Budget and Fiscal Responsibility

EVERETT — The 500 low-income Snohomish County families who received notices last month about federal rent subsidies running out are off the hook — for 2014, at least. The Housing Authority of Snohomish County on Monday mailed a second letter informing those households that their Section 8 vouchers will last through year’s end. That came as a relief for Destinaey… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene released the following statement reacting to the President’s 2014 State of the Union address to the nation: “One of the greatest challenges facing us as a nation is how we grow our economy, create jobs and expand opportunity for all. This evening, the President made a strong case for policies that will help us build the foundation for long-term… Read more »

The House of Representatives today passed an omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal year 2014 by a vote of 359-67. The bill meets the terms set by the Murray-Ryan budget agreement, providing $1.012 trillion for the operation of the federal government and avoiding a government shutdown. After her vote in support of the omnibus appropriations bill, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the… Read more »

Today, the House of Representatives voted to pass a bipartisan two-year budget agreement that helps avoid another unnecessary government shutdown in January, provides sequester relief to domestic and defense spending and reduces the deficit. Rep. DelBene has long called for Congress to enact a common-sense, long-term budget that provides families and businesses certainty, and following… Read more »

Congress today voted to reopen the government and avoid a default on the nation’s debt. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the following statement: “Thanks to a bipartisan vote that should have been allowed weeks ago, Congress is finally reopening the government and averting what could have been a disastrous default on our nation’s debt. “This shutdown never… Read more »

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene today announced that she signed a discharge petition to re-open the government. This discharge petition allows a majority of members to bypass House leadership and force an up or down vote on a clean continuing resolution, providing funding through November 15 at a compromise level. DelBene today issued the following statement: “The shutdown has been… Read more »

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… Read more »

Washington state’s six House Democrats have joined 194 of their colleagues to call on House Speaker John Boehner to end the Republican-led shutdown by allowing an up-or-down  vote on a clean budget bill that would open the government immediately. Reps. Suzan DelBene, WA-01, Rick Larsen, WA-02, Jim McDermott, WA-07, Adam Smith, WA-09, Denny Heck, WA-10, and Derek Kilmer,… Read more »

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… Read more »

OLYMPIA -- Five members of Washington state's 12-member congressional delegation have promised to give up their pay during the federal government shutdown that began Tuesday. Reps. Derek Kilmer and Suzan DelBene, both Democrats, and Republican Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Doc Hastings, have all confirmed that they will forgo their salary for the duration of the shutdown.… Read more »