Updates on New Investments in America’s Infrastructure & Making Progress for Our Veterans
Hello, Folks –
I hope this finds you and yours doing well.
Last week marked the one-year anniversary of President Biden’s inauguration – and it’s been a busy year. As we think about all that has happened in 2021 - I think it’s worth remembering how far our country has come. Just one year ago, the headlines were rather dire. As 2021 opened, there were articles about food banks facing record demand and about the American people facing record housing instability. Far too many of our local employers were still on their heels. Most of our kids were still in virtual school. And we had not seen the widespread rollout of vaccines.
That’s why early in 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan – a critical emergency legislative package to help folks get vaccinated, enable kids to get back to school safely, support our local businesses, and provide immediate and direct relief to folks to help them keep a roof over their heads, feed their families, and pay their bills.
While there’s still more to do, the American Rescue Plan provided a huge boost for our economy. Since it passed, we’ve seen over 6 million jobs created, 210 million Americans are vaccinated, and unemployment claims are the lowest since 1969!
2021 was also the year that Congress finally passed bipartisan infrastructure legislation. The new infrastructure law is the largest long-term investment in America’s infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. It’s about putting people to work now – and laying the foundation for economic growth over the long haul. More on that below!
We took an in-depth look at some of the other big issues Congress tackled in late December – and you can read that newsletter here – but there’s still a lot of work to do in the coming weeks and months to get our economy and our government working better for folks. Stay tuned!
Securing Infrastructure Investments in Our Region
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen the federal government start to get moving on its disbursement of new federal funding for the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs bill (aka the bipartisan infrastructure law). While this bill was signed into law by President Biden this past November, it’s already having a big impact in our region!
Rebuilding Our Bridges
Across our region, bridges essential to our everyday lives and to our economy have reached dire conditions. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are over 415 bridges in Washington alone that are currently considered to be in “poor” condition. That’s alarming – not only from the standpoint of public safety, but also for what it means for our local economies. That’s why I helped pass the bipartisan infrastructure law – which will make a historic investment in repairing and replacing bridges in our neck of the woods.
Last week, I announced that over $120 million will be invested in our state to help fix bridges in 2022 alone – part of a $605 million investment that will be made over the next five years!
Already, the Washington State Department of Transportation has identified a number of prime bridge candidates for federal investment. Though these funding decisions will ultimately be made by the state legislature – I’ll be pushing to get funding for our region to help fix a number of bridges – like the US 101 bridge over the Sol Duc River in Clallam County, the US 101 bridge over the Humptulips River in Grays Harbor County, the US 101 bridge over Big Quilcene River in Jefferson County, the Port Washington bridge on SR 303 in Kitsap County, and the US 101 bridge over the Skokomish River in Mason County – just to name a few!!
Ultimately, this investment will help our state repair or replace the local bridges that are critical for getting to school and work, moving commerce, and connecting communities – while creating good-paying jobs. It’s a big deal!
Protecting Coastal Communities
The impacts of climate change—including sea level rise and flooding—have put communities at risk and disrupted local economies in our region. In fact, we’ve even seen substantial flooding in our region just recently. That’s why I was proud to announce that I helped secure over $18 million of federal investment for three Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure projects in Grays Harbor and Clallam Counties through the new bipartisan infrastructure law.
This new funding will restore the North Jetty in Ocean Shores to help ensure a safe, reliable entrance to the federal Grays Harbor navigation channel and reduce current wave impacts to the City of Ocean Shores (and the city’s wastewater treatment plant).
It will also restore the sea dike near the Quillayute River by replacing missing rock to return the failed sea dike to design dimensions in order to help reduce waves from sweeping across the channel, and provide safer navigation to the US Coast Guard, Quileute Tribe, and the public.
Additionally, the funding will repair the damaged revetment at Ediz Hook to help protect the city of Port Angeles, US Coast Guard base, and a number of local employers located on the hook.
All of these projects getting new funding means real progress for protecting coastal communities in our region and keeping folks safe. Again – it’s big news!!
Having the Backs of Our Veterans
If you serve this country, the federal government ought to have your back. In recent weeks, I’ve been leading the charge to ensure our veterans get the support they need.
First, I introduced the Planning for Aging Veterans Act with my colleague from eastern Washington, Cathy McMorris Rogers. This legislation is designed to help ensure that as our servicemembers retire and get older, they have the critical care that they have earned and deserve – and can live a life with dignity. Among other things, the legislation will pave the way for future investments in long-term care, improve the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) relationship with State veterans’ homes, and enhance the care veterans residing in state-run veterans’ homes receive.
Second, I introduced the Tiny Homes for Homeless Veterans Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation to create new housing for veterans experiencing homeless. Every veteran should have a home, and it shouldn’t be under a freeway overpass. That’s why this new bipartisan legislation would create a pilot program within the VA to provide grants for recipients to build villages of individualized tiny transitional homes for our nation’s veterans who are experiencing homelessness. The villages would also include wrap-around supportive services for the veterans and their families to ensure that veterans have the support they need. I’m proud that this legislation earned the support of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, AMVETS, the American Legion, the Fleet Reserve Association – and great organizations in our region that are already collaborating on building transitional homes like these for veterans, including Pennies for Quarters and the Composite Recycling Technology Center in Clallam County.
In addition to introducing these bills, Congress has passed a few big bills this month to have the backs of our veterans, including the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act and the Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition Act (EVEST).
We know that the National Guard and Reserve have been utilized at unprecedented levels over the past two years to respond to crises around the country. However, these servicemembers do not accrue the same GI Bill benefits as their active duty counterparts, even when they take on the same jobs with the same risks. That’s why Congress passed the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, bipartisan legislation that rectifies that disparity by ensuring that every day spent in uniform—including training days—counts toward vital GI Bill benefits.
We also know that too many of our servicemembers don’t get the care they have earned and deserve – and one of the most glaring gaps in accessing high quality care available through the VA is the health care enrollment process. That’s why Congress passed the EVEST Act with bipartisan support – ensuring that eligible servicemembers are automatically enrolled in health care during their transition out of the military. This will simplify the transition process for veterans and ensure they get the care they need.
These are some great steps in the right direction. There’s more to do to have the backs of our veterans... Stay tuned for news on a bill I’m planning to introduce shortly to strengthen retirement benefits for Guard and Reserve members. We’ll keep at it!
Working for You
Meeting with Local Workers
It was great to meet with team at Lowe's in Silverdale! I spoke with employees from across the region about how business is going - and how recent federal investments in our infrastructure and action to help supply chains will improve efficiency and keep shelves fully stocked. I also learned more about Lowe's commitment to providing assistance during natural disasters and their efforts to hire veterans and military spouses in our region.
Honoring Our Past
I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Forterra and members of the Tacoma City Association of Colored Women’s Clubs to discuss the recent purchase of the historic home of Nettie Asberry – one of Tacoma’s first and most prominent civil rights leaders. We talked about how the federal government can help with local historic preservation efforts and about their plans to restore this historic home and eventually transform it into a gathering space, library, and lasting monument to Black history in Tacoma.
Hearing from Students
It’s always exciting to see the amazing work happening by students at Tacoma's School of Industrial Design, Engineering, and Art! Mrs. Alwert’s class is currently focusing on issues related to justice and the justice system. I heard so many great questions from the students, and feel hopeful that our future is in good hands!
OK – that’s it for now folks. As always, I’m honored to represent you.
Sincerely,
Derek