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://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=1B80D520-9A40-465A-9B53-51C60203F6F4,"Senators Murray, Cantwell Applaud Move to Protect Methow Valley from Mining for Next Two Years",2016-12-30,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the Bureau of Land Management announced it will make 340,000 acres in Okanogan County temporarily off-limits to mining while it studies potential impact Murray and Cantwell will continue to pursue permanent protection of the U.S. Forest Service land near Mazama Valley in Okanogan County attracts more than 1 million visitors annually, boosting local economy Map here  (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) applauded the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for taking a critical step toward protecting the Methow Headwaters in North Central Washington by issuing a segregation notice to make 340,000 acres off-limits to mining for two years while it studies whether long-term protection is warranted. The senators have advocated for permanent protection of the land in order to safeguard the natural resources in the region, including water and salmon, as well as local recreation opportunities. “This action is a huge step forward in our fight to preserve and protect our state’s incredible resources for future generations,” Senator Murray said. “I am especially grateful to the local community members who have led the charge to protect investments in salmon recovery, and defend tribal treaty rights and the region’s outdoor economy. In the coming months and years, I will continue to work with the community and my colleagues in Congress to make sure the Methow Valley is permanently protected from devastating mining operations.” “The Methow Valley is too significant to allow mining exploration that threatens our clean water. I'm glad to see the department continuing work on the withdrawal application, and I will stay focused on ensuring the process moves quickly to protect this pristine region,” Senator Cantwell said.  “We enjoy a solid economy in the Methow Valley and its resilience is built on the value of clean air and water,"" said Sam Lucy, owner of Bluebird Grain Farms. “The administration’s decision to move the withdrawal process forward is a vital step in keeping our valley special and the local economy strong.” “Support for action to protect the Methow Headwaters, especially from the business community, is very strong,” said Julie Muyllaert, co-owner of Methow Cycle and Sport in Winthrop. “The businesses in the valley recognize that our success depends on maintaining the area's spectacular lands, recreational resources, clean water and fresh air. For these important reasons we are committed to achieving a mineral withdrawal for the Methow Headwaters."" “It is the town’s obligation to protect our water, the local economy and the well-being of our citizens,” said Twisp Mayor Soo Ing-Moody. “That’s why this summer the Twisp Town Council passed a resolution supporting the Methow Headwaters’ mineral withdrawal. Today’s announcement about the withdrawal is good news that reinforces our efforts on behalf of Twisp residents and future generations."" In May, Senator Murray introduced the Methow Headwaters Protection Act of 2016 with Senator Cantwell as an original cosponsor, in order to protect approximately 340,000 acres of the Methow River watershed in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest from potential development of a large-scale mine. The legislation, which was running concurrently with the administrative action announced today, would have withdrawn from mineral entry any deposits that could lead to an industrial-scale mine on the lands, and would protect the headwaters of the Methow River. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/reichert-pascrell-call-strengthened-police-community-relations-new-year,"Reichert, Pascrell Call for Strengthened Police-Community Relations in the New Year",2016-12-28,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dave Reichert,R000578,reichert.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – It has been a tough year for our nation’s law enforcement officers, their families, communities, and our country. To date, 138 law enforcement officers have lost their lives, representing a 20 percent increase over 2015. On behalf of the House Law Enforcement Caucus, Co-Chairs Reps. Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) released the following statement calling for all Americans, inside the law enforcement community and out, to reflect on our responsibilities and work together to build trust and positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve: ""Since the inception of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus in the House of Representatives, it has been our goal to examine ways in which we can improve the safety of our law enforcement officers while simultaneously improving safety in our neighborhoods. With growing tensions between law enforcement and some of the communities they serve, this task has become increasingly urgent. Working to relieve these tensions and protect the safety of both those in and out of uniform must begin and end with rebuilding trust and respect within the communities where it has deteriorated or never existed in the first place. These changes must take place in our homes, classrooms, local diners, and on streets being patrolled, but change must also come from those with influence. Elected representatives, community leaders, and members of the press who hold this influence shoulder the burden to speak out. If we are truly committed to improving safety and preventing unnecessary deaths, then we must not seek to reaffirm our biases, but to widen the lens of our perspective and join the national conversation taking place. We believe the Law Enforcement Caucus has an important role to play in facilitating those conversations and working together to find common ground on solutions. Law enforcement deserves the respect of the communities they serve – and communities deserve the respect of law enforcement. We must also not forget that the power of police to fulfill their duties is dependent on public approval of their existence, actions and behavior, and on their ability to secure and maintain public respect. This respect must be earned, but it can only come about if community members work to understand the sacrifices law enforcement officers make on their behalf and law enforcement works to understand the communities and populations they serve. As we move into a new year, we must look to the future with optimism and the belief that every American, first and foremost, wants and deserves to feel safe and protected in their community. With the understanding that this shared goal is immune to differences in demographics and geography, we must remind ourselves that we are all Americans, working together on the same team. From there, guided by facts and grounded by common principles, we can work to strengthen and rebuild the police-community partnerships that are the foundation of civility and a functioning democracy.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-obama-administrations-failure-veto-anti-israel-un-resolution/,McMorris Rodgers on Obama Administration’s failure to veto Anti-Israel UN Resolution,2016-12-28,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"SPOKANE, WASHINGTON (December 28, 2016) — Upon the Obama administration’s failure to veto the United Nations Security Council resolution that condemned Israeli settlement construction, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement: “The Obama Administration’s failure to veto last week’s United Nations’ vote censuring Israel is a low point in the sixty-eight year history of diplomatic relations between the United States and Israel,” said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “Fortunately, a new administration and bipartisan Congress will begin to rebuild trust and cooperation with Israel, and begin anew on the road to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennyheck.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/the-good-news-what-actually-went-right-and-who-did-good-in-2016,"The good news: What actually went right, and who did good, in 2016",2016-12-27,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Denny Heck,H001064,dennyheck.house.gov,,,legacy,"If the year 2016 were a fish, a lot of people would throw it back in the water. Overlooked, unfortunately, are good deeds done during the year. Yes, there also good doers. Here is one scribe's list of the year's upside: --KPLU/KNKX: The drive to rescue public radio station KPLU, now renamed KNKX, was in words of sports pundit Art Thiel ""like a rose blooming atop a pile of manure,"" a reference to media shutdowns, layoffs and consolidations. The $7 million goal was reached in less than six months, thanks to more than 18,000 donors. The station, its news, blues and jazz programming, was saved from being absorbed into the University of Washington's KUOW. UW President Ana Mari Cauce showed generosity and astuteness in opening the door to community purchase of the popular station. 88.5 lives!!!! --Billy Frank, Jr., National Wildlife Refuge: Tribal fisheries advocate Billy Frank Jr. was arrested more than 30 times for having the nerve, gall and presumption to exercise his treaty rights to fish in the Nisqually River along whose banks he grew up. Eventually, the state grew up. A conservative federal judge, George Boldt, upheld Native Americans' treaty rights under treaties signed in 1854 and 1855. Frank dedicated himself to reconciliation and restoration of decimated salmon runs. A feature of fisheries conferences was watching people lean in to hear what he was saying. The Washington congressional delegation came together, under leadership of his friend U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, and passed legislation naming the Nisqually National Wildlife after Bill Frank, Jr. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell was on hand for the celebration. --The Comcast lawsuit: Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson launched a $100 million lawsuit against Comcast, charging massive deception of customers in its Service Protection Plan . . . specifically, 1.8 million violations of Washington's Consumer Protection Act. On Friday, King County Superior Court Judge Timothy A. Bradshaw ruled that the suit against the telecommunications giant can more forward. Trial is set to begin on July 31, 2017. Ferguson is proving our state's gutsiest officeholder. He won a multimillion-dollar judgment against the Grocery Manufacturers Assn. after the Washington, D.C., lobby laundered money in a 2013 initiative battle over labeling of genetically modified foods. He is suing Monsanto over toxic PCBs in state waterways. Targets of the AG's lawsuits have sounded baffled that he is suing rather than settling out of court. Ferguson is the state's most popular politician, his vote total topping Hillary Clinton, Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray in last November's election. --Coal terminal blocked: Opposition from the Lummi Nation caused the Army Corps of Engineers to deny permits to the huge proposed Gateway Pacific coal export terminal at Cherry Point north of Bellingham. The Lummi tribe was positioned by law where other opponents were not. The cities of Seattle, Tacoma, Edmonds, Marysville and Bellingham all raised objections to mile-long coal trains blocking waterfront access and contributing to pollution impacts. The battle over Big Coal has switched to the Millennium Bulk Terminals proposal on the Columbia River at Longview. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to revive the coal industry. But Gov. Jay Inslee will have a key voice in the Longview decision. --Seattle as Sports Town USA: The rap on Seattle, out of East Coast media outlets, has been that the Emerald City is a rotten sports town -- never mind the achievements of our skiers, mountain climbers, snowboarders and the UW crew. We've made it mainstream this year. The Sounders' unbelievable championship has literally kicked off celebrations. The Dawgs under Chris Petersen are in the final four for collegiate football championship. The Seahawks are back in the NFL playoffs, as they usually have been in the Pete Carroll era. The upbeat news comes with a caveat. The Sports Illustrated cover jinx, the bane of Ken Griffey, Jr., and hydro drivers, is to be avoided at all costs. --Saving the whales: The recovery and migration of Gray Whales, from lagoons of Baja to Bristol Bay and the Chukchi Sea in Alaska -- with a few stopping off to eat sand shrimp on Whidbey Island beaches -- is one of North America's inspiring nature stories. President Obama has used his authority under a 1953 law (passed by a Republican Congress) to put Bristol Bay off-limits to oil and gas leasing, and last week to put a ban on 95 percent of U.S. Arctic waters including the Chukchi Sea. An oil spill in the Chukchi could not be contained or cleaned up. Bristol Bay is home to the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery. Obama was the first U.S. president to visit the Arctic. He is leaving office with a good deed. (The Wild Edge, a glorious Braided River photo/essay book, celebrates the whales' migration.) --A high school awakening: Hundreds of students poured out of Seattle high schools to protest the election of Donald Trump. The protests were outward manifestation of a new activism, focused on human and civil rights, among teenage millennials. It's encouraging to watch apathy take a beating. Other signals? The Duwamish Valley Youth Corps is involving young people in cleanup of Seattle's only river. The Black Student Union at Garfield, and the school's gay-straight alliance, have perfected the strategy of talk radical-act practical. If you disapprove, ask yourself this question: What's wrong with young people involved in shaping the world they will inherit? --Arson strikes out: A Planned Parenthood clinic in Pullman, serving the Washington State University and University of Idaho communities, was rebuilt and reopened just six months after it was largely destroyed in an arson attack. ""COURAGE: Planned Parenthood is standing back up for reproductive health after firebomb,"" Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., tweeted. The rebuilding effort was citizen-driven much like the Save KPLU campaign west of the mountains. Planned Parenthood had been hit by vicious, false attacks by such Eastern Washington politicians as U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and State Rep. Matt Shea. The arson attack remains unsolved.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delbene-sewell-wager-uw-vs-bama-college-football-playoff,"DelBene, Sewell Wager on UW vs Bama College Football Playoff",2016-12-27,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the 2016 College Football Playoffs kicking off this weekend, Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Terri Sewell (AL-07) placed a wager on whose team would win in Saturday’s game between the University of Washington Huskies and Alabama University Crimson Tide. DelBene is wagering salmon from the Puget Sound, while Sewell has offered up some Alabama barbeque. “Yea, Alabama is undoubtedly a solid football team with a prestigious history, but I have a feeling that things won’t be all peachy for them on Saturday,” DelBene said. “They have yet to see a passing attack as effective as the Huskies, with Jake Browning, John Ross and an offense more than capable of putting up some huge numbers. Sure, the odds makers might not think UW has a chance, but let me tell you, heaven help the Tide.” “My colleague Congresswoman DelBene must not have gotten the memo. Given Alabama’s unparalleled success of 16 National Championships, the Crimson Tide is on a roll for back to back National Championship wins! The Washington Huskies simply will not be able to hold up under the Tide’s superior defense,” Sewell said. “Football and barbecue go hand-in-hand in the South. It is too bad that Congresswoman DelBene and her staff will miss out on the opportunity to savor great Alabama ribs when the Huskies lose in Atlanta on December 31st. Roll Tide Roll!” The Huskies will face the Tide in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31. The game is at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta at noon Pacific. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1961,"DelBene, Sewell Wager on UW vs Bama College Football Playoff",2016-12-27,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"With the 2016 College Football Playoffs kicking off this weekend, Reps. Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Terri Sewell (AL-07) placed a wager on whose team would win in Saturday's game between the University of Washington Huskies and Alabama University Crimson Tide. DelBene is wagering salmon from the Puget Sound, while Sewell has offered up some Alabama barbeque. Yea, Alabama is undoubtedly a solid football team with a prestigious history, but I have a feeling that things won't be all peachy for them on Saturday, DelBene said. They have yet to see a passing attack as effective as the Huskies, with Jake Browning, John Ross and an offense more than capable of putting up some huge numbers. Sure, the odds makers might not think UW has a chance, but let me tell you, heaven help the Tide. My colleague Congresswoman DelBene must not have gotten the memo. Given Alabama's unparalleled success of 16 National Championships, the Crimson Tide is on a roll for back to back National Championship wins! The Washington Huskies simply will not be able to hold up under the Tide's superior defense, Sewell said. Football and barbecue go hand-in-hand in the South. It is too bad that Congresswoman DelBene and her staff will miss out on the opportunity to savor great Alabama ribs when the Huskies lose in Atlanta on December 31st. Roll Tide Roll! The Huskies will face the Tide in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31. The game is at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta at noon Pacific. # # #",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/weekly-columns-and-op-eds/column-washingtonians-serving-one-another,COLUMN: Washingtonians Serving One Another,2016-12-26,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"The great philosopher Bob Hope once said, “my idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” He has a point. This time of year, Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the true ‘reason for the season,’ as we say, and the Christmas season reminds us to serve our neighbors. Part of what makes this season so special, beyond families traveling long distance to gather together, or the music of Bing Crosby in the background while enjoying a roaring fire, is the love that people in Central Washington show one another in their communities. There are so many recent examples in our cities and towns that I wanted to share a few. In Kennewick, a school bus driver and veteran from the U.S. Army noticed a little boy on his route who did not have gloves or a hat in freezing temperatures. The driver contacted a school administrator to find the little boy’s classroom and gave him a new pair of gloves and a hat to keep him warm. In Ritzville and several cities in the Mid-Columbia, local law enforcement participated in a community service effort called “Shop with a Cop.” The officers accompanied children to shop for Christmas presents, in the process giving the children the opportunity for a positive interaction that builds trust with law enforcement. This year, the Union Gospel Mission in Yakima has provided 45,000 ‘bed nights’ this year in addition to more than 155,000 meals. In Moses Lake, local firefighters executed “Operation Warm” to give 120 winter coats to children in need at local elementary schools. Okanogan Middle School students collected food, gift certificates, and donations to give meals to fourteen local families as part of a “Thanks and Giving” project. In my hometown of Sunnyside, a local church recently prepared turkey dinners to feed 100 hungry and homeless people in the community. One of the best parts of representing the Fourth Congressional District is the opportunity to highlight positive stories about our community that inspire people from Oroville in Okanogan County all the way to Touchet, Walla Walla County. If you have a story about someone you know in our community who deserves recognition, I invite you to send it to my Yakima office at 402 E. Yakima Avenue, Suite #445, Yakima, WA 98901. We remember the men and women in the Armed Forces who are stationed around the world and unable to spend the holidays with their families. We are grateful for their service, which allows us to celebrate the blessing of freedoms we enjoy as Americans. In Scripture, Jesus says, “truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” That is the true Christmas spirit. Our community thrives when we serve each other as these local examples attest, and we do not have to wait for the holidays. I hope you enjoy this blessed season with your loved ones, and that you look forward to a joyous new year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/supporting-our-national-guard-members,Supporting our National Guard members,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, President Obama just signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2017, which contained my bill to ensure National Guard members retain health coverage when responding to state emergencies, such as landslides or earthquakes.After the tragic Oso landslide in 2014, my office was contacted by members of our state’s National Guard who were aiding in search-and-rescue and decontamination efforts. They told me their families would lose health insurance if they decided to stay on the ground to keep helping the community, based on the unique status they serve under.One servicemember named Shawn described a “lose, lose situation,” where some Guardsmen were being forced to choose between participating in relief efforts and losing their families’ health benefits — or protecting their own family while leaving the Oso recovery teams without the skills and training needed on-the-ground. Another Guard member named Steven had to make a particularly heartbreaking decision because his wife was scheduled to have major surgery, and she would have lost health coverage if he chose to stay in Oso.I was there and can tell you firsthand how vital the National Guard was to helping first responders and an ailing community.National Guard members should never be forced to choose between helping our communities and caring for their own families. And thanks to my bill, these tough choices won’t have to be made again.The inclusion of this bill in the NDAA ensures all our brave men and women are covered when they respond to state emergencies. I’m glad we earned such broad, bipartisan support, and I thank President Obama for signing this important reform into law.As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you, I encourage you to contact me through my website. You may also keep up-to-date on what I’m doing by following me on social media. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, such as the Social Security Administration, IRS or the VA, please do not hesitate to contact my Bothell office at (425) 485-0085.Sincerely,Suzan",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-signs-delbene-s-fix-national-guard-healthcare-law,President Signs DelBenes Fix for National Guard Healthcare Into Law,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama today signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2017, which included Congresswoman Suzan DelBene’s (WA-01) National Guard Family Protection Act (H.R. 4554) to ensure National Guard members retain health coverage when responding to state emergencies, such as landslides or earthquakes. The bill also included a DelBene measure easing the burden of relocation on our nation’s military families. “National Guard members should never be forced to choose between helping our communities and caring for their own families,” DelBene said. “The inclusion of my bill in the NDAA ensures all our brave men and women are covered when they respond to state emergencies. I’m glad the legislation earned such broad, bipartisan support, and I thank President Obama for signing this important reform into law.” The National Guard often serves as the primary resource for states during times of disaster. Before passage of DelBene’s bill, some Guard members serving on new Homeland Response Force (HRF) units were at risk of losing health coverage when responding to natural disasters or emergencies, based on the unique status they serve under. DelBene introduced the legislative fix in February to guarantee these Guard members and their families retain health coverage during disaster response efforts. After the SR 530 landslide in Oso, DelBene was contacted by Guard members who were facing the loss of healthcare coverage if they decided to stay on the ground to help the community. Washington state’s Adjutant General Bret Daugherty asked DelBene to introduce legislation to remedy this situation before the next disaster strikes. “Part of being in the Guard is helping our communities during emergencies. We want our Guard members to focus on the mission of protecting lives and property and not whether their families will lose their healthcare coverage,” Daugherty said. “We appreciate Congresswoman DelBene and her staff’s efforts in getting the National Guard Family Protection Act included in the NDAA.” The final NDAA also includes an amendment DelBene attached to the bill in May, helping military spouses find employment when U.S. servicemembers receive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, which require them to uproot their families and relocate to support our national security. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1856,President Signs DelBenes Fix for National Guard Healthcare Into Law,2016-12-23,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"President Obama today signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2017, which included Congresswoman Suzan DelBene's (WA-01) National Guard Family Protection Act (H.R. 4554) to ensure National Guard members retain health coverage when responding to state emergencies, such as landslides or earthquakes. The bill also included a DelBene measure easing the burden of relocation on our nation's military families. National Guard members should never be forced to choose between helping our communities and caring for their own families, DelBene said. The inclusion of my bill in the NDAA ensures all our brave men and women are covered when they respond to state emergencies. I'm glad the legislation earned such broad, bipartisan support, and I thank President Obama for signing this important reform into law. The National Guard often serves as the primary resource for states during times of disaster. Before passage of DelBene's bill, some Guard members serving on new Homeland Response Force (HRF) units were at risk of losing health coverage when responding to natural disasters or emergencies, based on the unique status they serve under. DelBene introduced the legislative fix in February to guarantee these Guard members and their families retain health coverage during disaster response efforts. After the SR 530 landslide in Oso, DelBene was contacted by Guard members who were facing the loss of healthcare coverage if they decided to stay on the ground to help the community. Washington state's Adjutant General Bret Daugherty asked DelBene to introduce legislation to remedy this situation before the next disaster strikes. Part of being in the Guard is helping our communities during emergencies. We want our Guard members to focus on the mission of protecting lives and property and not whether their families will lose their healthcare coverage, Daugherty said. We appreciate Congresswoman DelBene and her staff's efforts in getting the National Guard Family Protection Act included in the NDAA. The final NDAA also includes an amendment DelBene attached to the bill in May, helping military spouses find employment when U.S. servicemembers receive Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders, which require them to uproot their families and relocate to support our national security. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/editorial-tech-help-not-backdoors-better-law-enforcement-tool,"Editorial: Tech help, not backdoors, better law enforcement tool",2016-12-22,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Editorial: Tech help, not backdoors, better law enforcement tool f t # e Washington, DC, December 22, 2016 The importance of data security and encryption starting with our smartphones and our email and other online accounts on up to corporate and government data servers should be more than clear now, following the revelations of Russian hackers attempting to mess with the U.S. presidential election, not to mention Yahoos repeated security breaches involving millions of email account passwords and other information. Click here for the full story",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/burlington-edison-high-school-senior-winner-2016-congressional-app-challenge-%E2%80%98coding,"Burlington-Edison High School Senior, Winner of 2016 Congressional App Challenge: Coding can be challenging, but do it anyway. It can open doors.",2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today announced Burlington-Edison high school senior Alexandria Kissas won the 2016 Congressional App Challenge for Washington’s 2nd Congressional District. Kissas’ app, “ListMe,” is designed to help people organize multiple lists on their smart phones. “I was sitting in class thinking ‘what would help the most people.’ As a senior, I have a lot of things to do this year and a list would be really helpful,” said Kissas. “Alexandria is a great example for young folks everywhere,” said Larsen, “Whether you want to launch the next Snapchat or create an organizational tool like the one Alexandria designed, now is a great time to pursue an education in STEM or learn how to code.” According to the Boston Consulting Group, there are as many as 25,000 unfilled science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs in Washington state. Asked if she had any advice for other students who may be considering giving coding a try, Alexandria said: “coding can be challenging, but do it anyway. It can open doors. Your understanding of physics, science and the world around you is so much more enhanced by learning to code.” Alexandria, who is currently a TA for her AP Computer Science teacher and hopes to attend Pomona College, received a prize of $400 in Amazon Web Services credits and has been invited to a reception in Washington, D.C. The Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition that aims to help maintain American competitiveness by proactively inspiring youth to pursue crucial STEM skills.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/reichert-meets-vice-president-elect-mike-pence-discuss-trade-and-tax,Reichert Meets with Vice President-elect Mike Pence to Discuss Trade and Tax,2016-12-21,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dave Reichert,R000578,reichert.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, met with Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady and Vice President-elect Mike Pence to discuss the tax and trade agendas in the new Congress. Chairman Reichert released the following statement after the meeting: “Vice President-elect Mike Pence and I share the same goal of growing our economy and creating good-paying jobs here at home. Tax reform and expanded trade will help us meet this goal,"" said Chairman Reichert. ""I am looking forward to continuing  an open and direct dialogue with Mr. Pence and the Trump Administration as we move into 2017. I am confident that by putting America first through high-standard trade agreements, we will not only maintain our role as a world economic leader, but we will strengthen our national security and open doors for countless entrepreneurs and workers.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-calls-president-elect-trump-reject-norwegian-air-international-protect-american,"Larsen Calls on President-Elect Trump to Reject Norwegian Air International, Protect American Jobs",2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) today led a bipartisan group of more than 100 Members of Congress in calling on President-elect Donald J. Trump to reverse a decision by the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow Norwegian Air International (NAI) to operate routes between the U.S. and Europe. NAI has established itself in Ireland, where labor laws permit the airline to hire its pilots and flight attendants on individual employment contracts under non-European law in order to cut costs. NAI’s overt labor forum-shopping violates the Open Skies agreement with Norway and the European Union and gives it an unfair competitive advantage in the transatlantic market. “On December 2, 2016, the Department of Transportation (DOT) made a grievously wrong decision to grant Norwegian Air International a foreign air carrier permit for U.S.-Europe air services. Given your commitment to protecting American jobs and our national security, we strongly urge you, on Day One of your presidency, to revoke or suspend the permit until Norwegian changes its business model to a model that does not rely on a flag of convenience and threaten America’s international aviation industry and our national security,” the Members said. Article 17 bis of the U.S.-EU-Iceland-Norway Open Skies Agreement states that “[t]he opportunities created by the Agreement are not intended to undermine labour standards or the labour-related rights and principles contained in the Parties’ respective laws” and further requires that these “principles . . . shall guide the Parties as they implement the Agreement.” With the decision to grant approval, DOT has decided provisions in the Open Skies Agreement that address labor are not, on their own, a sufficient basis for rejecting an otherwise-qualified applicant. In 2013, NAI applied for a foreign air carrier permit to permanently operate in the United States. DOT granted tentative approval on April 15, 2016. Behind the NAI application is a global outsourcing business model that will put U.S. airlines and their employees at a competitive disadvantage. U.S. and other European carriers rightly adhere to the high labor standards created through decades of hard work and commitment to a sustainable and socially-responsible aviation system. Earlier this year, Reps. Larsen, LoBiondo, and DeFazio urged the Department, in the strongest possible terms, to set aside the flawed tentative decision on Norwegian’s permit application and to deny the application. A full copy of the letter can be found HERE.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/hill-report-encryption-isnt-us-vs-them,Hill Report: Encryption Isn't Us Vs. Them,2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"A new report from Congress concludes that while widespread encryption is a challenge for law enforcement, it is ""essential to both individual privacy and national security."" But it also concludes that those outlooks are not mutually exclusive. That is the takeaway from a bipartisan working group created by the leadership of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Click here for the full story.