Strickland Engages with Constituents Across South Sound During District Work Period

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) recapped her first two packed weeks of the District Work Period, which began on March 29, 2021. She traveled across Pierce, Thurston, and Mason counties to give updates on American Rescue Plan relief aid that is on the way, her first 100 days of action in Congress, and to hear directly from constituents, including local business owners and workers, colleges and universities, military community members, and tribal nation members.

"It feels great to be back in the South Sound, meeting members of our community safely and hearing directly from them on what they need to emerge from this pandemic on stronger footing," said Congresswoman Strickland. "Help is finally here as the second round of rescue checks hits bank accounts this week, as we surpass 150 million shots in arms, and as federal funding I fought for in the American Rescue Plan begins to revive our economy. The American Rescue Plan injected over $333 million in rescue aid for our local city, state, and tribal communities in WA-10 and $210,803 for our K-12 schools. Over the past two weeks, I've heard firsthand how the challenges of this year are not over for our community, which is exactly why I am excited to head back to DC this week with the needs of the South Sound driving my work as we recover and rebuild."

During the District Work Period, Congresswoman Strickland took over 21 outreach meetings with community members across Pierce, Thurston and Mason counties, including:

Strickland Supports Local Workers, Businesses and Jobs

Congresswoman Strickland met with small and local businesses to hear directly from them on their needs and vision as we revitalize our economy. Visits included:

Puyallup Business Roundtable with Washington State Fair, Puyallup Nissan, Korum Automotive Group, Crockett's Public House, Meridian Cafe, Trackside Pizza, Sumner Chamber of Commerce
Members of Rapid Response Business Leaders from Pierce County
Alaska Airlines
Farmers from Chelsea Shellfish Farms and Taylor Shellfish Farms in Olympia
Shelton/Mason Chamber of Commerce and community members
Thurston County Economic Development Council and area leaders
The American Rescue Plan delivered immediate relief for small businesses and American workers, including $7.25 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, $28 billion for a new grant program for small restaurants, $15 billion in flexible grants, and $10 billion in successful state, local, and tribal small business financing programs.

Strickland Supports Tribal Nations

Congresswoman Strickland met with members of local Tribal Nations, including members of the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation, the Nisqually Indian Tribe, the Squaxin Island Tribe, and the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Strickland took tours, heard more on the issues facing Tribal Nations today, and the need for investment in housing, access to safe and clean drinking water and safe water treatment systems, the worrisome decline in salmon stock and salmon habitat, transportation and infrastructure, and economic development. She toured the Chehalis Clinic, where community members are on the frontlines of the pandemic, the Nisqually horse therapy unit and the Nisqually River/I-5 overpass, the Puyallup's central campus, as well as the Squaxin Island Tribe's Head Start program.

The American Rescue Plan included $40 billion in support for child care programs such as Head Start. On April 1, the Health and Human Services Department began investing $6 billion from the American Rescue Plan in Community Health Centers to expand access to vaccines.

Supporting Colleges and Universities in the District

Congresswoman Strickland visited several colleges and universities in the South Sound to hear about their needs, how they and their students are navigating the pandemic, and learn how they are serving their students and developing a talented workforce. Visits included:

Pacific Lutheran University
Clover Park Technical College
Strickland Listens to and Serves Community Members from Across the South Sound

Met with Lt. Gen. Randy A. George of Joint Base Lewis-McChord to discuss the needs of the military community, legislation Strickland introduced to reduce military hunger, and announce being named a HillVets House Ambassador.
Hosted by Homes First, Congresswoman Strickland visited Mollie B Oxford House in Olympia, a self-run, self-supported recovery house for women to highlight the importance of affordable and transitional housing for individuals suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction.
Intercity Transit hosted a "Topping Off" ceremony to celebrate construction of an expanded Administration, Operations, Maintenance facility. Congresswoman Strickland delivered remarks on the importance of building back better for South Sound's transportation and infrastructure projects while providing equitable services to meet current and future demands of our area's population growth.
Met with community leaders and local officials from the City of Shelton, Shelton Family YMCA, Business and Education Community Civic Center to discuss city accomplishments and priorities
Strickland joined community leaders to honor Eva G. Hewitt (1874-1957), the First Woman Postmaster of the Tumwater Post Office, with a Post Office Naming.
Attended a virtual "Roundtable of Thurston County," in which Strickland spoke to community leaders in Thurston County on the issues they are facing in terms of growth, housing affordability, transportation and infrastructure needs.
Visited with University Place Mayor Caroline Belleci and City Manager Steve Sugg to discuss how their community is navigating the pandemic and infrastructure needs for our mid-sized and smaller sized cities.
Toured the MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the district with one of the busiest Emergency Departments in the South Central Sound. The American Rescue Plan mounted a national vaccination program with over 150 million shots in arms and now thousands of South Sound residents have been vaccinated.
Met with the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) to discuss the upcoming infrastructure package and ways to ensure equitable and inclusive participation by small businesses and the workforce.

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