Celebrating Community Service – and Supporting Tribal Communities
Hello Folks –
I hope everyone had a terrific Labor Day! In addition to spending time with family and getting kids ready to get back into school (I recently took my oldest, Sophie, to college!), I hope everyone took a moment to celebrate and honor the contributions of millions of American workers. Labor Day is a time we can all celebrate the advances made on behalf of American workers for better pay, better benefits, and safer workplaces—and consider the work that still needs to be done.
There’s a lot to cover this week so let’s get right into the news!
Celebrating Folks Who Serve Our Communities
A few weeks ago, I welcomed AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith to our neck of the woods. AmeriCorps is a federal agency that connects Americans of all backgrounds with opportunities to serve their country and improve communities through national service and volunteering.
During his visit, we checked in with various organizations across our region who are working hard to make our region stronger – and to recognize the incredible folks at these organizations who are serving in our communities. From projects enabling youth to learn new skills, to serving seniors, to creating more housing and civic bridgebuilding, we covered a wide variety of projects and efforts across our region that are contributing to bettering lives.
Supporting Affordable Housing
First, we started out by checking in with the folks at Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity. The housing crisis impacts folks across the country, including here in Washington state. During our visit, we had the chance to see efforts to develop affordable housing in Pierce County that are aiming to ensure more housing units that people can afford.
Thanks to awesome organizations like Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity and their incredible volunteers, like Nick Jackson, we are making huge strides in ensuring that more people have homes they can afford. During our visit, Nick received the Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award from AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith. He served three terms with Habitat for Humanity through AmeriCorps and is now a construction lead for Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity! Congratulations, Nick!
Protecting Our Environment
Next, we headed over to Lower Wapato Creek in Tacoma, where I had the chance to show AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith the incredible work being done in our region by the team at Northwest Youth Corps. These young people are building trails, restoring natural habitats, and improving local parks across our region – and developing new skills!
Northwest Youth Corps offers a challenging education and job-training experience that helps youth and young adults from diverse backgrounds develop the skills they need to lead full and productive lives. It's a terrific program!
Investing in Our Youth & Veterans
From there, we sat down for a roundtable discussion with the teams from Imagine Justice Project and Vet Corps. We had a meaningful conversation with AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith about why they serve our communities and how their programs benefit folks in our region.
Imagine Justice Project helps to connect and promote community priorities, focusing on youth development. Thanks to their efforts, we are working towards a stronger support system for young people in our region, ensuring they are able to access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Vet Corps is working to help our region’s veterans and their families transition from military to civilian and collegiate life, providing peer connections for veterans and their families and connecting them to federal, state, and local benefits. Their commitment to providing accessible resources and community support for our region’s veterans and their families goes a long way.
I’m proud to be a partner to both of these important organizations!
Food Security for Low-Income Seniors
Organizations like the Northwest Food Bank are essential to expanding access to quality food in our region. Their work is made possible by their amazing volunteers, many of whom work though the AmeriCorps Retired & Senior Volunteers Program.
It was great to visit with the team in Tacoma and see the important work they are doing to support low-income folks in our region. We were joined by AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith and had the opportunity to recognize the incredible work of volunteers Kirby, Bruce, Carola, Cheryl, Barbara, and Jesme!
Civic Bridge Building
Finally, we rounded out the visit by heading over to the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties. During my time in office, I’ve encouraged the folks I represent to find avenues to engage with people who might have a different political ideology and to do the challenging work of trying to build understanding and common ground (in fact, I introduced legislation like the Building Civic Bridges Act to support organizations in communities like ours who are addressing division).
Organizations like the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties are crucial to this civic bridge building, providing a space for open dialogue and working to bridge community divides. Each of us can do something to contribute—when we sit down with someone with whom we disagree, when we walk into a conversation with the understanding that we may be wrong and the other person may be right, or when we listen and try to understand where someone else is coming from.
Each of the organizations that I visited with AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith plays an important role in strengthening our region. I’m grateful for these important efforts – and hopeful that AmeriCorps will continue making a difference in our region.
Upholding Tribal Treaty Rights and Obligations
It is the responsibility of the federal government to uphold trust and treaty obligations to Tribes in our region. That’s why I recently introduced two pieces of legislation that will help Tribes further their efforts to reestablish their ancestral homelands.
First, I was proud to introduce the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act – legislation that will help restore more than 1,000 acres of ancestral land along the Elwha River to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. These parcels of land were acquired by the National Parks Service under the Elwha River Ecosystems and Fisheries Restoration Act of 1992 to facilitate the removal of two dams on the Elwha River. By taking these lands into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, my new legislation would protect and restore sacred and cultural lands, including the Tribe’s Creation Site. The legislation would also allow for the continued restoration of the region’s ecosystem, including the protection and repopulation of native fish species. This legislation would complete provisions in the Elwha Act to restore land to the Tribe and fulfill the commitment made to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe.
Second, I introduced the Quinault Indian Nation Land Transfer Act – legislation that will transfer 72 acres of land to the Bureau of Indian Affairs to be held in trust on behalf of the Quinault Indian Nation. This legislation will help restore the Quinault Indian Nation’s original reservation lands under the Treaty of Olympia of 1865. The Treaty of Olympia established the Quinault Indian Nation reservation, setting aside the land for the exclusive use of the Tribe. The federal government, however, went back on that agreement during the so-called Allotment Era and the land was taken from the Tribe.
This acreage was once where ancient carvers would slide canoe hulls in the Salmon River to be transported downriver to the main villages for completion and is one of the last remnants of the old growth forest that once dominated the reservation landscape. My legislation would restore ownership of the land to the Quinault Indian Nation and allow for preservation of the site for educational and cultural purposes.
I am committed to getting both of these pieces of legislation across the finish line and ensuring that the federal government fulfills its trust and treaty obligations to our region’s Tribal nations.
Working for You
Supporting Our Region’s Nonprofit Organizations
It was an honor to join Dr. Lillian Lockett Robertson and members of the Kitsap community at the Marvin Williams Center's annual gala this year. From coding to cooking classes, to working on a jump shot or starting a career, the MWC has given young people in our region more chances to thrive. Nonprofits like the Marvin Williams Center provide an opportunity for folks from varied backgrounds and perspectives to come together and learn. I'm proud to be a partner to such an amazing organization!
OK – that’s it for now, folks. As always, I’m honored to represent you.
Sincerely,
Derek