Today is the third anniversary of the tragic Oso landslide, which in an instant took the lives of 43 of our neighbors.
In the wake of our tragedy, we learned many lessons, including that lawmakers need to do more to ensure we fund resources and research efforts to prevent future natural disasters from becoming national tragedies. We need to do substantial work to gain better knowledge of landslides and their potential impacts in order to reduce losses of life and property.
This week, I reintroduced a bill to boost national landslide programs and ensure the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and communities have the latest in mapping technology. My bill will help us make significant progress in landslide science and will allow communities to be better prepared for when landslides do occur.
Oso is a community near and dear to my heart and I’ll continue to help as best I can. Another major hurdle for this area is economic revitalization. Earlier this month, I reintroduced the Timber Innovation Act – a bipartisan, bicameral bill that aims to find new and innovative uses for wood as a building material. Technological advancements in cross-laminated timber (CLT) have made it easier for us to support healthy forests, wildlife habitats and working families by reducing the use of building materials dependent on fossil fuels. This bill is a win for the environment and rural economies like Darrington, Oso, Acme and Deming.
And next month, the Arlington and Darrington area will find out if they’ve won a $3 million revitalization grant through America’s Best Communities (ABC). There were originally 138 applicants representing nearly 350 communities, and we’re one of eight who made it to the final round. Good luck!
As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you, I encourage you to contact me through my website. You may also keep up-to-date on what I’m doing by following me on social media or through signing up for my enewsletter. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, such as the VA, IRS or Social Security Administration, please do not hesitate to contact my Bothell office at (425) 485-0085.
