Dear Friend,

This week, our region mourned the loss of an officer who confronted danger with courage and a resolute focus on saving lives, sadly sacrificing his own life in the end.

Tragically, he was the 133rd officer to sacrifice his life on our behalf this year. Compared to this time last year, there has been a 19 percent increase in line of duty deaths.

Officer Gutierrez had served in law enforcement for 17 years and was one of the few who followed a calling to serve.

The men and women who wear the badge like Officer Gutierrez have continued to show resilience during difficult times and have maintained an unshakable commitment to perform their critical mission of keeping our families safe and protecting our freedoms, whether we are relaxing at home or protesting on the street.

Wednesday was no exception.

During what became a 11-hour standoff with the suspect, the Tacoma Police Department was assisted by many of its neighboring partners to ensure the surrounding area was secure.

What’s exceptional about this demonstration of bravery is that it is not exceptional at all.

Men and women across our country put their lives on the line every day because it is their duty and it is their calling.

On Friday, I had the privilege of honoring Officer Gutierrez and commending his bravery on the House floor. Click HERE to watch my full remarks.

Taking Healthcare into the 21^st Century

We need healthcare solutions that will spur innovation in health technology, promote life-saving research, protect hospitals from harmful unnecessary costs, address mental illness, and combat the opioid epidemic sweeping Washington State and the nation. I am proud this week the House passed bipartisan and comprehensive legislation that will move us toward this goal, the 21st Century Cures Act.

Click HERE to read my full statement and learn more about the 21st Century Cures Act.

Supporting our Troops and Keeping Our Nation Safe

The federal government’s first and most fundamental job is to protect the homeland. I was proud to be selected as a negotiator and sign this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will make sure our troops have the necessary support to fulfill their critical mission of protecting our freedoms and keeping Americans safe. The House passed the NDAA on Friday and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to look out for the interests of our troops and the American people by taking swift action in approving this legislation.

Connecting with Our Japanese Partners

Japan is one of our closest partners in the Asia-Pacific region and there is great potential to continue strengthening our economic relationship in the future. It was a pleasure to meet with business leaders from Japan earlier this week to discuss how businesses and workers in our countries can succeed together going forward.

Please stay safe and enjoy this first December weekend. Talk to you next time!