Maria Cantwell
DA war with Iran and damaging tariffs continue to haunt American households by raising the costs of everything. Prices overall are up 3.7%. Those families trying to budget for winter heating needs are facing fuel oil prices that are up 74.2% over last year. But this Administration continues to ignore that painful reality facing every household in this country and does nothing.
Native Americans have faced and risen above tremendous challenges. Today, on #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we honor Native history and celebrate the first inhabitants of our country. https://t.co/d8YHuFWM87
It was great meeting with Gabriela Whitemarsh, the 2026 Washington State Teacher of the Year. Gabriela teaches advanced mathematics in both English and Spanish and is an advocate for bilingual education. Thank you Gabriela for the lifechanging work you do with Pasco’s youth! https://t.co/EYcJWT3GLZ
We had a great crowd at yesterday's Main Street Promise Celebration in Vancouver. The community had a vision for Main Street, and that vision has become a reality. Congratulations, Vancouver! https://t.co/eqEukBUr6S
College athletes: "We strongly support [The Protect College Sports Act's] protections for student-athletes across all divisions, including transfer rights, protection of women's and Olympic sports, and NIL opportunities."
Cantwell Celebrates Pinehurst Light Rail Opening New station brings fast, affordable transit to more north Seattle residents WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, issued a statement celebrating the opening of the newest light rail station in north Seattle. “This new station gives more north Seattle riders access to fast and affordable public transportation, with service every few minutes to UW, SeaTac Airport, and beyond,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Federal investment in our light rail system pays dividends in driving local economies and helping residents reach jobs, education, healthcare, and other essential services across the region.” Pinehurst Station is an infill station along the Lynnwood Link Extension light rail corridor. From Pinehurst Station, riders can reach the University of Washington and Downtown Seattle in under 15 minutes, with trips to SeaTac Airport taking less than an hour. The station is expected to serve up to 4,200 daily riders with service every 4-6 minutes during peak hours. It is opening to riders years ahead of the originally scheduled target of 2031. Sen. Cantwell is a longtime champion of ongoing investments in Washington state’s light rail system. In March 2023, Sen. Cantwell announced a $79.3 million federal loan for Pinehurst station, also called the NE 130th Street Infill Station. The project included bus and paratransit transfer facilities, as well as sidewalks and bike infrastructure. After finalization of the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, Sen. Cantwell celebrated the inclusion of $254 million for the Lynnwood Light Rail Extension – which fully funded the project three years ahead of schedule – and $329.14 million for the Federal Way Link Light Rail Extension.
Tonight the Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22. https://t.co/dGUuWkhgxZ
Cantwell Joins WA Delegation in Supporting Governor’s Request for Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for Devastating Wildfires in Washington State WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Washington state’s Congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Bob Ferguson’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance to help families recover and repair damage due to the devastating wildfires that swept through Central and Eastern Washington from July 23 through August 31. For the first time, on August 1, the National Weather Service upgraded a Red Flag Warning for fire weather conditions to a Particularly Dangerous Situation, which is very rare and typically reserved for extreme fire weather conditions. Three massive fires broke out and tore through neighborhoods across Spokane, the Old Trails Fire burned in northwest Spokane, the Autumn Lane Fire burned near Nine-Mile Falls, and the Fairview Fire burned in Mead. The Spokane Complex Fires forced 67,000 people to evacuate, burned nearly 10,000 acres, with damages predicted to exceed $1 billion. This was one of Washington state’s worst wildfire seasons on record, with fires causing severe damage and threatening lives, property, businesses, and livestock. In Okanogan County, the Kaiser Canyon, Modrite, and Sinlahekin fires burned over 350,000 acres total. “As members of the Washington state delegation, we write in support of Washington state’s September 28th request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance due to devastating wildfire damages incurred from July 23 through August 31. We implore you to approve the request for assistance as quickly as possible,” Sen. Cantwell and other members of the delegation wrote. “A record-setting drought and an unusually small snowpack contributed to numerous large and fast-moving