Jobs and the Economy

Alaska crabbers face fishing cliff with government shutdown

| Posted in In the News

Theirs is one of the deadliest occupations, with 800-pound crab pots menacing life and limb, and stormy waters threatening their ships. But the men and women who ply the Bering Sea pursuing the lucrative catch are facing a different challenge: The three-month Alaska crab season starts Tuesday, but government workers, idled by the federal shutdown, aren’t issuing the necessary…

Stalemate beaches Darrington river-rafting business

| Posted in In the News

DARRINGTON -- Owners of a Darrington river-rafting business find themselves beached until the federal government is motoring at full throttle again. Brian Pernick and his sister, Sarah, were in the process of obtaining a new use permit from the U.S. Forest Service to provide whitewater rafting and scenic float trips on the Sauk River. But the agency shuttered its doors Oct. 1 when the…

King crab season in jeopardy

| Posted in In the News

SEATTLE — Most crab fishermen from Washington are already in Alaska preparing for the start of the season in just ten days, but if the government shutdown drags on, they’ll be forced to stay docked. “The problem is the federal government is the one that actually issues the permits,” said Mark Gleason, who represents the industry. “The people in charge of…

DelBene Introduces New Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

| Posted in Press Releases

In an effort to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform in the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene today co-sponsored new reform legislation. DelBene is leading the effort with Representative Joe Garcia (FL-26), Representative Judy Chu (CA-27), Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) and Representative Steven Horsford (NV-04). “Immigration reform is critical…

DelBene Statement on House Republicans Government Shutdown

| Posted in Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the following statement today after the House Republicans’ refusal to consider a clean continuing resolution to fund the federal government. As a result of Congress’ inaction, the nation will experience a government shutdown for the first time in seventeen years: “House Republicans should be ashamed of themselves for playing politics…

DelBene Statement on House Republicans Actions to Move Country Closer to a Government Shutdown

| Posted in Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the following statement today following House Republicans’ vote on a continuing resolution that includes a delay of the Affordable Care Act and repeals a medical device tax – provisions that increase the likelihood of a looming government shutdown: “I’m incredibly disappointed by the refusal of House leadership to back away from…

Several research grants to help Whatcom agriculture industry

| Posted in In the News

A few key federal grants announced this week could help Whatcom County berry farmers improve growing efficiency and export sales.The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded $3.2 million in Specialty Crop Block Grants to Washington state, with about $345,000 going toward programs that will benefit local farmers. The funding for these grants is already in place and shouldn't be affected…

Rep. Suzan DelBene On Funding The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

| Posted in In the News

Republicans and Democrats have been debating a bill that would cut $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next 10 years. House Republicans argue that the food stamp program has grown too large and unmanageable.  Representative Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., has been an active advocate against the Republican-backed bill. She explains the implication of this…