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/encryption-working-group-releases-year-end-report,Encryption Working Group Releases Year-End Report,2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. –Members of the bipartisan encryption working group – established in March 2016 by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) – today released a year-end report laying out key observations and next steps. For nearly a year, the Encryption Working Group has held numerous meetings with a variety of federal, state, and local government entities, former government officials, private industry and trade associations, civil society organizations, consultants and legal experts, academia, and cryptographers. These meetings have produced critical information, culminating in a year-end report that lays out four key observations and identifies several areas for future discussion next Congress. The report concludes: “Encryption is inexorably tied to our national interests. It is a safeguard for our personal secrets and economic prosperity. It helps to prevent crime and protect national security. The widespread use of encryption technologies also complicates the missions of the law enforcement and intelligence communities. As described in this report, those complications cannot be ignored. This is the reality of modern society. We must strive to find common ground in our collective responsibility: to prevent crime, protect national security, and provide the best possible conditions for peace and prosperity. “That is why this can no longer be an isolated or binary debate. There is no ‘us versus them,’ or ‘pro-encryption versus law enforcement.’ This conversation implicates everyone and everything that depends on connected technologies—including our law enforcement and intelligence communities. This is a complex challenge that will take time, patience, and cooperation to resolve.  The potential consequences of inaction—or overreaction—are too important to allow historical or ideological perspectives to stand in the way of progress.” Below are key observations of the report. Any measure that weakens encryption works against the national interest. Encryption technology is a global technology that is widely and increasingly available around the world. The variety of stakeholders, technologies, and other factors create different and divergent challenges with respect to encryption and the “going dark” phenomenon, and therefore there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the encryption challenge. Congress should foster cooperation between the law enforcement community and technology companies. Based on these observations, the report has identified several areas for future discussion by the committees next Congress, such as exploring opportunities to help law enforcement agencies navigate the process of accessing information from private companies; examining options to improve law enforcement’s ability to leverage metadata; reviewing the circumstances, resources and legal framework necessary to help law enforcement agencies exploit existing flaws in digital products; considering the implications of alternative legal strategies such as compelling individual consumers to decrypt their devices, and the role of encryption in fostering greater data security and privacy. The full report can be viewed here. The members of the working group issuing the report are House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), and Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), and Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1853,Encryption Working Group Releases Year-End Report,2016-12-20,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Members of the bipartisan encryption working group establishedin March 2016 by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today released a year-end report laying out key observations and next steps. For nearly a year, the Encryption Working Group has held numerous meetings with a variety of federal, state, and local government entities, former government officials, private industry and trade associations, civil society organizations, consultants and legal experts, academia, and cryptographers. These meetings have produced critical information, culminating in a year-end report that lays out four key observations and identifies several areas for future discussion next Congress. The report concludes: Encryption is inexorably tied to our national interests. It is a safeguard for our personal secrets and economic prosperity. It helps to prevent crime and protect national security. The widespread use of encryption technologies also complicates the missions of the law enforcement and intelligence communities. As described in this report, those complications cannot be ignored. This is the reality of modern society. We must strive to find common ground in our collective responsibility: to prevent crime, protect national security, and provide the best possible conditions for peace and prosperity. That is why this can no longer be an isolated or binary debate. There is no us versus them,' or pro-encryption versus law enforcement.' This conversation implicates everyone and everything that depends on connected technologiesincluding our law enforcement and intelligence communities. This is a complex challenge that will take time, patience, and cooperation to resolve. The potential consequences of inactionor overreactionare too important to allow historical or ideological perspectives to stand in the way of progress. Below are key observations of the report. Any measure that weakens encryption works against the national interest. Encryption technology is a global technology that is widely and increasingly available around the world. The variety of stakeholders, technologies, and other factors create different and divergent challenges with respect to encryption and the going dark phenomenon, and therefore there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the encryption challenge. Congress should foster cooperation between the law enforcement community and technology companies. Based on these observations, the report has identified several areas for future discussion by the committees next Congress, such as exploring opportunities to help law enforcement agencies navigate the process of accessing information from private companies; examining options to improve law enforcement's ability to leverage metadata; reviewing the circumstances, resources and legal framework necessary to help law enforcement agencies exploit existing flaws in digital products; considering the implications of alternative legal strategies such as compelling individual consumers to decrypt their devices, and the role of encryption in fostering greater data security and privacy. The full report can be viewed here. The members of the working group issuing the report are House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), and Representatives Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Bill Johnson (R-OH), and Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/history-made-bipartisan-water-bill-larsen-secures-largest-ever-investment-puget-sound,"History Made: In Bipartisan Water Bill, Larsen Secures Largest-Ever Investment in Puget Sound Restoration",2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today announced that President Obama has signed the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act – authorizing an effort he spearheaded to secure $451 million to help restore Puget Sound as part of the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project. “No doubt about it – this is a big win for everyone who cares about protecting Puget Sound,” said Larsen. “The environment is not only the cornerstone of Washington state’s cultural identity but also its recreational, and agricultural economies. As this project moves from design to implementation, it will be critical that the stakeholders who rely on the state’s environment to work, play and live are heard and have a seat at the table.”   “We are thrilled that members of our Washington delegation secured funding for critical Puget Sound restoration projects. We commend the team of partners who collaborated over many years on these priorities. While we need to protect and restore Puget Sound now and for future generations, we also need to maintain critical protections for the long-term survival of salmon and the people and orcas that depend on them,” said Mindy Roberts, People For Puget Sound Director at the Washington Environmental Council. “Puget Sound and its watershed are incredibly important to the people who live and work in western Washington, providing natural resources essential to our economy and way of life. These federal resources will support restoration and public protection of lands throughout the region that set us on a path to establishing a sustainably healthy watershed across the region,” said Paul Kundtz, Northwest Director at The Trust for Public Land. “So many organizations have invested their time, talent, and money in Puget Sound recovery,” said Sheida Sahandy, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership. “It is very gratifying to see the federal government step up in a significant way to support these efforts. The funded PNSERP projects will go far in making Puget Sound a thriving, resilient and sustainable system.” Today’s historic investment is a milestone for the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Project – a collaboration between public, private and not-for-profit organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring Puget Sound’s shorelines, supporting salmon restoration and biodiversity in the Sound. The project will develop strategies tailored to the specific needs of the deltas, beaches, embayments and inlets that comprise Puget Sound. The legislation also includes a provision directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to return the Kennewick Man, also known as the “Ancient One,” to local tribes in Washington state for proper reburial within 90 days. Additionally, the legislation includes language authorizing Congress to appropriate funds for toxic cleanup in the Columbia River Basin and creates a voluntary grant program to support stakeholders with cleanup efforts. Larsen has a long record of fighting to protect the environment. In May of this year, Larsen’s bipartisan bill to fund the National Estuary Program – which supports the comprehensive plan for Puget Sound recovery – became law. Larsen also successfully fought to designate San Juan Islands National Monument in 2013 and to protect 106,577 acres of national forest as part of the Wild Sky Wilderness in 2008.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://adamsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-smith-statement-on-president-elect-trump-s-continued,Congressman Smith Statement on President-Elect Trumps Continued Alarming Conflicts of Interest,2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"“Prior to the election of Donald Trump, Presidents have historically removed themselves from business dealings to avoid even the appearance of conflicts of interest. President-elect Trump’s lack of concern for real or perceived conflicts of interest through the business he inherited is unprecedented and deeply troubling.  Following his election, Donald Trump said he would separate himself from his business. He has failed to do so. His decision has raised immediate ethical and legal issues that will only serve to distract from his responsibilities as the President of the United States. “Our country deserves to know how the President-elect will handle his business conflicts. Unfortunately, because the President-elect has not released his taxes, as promised, we don’t fully know the extent to which his business dealings could impact his Presidency. By choosing to postpone a Press Conference originally planned for December 15th, the President-elect has shown he is unwilling to face very legitimate questions about how he will lead our country without the danger posed by conflicts of interest.  “Before his inauguration, Trump must prove his commitment to transparency, and explain how he plans to completely separate himself from his business dealings. Trump has assured the American people that he will cut ties with his businesses because ‘the Presidency is a far more important task,’ and I plan to do everything that I can to hold him to that promise.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/washington-declared-hate-free-zone-inslee-democratic-politicians,"Washington is declared a 'Hate Free Zone' by Inslee, Democratic politicians",2016-12-19,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington is declared a 'Hate Free Zone' by Inslee, Democratic politicians f t # e Washington, DC, December 19, 2016 Democratic politicians and a bevy of Puget Sound-area human rights activists convened at the Seattle Center on Monday to loudly proclaim that the state of Washington is a ""Hate Free Zone."" The Governor quoted Nobel laureate and Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel. U.S. Rep.-elect Pramila Jayapal evoked the post 9/11 movement to make Seattle a ""hate free zone"" U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene spoke of her No Religious Registry Act that would forbid any registration of Muslims. Click here for the full story. f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennyheck.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/could-a-major-marijuana-hurdle-finally-be-removed-in-2017,Could a Major Marijuana Hurdle Finally Be Removed in 2017?,2016-12-17,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Denny Heck,H001064,dennyheck.house.gov,,,legacy,"The marijuana industry could be described as the fastest growing industry within the United States. Though there are numerous industries that have 20%-30% compound annual growth potential throughout the remainder of the decade, few can claim to have what's expected to be nearly 24% annual compounded growth potential over the next 10 years, according to investment firm Cowen & Co. By 2026, we could be talking about $50 billion in legal pot sales in the U.S. A major shift in the public's opinion has been a key factor in the success of cannabis. Two decades ago, there was just a single state that had approved medical marijuana (California), and a mere 25% of Americans supported the idea of full legalization of pot. In fact, the War of Drugs was still in full swing in the mid-1990s. Today, however, 28 states have legalized medical cannabis, and residents in eight states over the past four years have voted to allow recreational weed to be sold to adults ages 21 and up. This rapid ascent of legal marijuana comes as favorability toward a nationwide legalization has jumped all the way up to 60%, an all-time high. The favorability of medical marijuana is even higher, with six out of every seven Americans wanting to see it legalized nationally. State and local governments are also mostly relishing the extra tax revenue that legal marijuana can bring. The approval of Prop 64 in California, the state's recreational marijuana initiative, is expected to generate an extra $1 billion in tax revenue per year. Meanwhile, Colorado took in $135 million in tax and licensing fee revenue in 2015, which it'll be putting toward schools, law enforcement, and drug abuse programs. The inherent disadvantages of operating a pot business in the U.S. Yet, for as good a run as marijuana has had over the past two decades, it remains marred by the fact that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency once again declined to reschedule the drug this past summer following two petitions to do so. In its ruling, the DEA cited a lack of understanding of the chemical make-up of cannabis, as well as insufficient safety and efficacy data in clinical trials, as reasons to keep the substance as schedule 1. Keeping pot's scheduling unchanged reaffirms the federal stance that it has no medical benefits and thus requires individual states to decide on whether or not to approve its recreational and/or medical use. More importantly, the DEA's decision allowed two longstanding inherent disadvantages of the pot industry to continue: cannabis-based business are unable to take normal business tax deductions since they sell a federally illegal substance (meaning they pay income tax on their gross profits instead of net profits), and they almost universally have a difficult time accessing basic banking services, including checking accounts and/or lines of credit. While it doesn't appear that the DEA will be reviewing marijuana's scheduling again anytime soon, Congress could help relieve a long-standing federal burden on the marijuana industry beginning in 2017. Could banking soon become easier for cannabis companies? As it stands now, roughly 3% of all banks in the U.S. are willing to work with marijuana-based business. At one end of the spectrum is a rapidly growing business that should have lenders and banks seeing green. But at the other end are a number of federal regulators that oversee the banking sector -- and the federal government still views weed as an illegal substance, regardless of what varying state laws say. At the end of the day, most banks are going to err on the side of caution and turn cannabis businesses away for fear of being prosecuted for money laundering. This leaves some pot businesses to deal entirely with cash, which is an expansionary inhibitor and a serious security problem. However, certain lawmakers in Congress have been pushing for change. In 2015, the Marijuana Business Access to Banking Act, introduced by Ed Perlmutter (D-Co.) and Denny Heck (D-Wa.), would have prevented federal regulators from penalizing or preventing financial institutions from doing business with legal marijuana businesses. In particular, the Marijuana Business Access to Banking Act would have stripped the penalizing power of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, FDIC, Federal Reserve, and Office of the Comptroller and Currency. Bill sponsors Heck and Perlmutter wanted to see this common sense change made to protect legal pot business owners and employees who are forced to deal solely in cash. As you rightly surmised, Heck and Perlmutter's proposal didn't pass muster in Congress. More recently, in June 2016, an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2017 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which would have banned the four aforementioned federal regulatory authorities from penalizing banks and financial institutions for doing business with legal marijuana companies, failed to pass in the House after narrowly passing in the Senate Appropriations Committee 16-14. In spite of these failures, an incoming administration, coupled with Heck's and Permlutter's persistence (they've introduced similar legislation multiple times) and a growing number of legal marijuana states, could change this vote in 2017. President Obama has already given states workarounds they can implement to offer basic banking services to the marijuana industry, so the next logical step would be to remove the bigger hurdles that stand in the way of banks being able to serve the industry, as well as improve the safety of legal marijuana workers. Legislation to make banking easier for the cannabis industry has gotten a little further along with each passing year, leading me to believe that change could be a strong possibility in 2017. Assuming legislation is passed that allows financial institutions to deal with legal marijuana businesses, it could quickly open up new channels of revenue and boost deposits for financial institutions. For the pot industry, it would give businesses access to credit that could be used to facilitate new purchases and to expand. It would, in theory, be a win-win for both industries. Unfortunately, even if banking access becomes easier for the marijuana industry, it's still not going to be very investment-worthy. Having to pay tax on gross profits instead of net profits is a big disadvantage that investors aren't going to like, and as long as the federal government maintains its schedule 1 stance on pot, big businesses are liable to keep away from entering the industry. Big businesses and industry consolidation would provide the best avenue to success for investors who want to take part in marijuana's rapid growth, but this pathway seems to be nothing but a pipedream at present.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/rep-larsen-host-talks-about-affordable-care-act-future-saturday,Rep. Larsen to host talks about Affordable Care Act future on Saturday,2016-12-17,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Lynnwood Today: Rep. Larsen to host talks about Affordable Care Act future on Saturday Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will on Saturday hold a “Town Talk” at the Mountlake Terrace Senior Center to hear directly from his constituents about their questions and concerns on the future of the Affordable Care Act. Saturday’s event is the first of Larsen’s seven-stop Affordable Care Act Tour of Washington’s 2nd Congressional District, a series of events in towns and cities across Northwest Washingtonian aimed a highlighting how efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act with no plan to replace it will affect Washingtonians. Last week, Larsen launched a new online platform for Washingtonians to share their stories about how they or someone they know has benefited from the Affordable Care Act. More than 120 constituents have already shared their stories. Larsen is the representative for Washington’s 2nd District, which includes the cities of Mountlake Terrace, Brier and Lynnwood. To see a map of the district, click here. Schedule for Saturday, Jan. 14: Larsen will hold at “Town Talk” on the Affordable Care Act 9–10:30 a.m. Mountlake Terrace Senior Center 23000 Lakeview Dr. Mountlake Terrace",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/delbene-co-teaches-physics-stella-schola,DelBene co-teaches physics at Stella Schola,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Rep. Suzan DelBene (D) from Washington’s 1st Congressional District spent the morning of Dec. 19 in an eighth-grade classroom at Stella Schola Middle School in Redmond. DelBene co-taught a physics lesson with teacher Brigitte Tennis. Click here for the full story.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/watch-dem-rep-reintroduce-bill-preventing-muslim-database,WATCH: Dem Rep to reintroduce bill preventing Muslim database,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"A Democratic lawmaker intends to reintroduce her bill to ban any religious registry. The legislation is aimed at a possible registry of Muslims, which President-elect Donald Trump has discussed. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) sponsored legislation in the last Congress intended to prevent such a registry. She said she wants to ""make it very, very clear"" that ""religious freedom is protected in the Constitution and we should not be creating a registry of this kind."" Click here for the full story.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bipartisan-house-coalition-presses-claper-information-phone-email,"Bipartisan House Coalition Presses Claper for Information on Phone, Email Surveillance",2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a bipartisan group of ten members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee — including Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), and former Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), wrote to the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to memorialize the Director’s commitment to provide a detailed look at how the government’s phone and email surveillance affects United States citizens.  The intelligence community has promised to provide a public estimate of that impact “early enough to inform the debate” on surveillance reform in the next Congress, with a target date of January 2017. The letter was signed by Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Darrell E. Issa (R-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ted Poe (R-TX), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA) and David N. Cicilline (D-RI). The text of the letter is available here and below: Honorable James R. Clapper Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence Washington, DC 20511 Dear Director Clapper: As you know, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2017.  In the past, each of us has expressed concern that Section 702 surveillance programs may not adequately protect the privacy or civil liberties of United States persons. On April 22, 2016, we wrote to ask that you provide us with a public estimate of the number of communications or transactions involving United States persons that may be captured by Section 702 surveillance on an annual basis. Since that letter, your office and the National Security Agency have briefed our staff about the manner in which you might comply with this request.  We understand that you have provided additional, classified briefings to the staff of the House and Senate Judiciary committees. We write today to memorialize our understanding of this project at this time: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Security Agency will provide us with the information we have requested “early enough to inform the debate” about reauthorization in the next Congress, with a target date of January 2017. The information will be in a form that can be shared with the public. Any estimates will be presented in real numbers—not merely percentages. As ODNI and NSA survey these collections, they may encounter information from individuals about whom there is insufficient information to know whether they are Americans or located inside the United States.  The number of these individuals will be included in any reporting as well. ODNI and NSA will provide us with an explanation of the methodology chosen to conduct this survey of Section 702 programs. Although we recognize that you may provide us with additional details about this project in a classified setting, ODNI and NSA will make a description of the methodology available to the public. In earlier conversations, our staff has conveyed to you the methodologies we would find acceptable.  If a materially different approach is chosen, ODNI and NSA will brief us on this matter as soon as possible. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.  The timely production of this information is incredibly important to informed debate on Section 702 in the next Congress—and, without it, even those of us inclined to support reauthorization would have reason for concern. We look forward to working with your office in the year to come. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1895,"Bipartisan House Coalition Presses Claper for Information on Phone, Email Surveillance",2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, a bipartisan group of ten members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee including Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), and former Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), wrote to the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to memorialize the Director's commitment to provide a detailed look at how the government's phone and email surveillance affects United States citizens. The intelligence community has promised to provide a public estimate of that impact early enough to inform the debate on surveillance reform in the next Congress, with a target date of January 2017. The letter was signed by Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Darrell E. Issa (R-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ted Poe (R-TX), Henry C. Hank Johnson, Jr.(D-GA), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA) and David N. Cicilline(D-RI). The text of the letter is available here and below: Honorable James R. Clapper Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence Washington, DC 20511 Dear Director Clapper: As you know, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2017. In the past, each of us has expressed concern that Section 702 surveillance programs may not adequately protect the privacy or civil liberties of United States persons. On April 22, 2016, we wrote to ask that you provide us with a public estimate of the number of communications or transactions involving United States persons that may be captured by Section 702 surveillance on an annual basis. Since that letter, your office and the National Security Agency have briefed our staff about the manner in which you might comply with this request. We understand that you have provided additional, classified briefings to the staff of the House and Senate Judiciary committees. We write today to memorialize our understanding of this project at this time: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the National Security Agency will provide us with the information we have requested early enough to inform the debate about reauthorization in the next Congress, with a target date of January 2017. The information will be in a form that can be shared with the public. Any estimates will be presented in real numbersnot merely percentages. As ODNI and NSA survey these collections, they may encounter information from individuals about whom there is insufficient information to know whether they are Americans or located inside the United States. The number of these individuals will be included in any reporting as well. ODNI and NSA will provide us with an explanation of the methodology chosen to conduct this survey of Section 702 programs. Although we recognize that you may provide us with additional details about this project in a classified setting, ODNI and NSA will make a description of the methodology available to the public. In earlier conversations, our staff has conveyed to you the methodologies we would find acceptable. If a materially different approach is chosen, ODNI and NSA will brief us on this matter as soon as possible. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. The timely production of this information is incredibly important to informed debate on Section 702 in the next Congressand, without it, even those of us inclined to support reauthorization would have reason for concern. We look forward to working with your office in the year to come. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398821,President Signs Jaime Herrera Beutlers BABES Act into Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Jaime Herrera Beutler,H001056,herrerabeutler.house.gov,,,legacy,"President Signs Jaime Herrera Beutler’s BABES Act into Law The BABES Act requires TSA to better assist parents traveling with breastmilk and formula f t # e Washington, D.C. , December 16, 2016 Today, President Obama signed U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler’s bill, the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act (BABES Act), into law. share: f t Today, President Obama signed U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler’s bill, the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening Act (BABES Act), into law. This bipartisan solution will require the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to better accommodate parents traveling with breast milk, infant food and feeding equipment.“Too many parents have dealt with the TSA’s harassment-like treatment for carrying infant food and breast milk through airport security – even though this is allowed under TSA’s own guidelines. With the president signing my bill into law today, we will make it easier for families to travel with the supplies and food they need,” said Jaime. “The BABES Act will ensure that TSA agents are trained to provide families traveling with breastmilk with reasonable, consistent treatment, and that the agency maintains this priority in the future for new hires and retraining activities.” Click here to read more about Jaime’s legislation to assist parents traveling with breastmilk and formula. f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398822,President Signs Jaime Herrera Beutlers Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Effort into Law,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Jaime Herrera Beutler,H001056,herrerabeutler.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, President Obama signed Jaime Herrera Beutler’s legislative effort to prevent aquatic invasive species from infiltrating the Columbia River ecosystem into law. share: f t Today, President Obama signed Jaime Herrera Beutler’s legislative effort to prevent aquatic invasive species from infiltrating the Columbia River ecosystem into law. “Protecting the Columbia River ecosystem from invasive species is paramount to our way of life in Southwest Washington, and I’m pleased the president signed my legislative effort into law today,” said Jaime. “Prevention is the first line of defense, and I’ve secured the resources to strengthen invasive species prevention because it’s the cheapest and most effective tool to use against invasive species.  It is also key to maintain our reliable, renewable, and affordable hydro energy. Jaime’s anti-invasive species initiative was included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2017 (WRDA). Watercraft inspection stations intercept thousands of boats from all over the country to inspect for invasive mussels and decontaminate them.  More information about Jaime’s effort is available here. Dedicated Funding for Southwest Washington Ports The WRDA bill also provides funding for maintenance and improvements to Southwest Washington ports by phasing in full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund -- money collected for harbor and channel operations maintenance and dredging. Jaime has consistently fought to ensure that 10% of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund will be set aside for small ports like those in Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties, and along the Columbia River. “I’ve consistently championed returning the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund resources to those small ports who need it. With the president’s signature of this legislative package, we’re also strengthening the small ports in Southwest Washington  that support jobs and critical economic activity.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-bill-faster-care-veterans-act-signed-law/,"McMorris Rodgers’ Bill, Faster Care For Veterans Act, Signed into Law",2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. (December 16, 2016)– Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), issued the below statement after the President signed into law the Faster Care for Veterans Act. “Today is a victory for our veterans and a big step toward bringing the VA into the 21st Century and back to being focused on its sole mission – serving veterans,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “I’m grateful for my colleagues’ support of this legislation, and I look forward to seeing the very real impact it will have on giving our veterans easier access to the care they’ve earned.” NOTE: Rep. McMorris Rodgers recently spoke at a House Republican Leadership press conference about the Faster Care for Veterans Act. Click here to view her remarks, and click here to watch her speech on the House floor. Earlier this year, she penned a Washington Post op-ed outlining her vision for a modern VA system.