wildfires in Central and Eastern Washington, devastating communities in Benton, Spokane, Stevens, and Okanogan Counties, as well as on the Spokane Indian Reservation. These fires spread rapidly, jumping roads and rivers, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate quickly, with many escaping with little more than they could carry.” U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) led the letter. Joining Sen. Cantwell as cosigners were U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03), Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Michael Baumgartner (R, WA-05), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10). The lawmakers continued, “Local, state, and federal resources responded quickly to the wildfires. Firefighting crews from around the country, as well as international firefighting forces and the National Guard, deployed to Washington state to assist local first responders with evacuations and firefighting. While their heroic efforts helped to contain these devastating fires, federal assistance is required to support communities as they begin to rebuild. The fires destroyed over 2,500 structures, including entire neighborhoods, and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Ultimately, over 650 primary residences were destroyed by these fast-moving wildfires, leaving hundreds of Washingtonians displaced.” “Throughout this crisis, state, local, Tribal, and federal first responders have stepped up and worked tirelessly to keep our communities secure. We are incredibly grateful for their diligent work and careful coordination to keep Washingtonians safe and informed throughout this disaster, as well as for your prompt approval of the state’s Emergency Declaration request submitted on August 2nd, which allowed for critical federal assistance that supported fire suppression, emergency shelter operations, and other vital needs. We reiterate our full support for the September 28th request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance,” Senator Murray and the delegation concluded. On Aug. 2, the day after the fires broke out, Sen. Cantwell visited county and city command centers in Spokane and took part in a press briefing about the devastating fires. On Aug. 12, Sen. Cantwell joined U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at a briefing about response to and recovery from the fires. On September 2025, Sen. Cantwell’s Fire Ready Nation Act passed the U.S. Senate unanimously. The bipartisan Fire Ready Nation Act would formally establish a permanent Fire Weather Services program within NOAA and authorize funding for new technologies to forecast weather conditions that cause and impact wildfires. A background document detailing Sen. Cantwell’s work to bolster wildfire preparedness is available HERE. The full letter is available HERE and below: Dear Mr. President: As members of the Washington state delegation, we write in support of Washington state’s September 28th request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance due to devastating wildfire damages incurred from July 23 through August 31. We implore you to approve the request for assistance as quickly as possible. A record-setting drought and an unusually small snowpack contributed to numerous large and fast-moving wildfires in Central and Eastern Washington, devastating communities in Benton, Spokane, Stevens, and Okanogan Counties, as well as on the Spokane Indian Reservation. These fires spread rapidly, jumping roads and rivers, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate quickly, with many escaping with little more than they could carry. Local, state, and federal resources responded quickly to the wildfires. Firefighting crews from around the country, as well as international firefighting forces and the National Guard, deployed to Washington state to assist local first responders with evacuations and firefighting. While their heroic efforts helped to contain these devastating fires, federal assistance is required to support communities as they begin to rebuild. The fires destroyed over 2,500 structures, including entire neighborhoods, and forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate their homes. Ultimately, over 650 primary residences were destroyed by these fast-moving wildfires, leaving hundreds of Washingtonians displaced. Throughout this crisis, state, local, Tribal, and federal first responders have stepped up and worked tirelessly to keep our communities secure. We are incredibly grateful for their diligent work and careful coordination to keep Washingtonians safe and informed throughout this disaster, as well as for your prompt approval of the state’s Emergency Declaration request submitted on August 2nd, which allowed for critical federal assistance that supported fire suppression, emergency shelter operations, and other vital needs. We reiterate our full support for the September 28th request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. We appreciate you in advance for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.
