Kilmer Statement in Support of Net Neutrality
TACOMA, WA—Following the FCC’s announcement of a plan to repeal key regulations that ensure equal access to the internet, Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) released the following statement:“I support net neutrality and believe we must protect a free and open internet. I oppose the Trump Administration proposal put forward today because it would stifle innovation and harm consumers. The FCC should reject this proposal, and instead Congress should update telecommunications laws and make sure they are relevant to today’s economy.” ---press release issued 11/ 22/ 17
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-statement-in-support-of-net-neutrality
Related story: Rosenworcel Statement on FCC Plan to Roll Back Internet Rights
November 21, 2017. — FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcelreleased the following statement:
“Today the FCC circulated its sweeping roll back of our net neutrality rules. Following actions earlier this year to erase consumer privacy protections, the Commission now wants to wipe out court-tested rules and a decade’s work in order to favor cable and telephone companies. This is ridiculous and offensive to the millions of Americans who use the Internet every day.
Our Internet economy is the envy of the world because it is open to all. This proposal tears at the foundation of that openness. It hands broadband providers the power to decide
what voices to amplify, which sites we can visit, what connections we can make, and what communities we create. It throttles access, stalls opportunity, and censors content. It
would be a big blunder for a slim majority of the FCC to approve these rules and saddle every Internet user with the cruel consequences.
I’ve called for public hearings before any change is made to these rules, just as
Republican and Democratic Commissions have done in the past. We should go directly to the American public to find out what they think about this proposal before any vote is taken to harm net neutrality.”
https://www.fcc.gov/document/rosenworcel-statement-fcc-plan-roll-back-internet-rights
Related news story: FCC chief plans to ditch U.S. 'net neutrality' rules
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission unveiled plans on Tuesday to repeal landmark 2015 rules that prohibited internet service providers from impeding consumer access to web content in a move that promises to recast the digital landscape.Kilmer Statement on Congressman John Conyers, Jr.
TACOMA, WA – Rep. Derek Kilmer made the following statement regarding Congressman John Conyers, Jr.Press release issued 11/ 21/ 17
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-statement-on-congressman-john-conyers-jr
“Sexual harassment is wrong and allegations of sexual harassment by Members of Congress or Congressional staff should be thoroughly investigated. Those who are found to have committed acts that fail to meet the highest ethical standards should be held publicly accountable,” Rep. Derek Kilmer said. “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to cover up unethical or illegal behavior committed by public servants. I have taken sexual harassment training, made it mandatory for my staff and believe it should be mandatory for others, but that’s not enough. As a first step towards reforming the way Congress handles sexual harassment violations, I support the legislation introduced by Rep. Jackie Speier and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand that would set up a process that treats fairly the people brave enough to report abuse and starts to hold Members of Congress accountable.”
Related News Story: Secret Conyers settlement raises new questions on Capitol Hill.
WASHINGTON — New questions are being raised about the lack of accountability in how sexual harassment claims on Capitol Hill are handled, an issue that gained more attention Tuesday after Rep. John Conyers acknowledged he had settled a complaint with an accuser in virtual secret.---NBC NEWS
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Sens. Murray, Cantwell, Democratic Women Senators to McConnell: Pass the DREAM Act Before Senate Recesses in December
Press release issued 11/ 22/ 17https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=CB36F301-91AF-4646-AAD9-4887C091A4AC
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined their Democratic women colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging him to pass the Dream Act as soon as possible before the Senate recesses in December.
In the letter, Cantwell, Murray, and nine other female Democratic Senators, including Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), emphasized the impact of President Trump’s decision to rescind the DACA program on women DREAMers, and their families, and underscored the need to pass legislation that would prevent them from being deported from the only home they have ever known.
“Women make up 53 percent of DACA recipients. According to the largest survey of DACA recipients, about one-quarter are parents of American citizen children,” the Senators wrote. “The futures of these mothers and their U.S. citizen children have been thrown into uncertainty. If Congress does not act to protect them, hundreds of thousands of women will lose their status and face deportation.”
The Senators expressed concern that these American citizen children of DACA recipients may end up in foster care if their mothers are deported. The Senators also noted that the fear of deportation leads fewer immigrants to report incidents of sexual abuse or domestic violence.
