Q and A with Cathy

In this series, “Q&A with Cathy,” I hope you’ll submit any questions you may have – whether about the government, jobs, health care, or anything else – and I’ll answer them here. You can email your questions to QandAwithCathy@mail.house.gov. I look forward to hearing from you! --Cathy

How does reauthorizing TRIA help small businesses – like those in the non-residential construction industry – succeed?

Local businesses in eastern Washington need certainty to expand and grow while keeping them safe, and TRIA, or officially, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2014, does exactly that. Established following the tragic terrorists’ attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, TRIA is a risk insurance program that gives businesses certainty and peace of mind in the event of any future attacks. Additionally, this bill makes commonsense reforms thereby making certain that Eastern Washington taxpayers continue to be kept secure while ensuring transparency and accountability to the program. At a time when there is great unrest around the world, I believe it is critical we give people in our community the assurances they need to develop, innovate, and create new jobs without fear of the unknown.

What are you doing to help Eastern Washington veterans and active military members? Is there a way to strengthen support for our military aircraft at Fairchild Air Force Base?

The men and women who serve at Fairchild Air Force Base have made tremendous personal sacrifices to keep our country safe. That’s why I recently voted to ensure that our servicemen and women have access to the training and equipment that they need to successfully complete their missions – and that includes funding for critical military programs like the Air Force’s KC-46A refueling tanker. I also voted to secure pay increases for the members of our military, and to improve our failed VA health system by modernizing medical records. It is critical we provide the members of our armed forces the tools necessary to perform their jobs, and I work every day to represent the brave men and women at Fairchild.

How will the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act help people with disabilities reach their full potential?

The ABLE Act is a simple idea making a tremendous impact. This overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation will empower individuals with disabilities in Eastern Washington through tax-free savings accounts to save for college, retirement, and other future expenses, like medical bills. I’m proud that it recently passed the House and Senate, and is on its way to the President’s desk! This legislation amends the Internal Revenue Service Code, and works just like the Section 529 college savings account program. We need to continue to work together to pass smart solutions to create new opportunities for people all across our country. I believe that together, we can create a world that supports and embraces each individual’s full potential, and the ABLE Act does just that.

What are your thoughts on reforming our immigration system?

We need to fix our broken immigration system not by circumventing the law, but by working together through the democratic process to advance effective, permanent solutions. President Obama’s executive action is an overreach of his power – but it is also more than that. It is a direct disregard for the will of the American people, who expect their elected leaders to work together on common-sense solutions. That’s why earlier this month I supported the Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act, which holds the President accountable for his unilateral executive overreach on immigration. It marks a pivotal step toward ensuring that the Administration works with Congress to get things done – because we need an effective, long-term solution to our broken system.