issues

Here in Southwest Washington, the need to grow our economy and create jobs is as great as any other region in the country. From the Gifford Pinchot Forest to Long Beach, our region has a reputation for our tremendous resources – but the greatest resource of all is our people. Congress needs to focus on protecting those jobs that exist, and supporting employers seeking to create new jobs – especially better-paying jobs.

While it’s not the role of the federal government to create jobs, it is the role of Congress to make sure that employment and the economy is our number one focus. 

Small business and private enterprise act as America’s engine for job creation, but right now these job creators are struggling to survive. We know that big-spending government programs, bailouts, federal regulations and new taxes haven’t helped. I have worked to strategic and responsible initiatives, Congress can play a productive role in growing Southwest Washington’s economy.

Reversing government overspending: The first step Congress can take to empower job creators is stop government’s disastrous habit of overspending. Right now, the federal government is borrowing too much money and accumulating tens of thousands of dollars of debt for every single American citizen. That level of spending continues to result in more and bigger tax burdens on small business.

I simply don’t believe we’ve had a reason to ask you to send more of your dollars to Olympia or Washington, D.C. when government has so much room to tighten its own belt.  From my seat on the Appropriations Committee, I help go through the budget line by line and fight to make sure your money is working for you, and I am very proud we’ve helped lower the deficit by roughly one half since I took office.  Of course, we have more work to do.

Reducing harmful and unnecessary regulations: Entrepreneurs and job creators rank overregulation as one of the biggest hurdles to building their business. Regulatory burdens cost businesses more than $1 trillion each year in this country.

When small businesses in our communities have to obtain federal permits, navigate complex rules and abide by federal regulations, it means companies must put much of their resources into administrative tasks rather than expanding or adding employees to the payroll. I’ve been a champion of legislation like the Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessary and Burdensome Act, or SCRUB Act.  The bill eliminates unnecessary and outdated federal regulations, and establish a Cut-Go mechanism that requires federal agencies to remove an outdated regulation agreed upon by the bipartisan commission in order to implement any new federal rule.

I will continue working hard to reduce and eliminate unnecessary and burdensome regulations whenever possible. Small- and medium-sized businesses should spend their time expanding and creating jobs – not navigating a maze of government rules.  

Here are sample of other job-creating efforts I’ve led since serving as your representative in Congress:

• I’ve held six annual “Jobs Fairs” in Southwest Washington, where we’ve matched thousands of individuals with hiring employers – often leading to higher-paying jobs with better benefits.
• Hydroelectric dams provide the lowest-cost, most reliable, cleanest energy available. I have and will continue to champion bipartisan efforts to protect hydropower, and the affordable energy that has attracted manufacturing jobs to Southwest Washington.
• My bipartisan Small Business Opportunities Act was signed into law and expanded opportunities for more than 900 Southwest Washington small businesses who wish to compete for federal contracts.
• The U.S. House passed the permanent extension of the tri-state agreement that is imperative for the future success of the West Coast Dungeness crab fishery. Washington state’s Dungeness crab industry brings $61 million into the state’s economy annually. Crab fishermen in the state harvest an average of 9.5 million pounds of crab per year, supporting more than 60,000 maritime jobs.
• I have worked tirelessly to make sure resources are going toward protecting our local salmon habitats and hatcheries. Recreational fishing alone helps support more than 5,100 jobs and $247 million in income for Washington residents.  This industry has been a key piece of our state’s economy for over 100 years and I am committed to ensuring the same opportunities for future generations to enjoy.