Highlights from around Southwest Washington last week
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Community Coffee in Winlock
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Listening to residents and what matters to them is one of the most important parts of my job. I started off the week by hosting a community coffee with the residents of Winlock and Tenino. We discussed a wide variety of issues, from jobs, to putting a stop to sexual assaults in the military. A big thanks to all the folks who took the time to come out and share their thoughts with me.
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Cowlitz County Community
Leaders Roundtable
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Next, I spent time learning from community leaders in Cowlitz County at a roundtable discussion. It was a very productive to hear firsthand about the issues impacting the region.
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Gifford Pinchot Forest Tour with U.S.Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell
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The very survival of many of our Southwest Washington communities hinges on better management of our federal forests. Last week I hosted a roundtable and tour of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest with U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and rural community members about the need for active forest management. The discussion covered the lack of timber harvested in federal forests, the decline in Northern Spotted Owl numbers, a stark lack of funding for rural schools and services, and a severe decline in federal forest health. Meanwhile the risk of catastrophic wildfires has dramatically spiked. We had a very productive tour and I am continuing to work with Chief Tidwell and the Forest Service to find solutions to these challenges.
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| TOP NEWS |
OLYMPIAN: Obamacare ‘employer mandate’ delayed until 2015
READ MORE HERE
CHRONICLE: Congresswoman, Forest Chief Hear Timber Concerns
READ MORE HERE
COLUMBIAN: Herrera Beutler seeks solutions for Skamania Co. timber woes
READ MORE HERE
LONGVIEW DAILY NEWS: U.S. House committee approves $30 million for small port dredging
READ MORE HERE
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RESIDENT
SPOTLIGHT
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I was honored to receive this note from a Woodland veteran who my office was able to help:
“Thank you so very much for helping me with my claim! My claim came in the mail with two discrepancies, however the claim was enough to catch me up and keep my house! I would not be where I am if it wasn’t you helping me!
“Thank you so very much!”
-Elizabeth Ford
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In DC: Taking action against sexual assault in the Military |
In recent months, alarming information has come to light regarding the prevalence of sexual assault in the military. Studies have shown that service members who report rapes or sexual assaults face retaliation a majority of the time.
As a first step, I put my support behind H.R. 1864 which the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed last week. This bill adds rape, sexual assault, and other sexual misconduct to the protected communications of service members with a Member of Congress or an Inspector General. The whistleblower protection ensures a victim’s right to report these crimes to authorities without military interference.
I still believe that stronger action is needed, but this bill is an important first step to confront this critical issue. Click here to read more. |
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