
Reaffirming the commitment to media diversity and pledging to work with media entities and diverse stakeholders to develop common ground solutions to eliminate barriers to media diversity.
YES
Reaffirms the House of Representatives' commitment to media diversity and expresses its pledge to eliminate barriers to such diversity.
12/9/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 3361
RIVER Act
YES
Extends through FY2036 authorization and eligibility for the program of hydroelectric production incentives and incentive payments to the owners or operators of hydroelectric facilities at existing dams to make capital improvements directly related to improving efficiency.
12/9/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5541
Tribal Power Act
YES
Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to reauthorize programs to assist consenting Indian Tribes in meeting energy education, planning, and management needs.
12/9/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1426
Timely Review of Infrastructure Act
YES
Authorizes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to address insufficient compensation of its personnel without regard to civil service laws. FERC must consult with the Office of Personnel Management when making a determination of the appropriate compensation for its personnel.
12/9/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 3797
Medical Marijuana Research Act
YES
Establishes a new, separate registration process to facilitate medical marijuana research.
12/9/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1570
Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020
YES
This bill modifies cost-sharing requirements for colorectal cancer screening tests, and drug manufacturer reporting requirements, under Medicare medical services.
12/9/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1966
Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019
YES
Requires the Government Accountability Office to complete a study reviewing how federal agencies address barriers to participation in federally-funded cancer clinical trials by individuals from underrepresented populations and provide recommendations for addressing such barriers.
12/9/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7898
To amend the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider certain recognized security practices of covered entities and business associates when making certain determinations, and for other purposes
YES
Authorizes the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services to obtain information, assistance, and other support from federal agencies when investigating claims of information blocking by developers of, or entities offering, health information technologies.
12/10/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 970
Robert E. Lee Statue Removal Act
YES
This bill directs the National Park Service to remove and appropriately dispose of the monument to General Robert E. Lee at the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland.
12/10/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1240
Young Fishermen's Development Act
YES
This bill directs the National Sea Grant Office in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a Young Fishermen's Development Grant Program to provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen.
12/10/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5040
AIR Safety Act of 2020
YES
Directs the Bureau of Land Management to study the effects of drone incursions on the suppression of wildfires concerning lands managed by the Department of the Interior or the Department of Agriculture.
12/10/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5458
Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Modification Act
YES
Authorizes the Department of the Interior to acquire, by donation, approximately 40 acres of specified nonfederal land for inclusion in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Upon acquisition, Interior shall (1) modify the boundary of the park to include the acquisition, and (2) administer the acquired land as part of the park.
12/10/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5459
Rocky Mountain National Park Ownership Correction Act
YES
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to convey specified federal land to the owner of specified nonfederal land if the owner of the nonfederal land offers to exchange the land. The values of the federal and nonfederal land to be exchanged shall be considered to be of equal value.The nonfederal land that is acquired by Interior shall be administered as part of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
12/10/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7489
Long Bridge Act of 2020
YES
Authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to convey to Virginia or the District of Columbia any federal land or interest in federal land under the jurisdiction of the NPS that is identified by Virginia or the District as necessary for the Long Bridge Project, a project to expand commuter and regional passenger rail service and provide bicycle and pedestrian access crossings over the Potomac River. The NPS may allow the temporary use of any federal land under the jurisdiction of the NPS that is identified by Virginia or the District as necessary for the construction of the Long Bridge Project.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-hosts-congressional-briefing-rapid-inexpensive-covid-19-testing,"Rep. Schrier Hosts Congressional Briefing on Rapid, Inexpensive COVID-19 Testing Technology",2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,schrier,https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ISSAQUAH, WA – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) recently hosted a briefing for her colleagues in the New Democrat Coalition with Dr. Michael Mina, of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, on rapid, low-cost COVID-19 tests intended for frequent at-home use. This is a way to catch asymptomatic people before they can spread the virus to others. The test measures whether a person is contagious by testing for the presence of the virus in their nose.

""Even with a vaccine on the way, it will be months before we will be able to return to our normal lives,"" said Rep. Schrier. ""Too many people are waiting days or over a week for test results. Not just that … if we don't test people until they are symptomatic, and then get results back 24 – 48 hours later, we have already missed most of the time frame when they are most contagious to others. That is too late to stop the spread and makes contact tracing very challenging. We need more solutions. People need to know, on any given day, whether they are contagious to others. This type of test is a critically important tool that is not yet being deployed at scale in this country.""

These rapid paper-strip tests are a public health tool that, if scaled properly, can help people make informed choices and prevent outbreaks.

""If we could get buy in from 50% of a community or 50% of households to use this test twice a week, we could significantly reduce the spread of the virus in 3-4 weeks. The goal is to meet infectious people where they are at (at home) and provide them with a reliable, quick test so they can know if they are safe to roam the world. If we can get these tests out to enough people in the community then we can achieve herd effects- where the cases stop growing and start falling, with fewer outbreaks,"" added Dr. Mina.

Stopping outbreaks and community spread will put us on a faster path to normalcy, allowing us to quickly and safely keep schools and the rest of our economy open. Rep. Schrier is looking for pathways to get these tests into all of our homes as soon as possible.

Rep. Schrier continued, ""I hear from parents who want their children back in school. We all do! Imagine if you could test your child at home, find out whether he is contagious that day, and keep him home if he is. Imagine if every parent tested their children. Schools would become the safest places in the country. And if even half of the rest of us tested ourselves and took ourselves out of businesses, work, and restaurants when infectious, we could essentially starve the virus. Stopping the spread is possible.""

If given the green light to scale-up, these inexpensive, rapid, accurate in-home tests could significantly reduce wide community spread of COVID-19 in a matter of weeks.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-statement-removal-electron-dam,Rep. Schrier Statement on Removal of Electron Dam,2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,schrier,https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ISSAQUAH, WA -- Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) issued a statement today calling for the removal of the Electron Dam. Following a pollution incident in July, in which vast quantities of discarded athletic turf were used to line a diversion dam in an unprecedented, unpermitted, and haphazard manner, and which resulted in 600 square yards of turf and at least 4-6 cubic yards of crumb rubber pollutants for miles downstream, Rep. Schrier has been meeting regularly with permitting agencies, the Puyallup Tribe, and other involved stakeholders.

In October, Congresswoman Schrier visited Electron to receive an update on pollution mitigation efforts. This summer's incident, which threatens already devastated salmon runs, has given Rep. Schrier the opportunity to learn more about this facility, the river, and the unique opportunity at Electron to return a healthy salmon population to the Puyallup River. The DOJ has opened an investigation at the request of the EPA into extensive potential violations over the incidents in July, but that investigation will not address the future of the dam.

Rep. Schrier said, ""After months of listening and meeting with stakeholders, it is clear to me that this dam should be removed from the Puyallup River. The benefits from this facility are minimal, and the costs have been catastrophic for salmon and the surrounding ecosystem. Regardless of the outcome of the current investigation by the EPA into this summer's pollution incident, the long-term ecological health of the Puyallup River is jeopardized by the continued presence of this dam. After 116 years, it is time to restore the Puyallup River for our salmon and community, for the threatened orca population, and to honor our treaty agreements.

Electron Dam has been detrimental to fish for decades, killing an estimated 40% of juvenile chinook salmon, and blocking upstream migration of adults, while providing only a small amount of power. When I visited the site, I was struck by the power and beauty of this river. I also learned that this dam blocks migration of salmon and steelhead from 36 miles of upstream habitat, and that there are no other dams obstructing the flow of this pristine river with Rainier headwaters. This dam does not provide flood control, irrigation, recreation opportunities, or navigation needed for commerce. Since July, it has not even provided power for the local community. At a time when we are all looking to rescue our decimated salmon populations and ensure survival of the threatened Puget Sound orcas, the removal of the Electron Dam is one way to make a significant impact. From where we stand now, there are no benefits of the dam, and many downsides to the Puyallup River, salmon populations, and tribal resources. The Electron Dam should come down.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-touts-wins-for-washington-environment-coast-guard-as-final-ndaa-bill-passes-the-senate,"Cantwell Touts Wins for Washington, Environment, Coast Guard as Final NDAA Bill Passes the Senate",2020-12-11,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.11.20
    			 Cantwell Touts Wins for Washington, Environment, Coast Guard as Final NDAA Bill Passes the Senate 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Legislation formally authorizes six icebreakers, three of which Coast Guard intends to homeport in Seattle
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) authored and helped secure a number of provisions to help Washington state, protect the environment, and support Coast Guard members and their families in the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 84-13. Cantwell's Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which was passed by the Senate Commerce Committee last July and is included in this year's final NDAA, formally authorizes six polar icebreakers (three of which the Coast Guard intends to homeport in Seattle), establishes new protections for Southern resident orcas, strengthens oil spill prevention measures, and enacts provisions to protect the environment and promote the recruitment and retention of women in the Coast Guard. The NDAA passed the House of Representatives earlier this week by a vote of 335-78.
Provisions Cantwell helped secure as part of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act will:
Authorize six icebreakers and advance U.S. Arctic leadership
 
The legislation authorizes three heavy icebreakers that the Coast Guard intends to homeport in Seattle. It also formally authorizes three additional icebreakers for the first time, for a total of six icebreakers.
Building the icebreaker fleet will help improve American competitiveness in the Arctic. Shipping via the Northern Sea route can decrease shipping transit times by as much as two weeks. Icebreakers in Seattle ensure that the State of Washington continues to play a leadership role in Arctic exploration, trade, security, and environmental protection.
 
The reality is, there is a race on for the Arctic passageway, and we need to be ready, Senator Cantwell said. This formal authorization of six polar icebreakers will send a strong message to the rest of the world: the United States is showing up in the Arctic. And with three of the icebreakers homeported in Seattle, this is a big win for the State of Washington and an opportunity for us to continue to pave the way in Arctic exploration, scientific research, and protecting our nation's foreign policy interests.
Protect Southern resident orcas
 
The legislation requires the Coast Guard to work with the State of Washington, Tribes, and others to establish a pilot program modeled after the ECHO Program in British Columbia to reduce impacts of vessel noise from large shipping traffic on Southern resident orcas. NOAA research indicates that vessel noise is a significant risk factor facing Southern residents. This program will bring the Coast Guard, NOAA, our ports and Tribes together to develop a program to reduce vessel noise in Puget Sound. More information is available HERE.
It also requires the Coast Guard to increase the enforcement of orca protection regulations and policies, such as small vessel traffic buffer zones, speed reduction, boater education and no go zones in Puget Sound to protect orcas. The 2018 Soundwatch annual report found that when Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife enforcement vessels are present, orca-related vessel violations decrease. By building the enforcement activity with the Coast Guard, the hope is that interactions between vessel traffic and orcas will continue to be reduced.
 
Improve oil spill prevention and research
 
The legislation codifies a number of recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to reduce the risk of vessel accidents and oil spills and improve vessel safety. Specifically, the bill improves coordination and operations of Vessel Traffic Service Centers, which act similar to air traffic control for some of America's busiest waterways, including Seattle.
The bill amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which was put in place after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, to direct the Coast Guard to lead and revitalize interagency efforts to coordinate oil spill research and response technology development. The evaluation must include research on oil sands, or heavy class oils, which current oil spill technology is not able to sufficiently clean up in the event of a spill. The Coast Guard would also be required to coordinate with the National Academy of Sciences to complete this report every 10 years to ensure the most up-to-date science is applied to our oil spill response framework.
It also requires research and technology evaluations for all classes of oil, including heavy oils, to ensure the Coast Guard and other agencies have the knowledge and technology necessary to clean up tar sands oil.
 
Improve commercial fishing safety
 
The bill also includes a Cantwell-authored provision to improve the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Advisory Committee and increase the frequency of committee meetings. The Committee's purpose is to ensure representatives from the fishing industry, boat building industry and safety advocates have the ability evaluate fishing vessel safety issues, review fishing vessel accidents and provide recommendations to the Coast Guard to reduce vessel accidents and improve safety at sea.
These provisions are in response to repeated requests from Washington state fishermen to Congress to ensure that their voices are heard, as numerous recommendations from the Committee have not resulted in meaningful action from the Coast Guard.
 
Ensure tsunami safety
 
The legislation requires a study and recommendations needed to plan tsunami vertical evacuation infrastructure for Coast Guard members and their families stationed in Grays Harbor, as well as to understand the evacuation needs of the surrounding Grays Harbor community. This is particularly important as that the Coast Guard unit is located in an inundation area that would be impacted by a Cascadia Subduction Zone Tsunami.
 
Speaking on the Senate floor about this legislation on Tuesday, Senator Cantwell said: And so I hope that my colleagues will look favorably on this legislation. We all know how important the Coast Guard is towe all know how important the Coast Guard is to our nation, and an example of that ice-breaking capacity, but there are other aspects of this Coast Guard bill that we're also proud of. Making sure that it works more robustly with fishermen on fishing safety, do more to examine the impacts of tar sands, to make sure that our orca population is saved from noise impact, and further reducing that impact on our orca population.
Support Coast Guard women and families
 
It makes significant improvements to the Coast Guard policies needed to recruit, retain, and invest in women in the Coast Guard. A 2019 report titled Why Do Women Leave the Coast Guard, and What Can Be Done to Encourage Them to Stay? made a number of recommendations to help improve retention of women in the Coast Guard. The bill requires the Commandant implement these recommendations.
The bill creates two new advisory boards to support women throughout their Coast Guard careers, from the academy to leadership. Both advisory boards would bring recommendations to support women serving in the Coast Guard directly to the Commandant to ensure women's voices are heard.
The legislation requires the Coast Guard to create a public strategy to improve leadership development and improve the culture of inclusion and diversity in the Coast Guard. The bill also includes a number of reforms to improve diversity and inclusion at the Coast Guard Academy.
It also creates new programs and resources to improve access to child care for Coast Guard families, which women have identified as a key barrier to long-term success in the Coast Guard.
The bill establishes a public-private partnership pilot program to expand access to childcare facilities for Coast Guard children in underserved areas.
The bill also establishes procedures to enable more Coast Guard family child care centers to be established in off base housing, creating entrepreneurship opportunities for interested spouses as well as additional childcare options for Coast Guard families.
Senator Cantwell has worked to improve access to medical care for Coast Guard members and families, especially for members serving in remote locations. This directs the Government Accountability Office to do a thorough analysis to identify access barriers to medical care for all Coast Guard members and families, especially members stationed in remote areas.
 
In her Senate floor speech, Cantwell highlighted the impact these reforms could have on women serving in the Coast Guard: [We are] Instituting new reforms within the Coast Guard to really help and empower women and to make sure that they have what they need, [including] vital child care opportunities for Coast Guard families. And to make sure there is zero tolerance in the approach to any kind of sexual assault or sexual harassment.
Video of Senator Cantwell's floor speech on the Coast Guard provisions in the NDAA is available HERE, and audio is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-discusses-vaccine-distribution-challenges-stresses-importance-of-equitable-delivery-to-hard-to-serve-populations,"Cantwell Discusses Vaccine Distribution Challenges, Stresses Importance of Equitable Delivery to Hard-to-Serve Populations",2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.20
    			 Cantwell Discusses Vaccine Distribution Challenges, Stresses Importance of Equitable Delivery to Hard-to-Serve Populations 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Cantwell: You have to have the infrastructure to deliver the vaccine
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, attended today's Transportation and Safety Subcommittee hearing titled The Logistics of Transporting a COVID-19 Vaccine and spoke about the need to make sure our transportation infrastructure is up to the task of delivering COVID-19 vaccines safely and effectively around the country.
We're really trying to pay attention to what we need to help people dealing with this unbelievable COVID pandemic that's increasing in impact right now at a very critical moment, Cantwell said in her questioning with witnesses. So I wanted to ask a question about what we're doing to help states and municipalities on the delivery system. I've heard from my mayors, I've heard from our health officials, you know, this is a very intense operation on the ground and they're going to need help and resources in the delivery system.
Mr. Wesley Wheeler, President of Global Healthcare at UPS, responded to Cantwell's concerns about states and municipalities having adequate support saying, We [UPS] got pretty good at this with the test kits. So when we started testing and moving laboratory samples from patients to lab companies, we got very, very familiar with the state governments, the state jurisdictions, and the health authorities there. And we were helping a lot of the states to do that. And we still are. And that allows us to give you help wherever you need it.
Cantwell also stressed the importance of ensuring rural and Native communities get equitable vaccine distribution: I want to make sure that that we're thinking about how you give equitable access. I heard some of the discussion about nursing homes and definitely agree about that distribution, but I want to make sure that we're getting equitable distribution to very challenged and hard to serve communities. We obviously, in the State of Washington, have 29 Tribes in a big geographic area in delivering to Native Americans, and I'm sure I could give other examples.
Video of Senator Cantwell at the hearing is available HERE, audio is HERE, and a transcript is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-statement-on-attempted-bombing-at-spokane-county-democrats-hq,Cantwell Statement on Attempted Bombing at Spokane County Democrats HQ,2020-12-10,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.10.20
    			 Cantwell Statement on Attempted Bombing at Spokane County Democrats HQ 
    			
				
    			WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) issued the following statement in response to the attempted bombing and fire at the Spokane County Democrats headquarters:

No one should fear for their safety for participating in our political process. I condemn this attack and call on leaders at every level and from all sides to join me in working to help bring our communities together to end hate.
###
Cantwell Statement on Attempted Bombing at Spokane County Democrats HQ",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2682,Defense Authorization Bill Passes with DelBene’s Aluminum Amendment,2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (H.R. 6395) yesterday, a bicameral compromise of Congress' annual defense authorization bill. This bill includes a key amendment sponsored by Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) to strengthen the domestic aluminum industry.
The amendment requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on how the Defense Production Act could be used to increase the refining, processing, and manufacturing of aluminum.
The 2021 NDDA includes an important provision that will support our nation's aluminum industry, which is vital to our national security, said DelBene. This policy will encourage the federal government to propose investments in domestic aluminum production and support good-paying jobs here at home.
The House first passed the NDAA in July and this bill reflects a bipartisan compromise with the Senate. More information about the FY 2021 NDAA can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-murray-colleagues-call-for-wildfire-relief-funds-to-be-included-in-next-covid-19-relief-package,"Cantwell, Murray, Colleagues Call for Wildfire Relief Funds to be Included in Next COVID-19 Relief Package",2020-12-09,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.09.20
    			 Cantwell, Murray, Colleagues Call for Wildfire Relief Funds to be Included in Next COVID-19 Relief Package 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Letter calls for investments in fire risk mitigation, federal support of fire response efforts, assistance for impacted communities to ensure firefighters and first responders remain on payroll
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON DC  This week, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D, CO-02), and a bicameral group of lawmakers in sending a bicameral letter to House and Senate leadership requesting that funds for wildfire risk mitigation and recovery efforts be included in the next COVID-19 relief package.
A record 2020 wildfire season forced thousands of evacuations, threatened air and water quality, and destroyed homes and businesses across the West, the members wrote. Communities that have been fighting the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 are now also now beginning the long journey of recovering from catastrophic wildfire. Congress has the power to not only help these communities recover, but also to make federal investments in sustainable forest management to ensure they are better prepared for the next season. We urge you to consider the timely need for wildfire mitigation, suppression, and recovery in the next COVID-19 stimulus package.
The 2020 wildfire season has been one of the worst in more than two decades. According to the most recent Incident Management Situation Report from the National Interagency Coordination Center, this year's wildfires have burned a total of 9,539,554 acres.
The members' letter calls for:
 
Local economic relief to assist cash-strapped cities and towns originally excluded from the CARES Act in order to ensure firefighters and first responders can remain on payroll and have access to needed staff and resources;
Investments in fire risk mitigation, such as establishing a 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps to restore forest health and making investments in vital Forest Service programs that assist with forest management, such as the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program;
Federal support for fire response efforts, including investments in FEMA's Staffing For Adequate Fire And Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants, increased funds for late-season interagency hotshot crews, and increased pay and benefits for federal wildfire personnel; and
Investments in fire recovery efforts to support the work being done by local, state, and federal officials to revitalize the environmental health, water quality, and economy of communities impacted by wildfires.
 
