Thank you to all the Southwest Washington students who submitted an original art piece in this year’s Congressional Art Competition! The level of talent and artistry this year was truly impressive. I’m pleased to announce our 2022 winner and finalists 👇🏻 1st Place: Hannah Kim of Vancouver’s Medallion Art School

Artwork: 555 Days

I’m excited to host my 11th annual Jobs Fair on June 1st, where folks can meet employers and apply for jobs. This event is free and open to all residents of Southwest Washington—details below. WHEN: Wednesday, June 1st from 11AM – 2PM
WHERE: Clark County Event Center, Exhibition Hall B
ADDRESS: 17402 NE Delfel Road Ridgefield, WA 98642

Shayne’s Diesel & Auto Repair in Kelso is a veteran and family-owned business of the Duncklee family. I recently had the opportunity to stop by and tour their shop.

Continued⬇️ Last year, the Duncklee family reached out to my office after having trouble getting in contact with the Small Business Administration and securing a disaster loan for their business.

Pacific County: to receive updates on rainfall/flooding, please follow Pacific County’s Emergency Management page, here: facebook.com/PCEMA

Website here: pacificcountysheriff.com/emergency-mana… Cowlitz County: to receive updates on rainfall/flooding, please follow Cowlitz County’s Emergency Management page, here: facebook.com/CowlitzCountyD…

Website here: co.cowlitz.wa.us/196/Emergency-…

Southwest Washington residents: the Washington Dept. of Transportation has announced an I-5 closure in Lewis County. More details ⬇️ “A 20-mile stretch of Interstate 5 in Lewis County between Grand Mound (milepost 88) and US 12 south of Chehalis (milepost 68) is now CLOSED in both directions due to rising flood water from the Chehalis River near 13th Street in Chehalis (milepost 77)……

This week is #VeteransSmallBusinessWeek — did you know that across the U.S., there are more than 350,000 veteran-owned businesses? We have so many veteran-owned businesses right here in Southwest Washington, which add tremendous value to our communities and economy. Thread 👇🏻 For our veteran small business owners, here are a few resources from the Small Business Administration that you might find helpful ⬇️

20 years ago, I remember how the world changed after the Twin Towers were hit. I remember listening to President George W. Bush read Psalm 23 and encourage our nation. Thread ⬇️ I remember praying at that moment – for the families directly involved, the heroic first responders, and for our country and future. That was an inflection point for me – I knew I wanted to serve this country and our region.

To the service members who were deployed to Afghanistan, the Gold Star families who've lost a loved one while stationed there & those who supported a member of our military while they fought in that country – nothing can shake the gratitude I feel for your service & sacrifice. I hope we never forget your dedication to our nation, and I'll do whatever I can to make sure we don't.
I recognize that so many of our veterans from a multitude of conflicts and deployments are enduring deep feelings about what's happening in Afghanistan right now.

I’ve met with Washington state troops and Afghani women leaders while in Afghanistan, and now I worry that their service and sacrifice has been set back or even erased. The truth is, we'd already pulled the vast majority of our forces out of the country years ago.

Thread ⬇️ Most of the roughly 2,500 troops still in Afghanistan were support personnel: intelligence specialists and special operations troops.

The #FourthofJuly is my favorite holiday. I almost always cry at some point on this day when I stop to think about the responsibility of being born into citizenship of the most amazing country of all time. And I always ask God, 'what is your plan for the future of this country and can I be a part of it?' This year, more than ever, I have asked the Lord this question 😊

Last week I urged President Biden to avoid backtracking on his goal to open schools. On Friday, the CDC put out more guidance based on the best available data reinforcing that schools can reopen safely. (1/5) It emphasizes mitigation strategies like proper distancing & mask wearing and others – but states that schools should be the first to open and last to close.
Yet the president’s spokesperson said last week that reopening schools means “one day a week” for 51% of schools. (2/5)

During his campaign for the White House, President Biden called school closures a “national emergency,” and pledged to “listen to the scientists and heed their advice – not silence them” in reopening schools. (1/5) The president’s own CDC director last week said “schools can safely reopen,” and a team of CDC scientists published a review citing numerous studies showing little evidence schools have contributed to increased COVID transmission. Read more ⬇️ (2/5) bit.ly/3pdxXwP

If you were a victim of fraud perpetrated on Washington's unemployment system, you should be aware of this issue ⬇️ WA's Employment Security Department still reported the stolen money as income to the IRS . . . meaning some residents who never received unemployment benefits are being told they owe taxes on the money scam artists stole.

In conversations w/residents about this week's impeachment vote, some are unclear on what transpired before & during that involved President Trump.

Here are the indisputable and publicly available facts ⬇️ The president helped organize the January 6 rally. Example: