Are you currently a Social Security recipient?  The Social Security Administration announced this week that those Americans who receive SS will see a 3.6 percent increase in their monthly benefits starting in 2012.

Please visit the Administration’s website for more details on this change at http://www.ssa.gov/.  I’m working to make sure the finances for this program are stable and secure, so the federal government can keep its promise to those Americans who rely on Social Security in their retirement.

On October 13, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation that will protect and create Southwest Washington jobs.  I have been a strong co-sponsor of the “EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011,” a solution would help make a job-threatening rule by the EPA—the “Boiler MACT” rule—more reasonable.  Now, we need the Senate and President to act.  Without their approval, up to 18% of this region’s forest products industry jobs could disappear.

JOBS FAIR UPDATE: I am still collecting the results from our September 28 jobs fair, but so far we have learned at least 30 folks have found jobs, 217 have received interviews, and several more candidates are being considered for new positions.  We continue to hear positive stories from this event, and I remain committed to doing everything I can to get folks in this region back to work.