Maria’s Monday Memo

Senator Maria Cantwell’s Weekly Update for Washington State	Monday, April 10, 2006

Demanding Fairness in the Enron Fight

Today in Seattle, I joined Washington state Public Utility Districts and local businesses to protest a recent proposal by federal energy regulators that would prevent new Enron evidence from ever seeing the light of day. The proposal would also return only $3 million to our region’s ratepayers—representing less than one percent of the money Enron took from the Northwest—and would require FERC to work to prevent the public release of Enron evidence still sealed, making it unavailable to parties still trying to prove their case against the bankrupt energy trader. We’ve been fighting for years to get justice for Northwest ratepayers. Now the same federal regulators who just hired a former Enron attorney are proposing a settlement that will give families and businesses pennies for every dollar taken by these corporate criminals. This is an insult to our region, and I’m calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject this proposed settlement in favor of something more just. FERC needs to deliver a better solution for our region’s ratepayers, and I will keep up this fight until we get the fair, honest treatment the Pacific Northwest deserves.

Calling for a National Energy Independence Plan

The costs of not having a comprehensive 21^st century energy plan become more apparent every day. I believe it is one of the biggest economic and national security challenges we face, and we need strong leadership, decisive action, and a bold long-term plan if we’re going to break our oil addiction and make energy independence a reality. In order to move forward with a set of bipartisan solutions, I sent a letter last week with 51 Congressional colleagues calling on President Bush to convene an emergency bipartisan national energy summit to move America toward greater energy independence and economic security. We need an open and transparent discussion among all stakeholders to protect consumers, promote innovation, boost alternative fuel development, and spur economic growth. The status quo, in which our security and economy depend on others, is not an option. If we’re serious about keeping America competitive and safe, we need to start a productive discussion on the creation of reliable domestic sources of alternative energy.

Preventing Oil Spills and Ensuring a Robust Coast Guard Presence in Puget Sound

As the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce Committee’s Fisheries and Coast Guard panel, and a member of the House-Senate conference on the 2005 Coast Guard authorization bill, I was pleased that last week we finished our work on a bill containing key provisions for the Pacific Northwest. For example, I worked with my colleagues to boost oil spill liability caps for the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. Current limits haven’t been updated in over 15 years and are far below actual cleanup costs. Raising the liability caps will ensure that polluters, not taxpayers, cover the cleanup costs in the tragic event of an oil spill. I was also able to secure a number of provisions to support Coast Guard infrastructure in Washington state. The legislation I worked on includes measures supporting the operation and maintenance of Seattle’s Coast Guard Icebreaker fleet, and funds an overhaul of the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic System to improve communication and maritime safety. The Vessel Traffic System manages over 200,000 vessel trips every year and aids the Coast Guard in 150 search and rescue operations from Bellingham to Olympia and as far west as the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Improving the outdated system will reduce the likelihood of maritime accidents, and improve boater safety in the Puget Sound.

Promoting a Strong, Capable Workforce

Workforce development programs are critical to keeping America competitive in today’s fast-paced global economy. They boost employment and workforce skill levels, and help ensure that local workers meet the needs of businesses. That’s why I’m leading a bipartisan coalition of senators working to stop an administration proposal to strip $15.4 million in workforce development funds from communities throughout our country. Estimates released last week show that our state’s hardest hit counties—Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Yakima, Adams, and Okanogan—would lose 29 percent of their workforce funds. Washington’s statewide network of workforce development centers help more than 12,000 people enter employment each month. Our jobs and our economic success depend on our ability to provide highly skilled, adaptable workers. We simply can’t afford to cut workforce development if we want our economy to grow.

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