A trip to the Oval Office … and some more wins in Appropriation
Hello, Folks –
Before getting to the news from Congress, let me acknowledge two big challenges we are grappling with in our Washington this summer. First, we’ve seen wildfires impacting far too many families in our state. You can track information regarding wildfires through the State Department of Natural Resources site. In addition, it is expected that we will see compromised air quality this week. Folks can check the air quality forecast here.
And second, the Washington State Department of Health has expressed concern regarding a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in our state. I want to remind folks that the best way to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. It’s safe and effective, it’s free, and it’s available to all Washingtonians 12 years and older. Visit the Washington Department of Health’s Vaccine Locator to find an appointment near you! Additionally, you can fill out a secure online form to let the Washington Department of Health know if you or someone you know is homebound. Your answers will allow them to connect individuals to available County and/or State Mobile Vaccine Teams.
Need help? Call the hotline at 1-833-VAX-HELP (833-829-4357), then press #. Language assistance is available. You can also text your zip code to 438-829 (GET VAX) or 822-862 (VACUNA) for vaccine locations near you.
OK – let’s get right into the rest of the news!
Supporting our Veterans
If you serve our country, the federal government should have your back. Since my last newsletter, I was honored to join President Joe Biden in the Oval Office as he signed into law a bill I co-sponsored to strengthen VA medical facilities so veterans can get the care they’ve earned. The Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, which passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support, authorizes new investments at VA medical facilities across our country. Importantly, it included funding for a new specialty care building at American Lake VA Medical Center in our region. I’ll keep working to ensure all veterans have access to the care they deserve.
Ensuring People Remain Housed
The pandemic has undeniably impacted our economy and led to financial and job uncertainty for countless people. During this challenging time, people shouldn’t have to worry about facing eviction or foreclosure as a result of this pandemic. It’s critical that the government does all it can to have the backs of workers, families, and students during this time.
That’s why, from the beginning of this crisis, I’ve pushed for rental assistance and other support so that we can keep people housed. In addition, I supported provisions in relief legislation that would prevent foreclosures and evictions.
As our nation continues to grapple with the debilitating effects of COVID-19, millions of renters and homeowners are experiencing financial hardship. That’s making it difficult for them to afford housing. That’s why I pushed the Biden Administration to continue the eviction moratorium and provide assistance to landlords. While the American Rescue Plan included critical funding to do just that, unfortunately, that assistance has been slow in getting out to communities. That’s why I’m glad that the Administration has heeded our calls to extend the eviction moratorium for 60 days to ensure that people can keep their housing. I’ll keep working to get those rental assistance dollars where they are needed – so landlords don’t face an undue burden and so tenants do not face eviction. Folks in our region should have the support they need to weather this storm.
Last week, I met with Kitsap Community Resources regarding their efforts to prevent evictions and support families. They are distributing federal rental assistance dollars to tenants and landlords impacted by COVID-19 and encouraging folks who need a hand to reach out at kcr.org/housing/.
Growing Jobs in Rural Communities
In my last newsletter, I shared news of the introduction of my new bill – the RECOMPETE Act – to create more economic opportunity for more people in more places. The bill has gotten great feedback from around the country, including this editorial in the Seattle Times.
Beyond the RECOMPETE Act, I’m busy on several other efforts as well. In 2015, I helped launch the Olympic Forest Collaborative – an effort to bring leaders from the timber industry, environmental community, and local government to work together to create economic opportunity on the Olympic Peninsula. Together, members of the Collaborative work to advance forest treatments that increase harvest levels while also achieving much needed environmental benefits like landscape restoration, watershed protection, and habitat conservation.
As someone who grew up in Port Angeles, I know how important healthy, sustainably managed forests are to the economic wellbeing of our timber communities. In July, I was proud to help secure a measure in the appropriations bill to support our Collaborative and collaboratives just like it across the country – highlighting their value and directing the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to prioritize resources to expedite project development and approval of forest treatments developed by collaboratives. This provision can produce additional timber while also accomplishing important restoration goals. In doing so, we can help create more economic opportunity in the region.
I also worked to secure measures in the legislation that will help support new wood technologies and wood that is sustainably harvested. This can deliver economic and environmental benefits to rural communities and grow jobs on the Olympic Peninsula. I’ll keep at it!
Expanding Broadband
Speaking of economic opportunity... Every day, our world becomes more dependent on digital technologies. What’s more, we know that connecting rural communities to high-speed internet helps create more economic opportunities for more people in more places.
Over the last year and half during this pandemic, we’ve seen just how reliant our economy and our livelihoods have become on broadband - as education moved online, critical health appointments moved to video calls, and small businesses sought to sell products without contact.
Unfortunately, according to the Federal Communications Commission, broadband internet is unavailable to roughly 19 million Americans – nearly 15 million of which live in rural communities. What’s more, for many of the communities that do have broadband, the speeds are inadequate. It is clear that too many communities and too many Americans are being left behind.
In response, the House took action – passing a new funding bill I helped craft as a member of the House Appropriations Committee that will make substantial investments in the expansion of broadband services. This included an important investment in a program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) called the “ReConnect” program – which provides loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations to ensure the federal government steps-up to partner with the private sector and rural communities to help them build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service.
Importantly – this bill also included an initiative I led to increase access to broadband on rural Tribal lands and to work with Tribal communities to address the unique infrastructure challenges they face. Additionally, this bill also included an effort I led to urge the USDA to support strategies that utilize telehealth technologies to help improve health care options for seniors, expectant mothers, infants, and others across rural areas.
These efforts to expand broadband are good steps in the right direction – and I am hopeful these strategic investments will lead to new jobs and businesses, empower students by placing new information at their fingertips, and help rural communities get in on the economic growth we’re seeing that’s been largely concentrated in America’s cities.
Working for You
Hearing from Local Employers
Small business are the backbone of our economies and our communities. It was great to meet with small business owners in Ocean Shores last week to hear how things are going. I'll keep working to ensure the federal government has the backs of our local employers as we work to recover from this pandemic. Count me on the home team!
Celebrating Equality
Awesome to see so many people show up to celebrate the move for equality and the notion that #loveislove at Kitsap Pride! A big shout out to Michael Goodnow and the Kitsap Pride Network for organizing another great event!
Supporting our Students
This pandemic has shed light on the digital divide. It was great to join community leaders at the Boys & Girls Club in Tacoma to celebrate new funds and computer equipment for local kids. 
OK – that’s it for now, folks. As always, I’m honored to represent you.
Sincerely,
Derek