Cantwell Celebrates New Amtrak Trains for the Pacific Northwest Cantwell championed a record-high Amtrak investment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which is funding new Airo trains WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, celebrated the debut of new Airo trainsets on the Amtrak Cascades ahead of the first passenger service on September 30. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law keeps paying dividends,” said Sen. Cantwell. “The state-of-the-art Airo trainsets replace much older cars, making travel on Amtrak’s Cascades route more convenient, accessible, and reliable for riders across the Pacific Northwest. The Airos also have nearly twice as many seats, helping to meet growing demand on this routinely sold-out route.” Sen. Cantwell led passage of the largest bipartisan investment in passenger rail in history, including $22 billion for Amtrak, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Now, Pacific Northwest customers will be the first in the nation to experience Amtrak’s newest trains. Amtrak’s Airo trains produce 90% less particulate emissions than their predecessors. Redesigned interiors will offer improved accessibility and comfort in state-of-the art train interiors. In October 2024, Sen. Cantwell announced that Amtrak would invest nearly $300 million in major upgrades to Seattle’s King Street Station rail yard. The upgraded railyard supported the introduction of the new Airo trains and operates without the use of fossil fuels for heating.
Senate Passes Protect College Sports Act 77-22 Landmark bill enshrines into federal law rights and health and safety protections for college athletes, protects athletes from predatory agents, & secures the future of women’s and Olympic sports; Legislation moves to House for consideration WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, celebrated the overwhelming, bipartisan Senate vote to pass the Protect College Sports Act. "There are several things in this bill that are really important to enshrine into federal law at this time. First and foremost, the federal right to NIL [Name, Image, and Likeness]," Sen. Cantwell said in a speech on the Senate floor ahead of the vote. "But compensation on revenue sharing is probably the most important thing we could possibly enshrine in federal law today. This is [Congress] saying, for the first time, that an athlete gets a percentage of the media rights, the ticket sales, and the sponsorship." She continued: "We also believe in a health and safety standard in federal law, one that protects the athletes beyond the way the law works today and gives them the right to sue and hold these people accountable for any kind of health and safety violations [...] And then medical coverage for five years post eligibility, and capping agents’ [fees] at 5%." "We need to stop stealing money out of college [and] university institutions for education, for tuition, for professors, and putting it into an arms race on sports," Sen. Cantwell said. "It is putting a pin in the problems to stabilize the loss of women’s and Olympic [sports] and to create the opportunity to discuss the larger structure moving forward. That is why I think we have so much support." Video of Sen. Cantwell’s floor speech is HERE; a transcript is HERE. The final vote was 77-22. The bill will now move to the House of Representatives for consideration. The next scheduled House legislative session begins Monday, November 9. Sen. Cantwell is leading the effort to reform college sports. The Protect College Sports Act of 2026, which she introduced alongside Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chair Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), sets new rules and provides new tools to stabilize college sports, including codifying athletes’ rights to earn compensation for their NIL, enshrining scholarship and health and safety protections in federal law, reining in predatory agents, expanding revenue for all schools, and preserving and protecting the future of women’s and Olympic sports. On September 15, Sen. Cantwell’s office released a snapshot report detailing how the unsustainable growth in spending on college sports is amplifying financial pressures on colleges and universities. That report can be read in full HERE. On September 14, Sen. Cantwell joined current college athletes, coaches, and senators from both parties for a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to speak in support of the Protect College Sports Act. That press conference, which also included Gonzaga University head men’s basketball coach Mark Few, can be watched in full HERE. The Protect College Sports Act’s new guaranteed protections for student athletes include: Granting student athletes a new federal right to earn compensation for their NIL and replacing the patchwork of state laws with a strong national law. Capping agent fees at 5% to clamp down on predatory agents. Guaranteeing scholarships for ten years after eligibility, so athletes can complete their degrees, and ensuring student athletes cannot lose their scholarship because of injury or a bad game. Requiring Division I schools to cover out-of-pocket medical costs for athletic injuries or illness for current student athletes and five years post-eligibility. Preventing women’s and Olympic sports from being cut by requiring schools to maintain a minimum number of sports. Giving athletes a private right of action to enforce provisions of the bill, including their NIL rights, agent protections, health and safety standards, scholarship protections, and medical coverage requirements. For more details, see a summary of the bill HERE.
