Maria’s Monday Memo
Senator Maria Cantwell’s Weekly Update for Washington State Monday November 27, 2006
Working to Secure Flooding Relief
After one of the wettest months on record in the Northwest, our state is still reeling from the heavy rains, strong winds, and severe flooding that caused millions of dollars in damage, destroyed homes, and displaced families across much of Western Washington. Now it’s time to help those families and businesses hit hard by this natural disaster get back on their feet. Last Tuesday, Governor Christine Gregoire asked the president to declare a federal disaster in 11 Washington counties, including Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, King, Lewis, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, and Wahkiakum counties. The governor’s request cited the complete destruction of more than 100 homes and severe damage to hundreds more. On Wednesday, I joined with the other members of the Washington state Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to FEMA supporting the governor’s request and asking for quick approval of desperately needed federal assistance. If the president approves the request, federal aid would become available for a wide range of recovery programs to assist individuals, families, businesses, and state and local government agencies. Federal assistance is critical to so many of our state’s hard-hit families and businesses, and I will do all I can to make sure they get the help they need to recover in full.
In addition to the damage to homes and businesses, our state also had severe damage to its infrastructure, with washed-out roads, weakened bridges, and downed power lines. State officials are still in the process of assessing the full extent of the infrastructure loss caused by the storms and flooding, and I am prepared to do all I can to secure the federal assistance necessary to help us rebuild.
A Big Win for Our National Guard
Last summer, I told you about legislation I introduced to direct the Pentagon to develop a system for tracking and replacing equipment left overseas by our National Guard units. I’m pleased to report that this October, my proposal became law—an important step toward making sure the brave men and women of our National Guard always have the equipment they need.
This new law mirrors a preexisting Defense Department policy that, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, had not been followed. Our state’s National Guard left more than $30 million in equipment behind in Iraq at the Pentagon’s direction. But according to the GAO report, the Army could not account for more than half of all items left behind by units and had not committed to an equipment replacement plan. The new law requires them to create a system to track transferred equipment and develop plans to replace it. We depend on our National Guard to support our state through civil emergencies like the recent flooding, and we have a responsibility to keep them equipped so they stay safe and are able to do their job. This new law, supported by the Washington State National Guard’s top commander, will help our citizen soldiers train and stay prepared, and will make us all safer.
Open Season for the Medicare Prescription Drug Program
Open enrollment for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit is now underway. If you are newly eligible, or are seeking to change your current prescription drug plan, now is a good time to examine your needs and make an enrollment decision before the December 31 deadline. If you have questions about signing up for a prescription drug plan, you may contact Medicare toll free at 1-800-MEDICARE, or visit their website at http://www.medicare.gov. For further assistance, I also encourage you to call the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) HelpLine at 1-800-562-6900, or visit them online at http://www.insurance.wa.gov/consumers/SHIBA_HelpLine/dirdefault.asp.
I’m committed to improving prescription drug coverage under Medicare and will continue working to get seniors affordable access to the care they need. Seniors shouldn’t have to worry about facing unnecessary and unaffordable costs when signing up for a drug plan. That’s why I’m working to give Medicare the ability to negotiate prices with the drug companies, bring drug prices down, and close the coverage gap that will affect millions of participants in the next year.
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