Jobs and the Economy

SEATTLE – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today visited the Seattle YWCA, a recipient of part of the $22 million job-training pilot program she helped secure for Washington state. DelBene met with participants who could benefit from the pilot program. “Helping people find good-paying, long-term employment in a high-demand industry is the best way to ensure everyone has access to economic opportunities,” DelBene said. “These funds will help those on nutrition assistance become self-sufficient... Read more

SEATTLE – Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) met with outdoor recreation stakeholders to discuss the positive economic effect this industry has had on Washington. “The Pacific Northwest is home to some of our nation’s most beautiful national forests, parks, mountains and waterways. As someone who loves hiking and the outdoors, I know firsthand that the natural environment that surrounds us is what makes living in the Pacific Northwest so special,” DelBene ... Read more

Dear Friend, This summer, I had the opportunity to visit Darrington. Mayor Dan Rankin and Steve Kuennen from the U.S. Forest Service took me on a tour of the beautiful Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest to talk about this year’s fire season. I was also able to enjoy a sunny afternoon at the annual Timberbowl Rodeo. It was great to be back among this community - and to see the progress that’s been made since the tragic landslide. Darrington and the surrounding Snohomish County areas continue t... Read more

Today, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Scott Peters (CA-52), and other Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives who recently voted to grant President Obama Trade Promotion Authority (TPA), called on U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman to secure a strong and fully enforceable Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) environment chapter. In a letter to Ambassador Froman, the lawmakers highlight that the TPP is an opportunity to raise environmental... Read more

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) helped introduce legislation today that allows American companies that have trade secrets stolen by foreign entities to sue in federal court. “Protecting the ideas of American companies from foreign thieves will ensure an equal playing field for all businesses and will help save U.S. jobs,” DelBene said. “Through my work in the technology sector and as an entrepreneur, I learned the value of trade secrets. Nearly all aspects of a company’s operations – such a... Read more

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) submitted the following statement today at the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet’s hearing on the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to Internet-connected devices and systems from kitchen appliances, to roadways, wristbands and cars. DelBene is the co-chair of the Congressional IoT Caucus, which focuses on educating policymakers about IoT innovations to inform well-crafted public policy: “When ... Read more

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) issued the following statement today, on the sixth anniversary of the last federal minimum wage increase to $7.25 an hour: “The minimum wage in America has remained stagnant for far too long, while the cost of living has steadily increased across the country,” DelBene said. “Too many Americans work 40 hours or more every week and still can’t earn a living wage. We cannot achieve strong economic growth unless all working families have the opportunity to succee... Read more

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today helped introduce the Equality Act, a comprehensive bill that aims to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. “Our country had a historic Pride Month, with the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling on marriage equality that finally put our country on the right side of history,” DelBene said. “But even as same-sex couples enjoy the right to marry in all 50 states, there is much more work to do to end discrimination an... Read more

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today led a bipartisan group of twenty Members in urging Canada to finally commit to open its markets to more dairy imports as talks over the trade agreement draw to a close. They sent a letter to the Canadian Ambassador to the United States outlining their position following a productive meeting with the U.S. Trade Representative on Monday. “Washington state produces some of the world’s best dairy products,” Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01) said. “It is ... Read more

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Governor Jay Inslee, and leaders from major conservation organizations, local STEM education programs and the community of Darrington announced the formation of a new partnership called the Darrington Collaborative. The goal of the group is to bring together a variety of interests, including those of the local timber industry and conservation community, in order to increase ecologically sustainable timber harvests near Darrington an... Read more