Senators Cantwell and Murray have forcefully pushed for the State of Washington and communities across the West to receive assistance responding to and recovering from this year's devastating fire season. Just this week, the senators were joined by the entire Washington state congressional delegation in a third letter urging President Trump and FEMA Administrator Gaynor to support Governor Inslee's request for a statewide federal emergency disaster declaration in response to this year's wildfires. Last month, Cantwell and Murray asked the National Guard for a report on its readiness to help states prepare for and fight wildfires. And in September, Cantwell and Murrayurged President Trump to provide additional federal assistance to states, Tribes, and communities grappling with wildfires and their aftermath. The senators have been congressional leaders on wildfire management for years, and in September Senator Cantwell introduced legislation to support pre-fire season controlled burns.
In addition to Cantwell, Murray, Wyden, and Neguse, the letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tom Udall (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D, OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-01), Salud Carbajal (D, CA-24), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Ral Grijalva (D, AZ-03), Jared Huffman (D, CA-02) Ro Khanna (D, CA-17), Ann Kirkpatrick (D, AZ-02), Barbara Lee (D, CA-13), Jerry McNerney (D, CA-09), Grace Napolitano (D, CA-32), Tom O'Halleran (D, AZ-01), Jimmy Panetta (D, CA-20), Katie Porter (D, CA-45), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D, CA-40), Brad Sherman (D, CA-30), and Mike Thompson (D, CA-05).
The full text of the letter is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/congressman-smith-statement-house-passage-fy21-national-defense-authorization,Congressman Smith Statement on House Passage of FY21 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement after the House passed H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 with strong bipartisan support:

""Today the House sent a strong, bipartisan message to the American people: our service members and our national security are more important than politics. By passing the FY21 NDAA conference report with a veto-proof majority, the House has proven to be capable of legislating and reaching compromise that results in good policy outcomes.

""I was proud to work closely with Vice Chair Anthony Brown, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to take bold steps to promote diversity and inclusion and help address systemic racism in our military institutions. Provisions in the bill will remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia across the military that honor or commemorate the Confederacy and will create a Chief Diversity Officer within the Department of Defense to ensure our military reflects our country's diversity. The bill adds $20 million in funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and directs the Secretary to partner with minority institutions of higher education and public and private sector organizations to diversify and strengthen the national security workforce.

""The FY21 NDAA also takes important steps to promote the wellbeing of servicemembers and their families, veterans, and the entire federal workforce. It provides a long-sought after benefit for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who are struggling with health complications after being exposed to Agent Orange while serving their country. The bill will permit most federal employees to carry over an additional 25% of annual leave into 2021 in recognition of their dedicated service during the pandemic. To help protect civilian employees across the federal government from discrimination, the bill includes the Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act that would establish independent Equal Employment Opportunity Programs at each federal agency to independently address complaints of discrimination and retaliation. This year's bill also extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal civilians inadvertently excluded from last year's legislation.

""For years, the NDAA has taken important steps to combat climate change and advance green energy initiatives. This bill includes strong provisions to ensure DoD is planning for and mitigating the effects of climate change and implementing energy and climate resiliency requirements in their military installation planning. The bill would also push the DoD to remain a leader in adopting renewable energy and advancing green energy measures through the expansion of hybrid and electric vehicles, microgrids, energy metering and on-site energy production at military facilities, and operational energy research.

""After months of hard work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of Congress, I am proud of our finished product. Given the strength of the bill, I am confident the conference report will receive similarly robust support in the Senate this week before heading to the President's desk for signature. It is my hope that the President signs the FY21 NDAA into law given how important passage is for our service members and their families, however, I remain confident that Congress will exercise our authority to override a potential veto should he choose to put his ego first.""

A summary of the provisions in the FY21 NDAA is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=55F6CB7E-924C-45E3-890E-3250AB8848A3,Congressman Smith Statement on House Passage of FY21 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement after the House passed H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 with strong bipartisan support:
Today the House sent a strong, bipartisan message to the American people: our service members and our national security are more important than politics. By passing the FY21 NDAA conference report with a veto-proof majority, the House has proven to be capable of legislating and reaching compromise that results in good policy outcomes.
I was proud to work closely with Vice Chair Anthony Brown, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to take bold steps to promote diversity and inclusion and help address systemic racism in our military institutions. Provisions in the bill will remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia across the military that honor or commemorate the Confederacy and will create a Chief Diversity Officer within the Department of Defense to ensure our military reflects our country's diversity. The bill adds $20 million in funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and directs the Secretary to partner with minority institutions of higher education and public and private sector organizations to diversify and strengthen the national security workforce.
The FY21 NDAA also takes important steps to promote the wellbeing of servicemembers and their families, veterans, and the entire federal workforce. It provides a long-sought after benefit for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who are struggling with health complications after being exposed to Agent Orange while serving their country. The bill will permit most federal employees to carry over an additional 25% of annual leave into 2021 in recognition of their dedicated service during the pandemic. To help protect civilian employees across the federal government from discrimination, the bill includes the Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act that would establish independent Equal Employment Opportunity Programs at each federal agency to independently address complaints of discrimination and retaliation. This year's bill also extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal civilians inadvertently excluded from last year's legislation.
For years, the NDAA has taken important steps to combat climate change and advance green energy initiatives. This bill includes strong provisions to ensure DoD is planning for and mitigating the effects of climate change and implementing energy and climate resiliency requirements in their military installation planning. The bill would also push the DoD to remain a leader in adopting renewable energy and advancing green energy measures through the expansion of hybrid and electric vehicles, microgrids, energy metering and on-site energy production at military facilities, and operational energy research.
After months of hard work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers of Congress, I am proud of our finished product. Given the strength of the bill, I am confident the conference report will receive similarly robust support in the Senate this week before heading to the President's desk for signature. It is my hope that the President signs the FY21 NDAA into law given how important passage is for our service members and their families, however, I remain confident that Congress will exercise our authority to override a potential veto should he choose to put his ego first.
A summary of the provisions in the FY21 NDAA is available here.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-votes-to-support-servicemembers-and-military-families,Kilmer Votes to Support Servicemembers & Military Families,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.20
			 Kilmer Votes to Support Servicemembers & Military Families 
			Washington, D.C.  Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support the conference report on H.R.6395, the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA). The bipartisan, bicameral compromise report authorizes funding for national defense for Fiscal Year 2021.The conference report passed the House 335 to 78.
If you serve this country, Congress should have your back. This bipartisan legislation makes vital investments in service members and their families, including a number of measures that I championed,said Rep. Kilmer. In addition, in our region, we also have talented civilians doing critical work to keep our country safe, so I'm glad that we were able to include measures that benefit those workers and our region's economy.
Supports Servicemembers and Federal Workers
The conference agreement retained several key measures championed by Rep. Kilmer in the House passed bill to improve benefits for American service members and their families, including a 3% pay increase for all service members as well as provisions to improve the oversight and management of housing for military personnel and their families and to address the shortage in military child care.
The bipartisan agreement also includes numerous provisions to support federal workers. Of importance to Kitsap County, the bill includes a five-year extension of the rate of overtime pay authority for Department of Navy employees performing work aboard or dockside in support of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier forward deployed in Japan.
Kilmer said, When our region's shipyard workers work overtime, they should get paid overtime  including when they're overseas. It shouldn't take an act of Congress to make that the case  and for the next five years, it won't.
This year's NDAA conference report also includes a measure championed by Rep. Kilmer to allows federal workers to carry over excess leave accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented employees from taking time off work. Based on the legislation introduced by Rep. Kilmer in early October, the provision in the NDAA conference report will allow federal employees to carry over an additional 25% of their annual leave into 2021.
Federal workers at Naval Base Kitsap have been working tirelessly throughout this pandemic to maintain the Navy's readiness to respond to national security threats and have avoided unnecessary travel to minimize health risks that could threaten this important work, said Rep. Kilmer. They shouldn't have to sacrifice the paid leave benefits they've earned because they chose to prioritize national service. That's why I'm proud that this provision was included to ensure that federal workers at the shipyard, and across federal agencies, can keep the unused paid time off that they have earned.
The NDAA conference report also includes the Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Anti-Discrimination Act, passed by the House in January 2019, which strengthens equal employment opportunity protections for federal employees and strengthens prohibitions against discrimination and retaliation against whistleblowers.
In addition, this year's NDAA ensures paid parental leave is extended to all federal employees.
The bipartisan conference report also authorizes increased funding to clean up of drinking water on military bases contaminated by PFAS chemicals, strengthen sexual assault prevention and response programs, and promote and enhance diversity and inclusion programs in our military. In addition, the NDAA conference report provides new benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Invests in Defense Communities
The legislation also included an amendment championed by Rep. Kilmer to expand eligibility for the Office of Economic Adjustment's Defense Communities Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which helps communities near defense installations - like those around Naval Base Kitsap and Joint Base Lewis McChord - plan for and implement future infrastructure projects that improve the quality of life for people, including civilians and members of the armed services and their families, living in the surrounding areas.
Kilmer said, With the challenges we've seen at Gorst and coming into the Shipyard, providing more funding for this program could yield some direct benefits to Kitsap County.
Reducing Jet Noise
Over the past several years, Rep. Kilmer has pushed the Department of Defense to fund efforts to reduce the noise of the Navy's EA-18G Growler through his work on the Appropriations Committee. Rep. Kilmer fought to ensure this agreement provides additional funds for the Secretary of the Navy to continue developing advanced noise reduction technology that can be retrofitted to existing Growler engines to further reduce noise impacts in the region. In addition, the conference agreement authorizes a 5-year pilot test program under which the commander of a military installation may provide funds for the purpose of installing noise insulation on covered property impacted by military aviation noise from aircraft utilizing the installation.
Ensures the Military is a Responsible Climate Partner
The conference agreement retains key measures Rep. Kilmer championed in the House-passed bill to ensure that the military makes progress toward being a responsible partner in fighting climate change. This includes the establishment of a new Climate Security Roundtable within the National Academy of Science to establish best practices for identifying and disseminating climate indicators and warnings across all Department of Defense agencies to ensure that environmental security is included in operational planning and intelligence analysis. The legislation also requires the Department of Homeland Security to report on the climate risks and vulnerabilities facing Coast Guard installations over the next 20 years, including rising sea tides, flooding, and wildfires. It is expected that such reports will provide a roadmap for Congress to address these national security threats through a comprehensive climate adaptation strategy.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-kilmer-sen-cantwell-sen-murray-secure-vital-support-for-washingtons-maritime-industry,"Rep. Kilmer, Sen. Cantwell, Sen. Murray, Secure Vital Support for Washington’s Maritime Industry",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.20
			 Rep. Kilmer, Sen. Cantwell, Sen. Murray, Secure Vital Support for Washington's Maritime Industry 
			Washington, D.C.  Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), along with U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA), announced they secured vital support for Washington's maritime sector through a key provision they championed in the final conference report for the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will provide dedicated financial relief to maritime dependent businesses and communities during a national emergency, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or natural disasters.
The Maritime Transportation System Emergency Relief Act (MTSERA) will establish a comprehensive new program under the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to provide financial assistance to eligible entities  which includes state and local governments, port authorities, and private vessel operators  to maintain the stability and reliability of the U.S. Maritime Transportation System (MTS) in the event of a national emergency or disaster, including, the current COVID-19 public health emergency. This emergency funding is critical to supporting businesses like the Black Ball Ferry Lines that have been forced to reduce or suspend operations due to the current public health crisis.
Having grown up in Port Angeles, I'm conscious of how critical the Black Ball ferry is to our local economy. It's helped Port Angeles become the gateway for tourists and supported so many local businesses. But, as has been the case for so many things during the COVID-19 public health crisis, it's been really challenged during this difficult time, said Rep. Kilmer. That's why I've been working with our partners on the ground and Senators Cantwell and Murray to protect vital regional assets like the Black Ball ferry. I'll keep working to ensure the federal government steps up during this unprecedent crisis.
Maritime transportation is a critical part of our way of life in the State of Washington. As we continue to fight COVID-19, it's so important we don't lose important community ties, like those between the Olympic Peninsula and Canada, Senator Cantwell said. Our local communities need support when unforeseen disasters strike, and I will keep working to secure much-needed economic relief for those impacted by the ongoing pandemic.
The Black Ball ferry has been a lifeline for communities on both sides of our Northern border for more than 60 years, and once we are through this crisis it will once again be critical to so many Washington state families and businesses, Senator Murray said. I'm glad that we were able to secure access to assistance for this essential Washington state institution, and I will continue working to get all of Washington state's ferry systems the support they need to make it through this crisis.
Steven Burke, Port of Port Angeles Commission President, thanked Rep. Kilmer, Senator Cantwell, and Senator Murray, for their work to include the Maritime Transportation System Emergency Relief Act (MTSERA). MTSERA will provide a mechanism to assist maritime Ports in bringing economic activity to rural regions like ours. MTSERA will also help grow and sustain maritime interests impacted by the closure of travel between Canada and the Olympic Peninsula. We look forward to working with this new program to restore and grow the maritime economy in Clallam County.
We are so appreciative and pleased with the constant support and efforts of Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, and Congressman Kilmer for Black Ball and all of its employees, said Ryan Malane, Co-owner & Vice President, Black Ball Ferry Line. While Congress still needs to appropriate money, and we need to make application for funds, this is a major step forward.
This is highly welcome news for our local economy. This year and into 2021, we'll lose the nearly half a million visitors that the Black Ball Ferry brings into our downtown, representing a loss of about $65M in sales, about $11M in state and local tax revenues, and threatening more than 700 jobs, said Marc Abshire, Executive Director, Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce. We very much appreciate the efforts and success so far on the part of our congressional representatives to support this critical pillar of our economic community.
We know Black Ball is critical to more than 100 families that rely on Black Ball for a paycheck, but also hundreds of other businesses which employ nearly another 1000 people in our region. The new program secured by our congressional delegation is a big win for our communities and we are incredibly thankful for their tenacious support, said Colleen McAleer, Executive Director, Clallam EDC. But it is only the first step, the program will somehow need to be funded.
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		    	Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-s-priorities-help-firefighters-military-spouses-pass-house-final,"Rep. Schriers Priorities to Help Firefighters, Military Spouses Pass House in Final 2020 Defense Bill",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC  Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D.'s (WA-08) priorities to help local firefighters and military spouses passed the House today as part of the final Defense bill of the year, the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is annual legislation to maintain military readiness, enhance capabilities, and prioritize technological security. It is expected to pass the Senate later this month. This is the 60th NDAA to pass the House of Representatives.
As we saw this fall, Washington state's wildland firefighters are being asked to fight increasingly extreme wildfires with limited budgets, said Rep. Schrier. The Department of Defense has two programs that transfer excess equipment like tools, trucks, and vehicle parts to the U.S. Forest Service to be distributed to states. My amendment will ensure these programs work better for volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue agencies in Washington State by making them more accessible and taking community need and risk into account.
The Department of Defense (DOD) Firefighter Property Program (FFP) and the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP) transfer excess equipment to states and other qualified entities. Equipment is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and does not take community need and risk into account. Rep. Schrier's amendment requires an analysis of the program to ensure equipment is distributed efficiently where it is needed most. It also requires DOD to consult with State Foresters and other stakeholders throughout the process.
Rep. Schrier's other amendment makes job opportunities more accessible to military spouses, who often have a difficult time finding long-term work because of frequent relocations.
Rep. Schrier continued, Military spouses continue to experience high levels of underemployment and unemployment. My amendment addresses issues and concerns from a series of military and veteran spouse listening sessions held throughout the state in 2019 by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and the Washington State Employment Security Department. Language I championed in this NDAA will lead to expanded opportunities for military spouses in the fields of education, software and coding, and companies with high levels of teleworking to ensure military spouses are matched with fulfilling and successful employment.
The 2021 NDAA:
 Provides a long sought-after benefit for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange;
	Provides a 3% pay raise for troops,
	Extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal civilians inadvertently excluded from last year's legislation;
	Removes all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America;
	Includes the Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act that requires each federal agency to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program that is independent of the agency's Human Capital or General Counsel office and establishes requirements related to complaints of discrimination and retaliation in the workplace.
 Rep. Schrier's floor speech on the two amendments from earlier this year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schriers-priorities-help-firefighters-military-spouses-pass-house-final,"Rep. Schrier’s Priorities to Help Firefighters, Military Spouses Pass House in Final 2020 Defense Bill",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,schrier,https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D.'s (WA-08) priorities to help local firefighters and military spouses passed the House today as part of the final Defense bill of the year, the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is annual legislation to maintain military readiness, enhance capabilities, and prioritize technological security. It is expected to pass the Senate later this month. This is the 60th NDAA to pass the House of Representatives.

