Southwest Washington’s independent voice in Congress. Auto repair shop co-founder, mom, lives in the woods. #WA03
Washington's Third District
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Recently I sat down with local small business owners to talk about the challenges facing grocery stores and producers in our community, how we can level the playing field for small business and support the economic agency of families putting food on the table.
Thank you to our local independent grocers and farmers for talking with me about this complicated issue.
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Ukraine is fighting a hot war now and they’ve sacrificed bitterly.
I’ll always vote to stand up for my community and our national security. Thank you to the families who came out late on a school night to greet me and share the stories of loss and sacrifice. Slava Ukraini!
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Regardless of party or ideology, more and more Americans feel that Congress isn’t working for them. Americans feel disrespected by the failure to take responsibility for cleaning up the rules governing this body and are losing faith in a government that they view as unreflective of their communities and values.
Last week, I brought those values right to the people that set the rules for Congress. It’s time for the House to take seriously the crisis in confidence in Congress, ban Members of Congress from sleeping with House staff, ensure working class people can testify in front of congress, and establish cognitive standards for members.
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Working waterfronts are kitchen table issues for us in Southwest Washington.
Nobody wants a waterfront with only yachts and tents, but if we don’t stand up for the people who make their living on the water that’s what we’ll get.
Yesterday, I was able to tour Pacific Seafood’s processing plant in Woodland to discuss how we can support high-quality American caught seafood and keep our coastal communities working.
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Sunday night my son pulled his first fish out of the Columbia river. What the DC bubble doesn’t get is that working waterfronts require working people. Nature is not a terrarium–and you don’t get effective environmentalism without the input of people who make their livelihoods and heritage on the water-whether we’re talking about lobsters or sea lions–working people need a seat at the table and electeds need to listen to them, not data from the 1990s.
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On Tuesday Sept 8th, my office is hosting an information session for young leaders interested in applying to our nation’s military service academies. Interested high school juniors, or anyone 17-22 years old who lives in Washington’s Third District, can meet with representatives from service academies and learn about how to receive a congressional nomination.
Every year, I’m impressed by incredible students from across Southwest Washington who take this step to serve their country and our community.
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The preliminary CSB report findings make one thing very clear:
This is bigger than one workplace or one set of regulations. It’s emblematic of an industrial policy—and an ethos of industrial management—that has too often separated the people making decisions from the people who actually have to live with the consequences.
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When you live in a rural community, the nearest hospital might be 20 miles away– for people in the trades, young mothers and seniors that distance is a real anxiety. When people get sick or injured, they need to know they have access to care and treatment close by.
That’s why I’m glad to see @OBHospitalMC doing the work to open up a new clinic in Long Beach. Thank you for giving me an early look at the new facility and talking with me about the challenges facing rural healthcare access.
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Have you ever thought that it's really weird you can’t add pictures to laws? I see so many laws that would be clearer and more logical if we could just include a map or a blueprint.
Congress recently passed my initiative to bring legislation into the 21st century and explore including images in the text of bills–this is a long overdue step in the legislative process.
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I’ve always said supplying clean water is one of the most basic jobs of any responsible government. In 2024, I put out a request for nearly $1 million to expand Wahkiakum PUD’s water system. This month, the project got final approval and the money is coming home.
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This month, my casework team and I reached a huge milestone–we’ve recovered 10 million dollars owed to members of our community by federal agencies.
If you’re having trouble getting federal benefits you already earned, reach out to my casework team. You can call my office at 360-695-6292 or go to gluesenkampperez.house.gov/c… to get the ball rolling.
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I’ve seen first hand: dredging ports is good for our fishermen, as well as the larger coastal economy. Proud to have helped secure funds for the Port of Chinook to remove silt and clear access.
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Yesterday, I received a briefing on the High Lava wildfire in Skamania County. To the wildland firefighters, and the crews that support them, the work you do is profoundly courageous and I am so appreciative of the sacrifices you make to keep us safe.
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I’m your voice in government! If you have an issue with the VA, IRS, or any federal service, reach out to my office. My team of caseworkers is ready to make sure you get what you deserve.
Just go to gluesenkampperez.house.gov/c…, give us a call at 360-695-6292, or stop in at one of our offices.
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Yesterday I toured the Roadmaster manufacturing facility, and they really are like the anti-Temu. They make everything they can right here in Southwest Washington and they don’t build it to fall apart.
In a market full of cheap imported plastic junk, I’m proud to meet people who make stuff that’s worth having and to talk with them about how to keep supporting jobs here in Southwest Washington.
