eNewsletters
Holiday deadlines
Friends, As you read this, Congress is trying to avert another shutdown. Congressional approval ratings have hit the single digits before, seeming to signal that only close friends and family members gave a thumbs up. If Congress can’t get its act together before the holidays, I imagine ratings like that could go even lower. The dysfunctional way in which Congress approaches budgeting gives you a strong sense of how Congress earns such a low approval. Need proof? At the end of … Continue Reading
November 30, 2015
A plate of turkey, with a side of service
Dear Friend, I hope by the time you're reading this you’ve recovered from the food coma that seems to strike following Thanksgiving. I was thankful to spend some quality time with my family (not to mention some quality time with delicious turkey, stuffing, and corn casserole). If you follow me on Facebook or are a regular newsletter subscriber, you might have read about my efforts show support for those in need this season. That’s why last Monday I kicked off a ‘Week of Thanks’ where I … Continue Reading
November 16, 2015
Saying thanks for service
Dear Friend, Each year on Veterans Day we get a chance to say thanks for the bravery and service our veterans have shown defending our nation. It means a lot in our neck of the woods since so many of our friends and neighbors have answered the call to serve. Around here we know it’s important for our kids to understand that it’s not just a day off from school or a day off of work to buy a mattress or an appliance. It’s meant to be a day to honor our veterans. Last week I joined the … Continue Reading
November 02, 2015
A New (Budget) Deal
Dear Friend, As you read this we are flying through fall. Halloween has now come and gone (though, in my house, the candy will likely last for a few more days). Colorful leaves are now begging to be raked into a pile (and to become a target for my kids to jump into). And pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice latte, and pumpkin muffins have taken over grocery stores and coffee shops. We’re not just seeing seasonal transitions. We also had some changes under the Capitol Dome, as Speaker John Boehner … Continue Reading
October 19, 2015
Time to get outside
Dear Friend, Sometimes on a weekend afternoon or a day off from school I run into a challenge. It usually starts along these lines - my two daughters have already watched Frozen 45 times. They’ve built entire communities in Minecraft and they’re uninspired by Barbie (and even Skipper). When they start to pull out the Pretty Pedicure Salon and eye my feet for a makeover, it’s about time for me to declare, “Let’s go outside!” For Sophie and Tess, there is nothing better than escaping the … Continue Reading
October 05, 2015
The Golden Rule
Dear Friend, At some point when you were growing up a teacher, pastor, or parent probably told you to never forget one thing: ‘The Golden Rule’. The idea of treating others the way you want to be treated follows you throughout life. It’s relevant when you are picking teams for kickball on the playground, meeting new kids at high school, or walking through the doors of your first big job. It’s also a lesson that Congress should pay attention to more often! Congress got its own reminder of … Continue Reading
September 21, 2015
Avoiding a shutdown
Dear Friend, You can always count on certain things during the fall. The leaves are changing, the kids are back in school, and the Seahawks have kicked off another season. But these days, there are real concerns that Congress may also be kicking off a new tradition: shutting down the federal government. For the second time in two years, Congress is playing a dangerous game of political brinkmanship. Congress has until the end of the month to pass a spending measure or else funding for … Continue Reading
September 08, 2015
Honoring America's workers
Dear Friend, Greetings from 30,000 feet above America. As I send this, I’m heading back to Washington, D.C. following the August recess. If you’ve been following my activities on Facebook, you’ll know that I’ve been busy (my wife, Jennifer, finds the word “recess” a completely unfitting description of the past month). I’ve enjoyed running from pillar to post around our region. Like many of you, I also enjoyed celebrating Labor Day weekend. This past weekend wasn’t just a time for summer … Continue Reading
August 24, 2015
Kilmer on a stick
Dear Friend, By the end of August, I will have visited 8 fairs and festivals in one month. It’s a great opportunity for me to get to visit with the folks I represent and hear what’s on your mind. It’s also a great opportunity for me to consume fair food. I’ve been alternating between the two basic fair food groups: 1) fried food and 2) meat on a stick. In Grays Harbor, I went chicken on a stick. In Clallam County, it was deep fried Oreos. Next up, the coup de grace...Combining the two … Continue Reading
August 10, 2015
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 … Continue Reading
July 27, 2015
The Really Big One
Dear Friend, At this point a recent magazine article called “The Really Big One” has probably shown up on your Facebook feed or landed in your inbox. If you read it I hope that, unlike me, you didn’t do so right before turning in for the night. That’s because of the description it gives of a mega-quake hitting the Northwest. “By the time the shaking has ceased and the tsunami has receded,” the author writes, “the region will be unrecognizable.” Frankly, it freaked me out. I’m sure … Continue Reading
July 15, 2015
Are you a Facebook friend yet?