""As we saw this fall, Washington state's wildland firefighters are being asked to fight increasingly extreme wildfires with limited budgets,"" said Rep. Schrier. ""The Department of Defense has two programs that transfer excess equipment like tools, trucks, and vehicle parts to the U.S. Forest Service to be distributed to states. My amendment will ensure these programs work better for volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue agencies in Washington State by making them more accessible and taking community need and risk into account.""

The Department of Defense (DOD) Firefighter Property Program (FFP) and the Federal Excess Personal Property Program (FEPP) transfer excess equipment to states and other qualified entities. Equipment is offered on a first-come, first-served basis and does not take community need and risk into account. Rep. Schrier's amendment requires an analysis of the program to ensure equipment is distributed efficiently where it is needed most. It also requires DOD to consult with State Foresters and other stakeholders throughout the process.

Rep. Schrier's other amendment makes job opportunities more accessible to military spouses, who often have a difficult time finding long-term work because of frequent relocations.

Rep. Schrier continued, ""Military spouses continue to experience high levels of underemployment and unemployment. My amendment addresses issues and concerns from a series of military and veteran spouse listening sessions held throughout the state in 2019 by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and the Washington State Employment Security Department. Language I championed in this NDAA will lead to expanded opportunities for military spouses in the fields of education, software and coding, and companies with high levels of teleworking to ensure military spouses are matched with fulfilling and successful employment.""

The 2021 NDAA:

Provides a long sought-after benefit for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange;

Provides a 3% pay raise for troops,

Extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal civilians inadvertently excluded from last year's legislation;

Removes all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America;

Includes the Elijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act that requires each federal agency to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program that is independent of the agency's Human Capital or General Counsel office and establishes requirements related to complaints of discrimination and retaliation in the workplace.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-larsen-provision-to-extend-growler-noise-monitoring-passes-house-as-part-of-final-ndaa,"Cantwell, Larsen Provision to Extend Growler Noise Monitoring Passes House as Part of Final NDAA",2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.20
    			 Cantwell, Larsen Provision to Extend Growler Noise Monitoring Passes House as Part of Final NDAA 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Legislation extends noise monitoring of flights over Whidbey Island, Olympic National Park for 12 months, requires data be made available to the public
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, a provision introduced by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (D, WA-02) to extend real-time noise monitoring at two West Coast Navy installations and make the data publicly available passed the House of Representatives as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The provision extends the program, first created after Cantwell and Larsen secured its passage in last year's NDAA, for an additional 12 months.
Real-time noise monitoring of Growler activity over Whidbey Island and Olympic National Park is crucial to ensure local communities have accurate information, Senator Cantwell said. I am pleased this provision has been extended, and I will continue to work to ensure the Navy conducts the monitoring and is fully transparent with the state and local communities on the issue.
Having reliable data on aviation noise is essential to keeping communities informed and developing strategies to mitigate the impact of operations, said Representative Larsen, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the conference committee responsible for negotiating a final bill. I am glad the final conference report study will extend the study and I will continue conducting oversight to ensure transparency and proper implementation.
Last year, the Navy added 36 Growler aircraft to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The additions increased airfield activity by up to a third. Cantwell and Larsen's provision requires the Secretary of the Navy to conduct real-time monitoring of noise from flights at two West Coast Navy installations, including the field carrier landing practice at Naval Outlying Field Coupeville and Ault Field. The results of the monitoring then must be made publicly available on a Department of Defense website.
In addition, the provision also requires a plan to conduct real-time noise monitoring above or adjacent to nearby public lands, including Olympic National Park, Olympic National Forest, and Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve.
After today's passage through the House of Representatives, the legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/washington-state-lawmakers-continue-to-seek-major-disaster-declaration-after-devastating-wildfires-,Washington State Lawmakers Continue to Seek Major Disaster Declaration after Devastating Wildfires,2020-12-08,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.20
    			 Washington State Lawmakers Continue to Seek Major Disaster Declaration after Devastating Wildfires  
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Cantwell, Murray lead full WA congressional delegation in letter to President Trump and FEMA Administrator Gaynor
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and the entire Washington state congressional delegation in writing a third letter to President Trump and FEMA Administrator Gaynor in support of Governor Jay Inslee's request for a statewide federal emergency disaster declaration in response to this year's devastating wildfires. The Governor's request includes Individual and Public Assistance for eligible communities across Eastern Washington, including the town of Malden, where wildfires destroyed 80% of homes and businesses leaving most of its residents unable to return. Other Western states ravaged by wildfires this year, such as Oregon and California, have received essential federal assistance provided under major disaster declarations, but the thousands of Washingtonians forced to evacuate remain without aid as the Governor's request still awaits approval.
In the five day period from September 7th to the 11th, an estimated 626,982 acres burned throughout the state the lawmakers wrote. In particular, the town of Malden, a small, rural community in Whitman County, saw most of their community reduced to ashes. An estimated 80 percent of homes and other structures in the town including the town's only post office, town hall, fire station, food bank, and library were destroyed or seriously damaged. Individual and Public Assistance for this town would provide critical support, particularly for eligible individuals who evacuated and are unable to return to their community.
83 days have passed since the Governor requested federal assistance, the lawmakers added. For 83 days, thousands of displaced Washingtonians have watched as FEMA trailers assist those in neighboring states but have seen no federal aid coming their way. For 83 days, the state of Washington continues to be overwhelmed as it copes with clean-up and rebuilding efforts on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 83 days is too long to sit in limbo after experiencing such a damaging wildfire season.
On September 17, Senators Cantwell and Murray led the full Washington state congressional delegation in sending a letter to President Trump in support of Governor Jay Inslee's request for a major disaster declaration for the state, as well as public assistance and individual assistance for Whitman County, following the unprecedented wildfires in Eastern Washington and other areas. In the letter, the lawmakers also offered support for emergency federal assistance in additional areas in the state impacted by wildfires that have cost lives, destroyed structures, forced thousands of families to evacuate their homes, and caused communities to lose power for extended periods. The senators also ledan October 13 letter from the Washington state congressional delegation in support of Governor Inslee's October 8, 2020 request for a Major Disaster declaration for the State of Washington and supplemental federal assistance, and to reiterate support for the governor's September 16 request.
In addition to Senators Cantwell and Murray, U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D, WA-09),Rick Larsen (D, WA-02),Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R, WA-05), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R, WA-03), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Denny Heck (D, WA-10), Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06), Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), and Kim Schrier, M.D. (D, WA-08) also joined the letter.
Read the full letter below or HERE.
Dear Mr. President and Administrator Gaynor:
We write to inquire about Governor Jay Inslee's September 16, 2020, and October 8, 2020 request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Washington and supplemental federal assistance.
As you know, Washington state grappled with a wildfire season of historic scope and intensity this year. In the five day period from September 7th to the 11th, an estimated 626,982 acres burned throughout the state. That area alone exceeded each of the total burned acreages in each of the fire seasons between 2002 and 2019, with the exception of 2015's devastating wildfire season. These wildfires forced the evacuations of thousands of people, threatened 3,000 homes and structures, and deteriorated air quality to hazardous levels at that time.
In particular, the town of Malden, a small, rural community in Whitman County, saw most of their community reduced to ashes. An estimated 80 percent of homes and other structures in the town including the town's only post office, town hall, fire station, food bank, and library were destroyed or seriously damaged. Individual and Public Assistance for this town would provide critical support, particularly for eligible individuals who evacuated and are unable to return to their community. Thankfully, nobody died in Malden. But most of its 300-some residents were uninsured and already living on the economic margins. According to state records, Malden has met the threshold for Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance but none can be provided until the Governor's requests are approved.

Now, 83 days have passed since the Governor requested federal assistance. For 83 days, thousands of displaced Washingtonians have watched as FEMA trailers assist those in neighboring states but have seen no federal aid coming their way. For 83 days, the state of Washington continues to be overwhelmed as it copes with clean-up and rebuilding efforts on top of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 83 days is too long to sit in limbo after experiencing such a damaging wildfire season.
Again, we fully support Governor Inslee's request for a major disaster declaration statewide as well as Public Assistance and Individual Assistance for eligible counties. Please let us know if you need further information to inform your decision.
Sincerely,
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-applauds-ruling-court-case-restore-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals,Rep. Smith Applauds Ruling in Court Case to Restore Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,2020-12-06,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after a federal court ordered the Trump administration to restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to its original form in the Batalla Vidal v. Wolf case.

""The ruling is a major victory not just for immigrant youth and their families but for all Americans. By upholding this critical program, we are restoring the values that America should reflect and instilling hope for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and future DACA recipients who call America home. From the first attempt by the Trump administration to end DACA in 2017, immigrants have been subjected to the Trump administration's xenophobic policies. This win was made possible by the tireless efforts of countless DACA recipients and advocates who made their voices heard while their livelihoods were under attack.

""The ruling reopens DACA to first-time applicants, restores work authorization and renewals to two years, and makes travel on advance parole more widely available to DACA recipients so they can feel safe and live without fear of being separated from their families and communities. While we celebrate this victory, I look forward to working with my colleagues and the new administration under President-elect Biden to sign into law permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. This is a long overdue step in the fight for a more fair and just immigration system.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=E0C6F68C-B0EB-49E3-A642-77AB08985875,Rep. Smith Applauds Ruling in Court Case to Restore Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,2020-12-06,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after a federal court ordered the Trump administration to restore the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to its original form in the Batalla Vidal v. Wolf case.
The ruling is a major victory not just for immigrant youth and their families but for all Americans. By upholding this critical program, we are restoring the values that America should reflect and instilling hope for the hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and future DACA recipients who call America home. From the first attempt by the Trump administration to end DACA in 2017, immigrants have been subjected to the Trump administration's xenophobic policies. This win was made possible by the tireless efforts of countless DACA recipients and advocates who made their voices heard while their livelihoods were under attack.
The ruling reopens DACA to first-time applicants, restores work authorization and renewals to two years, and makes travel on advance parole more widely available to DACA recipients so they can feel safe and live without fear of being separated from their families and communities. While we celebrate this victory, I look forward to working with my colleagues and the new administration under President-elect Biden to sign into law permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients. This is a long overdue step in the fight for a more fair and just immigration system.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2676,House Passes Legislation to Decriminalize Marijuana and Expunge Federal Convictions,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 3884) with the support of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01).The MORE Act would:
 
    Decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.
    Allow federal marijuana-related convictions and criminal records to be expunged, resentenced, and sealed.
    Invest in communities that have been disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.
 
This is the first time either house of Congress has voted to decriminalize marijuana.
In 2017, police made 659,700 arrests for marijuana-related violations. That is over 21 percent higher than the total number of people arrested for violent crimes (518,617) in the same year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The MORE Act would expunge low-level federal convictions, which have been selectively enforced against people of color, especially Black men.
The bill would also grant state governments full jurisdiction over marijuana policy, ensuring that the statewide legalization of marijuana, like Washington did in 2012, no longer conflicts with federal law.
States like Washington have been at the forefront of removing antiquated marijuana laws that have historically targeted communities of color. The MORE Act is an opportunity to reinvest in these communities, expunge drug convictions to give people a second chance, and allow states to make the decisions that best serve their residents, said DelBene.
DelBene is a cosponsor of H.R. 3884. The full bill text is availablehere.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2678,Reps. DelBene and Schrier Lead WA Delegation in Calling for Worker Protections for Overpaid Benefits,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congresswomen Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Kim Schrier (WA-08) led the Washington state congressional delegation in asking House leadership to include protections in a future COVID-19 relief package to help unemployed residents in the state. In a letter, the delegation highlighted that families are being forced to pay back money they no longer have as a result of a new administrative requirement.
The delegation said, This new requirement places a heavy administrative burden on states still struggling to help millions of workers get needed benefits on time and in full. It also puts workers at risk of having to repay benefits that they were entitled to just because they are confused by new administrative requests.
The CARES Act, which was passed in March, created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for workers who are ineligible for traditional state Unemployment Insurance (UI) but still needed financial support because of the pandemic. These workers include contractors, temporary workers, and self-employed workers. Washington set up this new program and began paying benefits as quickly as possible. 
Neither the CARES Act nor initial Department of Labor (DOL) guidance required individuals receiving PUA benefits to re-certify their eligibility weekly. Later, however, states were instructed by DOL to require weekly certifications and contact all current and former PUA recipients to tell them they must submit weekly certifications dating back to the beginning of the PUA program. If they did not do so, all the benefits they received would be treated as overpayments that must be repaid. If individuals do not understand and comply, states are required to recover the already-paid benefits.
The delegation added that by fixing this problem, We can ensure Americans struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic are not faced with an unreasonable requirement to pay back funds they properly received and have already spent. We can also avoid diverting state resources that could be better used to ensure timely and accurate payment.
DelBene is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over UI benefits. A full copy of the letter can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2437,Larsen Outlines Priorities for Next COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Bill,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,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) urged Congress to address the continued public health crisis and deliver real relief for Washingtonians, families and small businesses. In a letter to House and Senate leadership, Larsen outlined his top priorities for any upcoming pandemic relief legislation.

“With a third wave of COVID-19 spreading across the country, passing a comprehensive federal relief package grows more urgent by the day,” Larsen wrote. “Limits on gatherings and economic activity are necessary to protect public health and save lives but continue to cause real hardship for families nationwide. A strong public health response will enable a sustainable economic recovery.”

You can read the full letter here and below:

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:

With a third wave of COVID-19 spreading across the country, passing a comprehensive federal relief package grows more urgent by the day. Limits on gatherings and economic activity are necessary to protect public health and save lives but continue to cause real hardship for families nationwide. A strong public health response will enable a sustainable economic recovery.

Given the breadth of the challenge posed by COVID-19, an effective relief bill will need to be comprehensive, like the two versions of the HEROES Act the House has already passed. Based on my conversations with local families, business owners and community leaders, my priorities for a long-overdue relief bill are:

• Increased federal unemployment assistance

The $600 increase in federal unemployment benefits in the CARES Act was a lifeline for millions of out-of-work Americans. The additional weekly payments helped families afford rent and mortgage payments and keep food on the table. As cases are projected to continue to rise, more Americans will likely face layoffs or reduced hours without knowing when they may be able to return to work. Congress must reinstate increased and expanded federal unemployment assistance.

• Support essential workers at state, local, tribal and territorial governments

The deadline for spending Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) allocations is December 31, 2020, but the public health need is ongoing. According to the Snohomish Health District, failure to extend the spending deadline will force layoffs of temporary staff. These furloughs will limit Snohomish County’s ability to do contact tracing which will harm public health, businesses and schools. This deadline must be extended and funds for state, local, tribal and territorial government must be renewed to ensure an appropriate pandemic response. Additionally, CRF dollars were limited in their use. In order to support essential workers on the frontline of the pandemic, additional funding for revenue replacement must be provided to state, local, tribal and territorial governments. Without this flexible relief, local governments will be forced to lay off workers who are essential to the safety of their communities. In addition, funding should be set aside for communities along the Canadian border that have been financially devastated by the months-long closure.

• Fight hunger

According to Food Lifeline, the need for food in Washington state has nearly doubled since the pandemic began. In Skagit County alone, the Helping Hands Food Bank has distributed 725,000 pounds of food to more than 70,000 individuals and the need for nutritional assistance continues to grow. The USDA Farmers to Families Food Box program is another unique initiative to support farmers, food banks and families with local produce. The Puget Sound Food Hub used $400,000 in USDA funds to distribute nearly 19,000 boxes to local families in need. However, the most recent round of funding was limited, and the contract was not renewed. Congress must invest in these programs to support producers, food banks and hungry constituents. In addition, COVID-19 relief legislation should include the provisions from the HEROES Act to expand the monthly SNAP benefit by 15 percent and boost funds for vital nutrition programs to improve families’ access to healthy, nutritious meals.

• Protect essential workers

Frontline workers are essential to protecting Americans from COVID-19 but are also at a heightened risk of contracting the virus. In Washington state, 25 percent of all COVID-19 cases are people who work in health care and social assistance, the most of any industry sector. Congress needs to support these workers by ensuring they have the tools and training to do their jobs safely. To keep all workers safe, the next COVID-19 bill should include provisions protecting workers who report infection control issues and requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop safe workplace standards.

• Ensuring school safety

As school districts continue to assess in-person, online or hybrid education, Congress should help students, teachers and staff meet urgent needs such as cleaning, acquiring protective equipment and accessing technology (software, hardware and broadband). Districts opting for a hybrid or in-person model continue to incur significant costs for the personal protective equipment and sanitizing equipment necessary for a safe return to school. Reliance on remote learning revealed inequities in access to high-speed internet and computers. Arlington School District staff, for example, estimated 20 percent of students lacked adequate internet access for distance learning at the beginning of the school year. The costs of providing students with appropriate technology and internet access and training teachers on how best to use that technology are substantial. In the Oak Harbor School District, these technology costs alone exceeded the district’s $700,000 CARES Act ESSER funding distribution.

• Support the devastated aviation and aerospace industries

In the Pacific Northwest, the aviation manufacturing workforce drives the local economy and helps the U.S. remain globally competitive. As the pandemic continues, this industry faces stalled production and deliveries, financial harm and mass layoffs. Congress must include my bipartisan legislation, the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Act of 2020, in the next COVID-19 relief bill to help prevent aerospace supply chain furloughs and rehire employees furloughed due to the pandemic. I also urge Congress to extend the Payroll Support Program, which saved 950,000 aviation jobs across the country.