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In Southwest Washington, we take pride in the makers and the doers. I recently visited the Northwest Paper Box Manufacturers in Camas to learn more from this second-generation family business on how we can fight consolidation and support our small businesses–their work is so important to pushing back on single-use plastics and using our natural resources responsibly.
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It's my responsibility in Congress to make sure that federal dollars are being spent responsibly. To do that, we need to know what we’re spending our money on, and why.
So when I got the chance to question Russell Vought from the Office of Management and Budget, I made sure to press him on making sure our community funding is going back to our communities–and not being used as political leverage.
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The incredible instructors at the Machinist Institute in Vancouver are leading the next generation of machinists and carrying forward the proud tradition of making things with precision and function. I appreciate the Machinists for letting me stop by your apprenticeship program to see your work for myself!
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Every day, Russia continues to ruthlessly attack Ukrainian civilians and destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure.
It’s in our national interest to ensure our ally Ukraine can continue defending its homeland and then rebuild their country for long term peace. Supporting Ukraine not only reflects our values, but invests in our own national security and domestic manufacturing supply chains.
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The post office is a lifeline for all of us who live in rural communities. USPS is how we vote-by-mail, pay our bills on time, and get local news.
When the Ethel Post Office closed, I sent a letter to USPS urging them not to let the closure become a disruption to this community.
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It’s an honor to recognize Eunice Sparks from La Center as my 2026 Congressional Art Competition winner. Eunice brought Southwest Washington to life and her painting displays a reverence and familiarity with our land to every person that sees it in the tunnels of Congress. Congrats Eunice!
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Stopped by Summit Body Trucking in Ridgefield earlier this month to see their manufacturing headquarters. We can’t have a strong local economy without a reliable, efficient way to get goods from A to B—Summit is doing the work to support local jobs and grow Southwest Washington’s economy.
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When I got to Congress, I was able to put my foot on the gas to bring home federal tax dollars for the I-5 Bridge Replacement project and save money by simplifying the bridge design.
Recently, the project hit a key milestone and got the green light from the feds for construction to start. This bridge is a lifeline for so many in our community and further delays are not an option.
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Today I voted to ban Members of Congress from selling and trading individual stocks. But House Republicans took a broadly nonpartisan issue and inserted politics—provisions from the Save America Act. I’ve voted against these voter ID provisions repeatedly and Senate Republicans have made clear this has no path in the Senate. But with how hard it is to get Congress to govern itself, this is the best chance we have to enact a stock ban.
It’s vital to start the work of restoring trust in Congress. With this bill passing the House, I am hopeful the Senate will see how important this work is, and send back to the House a clean version without voter ID provisions that can become law.
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Our oyster growers are battling burrowing shrimp and invasive European Green Crab without the tools they need to keep their family businesses alive. In Congress, I’m fighting to make sure they have access to all the tools in the toolbelt.
Thank you to Marilyn Sheldon, a third-generation oyster farmer, for showing me these diminutive monsters firsthand.
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Wildfires are an ever-present threat here in Southwest Washington, and our brave first responders and volunteers are on the front lines of defense.
I’m pressing the Forest Service to ensure they are not only maintaining, but improving wildfire preparedness and prevention activities throughout their upcoming restructuring decisions.
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Spent some time around potential sites for the Upper Grays River Community Forest with thoughtful leaders who are looking to build a future that keeps our woods open and in local ownership.
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This stone apple, carved from Tenino Sandstone, is my contribution to the Congressional 250th Anniversary Time Capsule.
Tenino Sandstone makes up the history of both my district and my family. My great-great-uncle, Andrew Wilson, was a stonecutter in Tenino. My great-grandfather, Burt Gilmore, was the quarry master.
This piece of our history, carved in the shape of the symbolic Washington State fruit, was made by Master Stone Carver Keith Phillips. I hope future generations can appreciate its history and handiwork.
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I'm proud to stand with AWPPW in supporting the request to extend pay continuation for the dedicated workers of Nippon Dynawave.
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Yeah, someone should do something...
tinyurl.com/2p9kzfp7
I don't know if it's slopulism, but we should ban those ultra-bright headlights that literally blind you when you're driving. Enough!
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The permitting-industrial complex in this country has become so bloated that even when people are ready to take on big projects, they get caught up in years of delays and lawyers’ fees. The result is housing scarcity and housing costs eating up families’ budgets.
Last week, my Build Now Act to clean up this mess finally became law. It’s time to become a country that builds things worth having again.
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It takes a lot of skill and sweat to make a good living out in the woods. At the Pulp and Paperworkers Resource Council, you meet a lot of people who do just that.