The full text of the letter is below:
Dear Leader McConnell:
We write to urge you to pass the Dream Act as soon as possible and before the Senate recesses for the holidays. There is bipartisan support for Dreamers who have grown up as Americans and know only this country as their home. They are enrolled in our colleges, serving in our military, contributing to our economy and leading lawful, productive lives. It has been over two months since President Trump rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program and we have yet to see a Republican legislative plan to fix DACA. As mothers, sisters, aunts, and grandmothers, we are particularly concerned about the harm immigrant women and young children face with the rescission of DACA.
Women make up 53 percent of DACA recipients. According to the largest survey of DACA recipients, about one-quarter are parents of American citizen children. The futures of these mothers and their U.S. citizen children have been thrown into uncertainty. If Congress does not act to protect them, hundreds of thousands of women will lose their status and face deportation.
The effects of deportation have a lasting impact on immigrant families. When a parent is deported, it leaves the other with the responsibility of raising a family as a single parent—likely on a single income. If both parents are deported, their children may end up in foster care. Dreamer parents deserve to raise their children with dignity and without the threat of deportation.
Through the DACA program, immigrant women have been able to secure jobs and educational opportunities that allow them to provide for themselves and their families. In fact, over 90 percent of DACA recipients are currently employed and approximately 70 percent were able to get better paying jobs through their DACA status. Without the Dream Act, women will face extreme difficulty making ends meet for their families.
Women deserve to feel safe and be protected, regardless of immigration status. Taking away DACA protections places survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault at risk of further exploitation. There is already increasing fear among immigrant survivors to report these crimes. In fact, nearly 43 percent of legal advocates said they had personally worked with a domestic violence or sexual assault survivor who dropped a civil or criminal case because they were too scared of potential immigration enforcement actions to continue.
If we do not act now to pass the Dream Act, thousands of Dreamer mothers and their families will face separation. The experience of Riccy Enriquez Perdomo, a DACA recipient and mother of two small children, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this summer despite having DACA protection, is just one example of what could happen across the country if Congress fails to pass the Dream Act. Riccy was detained for seven days and shuffled to five different detention facilities during that time. Her family was unable to see her or even get accurate information on where she was being held. ICE had already prepared travel documents for her to be sent to Honduras before acknowledging their mistake. Riccy’s experience and the painful uncertainty her family faced will be repeated thousands of times across the country if we do not take action.
Dreamers should not be threatened with detention and deportation. Immigrant women contribute so much to our society and we cannot let them down. Congress should immediately consider legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers.
There is absolutely no doubt that America will benefit from passage of the Dream Act, and too much is at stake not to act. We urge you to bring this legislation to the Senate floor for consideration as soon as possible.
Ref. S.1615 — 115th Congress (2017-2018)
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1615
Dream Act of 2017
This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to cancel removal and grant lawful permanent resident status on a conditional basis to an alien who is inadmissible or deportable or is in temporary protected status who: (1) has been continuously physically present in the United States for four years preceding this bill's enactment; (2) was younger than 18 years of age on the initial date of U.S. entry; (3) is not inadmissible on criminal, security, terrorism, or other grounds; (4) has not participated in persecution; (5) has not been convicted of specified federal or state offenses; and (6) has fulfilled specified educational requirements.
DHS shall cancel the removal of, and adjust to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence on a conditional basis, an alien who was granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status unless the alien has engaged in conduct that would make the alien ineligible for DACA.
DHS may not: (1) grant conditional permanent resident status without the submission of biometric and background data, and completion of background and medical checks; and (2) disclose or use information provided in applications filed under this bill or in DACA requests for immigration enforcement purposes.
The bill prescribes the conditions under which DHS: (1) may terminate a person's conditional permanent resident status, and (2) shall adjust a person's conditional status to permanent resident status.
(Page 3)
Cantwell Provision to Help Communities Struggling with Water Contamination near Military Bases Headed to President’s Desk
Press release issued 11/ 16/ 17https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-provision-to-help-communities-struggling-with-water-contamination-near-military-bases-headed-to-presidents-desk
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a bipartisan provision lead by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) that bolsters environmental restoration funding for both the Air Force and the Navy. The House passed the NDAA on Tuesday. The bill will now head to President Trump for signature into law.
Cantwell’s bipartisan provision dedicates nearly $62 million towards water remediation and environmental restoration in communities that have suffered groundwater contamination due to their proximity to military installations, such as Fairchild Air Force Base, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and Naval Station Whidbey Island.
“Every family deserves access to clean drinking water. Passage of this provision will help clean up these chemicals and move us towards clean groundwater in these communities,” said Senator Cantwell.