• Emergency funding for child care

With many school districts opting for remote learning, child care is emerging as a critical issue during the pandemic. A National Women’s Law Center report found that more than 1.1 million workers left the workforce in September, of whom 80 percent were women. Many parents, including essential workers, have made the difficult choice to stay home to look after children who are learning remotely. Reliable, affordable child care will keep kids safe during the pandemic and enable parents to re-enter the workforce.

• Support equitable vaccine distribution

With multiple COVID-19 vaccine candidates under Food and Drug Administration review, Congress and the executive branch need to work together to ensure vaccine distribution goes smoothly. Nationwide distribution of a new vaccine will require an unprecedented public health campaign and states will need additional resources to ensure success. Given the scope of this immunization program, states will need funding to hire temporary workforce, transport and store doses, and conduct a massive outreach campaign. Any vaccine must be free of charge to ensure cost is not a barrier to protection from COVID-19.

My constituents have additional urgent needs. Another round of Paycheck Protection Program funding, with improvements reflecting lessons learned on transparency and simplified forgiveness, will help prevent layoffs and keep people off unemployment. Congress should also ensure any stimulus payments are broader by including dual status families, filers who use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and adult dependents. Further, the bill should include funding for the United States Postal Service and housing assistance.

COVID-19 spreads exponentially. Every single day Congress waits to pass a relief package makes the challenge greater. Congress must pass a comprehensive bill that eases the burden on struggling Americans and focuses relief on communities most acutely impacted by the pandemic. The American people are sacrificing greatly to combat the pandemic and are counting on Congress to do its part.

The time to act is long overdue.

Sincerely,

Rick Larsen

Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-statement-on-ndaa-provisions-regarding-ligado/,McMorris Rodgers Statement on NDAA Provisions Regarding Ligado,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the 117th Congress, issued the following statement today in response to provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) regarding Ligado:
I do not support the provisions in the NDAA that discuss the FCC's decision to grant more flexible use of the L-Band spectrum for Ligado, especially banning contracts with no evidence to support they harm national security. The NDAA shouldn't target an American company that will hurt our ability to beat China in the 5G race. Why single out an American company focused on boosting our country's 5G leadership but leave out protections against Chinese drone manufacturers threatening our national security? This should be made right.
I agree with my colleagues on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees that we must protect the Department of Defense's mission and ability to keep America safe. The same should go for the Federal Communications Commission, the expert, independent agency on commercial spectrum issues. By a 5-0 unanimous vote they determined Ligado's proposal would not create problems of harmful interference with commercial users in neighboring bands or other government agencies, like DOD. This came after a decade of exhaustive FCC technical reviews and extensive conditioned safeguards.
If we are going to beat the Chinese Communist Party in the race to 5G, we should let the FCC do its job and stop these interagency fights not rooted in facts. As Republican Leader on Energy and Commerce next Congress, I'll aggressively fight to ensure America has the global competitive edge in 5G not just for our economy but for our national security too. To win the future, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee on those shared goals, said McMorris Rodgers.
# # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/my-votes-week-of-november-30th/,My Votes – Week of November 30th,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"Result and Date
Bill #
Bill Title
My Vote
What it means for you and your family
12/2/2020
PASSED
343-41
H.R. 7995
Coin Metal Modification Authorization and Cost Savings Act
YES
This bill authorizes the United States Mint to modify the metallic composition of coins if a study conducted by the Mint indicates that the modification will reduce the cost to taxpaxers and be implemented seamlessly.
12/3/2020
PASSED
272-114
H.R. 1380
Big Cat Public Safety Act
NO
Revises requirements governing the trade of big cats (i.e., species of lion, tiger, leopard). Specifically, it revises restrictions on the possession and exhibition of big cats, including to restrict direct contact between the public and big cats. Current law already prohibits the import, export, purchase, sale, transport, or acquisition of big cats, such as lions and tigers across state lines or the national border.
12/4/2020
PASSED
265-124
S. 2981
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Amendments Act of 2020
YES
Revises provisions related to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps such as physical fitness, obligated service requirements, and retirement.
12/2/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 4054
U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020
YES
Reauthorizes the United States Grain Standards Act. This legislation would extend, through 2025, authorizations for various provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act, which authorizes the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
12/2/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 945
S. 945 Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
YES
This bill will help fight State Owned Enterprises. The legislation requires certain issuers of securities to establish that they are not owned or controlled by a foreign government. Specifically, an issuer must make this certification if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is unable to audit specified reports because the issuer has retained a foreign public accounting firm not subject to inspection by the board. Furthermore, if the board is unable to inspect the issuer's public accounting firm for three consecutive years, the issuer's securities are banned from trade on a national exchange or through other methods.
12/2/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4403
Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2019
YES
Applies certain consumer protections regarding debt collection to debt owed to a federal agency. Delays the sale of debt by a federal government agency to a debt collector by 90 days and requires a GAO report on debt collection abuse.
12/2/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1830
National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act
YES
Directs the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue $5 gold coins, $1 silver coins, and half-dollar clad coins emblematic of the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor for one year beginning on January 1st, 2021. Surcharges from the coin sales will go to National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, Inc., to support the mission of the organization.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7903
To amend the Small Business Act to establish the Community Advantage Loan Program
YES
Establishes a Community Advantage Loan Program under which the Small Business Administration (SBA) may guarantee loans made by covered institutions to small business concerns in underserved markets.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8211
H.R. 8211 504 Modernization and Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act of 2020
YES
Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to improve the loan guaranty program, increase funding by one million dollars, and increase oversight.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8199
504 Credit Risk Management Improvement Act of 2020
YES
Amends the Small Business Act to enhance the Office of Credit Risk Management to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to issue rules relating to environmental obligations of certified development companies.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8229
Parity for HUBZone Appeals Act of 2020
YES
Requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to authorize its Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) to decide all appeals from formal protest determinations in connection with the status of a HUBZone small business. A HUBZone small business is a small business in a historically underutilized business zone. Currently, HUBZone status appeals are the responsibility of the Office of Government Contracting and Business Development.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5517
Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act
YES
Affirms the friendship of the governments of the United States of America and the Republic of India, and establishes a bilateral partnership for collaboration to advance development and shared values.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1819
War Crimes Rewards Expansion Act
YES
Expands the Department of State's rewards program to authorize rewards for providing information leading to the arrest, conviction, or transfer of a foreign national accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide as such crimes as defined under the law of an international criminal tribunal, the applicable country, or the United States. Currently, rewards are authorized for information leading to the arrest, conviction, or transfer of a foreign national accused of such crimes only as defined under the statutes of the relevant tribunal.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H .Res. 996
Expressing the sense of Congress that the activities of Russian national Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated entities pose a threat to the national interests and security of the United States and of its allies and partners
YES
Expressing the sense of Congress that the activities of Russian national Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated entities pose a threat to the national interests and security of the United States and of its allies and partners
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 958
Condemning the practice of politically motivated imprisonment and calling for the immediate release of political prisoners in the Russian Federation and urging action by the United States Government to impose sanctions with respect to persons responsible for that form of human rights abuse
YES
Condemns political imprisonments in Russia and calls on Russia to release its political prisoners. The resolution also urges the United States to advocate for the release of such prisoners and to identify the Russian officials responsible for their imprisonment.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 17
Expressing concern over the detention of Austin Tice
YES
Expresses concern about the capture and detention of journalist Austin Tice near Damascus, Syria. It encourages the Department of State, the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and other U.S. government entities to engage with Syria to facilitate Tice's safe release.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 1115
Calling for the immediate release of Trevor Reed, a United States citizen who was unjustly sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison.
YES
Calls for the immediate release of Trevor Reed, a United States citizen who was unjustly sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1049
1049 National Heritage Area Act of 2020
YES
Establishes a National Heritage Areas System to recognize certain areas of the United States that tell nationally significant stories and to conserve, enhance, and interpret the areas' natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources that illustrate significant aspects of U.S. heritage. Through such a system, the Department of the Interior may provide technical and financial assistance to local coordinating entities to support the establishment, development, and continuity of such areas.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 199
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act
YES
Directs the Department of Agriculture to transfer to the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to approximately 11,760 acres of identified federal land in the Chippewa National Forest in Cass County, Minnesota. Immediately upon transfer, the federal land shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and considered as a part of its reservation.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 212
Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2020
YES
Makes several revisions related to economic development for Native American communities. Specifically, the bill establishes duties for the Office of Native American Business Development, including advising the Department of Commerce regarding the relationship between the United States and Indian tribes; and serving as the point of contact for tribes, tribal organizations, and members of tribes regarding economic development and doing business in Indian lands.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 914
Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2020
YES
Reauthorizes and revises the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (IOOS). IOOS is a network of federal and regional entities which provide information about the nation's coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 1342
Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2020
YES
Requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to update  at least once every seven years  its environmental sensitivity index products for each coastal area of the Great Lakes. An environmental sensitivity index product is a map or similar tool that is utilized to identify sensitive shoreline resources prior to an oil spill event.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 306
Kettle Creek Battlefield Survey
YES
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a reconnaissance survey of the site of the Kettle Creek Battlefield in Wilkes County, Georgia, and adjacent property.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 3682
Land Grant-Mercedes Traditional Use Recognition and Consultation Act
YES
Requires coordination between the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of the Interior, and the governing bodies of certain community land grants in New Mexico made by Spain or Mexico to individuals, groups, and communities to promote the settlement of the southwestern United States (land grant-mercedes).
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4153
Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act
YES
Authorizes the VA and the DOD to enter agreements for sharing medical facilities and services with urban Indian organizations. The VA and DOD shall reimburse an urban Indian organization where services are provided to beneficiaries.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7045
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on lands that could be included in a National Forest in Hawai'i
YES
Directs the Forest Service to conduct a study to identify available land within the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai that could be included in a national forest in Hawaii.
12/3/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8810
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on lands that could be included in a National Forest in Hawai'i
YES
Establishes a national program to identify and reduce losses from landslide hazards, to establish a national 3D Elevation Program, and for other purposes.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/reps-cathy-mcmorris-rodgers-peter-defazio-russ-fulcher-and-kurt-schrader-lead-bipartisan-letter-urging-reauthorization-of-secure-rural-schools-and-robust-funding-for-payment-in-lieu-of-taxes/,"Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Peter DeFazio, Russ Fulcher, and Kurt Schrader Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools and Robust Funding for Payment in Lieu of Taxes",2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON  Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Russ Fulcher (ID-01) and Kurt Schrader (OR-05) today led a bipartisan letter to Congressional leadership urging reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and robust funding for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program in the appropriations process.
In the letter, the members write, SRS and PILT serve as a lifeline to rural America's local governments and now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the budgets of these rural counties have taken a hit. These two programs fund roads, schools, law enforcement, and essential county services, such as public health programs. With additional demands on their resources as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, rural communities and counties are stretched thinner than ever. In order to assist these rural counties' response to the current public health crisis, as well as to invest in infrastructure, schools, and law enforcement, Congress must advance a reauthorization of SRS. Further, we urge you to maintain robust funding for PILT as you continue funding negotiations for the remainder of the fiscal year.
SRS has been a critical lifeline to over 775 counties in more than 40 states by helping fund over 4,400 schools, road maintenance, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations on federal lands. Historically, the federal government shared with county governments 25 percent of timber sales from federal forestlands and 50 percent of revenues from certain lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Due to declining timber sales and county revenues, Congress first passed SRS in 2000 to provide a measure of compensation for counties containing federal timberland.
A PDF version of the letter can be found HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-schrier-and-delbene-lead-wa-delegation-calling-worker-protections,Reps. Schrier and DelBene Lead WA Delegation in Calling for Worker Protections for Overpaid Benefits,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,schrier,https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"ISSAQUAH, WA – Today, Congresswomen Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) led the entire Washington state congressional delegation in asking House leadership to include protections in a future COVID-19 relief package to help unemployed residents in Washington state. In a letter, the delegation noted families are being forced to pay back money they have already spent to make ends meet as a result of a new administrative requirement.

The delegation said, ""This new requirement places a heavy administrative burden on states still struggling to help millions of workers get needed benefits on time and in full. It also puts workers at risk of having to repay benefits that they were entitled to just because they are confused by new administrative requests.""

The CARES Act, which was passed in March, created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for workers who are ineligible for traditional state Unemployment Insurance (UI) but still needed financial support because of the pandemic. These workers include contractors, temporary workers, and self-employed workers. Washington set up this new program and began paying benefits as quickly as possible.

Neither the CARES Act nor initial Department of Labor (DOL) guidance required individuals receiving PUA benefits to re-certify their eligibility weekly. Later, however, states were instructed by DOL to require weekly certifications and contact all current and former PUA recipients to tell them they must submit weekly certifications dating back to the beginning of the PUA program. If they did not do so, all the benefits they received would be treated as overpayments that must be repaid. If individuals do not understand and comply, states are required to recover the already-paid benefits.

The delegation added that by fixing this problem, ""We can ensure Americans struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic are not faced with an unreasonable requirement to pay back funds they properly received and have already spent. We can also avoid diverting state resources that could be better used to ensure timely and accurate payment.""

A full copy of the letter can be found here or below.

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Kevin McCarthy

Speaker Minority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy:

We urge you to include in the next COVID response package two provisions to help Americans who are currently receiving unemployment benefits and are now being forced to pay back benefits that were overpaid through no fault of their own or paid correctly, but without paperwork that was not initially required by the Department of Labor. In many cases, these overpaid benefits were spent long ago for basic needs, and the still-unemployed workers have no ability to pay them back.

Retroactive, Unanticipated Recertification Requirements for Current and Former Beneficiaries

As you know, the CARES Act created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for those who are ineligible for state Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits but are in need of unemployment benefits because of the pandemic. States were encouraged to set up this brand-new program and begin paying benefits as quickly as possible.

Neither the statutory provisions in the CARES Act nor initial Department of Labor (DOL) guidance required weekly re-certification by individuals receiving benefits. Later, however, states were instructed to require weekly certifications and contact all current and former PUA recipients to tell them they must submit weekly certifications dating back to the beginning of the PUA program. If they did not do so all benefits they received would be treated as overpayments that must be repaid. If individuals do not understand and comply, states are required to recover the already-paid benefits.

This new requirement places a heavy administrative burden on states still struggling to help millions of workers get needed benefits on time and in full. It also puts workers at risk of having to repay benefits that they were entitled to just because they are confused by new administrative requests. Obtaining responses for weeks dating back as long as six months will be extremely burdensome as recipients may have moved, become newly employed, or not understand why they must recertify after they had followed all original requirements. A lack of response will result in their correctly-paid benefits being classified as an ""overpayment"" and a requirement to pay back earned benefits or even termination of ongoing benefits.

To fix this unnecessary hardship, we ask that you include in a COVID relief bill legislative language that would accomplish the following:

Ensure that individuals who are still otherwise eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance do not have their benefits terminated because of inadvertent or state system failure errors in past required weekly benefit recertifications, so long as the state made good faith efforts to implement the program.

By including such a provision to remove the requirement to retroactively certify weekly COVID-19-related reasons for PUA claims, we can ensure that individuals who are still eligible for PUA are not at risk of having their benefits terminated or be required to pay back benefits they received properly.

PUA Overpayments

In an effort to provide immediate assistance to workers and families, Washington State implemented PUA three weeks after the CARES Act was signed into law. This action resulted in hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians receiving much needed support that was then used to purchase goods and services from local businesses, helping our economy.

PUA, however, has different eligibility requirements than UI. Over time, if a person receiving PUA surpasses a specific number of work hours, the law requires the person to switch from PUA to regular UI. Many times, when a person's eligibility is being recertified, it is determined that the individual should have switched from PUA to UI earlier, which results in overpayments. Under state law, Washington may waive the requirement for the individual to pay back state UI benefits if it would be against ""equity and good conscience."" This provision is often used when an individual cannot afford to pay back the amount and, through no fault of their own, received an overpayment.

PUA does not allow for the same reasonable exception. As a result, Washington, as well as other states, are required to claw back money from individuals who were unaware that they were overpaid, were overpaid through no fault of their own, and have no means to repay it. To correct this unfair requirement, we ask that you include legislative language in a COVID relief bill that would accomplish the following:

Ensure in situations where workers received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance overpayments through no fault of their own and are unable to repay the amount without severe hardship (when repayment would violate ""equity and good conscience""), states waive the overpayments. This provision would apply to those past and future overpayments.

By including this provision, we can ensure Americans struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic are not faced with an unreasonable requirement to pay back funds they properly received and have already spent. We can also avoid diverting state resources that could be better used to ensure timely and accurate payment.