It was a privilege to welcome these folks to DC, and I’m here to support the long work they are doing to make a living alongside the natural world.
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Every day I am so proud to represent Southwest Washington and the incredible community we have here. Happy 250th America.
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There has been a mill in Raymond for over a hundred years and it is a core part of the make-up of Pacific County. Recently, I got a chance to see the Weyehaeuser mill and my visit was a look into what we really need to be a society that builds and creates, not just consumes.
Thank you to the team in Raymond for showing me what it really takes to produce the material we need to build a self-sufficient economy.
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Thanks for bringing attention to miscarriage @PamelaBrownCNN and @CNNSitRoom. These aren’t easy conversations to have, but things won’t get better if we don’t talk–and that’s crazy because 1 in 4 women will have a miscarriage at some point in their life.
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Local meat production means more local jobs and a sense of pride in knowing where our food comes from.
I got a chance to tour Rainier Pure Beef in Woodland to better understand how I can support local agriculture and food production.
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My office just passed a huge milestone. We’ve returned $8 million to members of our community since the beginning of 2025.
If you’re having a problem with the VA, IRS, or other government service, I can be useful in getting your benefits. Please reach out to my casework team at 360-695-6292 or go to gluesenkampperez.house.gov/c…
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Behind every plate of food in America, there’s a farmer with a fresh sunburn and a second mortgage. Our farmers are getting up every day and doing the generational work of building prosperous land - it’s critical we invest back in them too.
The new grain storage and shipping terminal at the Port of Chehalis was one of the first ever Community Projects I got funded, and last week we cut the ribbon. This project marks a massive expansion to our farmer’s market access, and our ability to keep being a nation of producers.
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Our local small businesses deserve a predictable regulatory environment and a skilled workforce. That starts with getting shop class back in junior high. Thank you to the Lower Columbia Contractors Association for hosting a roundtable to discuss solutions and brainstorm how I can help them in DC.
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The health of our nation is married to the wealth of our soil and generational stewardship of our land. When farmland is split up to pay tax bills, it disrupts the generational work that it takes to build healthy soil.
I’m co-sponsoring legislation to change that by excluding agricultural land transfers between parents, children, and spouses from capital gains tax so long as the land continues to be used for farming, timber, and other agriculture activities.
tinyurl.com/yc6e8794
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I introduced the Stop Scamming Truckers Act to end scams targeting truck drivers by scaring them into paying money for federal licenses that are actually available for low cost.
There is no end to the rage and confusion that comes with receiving letters that try to swindle folks out of money with a fake federal government logo. DOT compliance scams are a critical issue that disproportionately affect small businesses and drive up costs for all of us. It’s time to see some action taken.
Read my Bill: tinyurl.com/b8ap2t3s
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As more and more local stores close their doors, rural communities are becoming food deserts. I’m introducing the Fair Prices for Local Businesses Act to end the price discrimination putting local stores out of business.
Read the Bill: tinyurl.com/3dn42fdh
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A few weeks ago, my husband and I lost a pregnancy. The physical toll was something not even my doctor prepared me for.
The standard of care for women’s pain is medieval. We don’t need to agree on everything to agree this should be better.
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Trust in congress is at an all time low, and it’s no secret why: This is becoming a body where unelected staff are running the show. People are tired of seeing their representatives freeze up on camera or miss votes because they’re sundowning.
I recently asked Congress to enact a Mental Acuity Standard, but House members voted no. This can’t continue, we need to restore public faith in Congress.
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I would like to thank my colleagues for joining me last night in a moment of silence to honor the men who lost their lives at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging mill.
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My amendment to fully fund the Chemical Safety Board was just adopted in committee!
This independent watchdog agency is going to be an important partner in getting answers for the families, loved ones, and community about the catastrophe in Longview.
I sincerely thank my bipartisan colleagues for bucking attempts to eliminate this watchdog agency, and standing for transparency as our community looks for answers.
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Yesterday, I sent a letter to executives at Nippon Dynawave Packaging asking them to clarify their commitment to pay workers during the investigation.
These are our friends, our neighbors, our families, and we need to make sure they’re being taken care of. Read the letter below.
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The horrifying loss of life in Longview last week demands a thorough impartial investigation conducted by the independent watchdog Chemical Safety Board.
Unfortunately the presidents proposed budget has zeroed out the CSB budget.
Next week, I’ll be making it my priority to ensure the agency is funded and, in the longer term, work to ensure the board includes the trades experience necessary for a full picture of the complex interaction between lab experience and trades experience.
