Maria Cantwell

With warmer temperatures returning to the Northwest this week, and already dry conditions, many are preparing for worsening drought conditions.   “The most recent seasonal drought map definitely put us in the bullseye, as far as that brown area, and it’s no secret that that then is an overlay to some of the challenges we face in fire season as well," said Washington senator Maria Cantwell   D

As the Northwest prepares to start the 2019 cherry harvest, the trade war between the U.S. and China continues.  Which mean a lack of sales to the commodity’s number one market.  However last month, Representative Dan Newhouse and Senator Maria Cantwell announced the Northwest cherry growers now have access to the USDA’s Market Facility Program to help, partially, offset lost income.   Newhouse sa

On Thursday, Senator Maria Cantwell and Representative Dan Newhouse announced additional funding to help cherry grower hurt by retaliatory tariffs handed down by China.  The provision, which cleared the Senate Thursday as part of the bipartisan disaster supplemental budget bill, will give more cherry growers access to the USDA’s Market Facilitation Program, which provides direct financial assistan

Last week, Representative Dan Newhouse, senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and others of the Washington congressional delegation called on Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer to resume trade with China.  The letter submitted last week says the uncertainty in regards to China hurts Washington’s economy, which is one of the most trade dependent in the country.  Newhouse...

On Tuesday, the Washington congressional delegation joined together, asking U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to get Washington apples back in Japan.  The Letter, led by Representative Dan Newhouse and Senator Maria Cantwell, calls out Japan’s overly restrictive policies that have blocked apples from the Evergreen State from getting into Japan for decades.   T...

On Tuesday, the Senate passed the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III.  The legislation authorizes an integrated and collaborative approach to addressing water challenges in the Yakima Valley.  Senator Maria Cantwell said this bill is a model for water management in the 21st century.  She noted th...

The Farm Bill conference committee announced last week it had agreed in principle setting up for passage of the pivotal legislation by year’s end.  Andrew Walmsley, American Farm Bureau Federation congressional relations director, says the hope is lawmakers will address the bill during this the final week of 2018.   “...

Senator Ron Wyden has requested that any year-end funding bill include an extension of the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program to provide compensation for wine-grape growers.  In a letter sent to the Senate appropriations committee Friday, Oregon’s senior senator also asked for $5.25 million...

On Tuesday, Senator Maria Cantwell announced that the Wildfire Management Technology Advancement Act had cleared the Senate Energy and Natural resources Committee.  The vote on the bipartisan piece of legislation was unanimous.  Cantwell said the legislation will increases the use of technology to keep firefighters and communities safe, better reduce the risks from wildfires, and increase the effe

Late last week, the USDA announced it would include sweet cherries in the Market Facilitation Program.  That means cherry growers impacted by retaliatory tariffs from China can apply for the USDA’s trade relieve plan, starting Monday September 24th.  The move...