Thank you for your consideration of these two requests and for your commitment to the economic well-being of those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to partnering with you to ensure that individuals and families receiving unemployment benefits during this challenging time are not unfairly punished.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-schrier-and-delbene-lead-wa-delegation-calling-worker-protections-overpaid,Reps. Schrier and DelBene Lead WA Delegation in Calling for Worker Protections for Overpaid Benefits,2020-12-04,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Kim Schrier,S001216,schrier.house.gov,,,legacy,"ISSAQUAH, WA  Today, Congresswomen Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and Suzan DelBene (WA-01) led the entire Washington state congressional delegation in asking House leadership to include protections in a future COVID-19 relief package to help unemployed residents in Washington state. In a letter, the delegation noted families are being forced to pay back money they have already spent to make ends meet as a result of a new administrative requirement.
The delegation said, This new requirement places a heavy administrative burden on states still struggling to help millions of workers get needed benefits on time and in full. It also puts workers at risk of having to repay benefits that they were entitled to just because they are confused by new administrative requests.
The CARES Act, which was passed in March, created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for workers who are ineligible for traditional state Unemployment Insurance (UI) but still needed financial support because of the pandemic. These workers include contractors, temporary workers, and self-employed workers. Washington set up this new program and began paying benefits as quickly as possible.
Neither the CARES Act nor initial Department of Labor (DOL) guidance required individuals receiving PUA benefits to re-certify their eligibility weekly. Later, however, states were instructed by DOL to require weekly certifications and contact all current and former PUA recipients to tell them they must submit weekly certifications dating back to the beginning of the PUA program. If they did not do so, all the benefits they received would be treated as overpayments that must be repaid. If individuals do not understand and comply, states are required to recover the already-paid benefits.
The delegation added that by fixing this problem, We can ensure Americans struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic are not faced with an unreasonable requirement to pay back funds they properly received and have already spent. We can also avoid diverting state resources that could be better used to ensure timely and accurate payment.
A full copy of the letter can be found here or below.
###

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Speaker Minority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy:
We urge you to include in the next COVID response package two provisions to help Americans who are currently receiving unemployment benefits and are now being forced to pay back benefits that were overpaid through no fault of their own or paid correctly, but without paperwork that was not initially required by the Department of Labor. In many cases, these overpaid benefits were spent long ago for basic needs, and the still-unemployed workers have no ability to pay them back.
Retroactive, Unanticipated Recertification Requirements for Current and Former Beneficiaries 
As you know, the CARES Act created Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) for those who are ineligible for state Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits but are in need of unemployment benefits because of the pandemic. States were encouraged to set up this brand-new program and begin paying benefits as quickly as possible.
Neither the statutory provisions in the CARES Act nor initial Department of Labor (DOL) guidance required weekly re-certification by individuals receiving benefits. Later, however, states were instructed to require weekly certifications and contact all current and former PUA recipients to tell them they must submit weekly certifications dating back to the beginning of the PUA program. If they did not do so all benefits they received would be treated as overpayments that must be repaid. If individuals do not understand and comply, states are required to recover the already-paid benefits.
This new requirement places a heavy administrative burden on states still struggling to help millions of workers get needed benefits on time and in full. It also puts workers at risk of having to repay benefits that they were entitled to just because they are confused by new administrative requests. Obtaining responses for weeks dating back as long as six months will be extremely burdensome as recipients may have moved, become newly employed, or not understand why they must recertify after they had followed all original requirements. A lack of response will result in their correctly-paid benefits being classified as an overpayment and a requirement to pay back earned benefits or even termination of ongoing benefits.
To fix this unnecessary hardship, we ask that you include in a COVID relief bill legislative language that would accomplish the following:
Ensure that individuals who are still otherwise eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance do not have their benefits terminated because of inadvertent or state system failure errors in past required weekly benefit recertifications, so long as the state made good faith efforts to implement the program.
By including such a provision to remove the requirement to retroactively certify weekly COVID-19-related reasons for PUA claims, we can ensure that individuals who are still eligible for PUA are not at risk of having their benefits terminated or be required to pay back benefits they received properly.
PUA Overpayments
In an effort to provide immediate assistance to workers and families, Washington State implemented PUA three weeks after the CARES Act was signed into law. This action resulted in hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians receiving much needed support that was then used to purchase goods and services from local businesses, helping our economy.
PUA, however, has different eligibility requirements than UI. Over time, if a person receiving PUA surpasses a specific number of work hours, the law requires the person to switch from PUA to regular UI.Many times, when a person's eligibility is being recertified, it is determined that the individual should have switched from PUA to UI earlier, which results in overpayments. Under state law, Washington may waive the requirement for the individual to pay back state UI benefits if it would be against equity and good conscience. This provision is often used when an individual cannot afford to pay back the amount and, through no fault of their own, received an overpayment.
PUA does not allow for the same reasonable exception. As a result, Washington, as well as other states, are required to claw back money from individuals who were unaware that they were overpaid, were overpaid through no fault of their own, and have no means to repay it. To correct this unfair requirement, we ask that you include legislative language in a COVID relief bill that would accomplish the following:
Ensure in situations where workers received Pandemic Unemployment Assistance overpayments through no fault of their own and are unable to repay the amount without severe hardship (when repayment would violate equity and good conscience), states waive the overpayments. This provision would apply to those past and future overpayments.
By including this provision, we can ensure Americans struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic are not faced with an unreasonable requirement to pay back funds they properly received and have already spent. We can also avoid diverting state resources that could be better used to ensure timely and accurate payment.
Thank you for your consideration of these two requests and for your commitment to the economic well-being of those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to partnering with you to ensure that individuals and families receiving unemployment benefits during this challenging time are not unfairly punished.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/washington-members-send-letter-dhs-inspector-general-inhumane-treatment,Washington Members Send Letter to DHS Inspector General on Inhumane Treatment of Immigrants at the Northwest Detention Center,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Denny Heck (WA-10), and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Cuffari about the treatment of individuals at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). The letter comes after a troubling report was released by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights on the misuse of solitary confinement at the NWDC.

""For years, we have raised concerns about reports of inadequate health care, medical neglect, and the inhumane treatment of individuals detained at the NWDC,"" wrote the members. ""Due to the demonstrated lack of transparency, accountability, and decency documented in the Center for Human Rights report and past reviews conducted by your office, we request an immediate investigation into the recent allegations of violence against detained immigrants and a comprehensive review of the use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.""

""Solitary confinement is not the only pressing issue at the NWDC,"" the members continued. ""With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading to record levels, including in Pierce County, individuals in immigration detention centers remain extremely vulnerable to outbreaks. Several individuals detained at the NWDC are reportedly on hunger strikes in protest of inadequate policies and a lack of communication regarding the spread and prevention of COVID-19. In addition, our offices have been made aware of serious allegations of violence and abuse against detained immigrants in recent weeks. These recent allegations are even more alarming given the history of retaliation, the significant use of solitary confinement, and a lack of transparency at the NWDC.""

You can read the full letter here and below:

Dear Inspector General Cuffari:

We write to bring your attention to the human rights conditions at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington. For years, we have raised concerns about reports of inadequate health care, medical neglect, and the inhumane treatment of individuals detained at the NWDC. Further, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and concern over potential spread at the NWDC has continued to exacerbate our need for communication regarding these reports.

On November 30, 2020, the University of Washington Center for Human Rights released a troubling report examining the considerable use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.[1] According to data provided by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the NWDC detains people in solitary confinement longer than any other ICE facility in the country. The report also found that 34 percent of solitary confinement placements between September 2013 and March 2020 were flagged to indicate the person had been previously diagnosed with a mental illness. The use of solitary confinement for individuals diagnosed with mental illness is contrary to international law and ICE's own standards that the GEO Group purports to follow, and is seriously concerning. In addition, the report documents the use of solitary confinement as retaliation against individuals engaging in hunger strikes or speaking out against conditions at the NWDC.

The findings from the Center for Human Rights are consistent with a report issued by your office on June 3, 2019 highlighting the misuse of solitary confinement at several immigration detention centers around the country. The widespread misuse of solitary confinement at the NWDC was also raised with your office in a letter sent on October 23, 2019.[2] In July of this year, the Capping Report released by the OIG following an unannounced inspection of the NWDC in March 2019 found inappropriate segregation practices that ""violate detention policies and standards, and infringe on detainee rights.""[3] In addition, it appears the investigation by your office into the tragic death of Mergansana Amar on November 24, 2018, who was kept in solitary confinement at the NWDC before his death, has yet to be completed, despite rising concerns regarding the safety and rights of detained immigrants.

Solitary confinement is not the only pressing issue at the NWDC. With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading to record levels, including in Pierce County,[4] individuals in immigration detention centers remain extremely vulnerable to outbreaks. Several individuals detained at the NWDC are reportedly on hunger strikes in protest of inadequate policies and a lack of communication regarding the spread and prevention of COVID-19. In addition, our offices have been made aware of serious allegations of violence and abuse against detained immigrants in recent weeks. These recent allegations are even more alarming given the history of retaliation, the significant use of solitary confinement, and a lack of transparency at the NWDC. The OIG previously found that individuals detained at the NWDC have difficulties resolving problems through existing grievance and communications systems and identified a failure by staff at the NWDC to properly document grievance logs.[5]

Due to the demonstrated lack of transparency, accountability, and decency documented in the Center for Human Rights report and past reviews conducted by your office, we request an immediate investigation into the recent allegations of violence against detained immigrants and a comprehensive review of the use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=BD07627F-C608-4EE4-BAA0-E3D2F64F81FD,Washington Members Send Letter to DHS Inspector General on Inhumane Treatment of Immigrants at the Northwest Detention Center,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representatives Adam Smith (WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Denny Heck (WA-10), and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Cuffari about the treatment of individuals at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). The letter comes after a troubling report was released by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights on the misuse of solitary confinement at the NWDC.
For years, we have raised concerns about reports of inadequate health care, medical neglect, and the inhumane treatment of individuals detained at the NWDC, wrote the members. Due to the demonstrated lack of transparency, accountability, and decency documented in the Center for Human Rights report and past reviews conducted by your office, we request an immediate investigation into the recent allegations of violence against detained immigrants and a comprehensive review of the use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.
Solitary confinement is not the only pressing issue at the NWDC, the members continued. With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading to record levels, including in Pierce County, individuals in immigration detention centers remain extremely vulnerable to outbreaks. Several individuals detained at the NWDC are reportedly on hunger strikes in protest of inadequate policies and a lack of communication regarding the spread and prevention of COVID-19. In addition, our offices have been made aware of serious allegations of violence and abuse against detained immigrants in recent weeks. These recent allegations are even more alarming given the history of retaliation, the significant use of solitary confinement, and a lack of transparency at the NWDC.
You can read the full letter here and below:
Dear Inspector General Cuffari:
We write to bring your attention to the human rights conditions at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington. For years, we have raised concerns about reports of inadequate health care, medical neglect, and the inhumane treatment of individuals detained at the NWDC. Further, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and concern over potential spread at the NWDC has continued to exacerbate our need for communication regarding these reports.
On November 30, 2020, the University of Washington Center for Human Rights released a troubling report examining the considerable use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.[1] According to data provided by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the NWDC detains people in solitary confinement longer than any other ICE facility in the country. The report also found that 34 percent of solitary confinement placements between September 2013 and March 2020 were flagged to indicate the person had been previously diagnosed with a mental illness. The use of solitary confinement for individuals diagnosed with mental illness is contrary to international law and ICE's own standards that the GEO Group purports to follow, and is seriously concerning. In addition, the report documents the use of solitary confinement as retaliation against individuals engaging in hunger strikes or speaking out against conditions at the NWDC.
The findings from the Center for Human Rights are consistent with a report issued by your office on June 3, 2019 highlighting the misuse of solitary confinement at several immigration detention centers around the country. The widespread misuse of solitary confinement at the NWDC was also raised with your office in a letter sent on October 23, 2019.[2] In July of this year, the Capping Report released by the OIG following an unannounced inspection of the NWDC in March 2019 found inappropriate segregation practices that violate detention policies and standards, and infringe on detainee rights.[3] In addition, it appears the investigation by your office into the tragic death of Mergansana Amar on November 24, 2018, who was kept in solitary confinement at the NWDC before his death, has yet to be completed, despite rising concerns regarding the safety and rights of detained immigrants.
Solitary confinement is not the only pressing issue at the NWDC. With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading to record levels, including in Pierce County,[4] individuals in immigration detention centers remain extremely vulnerable to outbreaks. Several individuals detained at the NWDC are reportedly on hunger strikes in protest of inadequate policies and a lack of communication regarding the spread and prevention of COVID-19. In addition, our offices have been made aware of serious allegations of violence and abuse against detained immigrants in recent weeks. These recent allegations are even more alarming given the history of retaliation, the significant use of solitary confinement, and a lack of transparency at the NWDC. The OIG previously found that individuals detained at the NWDC have difficulties resolving problems through existing grievance and communications systems and identified a failure by staff at the NWDC to properly document grievance logs.[5]
Due to the demonstrated lack of transparency, accountability, and decency documented in the Center for Human Rights report and past reviews conducted by your office, we request an immediate investigation into the recent allegations of violence against detained immigrants and a comprehensive review of the use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-slams-trump-administrations-lame-duck-rush-to-sell-oil-drilling-rights-in-arctic-refuge-,Cantwell Slams Trump Administration’s Lame-Duck Rush to Sell Oil Drilling Rights in Arctic Refuge,2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.03.20
    			 Cantwell Slams Trump Administration's Lame-Duck Rush to Sell Oil Drilling Rights in Arctic Refuge  
    			
				
    			WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump administration will seek to sell oil drilling rights in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in an auction on January 6, before President-elect Biden is sworn into office:
Six decades after President Eisenhower enacted permanent protections for the irreplaceable Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, President Trump is announcing he will sell the rights to drill and destroy this fragile million year-old ecosystem. This lame-duck Interior Department attack on our environment ignores the fact that major oil companies are not interested in spending billions for the chance at extracting expensive Arctic oil a decade from now. Every major U.S. bank has vowed to not finance Arctic Refuge development. And the incoming administration has promised to permanently protect the Arctic Refuge for future generations. Hopefully the courts will overturn this reckless lease sale based on the Interior Department's purposeful suppression of science and procedural shortcuts.
Cantwell has been the leading congressional champion of the Arctic Refuge and repeatedly fought back against efforts to drill in the pristine wilderness throughout her time in office. Last month, Cantwell blasted the Trump administration's last-ditch rush to approve drilling leases in the ANWR before President-elect Biden is sworn into office. In September 2019, Cantwell introduced legislation to permanently protect the refuge from oil and gas drilling. She has repeatedly voiced support for protecting the refuge and has cosponsored multiple bills to designate its coastal plain as a wilderness area. In December of 2005, Cantwell led a historic filibuster that reversed a backdoor maneuver in the Senate to allow drilling in the refuge.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-washington-members-send-letter-to-dhs-inspector-general-on-inhumane-treatment-of-immigrants-at-the-northwest-detention-center,"Cantwell, Washington Members Send Letter to DHS Inspector General on Inhumane Treatment of Immigrants at the Northwest Detention Center",2020-12-03,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.03.20
    			 Cantwell, Washington Members Send Letter to DHS Inspector General on Inhumane Treatment of Immigrants at the Northwest Detention Center 
    			
				
    			WASHINGTON, D.C.  U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D, WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Derek Kilmer (D, WA-06), Denny Heck (D, WA-10), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Cuffari about the treatment of individuals at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). The letter comes after a troubling report was released by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights on the misuse of solitary confinement at the NWDC.
For years, we have raised concerns about reports of inadequate health care, medical neglect, and the inhumane treatment of individuals detained at the NWDC, wrote the members.Due to the demonstrated lack of transparency, accountability, and decency documented in the Center for Human Rights report and past reviews conducted by your office, we request an immediate investigation into the recent allegations of violence against detained immigrants and a comprehensive review of the use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.
Solitary confinement is not the only pressing issue at the NWDC, the members continued. With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading to record levels, including in Pierce County, individuals in immigration detention centers remain extremely vulnerable to outbreaks. Several individuals detained at the NWDC are reportedly on hunger strikes in protest of inadequate policies and a lack of communication regarding the spread and prevention of COVID-19. In addition, our offices have been made aware of serious allegations of violence and abuse against detained immigrants in recent weeks. These recent allegations are even more alarming given the history of retaliation, the significant use of solitary confinement, and a lack of transparency at the NWDC.
The full text of the letter is available below andHERE:
Dear Inspector General Cuffari:
We write to bring your attention to the human rights conditions at the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington. For years, we have raised concerns about reports of inadequate health care, medical neglect, and the inhumane treatment of individuals detained at the NWDC. Further, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and concern over potential spread at the NWDC has continued to exacerbate our need for communication regarding these reports.
On November 30, 2020, the University of Washington Center for Human Rights released a troubling report examining the considerable use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.According to data provided by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the NWDC detains people in solitary confinement longer than any other ICE facility in the country. The report also found that 34 percent of solitary confinement placements between September 2013 and March 2020 were flagged to indicate the person had been previously diagnosed with a mental illness. The use of solitary confinement for individuals diagnosed with mental illness is contrary to international law and ICE's own standards that the GEO Group purports to follow, and is seriously concerning. In addition, the report documents the use of solitary confinement as retaliation against individuals engaging in hunger strikes or speaking out against conditions at the NWDC.
The findings from the Center for Human Rights are consistent with a report issued by your office on June 3, 2019 highlighting the misuse of solitary confinement at several immigration detention centers around the country. The widespread misuse of solitary confinement at the NWDC was also raised with your office in a letter sent on October 23, 2019. In July of this year, the Capping Report released by the OIG following an unannounced inspection of the NWDC in March 2019 found inappropriate segregation practices that violate detention policies and standards, and infringe on detainee rights.In addition, it appears the investigation by your office into the tragic death of Mergansana Amar on November 24, 2018, who was kept in solitary confinement at the NWDC before his death, has yet to be completed, despite rising concerns regarding the safety and rights of detained immigrants.
Solitary confinement is not the only pressing issue at the NWDC. With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading to record levels, including in Pierce County, individuals in immigration detention centers remain extremely vulnerable to outbreaks. Several individuals detained at the NWDC are reportedly on hunger strikes in protest of inadequate policies and a lack of communication regarding the spread and prevention of COVID-19. In addition, our offices have been made aware of serious allegations of violence and abuse against detained immigrants in recent weeks. These recent allegations are even more alarming given the history of retaliation, the significant use of solitary confinement, and a lack of transparency at the NWDC. The OIG previously found that individuals detained at the NWDC have difficulties resolving problems through existing grievance and communications systems and identified a failure by staff at the NWDC to properly document grievance logs.
Due to the demonstrated lack of transparency, accountability, and decency documented in the Center for Human Rights report and past reviews conducted by your office, we request an immediate investigation into the recent allegations of violence against detained immigrants and a comprehensive review of the use of solitary confinement at the NWDC.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-selected-as-republican-leader-of-the-energy-and-commerce-committee/,McMorris Rodgers Selected as Republican Leader of the Energy and Commerce Committee,2020-12-02,2020,2020-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement after being selected by her colleagues as the Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee:

I'm honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to serve as the Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This committee is critical to addressing the issues that matter to people in Eastern Washington, like bridging the digital divide, bringing doctors to rural communities, keeping energy rates low, and protecting free speech online,said McMorris Rodgers.We are in a battle for the heart and soul of America. From blatant assaults on free speech, to Medicare-for-All, to the Green New Deal, Energy and Commerce is at the very center of the battles for freedom to beat socialism and hope to beat fear. My goal is to maximize Energy and Commerce to secure America's and Eastern Washington's future as the best place in the world to innovate, save lives, and raise people's standard of living.

