U.S. Senator, Washington state | Senate Appropriations Vice Chair | Working every day to help people and solve problems
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Trump is attacking unions, driving up costs, and dismantling workers’ rights. On Labor Day, we’re reminded that America deserves better. I’m proud to have helped author the PRO Act to expand workers’ rights & strengthen unions—and I’ll keep fighting to put workers first.
Donald Trump's health care cuts are going to be catastrophic. First, Americans will see their premiums skyrocket, and millions will be priced out of coverage. Then, millions will lose Medicaid, and hospitals will begin to close. Democrats are fighting to repeal these cuts.
It’s good that the courts are making clear that Trump’s destructive tariffs are illegal. These tariffs are crushing small businesses and costing regular people thousands of dollars for no good reason. Democrats will keep pushing to end these tariffs & restore economic sanity.
Trump is attempting more ILLEGAL cuts to government investments, trying to push Congress to the side entirely. This is a brazen attempt to steal Congress's power to be YOUR voice on taxpayer spending. Trump does NOT have a line-item veto, much less a retroactive one.
These are the words of a lunatic who does not belong in government, much less as our nation's top health official. It is dangerous to allow him to oversee ALL federal health research and public health infrastructure. It is never too late to do the right thing. Fire RFK Jr.
This administration's immigration policy is fundamentally sick. Trump has wrongly detained lawful green card holders and even CITIZENS. No one should assume this was necessary. These firefighters put their lives on the line for us ALL and Trump is detaining them.
RKF Jr. is a dangerous man who is determined to abuse his authority to act on truly terrifying conspiracy theories and disinformation—leaving us unprepared for the next deadly pandemic and snuffing out potential cures while he’s at it. My full statement.
I had serious doubts about CDC Director Monarez’s willingness to stand up against RFK Jr.’s personal mission to destroy public health in America—I’m glad that I was wrong. If there are any adults left in the White House: we cannot let RFK Jr. burn what's left of CDC. FIRE HIM.
Absolutely heartbreaking. We are so past the point of just thoughts and prayers—and we have been for YEARS. Of course I’m thinking of all of the victims of today’s shooting, but I’m also ready to pass common sense gun safety reforms TODAY. Are Republicans?
Authoritarian power grabs like this will trash the American economy. This is about YOUR MONEY 💰💸💸! It’s about every family’s savings & retirement. Republicans need to get serious about drawing a line here.
The same Trump administration that wants to abolish FEMA is decimating disaster response and openly ignoring lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina that get help to people in need after natural disasters. Republicans must join us in pushing for answers and accountability ASAP.
This is a travesty on so many levels. There will need to be congressional hearings and serious accountability for Elon and DOGE. Republicans may not conduct real oversight, but a Democratic majority certainly will. This doesn’t end here.
I absolutely do NOT agree with Bolton’s politics but I can STILL say it’s completely corrupt to send the FBI to raid the home of a political opponent or detractor. Everyone needs to be saying it. Trump is pushing us closer and closer toward authoritarianism. We ALL need to push back.
Seems like it’s time for my second Truth Social post.
Under Trump and Doug Collins: VA randomly fired thousands of employees they had to scramble to rehire. VA contracts have been cancelled with seemingly no one checking what they’re for first—including a cancer registry in WA state! It's chaos and our veterans deserve better.
Central WA is going to get hit hard by Republicans' cuts to health care. Our hospitals and health care providers are not partisan. They are very plainly spelling out how these cuts are catastrophic for rural health care. Hospitals WILL close. We have to reverse these cuts.
Our immigration enforcement should be focused on violent criminals and true threats to public safety. We should not divert resources to round up law-abiding, taxpaying immigrant workers just because Stephen Miller is a miserable, hate-filled wretch. Washington will keep fighting.
Republicans swore up and down that defunding public broadcasting would not affect emergency alerts. They lied. Now we have a potential public safety crisis on our hands, particularly in the rural communities where local stations are likely to shut down entirely.
Trump's tariffs are going to cost you an extra $2,400 a year. Grocery prices are up, energy bills are up, and inflation is up. His Big, Ugly Bill is going to raise health care costs for EVERYONE. Trump and Republicans promised to make things more affordable. They lied.
