Jobs and the Economy

DelBene, brewers tap into bipartisan Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act

| Posted in In the News

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene joked that she was in a brewery, but everyone was drinking coffee. After all, it was near 11 a.m. on Tuesday. With Postdoc Brewing Company co-owner Debbie Chambers leading the way, DelBene toured the Redmond hop-spot before gathering with a group of craft brewery owners to discuss the bipartisan Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (H.R. 747), which…

Pre-apprenticeship program gives potential construction workers a leg up on competition

| Posted in In the News

SEATTLE — Construction is everywhere in our region. But a problem that many companies are having is finding qualified construction workers. A program that started about 18 months ago is hoping to give potential construction workers a leg up on the competition. It’s called the Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Education, or PACE, program, and several people said it’s changing lives along…

SMART Bill Reintroduced in Congress

| Posted in In the News

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) has reintroduced the State Marijuana And Regulatory Tolerance (SMART) Enforcement Act (H.R. 3534). This bill prohibits state-sanctioned marijuana consumers and businesses from being prosecuted by the federal government. By a margin of more than 6 to 1, Americans say that individual states should be able to make their own laws…

Allowing States to Effectively Regulate Marijuana

| Posted in eNewsletters

Dear Friend, Twenty-nine states and Washington, D.C., have legalized some form of marijuana. And more are expected to vote on legalization in 2018. Yet, marijuana possession or use for any purpose is still prohibited under the federal Controlled Substances Act, leaving every participant in the state markets — including cancer patients — at risk of…

DelBene Visits Galvanize to Mark Startup Day

| Posted in Press Releases

SEATTLE – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today visited a startup supporter, Galvanize, to discuss the economic benefits a vibrant startup ecosystem provides our communities. Startup companies in the area are creating innovative new products and services and using technology to solve real-world problems. Galvanize helps these businesses through training and counseling, and…

A visit from Rep. Suzan DelBene to Seattle's Galvanize

| Posted in In the News

What better place to host a media event between startup companies and one of the Puget Sound region's top legislators than a hub for entrepreneurial growth and activity named "Galvanize?" To celebrate national startup day, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene met with a select group of Seattle-based entrepreneurs and startup founders at Galvanize Seattle's offices. After a brief tour of…

Gig Worker Benefits Bill Gains Republican Supporter

| Posted in In the News

A Democratic bill intended to spur experimentation with health insurance and other portable benefits for gig economy workers has gained the support of a Republican senator, sparking optimism that other GOP lawmakers could follow. Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) signed on as the only co-sponsor for the Portable Benefits for Independent Workers Pilot Program Act ( S. 1251, H.R. 2685). The…

DelBene Introduces Bill to Protect State Enforcement of Marijuana Laws

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) reintroduced the State Marijuana And Regulatory Tolerance (SMART) Enforcement Act (H.R. 3534) to protect medical patients, recreational users and businesses in states that have legalized and regulated marijuana from being prosecuted now or in the future. “My bill will fix the conflict between state and federal law by giving states…

Marking the Anniversary of Dodd-Frank

| Posted in eNewsletters

Dear Friend, Today is the anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act being signed into law. This landmark legislation helps protect consumers by monitoring financial systems and identifying risks to economic stability. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives chose to gut these critical safeguards last month, passing a bill that will remove or…

Uber and the gig economy used to love Obamacare. What happened?

| Posted in In the News

The Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare is, for now, mothballed, in no small part because of Democratic resistance, fierce opposition from industry groups, and, above all else, GOP disarray. What didn’t help doom the effort: an enormous U.S. industry that repeatedly joined President Obama to promote the Affordable Care Act. Uber, Lyft, and a long list of other…