Dear Friend,

 

This week, many of us have gathered around the television to cheer on the athletes representing Team USA at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.  From the pool, to cycling, to the judo mat and the gymnastics arena, we have already witnessed amazing feats of athleticism, artistry, perseverance and strength.  I am so proud of all of our Olympians but I am especially proud of our very own Courtney Thompson from Kent, WA who is competing with the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team.  They are off to a strong start and I hope you will join me in rooting on Courtney and the rest of the team in their upcoming games.  GO TEAM USA! 

 

Bringing Communities Together and Restoring Trust

Just as the Olympic games bring individuals from all walks of life from all over the globe together, so too must we unite our communities here at home. With tensions between community and police at an all-time high, bringing back trust in our law enforcement remains one of my top priorities. Whether it is empowering local communities to change their training practices or getting law enforcement the funding they need to hire more officers, I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to build upon community policing and strengthen our communities.  Read about and watch more of my ideas here.

 

Protecting Our Natural Treasures

This week I was honored to receive the Nature Conservancy’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Conservation Champion award. Since the LWCF was authorized by Congress 50 years ago, it has served as an important economic stimulus for our region and has helped preserve our access to beautiful areas like the Alpine Lake Wilderness, Mt. Rainer, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, the Wenatchee National Forest and Teanaway Valley. Travelers from all over the country and the world have come to see the natural beauty that Washington is known for. Every time I watch my grandchildren take in the beautiful view of Mt. Rainier or join them on a hike along the Pacific Crest Trail, I am reminded what protecting these natural gifts is all about.

 

Strengthening Healthcare for Washington Families

I had the opportunity to meet with hospital leaders from around the 8^th District. We had a productive conversation on ways we can work together to improve the quality and accessibility of essential health services in our region, including mental healthcare.  We also discussed current healthcare workforce challenges, particularly in rural areas, and ways to strengthen Graduate Medical Education and the Teaching Health Centers program to get more doctors into underserved areas.

 

Fighting for a Cure

It was a pleasure to meet Sain from Auburn who was diagnosed at age 5 with Type 1 Diabetes. Sain and her mom stopped by my office to share their experience living with diabetes. Sain is a courageous teenager for sharing her story and advocating on behalf of other children and teenagers who are also waiting for a cure.  I will continue to fight for strong funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which represents our best hope for one day finding a cure and new treatments to help improve the lives of those living with diabetes.

 

Honoring a Local Hero

This week, Renton resident Robin Abel’s quest to improve road safety was featured in a CNN article on the dangers of road debris. Since her daughter was blinded by a loose board that flew off a moving truck and into her windshield, Robin has dedicated her time and energy into strengthening road safety laws so that no parent faces the same circumstances as her family. I am proud of the recognition she has received and was honored to work with her to include language in the Transportation Bill directing states to strengthen laws regarding unsecured loads. Read more about her tireless advocacy and the importance of road safety here.

 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!