When premiums spike next year, it will be because Republicans chose to make health care more expensive. Not on accident. Not for reasons unknown. But because Republicans decided to do nothing and let costs skyrocket. Spread the word.
The Trump administration spent months illegally hiding how your taxpayer dollars are spent. After the courts stepped in, they at least partially restored the website. Congress needs to know how the administration is spending your money to exercise oversight.
Just another totally unhinged official public statement from a President who is desperate to appeal to foreign dictators and silence Americans. But he doesn't dictate how we run our elections. WA state votes by mail in every election. We'll keep it that way—thanks.
Sarah Shaw came to the U.S. legally from New Zealand. She was detained at the Canadian border on a minor technicality and shipped off to TEXAS with her six-year-old son for WEEKS. She is FINALLY home, but this should have NEVER happened to begin with. Who is this making safer?
Listen: we have to take Trump seriously because, unfortunately, he is the actual President. Trump is a joke, and not always a funny one. But we need to call attention to his rambling and incoherent rants. This was ONE press conference.
No, Costco did not previously sell Mifepristone, but it is notable that they chose to announce this decision. Who are they trying to placate? At a time when abortion rights are under attack everywhere, I am urging ALL pharmacies to ensure they make mifepristone available.
Mifepristone is safe and effective. There is no good reason for Costco to refuse to sell this medication. I am demanding that Costco immediately reverse course—follow the science and the facts, not the demands of far-right anti-abortion extremists.
My full letter to Secretary Noem here. Show us the timestamps and receipts.
Survivors of disasters shouldn't have to wait around until Kristi Noem personally signs off on the assistance they need to rebuild their lives. I'm demanding to know how long it's taking Noem to sign off on FEMA's proposals—AND that we end this arbitrary & unnecessary oversight.
Billionaires like Trump & Musk should be paying their fair share into Social Security—instead of pushing thousands of SSA workers out and making it harder to get your benefits. There's NO reason Elon should be paying the same amount into Social Security as someone making $160k.
Trump's tariffs are a tax—they are a tax on just about everything you are purchasing. You will have less money in your pockets by the end of this year, specifically because of Donald Trump. But here’s the thing: Republicans could vote with Democrats to stop these tariffs in an instant.
At a time when every VA medical center has severe staffing shortages, Doug Collins & Trump have proudly touted their efforts to push 30k VA workers out of their jobs. Secretary Collins is more focused on social media and confrontation than on facing reality and solving problems.
Any Senator who votes to confirm this partisan hack is voting to shred the integrity of our nation's best economic and jobs data, which underpin our entire economy. If Antoni gets confirmed, I hope Republicans like playing make-believe, because that's all BLS data will become.
A rambling and incoherent Trump wants to turn DC into his personal police state despite a 30-year low in crime. He's a pathetic wannabe dictator who wants to distract you from his connection to the Epstein files, skyrocketing costs, and his weak job numbers. Don't let him.
By the way, in case you were wondering only Democrats support a national ban on gerrymandering. Says a lot. But that doesn't mean we fight with one hand behind our back in the meantime.
These servicemembers put their lives on the line for this country. It is disgraceful and wrong to deny them at least the same benefits any other veteran would receive. Pure hatefulness and spite from the least qualified Secretary of Defense in history and President bone spurs.
Republicans are calling for massive cuts to the cutting-edge science happening at PNNL and the essential work at the Hanford cleanup. I was in the Tri-Cities to say I'm tearing up Trump's budget and writing a new one. NO WAY to shortchanging Hanford or groundbreaking research.
I'm in Walla Walla today to hear from local health care providers about the consequences of Republican cuts to Medicaid and health care. Democrats need to pound the pavement in rural areas to make plain WHO is responsible for longer wait times and higher costs.
As of today, thanks to Trump, Americans are paying the highest tariff rate since 1933. And the average household is going to lose out on $2,400 thanks to Trump's tariffs. You are paying more for almost everything because of Trump himself.
The Hanford Reach is a special place where you can hear the splashing of salmon & steelhead, see an eagle spread its wings, and wildflowers dot the shores of the Columbia. Proud to help protect the Reach 25 years ago—and I'll keep fighting to preserve it for future generations.
