Dear Friend, Our beautiful state has 18 national parks and historic sites, attracting more than 7.5 million visitors last year. The outdoor recreation industry here in Washington supports more than 200,000 jobs and contributes more than $26 billion each year in economic activity. And our national parks, including the beautiful North Cascades National Park in the First Congressional District, provide many invaluable opportunities for education and recreation. As someone who loves the outdoors, I ...
Read more
Dear Friend, Every year at this time, millions of Americans are filing their tax returns, and it’s our job to ensure that as the criminals get smarter, the IRS has the resources they need to protect taxpayers’ identities. This week, the House of Representatives passed two bipartisan bills I helped introduce to do just that. These two pieces of legislation are part of a group of bills passed in the House this week to modernize the IRS. As a former tech CEO, I was astounded to learn that the IRS i...
Read more
Dear Friend, With more than 200,000 veterans in Washington state who served during the Vietnam War, I’m working in conjunction with the Vietnam War Commemoration as part of a nationwide effort to thank and honor all Vietnam veterans and their families at Vietnam War 50th Commemoration pinning ceremonies to publicly recognize their service and sacrifice for our country. If you or a family member are an eligible participant and would like a Vietnam Veteran lapel pin, I’d love for you to join me on...
Read more
Dear Friend, I sat down with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, who were visiting the Capitol to ask lawmakers for action. Now, not after the next tragedy, is the time for Congress to act to protect our communities from this senseless cycle of gun violence. This week, I helped introduce the Recognizing Gun Violence as a Public Health Epidemic Act, which would end the ban on federally funded research into gun violence. I’ve also cosponsored legislation that would strengthen the Nation...
Read more
Dear Friend, Ensuring people have access to local and nutritious foods is an absolute necessity. Recently, I met with local nutrition advocates and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to talk about the importance of protecting nutrition programs in the upcoming farm bill. It’s important to remember that these investments not only have an incredibly positive effect on our economy, but also on people’s lives. During negotiations of the last farm bill, I successfully added a...
Read more
Dear Friend, On Monday, I visited local elementary schools to join students in crafting Valentine’s Day cards as part of the Valentines for Veterans program (photos below). The creativity from the kids at Rose Hill and Benjamin Rush elementary schools was on full display – they made more than 300 handmade cards! The Valentines for Veterans program is a wonderful opportunity for local students to make a connection with veterans, and thank them for their service. The program allows us to show our ...
Read more
Dear Friend, Last week, the President signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2018, which included part of my bipartisan bill to close a legal loophole that denies justice for some survivors of child abuse. I heard firsthand from survivor Pennie Saum, who as a child suffered abuses at the hands of her father, an Army veteran. Her father was convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison, and Pennie and her brother were awarded a civil judgment for $5 million in damages. ...
Read more
Dear Friend, Growing up, my parents owned a toy store, so I know how important holiday shopping can be for a small retailer. Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity to show our support for local shops. That’s why I marked Small Business Saturday by holiday shopping at locally-owned small businesses in historic Snohomish to support the First District’s local economy. According to the most recent data from the Small Business Administration, Washington’s small businesses make up 98 percent o...
Read more
Dear Friend, As your representative in Congress, one of the most important aspects of my job is to stay informed of the thoughts and opinions of my constituents, and I appreciate the time you take to share them with me. That’s why I’m hosting a series of community forums in Skagit County on Saturday, November 18. I will be in Concrete, Lyman and Big Lake. I hope to see you there! As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you...
Read more
Dear Friend, Right now, too many veterans are struggling to find jobs. As workers face significant challenges adapting to a rapidly changing economy, it is essential we improve 21st century employment opportunities for those transitioning back into civilian life. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 370,000 unemployed veterans are currently struggling to find work, including 139,000 veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. That’s why I recently reintroduced ...
Read more