Cantwell & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Prohibit Firearms at Polling Places Nationwide, Protecting Voters & Election Workers In early 2026, 32% percent of local election workers experienced threats or harassment; 52% concerned for staff safety WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined her colleagues in introducing bicameral legislation to protect voters and election workers from intimidation and threats of violence at polling places. “It is deeply troubling that now more than half of local elections officials worry about the safety of their colleagues, and a third have experienced threats or abuse. The officials and volunteers who run our free and fair elections deserve to be and feel safe at work – and voters need to be able to visit their elections office without worrying about their safety,” Sen. Cantwell said. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would help further ensure that every voter has the right to cast their ballot and every election worker can conduct their official duties free from fear and intimidation. It would strengthen existing anti-intimidation provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to limit the presence of visible firearms at locations where voters cast their ballot or election workers perform their official duties, empowering poll workers and election officials to continue safely administering elections. In Washington state, firearms are already prohibited at ballot counting centers, voting centers, student engagement hubs, and county elections and voter registration offices, as well as any facility being temporarily used for those reasons. The right to vote is fundamental to American democracy, but rising threats of political violence against voters and election workers threaten election security. As of April 2026, 32% of local election workers have reported experiencing threats, harassment, or abuse. Armed groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who were involved in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol have threatened to patrol polling places in recent elections. While intimidation is illegal under existing law, this new legislation is important to provide a clearer standard and further ensure safety at election offices and polling locations. Specifically, the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act would: Amend Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act to establish a rebuttable presumption that a person carrying a visible firearm while engaging in election-related activities is engaging in voter intimidation; Provide civil remedies for individuals who experience this type of intimidation, including an emergency injunction that would allow the voter or election official to carry out their duties in peace; and Recognize an exemption for law enforcement officers acting within their official duties and establish that this exemption does not apply to National Guard. The bill was introduced by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). In addition to Sen. Cantwell, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Adam Schiff (D-CA). The House version of the bill was introduced by U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio (D, PA-17). The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act is endorsed by organizations including the Brennan Center for Justice, Defend the Vote Action Fund, and the Fair Elections Center. “Congress must pass the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act. We are grateful to Representative Deluzio, Senator Padilla, and other members of Congress for their work to keep our elections safe for everyone involved in the process. This legislation would bolster federal protections that empower voters, election officials, and election workers to seek legal recourse if they are intimidated. The bill would help protect our democracy by keeping intimidation and violence out of voting,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, Senior Director of the voting rights program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law. “Our ability to hold elected leaders accountable to the people depends on ensuring every voter can access the ballot free from intimidation or harassment, and that election workers can run those elections without interference. Defend The Vote Action Fund applauds Rep. Deluzio for his leadership on this critical bill that protects voters' rights to cast their ballots free from interference, while ensuring that poll workers and election officials can safely oversee and administer our elections,” said Defend the Vote Action Fund Executive Director Brian Lemek. “To fully realize our civil rights, we need stronger protections against intimidation to make sure that election officials can do their jobs without fear, and that no American is stopped from exercising their right to vote. The Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act is one way we can defend our voting rights in the face of those who want to take power away from the people,” said Fair Elections Center's President and CEO, Rebekah Caruthers. Sen. Cantwell remains a stalwart defender of our free and fair elections: On Sep. 8, Sen. Cantwell joined 260 of her colleagues – including all Senate Democrats and current and former members of the House of Representatives – in filing a bipartisan, bicameral amicus brief with the Supreme Court in a case challenging the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) attempt to impose new requirements that would have interfered with vote-by-mail in Washington state and nationwide. On Sep. 15, the Supreme Court agreed with the lawmakers’ position and refused to reverse a lower-court ruling that blocked the USPS from implementing the onerous new