NOTE:The House Energy and Commerce Committee has broad jurisdiction over health care, energy, environment, technology, data, broadband, and much more.Read more here.

# # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2675,DelBene Elected Chair of Moderate New Democrat Coalition,2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"DelBene Elected Chair of Moderate New Democrat Coalition 
   
    
       
      
  
    
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        Washington, DC,
        December 1, 2020
      
       
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
      
      
      Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) was unanimously elected Chair of the New Democrat Coalition for the 117th Congress. The coalition is comprised of the moderate members of the U.S. House of Representatives who represent the purple districts that are the key to maintaining the Democratic House majority. New Dems will be essential to moving legislation in the next Congress because of their close alignment with the incoming Biden-Harris administration.
The New Democrat Coalition has a unique opportunity to deliver real change in the 117th Congress and I look forward to leading this diverse coalition during this pivotal time. New Dems and its policy ideas are closely aligned to the incoming Biden-Harris administration and we will be a key partner in building the coalitions necessary to address the multiple crises the nation is currently facing,said DelBene. One of the top things I hear from constituents is that they want governance to work again. After years of gridlock and obstructionism, I'm focused on getting to yes' on the biggest issues before us including additional pandemic relief, better health care for all Americans, getting the middle class back to work with living wages, and investing in new, green infrastructure.
DelBene has been a member of the New Dems since arriving in Congress in 2012. She is currently the coalition's Vice Chair for Policy Coordination and has served in other leadership roles.
She will take over from Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and is the first woman to serve in this role since 2009.
    
  
  
  
    
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https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-colleagues-request-extension-of-covid-19-pandemic-unemployment-support-programs,"Cantwell, Colleagues Request Extension of COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support Programs",2020-12-01,2020,2020-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.01.20
    			 Cantwell, Colleagues Request Extension of COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support Programs 
    			
				
    			WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 31 of her colleagues in urging Senate leaders to include an extension of two critical financial lifelines for Americans affected by the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in any upcoming relief package.
Currently, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program  which provides unemployment assistance to domestic workers, freelance workers, contractors, and other workers in alternative work arrangements  and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program  which temporarily provides a 13-week extension of benefits for those whose regular unemployment benefits have expired but are still struggling to find employment during the pandemic  are set to expire on December 26th, just one day after Christmas. However, these programs are still as vital as ever as the country faces more than five times the number of COVID-19 cases as in the spring. Currently more than twice the number of Americans are participating in these programs as in the regular state unemployment system. According to data from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD), 464,884 Washingtonians claimed unemployment benefits during the week of November 15-21.
As the virus surges going into the winter months, the loss of benefits at this time is particularly cruel. A recent report from The Century Foundation suggests that nearly 12 million workers could lose coverage once these programs expire over the holiday. In other words, roughly 12 million American workers will lose benefits this season for a job they lost through no fault of their own, the senators wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
What's more, the loss of emergency benefits compounds the hardships many families are already facing in this economy. Since May, researchers have found that roughly 8 million Americans have slipped into poverty. That is the equivalent of the entire population of Virginia or Washington (as well as the combined populations of Kentucky and Oregon) falling into poverty over the span of a few months, the senators continued Right now, one in six adults with children report that their household did not have enough to eat in the last seven days. For Black and Latino households, that figure is roughly one in five. Still worse, nearly 30% of households with children are not caught up with their rent payments. In other words, going into this holiday season, millions of additional American families are living below the poverty line, unable to provide sufficient food for their households and likely facing evictions from their home.
In the letter, the senators urged for these programs to be extended with additional weeks of eligibility for workers, noting that approximately 4.4 million workers across the country will have already run out of benefits by the end of the year, with millions more exhausting their benefits next year. This includes workers in the service and arts sectors, among other industries who continue to struggle nearly nine months into the pandemic.
The letter to Senate leadership was led by U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and, in addition to Cantwell, was signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Angus King (I-ME).
The full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.
Dear Leader McConnell and Leader Schumer:
As the Senate considers the next coronavirus relief package, we urge you to include extensions of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program and the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program. We also urge you to include additional weeks of benefits for both programs. Right now, there are more than twice the number of Americans participating in these two programs combined as there are in the regular state unemployment system. These workers are all facing job loss that has nothing to do with their skills, abilities, or performance.
Congress created these programs to patch up the holes in our social safety net during a global pandemic. Congress stood up the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program to disburse benefits to workers who would normally not be eligible for unemployment assistance for a variety of reasons. These workers include employees with insufficient earnings or work history to qualify, domestic workers, freelance workers, contractors, and other workers in alternative work arrangements. Similarly, recognizing that most regular state unemployment programs provide only 26 weeks of coverage for workers (with some states providing as few as 12 weeks), Congress also created the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program to provide an extension of unemployment benefits to the long-term unemployed who exhaust their regular unemployment benefits. Both of these programs are set to expire on December 26th, the day after Christmas.
As the virus surges going into the winter months, the loss of benefits at this time is particularly cruel. A recent report from The Century Foundation suggests that nearly 12 million workers could lose coverage once these programs expire over the holiday. In other words, roughly 12 million American workers will lose benefits this season for a job they lost through no fault of their own. For many, the knowledge of this benefits cliff will hang over them while they celebrate Christmas morning, share a meal for Christmas dinner, or observe other holidays with their families in the middle of what has already been a difficult and tragic year. Those who are socially distancing from their families for their safety as well as the nation's overall public health will likely experience this loss of federal financial assistance entirely alone.
What's more, the loss of emergency benefits compounds the hardships many families are already facing in this economy. Since May, researchers have found that roughly 8 million Americans have slipped into poverty. That is the equivalent of the entire population of Virginia or Washington (as well as the combined populations of Kentucky and Oregon) falling into poverty over the span of a few months. Right now, one in six adults with children report that their household did not have enough to eat in the last seven days. For Black and Latino households, that figure is roughly one in five. Still worse, nearly 30% of households with children are not caught up with their rent payments. In other words, going into this holiday season, millions of additional American families are living below the poverty line, unable to provide sufficient food for their households and likely facing evictions from their home.
To address the economic hardships workers are facing during this time, these programs should be extended with additional weeks of eligibility for workers. Around 4.4 million workers will have already run out of benefits by the end of the year, regardless of their surrounding economic situation, and millions more will exhaust them next year if Congress does not add additional weeks of eligibility to both programs. We know that this virus has hit certain industries and sectors harder than others, particularly in the service sector and in the arts. Many workers need additional weeks of eligibility in these programs because demand for their services or industry has cratered during the pandemic.
We know that it was the bipartisan intention of these emergency unemployment programs to provide all workers access to a safety net during this crisis, regardless of their worker classification status. Even the U.S. Secretary of Labor, Eugene Scalia, acknowledged in a Senate Finance Committee hearing on June 9th that these are important programs. On PUA, he noted that workers were given financial support through the unemployment insurance benefit they received, which was a very good benefit for a closing economy. Today, with more than 20 million Americans claiming unemployment insurance benefits in all of the programs offered, we are still in the middle of an unemployment crisis. In fact, the pandemic was the main impetus for the creation of these programs in March and, right now, we are averaging over five times the number of COVID-19 cases we had in the spring. It is clear that these programs are important lifelines for workers during this crisis and need to be extended with additional weeks of eligibility.
Moving forward beyond this crisis, we will need to prioritize a dramatic update and reform to our unemployment system. Congress created the PUA and PEUC programs with the knowledge that our regular unemployment program is part of a patchwork system of worker benefits, inadequate for covering a nation facing an emergency public health crisis. The patchwork nature of American benefits does not disappear at the end of this crisis. With more than twice the number of workers presently participating in programs that did not exist before the passage of the CARES Act compared to regular programs, we will need to prioritize reforming our social safety net so that every American can gain access to a support system during times of need. Our social safety net should not require an Act of Congress to serve the American public well in the face of a disaster.
We appreciate your past support for the provisions in the CARES Act that created these programs to begin with and which intended for all workers to access a basic safety net. We owe the American public the peace of mind this holiday season that Congress will continue to support them during this crisis.
Sincerely,
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/pebble-mine-permit-denied_-cantwell-continues-push-for-permanent-protections-for-critical-watershed,Pebble Mine Permit Denied - Cantwell Continues Push for Permanent Protections for Critical Watershed,2020-11-25,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.25.20
    			 Pebble Mine Permit Denied - Cantwell Continues Push for Permanent Protections for Critical Watershed 
    			
				
    			WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement after the Army Corps of Engineers denied a permit for the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska:
The science is clear: the Pebble Mine could have destroyed the Bristol Bay ecosystem and the millions of wild salmon that depend on it. So I'm pleased but not surprised the Corps finally denied the permit for this ill-conceived megaproject. I look forward to working with the incoming administration and the Alaska delegation to establish permanent protections for Bristol Bay and promote more sustainable economic opportunities for the local communities living around these irreplaceable lands. Healthy salmon runs are the backbone of our fishing and outdoor economy throughout the region, and we must do everything we can to protect it.
Today's decision comes after the Army Corps of Engineers decided inAugustthat the Pebble Mine project could not move forward as proposed due to the substantial adverse environmental impacts the project could have on the Bristol Bay watershed.
Senator Cantwell has been leading the fight to protect Alaska's Bristol Bayone of the largest salmon fisheries in the worldand the fishermen and industries that rely on these salmon. The seafood sector makes up 60 percent of the 30 billion dollar maritime economy in Washington state, which as a whole supports over 146,000 jobs.
Cantwell has been vocal about the devastation that Pebble Mine could bring to the Pacific Northwest, repeatedly criticizing various members of the administration for downplaying the threat of the mine. In September, Cantwell called for a Department of Justice investigation to examine discrepancies between what company executives promoting the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, said in leaked tapes and how they characterized the project's scope and plans in legally-binding documents. In October of 2017, Cantwell and other members of the Washington state congressional delegation urged President Trump to listen to Washington fishermen and businesses before removing protections from Bristol Bay. In May 2018, Cantwell called on the Trump administration to hold public meetings in Washington state on the proposal and increase transparency for the permitting process. In July 2019, Cantwell slammed the Trump administration's decision to withdraw protections for Bristol Bay.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-conflict-ethiopia,Rep. Smith Statement on the Conflict in Ethiopia,2020-11-24,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the ongoing conflict in Tigray.

""The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ethiopia is extremely concerning. It is imperative that Prime Minister Abiy's government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front reach a ceasefire in the near term and engage in dialogue to resolve the dispute peacefully. Tens of thousands of people have already been displaced from their homes, at least hundreds have died, and humanitarian access to the region has been nearly impossible. It is critical that all parties involved work with partners to immediately open humanitarian access to ensure food, water, and supplies can reach the region.

""Further military action is not the solution to this conflict, and I urge the United States to continue to press Prime Minister Abiy to participate in ongoing negotiation efforts led by the African Union. We must work with regional partners and all parties to de-escalate tensions, protect civilians, and open up access to humanitarian organizations. Without immediate de-escalation, the livelihoods of millions of people will be further jeopardized, and the conflict threatens to spiral into an even wider regional crisis.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-applauds-bidens-key-national-security-and-foreign-policy-appointments,Rep. Smith Applauds Biden's Key National Security and Foreign Policy Appointments,2020-11-23,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after President-elect Biden announced appointments for key roles in national security and foreign policy.

""President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have started to assemble stellar and historic national security and foreign policy teams that are well respected both at home and abroad. These leaders with diverse backgrounds and decades of experience will without a doubt be ready to hit the ground running on day one.

""The incoming administration will undertake the monumental task of repairing the damage left behind from the Trump Administration, restoring America's global leadership, and advancing a foreign policy that reflects our values and the interest of the American people. The nominees share the understanding that to address the challenges facing the world today, we must work with our allies and partners. From human rights to climate change and the refugee crisis, I am confident these nominees are prepared to help lead the U.S. on the many complex challenges we face.

""Congratulations to nominees Antony Blinken, Secretary of State; Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, United States Ambassador to the United Nations; Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence; Former Secretary of State John Kerry, Special Envoy for Climate; and Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor. I look forward to working with these nominees to advance our shared interests here and around the world.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-applauds-house-passage-national-apprenticeship-act-reauthorization,Rep. Smith Applauds House Passage of the National Apprenticeship Act Reauthorization,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement following House passage of the reauthorization of the National Apprenticeship Act which would invest in increasing access to Registered Apprenticeships (RAs), codify and streamline existing standards that are vital to support RAs, and invest and expand the successful RA model to youth apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.

""Our nation is in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and the economic hardships and inequities impacting jobless workers and families are continuing to worsen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many out of work, now is the time to invest in Registered Apprenticeships - some of the most successful workforce training programs in the country - which provide paid, on-the-job learning opportunities and a pathway to quality, family-sustaining jobs.

""The National Apprenticeship Act would invest more than $3.5 billion over five years to create nearly 1 million additional apprenticeship opportunities in existing and emerging industry sectors. Expanding access to apprenticeships ensures more workers have a pathway to stable, lifelong careers and accelerates our nation's economic recovery. Additionally, I successfully included an amendment that would enable pre-apprenticeship programs to offer stipends to pre-apprentices to assist with the financial costs of participating in these programs such as housing, childcare, transportation, and more. This financial assistance will ensure both pre-apprenticeship programs and apprenticeship programs are more widely accessible for those who may face financial hardship.

""While workers and families continue to struggle with economic hardships amidst the pandemic, we must do all we can to help people obtain the education and skills needed to succeed and get through this crisis, and help build an economic recovery for a better future.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2674,Kidney Caucus Welcomes HHS Decision to Improve Organ Procurement Performance and Save Lives,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congressional Kidney Caucus Co-Chairs, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Larry Bucshon (IN-08), released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule that will increase the number of organ transplants performed each year by holding Organ Procurement Organizations to a higher standard.
As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Kidney Caucus, we welcome HHS finalizing changes to organ transplant accountability rules. These necessary changes will force Organ Procurement Organizations to improve their performance and deliver more organs to Americans in need. Today, 91,949 patients are waiting for a kidney transplant but only 32,579 transplants have been performed this year. Actions like the one announced today give those waiting for transplants renewed hope.
The announcement follows a letter sent in August in which DelBene, Bucshon, and other members urged the administration to finalize the organ accountability rule.
The final rule can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmers-bipartisan-amendment-to-boost-computer-science-apprenticeships-included-in-house-passed-apprenticeship-bill,Kilmer’s Bipartisan Amendment to Boost Computer Science Apprenticeships Included in House-Passed Apprenticeship Bill,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"11.20.20
			 Kilmer's Bipartisan Amendment to Boost Computer Science Apprenticeships Included in House-Passed Apprenticeship Bill 
			Washington, D.C.  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, which invests more than $3.5 billion over 5 years in expanding opportunities and access to Registered Apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeships. The legislation included Representative Derek Kilmer's (WA-06) bipartisan amendment to ensure computer science youth apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and apprenticeship programs are prioritized for funding through the comprehensive legislation.
We know that apprenticeship programs are one of the most effective paths to high quality, work-based learning in America. And in today's changing economy, it's important to continue to find ways to prepare our kids for the jobs of the future - jobs in advanced manufacturing, health care, technology, green jobs, and computer science, said Rep. Kilmer. That's why I'm proud that in addition to investing broadly in apprenticeship programs across the board, Congress included my bipartisan amendment to expand access to computer science youth apprenticeship programs. These investments will provide more 21st century job opportunities for our kids, more qualified employees for our local employers, and more economic resiliency for our communities.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 94 percent of people who complete Registered Apprenticeships are employed upon completion, earning an average starting wage of above $70,000 annually. Yet, according to the most recent data, only 0.3 percent of the overall workforce in America have completed an apprenticeship.
During a time of record unemployment, the National Apprenticeships Acts of 2020 would mark the first time the National Apprenticeship system has been comprehensively updated since 1937. The bill also takes the critical first step of codifying into federal law youth and pre-apprenticeship programs, a measure that Rep. Kilmer has long supported through his own legislation - the Compete for the Future Act. The Compete for the Future Actempowers the Department of Education, with the advice of the Department of Labor, to run a prize competition that would award eligible youth and pre-apprenticeship programs with investments to expand their programs and serve more students.
According to the House Committee on Education and Labor, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 is expected to create nearly 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities on top of the current expected growth of the apprenticeship system. It is also expected to yield $10.6 billion in net benefits to U.S. taxpayers in the form of increased workers productivity and decreased spending on public-assistance programs and unemployment insurance.
By increasing investments in the national apprenticeship system, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 aims to begin to bring America's investments in apprenticeships more in line with countries around the world. The U.S. spends only about 0.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on workforce training and employment programs, while peer industrialized nations spend roughly six times as much as a share of GDP.
The legislation aims to expand the nation's workforce development system during our nation's deepest economic decline since the Great Depression and increase diversity within the national apprenticeship system.
The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Healthcare Career Advancement Program (H-CAP), Jobs for the Future (JFF), Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), National Skills Coalition (NSC), National Taskforce on Tradeswomen's Issues (TWTF), North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU), National Urban League (NUL), and Third Way. 
	