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/weekly-columns-and-op-eds/column-change-coming-washington,COLUMN: Change Coming to Washington,2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"As the 114th Congress comes to an end, it is worth looking back on my first term in Congress and highlight the important accomplishments and the change that Americans should expect before the 115th Congress convenes next year. While there has been much disagreement between Republicans and Democrats in the nation’s capital, progress on issues that earned bipartisan support should not be overlooked. During the 114th Congress, Medicare was put on stronger footing by the “Doc Fix.” This improvement was signed into law to permanently repeal the practice of allowing automatic cuts to doctors’ payments under Medicare, which threatened seniors’ access to their doctors. For many years, Congress would temporarily delay these cuts on an annual basis, and now there is a long-term bipartisan agreement. Congress just recently passed the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by President Obama. Not only did the legislation streamline development and federal approval of life-saving drugs, but it included improvements for our nation’s mental health care system. The bill also included state grants to fight the opioid epidemic that is sweeping the nation, including communities in Central Washington. For Washingtonians in particular, one important accomplishment of the 114th Congress was to make the federal tax deduction for state and local sales tax permanent. In 2012, Washington families saved $602 from this deduction, and making this provision permanent allows them to plan ahead. These are a few examples of recent accomplishments during a period of divided government. In 2017, unified Republican control of the federal government will result in a dramatic shift from the Obama years. One of the most important changes is a return to the system laid out in Article I of the Constitution. Article I delegates all legislative authority to Congress. During the past two years, hard-fought legislative priorities would be passed by Congress only to be vetoed by President Obama. President Obama’s “pen and phone” strategy—meant to maximize his power through executive actions and federal regulations while bypassing Congress on a host of issues—overstepped the constitutional powers of the presidency. Congress was forced to hold the line on overreaching executive actions and agency regulations, and in many cases the federal courts have found that the administration exceeded its authority. For the health of our republic, the executive branch must stay within its constitutional limits regardless of who occupies the White House. There have been high-profile bipartisan legislative accomplishments in the past two years, but the nation’s government was largely divided between an overreaching executive and a resistant Congress. Americans can expect the legislative branch to reclaim the Constitution’s focus on limited government next year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-provision-improves-computer-science-education-for-underserved-communities-awaits-presidents-signature,"Cantwell Provision Improves Computer Science Education for Underserved Communities, Awaits President’s Signature",2016-12-16,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.16.16 Cantwell Provision Improves Computer Science Education for Underserved Communities, Awaits President’s Signature Legislation advances models for teaching and learning computer science in rural and low-income classrooms WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) hailed the news that a program she introduced, which supports computer science education for underrepresented populations in STEM fields, has passed both chambers of Congress as part of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act. The bill now heads to the president for his signature into law. Cantwell’s provision focuses on students in low-income, rural, and tribal communities that have been largely left out of the expanding and dynamic field of computer science. The legislation creates a grant program at the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote research on computer science teaching models, tools, and materials, with a focus on instruction for low-income, rural, and tribal students. The program also emphasizes preparing incoming teachers to integrate computer science and computational thinking into their classrooms in innovative ways. “The workforce in Washington state and across the nation is increasingly dependent on technology skills.  We need to significantly increase the number of teachers who can provide students with the computing skills necessary to compete in the 21st century,” said Cantwell. “The economy’s future success depends on delivering educational opportunities in computer science based on proven strategies. Research funded through this program will enable educators to teach this critical subject more effectively and bring new skills to underserved communities.” Computing jobs are growing in every industry and in every state. There are currently more than 20,000 open computing jobs in Washington state, and more than 500,000 nationwide. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates there will be 4.4 million jobs in computer and information technology occupations by 2024. Despite the clear need for a workforce with coding and programming skills, students in 75% of our nation’s schools graduate high school with no computer science education. The provision will support research to develop, pilot, fully implement, or test: Instructional materials and high-quality learning opportunities for teaching computer science, with an emphasis on improving inclusion of groups underrepresented in STEM disciplines; Models for the preparation of new teachers who will teach computer science; Scalable models of professional development and ongoing support for teachers, and; Tools and models for teaching and learning aimed at supporting student success and inclusion in computing across diverse populations, particularly poor, rural, and tribal populations. Another Cantwell-authored provision instructs the NSF to evaluate its own efforts to reach populations underrepresented in STEM fields and submit its findings in a report to Congress on a biennial basis, along with recommendations for how to improve inclusion of these populations. Cantwell’s advocacy for computer science and other STEM-related education is rooted in her belief that STEM skills are essential for the competitiveness of the American workforce. She was an original cosponsor of the original authorization of this bill, the America COMPETES Act, when it was first introduced in 2007. She also guided its reauthorization through the Senate in 2010. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennyheck.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-denny-heck-statement-on-russian-interference-in-2016-us,Congressman Denny Heck statement on Russian interference in 2016 U.S. presidential election,2016-12-15,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Denny Heck,H001064,dennyheck.house.gov,,,legacy,"OLYMPIA, WASH. – Today Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.) released a statement calling on Congress to establish an independent commission to further investigate Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election: “Our passports have the Great Seal of the United States, and we all pledge our allegiance to the American flag, not any political party. Members of Congress take an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, not the plans or ambitions of a party platform. If we allow ourselves to get too focused on party loyalty or success, we put our country’s best interest in jeopardy. We need to take this threat seriously, and show every nation in the world that when our country’s democracy is interfered with, we band together and become even stronger as a result. “I believe an independent commission is the best avenue in which to immediately tackle this problem. I appreciate my colleagues on both sides of the aisle coming together to bring this to fruition. This commission should be in operation as soon as possible and needs to be able to provide recommendations before the end of 2017.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/reichert-attends-policy-retreat-work-tax-and-health-care-reform,Reichert Attends Policy Retreat to Work on Tax and Health Care Reform,2016-12-15,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dave Reichert,R000578,reichert.house.gov,,,legacy,"Reichert Attends Policy Retreat to Work on Tax and Health Care Reform Dec 15, 2016 Washington, DC – This week, Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Trade, joins fellow Republicans on the Committee for an intensive two-day policy retreat in Washington, DC while Congress is adjourned for the holiday recess. The retreat will focus on key priorities for many Americans, including tax and health care reform. “As I visit with families across the district, I often hear the same concerns about our overly complicated tax code and the rising costs of health care,” said Rep. Reichert. “I am optimistic with a new Congress fast approaching, my colleagues and I will be in a strong position to implement the reforms Americans across Washington State and the country have been asking for.” “During this week’s retreat, we are discussing how to create a simpler, fairer tax system that allows families to keep more of their hard-earned dollars and what steps must be taken to give families access to more individualized, more affordable health care.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/tri-tech-skills-center-students-win-congressional-app-design-challenge,Tri-Tech Skills Center Students Win Congressional App-Design Challenge,2016-12-15,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) announced the winners of the Fourth Congressional District’s second annual Congressional App Challenge, an app competition for high school students. Tri-Tech Skills Center seniors Tobias (Toby) Williams, Jamas Middleton, and Elijah Stiham, of Kennewick, have been named the competition winners for their app called “Trinity Complex,” which is an open world, first-person game app in which the player must navigate through a virtual environment to collect six keys. “The Congressional App Challenge encourages development of the creativity and computer skills that our young people will need to succeed,” said Rep. Newhouse. “I am proud to recognize Toby Williams, Jamas Middleton, and Elijah Stiham for their team’s achievement in winning the Fourth Congressional District’s second annual Congressional App Challenge.” You can see a preview of the app by clicking here. The winning app was selected by a panel of local judges and will receive a prize tour of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The winners will also share $400 in Amazon Web Services credits donated by Amazon for the challenge. The winning app will be featured on a video display in the U.S. Capitol building. The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) was created because Congress recognized that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education skills are essential for economic growth and innovation, and that the U.S. has been falling behind on these fronts. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are projected to grow by 17% between 2008 and 2018, compared to 9.8% growth for non-STEM occupations. According to some estimates, the U.S. may be short as many as 3 million high-skilled workers by 2018. To maintain American competitiveness, it is crucial that the U.S. industry invest in our youth now and help them acquire necessary STEM-based skills. The CAC highlights and encourages students to pursue those skills. Last year’s Fourth District App Challenge winners, Cinthia Santiago Villanueva and Esmeralda Lopez, students at Harrison Middle School in Sunnyside, won the challenge with an app they designed called the Agricultural Job Finder.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-brown-feinstein-blast-cftc-for-failure-to-finish-rule-to-curb-excessive-speculation-in-commodities,"Cantwell, Brown, Feinstein Blast CFTC For Failure To Finish Rule To Curb Excessive Speculation In Commodities",2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.14.16 Cantwell, Brown, Feinstein Blast CFTC For Failure To Finish Rule To Curb Excessive Speculation In Commodities Leading Senate Democrats Criticize Agency for Once Again Delaying Long-Overdue Rule to Limit Speculation in Futures Contracts WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) criticized the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for failing to complete a long-delayed rule to curb the number of futures contracts a trader can hold on certain commodities, including oil, natural gas, and gold. The CFTC in 2013 revised its proposal to crack down on excessive speculation in a group of 28 commodities, but the agency has yet to issue a final rule. On Dec. 5, CFTC Chairman Timothy Massad punted again, reproposing the rule despite assurances it would be completed this year. “We are disturbed by the CFTC’s action to delay this rulemaking and your inability to guide the rule to completion in the two and a half years of your tenure,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Massad. “Instead of working to achieve a balanced rule based on years of consideration and comments since the November 2013 reproposal of the rule, you have simply kicked the issue into the future and created the uncertainty that you stated you were trying to avoid.” Cantwell and Brown are the ranking members on the Senate Banking and the Energy and Natural Resources Committees, respectively. In March, the Senators urged the CFTC to move quickly to finish the final position limits rule. They expressed concerns over continued delays or a weaker the rule. When the CFTC approved the supplemental position limits proposal in May, Massad said he looked forward to completing the rule by the end of the year. “Now, in December, we see that our concerns were well founded -- the rule has been unnecessarily delayed and is now on track to be weaker,” the Senators wrote. The Senators also criticized the CFTC for stalling or weakening its rules related to oversight of derivatives traders dealing in multibillion dollar swaps, capital and liquidity for swap dealers, margin requirements for uncleared swaps, and automated trading. Congress required the CFTC to address the risk of excessive speculation in commodity markets as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In 2012, a federal court rejected the agency’s first set of rules on position limits following a lawsuit by two Wall Street lobbying groups, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association. The full text of the letter is below: December 14, 2016 The Honorable Timothy Massad Chairman Commodity Futures Trading Commission Three Lafayette Center 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC  20580 Dear Chairman Massad: We write to address the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) reproposal of regulations to implement limits on speculative futures and swap positions as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection (Dodd-Frank) Act.  Through the Dodd-Frank Act and the Commodity Exchange Act, Congress has called for the use of speculative position limits as a means of preventing unreasonable and unwarranted price fluctuations and has directed the CFTC to establish position limits with the goal of diminishing, eliminating, or preventing excessive speculation and to deter and prevent market manipulation.  We are disturbed by the CFTC’s action to delay this rulemaking and your inability to guide the rule to completion in the two and a half years of your tenure.  Instead of working to achieve a balanced rule based on years of consideration and comments since the November 2013 reproposal of the rule, you have simply kicked the issue into the future and created the uncertainty that you stated you were trying to avoid. In March, we wrote to you expressing our concern that the final position limits rule would be delayed or weakened.  When the CFTC approved the supplemental position limits proposal in May, your statement concluded with “I look forward to hearing the views of market participants and completing a position limits rule this year.” Now, in December, we see that our concerns were well founded -- the rule has been unnecessarily delayed and is now on track to be weaker.  Moreover, the rule on position limits is not the only disappointment from the CFTC.  Throughout this year, we have witnessed the CFTC delay or weaken the finalization of the de minimis exemption from swap dealer registration, capital and liquidity rules for swap dealers, margin requirements for uncleared swaps, and your own regulation on automated trading. You have also used your position to criticize several rules that the Federal banking agencies have implemented over the past six years that have made the financial system safer and more sound. News reports have indicated you will step down at the beginning of 2017.  Given your comments on December 6 that, “there’s a wide consensus that the reforms made to bring transparency and oversight to the swaps market made sense, and therefore it would be a mistake to significantly change them,” we urge you to spend your remaining time putting the CFTC in a position to finalize strong Dodd-Frank rules for the derivatives market as contemplated by Congress. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=A88030DA-DC60-49EA-AFC3-FA4FE8ADCE13,Senator Murray Statement on Trumps Pick to Head U.S. Department of Energy,2016-12-14,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the U.S. Department of Energy, former Texas Governor Rick Perry.   “Washington state is home to one of the largest nuclear cleanup efforts in the world, so I cannot stress enough how critical it is to have strong, able leadership at the U.S. Department of Energy to guide the cleanup at Hanford. This requires a leader with a commitment to help our country fulfill its legal and moral obligation, but more importantly, a commitment to the safety of thousands of workers who show up day in and day out. It is imperative for Governor Perry, or any Energy nominee, to truly understand the sacrifices Hanford workers and the Tri-Cities community made to help America win World II and the Cold War. Any effort to roll back progress at Hanford, shortchange PNNL, destabilize BPA, or privatize portions of the Department of Energy will be met with swift opposition.   “I am also deeply troubled by Governor Perry’s past statements regarding climate change and his obvious ties to Big Oil. I have supported and will continue to support renewable energy research, development, and deployment in order to address the critical issues of climate change and to create a comprehensive national energy policy suited for the economy of the next century, not one that is merely beholden to billionaires and big corporations.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/olympic-national-park-wilderness-will-be-renamed-honor-former-washington-governor-and,The Olympic National Park Wilderness Will Be Renamed in Honor of Former Washington Governor and US Senator Dan Evans,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. – A bill honoring former Washington Governor and U.S. Senator Dan Evans passed the U.S. House of Representatives after unanimously passing the Senate in July. The legislation will rename the Olympic Wilderness within Olympic National Park as the “Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.” The bill – backed by the entire Washington state congressional delegation – will now head to the president’s desk for signature into law. Dan Evans served Washington state for more than 50 years, including service as a state legislator, governor and U.S. Senator. During his time in the U.S. Senate, Evans was the lead sponsor of the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 which designated over 1.5 million acres of wilderness areas in Olympic, North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Parks – including 877,000 acres within Olympic National Park as “the Olympic Wilderness.”   Sen. Evans was also a cosponsor of the Washington Wilderness Act of 1984, which designated more than one million acres of national forest land as wilderness within the state. “Senator Evans led with passion and commitment to preserve Washington state’s natural resources,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02). “He championed passage of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act which protected more than 1 million acres of national forest across Washington state, and the 1988 Washington Park Wilderness Act which designated key wilderness area within the Olympic National Park. Renaming the Olympic National Park Wilderness honors Senator Evans’ legacy and lifelong fight to protect the environment.” “We are grateful to Sen. Dan Evans for his dedication to preserving our most treasured places. Naming the Olympic Wilderness in his honor this holiday season is a deserved recognition of his many years of work to protect Washington’s national parks and forests,” said Sen. Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Washington state is so lucky to have had an advocate for the great outdoors like former U.S. Senator Dan Evans,” said Sen. Murray. “It’s only right to honor his legacy in Washington state by renaming one of the places he helped protect, the Olympic National Park Wilderness, as the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.” “The Washington delegation has a long tradition of bipartisan support for the responsible stewardship of Washington’s public lands. This tradition continues today because we know our wonderful forests, parks, mountains and waterways are what makes living in the Pacific Northwest so special. It’s only fitting that one of our beautiful wilderness areas be named after Dan Evans – a true environmentalist and champion for Washington’s outdoor spaces,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Throughout his life, the outdoors have been a special place for Senator Dan Evans,” said Rep. Kilmer (WA-06). “Through his leadership on conservation efforts, he has embraced the power of the outdoors to bring people together while at the same time creating economic opportunities for communities in our state. To mark his work, I’m honored to join my colleagues on this bill to rename the Olympic National Park Wilderness the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.”  ""I can think of no Washingtonian more deserving of this honor,” said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “Dan Evans lived and breathed the outdoors. From his days as an Eagle Scout and Hike Master to his years of public service, he spent his life protecting our wilderness. Dan carried his passion with him in every role during his expansive career, so it's fitting that his home state names one of the most impressive wilderness regions after its tireless advocate."" “Today, I am proud to see the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act approved by the Congress and sent to President Obama for his signature. Introduced by members of the Washington State Delegation, this bill renames the Olympic Wilderness the ‘Daniel J. Evans Wilderness,’ in honor of former Washington Governor and Senator Dan Evans. An avid outdoorsman and public servant, Senator Evans worked throughout his distinguished career to preserve Washington’s national parks and forests for future generations. I am pleased to see that the wilderness Senator Evans worked so tirelessly to protect will bear his name and carry on his legacy,” said Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09). “In keeping with our state’s heritage and the longstanding respect for the outdoors from our Native peoples, Dan Evans advocated for our wilderness areas with gusto. Whether he was in loafers in a conference room or in hiking boots out on the Wonderland Trail, he was committed to protecting and restoring the beautiful forests, parks, and lands that surround us. He remains an inspiration to Washingtonians and this designation will be a great reminder of his legacy,” said Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10) “Senator Evans has an enduring and exceptional record of service to Washington, and I consider myself fortunate to have served alongside him.  This legislation is long overdue in recognizing the role he played in protecting Washington’s wild places.  His commitment to our natural treasures transcended partisan politics, and it is only fitting that his legacy be honored,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07). “It’s fitting that we are naming the Olympic Wilderness for former Governor Dan Evans.  Dan is one of those admirable individuals who has contributed his energy, leadership and passion both in and out of elected office through the decades on behalf of Washington state,” said Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03). “His efforts on behalf of our forests deserves to be commemorated by all who live, work and recreate in and around them.” “My home state of Washington and the region I represent are known for their breathtaking natural treasures,” said Rep. Reichert. “But we cannot talk about Washington’s natural treasures without thanking the man who’s been instrumental in maintaining and protecting them for future generations. From the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act to the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988, Senator Dan Evans’ initiatives have had a lasting impact on every person who had or will get the opportunity to experience Mother Nature’s gifts. I am proud my colleagues in the House joined me in recognizing his contributions by passing the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act and sending it to the President’s desk.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://adamsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/smith-cummings-conyers-engel-hoyer-schiff-thompson-joint-statement,"Smith, Cummings, Conyers, Engel, Hoyer, Schiff, Thompson Joint Statement Calling for a Comprehensive Investigation of Russian Interference in the 2016 Election",2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Today, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D-CA), and House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) released the following joint statement in response to news reports about intelligence assessments of Russian interference in the 2016 election, and comments by the House Republican leadership downplaying the need for a thorough investigation:",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398819,President Signs Jaime Herrera Beutler Bill into Law to Make Medication Safer for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Moms,2016-12-13,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Jaime Herrera Beutler,H001056,herrerabeutler.house.gov,,,legacy,"President Signs Jaime Herrera Beutler Bill into Law to Make Medication Safer for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Moms “21st Century Cures” package to improve medical treatments and cures signed into law included bipartisan bill authored by Reps. Herrera Beutler and Castor f t # e Washington, D.C. , December 13, 2016 Today, President Obama signed a bill coauthored by U.S. Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), the Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act, that was included in the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act. share: f t Today, President Obama signed a bill coauthored by U.S. Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Kathy Castor (D-FL), the Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act, that was included in the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act. Reps. Herrera Beutler and Castor introduced the Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act last spring to address the dangers posed to mothers and infants by the lack of research on medication taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  This bipartisan solution will identify major research gaps involving pregnant and lactating women who take prescription medication, and detail ways to promote safer medications for them to use.  More details on the bill are available here. “Today’s signing by the president marks an important step for making medication safer for moms and babies,” said Jaime. “I’m proud that the President signed my Safe Medication for Moms and Babies Act into law today, which will make it easier for mothers to effectively manage chronic health conditions. Without reliable information, women and doctors are playing a guessing game as to the impacts of many medications. A mother shouldn’t have to choose between taking medication with an unknown effect on her and her child, or not taking it at all – and today’s bill signing will help make sure moms aren’t in that position.” f t # e",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennyheck.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congress-just-resolved-a-20-year-debate-over-neolithic-remains,Congress just resolved a 20-year debate over Neolithic remains,2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Denny Heck,H001064,dennyheck.house.gov,,,legacy,"A fierce battle over the remains of a Neolithic hunter is a step closer to resolution after Congress passed a water infrastructure measure last week. The skeleton, known as Kennewick Man, was uncovered on federal land that once belonged to the Umatilla tribe near the Columbia River in 1996. Native tribes in the Columbia Basin wanted the remains, which are nearly 9,000 years old, according to carbon dating tests, to be given a proper burial. But some archaeologists argued that Kennewick Man was unrelated to native tribes. Some believed the remains were evidence that Caucasians had been present in the new world thousands of years before European settlers arrived. The debate set off a decadelong court fight between tribes and the archaeologists, who sued the Army Corps of Engineers for the right to study the remains. The case made its way to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled there was insufficient proof that the remains were related to today’s tribes. As the court fight progressed, Kennewick Man’s bones lay under lock and key at Seattle’s Burke Museum. After another decade of study, DNA tests conducted by the University of Copenhagen and the University of Chicago found genetic links between Kennewick Man and five tribes that claimed him as a relative.  But Kennewick Man’s final resting place has been delayed by Washington state politics. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) has long advocated for returning the bones to Columbia Basin tribes, while then-Rep. Doc Hastings (R), who represented the area where Kennewick Man’s remains had been discovered and chaired the House Natural Resources Committee, did not intervene in the case. This year, Murray and two Washington congressmen — including Hastings’s successor, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R) — pushed to include a provision returning the bones in the water infrastructure bill. That provision in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act would transfer ownership of Kennewick Man’s remains from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has held possession of his remains since his discovery 20 years ago, to the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation. The state agency already has regulations in place to return the bones to native tribes. The Senate passed the water infrastructure bill on Friday. The House passed it earlier this month. “The inclusion of this important provision in the final water infrastructure agreement honors the rights and traditions of these Tribes. We are close to finally returning the Ancient One home,” Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.) said in a statement. Umatilla board of trustees member Armand Minthorn said in a statement that Kennewick Man had been ""denied his right to a proper burial for twenty years."" ""We are glad for this long overdue decision. Our efforts will not cease until he returns to his people once and for always,"" Minthorn said. ""We will rest when he can rest.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennyheck.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/no-surprise-boeing-will-reduce-777-production-in-everett,No surprise Boeing will reduce 777 production in Everett,2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Denny Heck,H001064,dennyheck.house.gov,,,legacy,"Boeing is expected to lower production, and likely staffing levels, as demand for its 777 jets are lower than predicted. “It’s no surprise whatsoever,” said Scott Hamilton with Leeham Company, an aviation consulting firm based in Issaquah. “This has been long predicted by Wall Street analysts and myself,” he said. “It means the delivery rate will be as few as 3.5 a month … It means a lot lower cash flow. It obviously means there is a lack of demand for the airplanes.” Boeing isn’t the only aerospace company in Trump’s crosshairs The Seattle Times reports that Boeing doesn’t have enough 777 widebody airplane orders to justify its plan to deliver seven jets a month. The aerospace company will drop its production rate to five planes a month starting next August. The production rate will be further dropped to 3.5 planes per month in the year after that. That translates to lower production at the company’s Everett location, reducing the 100 planes slated to be produced in 2018 down to 42. A considerable financial blow given that Boeing generally sells the jets for around $160 million each. It is uncertain how many jobs will be threatened in Everett, and beyond. “It’s tough to say,” Hamilton said. “Boeing holds very close to the chest how many direct jobs are on the assembly line. But clearly they are going to have to be some layoffs on the assembly line.” “You will have a trickle-down effect of the supply chain,” he said. “Even though you would focus on the number of jobs at Boeing, I think you would see, potentially, some job reductions in the supply chain that feeds the 777 as well.” Other issues looming for Boeing This is all separate from another issue Boeing is dealing with involving a $16.6 billion deal with Iran that was recently finalized. But the deal has run afoul of Republicans, and the incoming Donald Trump administration. “Even with the Iran deal, assuming that Trump doesn’t eviscerate the deal, that’s not enough to fill the product gap Boeing has,” Hamilton said. Washington Congressman Denny Heck has previously spoken about the ramifications of blocking Boeing Iran deal on the local economy and jobs in the state. “It will hurt our economy and make us less safe,” Heck previously told KIRO Radio. “And I fear that this is a preview of what will come in winter and spring if this trend continues.” “This sale is in absolute complete compliance with the JCPOA, which most people refer to as the ‘Iran agreement,’” he said. “It will cost us jobs and render us less safe.” Republicans in Congress previously passed a bill that would essentially halt the sale between Boeing and Iran. The bill places restrictions on such a sale using banks in the United States. “The bill is a straight-forward, black and white violation of the Iran agreement,” Heck said. “It would probably cause it to implode. It would make us unsafe because it would start Iran back on a track to make nuclear weapons, and in the meantime, it would cost American jobs — $17 billion in airplane sales works out to over 100,000 jobs throughout the Boeing company and its supply chain.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398818,President Expected to Sign Jaime Herrera Beutlers BABES Act into Law,2016-12-12,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Jaime Herrera Beutler,H001056,herrerabeutler.house.gov,,,legacy,"Over the weekend, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved Jaime Herrera Beutler’s bill to better accommodate parents traveling with infant food and equipment, protecting them against harassment-like scrutiny that contradicts Transit Security Administration’s (TSA) own policies.  