Wall Street Reform: The Strongest Protections for Washington Consumers Ever

Wall
Street Reform: The Strongest Protections for Washington Consumers Ever

Last week, I voted to
pass a Wall Street Reform bill that provides families across our state with the
strongest consumer protections in our history. The bill also guarantees that
Washington state taxpayers will never again be on the hook to bailout Wall
Street.

I have heard from so many people across our state whose
stories demonstrate the need for us to act. Families facing foreclosure due to
mortgage fraud, seniors who have lost their retirement savings, small
businesses that can’t hire because they can’t borrow, and those who have lost
everything due to Wall Street’s ‘anything goes’ rules. These families deserve
not only accountability, they deserve protection. This bill provides it. – Details

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Howard
Hanson: Protecting our Homes, Businesses, and Economy

On Thursday, May 13th, I announced that I have worked
to secure $44 million in emergency funding for critical repairs to the Howard
Hanson Dam. This funding will go towards efforts to repair the dam and reduce
the risk a flood would have on families, businesses, homes, and our state’s
economy. – Details

“U.S. senator,
local officials express hope, triumph over Hanson Dam funding”

– Auburn Reporter

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Police
Week: Honoring our Fallen Officers

On Thursday, May 13th,
I went to the Senate floor to introduce a resolution honoring Washington State
law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty in 2009. Law
enforcement officers throughout the Nation and in Washington State risk their own
lives to protect the lives of others every day, and this resolution honored
those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of their communities.

Read
the full text of the resolution.

“Always a hero;
never forgotten” – The News Tribune

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Big Oil:
Washington State Taxpayers Should Never Pay for Big Oil’s Mistakes

I have recently
co-sponsored a bill that would make sure oil companies are held accountable for
the enormous economic costs
resulting from spills. Currently, the responsible party in an oil spill must
cover all costs related to clean up; however there is a $75 million cap on its
liability for economic damages, such as lost business revenues from fishing and
tourism, natural resources damages or lost local tax revenues.

The Big Oil Bailout Prevention that I co-sponsored would
raise that cap to a much more appropriate $10 billion.  Unfortunately,
Republicans blocked this legislation from passing. This is extremely
disappointing and I will continue to fight to make sure Washington state
taxpayers are never on the hook for Big Oil’s mistakes. – Details

I am also calling for a permanent ban on drilling off the
West Coast to ensure that we never face the devastating economic and
environmental damage that the Gulf Coast is currently experiencing.

“West Coast
senators seek ban on Pacific offshore drilling” – Seattle Times

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Homeland
Security: Securing the Puget Sound

I recently announced major investments in our state’s
security infrastructure. Over $20 million is going to help protect our ports
from terrorism attacks by enhancing their risk management capabilities,
training and exercises, and capabilities to prevent, detect, respond to, and
recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices and other
non-conventional weapons. 

Additionally, funding was allocated to protect high risk
facilities such as stadiums and nuclear and electrical power plants, and to
increase emergency communications abilities among state, territory, local and
tribal governments.

– Details

“Washington gets
$27.5M from Homeland Security” – SeattlePI.com

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Fairchild
Air Force Base: Questioning Air Force Brass about Much Needed Improvements

On Wednesday, May 12th,
I questioned the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
about much needed improvements to Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. I sought
answers to why Fairchild construction projects were left off the Pentagon’s
Fiscal Year 2011 military construction budget. I also questioned the Air Force
about making Fairchild a home to the next generation of aerial refueling
tankers.

Listen
to the entire exchange.

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