Milestones for America
Dear Friend,
Milestones come in many shapes and sizes. Some are small but still memorable. Like the first time Sophie got a hit in baseball. There are graduations, new jobs, and birthdays. Just this past Friday, I attended a 20th anniversary celebration for Paladin Data Systems, a terrific employer in Poulsbo.
Some milestones are bigger. Many readers and my Facebook friends probably know that my grandmother (aka Oma) turned 105 earlier this year. I hope I have the good fortune of inheriting those genes!
In 2015, Oma’s 105th milestone also linked to another American milestone - the 50th anniversary of Medicare and 80th anniversary of Social Security. Oma’s husband - my grandfather - died 34 years ago. She saw - and continues to see - the extraordinary value of two of the greatest public policies in the history of this country - Social Security and Medicare. Medicare’s birthday is a powerful reminder of the good it’s done for people like my grandmother and other seniors. And it’s a reminder that we need to ensure that these critical benefits remain available for current and future retirees.
Just recently we saw budget proposals in Congress that would end the Medicare guarantee as we know it. I don’t think it’s right to upend a program that works and undermine benefits that folks have earned. I’m going to continue to make sure we have the backs of Oma and everyone’s grandparents and parents who use Medicare so they can retire with dignity.
The March Continues
Medicare isn’t the only 50th we marked recently. Last week, we also celebrated the day our nation stood up for the right of every American to participate in our government with the signing of the Voting Rights Act into law. Following the freedom marches and the violence of Bloody Sunday, this legislation was a powerful message that America would keep marching toward equality.
Unfortunately, in 2013, the Supreme Court undermined this law and set back that progress. The Court decision allowed communities with histories of discrimination to change their voting rules in ways that had previously been prohibited. If things don’t change, 2016 will be the first presidential election year since the 1960s without these critical protections.
Now it’s time for us to recommit to the ideals laid out in the original Voting Rights Act. I’ve cosponsored - and will continue to push my colleagues to pass - a new Voting Rights Act so we can fully counter any attempts at voter disenfranchisement. This anniversary should not solely be a celebration of past progress. It should also be a reminder of the critical need to continue the march to equality.
Personal Information Needs to Stay Personal
Regular readers know that I’ve been speaking out against the data breaches that have touched so many federal workers and those they are close to. It should not be so easy for outside hackers to burrow into the systems of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and steal personal information. It’s estimated that the recent breach impacts more than 22 million people. America’s cyber defenses should not have holes blown in them like this.
The records that were snatched are stuff that should never fall into the wrong hands: Social Security numbers, residency and educational history, and information required by background checks. It’s time we get serious about these threats and make sure that secure files stay secure.
While we are looking ahead to what we need to do to bolster our systems, we shouldn’t forget about those affected by this. That’s why I recently introduced bipartisan legislation with my colleague, Representative Scott Rigell from Virginia, which would expand and boost identity theft protection for those who may have been exposed to data breaches.
Specifically, our bill would grant comprehensive and complementary identity protection coverage for ten years to affected individuals and ensure those with stolen records would not be disqualified from security clearances based on damage to their credit scores caused by the breach.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you have further questions or are concerned that you might be directly affected by the data breach.
A Blob of Algae
From wildfires to changing ocean chemistry to more severe storms - our nation is starting to see climate change impact our lives. We can potentially add toxic stews of algae into the mix.
This summer a large toxic algal bloom has stayed put in the waters off our coast. In fact, scientists believe it could be one of the biggest ever as it stretches from California through Oregon and up into our waters. This blight has hurt the bottom line of shellfish growers and tribal fisheries by threatening their harvests.
Businesses and towns that rely on open and accessible beaches for visitors want to see this resolved too. That’s why I applaud an announcement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for awarding the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems a grant to analyze and monitor the toxic algae.
By understanding it, the hope is that we can plan for future outbreaks and minimize future damage.
A Big Announcement for Our Planet
These incidents remind us of what’s at stake in the fight against climate change. That’s why I was glad to hear President Obama reveal a new plan for limiting carbon pollution from power plants. With this Clean Power Plan our nation is showing the world we are committed to a future powered by clean energy.
Thankfully, Washington state is ahead of the game on this one. We are leader in the move to unleash alternative energy sources while scaling back greenhouse gas emissions. By tacking this issue head on we can leave a better world for our kids and create new opportunities for the growth of dynamic businesses and jobs.
A Bit of Bowling
Before I came home for August I had the chance to bowl a few frames with Washington state bowling champion (and Bremerton native!) Megan Wittenberg at the White House bowling alley. It’s safe to say that my dreams of being the next star of the PBA Tour are over. However, I did manage to pick up a few tips from Megan and got a chance to congratulate her on being accepted to Washington State University!
Working for You
I’ll end by highlighting some of the stops I’ve recently made across our region. If you have a great event, meeting, or organization you think I should stop by, please reach out to my staff or click on this link to let me know. We work for you!
I joined the farewell dinner at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for Colonels Hodges and Davit. It was sad to see them go as their incredible leadership at the base has inspired so many. They will be missed and I know everyone joins me in wishing them well!
I had a blast last weekend with Tess at the 71st Annual Guamanian Liberation Potluck. Thanks to Manny Flores and the Guamanian Club for inviting us to participate and enjoy the delicious Chamorro food.
Tess and I also had a fun day at Ethnic Fest in Tacoma. We played drums, visited folks from community organizations, and listened to some great music! Here we are with some of the leaders (and future leaders) of the Tacoma Branch of the NAACP.
As always, it's an honor to serve as your representative. Please don’t hesitate to holler if I can lend a hand to you or someone you know.
Sincerely,
