Wall Street Reform: The Strongest Protections for Washington Consumers Ever

Last week, I voted to pass a Wall Street Reform bill that provides families across our state with the strongest consumer protections in our history. The bill also guarantees that Washington state taxpayers will never again be on the hook to bailout Wall Street.

I have heard from so many people across our state whose stories demonstrate the need for us to act. Families facing foreclosure due to mortgage fraud, seniors who have lost their retirement savings, small businesses that can’t hire because they can’t borrow, and those who have lost everything due to Wall Street’s ‘anything goes’ rules. These families deserve not only accountability, they deserve protection. This bill provides it. – Details

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Howard Hanson: Protecting our Homes, Businesses, and Economy

On Thursday, May 13th, I announced that I have worked to secure $44 million in emergency funding for critical repairs to the Howard Hanson Dam. This funding will go towards efforts to repair the dam and reduce the risk a flood would have on families, businesses, homes, and our state’s economy. – Details

“U.S. senator, local officials express hope, triumph over Hanson Dam funding”
– Auburn Reporter

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Police Week: Honoring our Fallen Officers

On Thursday, May 13th, I went to the Senate floor to introduce a resolution honoring Washington State law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty in 2009. Law enforcement officers throughout the Nation and in Washington State risk their own lives to protect the lives of others every day, and this resolution honored those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of their communities.

Read the full text of the resolution.

“Always a hero; never forgotten” – The News Tribune

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Big Oil: Washington State Taxpayers Should Never Pay for Big Oil’s Mistakes

I have recently co-sponsored a bill that would make sure oil companies are held accountable for the enormous economic costs resulting from spills. Currently, the responsible party in an oil spill must cover all costs related to clean up; however there is a $75 million cap on its liability for economic damages, such as lost business revenues from fishing and tourism, natural resources damages or lost local tax revenues.

The Big Oil Bailout Prevention that I co-sponsored would raise that cap to a much more appropriate $10 billion.  Unfortunately, Republicans blocked this legislation from passing. This is extremely disappointing and I will continue to fight to make sure Washington state taxpayers are never on the hook for Big Oil’s mistakes. – Details

I am also calling for a permanent ban on drilling off the West Coast to ensure that we never face the devastating economic and environmental damage that the Gulf Coast is currently experiencing.

“West Coast senators seek ban on Pacific offshore drilling” – Seattle Times

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Homeland Security: Securing the Puget Sound

I recently announced major investments in our state’s security infrastructure. Over $20 million is going to help protect our ports from terrorism attacks by enhancing their risk management capabilities, training and exercises, and capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices and other non-conventional weapons.

Additionally, funding was allocated to protect high risk facilities such as stadiums and nuclear and electrical power plants, and to increase emergency communications abilities among state, territory, local and tribal governments.

– Details

“Washington gets $27.5M from Homeland Security” – SeattlePI.com

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Fairchild Air Force Base: Questioning Air Force Brass about Much Needed Improvements

On Wednesday, May 12th, I questioned the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force about much needed improvements to Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. I sought answers to why Fairchild construction projects were left off the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2011 military construction budget. I also questioned the Air Force about making Fairchild a home to the next generation of aerial refueling tankers.

Listen to the entire exchange.

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