A positive legacy for future generations
Greetings,
If you are like me you enjoy a good hike through one of the Peninsula’s many captivating trails or heading down to the beach on a clam dig day. With Earth Day happening this Wednesday we all should take some time to celebrate the wonders of the great outdoors.
It’s also a reminder that we've got some work to do. We know that our kids are only as healthy as the water they drink and the air they breathe. I want to leave a better world for my daughters’ generation. The time for action is now.
I encourage everyone to find a way to be a part of Earth Day. Take some time to read more about climate change’s impact on our oceans, or head down to your local beach for a cleanup. Together we can each do our part to protect our natural resources so we can leave a positive legacy for future generations.
As for me, here are a couple of things I’m working on this week to mark Earth Day…
Changing Landscapes and Waters
For centuries in the Pacific Northwest, Native American tribes have called our coastlines home. But now, the very people who have shaped our region’s culture and identity are finding their way of life endangered by changing landscapes brought on by climate change. Persistent flooding, tsunami threats, and erosion put tribal members and cultural sites at risk.
Already, three Native American tribes on the Olympic Peninsula are seeking help to move to higher ground. To counter these threats, I’ll be introducing the Tribal Coastal Resiliency Act. This legislation would make it easier for tribal governments to implement coastal and shoreline initiatives that support public safety, public access, and can help save their rich cultural heritage sites.
If you spend some time with shellfish growers, scientists, and business owners that work in our waters you’ll hear about the threat of ocean acidification. Changes in ocean chemistry are harming livelihoods and the marine life that makes Washington state so unique.
Longtime readers may remember the bipartisan Ocean Acidification Innovation Act I introduced with Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler last year. I plan on reintroducing this soon so we can take some action to meet this problem head on. For a bit of a refresher, the proposal encourages federal agencies to better leverage existing funds to combat this problem by creating prize competitions that will increase our ability to manage, research, and monitor changes to ocean chemistry.
This approach is modeled after the XPRIZE, a non-profit organization that creates public competitions asking researchers to find solutions to problems that impact us all. Here’s why this is a good method. A $5 million research grant will generally yield $5 million in research. But a $5 million research prize competition incentivizes private research investments that can yield four to ten times as much as the prize itself. So rather than a $5 million government-funded research project we get $20 million to $40 million of private industry and university-funded research.
Not a bad return on investment.
On top of those initiatives we’re continuing the effort to pursue funding for Puget Sound restoration. The activities on the Appropriations Committee are heating up, so stay tuned.
Some Good News Following Tax Day
Tax Day is over and I’m sure everyone is breathing a sigh of relief. But this time of year also reminds us that Washingtonians are not treated fairly under the federal tax code. Right now, the federal tax code has a permanent deduction for state income taxes, but does not have a permanent sales tax deduction for folks in states like ours that levy considerable sales taxes instead of income taxes to fund our local operations and services.
That’s why the state and local sales tax deduction was created so families in our state and those that live in states with an income tax are treated equally under the federal tax code. Each year this deduction saves people in our state about $600 on average.
At the end of every year we go through the same song and dance wondering whether Congress will let the deduction expire or whether it will be extended (sometimes even retroactively). That leaves folks with a lot of uncertainty about whether they’ll be able to write off their states taxes. And it certainly doesn't help middle-class families who are already feeling squeezed.
Last week, the House voted on a bill I was proud to cosponsor to make the deduction permanent. It’s time for the short-term games to end on this. We need reform to finally give tax fairness and predictability for families in our region.
Working on the Run
Since my last newsletter I spent another week working on the road, hitting every county in our district.
In Grays Harbor I sat down with the folks from NeighborWorks and other housing groups for a conversation about all matters housing. We touched on a range of issues from homelessness, housing affordability, flood insurance, and disaster prevention. I also got to spend time with the leadership of the Grays Harbor PUD, spoke at the Aberdeen Lions Club, and received a tour of The Warm Company in Elma.
As always, I’m grateful to all of these folks for taking the time out of their day to meet with me!
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Another stop I made was in Hansville where I joined folks at the Hansville grocery for a conversation over a cup of coffee.
It’s important for me to hear your ideas and thoughts about how we can continue to get this Congress back on track. That’s why I had a great time at this event. I talked with folks about their concerns related to everything from Social Security and recreational fishing to Iran and ocean acidification.
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Finally, I found some time to do a few Kilmer at Your Company visits, starting with the Lowe’s in Port Orchard. Not only did I get some terrific home improvement ideas, but I was struck by the professionalism and customer service ethic throughout the staff at this store.
My lactose intolerance didn't prevent me from also visiting Mt. Townsend Creamery, an artisan cheese business, for both a tour and a taste test. Our region is fortunate to have great small businesses like this that are invested in our community.
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Pierce County Central Labor Council Day
I’d like to close with a thanks to the City of Tacoma for proclaiming April 8th, as ‘Pierce County Central Labor Council Day’ in honor of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Labor Council's predecessor, the Tacoma Trades Council.
This was a great day to honor the important contributions that labor unions have made to improve the lives of workers and families, and for their fight on behalf of social justice and greater equality in our community.
Thanks for reading. As always, I’m honored to work for you.
Sincerely,
Derek