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  • 10/14/14

    Be Better Informed About Ebola

    McMorris Rodgers Statement on Ebola Crisis

    WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) issued the following statement today after President Obama appointed Ron Klain to serve as the Administration’s Ebola response coordinator.

    “We must do everything possible to protect the American people from the growing and life-threatening risk of Ebola.  As more cases are diagnosed, especially in light of the recent reports, I expect the Administration and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to act swiftly and aggressively to not only combat this epidemic, but also gain the trust and confidence of the American people every step of the way.  A biosecurity threat of this nature requires a comprehensive strategy across multiple federal agencies – not just a single official. 

    “I urge the Administration to consider immediate travel restrictions – such as visa bans for non-US nationals in the West African countries most impacted – in addition to making sure the CDC and other agencies have the resources they need to train and equip health care professionals to fight this virulent disease.  I will continue to advance efforts to assist the Administration’s response to combat the Ebola outbreak – including the recent approval of $750 million to support Operation United Assistance, the Department of Defense-led mission.  This is a public health emergency – and it should be met with aggressive, coordinated, and immediate action.”

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to prevent Ebola victims from coming into contact with others. The CDC is also working with the Department of Homeland Security to monitor airports and to screen those with symptoms of infection.

    In the House, the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is closely monitoring the impact of the disease, and will hold a hearing, Examining the U.S. Public Health Response to the Ebola Outbreak, on Thursday, October 16, regarding the ongoing outbreak.

    What is Ebola?

    Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. It was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically in Africa.

    It is caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus. There are five identified Ebola virus species, four of which are known to cause disease in humans.

    The natural reservoir host of Ebola virus remains unknown. However, researchers believe that the virus is animal-borne and that bats are the most likely host of the disease. Four of the five virus strains occur in an animal host native to Africa.

    The incubation period for Ebola is generally eight to 10 days; but it can be as short as two days or as long as 21 days. 

    *Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    As numerous reports about Ebola and Ebola’s impact in the United States come out, please use these government resources to better understand this virus:

    Click here for updates regarding the Ebola virus (CDC)

    Click here to better understand how the virus is transmitted (CDC)

    Click here for a list of prevention tips (CDC)

    Click here for a record of current and past outbreaks (CDC)

    Click here to better understand treatment for Ebola (CDC) 

    What to do if returning to the U.S. from an area where an outbreak is occurring:

    Monitor your health for 21 days if you were in an area with an Ebola outbreak, especially if you were in contact with blood or body fluids, items that have come in contact with blood or body fluids, animals or raw meat, or hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated or participated in burial rituals.

    Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever (temperature of 101.5°F/ 38.6°C) and any of the following symptoms: headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bruising or bleeding.

    Tell your doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms before you go to the office or emergency room. Advance notice will help your doctor care for you and protect other people who may be in the office.

    *Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    Please visit this timeline of actions taken in the House to assist and assess the government's response to the Ebola outbreak. 

  • 9/29/14

    New Jobs for Clarkston and Lewis-Clark Valley

    In order for our educators to equip our workforce with the training and skills they need to succeed, it is essential we invest in workforce development. That is why I am so pleased about the opportunities a newly announced Economic Development Administration grant will bring to both Walla Walla Community College in Clarkston and to our community at large.

    It is estimated that in the next 10 years, this Financial Assistance Award will bring 470 new jobs to our community. As WWCC breaks ground on its Workforce and Business Development Center, I am confident it will arm Clarkston and the greater Lewis-Clark Valley with the tools they need to flourish in the 21st century workplace. By offering better workforce training in areas like industrial maintenance, welding and fabrication, electricity and energy systems, and business programs, this new center will serve as a hub of modern job training.

    These are the kinds of projects that change lives, and that help people attain the skills they need to reach their full potential. These are the projects that open doors for tremendous opportunities for our community. With the Workforce and Business Development Center, projected to be completed by December 2016, we can count on new jobs, new skills, and new possibilities for Eastern Washington.

  • 9/12/14

    Calling For Answers On Behalf of ALS Community

    Our government should be supportive – in fact, it should be ecstatic – about technological advancements enabling ALS patients like Steve Gleason to communicate with family and friends using only their eyes and a tablet. But instead, the millions of men and women living with ALS and other neurological and degenerative disabilities are facing pushback from their government, which has made shortsighted policy decisions that could limit their only means of communication. Because of people like Steve,I was proud to spearhead a bipartisan letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services advocating on this community’s behalf today.

    Americans rely on these innovative technologies as their only means to continue communicating the outside world, and CMS’s recent actions are now limiting their ability to benefit from these tools that help lead to independent lives.

    After hearing from numerous individuals living with ALS and other degenerative disabilities, today, I urge CMS to explain its shortsighted policy decisions. I am joined by 200 of my colleagues, from both sides of the aisle. Together we stand with the millions of Americans living with degenerative disabilities who are being impacted.

    We must empower men and women with the opportunity to utilize 21stcentury technologies that can have a tremendous impact on their quality of life.