Friend, In the week leading up to Independence Day, I visited nearly every nook and cranny of our district, hitting all 6 counties that I represent. When you travel around our region as much as I do, one thing becomes very clear: We live in the most glorious place in the world. That was really brought home over the last few weeks when we had our Facebook Cover Photo Contest. We invited folks to submit shots from all over our district, and many of them were absolutely outstanding. If … Continue Reading
June 30, 2015
Honoring two amazing educational leaders
Friends, The last few weeks have been hot and humid in Washington, D.C. There’s nothing quite like 100 degree heat with 90% humidity to make you feel like you're in a swamp. I now have a much better understanding of why two states gave that property up for nothing. Despite the heat (and, have I mentioned, the humidity?) we’ve been getting a lot of visitors lately. I was proud to host Ian Wheelock, the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for our region. His art now hangs in … Continue Reading
June 15, 2015
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 … Continue Reading
June 01, 2015
Putting memorial back in Memorial Day
Friend, Since I last wrote, our nation commemorated Memorial Day. Over the course of Memorial Day weekend I found myself asking the question; how do we honor the memory of those who have sacrificed, those who never made it home? I think it's on us - on each of us - to make sure that our kids truly understand what this day is about. This is not a day off from school. It's not a day off from work or a day to buy a mattress or an appliance. It's meant to be a day of remembrance. And I … Continue Reading
May 19, 2015
Making some progress
Friend, It’s been a hectic couple of weeks, so I've got a lot to share. Apologies in advance for what will be a lengthy update. Making Real Progress for our Forests and Communities As many of you know, I grew up in Port Angeles. Living on the Peninsula I developed an appreciation for both the beauty of the forest and the opportunities it provides. I can remember plenty of trips through the woods with family and friends. Communities on the Olympic Peninsula are intricately … Continue Reading
May 05, 2015
Lending a hand
Friends, Last week as we heard about the massive earthquake in Nepal our thoughts and prayers immediately went to those caught in the destruction. Many of us immediately wondered how we could help. That compassion extended to our military as well. The tragedy was a powerful reminder that the United States military does more than defend our nation as U.S. servicemembers and first responders answered calls to provide care and support. In fact, a team of Joint Base Lewis-McChord Green … Continue Reading
April 20, 2015
A positive legacy for future generations
Greetings, If you are like me you enjoy a good hike through one of the Peninsula’s many captivating trails or heading down to the beach on a clam dig day. With Earth Day happening this Wednesday we all should take some time to celebrate the wonders of the great outdoors. It’s also a reminder that we've got some work to do. We know that our kids are only as healthy as the water they drink and the air they breathe. I want to leave a better world for my daughters’ generation. The time … Continue Reading
April 09, 2015
Progress here and there
Greetings, I hope you had a terrific holiday weekend. I’m back in Washington state for the Spring District Work Period. That means I got to spend last week - and will spend this week - running around our region rather than being back in DC. It’s always good to be able to sit down with folks in our neck of the woods. And, after several weeks in DC, it’s a nice change of pace. Speaking of which….You know, there’s an old saying that “Change is inevitable. But progress is … Continue Reading
March 25, 2015
A few upsets, a few bad calls, and a few happy outcomes
Dear Friend, I hope you enjoyed a good weekend of March Madness. We saw a few upsets, a few bad calls, and a few outcomes that make us happy. This week in the DC, we’ll be seeing a little March Madness of our own. And, yes we may see some upsets, some bad calls, and maybe a few outcomes that make us happy. Two very significant issues are going to be on the front-burner. First, the budget. A budget is a reflection of our values. Budgets are not simply numbers on a spreadsheet. … Continue Reading