Maria's Monday Memo

Maria's Monday Memo

Senator Maria Cantwell's Weekly Update for Washington State

Standing up for Privacy

In a 78-22 decision, John Roberts has been confirmed by the Senate to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. As you may know, I opposed the confirmation of Chief Justice Roberts. I made this decision after much deliberation and a thorough consideration of his testimony.

Most troubling to me is Chief Justice Roberts' ambiguous position on the right to privacy. We are at a time when individuals are concerned about protecting their most personal information from being compromised for commercial gain or by an overreaching federal government. Washingtonians have a deep tradition of respect for individual privacy: a right of privacy is guaranteed in article I, section VII of the Washington State Constitution. Personal freedoms and privacy are integral to the U.S. Constitution and I cannot support a nominee who does not make clear his intent to protect fundamental American privacy rights. During his nomination hearing, Chief Justice Roberts refused to comment on what specific rights of privacy are included in the U.S. Constitution. Nor did he ever express his views on a person's private decision to end medical treatment. Chief Justice Roberts has also raised questions about Congress' power to enact environmental protections and civil rights laws, and these unqualified statements concern me. As Chief Justice, John Roberts will have the immense responsibility of guiding the nation's highest court through the most pressing and important issues for many years to come. Unfortunately, I could not support someone who failed to assure me he would protect our personal rights, as well as the rights of future generations who will no doubt be affected by decisions made by the Supreme Court.

Promoting Energy Independence

On Saturday, in the Democrats' national radio address, I underscored the importance of making America more energy independent by 2020. With the price of gas hovering around three dollars, Americans feel the pinch every time they go to the gas pump. This year, an average family of four will spend over three thousand dollars more on gasoline, and heating bills are expected to rise about $400 for homes using heating oil, and more than $600 for families that rely on natural gas. High fuel prices are costing people their jobs, their pensions, and their businesses, and it's time to get serious about our energy security. We must protect consumers from price gouging, and we must stop our over-dependence on foreign oil. I'm glad the President has called for conservation, but conservation must be more than a convenient slogan. Recently, the administration has rejected conservation attempts like more accurate fuel mileage for cars and bi-partisan proposals for reducing our dependence on foreign oil by a million barrels a day. Energy independence is one of the greatest challenges of our generation. If we succeed, America will be economically stronger and more secure internationally.

Getting Washington's Biofuels Industry off the Ground

Families from across Washington state are feeling the pain of high prices at the gas pump. It's crippling our economy, but we have no real alternatives. That's why I'm bringing people together to form the Washington Biofuels Business Collaborative to make sure that we develop alternatives to foreign oil. The Biofuels Business Collaborative, which held its inaugural meeting today, will bring together entities from every step in the biodiesel production and use chain to identify partnerships and learn what it will take to help the industry grow. Before this new industry can truly pick up speed, it will require investment and engagement from the private sector—which is what the Biofuels Business Collaborative is all about.

I am pleased to report that the initiative has gotten off to a strong start. Today, I joined with representatives from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) to announce that PSE will commit to running a portion of its utility truck fleet on a 20 percent biodiesel blend. A grant from the Environmental Protection Agency will help finance the project by funding the installation of new biodiesel processing technology at Bellingham Community College . The technology will allow for the manufacture of fuel from recycled cooking oil. Combined with a partner project conducted by British Columbia Hydro, the effort will save an estimated 12,000 gallons of traditional diesel that utility trucks otherwise would have burned. This is an important first step in increasing biofuels use by businesses. As more businesses begin using biodiesel, we can make real progress toward increased energy independence, and can promote new sources of income for Washington state farmers.

Creating a New National Park Service Trail

Last week, the House passed bipartisan legislation I helped author to create a new Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail through portions of Washington , Oregon , Idaho , and Montana . Two weeks earlier, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved companion legislation I introduced in the Senate. The proposed trail—which will tell the story of how a series of monumental floods created the unique geology of Central and Eastern Washington—would be managed by the National Park Service in partnership with the local organizations. Interpretive centers, signs and markers, exhibits, waysides, and roadside pullouts would be used to tell the story of the floods. The House bill, introduced by Representative Doc Hastings (R-WA-04) has 10 cosponsors, while my Senate bill has the support of Senators Larry Craig (R-ID), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Conrad Burns (R-MT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), as well as Washington State Senator Patty Murray.

Celebrating the unique geology of the Pacific Northwest is an exciting project that the whole region can take pride in. This isn't just about glaciers and rocks—the Ice Age Flood Trail will boost tourism and related economic development. Developing an accessible educational trail will bring in tourist dollars that will help invigorate rural Central and Eastern Washington communities, and represents a win-win situation for everyone involved.

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