In the News

SEATTLE — Construction is everywhere in our region. But a problem that many companies are having is finding qualified construction workers. A program that started about 18 months ago is hoping to give potential construction workers a leg up on the competition. It’s called the Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Education, or PACE, program, and several people said it’s changing lives along… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) has reintroduced the State Marijuana And Regulatory Tolerance (SMART) Enforcement Act (H.R. 3534). This bill prohibits state-sanctioned marijuana consumers and businesses from being prosecuted by the federal government. By a margin of more than 6 to 1, Americans say that individual states should be able to make their own laws… Read more »

It’s a chilling snapshot. A week’s worth of data that is both frightening and illuminating. Working with hospital emergency rooms, fire and police departments, ambulance services, a needle exchange program and other sources, the Snohomish Health District collected reports on the number of heroin- and other opioid-related overdoses in the county from July 17 to 23. During that… Read more »

When Pearl Harbor was bombed on Dec. 7, 1941 and brought the United States into World War II, Ann Bjorneby and a couple of her girlfriends wanted to do their part to help with the war effort. But living in the small town of North Buena Vista, Iowa meant no real opportunities to contribute. So the group put the names of three big cities — St. Louis, Detroit and Omaha, Neb. — into a hat… Read more »

Proposed cuts to U.S. rural business grants has some Whatcom County farmers worried about what that will mean for the local economy. The cuts being proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration include eliminating funding for the value-added producer grant, which goes directly to farmers for economic development, said David Bauermeister, executive director at… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) has reintroduced the Birth Control Privacy Act to ensure women’s personal medical decisions about contraception are not disclosed to their employers – preventing serious exposures of personal health data and protecting the financial security of millions of women and their families. “If a woman stops filling her prescription for birth control, her boss… Read more »

What better place to host a media event between startup companies and one of the Puget Sound region's top legislators than a hub for entrepreneurial growth and activity named "Galvanize?" To celebrate national startup day, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene met with a select group of Seattle-based entrepreneurs and startup founders at Galvanize Seattle's offices. After a brief tour of… Read more »

While confusion and chaos reign in just about every corner of the White House and the nervous cannabis community is forced to hang on to every word of pot-hating Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a woman’s voice rises above the noise—a Congresswoman that is. Representative Suzan DelBene from Washington State has reintroduced a bill aimed at protecting states rights to… Read more »

One of our nation’s greatest strengths is the entrepreneurial spirit of its people. Throughout our history, Americans from all walks of life have always strived to turn their ideas and dreams into thriving businesses, making significant contributions to the economy along the way. Today, we see startups across the country making a real difference in the lives of Americans everywhere. On… Read more »

A Democratic bill intended to spur experimentation with health insurance and other portable benefits for gig economy workers has gained the support of a Republican senator, sparking optimism that other GOP lawmakers could follow. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) signed on as the only co-sponsor for the Portable Benefits for Independent Workers Pilot Program Act ( S. 1251, H.R. 2685). The… Read more »