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Closing in on her first year in office, Third Congressional District Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washougal, highlighted her legislative accomplishments, her work assisting constituents and her efforts to bring federal funding to the residents of Southwest Washington.
In a Wednesday news release, the first-year lawmaker touted her ability to work across the aisle to aid her constituents while securing nearly $1.7 billion in federal funds for the region.
“As a rural mom working in the trades, I wasn’t your typical member of Congress when I was sworn in a year ago. But I arrived on Capitol Hill with the mission to serve as an independent voice for Southwest Washington and represent my rural community,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in a statement. “One year in, I’m glad to say I’ve made meaningful, bipartisan progress on issues like bringing prestige back to our trades, protecting our right to fix our own stuff, and keeping our woods working. I’m excited to see what this new year brings, and I’m grateful to all of the folks who have reached out to my office for the direct constituent support we provide every day.”
According to Gluesenkamp Perez, her office has:
• Recovered $701,935 from federal agencies owed to constituents
• Assisted 849 residents navigating a federal agency
• Sent 59,076 responses to constituents
During her first year in office, Gluesenkamp Perez has also held 454 meetings with constituents from Southwest Washington, 11 town hall meetings across the seven counties in the district and four additional coffee hours. In 2023, Gluesenkamp Perez also held three meetings with local agricultural leaders to discuss negotiations for the farm bill.
Gluesenkamp Perez met with 13 ports and five public utility districts across Southwest Washington. Her tours have included four boat rides.
According to Gluesenkamp Perez, she introduced 30 bipartisan bills, cosponsored 12 bipartisan bills that passed the House and authored nine amendments that were considered on the House floor. Gluesenkamp Perez’s bipartisan legislation includes:
• The Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act, which passed the House and would expand the eligibility for Good Neighbor Authority forest management efforts.
• The Protecting Moms and Infants Reauthorization Act, which passed the House and would provide resources for pregnant women or new mothers with substance use disorders.
• The VET MEDS Act, which passed the House and Senate and will support veterans’ access to VA-certified specialists and examiners in rural communities.
In her first year in office, Southwest Washington has seen nearly $1.7 billion in federal funding for local projects, which includes:
• $600 million for the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project
• $40 million in funding for the Washougal 32nd Street Underpass Project
• $24 million for the Shoalwater Bay Tribe
• $24 million for rural broadband expansion in Lewis County, which will provide high-speed internet access to 2,863 people, 119 businesses, 487 farms and four educational facilities.
• $1 billion in green hydrogen production, which includes funding for Puget Sound Energy, Twin Transit, Centralia College and USA Fortescue Future Industries.
On the lighter side, the University of Washington Huskies’ win over the Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 Championship game, which secured a spot in the College Football Playoff for the University of Washington, also provided bragging rights over fellow freshman Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon. Beforehand, the lawmakers placed a friendly wager on the game, with Chavez-DeRemer now set to treat Gluesenkamp Perez to lunch in the Third Congressional District.