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals found in firefighting foams that had been used at military installations and civilian airports. The chemicals have been detected in groundwater and drinking water wells near these entities. While the health effects of these chemicals are still being determined, studies have linked PFAS exposure to developmental damage, certain cancers, and immune system dysfunction.
Department of Defense has identified over 400 installations with a known or suspected release of PFAS that requires additional investigation. Three Washington state military facilities, Fairchild Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and Joint Base Lewis-McCord have detected elevated PFAS levels in groundwater wells used for drinking water. In the case of Joint Base Lewis-McCord, military officials have indicated the contamination was contained and did not spread off the base.
(Page 4) NEWS FROM OLYMPIA
British Columbia and Washington partners in climate action, high tech, good jobs---from the Governor's Medium page
https://medium.com/wagovernor/british-columbia-and-washington-partners-in-climate-action-high-tech-good-jobs-9896e72e6863Gov. Jay Inslee and Premier John Horgan resolved to strengthen the partnership between British Columbia and Washington state, and act jointly to fight climate change, grow the tech sector and create good jobs across the region.
Today, Inslee and Horgan met privately, where they discussed trade, climate change and stronger transportation links between the regions. Following the meeting, Inslee addressed the B.C. legislature. The last time a Washington state governor addressed the B.C. legislature was in 1984.
“Governor Inslee and I are excited about working together to deliver strong, sustainable economic development that works for people on both sides of the border,” said Premier Horgan. “Through initiatives like the Cascadia Innovation Corridor, we’re building stronger bonds between B.C. and Washington state, including better transportation links and the expansion of innovative industries like the job-creating tech sector.”
“Washington state and British Columbia share an important history and our people all share an innovative spirit,” Inslee said. “This region is stronger when we face challenges and opportunities together.”
The leaders discussed the importance of the Pacific Coast Collaborative’s joint action on climate change.
“Our government is making B.C. a leader in climate action. We’re working with climate leaders around the world to cut carbon pollution, while making life more affordable for people and creating good jobs,” said Horgan. “We have a true partner in Governor Inslee in the fight against climate change.”
“Today, I am here with the hope that together we will usher in a new era ― one that moves past polluting fossil fuels and embraces a clean-energy future,” Inslee said. “There is no doubt in my mind that clean-energy technologies open doors to economic prosperity. And they are also key to our strategy to not just mitigate, but defeat climate change. This is one of the greatest challenges of our time.”
Inslee’s visit marks the first official bilateral meeting hosted by Premier Horgan since taking office in July 2017.
Further information and meeting take aways:
Total Canada-Washington goods trade is valued at approximately $25.6 billion (CAD).
Inslee and Horgan discussed steps to create more opportunities for growth and good-paying jobs throughout the region and the importance of mutually beneficial trade between jurisdictions and, specifically, their support for a modernized and progressive trade partnership. The leaders agreed challenges such as the softwood lumber dispute should not stand in the way of gains to be made from co-operation.
High priorities included making cross-border travel more efficient with a Vancouver-Seattle seaplane service and a Vancouver-Seattle-Portland high-speed rail service, and support for the Cascadia Innovation Corridor that brings together governments with the tech sector to increase linkages and collaboration between Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle.
Horgan and Inslee expressed confidence that the Government of Canada will allow the Vancouver-Seattle seaplane service project to proceed. The results of a feasibility study for the high-speed rail project is expected next month.
Horgan and Inslee also discussed work with other West Coast partners to fight climate change and secure a shared healthy ocean through initiatives like the Pacific Coast Collaborative.
In advance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 23 in Bonn, Germany last week, Horgan and Inslee joined with the governors of Oregon and California, and committed to collective action on climate change.
West Coast government leaders are building more sustainable economies by stepping up efforts to get more electric vehicles on roads, make buildings more energy efficient, advance renewable energy technology to help spur innovation, attract investment, create jobs, and make our communities more resilient for the future.
Following their meeting and the governor’s address, Horgan and Inslee released a joint statement.
“Today, we reaffirmed our commitment to work closely together and strengthen the enduring and unique partnership between British Columbia and Washington state.
“We recognize our shared responsibility to protect the environment, grow our economies, find new opportunities to expand our flourishing tech and innovation corridor, and create good jobs on both sides of the border.
“Our governments remain committed to joint action and leadership in the fight against climate change, and in the pursuit of strong, sustainable economic development that works for the people of Washington and British Columbia.”
Daily Bible Verse: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5 NKJV
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