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If you’re not from a trades family or a mill community, it can be hard to understand how devastating this sort of industrial catastrophe is for a mill town like Longview.
It’s the lives, land and livelihoods of millworkers at risk here, and I’m here to make sure their voices are guiding the investigation into what needs to be done to rebuild safe and secure jobs, where workers come home to their families at the end of the day.
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The community of Ryderwood loses power at least once a winter and it’s dangerous for members of this 55+ community to go without electricity for an extended period of time.
I am excited that I was able to secure funding for Cowlitz PUD to underground power lines to improve reliability and save money for ratepayers.
Thank you @SenatorCantwell for your help with this project.
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It’s easy to forget painful things, to make them small or frivolous - but in choosing to come together and remember the sacrifice of fallen soldiers and their families we shore up what makes our country strong.
Thanks to everyone who came out and most of all thanks to our fallen and their loved ones.
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This year, 12 students from right here in Southwest Washington will be attending a military service academy this fall. It is a privilege to have nominated such strong candidates and it is a privilege to honor their accomplishments. It was a great time getting to meet some of them at the send-off dinner.
Congratulations, I’m proud to see so many students ready to serve our country.
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Congratulations to Eunice Sparks from La Center for winning 1st place in my 2026 Congressional Art Competition! I’m excited to share this reflection of our community in the tunnels of Congress and highlight one of Southwest Washington’s best & brightest.
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Given that Red Delicious are the worst apples, have you ever wondered why they’re in every school cafeteria? It’s because there’s a list of "approved" apple varieties allowed in schools, and it hasn’t changed since Kmart sold firearms.
Community note
The USDA publishes an annual list of apple varieties available to schools through its program, including modern options like Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Empire, Granny Smith, and Red Delicious; it does not restrict schools from purchasing or serving other varieties commercially. fns.usda.gov/usda-fis/foods
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There's demand everywhere for quality water system workers. We need robust programs to get young people into the sector. Great careers for an essential utility!
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Specialists will be on-site in Packwood, starting tomorrow May 14th, to help with FEMA applications and to address questions about federal and state assistance. FEMA can help pay for temporary housing, displacement, home repair costs, personal property loss and other disaster-caused expenses.
For more information call fema at 800-621-3362 or visit disasterassistance.gov
Or reach out to our office directly at 360-695-6292
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It takes a lot of skill, intelligence, and grit to be a lineman. Thank you to the Northwest Line Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee for letting me hang out and see how you train the next generation of lineman.
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Every community in America has a fire station or a fire truck. Firefighters are essential, but taxpayers are getting a bigger and bigger bill as the emergency response vehicle industry has consolidated around a few big players.
The skyrocketing costs for communities, and 2 & 3 year delays to getting new equipment, are unacceptable. Thank you Chief Nohr and the team at @C_C_F_R for showing me around your station in Ridgefield and talking to me about this problem.
Last year, I offered an amendment to investigate how the industry consolidation is driving up costs. My amendment was signed into law earlier this year.
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My bill to legalize peeling bananas has passed the house! current law made it functionally impossible to peel a banana at many daycares but seamless to open a bag of chips-my bill creates a separate class for healthy low risk foods like peeled fruit and veggies and ensures day cares aren’t punished for serving them - when laws are centered on listening to people who are most impacted by them (kids, parents and daycare workers-rather than lawyers and big corporations) we get better policy!
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Vote-by-mail is the gold standard for election security and access to representation.
Protecting mail-in voting options ensures that all Americans, whether they do shift work, are in the trades, take care of young kids, or live in rural areas, have their ballots counted.
tinyurl.com/yckce2xy
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It was an honor to speak to the members of the @AMFOREST_ORG to recognize the importance of their legacy and dedication to our community. I’ve been so thankful to the timber companies and saw mills in Southwest Washington that have opened their doors to me so I can bring that knowledge with me to DC.
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We need to look at all different solutions to help folks keep a roof over their heads.
I had the opportunity to meet with the @VancouverUS and folks who rely on the Safe RV Park Program to understand what’s working and what’s not.
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Thank you to @Cascadiatech1 for having me visit your Forest Management Program Class. It’s exciting to meet students that are interested in building careers in the woods.
We talked about the importance of my plan to expand the eligible uses of 529 education savings plans to include the tools necessary for technical careers. It’s time to remove barriers for the next generation of tradespeople.
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My office is here to help! We can advocate for you with federal agencies – on things like getting veterans benefits, passports, or your Social Security check.
No problem is too small.
Just visit: gluesenkampperez.house.gov/c…
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