Fighting for Homeless Veterans in Washington State
Last week, I stood with fellow Democratic Senators to discuss how the Republicans’ reckless spending proposal would cut 10,000 housing vouchers that would bring homeless veterans off the streets and into supportive housing. We owe it to our veterans to provide them with the resources and support they need to put a roof over their heads. And this is just one more example of the Republicans putting politics and ideology over families, communities, and even those who have served our nation.
Watch the press conference >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc9AA9ZMLy0&tracker=False
“Veterans housing program targeted”” – The Olympian http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/11/1574690/veterans-housing-program-targeted.html
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Contrasting Republican and Democratic Budget Proposals: Reckless Cuts VS. Sensible Solutions
Last week, I spoke on the Senate floor to contrast the Republican and Democratic spending proposals currently being debated in the Senate. I am extremely disappointed that Republicans who came into office promising to work with us on helping our economy, have proposed an extreme budget that would destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs, devastate workers and small business across the country, and threaten our fragile economic recovery. The Democrats offered a plan to cut spending responsibly, while continuing to make the investments we need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build our competitors.
Watch video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDujvIW0o20
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Standing Up for Washington State Veterans’ Caregivers
Earlier this month, I pointedly questioned Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki about the VA’s decision to limit a critical benefit for the caregivers of severely injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The VA’s decision, which cuts back stipends for those who have left careers behind to care for their injured loved ones, ignores the will of Congress in passing the caregivers law last year.
and watch the hearing >> http://veterans.senate.gov/hearings.cfm?action=release.display&release_id=5ee43015-815c-4f30-a682-7fa0115ebb63
Families of severely wounded veterans still waiting for help” – The News Tribune
“VA blasted for limits on caregiver benefits” – Army Times
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Working to Lower Tariffs on Washington State Farmers and Growers
I was encouraged by the announcement made by President Barack Obama and President of Mexico Felipe Calderón earlier this month that they had reached an agreement on a path forward for resolving the cross-border trucking dispute and ending the retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. The Mexican government has committed to suspending 50% of the tariffs once a final rule is published and an agreement is signed. The other 50% of the tariffs will be suspended when the program commences. While this agreement is absolutely encouraging, I am deeply disappointed that the Mexican government has refused to immediately lift the tariffs that are devastating Washington state farmers and growers.
Over the past two years, I have pressured the Obama Administration to work with the Mexican government to remove retaliatory tariffs on Washington state farmers and growers. Earlier this year, I praised an announcement by Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood that the Administration would be moving forward with a proposal to negotiate an end to Mexican tariffs on agricultural products. I criticized the Mexican government’s response to this proposal when they refused to make any changes to the list of products affected by the tariffs. Their newest agreement is a step in the right direction and I will continue calling on the Mexican government to immediately drop these harmful tariffs.
“Mexico tariffs on ag products may end” – Yakima Herald-Republic >> http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/03/03/mexico-tariffs-may-end
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