Maria's Monday Memo

Maria's Monday Memo

Senator Maria Cantwell's Weekly Update for Washington State

Honoring our law enforcement: Getting them the resources they need to do their job

Yesterday I joined law enforcement officials to mark the end of National Police Week. After that meeting, I sent a letter to my colleagues asking them to save two important resources for our local police departments: the Byrne Grant program, and the COPS community policing program.

Last year, Washington state's law enforcement officers received $9.7 million from the Byrne Grant program to help pay for equipment, training, and personnel. Two million dollars of it went to fight the meth epidemic. This money was used to hire deputies who work full time on meth, clean up ecological problems caused by meth labs, and educate rural teens on the high risks and dangers of meth use. The COPS program has awarded Washington state $187 million since 1994, putting nearly 2,000 additional police officers on our streets.

Unfortunately, the President's budget eliminates nearly all funding for these programs, threatening to remove important resources for your local police department.

I sent the letter to the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urging them to maintain funding for both the Byrne Grant and COPS programs. We should be giving our local law enforcement officers the tools they need, not undermining their efforts by slashing funding for training and equipment.
Energy Bill: Saving ratepayers from Enron's greed, and benching crooked traders

The Senate Energy Committee is currently crafting national energy legislation. As a member of that committee, it is my job to bring Washington state's interests to the table. I am proud to report that during hearings last week, I convinced my colleagues to support two amendments that are very important to Washington state consumers.

One of my amendments will stop Enron from suing Washington state ratepayers. As ridiculous as it seems, the unscrupulous energy company, responsible for our high energy rates and the destruction of so many retirement and pension plans, is suing ratepayers in Snohomish County for $122 million, demanding payment for electricity they never delivered. My amendment sends Enron a reality check: ratepayers should not be forced to reward criminal activity. This measure will ensure that consumers who have already been victimized by Enron's massive mugging won't become the deep pockets for its bankruptcy.

The committee also passed my amendment to prevent crooked energy traders from continuing their manipulative tactics while working for different energy trading companies. Energy traders from Enron played games with the pocketbooks of Washington state ratepayers, using illegal trading strategies to drive up the cost of our electricity. My amendment will allow the federal government to ban crooked energy traders and corrupt corporate officers from continuing to work in the energy industry. We don't give bank robbers your ATM pin numbers, so why would we allow these criminals to set your energy rates?

These are two important steps to make sure consumers are protected. As the energy bill works its way through the Senate, I will continue to make sure consumers' interests aren't run over by the special interests.
Remembering Mt. St. Helens disaster, 25 years later

Twenty-five years ago last Wednesday, one of the largest and most devastating volcanic eruptions in the history of our nation rocked Washington state. A plume of ash filled the sky and a flood of earth tore through miles of trees. Lives were taken, and property was lost. The massive ash cloud grew to 80,000 feet in 15 minutes and reached the East Coast in three days.

Today, the effect of the 1980 eruption remains evident. Grumblings of Mount St. Helens over the past year stirred memories and prompted many Washington state residents to recall the events of May 18, 1980. We must remember the victims of the eruption as we work to constantly improve our volcanic monitoring and response capabilities.

Along with Senator Patty Murray, I introduced a commemorative resolution last week to remember the awe-inspiring and destructive eruption, while commending the efforts of our scientists working to make sure we are never again caught off-guard by volcanic explosions. I am proud to report that the Senate unanimously passed our resolution.
Visiting Washington , D.C. ?

Are you planning to visit Washington , D.C. ? If so, I would welcome the opportunity to meet you. On Thursday, May 26, at 8:30 a.m., I will host one of my regular coffees for constituents in my Washington , D.C. , office. If you will be in the nation's capital and would like to attend, please call my office at (202) 224-3441, or fill out a reservation form online by visiting my web site at http://cantwell.senate.gov/services/coffee.html .

http://cantwell.senate.gov/updates/weekly_update.html