Dear friend, Businesses and families in Whatcom County, particularly the isolated community of Point Roberts, were praying that this week would bring news that the Canada-U.S. border would begin to reopen. For more than a year, our border communities have been cut off from Canadian tourism and the seasonal commerce they rely on. However, these hopes were dashed when the Biden administration decided to unilaterally extend the border closure until August 21. I am deeply disappointed by this short-...
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Dear friend, Help is here for millions of families starting today. Thanks to the historic expansion of the Child Tax Credit that I championed in the American Rescue Plan, monthly checks of up to $300 per child will begin reaching parents today and continue through this December. If you have children, chances are high that you qualify for these monthly payments. The expanded Child Tax Credit is expected to reach 39 million households, benefiting nearly 90% of all American children. Most families...
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Dear friend, As we begin rebuilding our economy and middle class after the pandemic, I am fighting for critical infrastructure projects in our community that will make our day-to-day lives easier and create good-paying jobs. This week, the House took an important step towards reimagining our nation’s roads, bridges, rail, transit, and water infrastructure by passing the INVEST in America Act and sending it to the Senate. This package would invest over $715 billion over five years into long-over...
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Dear friend, In less than one month, nearly 90% of families will begin receiving monthly Child Tax Credit payments. The one-year expansion of the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan provides qualifying families with monthly payments of up to $300 per child under 6 and up to $250 per child 6-17 years old. In Washington state, these payments are estimated to reach 1.4 million Washington children. These payments can help parents pay rent, secure child care, buy groceries, and afford other...
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Dear friend, The pandemic has required us all to make difficult sacrifices to protect our communities. This is especially true for our essential home care workers, who have been a lifeline to our loved ones during this crisis, helping them eat, bathe, take their medications, and go about their lives. Last week, I met with three SEIU 775 caregivers working in Washington, who shared their stories, successes, and struggles with me. We discussed the challenges that the pandemic has imposed on carin...
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Dear friend, Our state has 416 bridges and over 5,400 miles of highway that are in poor condition. This is indicative of a larger infrastructure crisis around the country with crumbling roads, bridges, airports, and railways. We rely on these structures every day to commute to work, get our kids to school, and live our lives. This is unacceptable and it is time for Congress to make a historic investment in our infrastructure that will help get Americans back to work and rebuild our local econom...
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Dear friend, Every day, our service members make enormous sacrifices to protect our nation, our democracy, and our freedom. On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to those we have lost in service to our country and send our love and appreciation to the Gold Star families and communities who hold them closest in memory. While we can never repay our fallen service members for all they did for our country, we must always remember them. Over the years, Washingtonians have graciously shared stories of their...
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Dear friend, The American Rescue Plan included an important provision I championed that expanded the Child Tax Credit for one year to provide up to $3,000 per child per year and $3,600 for kids under 6 to qualifying lower- and middle-income families. Part of this benefit will be issued monthly starting in July through December. These payments can be used for monthly expenses including paying rent, buying groceries, and affording child care. To make sure your family gets the benefit you’re entitl...
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Dear friend, This week, Washington state launched ShakeAlert, an early warning system that will help our communities in the event of an earthquake. The alert system will send real-time information straight to your phone about the magnitude and location of an earthquake, so you have time to prepare and take protective actions. Most phones already have Wireless Emergency Alerts or “Emergency Alerts” set up. You can check that these alerts are turned on in your phone’s settings—otherwise, there’s n...
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Dear friend, Many Americans tuned in this week to watch President Biden’s speech to Congress. The event gave us a chance to take stock of what the new administration has accomplished in its first 100 days and all we still need to do. Here are some highlights: Providing small businesses and families with the support they need to get through this crisis by passing the American Rescue Plan. The law expanded the Child Tax Credit to provide families with up to $300 per child per month, established ne...
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