The president will sign this bill into law before the end of the year. “With holiday travel season quickly approaching, parents across the country are vulnerable to inconsistent treatment, having their child’s food thrown away, and missed flights when attempting to fly with infant food and breast milk,” said Jaime. “I’m pleased that the BABES Act I’ve been championing will be signed into law to eliminate the stressful ‘guessing game’ for parents as to whether TSA will uphold the accommodation for breast milk and formula.”  Click here to read more about this bipartisan legislation championed by Jaime and U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) to assist parents traveling with breastmilk and formula. “Scientific evidence demonstrates that breastfeeding has a range of significant health benefits for both mother and child,” stated March of Dimes President Dr. Jennifer L. Howse.  “The BABES Act will make sure that all agents across the country are appropriately trained on TSA’s policies and procedures related to mothers and families traveling with breastmilk, formula and infant feeding equipment, helping to ensure that women who choose to breastfeed face one less barrier to doing so while travelling.  The March of Dimes is grateful to Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Sen. Kelly Ayotte for championing this important issue.” “The goal of every obstetrician-gynecologist is a healthy mother and a healthy baby,” said Dr. Thomas Gellhaus, MD and President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). “As the leading group of health care providers dedicated to caring for women, ACOG applauds passage of H.R. 5065/ S. 3299, the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Act to ensure the TSA consistently enforces existing rules allowing breast milk, formula, and breastfeeding equipment across all airport security checkpoints. Proper nutrition during infancy is beneficial for maternal and infant health and well-being.  ACOG is committed to advocating for changes to the public environment that support breastfeeding locally and nationally. We applaud Representative Herrera Beutler and Senator Ayotte for their leadership in introducing the BABES Act.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-166-billion-sales-agreement-between-boeing-and-iran-air-%E2%80%9Cgood-news-washington,Larsen: $16.6 Billion Sales Agreement Between Boeing and Iran Air is Good News for Washington State,2016-12-11,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today released the following statement after Boeing announced signing a $16.6 billion sales agreement with Iran Air: “This deal is good news for Washington state and will help support the thousands of good-paying jobs in my District that rely on trade and Boeing’s ability to compete in the global marketplace.” Earlier this year, Larsen voted against H.R. 5711, the No Financing for Iran Act, calling the bill “the first step of this new administration and this Republican Congress to destroy manufacturing and manufacturing jobs in this country.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennyheck.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/remains-of-8400-year-old-kennewick-man-will-come-home-for-burial,"Remains of 8,400-year-old 'Kennewick Man' will come home for burial",2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Denny Heck,H001064,dennyheck.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congress has approved a process that will send 8,400-year-old remains known as the Ancient One or Kennewick Man home to the Columbia Basin where area tribes and descendants will provide burial at an undisclosed location. A provision in a federal water bill, sent to President Obama for his signature, ends a 20-year fight over the remains. The legislation transfers the Ancient One from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Washington Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation, which has the authority to arrange repatriation. ""This victory would not have been possible without the determination, collaboration and leadership of the claimant tribes of the Columbia River plateau, who impressed upon me just how much it meant to them for Congress to end decades of debate and give them the opportunity to give their descendant a proper burial and final resting place,"" said Sen. Patty Murray. JoDe Goudy, chairman of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council, said: ""We come from this land and when we pass, we return to this land as did our relative the Ancient One. ... Now with help from our friends in Congress, he will be returned so he may finally rest. I, and many others, wish this fight has not taken 20 years as this has been a long and tumultuous journey."" The remains of a nearly complete male skeleton were discovered in 1996 on federal land near the Columbia River. They constitute one of the oldest and most complete skeletons ever found in North America.  Scientists have wanted to study the skeleton, which has remained stored at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington. The 20-year controversy over the remains even produced a memorable headline blooper -- ""Kennewick Man Wins Lottery"" -- in a central Washington newspaper. Scientists won a federal court ruling in 2004, but such Native American groups as the Yakama Nation, Nez Perce Tribe, the Wanapum Band of Priest Rapids and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation have pressed their case for burial. They have long asked that the remains be returned under a federal law known as the Native American Graves Protection and Reparation Act. Last year, Dr. Eske Willerslev of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark released new findings rooted in additional scientific studies on previously sampled remains from the Ancient One. Willerslev's testing and resulting analysis concluded that the Ancient One remains are Native American with a direct link to today's Columbia Basin tribes. The return of the remains saw a return of bipartisan cooperation to the Washington congressional delegation. Sen. Murray spearheaded efforts in the Senate, while U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and Denny Heck, D-Wash., worked for return in the House.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mcmorris.house.gov/mcmorris-rodgers-bill-faster-care-veterans-act-heads-presidents-desk/,"McMorris Rodgers’ Bill, Faster Care For Veterans Act, Heads to the President’s Desk",2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Cathy McMorris Rodgers,M001159,mcmorris.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. (December 10, 2016)— Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), issued the below statement after the Senate passed the Faster Care for Veterans Act. The bill, which requires the VA to adopt technology that allows veterans to schedule VA appointments online, passed the House early last week and now heads to the President’s desk and awaits his signature to become law. “The best way to show our gratitude to our veterans is to provide them with the care they’ve earned,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “The Faster Care for Veterans Act lets our veterans schedule appointments online, which is a tool the VA should have adopted a long time ago. The VA has lost sight of its mission to put our veterans first, and I’m glad to see the Senate agree with reforms that bring the VA into the 21st Century. I thank Congressman Moulton and Senators Klobuchar and Ernst for partnering together on this bipartisan bill and look forward to seeing it signed into law.” NOTE: On Tuesday, Rep. McMorris Rodgers spoke at a House Republican Leadership press conference about the Faster Care for Veterans Act. Click here to view her remarks, and click here to watch her speech on the House floor. Earlier this year, she penned a Washington Post op-ed outlining her vision for a modern VA system.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=236A5253-80B6-4279-B9F0-F4B65AD49018,Senator Murrays Statement on Reports of Russian Interference in 2016 Election,2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C)—Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on news reports about the CIA’s analysis of Russian interference in the 2016 election. “These reports should disturb and outrage every American—Democrat, Republican, or independent—who believes that the integrity of our elections is fundamental to the strength of our democracy. I join in the calls for bipartisan Congressional hearings and a comprehensive investigation to begin as soon as possible to get to the bottom of this, and for disclosure of any evidence that Russia actively worked to hijack our election and elect Donald Trump. President-elect Trump is already disputing the reports and indicating that he’d like to ‘move on,’ but no American should stand for something like this to be swept under the rug or allow President-elect Trump to obstruct an investigation when he gets into office. This is too important, and I will relentlessly pursue this with my colleagues until we get the answers voters deserve.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=D40EA437-9BB9-49D7-821D-97D88DF71DA6,"VETERANS: Sen. Murrays Effort to Protect Homeless Veterans Passes Congress, Now Headed to Presidents Desk",2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Murray’s provision solves two years of uncertainty for homeless veterans and advocates, prevents VA from changing requirements for benefits that could’ve left thousands of vulnerable veterans without access to housing  Sen. Murray: “The men and women who signed up to serve our country deserve our respect, not a door slammed in their face during their time of need”  (Washington, D.C) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced that a provision to protect homeless veterans is set to be signed into law. This will permanently prevent thousands of homeless veterans from losing access to housing services. The problem arose two years ago when a legal review at the Department of Veterans Affairs concluded that veterans who served fewer than two years continuously, or who had an other than honorable discharge, may not be eligible for housing services. When VA instituted the policy in 2014, homeless shelters were told to turn away new homeless veterans who didn’t meet the length of service or discharge requirements. Had this policy been fully carried out, this could have resulted in 15 percent of the homeless veterans population being turned away, and in certain urban areas could have been up to 30 percent. Sen. Murray introduced emergency legislation to reverse it, prompting VA to temporarily rescind the policy change. Today’s language makes the change permanent. “The men and women who signed up to serve our country deserve our respect, not a door slammed in their face during their time of need,” Senator Murray said. “On behalf of the veterans I’ve met in my home state of Washington, from Longview to Seattle to Spokane, and in every community across our country, I’m so glad we can provide some peace of mind as we all work to eliminate veteran homelessness and address the affordable housing crisis.” Sen. Murray also successfully secured language in the same bill that will make clear that VA hospitals must comply with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). This stems from an incident in 2015 when an Army veteran was denied care just feet from the entrance to the emergency room at the Seattle VA. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=EFC9A0BC-8370-4CAB-88B2-8AD9E4D9D08E,"More than Twenty Years After Ancient Remains Were Discovered on the Banks of the Columbia River, Congress Approves Provision to Return Them To Columbia Basin Tribes",2016-12-10,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sen. Murray first introduced legislation in 2015 to hand over remains of the Ancient One, also known as Kennewick Man, to his descendants   The bill is now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law      (Washington, D.C.) –  Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that a provision in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act that would start the process to return the Ancient One to his rightful resting place has passed both the House and the Senate. It is now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Senator Murray has fought to return the remains of the Ancient One, also known as Kennewick Man, to Columbia Basin tribes since she introduced the bill in 2015.   “This victory would not have been possible without the determination, collaboration, and leadership of the claimant tribes of the Columbia River plateau, who impressed upon me just how much it meant to them for Congress to end decades of debate and to give them the opportunity to give their descendant a proper burial and a final resting place. I want to thank Congressmen Dan Newhouse and Denny Heck for being my partners in the House to get this over the finish line,” said Senator Murray.   Experts believe the remains, discovered in 1996 on federal land near the Columbia River, are at least 8,400 years old, making the Ancient One among the oldest and most complete skeletons found in North America. In June 2015, new genetic evidence determined the remains were closer to modern Native Americans than any other population worldwide. The provision championed by Senator Murray transfers the Ancient One from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, which has existing, effective, and efficient regulations in place to carry out repatriation of remains such as these to tribes. Senator Murray stands ready to work with both agencies to ensure the provision is implemented swiftly. Several area tribes have joined together in calling for the Ancient One’s return to his descendants, to be laid to rest in an undisclosed location.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/investing-medical-research,Investing in Medical Research,2016-12-09,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Dear Friend, This week, Congress passed the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act. This important legislation will help spur medical innovation and offer hope to millions of Americans suffering from heartbreaking conditions.I am pleased many of the critical investments I have championed were included in the compromise — such as increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), opioid abuse prevention programs and cancer research. The legislation also includes critical reforms that will improve our nation’s mental health system and support medical providers in rural and underserved communities.As someone who started her career in medical research, I know firsthand how important research funding is for life-saving breakthroughs. That’s why I’ve been a strong supporter of medical research throughout my time in Congress, recently leading more than 160 House members in calling for NIH funding to be increased by no less than $2 billion in 2017.The 21st Century Cures Act represents a commendable effort by both parties to set aside their differences to accelerate the development of new cures, treatments and vaccines. I strongly believe the strategic investments in this legislation will make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of patients and their families.As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you, I encourage you to contact me through my website. You may also keep up-to-date on what I’m doing by following me on social media. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, such as the Social Security Administration, IRS or the VA, please do not hesitate to contact my Bothell office at (425) 485-0085.Sincerely, Suzan",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-statement-short-term-funding-bill,Larsen Statement on Short Term Funding Bill,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today released the following statement after voting in favor of the Continuing Resolution, which, if agreed to by the Senate, would fund the federal government through April 28, 2017.  “With this bill, Congress has achieved the bare minimum: it has kept the federal government open. I will continue to advocate for a long-term, bipartisan spending bill that addresses priorities for working families in my District and across the country.”  The bill funds the government at the 2016 level with increases to several programs Rep. Larsen supported, including the Everett-built KC-46A tanker, biomedical research and state grants to address opioid abuse, and funding to address the Flint water crisis.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/puget-sound-restoration-closer-receiving-largest-ever-investment-under-larsen-led,Puget Sound Restoration is Closer to Receiving Largest-Ever Investment Under Larsen-Led Measure,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today announced that an effort he spearheaded – along with other members of the Washington delegation – to authorize $451 million for the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project has been approved by the House as part of the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (formerly called the Water Resources Development Act). The bill, which is the result of ongoing negotiations between the House and the Senate, now moves to the Senate for a vote. “Puget Sound is central to the heart and soul of Northwest Washington,” said Larsen. “These resources will supercharge efforts to restore the Sound today while protecting against future environmental degradation. And with the increasing environmental strains that come with the region’s booming population – this investment is as timely as it is important.”    Larsen’s history-making measure is a milestone for the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Project – a collaboration between public, private and not-for-profit organizations aimed at protecting and restoring Puget Sound’s shorelines, supporting salmon restoration and biodiversity in the Sound. The project will develop a unique set of strategies tailored to the specific needs of the deltas, beaches, embayments and inlets that comprise Puget Sound. The legislation also includes a provision directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to return the Kennewick Man, also known as the “Ancient One,” to local tribes in Washington state for proper reburial within 90 days. Additionally, the legislation includes language authorizing Congress to appropriate funds for toxin cleanup in the Columbia River Basin and creates a voluntary grant program to support stakeholders with cleanup efforts. Larsen has a long record of fighting to protect the environment. In May of this year, Larsen’s bipartisan bill to fund the National Estuary Program – which supports the comprehensive plan for Puget Sound recovery – became law. Larsen also successfully fought to designate San Juan Islands National Monument in 2013 and to protect 106,577 acres of national forest as part of the Wild Sky Wilderness in 2008.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/puget-sound-restoration-one-step-closer-half-billion-nearshore-ecosystem-restoration-project,Puget Sound Restoration one step closer to half a billion for Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"San Juan Islander: Puget Sound Restoration one step closer to half a billion for Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project     WASHINGTON, D.C.—An effort spearheaded by Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) – along with other members of the Washington delegation – to authorize $451 million for the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project has been approved by the House as part of the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (formerly called the Water Resources Development Act). The bill, which is the result of ongoing negotiations between the House and the Senate, now moves to the Senate for a vote. “Puget Sound is central to the heart and soul of Northwest Washington,” said Larsen. “These resources will supercharge efforts to restore the Sound today while protecting against future environmental degradation. And with the increasing environmental strains that come with the region’s booming population – this investment is as timely as it is important.” Larsen’s history-making measure is a milestone for the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Project – a collaboration between public, private and not-for-profit organizations aimed at protecting and restoring Puget Sound’s shorelines, supporting salmon restoration and biodiversity in the Sound. The project will develop a unique set of strategies tailored to the specific needs of the deltas, beaches, embayments and inlets that comprise Puget Sound. The legislation also includes a provision directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to return the Kennewick Man, also known as the “Ancient One,” to local tribes in Washington state for proper reburial within 90 days. Additionally, the legislation includes language authorizing Congress to appropriate funds for toxin cleanup in the Columbia River Basin and creates a voluntary grant program to support stakeholders with cleanup efforts. Larsen has a long record of fighting to protect the environment. In May of this year, Larsen’s bipartisan bill to fund the National Estuary Program – which supports the comprehensive plan for Puget Sound recovery – became law. Larsen also successfully fought to designate San Juan Islands National Monument in 2013 and to protect 106,577 acres of national forest as part of the Wild Sky Wilderness in 2008. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/reichert-votes-keep-government-open-and-running-0,Reichert votes to keep the government open and running,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dave Reichert,R000578,reichert.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA) made the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through April 28, 2017. “It is my privilege and my duty to make sure our seniors, military, and vulnerable members of society receive the support they deserve,” said Rep. Reichert. “Keeping our government fully funded and running is also critical to America’s national security and the economic stability of our country. This continuing resolution puts Congress in a strong position to immediately focus on growing good-paying American jobs and protecting our national security in the new year.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://adamsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-smith-statement-on-the-passage-of-the-continuing-resolution,Congressman Smith Statement on the passage of the Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2017,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Office Information District Office Information Constituent Services Community Outreach: Federal Way The Federal Way Library Constituent Services Community Outreach: Kent The Kent Regional Library Constituent Services Community Outreach: Bellevue The Lake Hills Library Constituent Services Community Outreach: Mercer Island Mercer Island Library Constituent Services Community Outreach: Beacon Hill Seattle Public Library: Beacon Hill Branch Constituent Services Community Outreach: Seattle The Good Will Industries",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delbene-urges-congress-end-inefficient-funding-cycle-pass-bipartisan,"DelBene Urges Congress to End Inefficient Funding Cycle, Pass Bipartisan Appropriations Bills",2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today issued the following statement after Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution to fund the federal government through April 28: “Today, Congress passed another temporary funding bill. And while I’m thankful we avoided another costly and unnecessary government shutdown, Congress has yet again kicked the can down the road, setting up another potential crisis next Spring. “As a former businesswoman, I understand that no business would budget just months in advance. You plan for years at a time, and work to minimize every uncertainty. It is long past time for Congress to put an end to this inefficient cycle of budgeting and get back to passing bipartisan appropriations bills. I will continue pushing for a long-term vision that gives us a great return on our investments and helps build an economy that works for everyone. “It’s also disappointing that Republicans are using this must-pass legislation to speed up confirmation of the President-elect’s Defense secretary. Instead of adding partisan riders, Congress should be working to come up with smart solutions that will encourage innovation and expand economic opportunity, while responsibly reducing our deficit.” Congress needed to act before Dec. 9 to continue to fund the government. The continuing resolution passed this week will avoid a government shutdown until April 28, 2017. Congress will need to act yet again by that date or risk another damaging shutdown. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1702,"DelBene Urges Congress to End Inefficient Funding Cycle, Pass Bipartisan Appropriations Bills",2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today issued the following statement after Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution to fund the federal government through April 28: Today, Congress passed another temporary funding bill. And while I'm thankful we avoided another costly and unnecessary government shutdown, Congress has yet again kicked the can down the road, setting up another potential crisis next Spring. As a former businesswoman, I understand that no business would budget just months in advance. You plan for years at a time, and work to minimize every uncertainty. It is long past time for Congress to put an end to this inefficient cycle of budgeting and get back to passing bipartisan appropriations bills. I will continue pushing for a long-term vision that gives us a great return on our investments and helps build an economy that works for everyone. It's also disappointing that Republicans are using this must-pass legislation to speed up confirmation of the President-elect's Defense secretary. Instead of adding partisan riders, Congress should be working to come up with smart solutions that will encourage innovation and expand economic opportunity, while responsibly reducing our deficit. Congress needed to act before Dec. 9 to continue to fund the government. The continuing resolution passed this week will avoid a government shutdown until April 28, 2017. Congress will need to act yet again by that date or risk another damaging shutdown. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398815,"Kilmer, Herrera Beutler & Murphy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Mental Health Patients in Crisis",2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Jaime Herrera Beutler,H001056,herrerabeutler.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced legislation today that would help people suffering from a behavioral health or substance abuse crisis get more immediate help. share: f t U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced legislation today that would help people suffering from a behavioral health or substance abuse crisis get more immediate help. The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Accessibility Act of 2016 would allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide loans and loan guarantees to local entities with plans to build psychiatric and substance abuse facilities. Across the country there is an acute need for facilities that provide short-term stays for individuals suffering from psychiatric and substance disorders. The Treatment Advocacy Center reports that there are just 37,559 inpatient beds available nationwide for an average of 11.7 inpatient beds per 100,000 people. The same survey found that the number should be closer to 40 to 60 beds per 100,000 people. “Our country is facing a mental health challenge that has hit all our communities,” said Kilmer. “Too many of our neighbors are suffering from behavioral and substance abuse disorders and not getting proper treatment. That has left emergency rooms and jail cells overwhelmed while leaving families hurting. I’m proud to work with Representatives Herrera Beutler and Murphy to introduce a bill that will give a jump-start to local proposals to build brand new psychiatric facilities.” “Far too often, people suffering a mental health or substance abuse crisis don’t get the immediate help they need because our communities lack the necessary resources,” said Jaime. “By partnering with Representatives Kilmer and Murphy on this solution, we hope to better address the needs of those struggling with mental illness, make available more resources to keep our communities safe, and relieve the overload on emergency rooms ill-equipped for these cases. Importantly, this solution will pay for itself and provide value to Southwest Washington taxpayers while strengthening our communities.” “Access to inpatient mental healthcare is a cornerstone to our effort in delivering treatment before tragedy. This bill will work to make that possible, and I am pleased to support Rep. Kilmer’s bipartisan approach to improving access to crisis mental health care,” said Murphy.Under the members’ bill, HHS could offer loans and guarantees to psychiatric treatment facilities, substance abuse treatment facilities, and public and private psychiatric hospitals for the planning and construction of new facilities. The bill would also make needed investments to community based outpatient programs with any revenue generated from the loans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398816,Jaime Herrera Beutler Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Effort Passes U.S. House,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Jaime Herrera Beutler,H001056,herrerabeutler.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler’s legislative effort to prevent aquatic invasive species from infiltrating the Columbia River ecosystem. share: f t Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler’s legislative effort to prevent aquatic invasive species from infiltrating the Columbia River ecosystem. “I’m pleased Congress passed my legislation to protect the Columbia River Basin from invasive species that, if they spread here, would have a $500 million cost to our region,” said Jaime. “Prevention is the first line of defense, and this legislative solution represents the cheapest and most effective tool to use against invasive species. “I’m also encouraged by the other benefits to Southwest Washington in the overall water infrastructure package, including steady, dedicated funding to maintain the waterways and ports that are lifelines for our region’s economy.” Jaime’s anti-invasive species initiative is part of the final version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2017 (WRDA) that represents a bipartisan agreement between the U.S. House and Senate. Watercraft inspection stations intercept thousands of boats from all over the country to inspect for invasive mussels and decontaminate them. More information about Jaime’s effort is available here.Dedicated Funding for Southwest Washington PortsThe WRDA bill also provides funding for maintenance and improvements to Southwest Washington ports by phasing in full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund -- money collected for harbor and channel operations maintenance and dredging. Jaime has consistently fought to ensure that 10% of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund will be set aside for small ports like those in Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties, and along the Columbia River.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-applauds-passage-of-bill-to-increase-investments-in-national-parks-,Kilmer Applauds Passage of Bill to Increase Investments in National Parks,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.16 Kilmer Applauds Passage of Bill to Increase Investments in National Parks Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) applauded House passage of a bill to increase investments in our national park system. The bipartisan National Park Service Centennial Act would allow critical projects to move forward that can enhance the experience of visitors to the national park system. The legislation now moves to the Senate for passage before heading to the President’s desk.  The year 2016 marked the National Park Service’s centennial. The Olympic National Park encompasses nearly one million acres of Washington state and protects 73 miles of Pacific coastline. A study conducted by the National Park Service found that in 2014 alone, Olympic National Park visitors supported 3,500 local jobs. “There wasn't a summer of my childhood that didn't involve family trips up Hurricane Ridge or visits to the Hoh Rainforest or other trips in Olympic National Park.  It's an iconic place where folks can take in the great outdoors,” said Kilmer. “It also is a driver of our economy, creating a positive impact on employers and their workers. With that in mind, we need to ensure our parks are getting the maintenance and resources they need to continue providing amazing experiences for visitors. I’m proud to support this bipartisan bill that ensures that our parks enjoy another successful 100 years.”  The bill that passed the House today creates the National Park Centennial Challenge Fund, supporting public-private partnerships that will go toward key projects to build, maintain, and provide new educational resources for the parks. It also encourages volunteers to help out in the system by authorizing the Volunteers in the Parks program. For President Obama’s last State of the Union address Kilmer invited Sarah Creachbaum, Superintendent of Olympic National Park. The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has also recognized Kilmer with the Friend of the National Parks Award for his support of national parks in Congress.   Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-herrera-beutler-and-murphy-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-mental-health-patients-in-crisis-,"Kilmer, Herrera Beutler & Murphy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Mental Health Patients in Crisis",2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.16 Kilmer, Herrera Beutler & Murphy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Mental Health Patients in Crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), and Tim Murphy (R-PA) introduced legislation today that would help people suffering from a behavioral health or substance abuse crisis get more immediate help. The Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Accessibility Act of 2016 would allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide loans and loan guarantees to local entities with plans to build psychiatric and substance abuse facilities. Across the country there is an acute need for facilities that provide short-term stays for individuals suffering from psychiatric and substance disorders. The Treatment Advocacy Center reports that there are just 37,559 inpatient beds available nationwide for an average of 11.7 inpatient beds per 100,000 people. The same survey found that the number should be closer to 40 to 60 beds per 100,000 people. “Our country is facing a mental health challenge that has hit all our communities,” said Kilmer. “Too many of our neighbors are suffering from behavioral and substance abuse disorders and not getting proper treatment. That has left emergency rooms and jail cells overwhelmed while leaving families hurting. I’m proud to work with Representatives Herrera Beutler and Murphy to introduce a bill that will give a jump-start to local proposals to build brand new psychiatric facilities.” “Far too often, people suffering a mental health or substance abuse crisis don’t get the immediate help they need because our communities lack the necessary resources,” said Jaime. “By partnering with Representatives Kilmer and Murphy on this solution, we hope to better address the needs of those struggling with mental illness, make available more resources to keep our communities safe, and relieve the overload on emergency rooms ill-equipped for these cases.  