Senator John Kerry will make an exceptional Secretary of State. I have worked with John for years, and his understanding of our nation’s foreign policy challenges is second to none.
I enjoyed a farewell meeting today with Steve Wright, Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) Administrator. We discussed important energy issues concerning the 9th District and the Pacific Northwest as a whole. I have enjoyed working with Steve in his role as Administrator for the last decade, and wish him well in his future endeavors.
I was happy to see the Washington Military Alliance release their report today detailing the critical role that Washington State's defense communities play in national security and the opportunities they have to enhance that role in the future.
Rep. Howard Berman introduced the Global Partnerships Act of 2012 which offers important reforms for progress in effective delivery of foreign assistance.
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Staff Sergeant Wesley R. Williams, who was assigned to JBLM and lost his life serving our nation in Afghanistan. His sacrifice will not be forgotten.
I am pleased that my colleagues selected me to serve another term as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee. As our country continues to face great challenges, I am committed to standing up and fighting for the national security goals and principles of our caucus.
In 2012, provisions in the healthcare law that fixed Medicare’s “donut hole” saved Washington State beneficiaries $84.7 million. Nearly 44,000 individuals saved an average of $700 on prescription drugs. Additionally, healthcare law requirements allowed over 431,000 Washingtonians with Medicare to receive preventative services at no costs to them.
On World AIDS Day, we reflect and celebrate our achievements, but also remember that we must strive towards our goal of ridding the world of HIV/AIDS each and every day.
On the third year anniversary of the Lakewood shooting, Rep. Dave Reichert and I introduced legislation to improve information sharing between local, state, and federal law enforcement.
Reminder that I will be appearing this morning with Ben Affleck on ABC's "This Week" to discuss the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We must continue to actively engage international leaders to work towards solutions. It is critical that rebel groups are prevented from wreaking further havoc in this region.