     

  • 9/10/14

    It is crucial we defeat ISIS

    Now more than ever, it is crucial we defeat ISIS and other terrorist groups that pose grave threats to our nation and our allies. 

    In the aftermath of the gruesome murder of innocent Americans – and ISIS’s continued efforts to harm its enemies – the United States must show unwavering leadership.  Yet we have received nothing but mixed messages from the Obama Administration.

    This week, national security committees in the House are conducting numerous hearings on the rise of ISIS. We are hearing from the leading experts on terrorism and the Middle East, and we will use this information to assess a viable path forward in defeating ISIS and those who threaten the American people. 

    Tonight, the President will address the nation with his strategy to confront Islamic militants and protect the American people.  The time is now for strong and unwavering American leadership. We must not shirk from the growing threat posed by terrorist groups like ISIS, and we must defeat them before more harm is done. 

  • 9/8/14

    September is National Disaster Preparedness month

    September marks National Disaster Preparedness month, and in light of the numerous fires and landslides that have impacted our community this summer, please visit Ready.Gov for a list of resources helpful in creating a plan to best prepare for and respond to emergencies like natural and man-made disasters.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has prepared informative guides for seniors, students, small businesses, and offers information on Citizen Corps, where Americans can volunteer to respond to state and local communities experiencing emergencies.

    Parents and teachers can click here to educate and involve children in preparing ahead. The site offers an emergency supply kit checklist for parents and children.

    For more information on how to build a disaster supplies kit, please click here.

    Additionally, September 30th is National Prepareathon! Day, a day for communities and individuals to prepare for disasters like wildfires. Please visit FEMA to learn how to prepare for a wildfire

  • 7/17/14

    Innovative Health Bills

    I continue to be inspired by breakthroughs in scientific research coming out of the 21st century, and I am committed to smart policies that advance these breakthroughs and pave the way for new possibilities.

     

    I wanted to let you know the House Energy and Commerce Committee met this week to consider a slew of bipartisan bills that bring innovative solutions to an array of issues, ranging from furthering the FDA review process for sunscreen to modernizing Muscular Dystrophy research and education activities.

     

    Here’s a list of the bipartisan legislation, which passed via voice vote at this week’s meeting:

     

    1.     H.R. 4250, the bipartisan Sunscreen Innovation Act modernizes the FDA’s sunscreen approval process for new sunscreen while adhering to strict safety standards. It has been nearly over a decade since the FDA has approved a single new sunscreen ingredient, and this legislation fosters innovation while allowing new sunscreen products to reach the marketplace.

     

    2.     H.R. 4771, the bipartisan Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act, which addresses new designer anabolic steroids that are marketed as dietary supplements. Through the Controlled Substances Act, this bill makes it easier for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to identify and list new drugs or substances and protect consumers from purchasing potentially harmful products.

     

    3.      H.R. 594, the bipartisan Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research and Education Amendments of 2014 updates research and education activities to reflect scientific developments and continues the support of Muscular Dystrophy research and patient support initiatives.

     

    4.      H.R. 4290the Wakefield Act, which improves the quality of all emergency medical and emergency surgical care children receive.

     

    5.     H.R. 669, the bipartisan Sudden Unexpected Death and Data Enhancement and Awareness Act, which helps standardize reporting and data collection.

  • 7/15/14

    Creating Jobs and Improving Eastern Washington's Economy

    I wanted to update you about the work I’m doing to advance pro-growth energy policies, such as H.R. 4923, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015. This commonsense, pro-jobs legislation will fund Army Corps of Engineers’ activities, create jobs, and ensure Eastern Washington waterways stay open for business.

    Our vital waterways provide Eastern Washington with a number of economic opportunities, and I am proud to support bipartisan legislation that strengthens those opportunities by providing critical funding to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and navigation projects. This bill will help more men and women in our community get back to work and build a healthy local economy.

    But that’s not all it does. This legislation also encourages cooperation between the Walla Walla District Army Corps of Engineers and landowners regarding the use of Corps’ land along the Lower Snake River. This cooperation will provide greater certainty for landowners along the Lower Snake River, helping them succeed.

    This pro-growth legislation takes important steps to help get those in Eastern Washington back to work. By advancing economic competitiveness, we can make sure our community’s waterways will continue to create new jobs, strengthen our local economy, and make life better for people at home.

  • 7/4/14

    This 238th Independence Day

    As we celebrate Independence Day with family and friends, I wanted to send you my warmest wishes for a Happy Fourth of July. On this very special holiday, Americans across our nation celebrate what makes this country great. We come together for parades, barbecues, and firework displays, but most importantly, we come together to honor the greatest nation on this Earth.

    In the summer of 1776, a group of courageous patriots declared their independence. Our Founders declared:

    “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” 

    Today, 238 years later, those ideals continue to inspire me, and they continue to ring true for all Americans.  As we reflect on these foundational truths to the United States of America, we must also honor the brave men and women of our military, our veterans, and their families, who have made countless sacrifices to protect our freedom and liberty.