Importantly, this solution will pay for itself and provide value to Southwest Washington taxpayers while strengthening our communities.”  “Access to inpatient mental healthcare is a cornerstone to our effort in delivering treatment before tragedy. This bill will work to make that possible, and I am pleased to support Rep. Kilmer’s bipartisan approach to improving access to crisis mental health care,” said Murphy. Under the members’ bill, HHS could offer loans and guarantees to psychiatric treatment facilities, substance abuse treatment facilities, and public and private psychiatric hospitals for the planning and construction of new facilities. The bill would also make needed investments to community based outpatient programs with any revenue generated from the loans.  Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-statement-on-bill-to-fund-the-government-,Kilmer Statement on Bill to Fund the Government,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Derek Kilmer,K000381,kilmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"12.08.16 Kilmer Statement on Bill to Fund the Government WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) released the following statement after voting for a short-term bill to fund the government.    “This makes some smart investments that will support local communities and keep our country safe,” said Kilmer. “Importantly, it avoids a shutdown that would have damaged our economy. But there’s more work to do. Congress needs to stop kicking the can when it comes to making decisions about funding the government.  No family and no business would make decisions that only deal with the budget for a few months at a time.  Congress should give businesses and the American people the certainty and peace of mind they deserve.  That’s what I’ll keep pushing for.”   Next Article Previous Article",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-statement-hr-2028,Newhouse Statement on H.R. 2028,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) today released the following statement after voting for H.R. 2028, the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, which funds the federal government through April, 2017. “This continuing resolution gives the incoming administration of President-elect Trump the time it has indicated that it needs to transition and have a greater say in the appropriations process,” said Rep. Newhouse. “Under typical circumstances a short-term CR is far from ideal, but the election has upended the political landscape for the upcoming year and it is reasonable to give the new administration time to work with us to craft a responsible spending plan. This legislation also paves the way for congressional approval of Gen. James N. Mattis, a Tri-Citian, as Secretary of Defense. I look forward to making progress on Central Washington’s priorities and reining in government spending on conservative terms.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=09EF4521-2338-4BB0-A672-C81743963548,Senator Murray Statement on Reported Nomination of Andrew Puzder for Secretary of Labor,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the reported nomination of Andrew Puzder for Secretary of Labor.  “With the nomination of Andrew Puzder, President-elect Trump has sent another clear signal that he has no intention of fulfilling his campaign promise to put workers and retirees first—instead, he’s bent on building an Administration made up of billionaires and the staunchest allies for big business, special interests, and Wall Street that he can find. “The Department of Labor has significant and broad reach—from workers’ and labor rights to health and safety, workplace harassment, workforce investments, disability resources, pensions plans and so much more—so I am eager to meet Mr. Puzder to discuss in detail his plans and vision for the agency. At the outset, I am deeply concerned by Mr. Puzder’s record of standing in the way of progress on issues that would make an immediate difference in the lives of working families, in particular raising the minimum wage and ensuring equal pay for equal work. And I have serious questions about whether a CEO who is comfortable reinforcing harmful stereotypes about women and who is so dismissive of workplace discrimination issues can be trusted to uphold core missions of the Department. “I am also alarmed by Mr. Puzder’s vocal support for eliminating the new overtime rule and other basic protections the current Department has worked to finalize. If President-elect Trump truly wants to stand up for workers and retirees, he and Mr. Puzder will commit to ensuring these protections are fully implemented.    “Working families in my home state of Washington and across the country are looking for strong leadership for the Department and someone who is going to be on their side—and not just for those already at the top. So I will work tirelessly to make sure their voices and priorities are heard loud and clear as part of a rigorous vetting and hearing process for Mr. Puzder.”  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=9BC50C23-28C5-4FAF-BDD9-BE4879D88D76,Sen. Murray Statement on Nomination of Scott Pruitt to Head the Environmental Protection Agency,2016-12-08,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement on the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency. “At a time when we are already seeing the very real effects of climate change in my home state—from longer, more devastating wildfire seasons, to ocean acidification and endangered salmon runs— it’s unnerving to think the President-elect would choose a climate change denier to set our national environmental policy. I sincerely hope the President-elect and his nominee truly understand the enormous responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency, not only in protecting our natural resources for future generations, but also for all the families we represent who rely on clean air and water right now.”  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/house-approves-funds-opioid-fight,House approves funds in opioid fight,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"South Whidbey Record: House approves funds in opioid fight By Evan Thompson A major step in the fight against opioid epidemics in Washington communities and across the nation was recently made in Washington D.C. The House voted 392-26 to approve $1 billion to combat the nation’s opioid epidemic after urging from Congressman Rick Larsen, a press release said. The House fulfilled Larsen’s request to fund the bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which includes “expanded access to lifesaving overdose reversal drugs and improve pain management and prescription practices.” Some potential overdose reversal drugs include Narcan, a nasal spray that blocks opiate receptors and quickly reverses the physical affects of heroin or other opiates. The $1 billion, which will be used over the next two years, will be given preference to states with an incidence or prevalence of opioid use disorders. Douglas Wagoner, communications director for Larsen, said Washington state stands to benefit from the law, but is “too early to surmise exact dollar amounts” because distribution depends on how incoming administration interprets the law. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/olympic-national-park-wilderness-will-be-renamed-honor-former-washington-governor-and,The Olympic National Park Wilderness Will Be Renamed in Honor of Former Washington Governor and US Senator Dan Evans,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dave Reichert,R000578,reichert.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Today, the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives after unanimously passing the Senate in July. The legislation will rename the Olympic Wilderness within Olympic National Park as the “Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.” Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA), who authored the House version of the bill, was joined by the entire Washington State congressional delegation in supporting the legislation on the House floor. It will now head to the President’s desk for signature into law. Dan Evans served the state of Washington for more than 50 years, including service as a state legislator, governor and United States Senator. During his time in the U.S. Senate, Evans was the lead sponsor of the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 which designated over 1.5 million acres of wilderness areas in Washington, including 877,000 acres within Olympic National Park as “the Olympic Wilderness.” “My home state of Washington and the region I represent are known for their breathtaking natural treasures,” said Rep. Reichert. “But we cannot talk about Washington’s natural beauty without thanking the man who’s been instrumental in maintaining and protecting it for future generations. From the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act to the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988, Senator Dan Evans’ initiatives have had a lasting impact on every person who had or will get the opportunity to experience Mother Nature’s gifts. I am proud my colleagues in the House joined me in recognizing his contributions by passing the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act and sending it to the President’s desk.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://reichert.house.gov/press-release/reichert-blumenaur-introduce-bill-strengthen-use-energy-efficient-commercial-buildings,"Reichert, Blumenauer introduce bill to strengthen use of the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dave Reichert,R000578,reichert.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA) and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) released the following statement after introducing H.R. 6376, a bill to strengthen and incentivize the use of the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction found in Section 179D of the Internal Revenue Code. Specifically, the bill ensures that non-profits and tribal governments can benefit from the deduction just like federal, state, and local government building owners do. “Non-profit schools, hospitals, community organizations, and tribal community centers should be allowed to focus on the important services they provide to residents in Washington State and people around the country,” said Congressman Dave Reichert. “By reducing their energy bills and construction costs, this legislation will help ease the financial concerns faced by many of these entities and allow them to better serve the people who count on them. I thank my colleagues for joining me in introducing this important, bipartisan bill.” “Improving energy efficiency saves money and reduces pollution,” said Congressman Earl Blumenauer. “By strengthening incentives for energy efficiency, we can help our organizations cut costs and protect the environment.” Background: Since becoming law in 2005, 179D has proven to be an effective policy for investment in design and installation of energy efficient systems and structures benefitting consumers across the country. This simple, common-sense bill makes several important improvements to enhance and promote the use of 179D. First, it expands the current law allocation provision to cover tribal governments and non-profits. Under current law, a public building owner may allocate the deduction to the primary designer of the property. Our bill expands this provision to allow non-profit and tribal government building owners to do the same. Second, the bill ensures that S corporations and partnerships receive the full benefit of an allocated deduction. Finally, the bill makes the deduction more compatible with the low-income housing tax credit thereby encouraging the construction of energy efficient affordable housing.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olympic-national-park-wilderness-will-be-renamed-honor-former-washington,The Olympic National Park Wilderness Will Be Renamed in Honor of Former Washington Governor and US Senator Dan Evans,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a bill honoring former Washington Governor and U.S. Senator Dan Evans passed the U.S. House of Representatives after unanimously passing the Senate in July. The legislation will rename the Olympic Wilderness within Olympic National Park as the “Daniel J. Evans Wilderness”. The bill – backed by the entire Washington state congressional delegation – will now head to the president’s desk for signature into law. Dan Evans served Washington state for more than 50 years, including service as a state legislator, governor and U.S. Senator. During his time in the U.S. Senate, Evans was the lead sponsor of the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 which designated over 1.5 million acres of wilderness areas in Olympic, North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Parks – including 877,000 acres within Olympic National Park as “the Olympic Wilderness.” Sen. Evans was also a cosponsor of the Washington Wilderness Act of 1984, which designated more than one million acres of national forest land as wilderness within the state. “We are grateful to Sen. Dan Evans for his dedication to preserving our most treasured places. Naming the Olympic Wilderness in his honor this holiday season is a deserved recognition of his many years of work to protect Washington’s national parks and forests,” said Sen. Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Washington state is so lucky to have had an advocate for the great outdoors like former U.S. Senator Dan Evans,” said Sen. Murray. “It’s only right to honor his legacy in Washington state by renaming one of the places he helped protect, the Olympic National Park Wilderness, as the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.” “The Washington delegation has a long tradition of bipartisan support for the responsible stewardship of Washington’s public lands. This tradition continues today because we know our wonderful forests, parks, mountains and waterways are what makes living in the Pacific Northwest so special. It’s only fitting that one of our beautiful wilderness areas be named after Dan Evans – a true environmentalist and champion for Washington’s outdoor spaces,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Senator Evans led with passion and commitment to preserve Washington state’s natural resources,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02). “He championed passage of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act which protected more than 1 million acres of national forest across Washington state, and the 1988 Washington Park Wilderness Act which designated key wilderness area within the Olympic National Park. Renaming the Olympic National Park Wilderness honors Senator Evans’ legacy and lifelong fight to protect the environment.” “Throughout his life, the outdoors have been a special place for Senator Dan Evans,” said Rep. Kilmer (WA-06). “Through his leadership on conservation efforts, he has embraced the power of the outdoors to bring people together while at the same time creating economic opportunities for communities in our state. To mark his work, I’m honored to join my colleagues on this bill to rename the Olympic National Park Wilderness the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.”  ""I can think of no Washingtonian more deserving of this honor,” said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “Dan Evans lived and breathed the outdoors. From his days as an Eagle Scout and Hike Master to his years of public service, he spent his life protecting our wilderness. Dan carried his passion with him in every role during his expansive career, so it's fitting that his home state names one of the most impressive wilderness regions after its tireless advocate."" “Today, I am proud to see the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act approved by the Congress and sent to President Obama for his signature. Introduced by members of the Washington State Delegation, this bill renames the Olympic Wilderness the ‘Daniel J. Evans Wilderness,’ in honor of former Washington Governor and Senator Dan Evans. An avid outdoorsman and public servant, Senator Evans worked throughout his distinguished career to preserve Washington’s national parks and forests for future generations. I am pleased to see that the wilderness Senator Evans worked so tirelessly to protect will bear his name and carry on his legacy,” said Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09). “In keeping with our state’s heritage and the longstanding respect for the outdoors from our Native peoples, Dan Evans advocated for our wilderness areas with gusto. Whether he was in loafers in a conference room or in hiking boots out on the Wonderland Trail, he was committed to protecting and restoring the beautiful forests, parks, and lands that surround us. He remains an inspiration to Washingtonians and this designation will be a great reminder of his legacy,” said Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10) “Senator Evans has an enduring and exceptional record of service to Washington, and I consider myself fortunate to have served alongside him.  This legislation is long overdue in recognizing the role he played in protecting Washington’s wild places.  His commitment to our natural treasures transcended partisan politics, and it is only fitting that his legacy be honored,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07). “It’s fitting that we are naming the Olympic Wilderness for former Governor Dan Evans.  Dan is one of those admirable individuals who has contributed his energy, leadership and passion both in and out of elected office through the decades on behalf of Washington state,” said Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03). “His efforts on behalf of our forests deserves to be commemorated by all who live, work and recreate in and around them.” “My home state of Washington and the region I represent are known for their breathtaking natural treasures,” said Rep. Reichert. “But we cannot talk about Washington’s natural treasures without thanking the man who’s been instrumental in maintaining and protecting them for future generations. From the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act to the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988, Senator Dan Evans’ initiatives have had a lasting impact on every person who had or will get the opportunity to experience Mother Nature’s gifts. I am proud my colleagues in the House joined me in recognizing his contributions by passing the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act and sending it to the President’s desk.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1894,The Olympic National Park Wilderness Will Be Renamed in Honor of Former Washington Governor and US Senator Dan Evans,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, a bill honoring former Washington Governor and U.S. Senator Dan Evans passed the U.S. House of Representatives after unanimously passing the Senate in July. The legislation will rename the Olympic Wilderness within Olympic National Park as the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The bill backed by the entire Washington state congressional delegation will now head to the president's desk for signature into law. Dan Evans served Washington state for more than 50 years, including service as a state legislator, governor and U.S. Senator. During his time in the U.S. Senate, Evans was the lead sponsor of the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 which designated over 1.5 million acres of wilderness areas in Olympic, North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Parks including 877,000 acres within Olympic National Park as the Olympic Wilderness. Sen. Evans was also a cosponsor of the Washington Wilderness Act of 1984, which designated more than one million acres of national forest land as wilderness within the state. We are grateful to Sen. Dan Evans for his dedication to preserving our most treasured places. Naming the Olympic Wilderness in his honor this holiday season is a deserved recognition of his many years of work to protect Washington's national parks and forests, said Sen. Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Washington state is so lucky to have had an advocate for the great outdoors like former U.S. Senator Dan Evans, said Sen. Murray. It's only right to honor his legacy in Washington state by renaming one of the places he helped protect, the Olympic National Park Wilderness, as the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. The Washington delegation has a long tradition of bipartisan support for the responsible stewardship of Washington's public lands. This tradition continues today because we know our wonderful forests, parks, mountains and waterways are what makes living in the Pacific Northwest so special. It's only fitting that one of our beautiful wilderness areas be named after Dan Evans a true environmentalist and champion for Washington's outdoor spaces, said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). Senator Evans led with passion and commitment to preserve Washington state's natural resources, said Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02). He championed passage of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act which protected more than 1 million acres of national forest across Washington state, and the 1988 Washington Park Wilderness Act which designated key wilderness area within the Olympic National Park. Renaming the Olympic National Park Wilderness honors Senator Evans' legacy and lifelong fight to protect the environment. Throughout his life, the outdoors have been a special place for Senator Dan Evans, said Rep. Kilmer (WA-06). Through his leadership on conservation efforts, he has embraced the power of the outdoors to bring people together while at the same time creating economic opportunities for communities in our state. To mark his work, I'm honored to join my colleagues on this bill to rename the Olympic National Park Wilderness the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. ""I can think of no Washingtonian more deserving of this honor, said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). Dan Evans lived and breathed the outdoors. From his days as an Eagle Scout and Hike Master to his years of public service, he spent his life protecting our wilderness. Dan carried his passion with him in every role during his expansive career, so it's fitting that his home state names one of the most impressive wilderness regions after its tireless advocate."" Today, I am proud to see the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act approved by the Congress and sent to President Obama for his signature. Introduced by members of the Washington State Delegation, this bill renames the Olympic Wilderness the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness,' in honor of former Washington Governor and Senator Dan Evans. An avid outdoorsman and public servant, Senator Evans worked throughout his distinguished career to preserve Washington's national parks and forests for future generations. I am pleased to see that the wilderness Senator Evans worked so tirelessly to protect will bear his name and carry on his legacy, said Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09). In keeping with our state's heritage and the longstanding respect for the outdoors from our Native peoples, Dan Evans advocated for our wilderness areas with gusto. Whether he was in loafers in a conference room or in hiking boots out on the Wonderland Trail, he was committed to protecting and restoring the beautiful forests, parks, and lands that surround us. He remains an inspiration to Washingtonians and this designation will be a great reminder of his legacy, said Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10) Senator Evans has an enduring and exceptional record of service to Washington, and I consider myself fortunate to have served alongside him. This legislation is long overdue in recognizing the role he played in protecting Washington's wild places. His commitment to our natural treasures transcended partisan politics, and it is only fitting that his legacy be honored, said Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07). It's fitting that we are naming the Olympic Wilderness for former Governor Dan Evans. Dan is one of those admirable individuals who has contributed his energy, leadership and passion both in and out of elected office through the decades on behalf of Washington state, said Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03). His efforts on behalf of our forests deserves to be commemorated by all who live, work and recreate in and around them. My home state of Washington and the region I represent are known for their breathtaking natural treasures, said Rep. Reichert. But we cannot talk about Washington's natural treasures without thanking the man who's been instrumental in maintaining and protecting them for future generations. From the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act to the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988, Senator Dan Evans' initiatives have had a lasting impact on every person who had or will get the opportunity to experience Mother Nature's gifts. I am proud my colleagues in the House joined me in recognizing his contributions by passing the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act and sending it to the President's desk. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/weekly-columns-and-op-eds/column-bipartisan-progress-mental-health-and-medical-research,COLUMN: Bipartisan Progress on Mental Health and Medical Research,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"Even as this year’s legislative session comes to a close, the last bills passed by Congress are certainly not the least important. As the saying goes, “last but not least.” Bipartisan legislation passed just last week tackles real problems, such as the mental health crisis and the need for improving medical research. I joined my colleagues in the House to approve the 21st Century Cures Act, which includes the most significant bipartisan mental health reform in a decade, on a vote of 392-26. The legislation also supports research for much-needed biomedical innovation to develop and deliver cutting-edge medicine faster so that it reaches patients. Our mental health care system desperately needs an overhaul to better serve families and individuals. As many as 11.5 million Americans struggle with mental illness, including serious conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about “1 in 5 youth aged 13–18 experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life.” For children aged 8–15, according to NAMI, the estimate is 13%. Yet a recent federal report revealed that there is a shortage of 100,000 psychiatric beds nationwide, and for every 2,000 children with a mental health disorder, there is only one available child psychiatrist. After the unspeakable tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, when an individual stole the lives of more than 26 innocents, it became clear that our country must do more to address the mental health crisis. The mental health system requires broad improvement. My colleague, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), authored legislation, Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis, which was included in 21st Century Cures to address current shortcomings of our mental health system. His legislation will increase the number of crisis mental hospital beds, promote evidence-based care, and bring accountability to spending on mental health. It provides grants to increase access to pediatric mental health care. The federal government spends $130 billion annually on mental health, and the newly-created National Mental Health Policy Laboratory will be charged with setting objectives and measuring scientific outcomes to ensure that resources are being used wisely and effectively. These are only a few of the legislation’s improvements to help fix our mental health system. While mental health reforms were a key part of 21st Century Cures, the legislation also accelerated the development of life-saving treatments and cures. The bill expedites the development and review of drugs for rare diseases and modernizes the Food and Drug Administration to streamline approvals. It also improves the review for medical devices and reduces unnecessary regulation. Finally, it funds state grants to fight the opioid abuse crisis affecting our communities. From improving mental health services to saving lives through encouraging innovative cures, the passage of 21st Century Cures place patients first and creates hope in the fight against disease.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-bill-to-drive-better-health-care-savings-in-rural-washington-passes-congress-,"Cantwell Bill to Drive Better Health Care, Savings in Rural Washington Passes Congress",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.16 Cantwell Bill to Drive Better Health Care, Savings in Rural Washington Passes Congress Cantwell also secures provisions to protect access to outpatient hospital services and new, innovative cancer treatments WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, legislation originally introduced by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and John Thune (R-SD), was passed through Congress as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. The provision makes it easier to set up networks of health care providers known as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in rural and medically-underserved communities. Accountable Care Organizations, or ACOs, are groups of hospitals, doctors, and other health care providers who voluntarily join together to coordinate care for a specific patient population.  ACOs have been shown to reduce health care costs for patients, clinics and hospitals by rewarding health care providers for working together to keep patients healthy. Doctor shortages in rural communities can make it difficult for rural health care providers to form ACOs. Cantwell’s legislation makes it easier for ACOs to thrive in rural settings and brings more coordinated health care to Medicare beneficiaries residing in communities with doctor shortages. “Rural patients deserve access to well-coordinated health care. ACOs are a model for meeting rural communities’ needs and empowering caregivers to focus on keeping people healthy.” said Senator Cantwell. “Smart changes to how health care is delivered can simultaneously improve the patient experience, achieve better health outcomes, and make health care more affordable.” Since 2012, Medicare-sponsored ACOs have achieved more than $1.29 billion in Medicare savings.  Fewer unnecessary medical tests and hospital trips can translate to lower co-pays for patients.  In Washington state, the vast majority of counties are designated Health Professional Shortage Areas by the federal government. Cantwell’s provision aims to put rural communities with doctor shortages on an equal playing field with more urban and suburban communities. Specifically, the legislation allows the Medicare program to incorporate primary care visits furnished in Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics in assigning beneficiaries to Medicare’s Shared Savings Program ACO.  This change makes it easier for ACOs to get off the ground and achieve long-term success in rural communities. Also included as part of the 21st Century Cures Act were Cantwell-backed provisions to: Preserve access to routine services for patients who use Medicare at the clinics of small rural hospitals, such as Critical Access Hospitals. Washington is home to 39 Critical Access Hospitals, facilities specially designated to ensure that essential health services are provided to remote communities like Forks, Newport, and Brewster; Bring life-saving new cancer treatments, like bone marrow transplants and immunotherapy, to the more convenient outpatient clinic setting; Ensure that Medicare beneficiaries who require complex rehabilitative technology, such as customized wheelchair accessories, can continue to access those products; and Provide more certainty for hospital-based outpatient clinics that are under construction. Here is what health leaders across Washington state had to say: “We thank Senator Cantwell for her work getting this provision into the 21st Century Cures Act. This legislation recognizes the doctor shortage in many Washington communities and will give more Medicare beneficiaries better access to high-quality, affordable primary care close to home,” said Bob Marsalli, Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers. “The Cures bill takes important steps forward to address the unique challenges of providing health care in rural areas by maintaining access to therapy services and promoting new models of cost-effective care. Sen. Cantwell’s support is helping patients continue to get high quality health care in their local communities,” said Scott Bond, CEO of the Washington State Hospital Association. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-calls-on-president-elect-trump-to-fulfill-promises-to-oppose-cuts-to-medicare-and-medicaid,Cantwell Calls on President-Elect Trump to Fulfill Promises to Oppose Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.16 Cantwell Calls on President-Elect Trump to Fulfill Promises to Oppose Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, United States Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 20 fellow U.S. senators in calling on President-Elect Donald Trump to fulfill his campaign promise of opposing cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and to publicly clarify his new position on these crucial healthcare programs. “During your campaign for President of the United States, you differentiated yourself from your 16 primary opponents by noting that you were the only Republican who would protect Medicare and Medicaid,” the senators wrote. “After winning the election, you suddenly appear to be using language supporting policies that would gut the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”  Despite his campaign promises, President-Elect Trump has now seemingly changed his position. While Trump highlighted the importance of Medicare and Medicaid in public statements and on his campaign website, he is now echoing Congressional Republicans’ plans to cut these programs. The senators pressed President-Elect Trump to hold true to his campaign promises and reject any cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. “We ask that you rapidly and publicly clarify in plain language for the American public that you continue to stand behind your campaign promises; that you will not raise the Medicare eligibility age; that you will not privatize, voucherize, or otherwise cut Medicare benefits; and that you will not put in place changes to Medicaid that force enrollees’ coverage to be dropped and benefits to be cut or limited.  You promised Americans you would not cut Medicare or Medicaid—please tell Americans you will stand by your promise to them.”  