Maria's Monday Memo
Maria's Monday Memo
Remembering our fallen soldiers
Yesterday I joined with veterans, family members, and grateful citizens like myself for a Memorial Day ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent . Memorial Day is an important opportunity for our nation to pause and remember the courageous service of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice to keep our nation safe, and pray for the safe return of those who continue to serve.
Unfortunately, American men and women are losing their lives in daily battle. Just last week we lost three young men in Iraq who were assigned to Fort Lewis . We cannot and do not forget these brave individuals.
I am profoundly grateful for the service of America 's veterans and for the sacrifices they have made to defend and preserve our great nation. More than 13,000 American service men and women and their families are buried at Tahoma. As a community, we mourn for the families who lost a father, mother, sister, brother, or friend. As Americans, we are forever grateful.
Outrageous summer gas prices
During the summer travel season, Washington state families will face an increasingly tough reality at the pump. Higher gas prices means families are making sacrifices and pinching pennies to deal with the reality of expensive traveling costs.
Last week I released a new government report that forecasts the likely impact of higher gas prices on Washington state drivers this summer. Our gas prices have jumped 85 cents since 2003, a 55 percent increase. According to the report, Washington state families can expect to pay $260 more for gas this summer than they did two years ago. Statewide, we will pay a total of $580 million more.
Bring a call for innovative, home-grown solutions
These price hikes should send a strong wake-up call to congressional leaders that we cannot continue to rely on foreign oil when cleaner, home-grown alternatives are available. Expansion of biofuels, produced from crops grown in the North west, will ease the burden on consumers while creating jobs right here in Washington state.
Last week in the Senate Energy Committee, I successfully fought for my legislation that would dramatically expand biofuels production in Washington state and around the nation. My amendment to the Senate's new energy bill will support the production of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel from crops grown in the Pacific North west .
With this federal support for new biofuels technologies, we can soon have affordable, homegrown alternatives to our dependence on foreign oil. Without encouraging biofuel expansion, we might miss out on emerging opportunities for energy technology. Already, Brazil is reaping the benefits of their national investment in sugarcane-based ethanol, which they can produce 50 percent cheaper than we can here in the U.S.
I will continue to use my seat on the Energy Committee to support biofuel production in Washington state. With a little American ingenuity, we can help our farmers, the environment, and your family budget.
Visiting Washington , D.C. ?
Are you planning to visit Washington , D.C. ? If so, I would welcome the opportunity to meet you. On Thursday, June 9, 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