“It’s time we begin saying yes to American energy,” McMorris Rodgers said.

McMorris Rodgers is one of the original cosponsors of the Americans for American Energy Act. The Act is a comprehensive energy proposal aimed at reducing energy costs through increased energy production, conservation and innovation.

Highlights of the Act:

• Defines hydropower as a renewable resource
• Lifts the ban against off shore energy exploration
• Promotes safe and environmentally responsible exploration and development of ANWR
• Develops America’s vast oil shale resources
• Promotes greater energy efficiency by increasing and extending personal and business efficiency tax credits and deductions

June 12th, 2008
"At a time of growing energy demand, it makes no sense to throw this clean energy source away," Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers said.

May 21, 2008
Honored women service members, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (in red), and other members of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery honoring fallen women veterans. For more photos, click here.

Recent Legislation Supported:
H.Res. 1054 honors the service and achievements of women in the Armed Forces and female veterans.

H.R. 6048 restricts courts from changing the custody status of a service member’s child while they are deployed and unable to participate in custody proceeding.

H.R. 3819 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to reimburse qualified veterans for emergency treatment received at a non-VA facility until those veterans are transferred to a VA facility.

Read about Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers and her son
Cole in the April/May issue of "Northwest Woman" magazine.

"It’s the goal of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus to allow every child with Down syndrome to reach their full potential. We’ll work to raise expectations and improve education, make it easier for people with Down syndrome to find jobs, and promote funding and research for effective treatments and therapies,” McMorris Rodgers said.

Click here to learn more about Down syndrome and the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus.

McMorris Rodgers Introduces Family-Friendly Workplace Act
On May 13th, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris introduced a bill that will give families the freedom to make choices that work best for them as well as meet the needs of our 21st century workforce.

Resources:
Click here to read McMorris Rodgers' opinion article about Family-Friendly Workplace Act

Link to press release about Family-Friendly Workplace Act

Click here to for more information about the Family-Friendly Workplace Act and other workforce issues.

Click here to read an editorial from the Spokesman Review praising the Family-Friendly Workplace Act.

McMorris Rodgers Helps Develop New Agenda for American Families
On May 14th, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and other women Members of Congress stood on the Capitol steps to unveil their new agenda “The American Families Agenda: Assuring the American Dream.”

“This agenda is focused on providing Eastern Washington families with solutions to the challenges they face,” McMorris Rodgers said.

Resources:
Click here to read more, including an outline of the full agenda.

Click here for photos from the Capitol steps.

Alberta Trade Mission

In late March, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Executive Director of the Interational Trade Alliance Mark Peters and Spokane County Commissioner Mark Richard led a trade delegation to Alberta, Canada.

This trip was to identify how businesses and our educational institutions can support, and in turn benefit from, the growing Alberta economy in this new oil boom to the north.

Click to read more about how Eastern Washington businesses stand to benefit.

McMorris Rodgers Making News

• GAO faults Air Force on tankers (Spokesman Review June 19, 2008)
• Our View: Legislation would facilitate workplace flexibility (Spokesman Review June 2, 2008)
• McMorris Rodgers: Farm Bill is veto-proof (Moscow-Pullman Daily News May 16, 2008)
• A Mother's Day Gift from Congress (townhall.com May 13, 2008)
• Meeting America's Energy Needs with American Energy Resources (The Ripon Forum April 2008)
• Trade trip sifts potential in oil sands (Spokane Journal of Business April 17, 2008)

On February 17, 2009 television broadcasters will make the transition from an analog to digital television (DTV) system. DTV represents a huge leap in broadcast technology. It will allow broadcast of high definition pictures, CD-quality sound, wider picture and is also a more efficient way of using the broadcast spectrum.

When the transition is made to digital, older televisions that are not set to receive DTV will no longer work. In order to watch television, consumers will be required to buy a digital television or a converter box for their old television in order to receive a signal.It is important for Congress and the FCC to make sure the transition to DTV is as smooth as possible for consumers.

Learn more about the benefits of DTV and what you can do to be prepared for the transition by visiting www.dtv.gov.