	  

	
	
	
	
	
	
	

 
	    	  
		    
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		    	Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mcmorris.house.gov/my-votes-week-of-november-16th/,My Votes – Week of November 16th,2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"Result and Date
Bill #
Bill Title
My Vote
What it means for you and your family
11/16/2020
PASSED
401-0
S. 327
Wounded Veterans Recreation Act
YES
This legislation would make it so that any veteran with a service-connected disability can get a free lifetime National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. It would also give a free pass to any other US citizen who is permanently disabled.
11/16/2020
PASSED
394-0
S. 3147
Improving Safety and Security for Veterans Act
YES
This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report on the policies and procedures relating to patient safety and quality of care and the steps the VA has taken to improve such care at VA medical centers. After any investigation or trial concludes, the VA must also report on the events involving deaths that occurred at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and the actions the VA has taken to prevent any similar recurrence.
11/17/2020
PASSED
395-4
H.R. 4611
Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II
YES
This bill modifies permitting requirements regarding the discharge of any pollutant from the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.
11/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 1964
Lumbee Recognition Act
YES
Extends federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and makes its members eligible for the services and benefits provided to members of federally recognized tribes.
11/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 6327
PRC for Native Veterans Act
YES
Specifies that the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense must reimburse the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribes, or tribal organizations for health care services provided to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans, regardless of whether such services are provided directly by the IHS, tribes, or tribal organizations, or through certain contracts for services.
11/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 1069
Digital Coast Act
YES
Reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the National Sea Grant College Program, through which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) supports university-based programs that focus on studying, conserving, and effectively using U.S. coastal resources.
11/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 910
National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2020
YES
Reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the National Sea Grant College Program, through which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) supports university-based programs that focus on studying, conserving, and effectively using U.S. coastal resources.
11/16/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 3587
Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act of 2019
YES
Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress regarding the accessibility of VA websites (including attached files and web-based applications) to individuals with disabilities.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4499
NIMHD Research Endowment Revitalization Act of 2020
YES
Expands research endowments available through the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities to include former centers of excellence at certain historically black colleges and universities and at biomedical and behavioral research institutions with a significant number of minority students.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5668
MODERN Labeling Act of 2020
YES
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to modernize the labeling of certain generic drugs
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4712
Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act
YES
Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to limitations on exclusive approval or licensure of orphan drugs
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 2466
State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2020
YES
 Reauthorizes through FY2024 the State Opioid Response Grants program that is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 2281
Easy MAT for Opioid Addiction Act
YES
Requires the Drug Enforcement Administration to revise regulations to allow a practitioner to administer up to a three-day supply of narcotic drugs to an individual at one time for purposes of relieving acute withdrawal symptoms while the individual awaits arrangements for narcotic treatment.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 2117
FASTER Act of 2020
YES
Directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand data collection of information related to food allergies and specific allergens and revises the definition of major allergen to specifically include sesame. The Department of Health and Human Services may designate additional food ingredients as major allergens based on the prevalence and severity of allergic reactions through regulation.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5855
Bipartisan Solution to Cyclical Violence Act of 2020
YES
Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a grant program for specified trauma centers and nonprofits to establish or expand intervention or prevention programs related to intentional violent trauma, excluding intimate partner violence.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 3878
Block, Report, and Suspend Suspicious Act of 2020
YES
Creates additional requirements for drug manufacturers and distributors who discover a suspicious order for controlled substances.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4806
DEBAR Act of 2020
YES
Prohibit any person from registering to manufacture or dispense a controlled substance if the person has a history of suspended registrations.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4812
Ensuring Compliance Against Drug Diversion Act of 2020
YES
Amends the Controlled Substances Act to provide for the modification, transfer, and termination of a registration to manufacture, distribute, or dispense controlled substances or list I chemicals
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 6096
READI Act
YES
Includes emergency alerts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a type of alert that mobile subscribers may not block from their devices. (Currently, only alerts from the President may not be blocked.)
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 6624
USA Telecommunications Act
YES
Establishes a program through which the Department of Commerce shall award grants to support the deployment and use of Open RAN 5G Networks throughout the United States.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7310
Spectrum IT Modernization Act of 2020
YES
Require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit to Congress a plan for the modernization of the information technology systems of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 2610
Fraud and Scam Reduction Act
YES
Establishes a Senior Scams Prevention Advisory Council, which shall create model educational materials to educate employees of retailers, financial-services companies, and wire-transfer companies on how to identify and prevent scams that affect seniors.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 6435
Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020
YES
Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in consultation with relevant agencies, to inform the public about mail, telemarketing, and internet scams related to COVID-19. The FTC must establish a national database for such information and must also disseminate information on how to report COVID-19-related scams to the appropriate agency.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8121
Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act
YES
This bill requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to report, and make available to the public, information about injuries and deaths from consumer products during the coronavirus public health emergency.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8408
Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act
YES
Addresses certain safety standards relating to the aircraft certification process.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8266
FEMA Assistance Relief Act of 2020
YES
Modifies the federal cost share of certain emergency assistance relating to COVID-19.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8326
CED Act
YES
Requires grant applicants for certain public works and economic development projects to describe in their comprehensive economic development strategy how they will increase the accessibility of affordable, quality child care.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5919
National Children's Museum Act
YES
Requires the General Services Administration (GSA) to enter into a cooperative agreement with the National Children's Museum with respect to the museum's occupancy of a specified space in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Among other things, the agreement must require the GSA to provide the rent so long as it owns or controls the space.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
S. 1869
Secure Federal LEASEs Act
YES
This bill instructs the General Services Administration (GSA), the Architect of the Capitol, or any federal agency (other than the Department of Defense and the intelligence community) that has independent statutory leasing authority (federal lessee), before entering into a lease agreement or approving a novation agreement with an entity involving a change of ownership under a lease that will be used for high-security leased space, to require the entity to identify the immediate or highest-level owner of the space and disclose whether that owner is a foreign person or entity, including the country associated with the ownership entity.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5953
Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act
YES
requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to waive certain debts owed to the United States related to disaster assistance provided to an individual or household.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4358
Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2020
YES
directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to (1) submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as carried out by FEMA in the five years before this bill's enactment; and (2) establish damage assessment teams within FEMA to conduct preliminary damage assessments with state and local governments and appropriate relief or disaster assistance organizations.
11/17/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 2914
Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2020
YES
Makes certain individuals and households eligible for housing assistance in connection with a major disaster, including Hurricane Maria of 2017. To be eligible, an individual or household must be occupying an otherwise unused or uninhabited property located in the area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have documented ownership rights to and is not renting the property, or residing or have resided in an area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have documentary proof of residence.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 1033
Condemning acts by the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region that violate fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents as well as acts that undermine Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy.
YES
This resolution condemns the advancement of China's national security legislation for Hong Kong. The resolution also advises the United States to coordinate with allies to respond to developments in Hong Kong, including by providing Hong Kong residents who face well-founded fears of persecution an opportunity to emigrate from Hong Kong.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 697
Affirming the significance of the advocacy for genuine autonomy for Tibetans in the People's Republic of China and the work His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has done to promote global peace, harmony, and understanding.
YES
This resolution recognizes both the cultural and religious significance of an autonomous Tibet. The resolution also presses for the assembly of a bipartisan, bicameral forum between Members of Congress and the Dalai Lama to discuss peaceful solutions to international conflicts.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 6334
Securing America from Epidemics Act
YES
Authorizes the United States to participate in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), an alliance of countries and private partners whose mission is to finance and coordinate the development of vaccines for high-priority, epidemic-potential threats.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 349
Reaffirming the vital role of the United States-Japan alliance in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific
YES
This resolution reaffirms the vital role of the U.S.-Japan alliance in promoting peace and stability and calls for further strengthening of ties.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 809
Expressing the importance of the United States alliance with the Republic of Korea and the contributions of Korean Americans in the United States
YES
This resolution recognizes the importance of the U.S.-Korea alliance in promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and calls for further strengthening ties between the countries.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 1012
Recognizing the historic transformation of the United States-Republic of Korea alliance since the Korean War into a mutually beneficial, global partnership.
YES
This resolution commemorates the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean war and expresses support for the alliance between the United States and South Korea. The resolution also commends the two countries' cooperation with respect to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4644
Libya Stabilization Act
YES
Provides for sanctions and aid related to the conflict in Libya.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 1062
Affirming the Nature of the United States-Iraq bilateral relationship, including security and economic components of the relationship
YES
This resolution expresses the House of Representatives' support for a sovereign and democratic Iraq and calls on the United States to provide continued support for Iraq and its citizens through trade and investment, medical assistance, and stabilization efforts coordinated with international partners. It also calls on Iraq to take appropriate action to protect U.S. diplomats and service members and to allow humanitarian and stabilization assistance programs to be implemented without delays or impediments.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7990
FENTANYL Results Act
YES
Prioritizes efforts of the Department of State to combat international trafficking in covered synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7276
East Africa Locust Eradication Act
YES
Establishes an interagency working group to assess the scope of the locust outbreaks in the East Africa region and their impacts on food security and political stability, including in the context of restrictions relating to COVID-19); review the effectiveness of regional and multilateral efforts to eradicate locust outbreaks; and develop and implement a plan to eradicate locust outbreaks and address future outbreaks.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5586
Haiti Development, Accountability, and Institutional Transparency Initiative Act
YES
This bill directs the Department of State to undertake specific initiatives to prioritize and assess (1) the protection and preservation of human rights in Haiti, (2) the promotion of press and assembly freedoms and the protection of journalists in Haiti, (3) efforts to combat corruption in Haiti, and (4) a strategy of post-disaster recovery and development efforts in Haiti.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7703
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act
YES
Authorizes appropriations for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, enhancing the United States-Caribbean security partnership, and prioritizing disaster resilience.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 672
Expressing support of the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to increase energy independence and infrastructure connectivity thereby strengthening the United States and European national security
YES
This resolution supports the Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to (1) increase energy resilience and infrastructure connectivity across Central and Eastern Europe; and (2) further the process of building a Europe that is undivided, secure, prosperous, and free.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 1145
Condemning the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and calling for a robust United States and international response.
YES
Condemps the recent poisoning of the Russian opposition leader and calls for investigations into the case from multiple international entities.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8259
To prohibit Russian participation in the G7, and for other purposes.
YES
This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to support or facilitate Russia's participation in a proceeding of the Group of Seven (a group consisting of the seven largest major advanced economies, as determined by the International Monetary Fund) or to reconstitute the Group of Eight to include Russia. (Russia was disinvited from the Group of Eight in 2014 after it occupied parts of Ukraine, including the Crimea region.)
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H. Res. 825
Urging the United States to continue to be a leader in supporting the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the global nonproliferation regime to reap the benefits the NPT and such regime bring to United States and international security.
YES
This resolution reaffirms support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The resolution urges the United States to continue to be a leader in promoting nonproliferation through specified measures.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4636
PLASTICS Act
YES
Authorizes the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to prioritize and advance global efforts to prevent and reduce marine debris and plastic waste.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8405
American Values and Security in International Athletics Act
YES
Requires the Department of State to distribute specified briefing materials to individuals representing the United States at international athletic competitions. These materials must contain information on human rights concerns and personal privacy and security risks posed by certain host countries (e.g., specified communist countries and countries that do not meet certain minimum standards with respect to human trafficking and are not making significant efforts to do so).
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 8438
Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020
YES
Expands the President's authority to impose sanctions related to Belarus to include activities surrounding the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election and subsequent government crackdown. The bill also expands authorized assistance to Belarus.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 5408
Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act
YES
Directs the President, when determining whether Russia is a country of particular concern for religious freedom under certain federal laws, to consider incidents occurring in the parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia or Russia-affiliated non-state groups.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 4802
To amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize rewards under the Department of State's rewards program relating to information regarding individuals or entities engaged in activities in contravention of United States or United Nations sanctions, and for other purposes.
YES
Expands the Department of State's rewards program to allow rewards for providing information that leads to the identification or location of an entity or individual that knowingly violates U.S. or United Nations sanctions.
11/18/2020
PASSED
VOICE
H.R. 7954
Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2020
YES
Extends through FY2025 authority for debt-for-nature swaps and debt buyback programs that reduce or convert debt obligations from eligible countries to the United States into funding for nature conservation and protection efforts in that country.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-murray-call-on-trump-gsa-administrator-to-end-unprecedented-delay-and-provide-critical-transition-resources-to-president-elect-biden_,"Cantwell, Murray Call On Trump GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden",2020-11-20,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.20.20
    			 Cantwell, Murray Call On Trump GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden   
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Delay in providing resources to Biden-Harris Transition creates unacceptable risks to pandemic response, national security
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, joined U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and their Democratic colleagues in calling on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to end her unprecedented delay, immediately ascertain Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President-elect, and make available the transition resources that are provided by law. This delay creates unacceptable risks to national security and pandemic response efforts as the United States passed more than 250,000 deaths, including more than 2,600 in Washington state according the state Department of Health.
The United States is in the midst of a pandemic that has now claimed over 250,000 lives, with the number of new cases rising daily. Our country also faces a number of ongoing threats, including physical and cyber attacks from foreign actors, violence from domestic extremists, and natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes, wrote the senators.
The GSA Administrator's ascertainment of a President-elect is also critical for agencies' willingness to share information with the transition team, including classified information, as well as for the expeditious processing of security clearances for candidates for high-level national security positions. Your delay in acknowledging Vice President Biden's status as President-elect could undermine efforts by the incoming Administration to meet the needs of the American people in a time of national emergency, continued the senators.
Under the Presidential Transition Act, GSA is charged with providing resources and support to the President-elect and Vice President-elect so they can be ready to govern from Day One. Administrator Murphy must complete the ascertainment process to allow the President-elect's transition team to receive needed information from agency officials at public health and national security agencies, ensure incoming national security officials can receive background checks and access to classified information and provide federal funding and resources to support the transition process.
A smooth and efficient transition is one of the hallmarks of American democracy. With the exception of the Presidential election in 2000 and the resulting recount, ascertainment by GSA normally happens within a day after a winner is declared, including in 2008 and 2016. The bipartisan 9/11 Commission found that the shortened transition following the 2000 recount created serious vulnerabilities, including delays related to key national security appointments.
The full text of the letter is available below and HERE.
November 19, 2020
Dear Administrator Murphy,
We are writing to express deep concern regarding reports that the General Services Administration (GSA) has delayed providing President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris with the resources they need to ensure a timely and efficient presidential transition. We urge you to immediately ascertain Vice President Biden as President-elect and Senator Harris as Vice President-elect and allow the transition team to receive the resources required under the law. We also request an urgent briefing on steps GSA is taking to ensure an orderly transition.
The United States is in the midst of a pandemic that has now claimed over 250,000 lives, with the number of new cases rising daily. Our country also faces a number of ongoing threats, including physical and cyberattacks from foreign actors, violence from domestic extremists, and natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes.[1] The independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission cited the shortened transition timeline for then President-elect George W. Bush as a factor in delaying key national security personnel appointments, potentially hampering the new Administration.[2] A timely transition is critical to ensure coordination between the current and incoming Administrations, provide the incoming Administration with the resources they need to immediately address these challenges, and safeguard the public health and our national security.
Under the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, as amended, GSA is charged with providing resources and support to the President-elect and Vice President-elect. Specifically, GSA must provide office space, communication services, funding for transition staff compensation, and other support. In response to a request from the Administration, Congress has appropriated $9.9 million to GSA for transition related activities.[3] The GSA Administrator's ascertainment of a President-elect is also critical for agencies' willingness to share information with the transition team, including classified information, as well as for the expeditious processing of security clearances for candidates for high-level national security positions. Your delay in acknowledging Vice President Biden's status as President-elect could undermine efforts by the incoming Administration to meet the needs of the American people in a time of national emergency.
This delay is also unprecedented. In both 2008 and 2016, President-elect Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump, respectively, were recognized by the GSA Administrator as President-elect within a day of the general election.[4] In 2000, this decision was delayed due to an ongoing court case regarding less than 1,000 votes in a single statea far closer election than this one. The results of this election are clear. Vice President Biden will be the next President of the United States, and Senator Harris will be the next Vice President. It is past time to recognize the will of the American people so that the work of government can continue.
The orderly transition of power from one President to another is a bedrock principle of our democracy and one of GSA's most important duties. We urge you to fulfill your responsibilities, ascertain Vice President Biden as President-elect and Senator Harris as Vice President-elect, and provide their transition team with the resources the law requires. We also request that, no later than November 30, 2020, GSA provide a briefing to staff of the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Appropriations, and Environment and Public Works regarding the presidential transition process and the support that GSA has provided to date.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-smith-and-langevin-pre-apprenticeship-stipend-amendment-added-national,Reps. Smith and Langevin Pre-Apprenticeship Stipend Amendment Added to National Apprenticeship Bill,2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) successfully included an amendment to the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 that would allow pre-apprenticeship programs to use grant funds under the legislation to provide stipends for participants to cover certain out-of-pocket costs such as housing, transportation, and childcare.

""With persistent inequities in our society and a struggling economy further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we must do more to help people obtain the education and skills they need to succeed,"" said Rep. Adam Smith. ""Rep. Langevin and I have heard from pre-apprenticeship programs in our districts that some of the biggest barriers people face entering and completing these programs are the costs to cover living expenses and fees associated with the programs themselves. This amendment would help pre-apprenticeship programs remove those barriers for students so they can obtain the initial credentials they need to enter an apprenticeship program and put them on a pathway to quality, high-paying jobs.""

""Pre-apprenticeship programs are valuable training opportunities that serve as the starting point of rewarding careers, and they are even more critical as we wrestle with the economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic,"" said Rep. Langevin, co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus. ""I'm joining Chairman Smith to advance legislation to provide financial support for out-of-pocket costs for hard-working Americans participating in these programs because it will help them advance and help the nation meet the growing demand for highly skilled workers. This legislation underpins the ‘earn and learn' approach that will prepare workers in areas ranging from advanced manufacturing to healthcare for success in a 21st century economy.""

This amendment that passed today was based on legislation recently introduced by Smith and Langevin, The Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2020. This legislation would establish a new grant program at the Department of Labor which would provide funding for pre-apprenticeship programs to use for direct support to pre-apprentices. Unlike most apprenticeship programs, pre-apprenticeship programs are usually unable to provide income support during the program. By allowing pre-apprenticeship programs to put grant funds towards stipends, it will help ensure equitable access and increased retention and completion of these programs.

Further, pre-apprenticeships will help students who have missed school time, especially those who have not been able to engage in in-person Career Technical Education (CTE) lab time, due to the pandemic. In an effort to prevent further spread of the virus, many facilities have had to close and thus limited access to hands-on experiences and training. Pre-apprenticeships will help bridge the knowledge gap and provide extra support to make up for lost learning time.

