U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, last month held a career roundtable with Ukrainian community members, toured the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Dittmer Control Center and visited the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA), according to a news release from the office of Gluesenkamp Perez.
“At some of the most difficult moments in our lives, we rely on our 911 operators — and recognizing and supporting their work keeps us all safer. In disasters like wildfires and landslides, the diligence and advanced planning of linemen, dispatchers, and first responders saves lives,” Gluesenkamp Perez said. “Our Ukrainian refugee community has brought valuable skills that we all can benefit from, but I heard about the barriers and uncertainty they’ve faced in a chaotic policy process. Removing these roadblocks not only benefits our region but is also vital to Ukrainians as they fend off invasion and rebuild.”
Gluesenkamp Perez began the day by hosting a roundtable with Partners in Careers (PIC). This local nonprofit organization offers job training and employment services to individuals, including members of the local Ukrainian community.
The group discussed the importance of predictability in the work authorization process, language barriers to entering the trades, and ways to ensure more residents can start small businesses or work with mom-and-pop operations, the release stated.
Gluesenkamp Perez then met with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and was presented with a hat after joining deputies from the department in Washington, D.C., for National Police Week last month.
Afterward, Gluesenkamp Perez visited the Dittmer Control Center, where BPA monitors grid activity and works to keep public power running for the region.
They discussed the importance of having a trained workforce, as well as the need for resiliency during wildfires and natural disasters.
Earlier this year, Gluesenkamp Perez introduced a bipartisan bill to support BPA recruitment and retention to reduce costs for ratepayers, the release stated. She also voiced concerns about cuts to the agency’s workforce.
Gluesenkamp Perez wrapped up her day touring CRESA, the 911 dispatch and emergency management agency for Clark County. She met with dispatchers and heard about how the agency prepares for emergencies, as well as what federal support is necessary to keep the community prepared.
