The United States always has been, and always will be, a nation of immigrants. That fact is central to who we are -- as each generation leaves our country better off for the next, we do so not just for our children, but for newcomers, too.
Despite that rich tradition, Congress has not updated our immigration policies in three decades. In that time, visa backlogs grew to appalling lengths,… Read more »
BURLINGTON — More educational offerings and support services for beginning farmers will be added to the Viva Farms program in Burlington as a result of a substantial federal grant from the Department of Agriculture.
As part of $3.2 million in federal Specialty Crop Block Grants recently provided to the state, Viva Farms received $115,226 to fund a case study of the Viva model and… Read more »
DARRINGTON -- Owners of a Darrington river-rafting business find themselves beached until the federal government is motoring at full throttle again.
Brian Pernick and his sister, Sarah, were in the process of obtaining a new use permit from the U.S. Forest Service to provide whitewater rafting and scenic float trips on the Sauk River.
But the agency shuttered its doors Oct. 1 when the… Read more »
SEATTLE — Most crab fishermen from Washington are already in Alaska preparing for the start of the season in just ten days, but if the government shutdown drags on, they’ll be forced to stay docked.
“The problem is the federal government is the one that actually issues the permits,” said Mark Gleason, who represents the industry. “The people in charge of… Read more »
Despite the government shutdown, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene is working to get the House of Representatives to move forward with reforming U.S. immigration laws. DelBene is co-sponsoring a new reform bill that would secure the borders and provide a path to citizenship for immigrants already in the country. She says immigration is a big issue here in Whatcom County.
The senate passed a… Read more »
U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene rolled out a new immigration bill Wednesday, attempting to restart a move toward comprehensive reform that has stalled in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
The bill, called the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, largely mirrors a measure passed by the Senate earlier this year. It would, among other… Read more »
Freshman U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA, 1) is one of five house Democrats trying to revive immigration reform. In June, with 14 Republicans on board, the senate passed an immigration reform bill 68-32 that would have put billions of dollars toward beefing up border security along with earned-path-to-citizenship guidelines. However, a bipartisan companion house effort fell… Read more »
OLYMPIA -- Five members of Washington state's 12-member congressional delegation have promised to give up their pay during the federal government shutdown that began Tuesday.
Reps. Derek Kilmer and Suzan DelBene, both Democrats, and Republican Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Doc Hastings, have all confirmed that they will forgo their salary for the duration of the shutdown.… Read more »
SEATTLE — On the first full day of the government shutdown, the parties in Washington, D.C., don’t seem any closer to a solution to the standoff.
Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., and Dave Reichert, R-Wash., have been in the thick of things in Congress for the past several days. Each has voted with their respective political parties throughout this ordeal, and at this point… Read more »
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene represents Washington's 1st Congressional District and gives her thoughts on the government shutdown to KIRO Radio's Dave Ross and Linda Thomas.
To listen to the entire interview, click HERE.
Read more »