    Wishing you a happy and safe Fourth of July!

  • 6/26/14

    In the Face of a Struggling Economy: Hope

    We are in the midst of hard times, and as I continue to hear from families in Eastern Washington struggling to pay their bills, I find myself thinking about the future of our nation – a future full of possibility, but burdened by economic stagnation.  Yesterday, the Commerce Department announced that the U.S. economy shrank by a staggering 2.9 percent in the first quarter of the year, the worst fall we’ve seen since early 2009 – and that was five years ago, when we were in the midst of a recession.

    Since January, fewer Americans have been purchasing goods, and that has hurt our economy – but more than that, it has hurts our families. Because when American families have less take-home pay, priorities change. Families are fighting to make ends meet, fighting to buy groceries and pay rent. Those are the priorities, and when families struggle, our nation struggles.

    Statistics and numbers like these are upsetting, and as your Member of Congress, my commitment is getting Eastern Washington back on track. This week the House voted on numerous energy bills that will create good-paying jobs for communities like ours. We have passed legislation like the bipartisan America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2014, which provides the thousands of people who work on farms and in small businesses an opportunity to create jobs and invest in new advancements. I am committed to policies like these – policies that will increase opportunities for those at home in Eastern Washington. Yesterday’s economic report motivates me to work harder for our community, to ensure that you can bring home higher paychecks, and to get Eastern Washington back to work. 

  • 6/23/14

    My letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy

    I want you to know that I sent a letter to the EPA expressing my serious concerns with its energy proposal, which would require our state toreduce carbon emissions by 72 percent, the largest reduction asked of any state in the county. Washington state is one of the cleanest, greenest states in the nation, with over 70 percent of our energy portfolio coming from renewable hydropower. Please know that I am committed to keeping the EPA in check. I will continue to advocate for the innovative solutions that Washington state employs through hydropower, which promote lower electricity costs, meet power demands, and promote overall consumer well-being.

    My letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy:

    Dear Administrator McCarthy:

          I write to express my concern regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s recent release of proposed carbon emission regulations titled “Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units on existing power plants” and the specific state goal of reducing carbon emissions by 72 percent, the largest reduction asked of any state in the county. The proposed rule not only ignores Washington State’s current status as one of the lowest carbon emitters in the country, but it also forces the state to employ energy sources that are far less reliable and much more costly at the expense of our largest, most abundant energy resource - hydropower. To that end, I respectfully request that you reevaluate the approach currently taken by EPA and the impact that the proposed goal will have on Washington State. 

          Washington State has a positive emissions story to tell. Coal makes up less than 3.5 percent of Washington State’s total electric utility generating capacity, with the only commercial coal-fired power plant in the State already being phased out by 2025. The state already emits less than 7 million metric tons of carbon (by the EPA’s own estimates), making it the ninth lowest emitter in the nation. Yet, under the proposed regulation, the EPA treats Washington State as the nation’s top carbon offender. Moreover, the EPA is forcing Washington State to make changes in such a way that currently discounts the state’s primary source of power, hydropower, which already makes Washington State among the cleanest and greenest in the nation.

          A review of EPA’s methodology underscores the Administration’s real motive. First, the EPA imposes a six percent reduction rate on all states’ 2012 coal-fired carbon emissions. In a state in which there will not be one single coal-fired power plant by 2025 and already emits less than 7 million metric tons of carbon – diverting resources to achieve a six percent reduction is inexplicable not to mention cost prohibitive. The EPA also requires states to make “dispatch” changes, which includes moving power needs to low emission sources such as natural gas combined cycle (NGCC). The rule presumes that states will utilize NGCC plants 70 percent of the time, thereby replacing higher emitting carbon sources. Again, with one of the lowest emissions rates already in place, it is unclear why the EPA is forcing Washington State to divert scarce resources to an energy source that contributes to approximately five percent of our electricity needs. Third, the EPA assumes and encourages the use of low and/or zero emitting power sources but specifically excludes hydropower. To estimate the potential power generated by renewable energy sources, the EPA grouped states into six regions, took the average renewable energy standard and potential growth in electricity, and applied those findings to individual states. Yet, the EPA specifically excluded hydropower, 70 percent of Washington State’s energy portfolio, from its regional calculations. Finally, the EPA looked to demand side reduction, which Washington State already addresses in a number of ways.

          The EPA talks a great deal about state flexibility. Yet, the facts suggest otherwise. If the regulation is finalized in its current form, EPA would have Washington State meet its electricity needs through resources that make up less than 30 percent of its entire energy portfolio – intermittent and costly energy resources at best. As a result, the only real losers under this proposed regulation will be the residents of Washington State who will most certainly be facing job losses and higher electricity bills. Washington State is already making significant strides to address carbon emissions and to protect the health and well-being of residents. 

          I urge you to reconsider the proposed regulation and look to the innovative solutions that Washington State is already employing through the use of hydropower to promote lower electricity costs, meet power demands, and promote overall consumer well-being.