Dear Friend,
Across the country, rental assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program helps millions of low- and moderate-income families find affordable housing each year. Nearly 50,000 families in Washington state used the HCV program in the last year alone.
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Dear Friend, Yesterday, Congress failed to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank before its charter expired. The Bank serves as the export credit agency of the federal government, providing financial assistance both to U.S. businesses and foreign buyers, all while reducing the deficit. Just last year, Ex-Im supported more than 3,800 business and 160,000 American jobs while generating a $675 million surplus for taxpayers. In Congress, I have continuously emphasized the importance of re...
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Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) issued a statement today following the expiration of the charter for the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank: “The expiration of the Export-Import Bank hurts hundreds of small-and-middle-market businesses in Washington state,” DelBene said. “Washington state exports some of the world’s best products, including airplanes, software, wine, dairy and produce, and our economy is reliant on exports and identifying new markets. The Export-Import Bank helps connect our busine...
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Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell (WA) today applauded the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) announcement of an additional $7.6 million in grants for recovery efforts, including removal of debris deposited in the wake of flooding and mudslides that occurred in March and April last year. “Today’s announcement demonstrates the commitment toward a full recovery for the communities affected by the State Route...
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Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) led the congressional delegation representing Washington’s King County in urging the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fix the inflation formula used in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which provides rental assistance to low-income households. The current formula has been particularly damaging in areas with rapidly escalating rental costs, such as the Puget Sound region. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell joined Reps....
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Trade Promotion Authority allows Congress to set conditions the administration must meet to receive an up-or-down vote on a trade deal. The legislation granting Trade Promotion Authority also directs the President to make the full text of the trade agreement public 60 days before the President signs it, and at least an additional 30 days before Congress would vote. Congress would then vote up-or-down on a trade deal negotiated by the administration. Passing Trade Promotion Authority does not pa...
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Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today voted for a patent reform bill in the House Judiciary Committee. The Innovation Act passed out of the committee by a vote of 24 to 8. After voting for the bill in the markup, DelBene issued the following statement: “America needs a robust patent system in order to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in today’s competitive global economy. All businesses in Washington state, large and small, should have the benefit of a patent system that doesn’t force...
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Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today said it is long overdue for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to announce that Washington First District workers will receive pay for the overtime hours they worked supporting recovery efforts after the devastating landslide last March. “I was deeply concerned to hear that several of my constituents employed by FEMA were still waiting to receive overtime pay for their work supporting recovery efforts after the devastating landslide near Oso...
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Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today helped introduce the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to protect pregnant women from job discrimination. “No one should have to choose between their job and their pregnancy,” DelBene said. “It is clear we need to strengthen existing protections for pregnant workers, which is why I’m honored to join so many of my colleagues in introducing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. This important legislation will help working women across the country by ensuring emp...
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Dear Friend, Recently, I was in Mount Vernon volunteering for Women Build Week hosted by Skagit Habitat for Humanity. Women Build is a program for women to learn construction skills and help build homes for families in need of adequate housing. I was honored to join a group of mostly women in helping frame a three-bedroom, two-bath house for Estela Flores, a single mother of three. Estela was chosen as a one of Skagit Habitat’s partner families, allowing her help to build a home and purchase it...
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