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U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, recently toured the Cowlitz County Jail, discussed the regulatory climate with a group of general contractors, and learned about beef processing during a busy week across the Third Congressional District.
“There are already so many challenges facing cattle farmers, Congress shouldn’t create any extra burdens on this industry,” Gluesenkamp Perez said in a news release. “The cattle inventory is low, drought and feed costs are high, and regulatory environments are constantly changing. I admire the work that Rainier Pure Beef is doing to put food on the table and bolster strong regional food systems.”
Gluesenkamp Perez also visited the Cowlitz County Jail, which holds as many as 325 inmates at any given time. The congresswoman has made a point of visiting jails across Southwest Washington to show her appreciation for the corrections officers that keep communities safe and also to see first hand how criminal justice issues are playing out in real time, according to the news release. This is the fourth corrections facility that the congresswoman has visited in her district.
“The sad reality is corrections officers are often canaries in the coal mine, dealing with policy failures in real time. Daily, they see the impacts of what happens when we fail to address the fentanyl crisis or don’t have a strong mental healthcare system,” Gluesenkamp Perez said. “Their service to our communities is deeply patriotic and often unseen and underappreciated. I am incredibly grateful to the Cowlitz County Corrections officers commitment to protecting our communities.”
Gluesenkamp Perez also held a meeting with the Lower Columbia Contractors Association where she discussed workforce issues, market trends and how regulations impact building prices and supply.
Gluesenkamp Perez has worked hard to create a smoother pathway for young people who want to get into the construction and trades programs, in part by changing the way AP classes currently discourage some high school students from taking shop, the release stated.
“I’d really like to eliminate the barriers that are keeping young people from getting into trades that could provide a lifetime of healthy employment,” Gluesenkamp Perez said, adding: “I worked hard to get additional funds for Lower Columbia College to invest in vocational education but a lot more is needed at the federal level.”