requirements. In denying the stay, the Supreme Court let stand a preliminary injunction issued by a federal district court in two related cases – one brought by Washington along with other states – against the USPS rule for the upcoming election. In a statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling, Sen. Cantwell highlighted that the district court had found “on one side, that immediate implementation of the Final Rule issued less than seventy days before the November 2026 election threatens disenfranchisement of millions of United States citizens who seek to vote by mail and, on the other side, that the record includes no evidence relating to fraudulent mail voting to support the rushed implementation of the Final Rule” and granted the preliminary injunction.” On Sep. 2, Sen. Cantwell held a press conference in Seattle to warn Washington voters about Administration efforts to undermine their right to vote. That same day Sen. Cantwell and Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs released a snapshot report showing that late-postmark rejection rates have more than doubled in 19 counties compared to the 2024 primaries – with rural counties worst affected -- following a new Trump Administration policy that can delay postmarking of mail-in ballots by several days. On August 5, she sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin demanding the Trump Administration adhere to the National Voter Registration Act’s (NVRA) “quiet period” that prohibits systematic voter purges within 90 days of an election, pushing back against the Administration’s ongoing voter suppression efforts. On July 29, she wrote to Blanche, Mullin, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding to know whether the Trump administration plans to illegally deploy armed federal law enforcement officers at polling sites during the November 2026 elections. On July 28, Sen. Cantwell sharply criticized the Trump administration’s request that the Supreme Court allow him to seize control of state-run elections and implement an anti-vote-by-mail executive order. Lower courts have repeatedly rejected the president’s arguments and stated that his executive order is unconstitutional. On July 2, Sen. Cantwell sent a letter to the Postmaster General about the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) proposed illegal rule to implement President Trump’s March 31 executive order to interfere with vote-by-mail. Sen. Cantwell’s letter specifically noted the recent decisions of multiple federal courts that found Trump’s executive order unconstitutional and enjoined the USPS from implementing the proposed rule – including in separate cases brought by the State of Washington with other states and the NAACP – and demanded the USPS comply with those court orders. On June 29, she celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling in Watson v. Republican National Committee against an effort to stop states from counting mail-in ballots that are received after Election Day, even if they’ve been postmarked in time. The case, brought by the Republican National Committee, threatened the election administration practices of states like Washington. On June 24, Sen. Cantwell co-sponsored the Right To Vote Act, legislation to create the first-ever affirmative federal voting rights guarantee for all eligible citizens. On June 24, she also denounced President Trump’s announcement that he would not sign the 21st Century Road to Housing Act – an overwhelmingly popular, bipartisan bill that passed both the House and Senate earlier in the week and would have increased housing supply and brought down housing costs – until Congress passes the SAVE America Act. That legislation, which Trump has repeatedly demanded, would eliminate vote-by-mail and impose onerous new restrictions on voting and registering to vote. It would disenfranchise millions of Americans in the name of a voter fraud “crisis” that, even by the standards of the right-wing Heritage Foundation, straightforwardly does not exist. President Trump again demanded Congress pass the restrictive bill following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Watson v. Republican National Committee. Despite President Trump’s refusal to sign the bipartisan housing bill, it became law on July 11, since he failed to act on the bill within the time period prescribed by the Constitution after Congress sent him the legislation. On June 23, she joined the entire Democratic Caucus in sending a letter to the USPS demanding the USPS abandon attempts to restrict voting by mail called for by President Trump in an illegal and unconstitutional March 31 executive order attacking mail and absentee ballots. On June 23, she also delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling out the Trump Administration’s war on mail-in voting as the latest frontier in a long history of voter disenfranchisement in the United States. On June 17, she joined several of her Senate Democratic colleagues for a spotlight forum highlighting President Trump’s illegal overreach into our free and fair elections. On June 8, she joined 23 of her Senate colleagues in demanding answers over the Trump Administration’s decision to remove the most recent version of the Federal Prosecution of Election Offenses manual from DOJ’s website without explanation. On April 29, she was tapped by Minority Leader Schumer to join a task force of senators defending our elections from interference. On April 23, she joined colleagues in introducing the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act to protect the right to vote by mail and block President Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional March 31 executive order attacking mail and absentee ballots. On April 22, she sent a letter