eNewsletters

Dear Friend, Today marks the 100th Birthday of the National Park Service (NPS). As someone who loves the outdoors, I know firsthand that those of us in the Pacific Northwest live in one of the most pristine and breathtaking areas in the entire country. Washington state’s national parks, including the beautiful North Cascades National Park in the First District, provide many invaluable opportunities for education and recreation. Outdoor recreation is a crucial part of our local communities, suppo... Read more

Dear Friend, Congress needs to overcome its habit of partisan bickering and politicking. We should be working on improving the lives of each and every American. In Congress, I’m fighting to give everyone the opportunity to succeed because there are still too many Americans who can't find full-time employment and too many families who are struggling to make ends meet. We can encourage economic growth by investing in education, research and infrastructure; equipping our workers with the skills the... Read more

Dear Friend, Recently, I introduced bipartisan legislation with Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Derek Kilmer and Glenn Thompson to open up new markets and create jobs for rural economies by providing research, assistance and incentives for the construction of tall wood buildings throughout the United States. The Timber Innovation Act (H.R. 5628) would spur the use of tall wood building construction – those above 85 feet or seven stories – through the use of less expensive and less carbon-intensive... Read more

Dear Friend, The minimum wage in America has remained stagnant for far too long, while the cost of living has continued to rise. July 24 marks the seventh anniversary of the last federal minimum wage increase, to just $7.25 an hour. Millions of Americans work 40 hours or more every week and still can’t earn a living wage. This is unacceptable. We cannot achieve strong economic growth unless all working families have the opportunity to succeed. As a nation, we must work together to ensure minimum... Read more

Dear Friend, As you may know, the Zika virus has spread rapidly around the world, and we are now seeing increased cases here in the United States. It’s critical that Congress act now to address this serious public health threat. Earlier this year, I called on House leaders to hold a vote on President Obama’s full emergency funding request to combat the Zika outbreak. But time is running out with only three legislative days left before the House adjourns for the summer. We can and must provide th... Read more

Dear Friend, As someone with two decades of experience in the technology sector, I can tell you our government’s use of technology could and should be more efficient, flexible and customer-centric. If you’ve ever needed help from a federal agency and looked for resources online, you know this problem all too well. Whether it’s applying for student loans or signing up for Medicare online, too often taxpayers encounter an unfriendly and confusing user-platform and come away with an unsatisfactory ... Read more

Dear Friend, During a month when we celebrate the progress that LGBT Americans have made, the recent shooting in Orlando was a horrific attack on the freedoms we all hold dear. As a way to stand up to the hatred and intolerance we saw, I’m encouraging everyone join me in observing LGBT Equality Day this Sunday, June 26th. I have introduced legislation to designate June 26th as LGBT Equality Day to commemorate the anniversary of three different landmark Supreme Court rulings that helped eliminate... Read more

Dear Friend, As a mother of two and a member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition, I understand that a nourishing diet is crucial to ensuring the healthy development of our nation’s children. Studies show that a child’s daily nutritional intake has a direct effect on their academic performance. A balanced diet will benefit a child in their physical, mental and social development in addition to reducing their risk of health complications later in life. I am pleased our country has t... Read more

Dear Friend, The Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ), a fault line stretching 700 miles across the Pacific Northwest, has been building pressure for more than 300 years and has the potential to produce a massive tsunami and earthquake. This week, the Pacific Northwest will undergo the largest earthquake and tsunami exercise, simulating a complete rupture of the CSZ due to a 9.0 earthquake. This exercise – called “Cascadia Rising” – will test our region’s emergency response capabilities in the event o... Read more

Dear Friend, The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) is a magnificent and unique voyage, spanning 2,650 miles of mountains, forests and desert through northern California, Oregon and Washington into Canada. Unfortunately, hikers seeking to traverse the PCT from its northern most point on the Canadian side of the border are unable to legally do so because there is currently no U.S. Port of Entry there. While hikers traveling north can legally cross the border by obtaining permission from th... Read more