Medicare and Medicaid are critical to more than one hundred million Americans who rely on these programs for health care including seniors, low-income children and families, and people with disabilities. The letter was also signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). The full letter can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-cheers-passage-of-bill-to-benefit-washington-music-and-sports-fans-,Cantwell Cheers Passage of Bill to Benefit Washington Music and Sports Fans,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.16 Cantwell Cheers Passage of Bill to Benefit Washington Music and Sports Fans Legislation bans the use of ‘ticket bots’ to bypass ticket rules, leading to lower, fairer prices for consumers WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) that would prohibit “ticket bots” passed the U.S. House and will now head to the president’s desk to be signed into law. The bill, named the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016 (BOTS Act), removes these unfair practices from online ticket sales by prohibiting  ‘ticket bots’ from circumventing security measures on online ticket sale sites.  The BOTS Act authorizes the FTC and state attorneys general to enforce the ban, and allows civil penalties to be brought against ticket brokers who employ bots for this use. “People shouldn’t have to beat a robot to enjoy a Seahawks game or a concert at Key Arena. This legislation will crack down on ticket bots and give consumers a fair shake when making ticket purchases,” said Cantwell. Bots are a significant problem for fans and the live event industry alike, and Washington is no exception. Consumers are often forced to pay an artificially high price or find it impossible to attend at all. When pop artist Adele played Key Arena, some tickets reached the astronomical price of $5,000, thanks in part to the use of bots.  The impact is not limited to huge acts and venues. The Pacific Northwest Ballet and acts playing the 5th Avenue and Paramount Theaters, where scalpers are already a significant problem, can also be targets of ticket bots. In just a single day, two bots bought up some 15,087 tickets from a 2015 U2 tour for later resale.  According to a study by the New York Attorney General’s office, tickets purchased by bots are resold to consumers at an average markup of 49%. Washington state has already passed legislation similar to the BOTS Act, but bots do not respect state lines and a national standard is needed. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-urges-president-obama-to-engage-canada-on-trans-mountain-pipeline-protect-us-waters-economy,"Cantwell Urges President Obama to Engage Canada on Trans Mountain Pipeline, Protect US Waters, Economy",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.16 Cantwell Urges President Obama to Engage Canada on Trans Mountain Pipeline, Protect US Waters, Economy Cantwell: US lacks “the necessary oil spill prevention and response technologies” to clean up tar sands oil spill WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to President Barack Obama, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) urged the president to take action regarding Canada’s approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project. Specifically, the letter asks President Obama to directly engage with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and call on the Canadian government to ensure adequate protections are in place to mitigate oil spill risk in Washington state. “A tar sands oil spill would create far reaching environmental and economic consequences in the Pacific Northwest.,” Cantwell wrote in the letter. “Given the importance of the Pacific Coast to the United States, I urge you to engage with Prime Minister Trudeau and take action to protect the Puget Sound.  It is critical that sufficient policies, response resources and regulations are in place before moving forward with construction of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project.” In her letter, Cantwell points out that expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline is projected to nearly triple capacity of the Trans Mountain Pipeline from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels of crude oil a day and increase vessel traffic along the Pacific Coast by seven-fold, with each tanker holding more than twenty-five million gallons of oil.  However, the U.S. and Canada do not have the technologies or capabilities to clean-up a tar sands oil spill. In addition, advocates of the project have yet to outline how to best equip first responders in the event of a spill. With no current response technologies capable of cleaning-up a tar sands oil spill, the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project would put the multibillion dollar Pacific coastal economies at even greater risk. Oil spills have the potential to collapse fisheries, devastate the Pacific Northwest tourism industry and pose a direct threat to key species such as the endangered Southern resident orcas. In addition to impacts to the fishing and tourism industries, an oil spill in the Strait of Juan de Fuca or the transboundary Salish Sea could restrict vessel traffic to such a degree that Washington state ports could be brought to a grinding halt, leading to overwhelming impacts on both the Washington state and national economies. Cantwell’s letter also expressed significant concern regarding the impact a tar sands oil spill would have on Tribal fisheries in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. Additional tankers carrying Canadian tar sands oil would transit adjacent to usual and accustomed fishing grounds of critical importance to Pacific Northwest Tribes.  “It is our treaty trust responsibility to protect Tribal fishing rights against the risks posed by increasing foreign oil tankers transiting our waterways.”  Cantwell said in the letter. Full text of the letter can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/the-olympic-national-park-wilderness-will-be-renamed-in-honor-of-former-washington-governor-and-us-senator-dan-evans-,The Olympic National Park Wilderness Will Be Renamed in Honor of Former Washington Governor and US Senator Dan Evans,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.07.16 The Olympic National Park Wilderness Will Be Renamed in Honor of Former Washington Governor and US Senator Dan Evans Bill Honors Legacy of Former Washington Sen. Dan Evans and His Work to Protect Wilderness Areas within the State Washington, D.C. – Today, a bill honoring former Washington Governor and U.S. Senator Dan Evans passed the U.S. House of Representatives after unanimously passing the Senate in July. The legislation will rename the Olympic Wilderness within Olympic National Park as the “Daniel J. Evans Wilderness”. The bill – backed by the entire Washington state congressional delegation – will now head to the president’s desk for signature into law. Dan Evans served Washington state for more than 50 years, including service as a state legislator, governor and U.S. Senator. During his time in the U.S. Senate, Evans was the lead sponsor of the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 which designated over 1.5 million acres of wilderness areas in Olympic, North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Parks – including 877,000 acres within Olympic National Park as “the Olympic Wilderness.” Sen. Evans was also a cosponsor of the Washington Wilderness Act of 1984, which designated more than one million acres of national forest land as wilderness within the state. “We are grateful to Sen. Dan Evans for his dedication to preserving our most treasured places. Naming the Olympic Wilderness in his honor this holiday season is a deserved recognition of his many years of work to protect Washington’s national parks and forests,” said Sen. Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Washington state is so lucky to have had an advocate for the great outdoors like former U.S. Senator Dan Evans,” said Sen. Murray. “It’s only right to honor his legacy in Washington state by renaming one of the places he helped protect, the Olympic National Park Wilderness, as the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.” “The Washington delegation has a long tradition of bipartisan support for the responsible stewardship of Washington’s public lands. This tradition continues today because we know our wonderful forests, parks, mountains and waterways are what makes living in the Pacific Northwest so special. It’s only fitting that one of our beautiful wilderness areas be named after Dan Evans – a true environmentalist and champion for Washington’s outdoor spaces,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Senator Evans led with passion and commitment to preserve Washington state’s natural resources,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02). “He championed passage of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act which protected more than 1 million acres of national forest across Washington state, and the 1988 Washington Park Wilderness Act which designated key wilderness area within the Olympic National Park. Renaming the Olympic National Park Wilderness honors Senator Evans’ legacy and lifelong fight to protect the environment.” “Throughout his life, the outdoors have been a special place for Senator Dan Evans,” said Rep. Kilmer (WA-06). “Through his leadership on conservation efforts, he has embraced the power of the outdoors to bring people together while at the same time creating economic opportunities for communities in our state. To mark his work, I’m honored to join my colleagues on this bill to rename the Olympic National Park Wilderness the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.”  ""I can think of no Washingtonian more deserving of this honor,” said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “Dan Evans lived and breathed the outdoors. From his days as an Eagle Scout and Hike Master to his years of public service, he spent his life protecting our wilderness. Dan carried his passion with him in every role during his expansive career, so it's fitting that his home state names one of the most impressive wilderness regions after its tireless advocate."" “Today, I am proud to see the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act approved by the Congress and sent to President Obama for his signature. Introduced by members of the Washington State Delegation, this bill renames the Olympic Wilderness the ‘Daniel J. Evans Wilderness,’ in honor of former Washington Governor and Senator Dan Evans. An avid outdoorsman and public servant, Senator Evans worked throughout his distinguished career to preserve Washington’s national parks and forests for future generations. I am pleased to see that the wilderness Senator Evans worked so tirelessly to protect will bear his name and carry on his legacy,” said Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09). “In keeping with our state’s heritage and the longstanding respect for the outdoors from our Native peoples, Dan Evans advocated for our wilderness areas with gusto. Whether he was in loafers in a conference room or in hiking boots out on the Wonderland Trail, he was committed to protecting and restoring the beautiful forests, parks, and lands that surround us. He remains an inspiration to Washingtonians and this designation will be a great reminder of his legacy,” said Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10) “Senator Evans has an enduring and exceptional record of service to Washington, and I consider myself fortunate to have served alongside him.  This legislation is long overdue in recognizing the role he played in protecting Washington’s wild places.  His commitment to our natural treasures transcended partisan politics, and it is only fitting that his legacy be honored,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07). “It’s fitting that we are naming the Olympic Wilderness for former Governor Dan Evans.  Dan is one of those admirable individuals who has contributed his energy, leadership and passion both in and out of elected office through the decades on behalf of Washington state,” said Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03). “His efforts on behalf of our forests deserves to be commemorated by all who live, work and recreate in and around them.” “My home state of Washington and the region I represent are known for their breathtaking natural treasures,” said Rep. Reichert. “But we cannot talk about Washington’s natural treasures without thanking the man who’s been instrumental in maintaining and protecting them for future generations. From the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act to the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988, Senator Dan Evans’ initiatives have had a lasting impact on every person who had or will get the opportunity to experience Mother Nature’s gifts. I am proud my colleagues in the House joined me in recognizing his contributions by passing the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act and sending it to the President’s desk.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=1A2DC3B1-00DA-4B00-81EF-48145835B722,"OPIOIDS: Sen. Murray on Bipartisan Bill Passage That Will Help Tackle Opioid Epidemic: Will Bring Relief to Patients, Families Across Washington State",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"After hearing from patients and advocates around Washington state about the need to address the epidemic, Sen. Murray led the fight in the Senate to secure funding Bill provides $1 billion over the next two years to support state-level response to the opioid epidemic States can direct funding to drug monitoring programs, prevention, improving access to treatment, and more Bill now headed to President’s desk to be signed into law Murray: “I’m pleased that we were able to work across the aisle to negotiate strong investments in this bill to address this epidemic” (Washington, D.C.) — Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan bill, the 21st Century Cures Act, that invests in a wide range of health care priorities, including funding to tackle the opioid epidemic. Senator Murray has heard from patients and advocates around Washington state about the urgent need for additional resources to address the epidemic. The Cures Act provides $1 billion over the next two fiscal years to support state-level response to the opioid epidemic, with priority placed on hardest-hit states. States will have flexibility in how they choose to direct the funding, including but not limited to: drug monitoring programs, prevention, improving access to treatment, and training health care providers in best practices for prescribing opioids. The bill passed the House of Representatives last week, and now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Over the past year, I have heard from countless families and community leaders in our state struggling with the devastating impacts of opioid addiction, so I’m pleased we were able to work across the aisle to negotiate strong investments in this bill to address this epidemic,” said Senator Murray. “Too many struggle with this addiction, and we need to make sure communities have the resources they need to tackle it head on. The investments in this bill to address the opioid epidemic will help bring relief to patients and their families—and I’m going to keep working as hard as I can to end the serious public health threat that opioid misuse has created in Washington state and nationwide.” In addition to providing $1 billion to tackle the opioid epidemic, the Cures Act includes bipartisan mental health legislation that combines a bill Senator Murray co-authored and passed out of Committee this March with House-passed legislation. The legislation will help expand access to quality care for mental illness and substance use disorders by providing patients with convenient access to contact information for providers, and strengthen coordination between local agencies engaged in crisis intervention. It will also ensure mental health is treated just as important as physical health by insurance companies, and that they incorporate the most up-to-date approaches to treat mental health conditions. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=681B79C2-9AE7-4706-9E32-46B2450420BF,"SCOPES: Following Investigation into Superbug-Linked Infections in Washington State, Sen. Murray Secures Stronger Oversight for Medical Scopes in Bipartisan Bill",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"An investigation by Sen. Murray into contaminated medical scopes at Virginia Mason Medical Center and other hospitals confirmed that these devices were spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria or “superbugs”: LINK Passed today 94-5 by the Senate, the 21st Century Cures Act includes Sen. Murray’s legislation to give the FDA authority to withhold premarket clearance of reusable medical devices, including medical scopes, that fail to meet key standards Bill now headed to President’s desk to be signed into law  Sen. Murray: We must continue working to combat the alarming rise of drug-resistant infections and to ensure all medical devices that patients need for treatment are safe and effective.   (Washington, D.C.) — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan bill, the 21st Century Cures Act, which invests in a wide range of health care priorities, including measures pushed by Senator Murray to help protect patients and families from the growing threat of infection from antibiotic-resistant bacteria or “superbugs.” The Cures Act will provide additional tools to review and ensure the safety of reusable medical devices after a type of medical scope, known as duodenoscopes, were linked to life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infections at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and other hospitals across the country. An investigation led by Senator Murray into these incidents showed that manufacturers knew the medical scopes could not be reliably cleaned and could present a threat to patients’ lives. The bill includes legislation introduced by Senator Murray to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clear authority to require that before manufactures go to market with their reusable devices, they must demonstrate that the devices can be reliably decontaminated between uses and remain safe.  The bill also strengthens antimicrobial stewardship activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and provides a new pathway to encourage the development of advanced antibacterial and antifungal drugs that can treat serious infections in patients with little or no options, such as those with drug-resistant infections. The Secretary of Health and Human Services will be required to review the overall use of these products, place clear labels and statements on these drugs in order to help ensure physicians use them appropriately, and monitor changes in bacterial resistance. “Superbug outbreaks have had tragic impacts on patients and families in my home state and across the country, which is why I made it my priority to ensure the medical devices used on patients are safe and that we encourage the development of more effective antibiotic drugs,” said Senator Murray. “There is much more work to do to combat the alarming rise of drug-resistant infections, and I hope we can build on this bipartisan bill with additional efforts to ensure we put the health and safety of patients and families first.” More on Senator Murray’s work on duodenoscopes in Washington state below and HERE. Following the January 2015 announcement of a tragic outbreak of antibiotic-resistant infections linked to contaminated duodenoscopes at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Murray called for a full review of FDA practices surrounding duodenoscopes and other medical devices, urged the agency to provide health care professionals with updated guidance, and pressed scope manufacturers linked to the outbreaks for answers and accountability. Following the investigation that highlighted multiple weaknesses in the safety monitoring system for medical devices, Olympus recalled the medical scopes. The FDA then cleared a newly redesigned duodenoscope to improve patient safety. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=95FC997B-60E7-49E4-8055-8A23715BC94E,"Sen. Murray, Democratic Colleagues Urge President-Elect Trump to Live Up to Campaign Promises and Clarify Whether He Opposes Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"“You suddenly appear to be using language supporting policies that would gut the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” the Senators wrote In 2015, over 2,400,000 Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in WA State  Text of the letter available here  (Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) along with 13 fellow senators, sent a letter calling on President-Elect Donald Trump to remind him of his campaign promises to reject cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and to ask that he clarify whether he still intends to do so. The senators’ letter draws attention to differences between the President-Elect’s statements during the campaign, which were highlighted on his campaign website, and statements that are now posted on his transition website. These new policy positions contradict President-Elect Trump’s promises as a candidate to protect Medicare and Medicaid, instead echoing Congressional Republicans’ plans to cut these programs. The letter also notes that the President-Elect’s nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, has been a “leading architect” of such plans. “During your campaign for President of the United States, you differentiated yourself from your 16 primary opponents by noting that you were the only Republican who would protect Medicare and Medicaid,” the senators wrote. “After winning the election, you suddenly appear to be using language supporting policies that would gut the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”  The letter continues, “Over one hundred million Americans rely on these programs for health care.  Low-income children and families and people with disabilities are the primary beneficiaries of Medicaid.  Millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities have earned and rely on their Medicare benefits.  Medicaid is the only assistance available to millions of low and middle-income families who have a loved one requiring nursing home care.  As you noted when you extolled their benefits on your campaign website, cutting these programs would be devastating.” The senators pressed President-Elect Trump to live up to his campaign promises and reject any cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. They wrote, “We ask that you rapidly and publicly clarify in plain language for the American public that you continue to stand behind your campaign promises; that you will not raise the Medicare eligibility age; that you will not privatize, voucherize, or otherwise cut Medicare benefits; and that you will not put in place changes to Medicaid that force enrollees’ coverage to be dropped and benefits to be cut or limited.  You promised Americans you would not cut Medicare or Medicaid—please tell Americans you will stand by your promise to them.”  The letter was also signed by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.). Read a PDF copy of the letter here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=D767BCE1-F1C2-4D2B-B553-14C5FB4DEB78,The Olympic National Park Wilderness Will Be Renamed in Honor of Former Washington Governor and US Senator Dan Evans,2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bill Honors Legacy of Former Washington Sen. Dan Evans and His Work to Protect Wilderness Areas within the State  Washington, D.C. – Today, a bill honoring former Washington Governor and U.S. Senator Dan Evans passed the U.S. House of Representatives after unanimously passing the Senate in July. The legislation will rename the Olympic Wilderness within Olympic National Park as the “Daniel J. Evans Wilderness”. The bill – backed by the entire Washington state congressional delegation – will now head to the president’s desk for signature into law. Dan Evans served Washington state for more than 50 years, including service as a state legislator, governor and U.S. Senator. During his time in the U.S. Senate, Evans was the lead sponsor of the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 which designated over 1.5 million acres of wilderness areas in Olympic, North Cascades and Mount Rainier National Parks – including 877,000 acres within Olympic National Park as “the Olympic Wilderness.” Sen. Evans was also a cosponsor of the Washington Wilderness Act of 1984, which designated more than one million acres of national forest land as wilderness within the state.  “Washington state is so lucky to have had an advocate for the great outdoors like former U.S. Senator Dan Evans,” said Sen. Murray. “It’s only right to honor his legacy in Washington state by renaming one of the places he helped protect, the Olympic National Park Wilderness, as the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. “We are grateful to Sen. Dan Evans for his dedication to preserving our most treasured places. Naming the Olympic Wilderness in his honor this holiday season is a deserved recognition of his many years of work to protect Washington’s national parks and forests,” said Sen. Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “The Washington delegation has a long tradition of bipartisan support for the responsible stewardship of Washington’s public lands. This tradition continues today because we know our wonderful forests, parks, mountains and waterways are what makes living in the Pacific Northwest so special. It’s only fitting that one of our beautiful wilderness areas be named after Dan Evans – a true environmentalist and champion for Washington’s outdoor spaces,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Senator Evans led with passion and commitment to preserve Washington state’s natural resources,” said Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02). “He championed passage of the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act which protected more than 1 million acres of national forest across Washington state, and the 1988 Washington Park Wilderness Act which designated key wilderness area within the Olympic National Park. Renaming the Olympic National Park Wilderness honors Senator Evans’ legacy and lifelong fight to protect the environment.” “Throughout his life, the outdoors have been a special place for Senator Dan Evans,” said Rep. Kilmer (WA-06). “Through his leadership on conservation efforts, he has embraced the power of the outdoors to bring people together while at the same time creating economic opportunities for communities in our state. To mark his work, I’m honored to join my colleagues on this bill to rename the Olympic National Park Wilderness the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness.”  ""I can think of no Washingtonian more deserving of this honor,” said Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05). “Dan Evans lived and breathed the outdoors. From his days as an Eagle Scout and Hike Master to his years of public service, he spent his life protecting our wilderness. Dan carried his passion with him in every role during his expansive career, so it's fitting that his home state names one of the most impressive wilderness regions after its tireless advocate."" “Today, I am proud to see the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act approved by the Congress and sent to President Obama for his signature. Introduced by members of the Washington State Delegation, this bill renames the Olympic Wilderness the ‘Daniel J. Evans Wilderness,’ in honor of former Washington Governor and Senator Dan Evans. An avid outdoorsman and public servant, Senator Evans worked throughout his distinguished career to preserve Washington’s national parks and forests for future generations. I am pleased to see that the wilderness Senator Evans worked so tirelessly to protect will bear his name and carry on his legacy,” said Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09). “In keeping with our state’s heritage and the longstanding respect for the outdoors from our Native peoples, Dan Evans advocated for our wilderness areas with gusto. Whether he was in loafers in a conference room or in hiking boots out on the Wonderland Trail, he was committed to protecting and restoring the beautiful forests, parks, and lands that surround us. He remains an inspiration to Washingtonians and this designation will be a great reminder of his legacy,” said Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10) “Senator Evans has an enduring and exceptional record of service to Washington, and I consider myself fortunate to have served alongside him.  This legislation is long overdue in recognizing the role he played in protecting Washington’s wild places.  His commitment to our natural treasures transcended partisan politics, and it is only fitting that his legacy be honored,” said Rep. Jim McDermott (WA-07). “It’s fitting that we are naming the Olympic Wilderness for former Governor Dan Evans.  Dan is one of those admirable individuals who has contributed his energy, leadership and passion both in and out of elected office through the decades on behalf of Washington state,” said Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03). “His efforts on behalf of our forests deserves to be commemorated by all who live, work and recreate in and around them.” “My home state of Washington and the region I represent are known for their breathtaking natural treasures,” said Rep. Reichert. “But we cannot talk about Washington’s natural treasures without thanking the man who’s been instrumental in maintaining and protecting them for future generations. From the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act to the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988, Senator Dan Evans’ initiatives have had a lasting impact on every person who had or will get the opportunity to experience Mother Nature’s gifts. I am proud my colleagues in the House joined me in recognizing his contributions by passing the Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act and sending it to the President’s desk.”   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=DCF38EB8-6D68-4335-A21B-7C58D509C89F,"NIH FUNDING: Sen. Murray Secures Strong Investments in the National Institutes of Health, Will Boost New Research on Lifesaving Cures & Treatments Critical to Washington State Families",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Passed 94-5 by the Senate today, bipartisan bill provides $4.8 billion for NIH research into more effective cures and treatments, including support for the Precision Medicine, BRAIN, and “Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot” initiatives  Bill also includes critical reforms pushed by Sen. Murray to better incorporate women, children and minority populations into NIH-supported research Also launches a task force on research specific to pregnant and breastfeeding women Bill now headed to President’s desk to be signed into law Washington state ranks #8 in the nation for amount of NIH funding received—bill will benefit patients, researchers, nonprofits, and universities across the state  Sen. Murray: “This bipartisan bill provides real investments and reforms for NIH that are critical to Washington state patients, families, and our economy.” (Washington, D.C.) — Today, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, applauded the Senate passage of a bipartisan bill, the 21st Century Cures Act, which invests in a wide range of health priorities, including strong investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Cures Act provides $4.8 billion over the next 10 years for NIH to boost research on lifesaving cures and treatments, including support for the Precision Medicine Initiative, the Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, and the “Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot” Initiative. “I am pleased that this bipartisan bill makes real investments in NIH-funded research and implements important reforms at NIH—both of which are critical to Washington state patients, families, and our economy,” said Senator Murray. “These efforts will help drive innovative and more diverse research on lifesaving cures and treatments for our hardest-to-treat diseases. I will work to build on this progress and support increased federal investments in research that offers hope to patients and families across the country.” In order to ensure all Americans benefit from this new research, Senator Murray pushed for policy changes that will require NIH to improve the inclusion of diverse populations in research, including women, individuals of all ages, members of the LGBT community, and racial and ethnic minorities. Building on Senator Murray’s longstanding commitment to improve and expand women’s access to health care, the bill will also establish a task force to address gaps in knowledge and research regarding safe and effective therapies for pregnant women and breastfeeding women. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=FF1256CA-D294-4B81-ACE0-6EE0786FBF80,"Sen. Murray, Attorney General Ferguson Urge U.S. Department of Education to Provide Immediate, Long Overdue Loan Debt Relief to Former Washington State Students Cheated by Defunct Vocational School",2016-12-07,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Nearly a decade after the Court Reporting Institute, Inc. (CRI) in Seattle and Tacoma shut down after defrauding students and violating state laws, hundreds of cheated students are still saddled with federal student loan debt  As detailed in a letter by Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson to the U.S. Department of Education, CRI induced students to enroll by systematically misrepresenting its educational practices, instructor qualifications, graduation rates, and employment prospects: LINK  Today, in a letter echoing Attorney General Ferguson’s submission, Sen. Murray is urging the U.S. Department of Education to exercise its legal authority to grant full and immediate group debt relief to former CRI students in Washington State: LINK  Sen. Murray and Attorney General Ferguson: We can never fully remedy the harm done to these students through shattered dreams and lost time, but we can support them by ensuring they get the relief they deserve.  (Washington, D.C) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate education committee, sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”) to provide full and immediate student loan debt relief to Washington State students formerly enrolled at the Court Reporting Institute, Inc. (“CRI”). CRI was opened in 1988 under the pretense of providing stenographic training to students in Seattle and Tacoma looking to launch a career in transcription. Instead, as detailed in a November 21, 2016 letter from Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson to the Department, this vocational school induced students to enroll and finance their educations with extraordinary levels of debt by systematically misrepresenting its educational practices, instructor qualifications, graduation rates, and employment prospects. While CRI often claimed a job placement rate of 100 percent, only 6 percent of CRI students ever graduated. Only 30 percent of graduates (1.7 percent of students) got a job in court reporting within nine months of graduating. CRI closed its doors in late August 2006 in the face of overwhelming student complaints, adverse regulatory findings, and negative press. The students who attended CRI’s court reporting program, however, never received relief on their fraudulently-issued federal student loan debt. Today, nearly a decade after the school closed, 335 former CRI students from the Seattle campus alone are still working to pay back outstanding federal student loan debt. In her letter to the Department concurring with Attorney General Ferguson’s request, Senator Murray says these former students are entitled to full and immediate student loan debt relief under the current “borrower defense to repayment” regulations which allow the Department to discharge loans based on violations of state law. “Far too many students throughout our country who were simply trying to secure a higher education and a good job have been cheated and lied to by predatory schools that promised to help them,” wrote Senator Murray. “Due to the widespread and well-documented nature of the company’s misrepresentations…I ask that the Department exercise its authority to grant group relief to all CRI students who attended its Seattle and Tacoma locations.” As established in Attorney General Ferguson’s letter, CRI’s misrepresentations and practices give rise to state law causes of action under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act and common law fraud. “Student loan debt is a major burden for thousands of Washingtonians,” Attorney General Ferguson said. “The Education Department has the ability to grant relief to the hundreds of students still suffering from the unscrupulous tactics of this predatory, for-profit school. I ask them to join me and Sen. Murray in fighting to protect students from schools that don’t play by the rules.” Full text of Attorney General Ferguson’s letter can be found HERE, along with more information on his examination into CRI HERE. Full text of Senator Murray’s letter can be found HERE and below: December 7, 2016   The Honorable John B. King, Jr. Secretary of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20202 Dear Secretary King: Thank you for your commitment to providing debt relief for students who have been the victims of unfair and abusive practices by institutions of higher education. I deeply appreciate the work that your agency has done over the past few years to develop stronger protections for student loan borrowers. Unfortunately, far too many students throughout our country who were simply trying to secure a higher education and a good job have been cheated and lied to by predatory schools that promised to help them. I would like to bring your attention to the deceptive actions of the Court Reporting Institute, Inc. (“CRI”), and request that you provide full and immediate loan discharge to every student that enrolled in the company’s court reporting programs at its Seattle and Tacoma locations. CRI was opened in 1988 under the pretense of providing stenographic training to students looking to launch a career in transcription. Instead, as detailed in a November 21, 2016 letter from Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson to the U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”), this vocational school induced students to enroll and finance their educations with extraordinary levels of debt by systematically misrepresenting its educational practices, instructor qualifications, graduation rates, and employment prospects. These students are entitled to full student loan debt relief under the “borrower defense to repayment” regulations found in 34 C.F.R. § 685.206. Despite numerous student complaints, agency findings, and demands for reform of CRI’s fraudulent practices by the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (“Workforce Board”)—which oversees vocational and technical schools in Washington—the company repeatedly failed to clean up its act. This fraudulent behavior is well documented. As established in Attorney General Ferguson’s letter, CRI’s misrepresentations give rise to state law causes of action under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act, RCW 19.86, and common law fraud. I am particularly troubled by the evidence presented that the company repeatedly provided extremely misleading information to students about the time necessary to complete their program and job placement rates. The company represented that the average time to completion for the court reporting programs was two to three years, and its own course catalogs claimed job placement rates for graduates of an astounding 100 percent. However, the Workforce Board’s examination of student records over a three-year period revealed that just 6 percent of students exiting CRI’s court reporting programs left as graduates—the rest dropped out—and only 1.7 percent found meaningful and relevant employment as court reporters within nine months. CRI also employed unqualified individuals to each critical court reporting classes, and many students reported that they were essentially self-taught. On the basis of this information, the Workforce Board determined that CRI had engaged in unfair and deceptive business practices that violate Washington state law. Had CRI communicated its shockingly low job placement rates, the actual time to completion, or the quality of education offered, no reasonable student would have enrolled in CRI’s court reporting program. CRI closed its doors in late August 2006 in the face of overwhelming student complaints, adverse regulatory findings, and negative press. According to bankruptcy court records, CRI had a gross income of $3.2 million the year before its collapse, and paid its owner nearly half a million dollars in the nine months leading up to the school’s closure. The students who attended CRI’s court reporting program, however, never received relief on their fraudulently-issued federal student loan debt. Due to the widespread and well-documented nature of the company’s misrepresentations, and clear violations of Washington state law, I ask that the Department exercise its authority to grant group relief to all CRI students who attended its Seattle and Tacoma locations. According to information from your staff provided to my office on July 7, 2016, nearly a decade after the school closed, 335 former CRI students from the Seattle campus alone are still working to pay back outstanding federal student loan debt. We can never fully remedy the harm done to students through shattered dreams and lost time, but we can support students who have been repeatedly misled and exploited by bad actors. I urge the Department to provide full and immediate relief for all former CRI court reporting students. Thank you for the Department’s record of standing up for students to ensure they get the relief they deserve. I will do everything I can to ensure that our students continue to be protected now and in the future. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/donald-trump-us-should-cancel-boeing-contract-new-air-force-one,Donald Trump: U.S. should cancel Boeing contract for new Air Force One,2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Geek Wire: Donald Trump: U.S. should cancel Boeing contract for new Air Force One By Alan Boyle and Todd Bishop President Obama has expressed a deep appreciation for Air Force One, describing the current Boeing 747-200 planes as the best perk of the job. President-elect Donald Trump, who is accustomed to flying in his own Boeing 757, isn’t as enamored with Boeing’s contract to build a new generation of Air Force One planes. In a tweet today, Trump claimed that costs on the project are “out of control” and called for the cancellation of a deal with the Boeing Co. for two 747-8 aircraft that would serve as Air Force One. Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order! In follow-up comments to reporters in New York, Trump said the cost of the planes was “ridiculous.” “I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number,” he said. “We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money.” Chicago-based Boeing, which has extensive commercial aircraft manufacturing operations in the Seattle region, was awarded the new Air Force One contract in January 2015. It was essentially the only company in the running, based on government requirements. “The Boeing 747-8 is the only aircraft manufactured in the United States (that), when fully missionized, meets the necessary capabilities established to execute the presidential support mission, while reflecting the office of the president of the United States of America consistent with the national public interest,” Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said at the time. She said the program would use multiple strategies so it’s “as affordable as possible while still meeting mission requirements. We will insist upon program affordability through cost conscious procurement practices.” The current Air Force One 747-200 jets went into service in 1990 and 1991, and thus are near the end of their 30-year design operating lifetime. Technically speaking, neither of the 747-8 replacements has been officially purchased yet, but Boeing is doing the preparatory work for the custom-modified planes, as the company noted in a statement: “We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of this complex military aircraft that serves the unique requirements of the president of the United States. We look forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best planes for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer.” The Air Force’s current plan calls for spending $2.87 billion for the two planes through fiscal year 2021. In a report issued in March, the Government Accountability Office came up with a higher estimate for costs in the 2010-2020 time period: $3.21 billion. Both planes will have to be modified for in-flight refueling, radiation hardening, secure communications and other capabilities that most 747s don’t need to have. The new planes are expected to be ready between 2020 and 2024, depending on how the outfitting goes. The Air Force sent out a statement in response to questions about Air Force One: “We are still conducting risk reduction activities with Boeing to inform the engineering and manufacturing development contract negotiations that will define the capabilities and cost. We have budgeted $2.7B in the Fiscal Year 2017 Future Years Defense Program for Research, Development, Test & Evaluaton (RDT&E) but expect this number to change as the program matures with the completion of the risk reduction activities.” In some quarters, the Air Force One project has been seen as a lifeline for Boeing’s 747 production line in Everett. Earlier this year, the 747 production rate was reduced to one plane every two months due to flagging demand for cargo freighters. In a joint statement, U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell as well as U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, all Washington state Democrats, touched on the implications of the Air Force One deal for employment: “Replacing the 26-year-old Air Force One aircraft will support good-paying jobs throughout Northwest Washington and is important to ensuring the safety and security of future presidents. The president-elect’s tweet does nothing to change those basic facts.” There’s no question that the next Air Force One jets will be built by Boeing. The only questions have to do with the timeline and the cost. With that in mind, Trump may be aiming to practice the “art of the deal” and talk the price down once he’s in office. Trump has been critical of Boeing on two other fronts: Its plans to open a 737 jet completion and delivery center in China, and its pending sale of more than 100 jets to Iran Air. Last week, Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said the United States needed to continue to play a leading role in global trade, despite the apprehension that he said became an “overarching” theme during the presidential campaign. Much of that apprehension is coming from Trump and his advisers. The Chicago Tribute published a column about Muilenburg’s speech online just before Trump leveled his criticism, but it’s not clear whether the publication triggered the tweet or was just a coincidence. Boeing’s share price declined right after Trump’s tweet. but finished the trading day slightly higher than the previous day’s close, at $152.24. Update for 6:50 p.m. PT Dec. 6: Several news outlets are reporting that Boeing executives got in touch with Trump and his team after today’s tweet: Christian Davenport @wapodavenport Air Force One story updated with news that Boeing CEO spoke with Trump Tuesday about the contract, China and trade: http://wpo.st/MSrJ2 CNBC ✔ @CNBC Boeing called Trump team after Trump's tweet, said price of Air Force One can decrease if specifications are lowered - source Bloomberg Politics ✔ @bpolitics Boeing offers new Air Force One proposal after Donald Trump tweets about cancelling order http://bloom.bg/2h0FwVH",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/navy-honors-us-rep-larsen-highest-civilian-honor,Navy honors U.S. Rep. Larsen with highest civilian honor,2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Stanwood Camano News: Navy honors U.S. Rep. Larsen with highest civilian honor By SC News Staff Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) has been awarded the Navy’s highest civilian honor for outstanding service to the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps, the Distinguished Public Service Award. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said the award was presented to recognize Larsen’s advocacy for the resources needed to maintain a strong Navy and Marine Corps. He said the award honors Larsen’s efforts to keep open the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and in securing language in the House version of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to allow WIC offices to operate on military bases. Additionally, Larsen has advocated for a strong Navy presence in Everett, Mabus said. Larsen worked to bring three new destroyers to replace decommissioned frigates at Naval Station Everett, and pushed the Navy to avoid a gap between the retiring frigates and arrival of the new destroyers. In 2015, Larsen pressed the VA to change the Veterans Choice Program to better meet the needs of veterans in the Pacific Northwest so that Whidbey veterans can now receive local health care instead of facing an hours-long drive to a VA facility. In September, Larsen succeeded in helping circumvent a 1992 ban on the VA providing in vitro fertilization services for veterans – which had previously required veterans with service-connected infertility to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket to start a family. “We are fortunate to have such a dedicated leader in Congress,” Mabus said. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/larsen-murray-cantwell-statement-replacing-air-force-one,"Larsen, Murray & Cantwell Statement on Replacing Air Force One",2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) today released the following statement after the President-elect’s tweet regarding Air Force One:  “Replacing the 26-year-old Air Force One aircraft will support good-paying jobs throughout Northwest Washington and is important to ensuring the safety and security of future Presidents. The President-elect’s tweet does nothing to change those basic facts.”                                                                                                            ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/trump-may-cancel-boeing-order-new-air-force-one,Trump may cancel Boeing order for new Air Force One,2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"KING 5: Trump may cancel Boeing order for new Air Force One By Travis Pittman President-elect Donald Trump says construction of the next Air Force One -- a Boeing 747-8 -- should be canceled due to the costs. Trump  tweeted Tuesday morning: Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order! ""The plane is totally out of control. It's going to be over $4 billion for the Air Force One program,"" Trump later said in the lobby of Trump Tower Tuesday. “I think its ridiculous. I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money but not that much money.” Boeing released this statement in response. ""We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of this complex military aircraft that serves the unique requirements of the President of the United States.  We look forward to working with the US Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best plane for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer."" Multiple reports say the total cost for the new 747-8s would be between $2,7 billion and $3.2 billion. Reuters Politics ✔ @ReutersPolitics UPDATE: White House says some of Trump's Air Force One statistics don't appear to reflect arrangements between Boeing, Department of Defense The Wall Street Journal reports the two current Air Force One planes, which are heavily-modified 747-200s, are due to reach the end of their designed 30-year lifespan next year. Although Boeing has a contract to begin development on the new versions, it has not yet reached a deal to build the planes. KING 5 Aviation Specialist Glenn Farley says Boeing would be paid to build the basic airplane. The rest of the cost would be paid to a contractor who would be hired to make extensive modifications to the plane. The government would not just be buying one but two 747-8s. And they aren't your average passenger jets. They would undergo heavy modifications needed to make the planes into mobile command centers complete with an anti-missile system and countermeasures. The executive director of SPEEA, the union which represents Boeing engineers, tweeted this in response. Reuters Top News ✔ @Reuters Trump says 'cancel order' on too expensive new Air Force One http://reut.rs/2gzemVi SPEEA @speea @Reuters The Presidential airplanes aren't just fancy airplanes. They are mobile Whitehouses hardened to survive WWIII. Jon Ostrower ✔ @jonostrower When you have to harden two 747s to withstand an electromagnetic blast from a nuclear explosion, the price tag is high. U.S. senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Congressman Rick Larsen released a joint statement in response to Trump. “Replacing the 26-year-old Air Force One aircraft will support good-paying jobs throughout Northwest Washington and is important to ensuring the safety and security of future Presidents. The President-elect’s tweet does nothing to change those basic facts.” CNBC reports that according to Trump's 2016 financial disclosure, he owns $50,001 to $100,000 in Boeing stock and listed the income from those dividends at $1,001 to $2,500.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/trump-says-cancel-new-air-force-one-boeing-costs-totally-out-control,Trump says cancel new Air Force One: Boeing costs 'totally out of control',2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"KOMO News: Trump says cancel new Air Force One: Boeing costs 'totally out of control' By Associated Press & KOMO Staff NEW YORK - Six weeks from taking office, Donald Trump says he wants the government to cut some costs by canceling its order for a new Air Force One, the plane that carries presidents around the globe. The government has contracted with Boeing to build two or more new planes, which would go into service around 2024. That means Trump wouldn't fly on the new planes unless he pursued and won a second term. But the Air Force has pressed for a faster schedule, saying the current planes are becoming too expensive to repair and keep in good flying shape. The contract for the planes was to be about $3 billion, but costs have been reported to be rising. Trump tweeted early Tuesday, ""Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!"" Asked later by reports to clarify, Trump said, ""Well, the plane is totally out of control. It's going to be over $4 billion for this Air Force One program, and I think it's ridiculous. I think Boeing is trying to do a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money.” The General Accountability Office estimated in March that about $2 billion of the total - for work between 2010 and 2020 - was for research and development, not the actual planes. The inflated $4 billion figure Trump cited appears to include operation and maintenance as well. Trump began his Twitter onslaught against Boeing at 8:52 a.m., 22 minutes after The Chicago Tribune posted a story in which the Boeing CEO voiced concerns about Trump's views on trade. Asked for comment on Trump's statement, Boeing spokesman Todd Blecher said, ""We are going to have to get back to you after we figure out what's going on."" The aerospace giant, which manufactures the jumbo 747 planes in Everett, later issued a statement saying: ""We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of this complex military aircraft that serves the unique requirements of the President of the United States. We look forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best planes for the president at the best value for the American taxpayer."" The $170 million figure is just for a portion of the research and development efforts. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the plane hasn't been ordered, so there can't be cost overruns. But experts said $4 billion might be a reasonable estimate. However, the newspaper reported that Boeing doesn't expect to make money on Air Force One and that this is no off-the-shelf jet. ""Air Force One needs to be designed to survive a nuclear war. It requires all sorts of undisclosed security upgrades and countermeasures. It can refuel in flight. The actual cost of the plane will depend on the equipment that goes into it. There also needs to be extensive testing, probably lasting two years, before the plane is deemed ready for presidential travel."" Washington Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, who represents the Boeing Everett plant where the 747 is made, backed Boeing in a statement they released “Replacing the 26-year-old Air Force One aircraft will support good-paying jobs throughout Northwest Washington and is important to ensuring the safety and security of future presidents. The president-elect’s tweet does nothing to change those basic facts.” The price of Boeing stock dipped after his comments but not drastically. Trump had tweeted in 2013 that he owned Boeing stock, but a spokesman said Tuesday he sold all of his stocks in June. Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with the Washington D.C.-based Teal Group, said he doesn't believe that Air Force One costs are as high as Trump suggests. ""I think this is based on exactly nothing. He just felt like tweeting it, for whatever - grudge, or whatever purpose. But in terms of basis in reality, no, there's none,"" Aboulafia said. But he admits President Trump would have the power to cancel the program. ""He does have the power to cancel it. It would be a baffling move,"" he said. Trump now uses his own plane, a Boeing 757, which he has outfitted with white leather and gold, a large flat-screen television and a bedroom. But as president it is expected that he would travel aboard the Air Force jet, which is equipped with special safety, defensive and communications equipment. Air Force One also has seating for reporters; Trump generally does not allow the press on his own plane.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/usdot-awards-14m-mobility-research-uw-led-transportation-center,USDOT awards $14M for mobility research at UW-led transportation center,2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"University of Washington: USDOT awards $14M for mobility research at UW-led transportation center By Jennifer Langston The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded approximately $14 million over five years to a multi-university, regional transportation center led by the University of Washington to fund research aimed at improving the mobility of people and goods across the Pacific Northwest. The competitive funding, which local and regional agencies and companies will match for an expected total of $28 million, advances the work of the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium, or PacTrans. It’s one of 10 regional University Transportation Centers across the U.S. and represents Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. The new grant will expand PacTrans’ focus, which previously included data-driven solutions for transportation safety and sustainability, to address all aspects of the region’s diverse mobility challenges. That will include everything from alleviating traffic congestion to improving transit accessibility for people with disabilities, improving the reliability of trip-planning tools and expanding rural transportation options. Other university partners include Boise State University, Gonzaga University, Oregon State University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Idaho and Washington State University. “This exciting new grant will allow us to address broader mobility challenges, of which our region certainly has many,” said PacTrans director Yinhai Wang, a UW professor of civil and environmental engineering. “We’re seeing rapid population growth in both Portland and Seattle, but we also have the very rural areas like Alaska, with very few people living in a vast landscape. So the question is: How can we offer transportation mobility to people in very different living environments?” Wang said. The federal program’s funding commitment is five years, much longer than the previous two UTC awards, providing valuable stability and opportunity. The universities may also partner with private companies and other stakeholders with economic and social interests in improving the reliability and efficiency with which people and goods move around the region. The proposal had strong support from members of the Congressional delegations across the involved states. “Transportation mobility is one of the great challenges facing Washington state as we seek to remain competitive now and in the future,” said Sen. Patty Murray. “This funding will support important advances that will benefit our local communities and the nation as a whole.” Potential research topics include expanding the use of wireless sensors to collect data and connect traffic systems, integrating self-driving vehicles into traffic operations, exploring transit deserts across the region, strategic freight planning and car-sharing for elderly communities. “When it comes to transportation problems, I have found that most folks want facts and data to guide decision-making,” said Rep. Rick Larsen, a senior member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “That is why this grant is important – it will help the UW and its PacTrans partners develop smarter transportation solutions that will help drive job growth and keep the economy moving.” Matching funders include transportation industry partners and local transportation agencies, including the four states’ transportation departments and the City of Seattle. “Considering the transportation challenges facing America, our country needs this innovative research being done by these universities to help speed up freight movement and reduce congestion,” said Sen. Maria Cantwell. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398814,"Jaime Herrera Beutler Effort to Protect Columbia River Ecosystem, Hydropower Infrastructure against Aquatic Invasive Species included in Water Infrastructure Agreement",2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Jaime Herrera Beutler,H001056,herrerabeutler.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler applauded the inclusion of her legislative effort to prevent aquatic invasive species from infiltrating the Columbia River ecosystem in a bipartisan water infrastructure bill released late yesterday. share: f t Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler applauded the inclusion of her legislative effort to prevent aquatic invasive species from infiltrating the Columbia River ecosystem in a bipartisan water infrastructure bill released late yesterday. Jaime’s anti-invasive species initiative is included in the final version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2017 (WRDA) that represents a bipartisan agreement between the U.S. House and Senate.  The potential costs of a quagga mussel introduction into the Pacific Northwest would be economically devastating, estimated at more than $500 million annually.  Jaime’s initiative clarifies that funds authorized under WRDA are intended to assist in establishing new watercraft inspection stations, and provide maintenance for existing stations in northwest states. Watercraft inspection stations intercept thousands of boats from all over the country to inspect for invasive mussels and decontaminate them.  More information about Jaime’s effort is available here. “I’m pleased my amendment to protect the Columbia River Basin from invasive species is included in the final WRDA agreement.  The potential damage to our ecosystem if these invasive mussels were introduced would be economically devastating,” said Jaime. “Western states are seeing a catastrophic spread of quagga and zebra mussels, and we need to act now to stop it from spreading here.  Prevention is the first line of defense, and it’s the cheapest and most effective tool to use against invasive species.” Dedicated Funding for Southwest Washington Ports The WRDA bill also provides funding for maintenance and improvements to Southwest Washington ports by phasing in full use of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund -- money collected for harbor and channel operations maintenance and dredging. Jaime has consistently fought to ensure that 10% of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund will be set aside for small ports like those in Pacific and Wahkiakum Counties, and along the Columbia River.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-demands-epa-halt-federal-grants-during-ongoing-investigation,Newhouse Demands EPA Halt Federal Grants during Ongoing Investigation into Whats Upstream,2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), expressed his extreme concern to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy regarding the agency’s decision to continue awarding federal grants despite an ongoing investigation into the misuse of taxpayer dollars in the anti-farmer “What’s Upstream” campaign in Washington State. In a letter sent today, Rep. Newhouse urged the EPA to prohibit subgrant awards to “What’s Upstream” in a recent National Estuary Program grant of $25 million over five years made to the National Indian Fisheries Commission – of which organizers of “What’s Upstream” were subgrant recipients – until the completion of the investigation by the EPA Office of Inspector General. Rep. Newhouse released the following statement: “It is unconscionable that before farmers in Washington State receive answers on how taxpayer dollars were used improperly to smear them and to lobby lawmakers, the EPA is continuing to shell out taxpayer dollars with zero accountability,” said Rep. Newhouse. “The EPA has not fulfilled its promise to complete a full review of how anti-farmer propaganda was funded by the taxpayer before making additional grants. I urge Administrator McCarthy in the strongest terms to halt any further awards to subgrantees that participated in the ‘Whats Upstream’ campaign until EPA gets to the bottom of the misuse of taxpayer funds.” Read the full text of Rep. Newhouse’s letter here. Background: EPA Region 10 funded the What’s Upstream website and advocacy campaign that attempts to influence legislators for greater regulation of farmers and ranchers. In April of this year, Administrator McCarthy acknowledged that the EPA was “distressed by the use of the money and the tone of [the What’s Upstream] campaign” and called for a full review of the use of taxpayer funds for the campaign “before additional monies are spent.” In April, the EPA admitted that it should not have funded a campaign in Washington State known as What's Upstream, due to that campaign’s brazen lobbying of state legislators in contravention of federal law. The What's Upstream campaign, which was wholly funded by the EPA, used grant awards to fund a website, radio ads, and billboards depicting dead fish and polluted water, urging individuals to contact their state legislators and, “hold the agricultural industry to the same level of responsibility as other industries.” A large, red button on the website labeled, “Take action! We’ve made it simple,” allowed visitors to easily send an email to their state legislators advocating for 100-foot stream buffer zones and other policies. An EPA Inspector General’s report from 2014 had warned that the EPA region responsible for awarding the grant had insufficient protections in place to ensure awardees were not using funds for advocacy, propaganda, and/or lobbying efforts. According to a December, 2015 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the EPA violated federal lobbying and advocacy laws by funding social media campaigns supporting EPA’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-lauds-fema-grant-to-restore-undie-road-access-to-jefferson-county-homes-and-trails,"Cantwell Lauds FEMA Grant to Restore Undie Road, Access to Jefferson County Homes and Trails",2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Maria Cantwell,C000127,www.cantwell.senate.gov,,,legacy,"12.06.16 Cantwell Lauds FEMA Grant to Restore Undie Road, Access to Jefferson County Homes and Trails Jefferson County receives more than $1 million to repair damaged road into Olympic National Park WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and local officials announced that Jefferson County can expect $1,042,423 in funds through a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to reimburse the County for recently completed work to relocate a section of Undie Road near the Bogachiel River. Undie Road was severely damaged by a storm in November of 2015.  Since then, access to the road has been highly restricted for public safety, often leaving local residents cut off from their homes.  “This critical funding for relocation of Undie Road will provide safe and adequate access for local residents to the Olympic National Forest. With this funding, Jefferson County does not have to shoulder the cost of repairs alone, helping ensure recreational and economic opportunities for this region,” said Cantwell. Earlier this year, Senator Cantwell helped Jefferson County secure $2 million in Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funds to permanently restore Undie Road at its new location away from the shifting Bogachiel River channel.  Federal Highways will use the FLAP funds in future years to upgrade the emergency bypass road to an improved standard ensuring safe reliable access to the Olympic National Forest and Park for all visitors.   “Jefferson County greatly appreciates Senator Cantwell's assistance in obtaining funds to reroute Undie Road. This allows people access to their homes and maintains recreational and emergency access to Federal lands that small counties like ours can't afford on our own,” said Jefferson County Commissioner David Sullivan. Undie Road is one of the few access points open year-round on the west side of Olympic National Park. The road provides passage to 37.5 miles of trail through the forest, including the popular Bogachiel Rainforest Trail #825, part of the 1,200 mile Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail that runs through Montana, Idaho, and Washington. Olympic National Park is one of the top ten most visited national parks in the country, averaging approximately 3 million visitors a year.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=2288241E-15AC-40EE-9DEE-79860EEBC2B4,"On Senate Floor, Murray Highlights Strong Investments to Tackle Opioid Epidemic, Support Mental Health, & Boost Medical Innovation in Washington State in Bipartisan Public Health Bill",2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Murray secured critical investments and reforms in the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act Bipartisan bill to help tackle opioid epidemic, strengthen mental health care, advance medical innovation, and combat growing threat of “superbugs” Murray say these efforts “will make a real difference for patients and families across the country, now and years into the future.”  