to the USPS warning the agency against complying with the executive order, which would undermine mail-in voting. On April 1, after the executive order on mail-in voting was announced, she issued a statement in opposition. On March 18, she convened a group of current and former elected officials and representatives of nonpartisan voter advocacy groups for a virtual press conference on defending voter access. Video of that entire virtual press conference is HERE; video of Sen. Cantwell’s statement is HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s statement is HERE. On March 15, she issued a snapshot report showing that the SAVE America Act – the voter suppression bill President Trump has continued to demand Congress pass – would cost Washington state taxpayers more than $35 million this year alone. On Feb. 20, she convened local leaders in Seattle for a press conference urging Washingtonians to fight back against these proposed new burdens to voting. On Feb. 19, she gathered in Vancouver with the Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey and local chapter heads of the League of Women Voters and the NAACP for a press conference on how this bill would disenfranchise voters. Also on Feb. 19, she released a snapshot report showing who in Washington would face undue hurdles to voting if the SAVE America Act were signed into law. The report shows that certain populations – including people who live in rural areas, women who changed their name after marriage, and people who recently moved – would face additional, cumbersome burdens to prove their citizenship. On Feb. 5, she appeared on MSNOW’s Morning Joe to push back against the Trump administration’s heightened efforts to interfere in state-run elections and collect private data on American voters. Video of Sen. Cantwell’s appearance is HERE; a transcript is HERE. On Jan. 29, Sen. Cantwell joined Senate colleagues in a letter to then-Attorney General Pam Bondi, pushing DOJ to stop its unlawful pressure campaign to coerce dozens of states into providing the Trump Administration their voter rolls, which include voters’ personally identifiable information. On Jan. 15, she joined Senate colleagues in a letter to USPS Postmaster General David Steiner raising concerns with recent developments affecting postmark practices. Right before the holiday season, USPS changed its postmark practices, which the Senators warned could have significant impacts on voters nationwide and in Washington state – including rural voters, military and overseas voters, and many others who rely on rely on the mail to safely and securely cast their ballot. On Jan. 9, she joined 13 Senate colleagues in filing an amicus brief before the Supreme Court in the case Watson v. Republican National Committee. Next Article Previous Article
Cantwell/Randall Bill to Restore Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Lands Unanimously Passes Senate, Heads to President for Signature The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act is one of the last steps of the Elwha and Glines Canyon Dam removal project & will help restore fisheries; Bill now heads to President’s desk to become law WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), former chair and longest-serving member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Representative Emily Randall (D, WA-06), who serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, to transfer federal land back to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe after decades of work to restore the Elwha River. The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act, having previously passed the House, now goes to the President’s desk for his signature. “Today, Congress took a historic step to strengthen salmon and habitat recovery and help fulfill a decades-old vision to restore the Elwha River and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s connection to lands that have sustained them since time immemorial. I’m thrilled we got this bill across the finish line and look forward to the President signing it into law,” Sen. Cantwell said. "Today, we took an important step in upholding our treaty obligations by passing legislation to transfer land into trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. As a freshman member of Congress who represents — alongside their elected Tribal leaders — over 15,000 Tribal members, this significance is not lost on me,” said Rep. Randall. “Now signed into law, this bill will help ensure we meet our trust responsibilities to restore Tribal lands.” “It is a great honor to be trusted to steward these lands again, it continues to be a great part of our healing from the dam removal projects. We continue to see slow but persistent growth in our river and the return of the salmon. This has been a long process, and we appreciate the Federal partners for all the hard work in making this a priority. A special thanks to Councilwoman Frances Charles (Former Chairwoman of 22 years) for her years of persistence to see this land come back to the tribe!” said Melissa A. Gilman, Tribal Chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. “The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act is very significant to the Elwha Klallam people. The return of these lands is an important final action to the dam removal project that rewilded the Elwha River and made possible the recovery of the salmon populations,” said Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Council Member and former Chair Frances Charles. “The return of these sacred and culturally significant lands to the Tribe’s stewardship protects the federal investment in the restoration of the river and upholds the federal government’s treaty and trust obligations to the Tribe. The Tribe is grateful to