Busy Weeks Ahead: An Update on Funding the Government, Supporting Our Troops, and Providing COVID-19 Relief
Hello Folks –
Greetings from our nation’s capital. I hope this note finds you safe and healthy amid these challenging times.
In the remaining weeks of the year, there’s a lot of work for Congress to do. It needs to pass a bill to keep the federal government open and fully funded. It needs to pass the annual defense bill to support our troops and their families. And it needs to get a COVID-19 relief bill that meets the needs of the American people signed into law. I’ve got a sense of urgency about all of these issues, and I’m hopeful you’ll see progress on them in the weeks ahead. Let’s get right into the details…
Funding the Government
As readers of this newsletter might remember, the House passed the majority of its government funding bills before the summer. However, the Senate didn’t really get cooking until later in the year. Consequently, Congress has a limited window to come up with a funding agreement this month that needs to pass the House, pass the Senate, and be signed by the President.
Congress is still working on ironing out final details, but right now there is an ongoing effort to get an agreement in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion that can keep the government open and fund critical priorities for our region that will create jobs.
As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I’ve been able to successfully secure a number of priorities included in the House-passed version of the government funding bills, which I’m hopeful will be included in the final package. That includes vital investments in Puget Sound recovery and restoring our salmon, support for Indian Country and veterans, investments in jobs at Naval Base Kitsap, and funding for broadband and rural economic development.
While I know that a compromise agreement won’t have everything I’ve been fighting for, I’m hopeful that Congress can strike a fair compromise and avert a government shutdown - which would have a crippling impact on communities that are already struggling under the current public health and economic crisis. I’ll keep you updated as things move forward.
Supporting Our Troops
If you serve this country, Congress should have your back and invest in you and your family. That’s what the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is all about. That’s why I’m pleased that late last week, the leaders of the Armed Services Committee announced a bipartisan compromise between the House and the Senate on an NDAA that supports those who serve our country.
This bipartisan compromise includes a number of provisions that I fought for to invest in our troops and their families --- including a 3% increase in pay for service members, funding to clean-up drinking water on military bases contaminated by PFAS chemicals, improvements in the oversight and management of housing for military personnel and their families, a measure to ensure paid parental leave is extended to all federal employees, improvements to address the shortage in military child care, and the development of programs to promote and enhance diversity and inclusion in our military. Importantly, this bill also helps provide long-overdue benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
Crucially, this bill also includes a measure I fought for that helps our federal civilian employees, like those at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, who have been working tirelessly throughout this pandemic to maintain the Navy’s readiness to respond to national security threats. Early this fall, I introduced new legislation aimed at ensuring these federal workers didn’t have to sacrifice the paid leave benefits they had earned during this health crisis. These are “use it or lose it” benefits; however, most federal workers couldn’t “use it” because they were unable to travel due to the pandemic or unable to take time off because they had to get the job done during these extraordinary circumstances. I’m proud to report that I was successful in ensuring that the bill allows federal workers to carry an additional 25% of their annual leave into 2021. It’s a simple, common-sense fix that will help a lot of working families.
The compromise proposal also included another bill I’ve sponsored – the Maritime Transportation System Emergency Relief Act to provide financial assistance to the maritime sector during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Given the vital role of our maritime assets – particularly our ferries – these resources will be vitally important for our region.
It’s expected that the House will vote on this agreement on Tuesday, and I am hopeful that it will be signed into law.
Providing COVID-19 Relief and Supporting Local Employers
Most readers of this newsletter will know that for months, I’ve been pushing for Congress to pass a comprehensive COVID-19 relief bill to crush this virus, to provide assistance to folks who are unemployed or experiencing housing insecurity, and to help small businesses on Main Street. In fact, in the House, we’ve already passed two different bills in recent months aimed at these goals. Unfortunately, the Senate has failed to act. Instead, Leader McConnell has said “let’s pause.” But the time for pausing has long needed to end. I’m hopeful that over the next week, Democrats and Republicans can come together to get something done – because the American people deserve it.
One of my main areas of focus is helping our region’s small businesses and those who are employed by them. Small businesses are the “star running backs” of our economy – growing jobs and scoring touchdowns for our communities. Unfortunately, during this pandemic, they’re getting tackled behind the line of scrimmage. As someone who worked professionally in economic development for over a decade, I believe the federal government should do some blocking and call some plays for our small businesses.
That’s why I joined my colleagues in passing a new HEROES Act to provide help to small businesses and nonprofits, and to provide a lifeline to local restaurants that are struggling to weather this storm. I’ve also sponsored stand-alone bills to provide resources to help employers keep their workers employed as well as bills to support theaters, gyms, restaurants, and other employers that have been particularly hard hit by this pandemic.
Last week, I held a virtual town hall with Kerrie Herd, the District Director for our region at the U.S. Small Business Administration, to talk about the resources that are out there for local employers and small businesses – and to answer your questions about the next round of COVID-19 relief, how to apply for PPP loan forgiveness, what new programs are available for folks seeking help, and more - check it out!
I know that more relief and assistance is required, and I have a sense of urgency about ensuring folks are getting the help they need. From the day this pandemic started, I’ve supported additional resources to help families in our region that are trying to make it through these difficult times. It’s critical that people are not left behind – and I’ll keep pushing for Congress to act.
Helping Our Region Prepare for Natural Disasters
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I work hard to help ensure that our federal government invests in keeping our communities safe. That includes securing federal investments for things like managing local flood risks and threats from coastal hazards, investing in cutting-edge research on the climate-related challenges in our region, and securing support for new early warning capabilities for natural hazards and disasters - like tsunamis, earthquakes, and landslides.
This week, I was proud to help the House pass the National Landslide Preparedness Act, bipartisan legislation I co-sponsored - to ensure communities in our region, and around the nation, are better prepared to mitigate the risks of hazardous landslides. We know that what happened a few years ago in Oso was a tragedy that no community should ever have to experience. That’s why new investments like these will help support efforts to identify risks, protect key infrastructure, and give our communities the critical time and resources they need to save lives and prevent future tragedies.
Working for You
Celebrating Our Region’s Diversity
I'm always so grateful to spend time with Lua Pritchard, an incredible leader in our community who serves as the Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center. Last week we got to talk about the APCC's vision for the future and the ongoing work to build a permanent home for the APCC in Tacoma. As you can see, the proposed building looks fantastic and I can't wait to support the project and their future in the years to come. Proud to be a partner!
Supporting Our Universities
Thank you to Dr. Isiaah Crawford, President of University of Puget Sound, and Terri Standish-Kuon, President of the Independent Colleges of Washington, for putting students first as we navigate the pandemic. I stand with you and commit to fighting for more robust federal assistance for our students and the colleges and universities that serve them!
Pushing for More Affordable Housing
I enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the team at Homeownership Center of Tacoma, a nonprofit in the Hilltop neighborhood that has been integral to expanding affordable housing in our region since the early 1990’s. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am committed to supporting their capacity to serve folks in the area and ensure everyone in our neck of the woods has access to stable, affordable, and healthy housing. I’m grateful for the work they do!
OK, that’s it for now, folks. Take care of yourselves – and one another.
As always, I’m honored to represent you.
Sincerely,
Derek