Text of the Amendment to H.R. 8294, the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020, can be found here and text of the Pre-Apprenticeship Wrap-around Support Services Fund Act of 2020 can be found here.

Statements of Support:

Karen Dove, Executive Director of ANEW:

""On average, each client needs about $1,000 of support service funding to be able to complete our 11-week training program. In return, they receive four industry recognized certificates, and are ready to enter apprenticeship with their driver's license and GED or diploma. This funding is critical to ensure those who are most in need are able to complete the program and transition to a family wage career.""

Shoshana Wineburg, MSW, Director of Public Policy & Communications, YouthCare:

""YouthCare is thrilled to support Congressman Smith's Amendment to H.R. 8294 to provide stipends for young people engaged in pre-apprenticeship programs. YouthCare is one of the largest organizations in Washington State serving youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. We know that safe housing is key to stability, but access to education and employment are key to maintaining that stability over time. Pre-apprenticeships play a significant role in helping young people build employment skills and create pathways to careers. Unfortunately, those pathways are often derailed because of cost barriers associated with housing, transportation, or childcare—which is exactly why this amendment is so important and why we're so excited to support it.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2673,"Trump Administration Issues Artificial Intelligence Guidance Following DelBene, Olson Urging",2020-11-19,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Co-Chair of the Women's High-Tech Coalition, and Pete Olson (TX-22), Co-Chair of the House Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus, today commended the White House for releasing guidance that outlines a government-wide approach to how federal agencies can implement AI systems to ensure they are safe and trustworthy. In August, DelBene and Olson led a bipartisan letter to the administration demanding the release of this critical information on AI.
The guidance is vital to ensuring the United States continues to stay at the leading edge of global competitiveness in emerging technology fields like AI. Countries like China and the European Union are currently developing dominant positions in the AI space and the United States needs to set our own standards to lead on the international stage.
Artificial intelligence has broad implications across the federal government, allowing agencies to function better and respond faster. We need a consistent approach so our entire government is playing by the same rules and implementing systems in a responsible and trustworthy manner, said DelBene. The guidance issued by the administration, at our urging, will provide that framework and allow the United States to set a global standard.
Artificial intelligence continues to play an essential role in our world's future, Olson stated. I applaud President Trump's work to address the current uncertainty that surrounds AI governance. America's global competitiveness depends on our ability to remain at the forefront of future technology advancements. The introduction of this guidance is a significant step forward in ensuring that the United States continues to be a global leader in artificial intelligence.
The Guidance for Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Applications' is critical to ensure U.S. global leadership in artificial intelligence and we commend Representatives Suzan DelBene and Pete Olson for their leadership to help move this guidance across the finish line, said Tom Quaadman, Executive Vice President of the U.S. Chamber's Technology Engagement Center. 
DelBene and Olson's letter can be viewed here. You can view the guidance here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2434,Larsen Statement on FAA's Decision to Unground the Boeing 737 MAX,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,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, Chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee, released the below statement on the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to unground the Boeing 737 MAX:

“The FAA’s decision to unground the 737 MAX is good news for us in the Pacific Northwest. The decision provides some certainty to the aerospace jobs in Northwest Washington, despite the downturn in aviation travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The United States is the leader in global aviation, and the FAA’s actions in the U.S. have profound implications for air travel around the world. I am confident safety was the guiding principle in the FAA’s review and decision to unground the Boeing 737 MAX. At my first opportunity, I will fly in a MAX airplane.

“For nearly two years, the families of the 346 victims of the two tragic 737 MAX crashes championed necessary reforms to the U.S. aircraft certification process to ensure no other families experience such unthinkable loss. Yesterday, the House passed my bipartisan aircraft certification bill, which uses lessons learned from the Committee’s thorough investigation and the recommendations of the independent Technical Advisory Board (TAB), Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR) and other entities to restore the integrity of the certification process and make flight safer.

“With critical changes in place to ensure the 737 MAX’s safe return to service, it is my hope Boeing employees can get back to work, drive economic recovery and ensure U.S. aviation remains globally competitive. As Chair of the House Aviation Subcommittee, I will continue to work with Chair DeFazio, the Ranking Members and my colleagues to improve aviation safety.”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-bill-to-improve-tribal-broadband-bridge-digital-divide-passes-committee,"Cantwell Bill to Improve Tribal Broadband, Bridge Digital Divide Passes Committee",2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.20
    			 Cantwell Bill to Improve Tribal Broadband, Bridge Digital Divide Passes Committee 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Less than half of households on rural Tribal land have access to high-speed broadband
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) to expedite the deployment of affordable broadband service on Tribal lands passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs by voice vote. Cantwell, Udall, the Vice Chair of the committee, and Heinrich introduced the Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act of 2020 in February.
According to a report issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in May 2019, less than half of households in Indian Country have access to high-speed broadband service. This represents a nearly 27-point gap compared to non-Tribal rural areas. According to the same report, this gap only widens when compared to the country-wide average; 31 percent of households on Tribal lands lack access to high-speed broadband service compared to seven percent of Americans in non-Tribal areas.
Indian Country has waited long enough for broadband. We need to do better. This legislation will help us do that, Senator Cantwell said at today's hearing.
The Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act of 2020 will:
 
Establish the Tribal Broadband Interagency Working Group to improve coordination across federal broadband programs and reduce deployment barriers;
Require that technical assistance be provided to interested, underserved Native communities to develop a broadband deployment plan;
Streamline the application process for federal grants to support the deployment of broadband services on Tribal lands;
Establish a Tribal Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee;
Set aside FCC and USDA funds for the benefit of broadband deployment on Tribal lands; and
Establish the Tribal Broadband Right-of-Way Pilot Program.
 
Senator Cantwell has long fought for more robust, efficient, and cost-effective broadband connectivity for communities throughout Washington state. In January, she introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that billions of dollars from a public auction of C-Band spectrum are invested to bridge the digital divide and enable next generation public safety services. In 2018, Cantwell helped secure $600 million in funding to boost rural broadband development, and before that she worked with the Makah Tribe and CenturyLink to bring broadband access to Neah Bay, one of the most remote parts of Washington state.
Video of Senator Cantwell's remarks at the hearing is available HERE, and audio is available HERE.
The full text of the legislation can be found HERE.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/commerce-committee-advances-bipartisan-cantwell-wicker-aircraft-safety-reform-bill,Commerce Committee Advances Bipartisan Cantwell-Wicker Aircraft Safety Reform Bill,2020-11-18,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"11.18.20
    			 Commerce Committee Advances Bipartisan Cantwell-Wicker Aircraft Safety Reform Bill 
    			
    				
	
	
	
	
	 
	
	
			
		
	
	
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
			
		
        
    				 Legislation implements new safety reforms for both FAA and manufacturers; strengthens FAA direct oversight of manufacturers' safety employees; requires more product disclosure and analysis by manufacturers
    			
				
    			 WASHINGTON, DC  Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation passed bipartisan aviation safety reform legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), the committee's ranking member and chairman, respectively. The Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act of 2020 would require new safety reforms, including strengthening the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) direct oversight of manufacturers' safety employees and requiring more product disclosure and analysis by manufacturers. It would require integrated system analysis even on derivative aircraft and require manufacturers to identify and disclose all technological changes to new and existing aircraft systems at the beginning of the certification process.
When it comes to aviation, safety has to be the top priority.This legislation implements new safety reforms that both the FAA and the manufacturersmust follow, said Senator Cantwell.It moves the FAA back to a more direct supervisory role and requires more robust product analysisfrom the manufacturers. It alsorequires the FAA to upgrade andretaintechnical expertise to do proper oversight and protects company engineers and whistleblowers who see flaws early in the design process.I want to thank everyone that took time to work with us on these reforms, especially the victims' families, who have shared their experience and their efforts to protect others. I also thank Chairman Wicker and his team for their work on these critical safety reforms and continuing to work with us to move it forward.
The Committee's approval of the bipartisan aviation safety bill is progress towardimprovingthe certification process and enhancing accountability, especially as it relates to the manufacturing of passenger aircraft,said Senator Wicker.As the FAA prepares to unground the 737 MAX, this legislationcontains numerous provisions that wouldensure that the agency performsits safety oversight tothehighest standards. I thank Ranking Member Cantwell for working with me on theseimportantreforms to enhance safety for the flying public.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
 
Restoring FAA Approval of ODA Unit Members and Safety Advisors: Strengthens FAA oversight of the engineers responsible for commercial aviation certification similar to the previous Designated Engineering Representative (DER) model. The bill returns the responsibility of approving and removing manufacturers' engineers who act on the FAA's behalfknown as Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) unit membersto the agency, and requires appointment of FAA safety advisers to provide direct and ongoing oversight and communication between the FAA and unit members throughout the certification process.
 
 
Requiring Integrated Safety Analysis of Aircraft Design Changes: When manufacturers propose derivative airplane designs, design changes will be required to undergo a comprehensive system safety analysis, a process which currently is not required and was not required for the 737 MAX.This reform addresses the findings of the JATR report, which found that the MCAS was not subject to a sufficient, detailed aircraft-level evaluation. This new integrated evaluation will examine how the proposed changes effect existing systems and impact aircraft performance, human factors, and training needs for pilots and maintenance personnel.
 
 
Requiring Safety Management Systems: Requires aviation manufacturers to implement safety management systems (SMS), a systematic and continuous process of reducing safety risks and strengthening companies' safety culture. This is consistent with recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board, Joint Authorities Technical Review (JATR), and other leading safety authorities. FAA has required SMS for airlines but has failed to require the same of manufacturers.
 
 
Prohibiting Improper Incentives and Performance Goals Based on Industry Schedules: FAA employees will be prohibited from receiving bonuses or other financial incentive based on meeting manufacturer-driven certification schedules or quotas.The bill also repeals authority for industry-friendly advisory panels to set FAA performance goals that do not prioritize safety in the aircraft certification process.Safety must come first, not accelerated approval schedules.
 
 
Establishing Independent Evaluation of New and Novel Aircraft Technologies: Requires the FAA Administrator to establish a Technical Certification Board (TCB) to advise the FAA on the certification process for aircraft with new technologies and novel systems when it is in the interest of safety.The TCB will give an independent review and verification of the manufacturer's submissions to the FAA, and recommend studies, analyses, and reports to aid in FAA's review.
 
 
Driving Safety Culture By Elevating Concerns of Frontline Engineers: The FAA recently conducted an internal safety culture survey of its certification workforce. In that survey, engineers questioned their ability to raise safety concerns without fear of reprisal and their leadership's commitment to safety.This bill would improve the agency' safety culture by providing a confidential channel for FAA employees to report safety issues without fear of retribution. The bill also creates new protections for whistleblowers employed by aviation manufacturers and their suppliers.As the MAX investigations indicated, concerns of the technical workforce and frontline engineers, whether at the agency or the manufacturer, must be elevated and addressed.
 
 
Building Technical Expertise at the FAA and in Congress on Innovative Technologies: Authorizes new funding to the FAA for continuing education and training programs to develop and maintain the agency's expertise on cutting edge and novel technology, and establishes a National Air Grant fellowship program to strengthen technical aviation expertise in Congress and at the FAA.
 
 
Strengthening International Standards: Authorizes the FAA to work with other countries to strengthen pilot training standards and enables the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to further enhance worldwide aviation safety and pilot training standards.
 
 
Strengthening FAA Oversight:The bill makes three changes to strengthen FAA oversight, in addition to direct oversight of manufacturers' safety employees. It repeals (1) the certified design and production (CDPO) authority and makes clear that aviation manufacturers will not be able to self-certify their own aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers; (2) industry-driven performance objectives and metrics on aircraft certification; and (3) industry-driven performance objectives and metrics on flight standards.
 
 
Requiring Updated FAA Regulations to Incorporate Human Factors Assumptions:Directs the FAA to update safety regulations based on a review of human factors assumptions. These include requirements for aircraft systems related to flight crew alerting, airspeed indicators, angle of attack, flight guidance, and other flight systems used by pilots.This responds directly to the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendations calling on FAA to update its certification policies and regulations to incorporate human factors analysis. The bill also establishes a new Center of Excellence on flight automation and human factors in large commercial aircraft.
 
 
Identifying Emerging Safety Trends:A new annual report to Congress, conducted by the Transportation Research Board, will identify emerging safety trends in air transportation.Based on accident investigation data from the National Transportation Safety Board, FAA, air operators, and foreign aviation safety authorities, the report will illuminate the latest trends impacting aviation safety, domestically and internationally, so policymakers and FAA can stay ahead of them.
 
 
Establishing a New Center of Excellence (COE) on Flight Automation and Human Factors:The new COE will address flight automation and pilot response. It will promote and facilitate collaboration among academia, the FAA, and aircraft and airline industry stakeholders to research automation and other technological advancements in aviation and examine issues related to human system integration and flight crew and aircraft interfaces.
 
Moving forward, Cantwell and Wicker will work with Senate and House leadership to get it enacted into law. Yesterday, the bipartisan Aircraft Certification Reform and Accountability Act passed the House.
Video of Ranking Member Cantwell's opening statement is available HERE, audio is available HERE, and a transcript is available HERE.
The full text of the legislation is available HERE.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-introduces-bill-fund-community-based-public-safety-programs-divert,"Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Fund Community-Based Public Safety Programs, Divert Nonviolent 911 Calls to Specialized Responders",2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the 911 Diversion to Unarmed Personnel Act, which would provide funding for unarmed 911 response programs that divert nonviolent 911 calls to specialized service providers instead of law enforcement.

""It's abundantly clear that we need to fundamentally reimagine what law enforcement looks like in our country,""said Rep. Smith. ""A critical step in this process of addressing systemic racism and restructuring law enforcement is reexamining the hyperactive approach to policing that tasks law enforcement officers with responding to situations they are neither trained nor equipped to handle.

""The 911 Diversion to Unarmed Personnel Act would support programs that enable 911 call dispatchers to direct nonviolent calls toward unarmed responders who can connect people with the services and care they need. Community-based public safety programs across the country have shown incredible success in responding to nonviolent 911 calls with specialized service providers, like social workers, medical professionals, and restorative justice practitioners. These programs reduce violent and hostile encounters, help restore trust between law enforcement and community members, and provide for better services and care to community members.

""Our communities deserve an emergency response system that recognizes the range of urgent needs that are best addressed without police involvement. Unarmed 911 response programs are a critical component to reimagine public safety in a holistic, equitable way that centers on getting individuals the resources and services they need.""

911 receives more than 240 million calls every year. The overwhelming majority of these calls involve nonviolent, non-criminal incidents such as neighbor disputes, nuisance complaints, truancy, reports of ""suspicious"" activity, requests for wellness checks, and mental health crises. Both the police and policing reform advocates often assert that specialized service providers—such as social workers, paramedics, and peer support counselors—are better equipped to handle such situations than armed officers. The ""send the police to everything"" approach that prevails in much of our country often places armed law enforcement officers in situations they are neither equipped nor trained to handle and leads to encounters between police and civilians that turn violent and, in many cases, deadly.

The 911 Diversion to Unarmed Personnel Act would provide funding to state, local, or tribal jurisdictions to support unarmed 911 response programs that divert nonviolent 911 calls toward specialized service providers and away from traditional law enforcement. The funding may be used to hire and train service professionals and 911 dispatchers, modify existing 911 call systems, or obtain necessary equipment and technological capabilities.

The bill requires that the programs are managed independently from and are not subject to oversight from state or local law enforcement agencies. These diversion programs will help ensure that individuals who are the subject of calls to 911 and who are experiencing addiction, homelessness, or mental health crises are met with professional service providers capable of providing screening, assessment, de-escalation, and transportation to immediately necessary treatment.

Text of the 911 Diversion to Unarmed Personnel Act can be found here and a one-page summary of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/smith-statement-afghanistan-troop-drawdown,Smith Statement on Afghanistan Troop Drawdown,2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,adamsmith,https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.- Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after speaking with Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller regarding the White House direction to the Department of Defense to drawdown U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan to 2,500 by January 15, 2021.

""After speaking with the Acting Secretary this morning, I believe reducing our forward deployed footprint in Afghanistan down to 2,500 troops is the right policy decision. At the same time, this reduction must be responsibly and carefully executed to ensure stability in the region.

""While the history of conflict in the region is complex and predates our direct involvement, after nearly 20 years of armed conflict, Americans and Afghans alike are ready for the violence to end. It is clear that groups like ISIS-K and the Taliban will continue to fight and sow chaos, but ultimately it is up to the Afghans to find a sustainable path to peace.

""Our primary goal has been, and continues to be, the prevention of transnational terrorists from launching an attack against the United States from Afghanistan. In order to contain the terrorist threat as we draw down our troop levels, it is critical that we coordinate the drawdown closely with our allies, as well as our partners in the Afghan government, to protect our interests and those of our allies in Afghanistan.""

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=71883FF9-9A37-4788-8264-4313071BBFD6,Smith Statement on Afghanistan Troop Drawdown,2020-11-17,2020,2020-11,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after speaking with Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller regarding the White House direction to the Department of Defense to drawdown U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan to 2,500 by January 15, 2021.
After speaking with the Acting Secretary this morning, I believe reducing our forward deployed footprint in Afghanistan down to 2,500 troops is the right policy decision. At the same time, this reduction must be responsibly and carefully executed to ensure stability in the region.
While the history of conflict in the region is complex and predates our direct involvement, after nearly 20 years of armed conflict, Americans and Afghans alike are ready for the violence to end. It is clear that groups like ISIS-K and the Taliban will continue to fight and sow chaos, but ultimately it is up to the Afghans to find a sustainable path to peace.
Our primary goal has been, and continues to be, the prevention of transnational terrorists from launching an attack against the United States from Afghanistan. In order to contain the terrorist threat as we draw down our troop levels, it is critical that we coordinate the drawdown closely with our allies, as well as our partners in the Afghan government, to protect our interests and those of our allies in Afghanistan.
###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z