Senator Cantwell and Representative Randall for their efforts to keep this legislation moving toward the return of the lands to the Tribe.” The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act represents another important step in the decades-long effort to restore the Elwha River and address the impacts of the dams on the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Congress authorized the historic removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams in 1992 to restore the river and its once-abundant salmon runs. While both dams were successfully removed by 2014, restoration of the Elwha watershed has continued. The legislation builds on that work by returning more than 1,082 acres of federal project lands to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. Placing these lands into trust will allow the Tribe to continue its stewardship of the Elwha River, protect cultural and natural resources, and support the long-term recovery of salmon and other native fish. Specifically, the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Project Lands Restoration Act would: Transfer three parcels of land totaling 1,082 acres to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to be held in trust for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. The land is just outside the boundaries of the Olympic National Park and includes 1,061 acres originally acquired by the National Park Service to demolish two dams along the Elwha River. The two remaining parcels were acquired by the U.S. Department of the Interior to construct a pipeline to transfer surface water to the Tribe’s new fish hatchery – the House of Salmon. Boost habitat restoration efforts led by the Lower Elwha Tribe and federal agencies, aiding in the recovery of all five species of Pacific salmon and other native fish, including Chinook, coho, chum, pink, and sockeye salmon, along with steelhead and bull trout.
Voting in America is a right. And as Hayward Evans of the Seattle King County NAACP says, that precious right has been denied to too many in our nation’s history. https://t.co/bT6733ZFHc
Cantwell Statement on Her Vote Directing Trump to End His War in Iran WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted 49-50 against a concurrent resolution directing President Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities against Iran, after nearly seven months of war. U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) voted for the resolution and gave the following statement: “The costs of President Trump’s unnecessary war with Iran continue to mount, and the American people want it to end. We have lost valuable lives, and the conflict is compounding the burden of high gas and grocery prices at home.” Last week, Sen. Cantwell joined 45 Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding a full accounting of the costs of the war with Iran. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the senators criticized the Department of Defense for withholding information from Congress and the American public, even as U.S. casualties and taxpayer costs continue to rise. This week, partial information provided to Congress showed that the war cost at least $43.6 billion by September 3 – three weeks ago – as the Trump Administration has requested $67 billion more for the war. Moreover, as the senators’ letter notes, the war has also cost American consumers an extra $100 billion just in higher gas and diesel costs, and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets, among others. On June 23, she issued a statement after voting for a War Powers Resolution measure to end the war. Congress passed the resolution – rejecting President Trump’s war with Iran – in a bipartisan vote. On June 18, she issued a statement on President Trump’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran, saying, “The President’s war with Iran was a mistake. The MOU is the price the President must pay to get us out of this unauthorized war before it further damages our economy and costs more lives.” On March 15, she issued a statement after six U.S. service members – including Captain Ariana G. Savino from Covington, Washington – died when their KC-135 aircraft crashed in Iraq during an Operation Epic Fury mission. Today, Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) joined Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), and Mike Carey (R-OH-15) in introducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Zeus 95 Memorial Act, to establish a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery honoring the six crewmates who perished in the crash. On March 11, Sen. Cantwell and 45 Senate Democrats sent a letter to Sec. Hegseth pressing the Department of Defense to provide answers to the American people about the airstrikes on a school in Minab, Iran, and civilian casualties in the Trump Administration’s war on Iran, as well as accountability for those responsible. On March 2, she cosponsored a resolution led by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to direct the removal of U.S. armed forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. A subsequent vote to advance that measure failed on a 47-53 vote. On March 1, she issued a statement in response to the news that three U.S. service members had been killed and five others injured in the conflict: “My heart goes out to the families of the servicemembers killed and injured. Our troops valiantly put their lives on the line for the nation, every one of them a hero. The Trump Administration must come before Congress.” On February 28, soon after the Trump Administration ordered strikes on Iran, Sen. Cantwell issued a statement criticizing the Administration and demanding that it seek congressional approval, as the Constitution requires.