I'm in Pasco today to make sure Central WA knows REPUBLICANS voted for the biggest cuts to Medicaid and health care EVER. It's going to strain or shutter rural hospitals & send health care costs skyrocketing. People need to know WHY this is happening if we ever want to fix this.
This miserable fraud has poisoned the national conversation about lifesaving vaccines with his conspiracy theories, but he is also doing so much more to destroy science and progress. This will grind lifesaving research to a halt and set us back decades for no good reason.
By this point, everyone must understand that Trump is a liar. As long as anti-abortion extremists who believe a fetus has the same rights as a person hold sway in the Republican Party, the GOP will NEVER support IVF in a meaningful way.
Trump is afraid of a House Democratic majority, so he's asked Texas Republicans to redraw the maps nearly a year out from the election. This is just a corrupt & brazen power grab. If this is how Republicans want to do things, Democratic states should absolutely respond in kind.
Save Medicaid. Stop abortion bans. If we want to actually do that, we need to make sure everyone knows about Trump's Big Ugly bill. I was in Seattle today to help make sure people understand Republicans are the reason why hospitals will close, wait times will be longer, and costs will skyrocket.
BREAKING: A top government watchdog confirms that YET AGAIN, Trump is illegally withholding your taxpayer dollars. This time, it's NIH funding—they're blocking CANCER research. Clinical trials will be cut short and labs will shutter. Trump needs to answer for this personally.
Are the Epstein files on the roof?
Here’s the thing to understand about Trump's cabinet: They'll never admit a mistake—and they'll always pick a fight. They're focused on social media & confrontation. Every failure is an opportunity to double down and lie about how you’re actually making America great.
The economy is adding barely any jobs right now and where we’ve seen new jobs it's been in health care. Well guess what? Republicans just passed the largest cuts to health care and Medicaid EVER. We need to reverse those cuts and end Trump's tariffs if we want to salvage our economy.
Here’s what just some of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein's victims had to say about the outrageous preferential and delicate treatment Trump is offering a convicted child sex trafficker. This is a disgusting perversion of justice.
The entire premise of Trump’s trade war is unimaginably stupid. There is no “making it in America” when the “it” in question is coffee or green tea, which we cannot grow at scale here in the United States. Republicans need to vote with us to finally end these tariffs.
Trump just moved to outlaw women veterans who are victims of rape or incest from getting abortion care at VA. Republicans don’t care if your health is in danger, if you’re a veteran, or if you’ve been raped—they want abortion outlawed everywhere, for everyone.
The Senate just voted to pass bipartisan bills to fund military construction, VA, agriculture, FDA, and more. Passing these bills ensures that CONGRESS decides how taxpayer funds are spent—NOT Russ Vought or President Trump. This is a good thing for our country.
It is seriously dangerous territory when Trump fires anyone who doesn't cook the books for him. The entire economy hinges on the accurate, nonpartisan data we get from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Republicans need to join us in fighting to protect the integrity of BLS.
This is because of cuts Republicans in Congress enacted. Understand it will be LOCAL stations in RURAL communities that will shutter and people living in rural communities will be most affected. It won’t be easy, but I'll keep fighting to restore funding for public media.
So far Trump’s tariffs mean the average American household loses out on $2,400. This is a MASSIVE tax INCREASE because we’ve got an economically illiterate President in charge. Republicans need to join Democrats to reassert our power over trade and END these tariffs.
Republicans will stop at nothing to ban abortion nationwide, even if it means ripping away cancer screenings & birth control. That's why their Big Ugly Bill defunds Planned Parenthood. @smith.senate.gov and I introduced a bill to reverse this and save this essential health care.
We should absolutely pass a ban on stock trading for all Members of Congress along with the President and Vice President. To my Republican colleagues, let's put this bill on the Senate floor immediately.
Democrats offered an amendment to simply ensure that if taxpayers spend $1 billion retrofitting a Qatari jet, it doesn't transfer to Trump after his presidency for his personal use. Republicans voted NO and blocked the amendment. This is the most corrupt administration in history. Easily.
Tonight I voted YES to block the sale of certain weapons to Israel to send a message to Netanyahu's government. This legislative tool is not perfect, but frankly it is time to say ENOUGH to the suffering of innocent young children and families. My full statement. ⬇️
Republicans just voted to confirm Joe Kent, a conspiracy theorist with white supremacist views, to be in charge of counterterrorism. We had all the evidence we'd ever need to know he's not competent or going to do the right thing. Republicans will own this vote and Kent's record.
