WEEKLY LOOK AT STATE NEWS, AND EVENTS THAT MATTERS TO US

News from our Congressional delegation to Washington DC

New Icebreaker on the Way as Cantwell Probes Coast Guard Budget
Coast Guard Commandant: We hope to start cutting steel in the next year
WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, in a hearing before the Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Senate Subcommittee U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) pressed Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Paul Zukunft on the status of icebreaker funding in the Navy budget. The Admiral revealed that a new icebreaker is included in the upcoming Coast Guard budget and that a contract to begin immediate construction will be awarded the next year.
Cantwell has been a leader in calling for the recapitalization of our nation’s aging icebreaker fleet. The Senator has called for the Navy to fund the $1 billion dollar vessel, $150 of which will be in the Administration’s Budget Request, according to the Commandant.
Earlier this month, the White House proposed drastic cuts to the Coast Guard’s budget, prompting fears that the polar icebreaker program may be impacted. Admiral Zukunft’s statement today removes doubt that the U.S. will soon commission its first heavy duty icebreaker in four decades. (Press release issued 3. 22. 17)
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/new-icebreaker-on-the-way-as-cantwell-probes-coast-guard-budget

Cantwell Continues Call for Greater Cybersecurity for Grid, Critical Infrastructure
Experts: Cyberattacks are not just theoretical, happening in United States
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing on cybersecurity, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) continued her call for urgent action to defend American energy infrastructure against potential cyberattacks.
Cantwell questioned Eric Rosenbach, the former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security, about the possibility of a cyberattack similar to recent attacks in Kiev, Ukraine happening in the United States.
In 2015, the Russians reportedly hacked into three Ukrainian distribution utilities, knocking power out to more than 225,000 customers for several hours. Two months ago, a utility in northern Kiev reported that their grid was brought down as a result of a cyberattack that was very similar to the alleged Russian attack in 2015.
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-continues-call-for-greater-cybersecurity-for-grid-critical-infrastructure

Cantwell, Murray: Call for Reversal of Proposed EPA Cuts That Would Devastate Americans’ Clean Air and Water
Senators: Trump’s pledge for clean air and water is “meaningless” when followed by proposal for drastic cuts that would undercut EPA’s core mission
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) joined a group of 37 Senators in opposing President Trump’s proposal to inflict a more than 30 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) budget.
Expressing “extreme concern” over the cuts, the Senators wrote to leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee, “During the President’s February 28, 2017 address to Congress, he pledged to ‘promote clean air and water.’ Such a pledge is meaningless when the President follows it by proposing a 31 percent cut to the EPA’s budget and a 20 percent reduction in its staff. If enacted, this funding cut would effectively eliminate the EPA’s ability to execute its core mission to protect public health and ensure citizens have clean air, clean water, and are protected from hazardous waste and contaminants.”
The Senators highlighted many areas of concern where the proposed cuts would significantly harm communities across America and in Washington state—from reducing clean air and clean water grants and cutting enforcement against polluters, to cutting funding for Superfund sites by 30 percent, to entirely eliminating efforts to combat climate change and the cleanup of major regional bodies of water, including Puget Sound. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has insisted that states should be the primary protectors of the environment. However, this proposed budget would drastically cut grants that are crucial for states to protect their clean water and clean air, monitor health impacts of pollution, and reclaim toxic-contaminated sites throughout the country.
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-murray-call-for-reversal-of-proposed-epa-cuts-that-would-devastate-americans-clean-air-and-water-

Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Introduces Bill to Protect Communities from Landslides
Legislation Will Improve Science and Coordination Needed to Help Communities Prepare for and Respond to Natural Hazards
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Representative Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.-01), Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced bipartisan legislation to help local communities prepare for and respond to landslides and other natural hazards.
The legislation, titled the National Landslide Preparedness Act, will help protect communities and property, save lives and improve emergency preparedness and planning by targeting key gaps in current science and mapping critical to understanding landslide hazards and risks.
According to the USGS and National Research Council, landslide hazards claim 25-50 lives each year and cause between $1.6 and $3.2 billion in damages in the United States. Globally, landslides cause tens of billions of dollars in damages and thousands of deaths and injuries each year.
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-bicameral-group-introduces-bill-to-protect-communities-from-landslides_

Cantwell: Investing In Infrastructure Is Key To Maintaining And Growing Our Economy
Cantwell Slams Trump’s Budget Proposal In New Letter, Highlights Congress’ Failure to Adequately Fund Maintenance Needs of the National Park Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) blasted President Trump’s budget proposal during a committee hearing on public lands infrastructure.
“Investing in infrastructure is key to maintaining and growing our economy. I thought President Trump, Republicans and Democrats all agree on that. But we need a budget proposal that can help us do that,” Sen. Cantwell said. “It is ironic that we are gathered to discuss infrastructure funding after having just received a budget that essentially abandons that entire concept.”
Referring to the Secure Rural Schools and PILT programs, Sen. Cantwell said, “We cannot claim to be saving money for an infrastructure package by taking away from the infrastructure funding of states. Whether it’s counties that are working to maintain or improve their schools or doing roadwork in rural communities, we need to work together to resolve these problems.”
Sen. Cantwell made the case that investing in outdoor and recreation infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to grow the economy. Outdoor recreationists made more than 938 million visits to federal lands, spending $51 billion and supporting 880,000 jobs—not including visits to private or state lands. The outdoor recreation economy spurs $646 billion in spending each year in the United States, yielding $40 billion in federal taxes and $40 billion state and local taxes.
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-investing-in-infrastructure-is-key-to-maintaining-and-growing-our-economy-

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