WA Congressional news roundup
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who represents Washington's Fifth Legislative District, speaks at an event while Congressman Dan Newhouse, left, watches. McMorris Rodgers, a Republican, will be replaced by Republicn Michael Baumgartner. McMorris Rodgers announced that her office in Spokane will be closing this month.
FILE PHOTO
MOSES LAKE — Congressional delegates serving Eastern Washington have been busy in the lead-up to the holidays with one preparing to leave office and others continuing the legislative grind. Here are just a few things happening at the federal level.
McMorris Rodgers closure
SPOKANE — The office of retiring U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers will close permanently Dec. 18. McMorris Rodgers said in a press release that the last day to meet with her or with staff will be Dec. 19. Online access will remain until Jan. 2.
McMorris Rodgers (R-Fifth District) was first elected to Congress in 2004. Michael Baumgartner, former Spokane County Treasurer, was elected to succeed her. The next session of Congress takes office Jan. 3.
Habitat restoration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Washington Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray announced Dec. 5 that they had worked together to obtain $3.45 million in funding for habitat restoration along Upper Columbia and Sanpoil River redband trout. The money was awarded to the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
The money will pay for work along the Sanpoil River and the streams that feed into it, according to a press release from the senators.
“This project will restore Redband trout and other native fish habitat using large woody debris, engineered log jams, livestock fencing and riparian restoration with culturally important plants at high priority reaches identified along the Sanpoil River,” the press release said.
“Redband trout are culturally significant to the Colville Tribes, and restoring populations is important to meeting the Tribes’ subsistence needs,” Cantwell said.
This grant will make a big difference in restoring native trout populations and habitat in the Upper Columbia and Sanpoil River, which is absolutely critical for Colville Tribal members who rely on Redband trout as an essential part of their culture, diet and way of life,” Murray said.
Disability expenses
McMorris Rodgers announced the final piece of legislation she would introduce in Congress would extend the ability of people with disabilities to save money for expenses related to their disability without losing eligibility for specific federal benefits programs.
The ABLE Tomorrow Act will allow people with disabilities to use 529A savings accounts without losing eligibility for programs like SSI and Medicaid, according to a press release from McMorris Rodgers’ office.
The legislation was introduced with bipartisan support, the press release said. If it’s passed, the law would loosen some of the restrictions on 529A savings accounts. Social Security benefits could be subject to a penalty if the savings account exceeds $100,000, but the law would require that account holders be notified when they are getting close to the limit. The saw also would allow employers to contribute to a 529A account in lieu of contributions to a defined benefit plan.