The Senate should NOT confirm a man with white supremacist views to be Director of Counterterrorism. Joe Kent is also a conspiracy theorist. Colleagues, let's please do exactly what people in Washington did each time they were asked to trust Joe Kent—VOTE NO.
🚨Republicans want to privatize Social Security. We need to publicize them doing it. SPREAD THE WORD. 📣📣📣
Social Security is a promise we keep for all Americans. Privatizing Social Security BREAKS that promise. Republicans need to keep their Hands OFF Social Security. We need to make sure every person who will ever count on Social Security sees this.
On the 60th anniversary of Medicaid & Medicare, let's make sure everyone knows that REPUBLICANS voted to enact the largest cut to MEDICAID and health care EVER. 15 MILLION Americans will lose health care. The fight to reverse these cuts is today and every day until we do.
BREAKING: Trump wants to illegally cut off $15 billion in lifesaving NIH research. Research to cure cancer, Alzheimer's, and so much more is on the line. These people are LYING about waste, fraud, and abuse at NIH to justify attacking medical research—we all need to say so. My full statement. ⬇️
A TSUNAMI WATCH is now in effect for Washington state. If you are on the coast, be prepared to take action & stay tuned for more instructions. This alert level will update once more is known. Find details here: tsunami.gov/events/PAAQ/... #TsunamiWatch #WaWX
Republicans just voted to confirm Emil Bove, a guy who said "f**k" the courts, to a lifetime on the federal bench. I voted NO. I happen to believe Senate-confirmed judges should have some semblance of respect for the rule of law. I guess Republicans vote however Trump says.
People are dying of starvation in Gaza. The President needs to advocate for a massive expansion of humanitarian assistance. This cannot continue. I joined my Senate colleagues to say: Return the hostages, end the fighting, and bring relief to the people of Gaza.
Here’s a message for Trump: seniors who need their Social Security do not want to have to deal with an AI chatbot. The PEOPLE pay for Social Security—the government owes the PEOPLE that money. When you make it harder for Americans to get their benefits—that’s a benefit cut.
Never a bad time to remind everyone you know that Trump ran on making things more affordable. Instead he imposes new & crushing taxes through his tariffs—and makes the largest cuts to health care EVER, while ensuring higher premiums for everyone.
Adolfo, who has been in America since he was a teenager—with NO criminal record and 4 kids who are CITIZENS— was detained by ICE while dropping his kids off at school. Trump isn't focusing on criminals; he's tearing apart the families who build our communities. This is wrong.
The Trump administration and the Israeli government must get aid into Gaza quickly to stave off a man-made famine. And they need to stop replacing actual humanitarian organizations with literal mercenaries, something that is really happening and worsening an already dire crisis.
Seattle & King County are better off thanks to Cuong Van Huynh. This man is a pillar of our community, and he should not be torn away from his family and his home after 40 years. Here’s what I know from Van and the people who love him:
Listen to this mealy-mouthed non-answer about the billions in CANCER RESEARCH funding Trump's budget chief is illegally blocking. Clinical trials have been cut short. Research is shutting down. We're talking irreparable harm. Keep speaking up until they get this money out.
Satire and ridicule are important tools for a civil society working to stave off authoritarianism. From Stephen Colbert's Late Show:
Another American has been brutally killed in the West Bank. Netanyahu's government must face accountability. It is not enough to delegate an investigation to Israel—the United States must conduct its own investigation into the killing of an American citizen. My letter. ⬇️
Read more here from GeekWire:
Trump's Big Ugly bill is a gift to the oil and gas lobby. It keeps America stuck in the past while jacking up your utility bill, so Big Oil can stay ahead. Republicans are lockstep for Big Oil. A Democratic majority would restore sanity to our energy policy & lower costs.
What you’d hope the President of the United States would say is that they would NEVER pardon a convicted child sex trafficker. Apparently Trump isn’t ruling that out. Disgusting.
