President McKinley and the Sandspit
Dear Friend,
Last week the ‘ribbon-cutting’ for the transfer of a sandspit from the federal government to the City of Gig Harbor (that holds our historic lighthouse) included an unusual twist. Along with other local officials and Senator Maria Cantwell I climbed into a boat and rowed across the water to the lighthouse.
Three things I noticed: First, Senator Maria Cantwell was out to win the race to the lighthouse. Second, I apparently need to work on my upper body strength and cardio. And third, on a beautiful afternoon I was reminded of how much we are all connected to the water.
I’m glad that this cherished gateway to Gig Harbor will now be in the city's hands where it will become a maritime park.
It turns out that giving back a piece of land the federal government doesn’t need to a local community involves a lot of homework – including reading executive orders from President William McKinley and determining what federal agency was responsible for the handoff.
But all the digging was worth it as we now have this landmark for future generations. And as I powered our team to touch down on the sandspit first I thought, “Wow, the only thing that could ruin this is a rusting, oily hulk of an abandoned vessel.”
While I didn't see one that day, you don’t have to travel too far on our waters to find them!
It’s something we need to take care of…
Keeping Washington Waters Healthy
Our region's waters are a special place and I think it's time we did more to protect our waters from the scourge of derelict vessels.
These ships don’t just look ugly; they also hurt our local economy. When the DEEP SEA caught fire in Penn Cove and spilled oil, shellfish farms had to shut down for two months. That's just one example of why these wrecks should not be clogging up our waterways.
With that in mind, I put together a letter that is both bipartisan and bicameral. With Senator Cantwell we led our colleagues in asking the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to catalogue what we need to tackle the challenge of derelict vessels. We want the GAO to look at how the United States Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deal with these vessels.
It's time for the United States to develop a clear policy so we can identify, track, and respond to these dangerous eyesores.
Protecting Our Most Vulnerable Lands and Waters
I've always said that we don't have to choose between economic growth and environmental protection.
That’s why I joined Senator Patty Murray to reintroduce legislation that would protect environmentally sensitive parts of the Olympic Peninsula, support outdoor recreation opportunities, and grow job opportunities.
Specifically, the Wild Olympics Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would designate parts of the Olympic National Forest as wilderness and would designate 19 rivers and major tributaries on the Olympic Peninsula as Wild and Scenic Rivers.
This step forward continues the conversations we've had with folks like you; from landowners and business owners to environmental advocates and Native American tribes. It's part of a practical, balanced strategy to protect the natural beauty of our region while attracting businesses and helping them stay, grow, and invest in our future.
Over the past few years I've met with folks on all sides of this issue. Leaders in our region's shellfish industry told me protecting clean water helps them grow. Entrepreneurs who started their businesses on the Peninsula because of the natural surroundings said the increased attention gained by a wilderness designation will drive others to invest too. I spoke with outfitters, guides, and other small business owners who believe that increased tourism in the area will allow them to hire new employees, and spur other new businesses. And of course I spoke with hundreds, if not thousands, of folks who just want to ensure our children can enjoy the same natural wonders we do.
As a guy who grew up on the Peninsula, it was important to me to ensure that this proposal doesn’t negatively impact the timber industry. After conversations with the Forest Service and timber industry I’m convinced that nearly all Forest Service land proposed for wilderness would never be commercially harvested. These proposed stands are either old growth stands, late successional reserve stands of over eighty years of age, or in inventoried roadless areas. As a consequence, under the Northwest Forest Plan, they couldn’t be commercially harvested.
That said, I also understand the views of those concerned that more needs to be done to responsibly increase harvest in our federal forests. I agree. That’s why, as I discussed in my prior updates, I brought industry and environmental leaders together to form a collaborative effort to explore ways we can accomplish these shared goals, and why I’m committed to being part of an ongoing discussion about how to balance priorities on federal lands over the long haul.
Making Sure Your Voice Matters
I hope you had the chance to join me last Thursday for our special campaign finance focused Telephone Town Hall where I spoke about what I’m working on to bring people-power back to our democracy.
A special guest, Trevor Potter, joined the conversation. Trevor is a former Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and also the lawyer who famously helped Stephen Colbert set up his PAC “People for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow.” We had a lot of fun answering your questions and talking about the ways you can get involved in changing our system so it’s more responsive to voters, not special interests.
In case you missed it, here’s an update…
Soon, I will introduce legislation to reform the Federal Election Commission (FEC). This legislation will help the Commission get back to its original mission of weeding out instances of campaign finance abuse.
The Commission needs to be able to tell Republicans and Democrats, incumbents and challengers what the basic rules of the road are. But lately, there has been so much gridlock the FEC commissioners couldn’t even agree on donuts or bagels at a recent anniversary party (for the record, I think that’s a no-brainer – DONUTS!).
I hope my legislation provides meaningful, substantial change. I want folks to know that their voice matters in our political system, and campaign finance reform is one key way to do that.
Getting Out and About
In the past couple of weeks, I also spent some quality time working and talking with folks across our region. Here are some of the highlights…
I spoke to a fantastic group of professionals at Tacoma Community College's Health Information Management Leadership Conference. Their dedication and expertise is helping to make our healthcare system more efficient and more responsive to the needs of patients.
I was honored to witness the Change of Command Ceremony for the USS Jimmy Carter (SSN23), as CDR Mel Smith assumed command from CDR Brian Elkowitz. Take a look at the picture below to see the ship's namesake, Former President Jimmy Carter, who spoke about its motto, Semper Optima: "Always the Best."
Cadets from the Washington Youth Academy (WYA) inspired me with their stories regarding how their experience at the WYA changed their lives. I commend them and thank the committed staff for their hard work to give these cadets the support they need.
The Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club hosted yet another delicious pancake breakfast before the Maritime Gig Parade, where I had a blast waving to folks along with my kiddos. It was a glorious summer day in the Maritime City.
Congratulations to Mayor Pratt and the City of Sequim on the opening of the new Sequim Civic Center! If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and check out the new plaza, featuring a totem pole donated by the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe.
As always, I'm honored to work for you.
Sincerely,
Derek