Tells the story of WA state families affected by opioid addiction, mental illness  Watch HERE (Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor on the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which invests in a wide range of health priorities, including $1 billion in funding to tackle the opioids epidemic, critical steps to strengthen our mental health care system, a strong investment of $4.8 billion in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and oversight reforms to help protect patients and families from the growing threat of infection from antibiotic-resistant bacteria or “superbugs.”  In order to ensure all Americans benefit from this new research, Senator Murray also pushed for policy changes that will require NIH to improve the inclusion of diverse populations in research, including women, individuals of all ages, members of the LGBT community, and racial and ethnic minorities. The bill also establishes a task force to address gaps in knowledge and research regarding safe and effective therapies for pregnant women and lactating women. In her remarks, Senator Murray highlighted stories of Washington state constituents Penny LeGate, whose daughter Marah died of an overdose at just 19, and Jenny, whose husband tragically took his own life after cycling in and out of the hospital without receiving effective treatment to address his mental illness. Key excerpts from Senator Murray’s remarks: “M. President, I’m proud of our country’s history of life-saving public health initiatives and world-changing medical innovation. From eradicating smallpox to mapping the human genome—we’ve risen to challenges and found ways to combat seemingly unbeatable diseases and public health threats. And there’s no question we are stronger for it as a country. The bill we’re discussing today—while far from perfect—gives us a chance to build on that tradition of leadership and respond to some urgent health challenges we face right now. “I was glad that earlier this year, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to strengthen and improve programs that address opioid addiction. But as Democrats made clear—improving policy wasn’t enough. Tackling this crisis head-on requires putting new investments into these efforts as quickly as possible. That’s what this bill will do. It dedicates $1 billion over two years—above and beyond the budget caps—to help states and communities fight back. And critically, we were able to secure changes that ensure this money will go to states based on where it is most needed. “I’ve also heard from people across Washington state and the country about what our broken mental health system means for them and their families. Our legislation will help expand access to quality care for mental illness and substance use disorders by making it easier for patients to get in touch with providers. It will strengthen coordination between local agencies engaged in crisis intervention. And it will make sure resources are available to strengthen the mental health workforce. “We’ve made enormous progress in understanding and treating cancer. And, we know more about how the brain works and what diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and traumatic injuries do to the human mind. But we can and must do more—and that is exactly what the investments in NIH in this bill will mean. While this isn’t the mandatory funding we’d hoped for, I want to be very clear: this is real funding. $4.8 billion is paid for within this bill, targeted to specific NIH initiatives, and available to appropriators above and beyond the budget caps.  That means as result of this legislation…we will be able to invest billions right away in better understanding, preventing, and treating diseases that have impacted so many families. “As Democrats have made clear throughout this process, upholding the gold standard of FDA approval that patients and families across the country trust is a top priority. In light of the antibiotic-resistant infections linked to contaminated medical devices called duodenoscopes in Seattle and across the country, it was particularly important to me to make sure that this bill strengthened the FDA’s authority to require that medical device manufacturers ensure their products will remain safe after they’ve gone into repeated use at hospitals. “M. President—while this bill is not what I would have written on my own, it is certainly not what my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would have written on their own, either. It locks in critical advancements ahead of the incoming Administration and the partisan approach they are signaling they will take on health care. And it will make a real difference for patients and families across the country, now and years into the future.” Full text of Senator Murray’s remarks:   “Thank you, M. President. “I want to start by expressing my appreciation to all my colleagues who have worked so hard on priorities in this bill: investing in tackling our hardest-to-treat diseases, confronting the opioid epidemic, strengthening mental health care, and advancing medical innovation. “The legislation we’re voting on today takes important steps to improve the care that patients receive, and I’m grateful to every Senator and member of Congress who worked across the aisle to make this legislation the best it could be for those we serve.   “In particular, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Vice President Joe Biden. “Not everyone has the strength to respond to profound personal tragedy by doing even more to protect and help others—but that’s exactly what he’s done. “I know we are all grateful for and inspired by his leadership.  I’m confident it has given a lot of families hope to know Joe Biden is fighting for them and for their loved ones. “And, of course, I want to acknowledge and thank the Chairman of the HELP Committee, Senator Alexander, for his work and leadership on this bill, as well as Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, Ranking Member Frank Pallone, and Congresswoman Diana DeGette. “M. President, I’m proud of our country’s history of life-saving public health initiatives and world-changing medical innovation. “From eradicating smallpox to mapping the human genome—we’ve risen to challenges and found ways to combat seemingly unbeatable diseases and public health threats. “And there’s no question we are stronger for it as a country. “The bill we’re discussing today—while far from perfect—gives us a chance to build on that tradition of leadership and respond to some urgent health challenges we face right now. “One of these is the opioid epidemic. “Like many of my colleagues, I have heard from far too many families and local leaders in my home state about the ways opioid use disorders are ruining lives and tearing families apart. “My constituent Penny LeGate, whose daughter Marah died of an overdose at just 19, said that this crisis “can happen anywhere. It is everywhere.” “And that’s the same thing I’ve heard from other worried parents, sheriffs, and community leaders across Washington state. “I was glad that earlier this year, the Senate passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act to strengthen and improve programs that address opioid addiction. “But as Democrats made clear—improving policy wasn’t enough. “Tackling this crisis head-on requires putting new investments into these efforts as quickly as possible. “That’s what this bill will do. “It dedicates $1 billion over two years—above and beyond the budget caps—to help states and communities fight back. “And critically, we were able to secure changes that ensure this money will go to states based on where it is most needed. “Many of my colleagues were closely involved in this effort, but in particular I want to recognize Senators Whitehouse, Shaheen, Baldwin, Markey, Donnelly, and Manchin. “I’ve also heard from people across Washington state and the country about what our broken mental health system means for them and their families. “One constituent whose experience has really stuck with me is Jenny’s. “Jenny is from Olympia, Washington. She was pregnant when her husband began having severe psychotic episodes. “Jenny says she remembers how striking the differences were between the coordinated, thoughtful care she received as an expecting mother, and the confusing patchwork that she and her husband had to navigate to try to help him get better. “Jenny’s husband cycled in and out of the hospital without effective treatment. Tragically, he took his own life while Jenny was in the NICU with their newborn baby. “Jenny’s story is unfortunately one of many about families struggling to find quality care for loved ones with mental illness. “I’m confident that all of us here today have heard these stories. We know we have got to do better. “Our legislation will help expand access to quality care for mental illness and substance use disorders by making it easier for patients to get in touch with providers. “It will strengthen coordination between local agencies engaged in crisis intervention. “And it will make sure resources are available to strengthen the mental health workforce. “While we weren’t able to resolve the IMD exclusion—a policy that makes it extremely difficult for states to provide inpatient care to those with mental illness and substance use disorders—this bill does change policy so that federal funding will fully support the physical health needs of children in psychiatric facilities. “It also puts in place measures to strengthen our mental health parity laws, to make sure that health insurance will cover mental health and addiction services when it is needed. “Chairman Alexander and I worked with Senators Murphy and Cassidy to move this legislation through the committee this year. “I want to recognize their commitment and leadership on this issue in particular. “M. President, in addition to investing in tackling the opioid epidemic and putting in place desperately needed reforms to our mental health care system, this legislation makes real investments in tackling the hardest-to-treat diseases. “According to the National Cancer Institute at the NIH, 40 percent of men and women in the United States will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lives. “Right now, more than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s. “These are truly staggering statistics—and they represent enormous hardship, suffering, and loss in nearly every family and community. “We’ve made enormous progress in understanding and treating cancer. “And, we know more about how the brain works and what diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and traumatic injuries do to the human mind. “But we can and must do more—and that is exactly what the investments in NIH in this bill will mean. “While this isn’t the mandatory funding we’d hoped for, I want to be very clear: this is real funding. “$4.8 billion is paid for within this bill, targeted to specific NIH initiatives, and available to appropriators above and beyond the budget caps. “That means as result of this legislation—and thanks in particular to the leadership and vision of Vice President Biden—we will be able to invest billions right away in better understanding, preventing, and treating diseases that have impacted so many families. “And this bill also ensures that those investments in research will benefit all Americans including women, children, LGBT individuals, and racial and ethnic minorities. “This bill also puts $500 million—above and beyond the budget caps— toward helping the FDA meet the same high standards of patient and consumer safety in the face of increasing demands on the agency and new responsibilities under this legislation. “As Democrats have made clear throughout this process, upholding the gold standard of FDA approval that patients and families across the country trust is a top priority. “In light of the antibiotic-resistant infections linked to contaminated medical devices called duodenoscopes in Seattle and across the country, it was particularly important to me to make sure that this bill strengthened the FDA’s authority to require that medical device manufacturers ensure their products will remain safe after they’ve gone into repeated use at hospitals. “We also fought hard to move many of the other FDA reform polices included in this bill in the direction of greater patient and consumer safety. “In particular, I was pleased we were able to take out legislation that would have watered down transparency around drug and device industry payments to doctors. “And I appreciate that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle were ultimately willing to work with us to make these changes. “Looking ahead to next year, I plan to monitor implementation of this bill extremely closely with a focus on ensuring: the incoming Administration adheres to the policies laid out in this bill, and upholds the FDA’s responsibility to patients and families to ensure our medicines and treatments are safe and effective. “This standard has been critical to fueling biomedical innovation in America for over half a century. “And, while I am disappointed that Republicans were unwilling to take action in this legislation to tackle the high costs of prescription drugs, I’m glad we were able to remove expensive provisions that could have driven up costs for consumers even more.  “M. President—while this bill is not what I would have written on my own, it is certainly not what my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would have written on their own, either. “It locks in critical advancements ahead of the incoming Administration and the partisan approach they are signaling they will take on health care. “And it will make a real difference for patients and families across the country, now and years into the future. “Before I wrap up, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary time and effort put in by all of the staffs.  “There have been many late nights and weekends for our staffs, not just this year but last year as well on this bill, and I want to take a moment to recognize their extraordinary efforts and sacrifice.   “On Senator Alexander’s staff, I want to particularly acknowledge and thank his Staff Director David Cleary, as well as Mary-Sumpter Lapinski and Grace Stuntz, his health and FDA policy leads, who worked closely with my staff over many months. “I also want to acknowledge and thank Margaret Coulter, Brett Meeks, Laura Pence, Melissa Pfaff, Kara Townshend, and Elizabeth Wroe for your efforts on this bill. “In the House, I want to recognize and thank the staff of Congressman Pallone, including his staff director Jeff Carroll, along with Tiffany Guarascio his health policy lead.  And I want to thank the staff of Chairman Upton, particularly his staff director Gary Andres, and Paul Edattel, his health policy lead.  “In addition, I want to thank the staff of my Members on the HELP Committee, who worked so closely with my staff to make this a reality.  In particular, I want to thank David Bonine and Joe Dunn with Congressman Murphy. “And I want to acknowledge the assistance of Amy Rosenbaum, Jeanne Lambrew, Kate Mevis, and Dr. Francis Collins, among many others within the administration, who helped make today possible.       “And finally, M. President, I want to close by thanking my staff.  I can’t say enough about my incredible staff who have put their time and talents into this bill from the word go.  In particular, I want to thank my Staff Director Evan Schatz and my Health Policy Director Nick Bath for their extraordinary efforts on this legislation.  Thank you. “I also want to acknowledge the hard work of Remy Brim, Julie Tierney, Andi Fristedt, Colin Goldfinch, Melanie Rainer, Madeleine Pannell, Megan Howard, Elizabeth Wagner, Wade Ackerman, Kalah Auchincloss, Jane Bigham, Helen Hare, Eli Zupnick, John Righter, Nick McLane, and my chief of staff, Mike Spahn.  I noticed your long hours and unwavering commitment on this legislation. “I urge my colleagues to join the House, which voted overwhelmingly in support of this bill, 392-26, and to join me in sending this legislation to President Obama’s desk. “Thank you and I yield the floor.” ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=72A426F4-5367-4F6A-B13E-16C6DC60DF3C,Top Dem signals likely opposition to Sessions nomination,2016-12-06,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) is signaling she'll likely oppose Sen. Jeff Sessions's attorney general nomination next year.  The Washington senator — who will be the No. 3 Senate Democrat in 2017 — said the Senate rejected Sessions three decades ago because of civil rights and racism allegations and ""those same concerns linger."" ""I’ve seen him vote against the Violence Against Women Act, the Voting Rights Act, and hate crimes legislation,"" Murray said in a Facebook post. ""And for these reasons and more, I have major concerns with his nomination to this position and am not sure what I could hear in this confirmation process that would allow me to support it.""  Sessions has denied the accusations that he called an African-American assistant U.S. attorney “boy” or that he called the NAACP and the American Civil Liberties Union “un-American.” He also supported the Voting Rights Act in 2006 and Eric Holder's nomination to be the first African-American attorney general.   Echoing larger concerns from Democrats, Murray added on Monday that the attorney general must be able be willing to defend the rights of all Americans equally.  ""We need to do everything we can to fight for an Attorney General who is truly committed to standing up for and protecting the rights of everyone in this country,"" she said. ""Given Senator Sessions’s record, it is difficult to see how he could pass this most basic, most essential, test. Murray also pointed to Sessions's immigration stances as a cause for concern, questioning if he would use his post to ""pursue his anti-immigration agenda.""  Sessions is well-liked among his Senate colleagues. Republicans signaled last week that they wanted to quickly move his nomination through the upper chamber next year.   Democrats are pledging to give Sessions a thorough grilling, though they face an uphill battle to stop his nomination.  Sessions will only need support from a simple majority of senators to clear the upper chamber. Republicans are expected to have 52 seats next year, and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has said he will support Sessions.  Five former attorneys general and five former deputy attorneys general, all of whom worked for Republican administrations, backed Sessions’s nomination in a letter Monday to Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the two top members of the Judiciary Committee next year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://dennyheck.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/kennewick-man-skeleton-closer-to-tribal-return,Kennewick Man skeleton closer to tribal return,2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Denny Heck,H001064,dennyheck.house.gov,,,legacy,"Legislation that would return the 8,400-year-old bones of Kennewick Man to Columbia Basin tribes could become law in the coming weeks. The legislation proposed by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., in August 2015 made it over an important hurdle on Monday. The legislation was added to the Water Resources Development Act in April, improving its chances of passing. But the act needed to make it out of a conference committee — in which House and Senate officials reconcile differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill and agree on what would remain in the bill — by the end of the session. Monday, officials released the reconciled bill, renamed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. After compromises elsewhere in the act, the bill still includes the legislation to return Kennewick Man’s skeleton to tribes. The bill will require a vote of the House, which is expected in the next few days, followed by a vote of the Senate. “This is about doing right by the descendants of the Ancient One,” Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a statement. “After more than 20 years of debate, I’m proud to see this legislation so close to finally bringing the Ancient One home.” Because of uncertainty that the legislation would proceed, Northwest tribes have been preparing a case to claim the bones under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The bones of Kennewick Man, called the Ancient One by the tribes, were found along the Columbia River in the summer of 1996 on Army Corps of Engineers land in Kennewick. The skeleton is one of the oldest and most complete sets of bones found in North America. Area tribes immediately claimed the bones, but a federal judge, swayed by an analysis of the shape of Kennewick Man’s skull, determined that the skeleton was not Native American and allowed scientists to study the bones. Advances in DNA analysis led to a finding by a global team of scientists, including specialists in ancient DNA analysis at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, that the Ancient One’s DNA is more closely related to contemporary Native Americans than any their living population. The contemporary Native Americans, include Colville members, volunteered DNA for the study. Although DNA from other Columbia Basin tribes claiming the bones was not tested, the tribes have long intermarried. Shortly after the results of the June study were announced, the Wanapum Band and the Yakama, Nez Perce, Umatilla and Colville tribes again called for the return of the bones. As Murray worked in the Senate, Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., moved to get legislation that would return the bones to the tribes included in the House version of the Water Resources Development Act. Rep. Denny Heck, D-Wash., also has worked on legislation. “Two decades after his discovery, it is finally time to return the human remains to the Columbia Basin tribes, where he belongs,” Newhouse said in a statement Monday. The legislation would require the Army Corps to transfer the Ancient One’s bones to the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, which has regulations in place to repatriate tribal remains. The tribes already have selected an undisclosed site for the burial. The bones now are being held at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Washington in Seattle. If the legislation is not approved as expected, the tribes are preparing to claim them through the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, or NAGPRA. The Corps already has taken the first step under NAGPRA, determining the DNA evidence correctly determined Kennewick Man is Native American. The area tribes would next need to show a cultural affiliation with the Ancient One. “Just like anyone else, we want to bury our grandfather or grandmother,” said Kate Valdez, tribal historic preservation officer for the Yakima Nation, during Archaeological Days at the Wanapum Heritage Center in October.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://larsen.house.gov/press-release/applauding-resources-international-partners-larsen-vows-defend-alliances-%E2%80%9Cno-matter,"Applauding Resources for International Partners, Larsen Vows to Defend Alliances No Matter What Comes Out of This Next Administration",2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Rick Larsen,L000560,larsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02), released the following statement after the House voted on Friday 354–34 to provide $3.4 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative and $350 million to train and equip Ukrainian security forces as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017: “NATO is not a protection racket – it is the most successful alliance in military history – and the incoming administration would do well to learn from this vote,” said Larsen, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. “The resources included in this legislation reaffirm the United States’ commitment to working with international partners who share our values – including our NATO allies – a commitment I will continue to defend no matter what comes out of this next Administration.” The $3.4 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative will increase military presence in Europe, expand training exercises with NATO allies and partners, and improve the U.S.’ ability to respond in Europe. Budgeted programs include presence of an Army Armored Brigade Combat Team, Baltic Air Policing, and building partner capacity through increased military-to-military engagement. The NDAA also includes $350 million for security assistance to Ukraine – which faces increased aggression from Russia and Russia-backed separatists. This assistance includes equipment, intelligence support, and training programs, with half of the funding reserved until Ukraine undertakes defense institutional reforms. Earlier this year, Larsen forcefully defended the United States’ commitment to NATO after then-Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump questioned the United States’ existing agreements with and commitment to defending its NATO allies. A full summary of the NDAA is available here. The bill now moves to the Senate for a vote.   ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://adamsmith.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/smith-statement-on-nomination-of-dr-ben-carson-as-secretary-of-housing,Smith Statement on Nomination of Dr. Ben Carson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Adam Smith,S000510,adamsmith.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Office Information District Office Information Constituent Services Community Outreach: Federal Way The Federal Way Library Constituent Services Community Outreach: Kent The Kent Regional Library Constituent Services Community Outreach: Bellevue The Lake Hills Library Constituent Services Community Outreach: Mercer Island Mercer Island Library Constituent Services Community Outreach: Beacon Hill Seattle Public Library: Beacon Hill Branch Constituent Services Community Outreach: Seattle The Good Will Industries",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delbene-marks-computer-science-education-week,DelBene Marks Computer Science Education Week,2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today marked the start of Computer Science Education Week, which provides students with computer science education opportunities, such as the Hour of Code. “Ensuring all students have access to computer science learning opportunities is critical to preparing them for the careers of tomorrow,” DelBene said. “As a former entrepreneur in technology, I know the future of innovation in the United States is going to rely in part on talented coders getting engaged early on in their education. That’s why it is so important that we expand access to next-generation learning opportunities through Computer Science Education Week and the Hour of Code.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that in 2022, there will be roughly 10 million jobs in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Of those jobs, half are expected to be in computing and information technology. National Computer Science Education Week was established in 2009 to promote more opportunity for students to participate in computer science activities. DelBene and Rep. Susan Brooks (IN-05) introduced H.Res. 554, supporting the goals and ideals of Computer Science Education Week. And in September, DelBene helped introduce the Computer Science for All Act (H.R. 6095) to authorize $250 million to ensure all students can learn the critical computer science skills needed in the 21st century economy. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1732,DelBene Marks Computer Science Education Week,2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Suzan DelBene,D000617,delbene.house.gov,,,legacy,"Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today marked the start of Computer Science Education Week, which provides students with computer science education opportunities, such as the Hour of Code. Ensuring all students have access to computer science learning opportunities is critical to preparing them for the careers of tomorrow, DelBene said. As a former entrepreneur in technology, I know the future of innovation in the United States is going to rely in part on talented coders getting engaged early on in their education. That's why it is so important that we expand access to next-generation learning opportunities through Computer Science Education Week and the Hour of Code. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that in 2022, there will be roughly 10 million jobs in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Of those jobs, half are expected to be in computing and information technology. National Computer Science Education Week was established in 2009 to promote more opportunity for students to participate in computer science activities. DelBene and Rep. Susan Brooks (IN-05) introduced H.Res. 554, supporting the goals and ideals of Computer Science Education Week. And in September, DelBene helped introduce the Computer Science for All Act (H.R. 6095) to authorize $250 million to ensure all students can learn the critical computer science skills needed in the 21st century economy. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398817,Jaime Herrera Beutler Applauds Quick Installation of Marker Balls on Columbia Gorge Transmission Wire,2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Jaime Herrera Beutler,H001056,herrerabeutler.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler applauded the Bonneville Power Administration’s quick implementation of visibility markers on transition lines suspended over the Columbia River Gorge. share: f t Today, Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler applauded the Bonneville Power Administration’s quick implementation of visibility markers on transition lines suspended over the Columbia River Gorge. Community leaders asked Jaime to intervene because the new transmission wires were not marked and posed immediate danger in the navigable air space frequently used by military, training, firefighting, and personal aircraft. The wires were not marked because of an error where the vertical distance of the lines over the river was not taken into account. Jaime called together the Federal Aviation Administration, Bonneville Power Administration and community leaders at a meeting on July 18. During the meeting, Jaime received a commitment from the FAA and BPA that they would resolve the issue in a timely manner and provide regular progress reports to the community and involved stakeholders. “I applaud the BPA for making it safer to fly through the Columbia River Gorge – this measure should give pilots time to maneuver safely and make sure catastrophic incidents don’t happen,” said Jaime. “Unmarked wires are the most common fatal hazard for pilots, and we have aircraft constantly flying through the channel conducting military training, fighting forest fires and for other reasons. I appreciate the willingness of BPA to respond to my call to act quickly on behalf of our communities, and pilots who use this airspace.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-newhouse-sen-murray-rep-heck-announce-major-step-forward-effort,"Rep. Newhouse, Sen. Murray, Rep. Heck Announce a Major Step Forward in Effort to Return Ancient Remains To Columbia Basin Tribes",2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Republican,House,WA,Dan Newhouse,N000189,newhouse.house.gov,,,legacy,"Several Columbia Basin tribes have called for the Ancient One to be returned to his descendants WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), and Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10) announced that a provision in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act would start the process to return the Ancient One to his rightful resting place. Newhouse, Murray, and Heck have fought to return the remains of the Ancient One, also known as Kennewick Man, to Columbia Basin tribes since Senator Murray introduced the bill in 2015. Companion legislation was introduced by Reps. Newhouse and Heck in the House of Representatives in 2015. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to consider the legislation first. Experts believe the remains, discovered in 1996 on federal land near the Columbia River, are at least 8,400 years old, making the Ancient One among the oldest and most complete skeletons found in North America. In June 2015, new genetic evidence determined the remains were closer to modern Native Americans than any other population worldwide.  “Two decades after his discovery, it is finally time to return the human remains to the Columbia Basin tribes where he belongs,” said Rep. Newhouse. “I was pleased to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate on this bipartisan effort to repatriate the Ancient One.” “This is about doing right by the descendants of the Ancient One,” Senator Murray said. “After more than twenty years of debate, I’m proud to see this legislation so close to finally bringing the Ancient One home, and I will do everything I can to see it over the finish line.” “For two decades, the Native peoples of the Columbia River Basin have strived to rebury their ancestor,” Rep. Heck said. “The inclusion of this important provision in the final water infrastructure agreement honors the rights and traditions of these Tribes. We are close to finally returning the Ancient One home.” The provision championed by Senator Murray in the Senate and by Representatives Heck and Newhouse in the House transfers the Ancient One from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, which has existing, effective, and efficient regulations in place to carry out repatriation of remains such as these, to tribes. Several area tribes have joined together in calling for the Ancient One’s return to his descendants, to be laid to rest in an undisclosed location.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=3E5AF87D-11E3-44EE-974D-8DECEB084DB4,"HANFORD: Murray, Cantwell, Wyden Call on Top Energy Official to Immediately Implement New Worker Safety Recommendations",2016-12-05,2016,2016-12,Democrat,House,WA,Patty Murray,M001111,www.murray.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senators to Energy Secretary Moniz: “Nothing less than a complete commitment to safety at Hanford is acceptable.”  (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) urged the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to take immediate action to protect workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state by implementing new safety recommendations. The recommendations were released this week after a months-long review to address chemical vapor exposures at the Hanford tank farms by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a federal agency that is independent from DOE. NIOSH proposed recommendations within all four areas it assessed, including exposure assessment, exposure control, safety and health management, and medical. The NIOSH review included all workers and organizations that work within, or near, the Hanford tank farms. In the letter to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, the Senators wrote: “With the Review in hand it is now critical that DOE take swift and definitive actions to implement the recommendations. In addressing the recommendations, we request that DOE develop an implementation plan which includes a clear schedule and the funding necessary to carry them out successfully. DOE should also work to institutionalize the improvements in workforce safety that result from the NIOSH Review to ensure that program changes continue from contractor to contractor… We owe the men and women who work in the tank farms the highest safety standards to protect them from these hazards.” Read the full letter HERE. Read the NIOSH report HERE.  ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z