Trump's Big Ugly bill will wipe out clean energy investments. It's a giant job killer & utility bills will skyrocket. I'm in Seattle today to make sure people know it’s thanks to Republicans. Meanwhile, Democrats will deliver more jobs, clean energy, and a brighter future.
The Trump administration deserves no credit for just barely averting a crisis they themselves set in motion. You don’t thank a burglar for returning your cash after you’ve spent a month figuring out if you’d have to sell your house to make up the difference.
Emil Bove's disdain for the rule of law is so absurdly apparent to anyone who isn't afraid of Donald Trump. This is a guy who said "F**ck" court orders. He should be nowhere near a lifetime appointment as a circuit court judge. I will be voting NO on his confirmation.
This is a crisis. While I have very little confidence in this administration, I'm calling on POTUS to intervene. No one should starve or die from disease when aid is sitting across the border. Let all humanitarian actors get aid into Gaza. Make sure it can be delivered safely.
Trump's tariffs are raising costs for businesses, making everything more expensive for all of us. Trump is treating tariffs like a reality TV game. Will he? Won't he? But this isn't reality TV, it's real life. Our economy needs certainty and sanity. These tariffs MUST end.
Republicans have consistently brushed aside concerns about Trump's DOGE cuts at the Social Security Administration. Yet here we are confronted by longer wait times, and less help for Americans who need it. I'll be fighting for investments to hire real people & modernize SSA.
The warning signs are red and blaring. More and more failures that put lives in danger are piling up. Kristi Noem needs to RESIGN. And Republicans need to get serious about real Congressional oversight.
Like if your name ISN’T in the Epstein files. Repost if you think Trump should RELEASE THE FILES!
I joined BC Premier @davidebybc.bsky.social today to say that Washington state and Canada's bonds will outlast Donald Trump. 🇺🇸🇨🇦 Trump's tariffs are raising costs on both sides of the border quite literally for NO REASON. It's past time Republicans help put an end to Trump's nonsense tariffs.
🚨A top government watchdog confirms that Trump illegally withheld federal funds from Head Start. Trying to steal money from preschool programs? Not on my watch. This former preschool teacher is fighting to protect our kids from Trump's illegal cuts. My full statement. ⬇️
Republicans have plenty of time to ram through tax cuts for billionaires—but they literally haven't even talked about extending health tax credits for working-class families. Republican indifference is a major reason why your premiums will be spiking dramatically THIS YEAR.
Joshua Divine is a self-described anti-abortion "zealot" who refused to say in his hearings that court orders must be followed and called IVF a "contentious issue." Republicans confirmed him to a LIFETIME District Court appointment today. I voted NO.
I’d assume a straightforward bill to release the Epstein files should be able to pass on a simple voice vote. What is Speaker Johnson so afraid of?
I was asked about Republicans who are JUST NOW proposing "fixes" to the massive health care crises they helped create by passing Trump’s Big Ugly bill. It's just lip service—they had the power to stop this & chose not to. If we're being honest, only a Democratic majority will reverse these cuts.
This is a truly heinous & sickening way to treat human beings. By the way, the majority of immigrants being detained have ZERO criminal record. Republicans hold the majority. It's past time they join Democrats in calling for real oversight of these human rights violations.
Make sure everyone knows: Whether you are on private insurance or get coverage from the marketplace, understand that your premiums will go UP because of Trump's Big Ugly bill. And with 17 million Americans losing health care, there will be reduced services & longer wait times just about everywhere.
Have you heard about the Roadless Rule? It's a policy to protect forestland across the country that Trump is repealing. A legislative fix will take time—the best way to fix this is to speak up now. Help get the word out. We need to pressure Republicans to reverse course.
People actually want Congress to solve the child care crisis—don’t tell me we can’t afford to invest in child care after Republicans just blew up the national debt to give tax breaks to billionaires who don’t need them. Let's pass the Child Care for Working Families Act.
Republicans voted to defund PBS this week, claiming it was to address the national debt (minus $1 billion). This was just after they added trillions to the deficit to pass tax breaks for billionaires (plus $4 trillion). Maybe they're going after Count Von Count for a reason.
Harborview Medical Center in Seattle provides high-level trauma care for AK, ID, WY, & MT. Republican health care cuts are putting a major strain on them and every hospital. A rural hospital fund doesn't help Harborview or the people in Republican states who count on them.