Cantwell, Colleagues Call for Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery to Honor WA Servicemember Killed in Operation Epic Fury Cantwell, Colleagues Call for Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery to Honor WA Servicemember Killed in Operation Epic Fury WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Representatives Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), and Mike Carey (R-OH-15) in introducing bicameral legislation, the Zeus 95 Memorial Act, to establish a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) honoring the six Zeus 95 servicemembers who perished on March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 during an Operation Epic Fury mission. Maj. John A. Klinner, (33, Auburn, AL); Capt. Ariana G. Savino, (31, Covington, WA); and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, (34, Bardstown, KY), were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Capt. Seth R. Koval, (38, Mooresville, IN); Capt. Curtis J. Angst, (30, Wilmington, OH); and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, (28, of Columbus, OH) were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio. “Captain Savino and the five heroes of ZEUS 95 gave everything in service to our country. A memorial at Arlington National Cemetery will ensure their courage and sacrifice are never forgotten,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Captain Ariana G. Savino represents the absolute best of Washington state and our country. I will forever be grateful for her bravery and sacrifice,” said Sen. Murray. “Capt. Savino and the other five courageous Air Force Airmen put their lives on the line to keep our country safe—they should be honored. My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones in this tragic incident—Congress should pass this bill immediately to establish this memorial. We have a commitment to honor our servicemembers not only with words but by supporting the families they leave behind—making sure the federal government is there for our military families will continue to be a top priority for me. To the families, friends, and fellow Airmen who loved the Zeus 95 crew, you have my most sincere condolences.” “Curtis Angst, Tyler Simmons, and Seth Koval are true American heroes who gave their lives in service to our great Nation and the cause of freedom,” said Sen. Moreno. “My colleagues and I are humbled to join together in establishing a permanent memorial so that their enduring legacy, their unmatched courage, and the selfless sacrifice they made during Operation Epic Fury will stand as a shining beacon of American valor.” “I remain heartbroken that the crew of Zeus 95, including Captain Savino of Covington, died last spring in flight operations over Iraq. I will continue my efforts to honor their bravery and sacrifice, and am profoundly grateful that these crewmembers chose a life of service to our nation,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “Captain Savino’s passion, leadership, and bravery will be forever remembered by the people of Washington state and all Americans. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of Captain Savino and the entire Zeus 95 crew. I send my deepest condolences to them, and pray for the safety and health of all of our servicemembers.” Under federal law, monuments that do not contain or mark interred remains generally may not be placed on ANC grounds unless they meet certain statutory requirements. Among other criteria, the monument must commemorate the service of an individual or group of Armed Forces members or a particular military event, and it may not be placed until 25 years after the event being commemorated. A Zeus 95 monument would not currently meet the 25-year requirement, so the lawmakers are pushing to honor the families’ wishes by seeking to waive the 25-year waiting period and allow for a monument at ANC.
The Trump administration is threatening to repeal the Roadless Rule, which protects some of America’s last remaining wild forests from development. This #NationalPublicLandsDay, you can stand up for our public lands by submitting a comment in support of the Roadless Rule at https://t.co/jvYTQxNPsi. We must preserve our national forests for all Americans to enjoy.
Dolores Sibonga was a giant in our community whose impact and trailblazing legacy will live on. She was the first woman of color elected to the Seattle City Council and the first Filipino American to pass the Washington State bar exam. She dedicated her life to championing communities too often left behind while mentoring the next generation of leaders. Seattle is better and stronger because of her leadership. Dolores’ friends and family are in my thoughts during this difficult time. https://t.co/omlV3KXTI8
Powerful words from Vancouver NAACP Vice President Rev. Michael Jones Jr.: “Voting rights in America have been expanded through struggle, not convenience. This is not just a political issue. This is a civil rights issue.” https://t.co/E8JMpi1L6G
Cantwell & Colleagues Push Trump To Negotiate AI Guardrails With Xi Jinping Senators’ letter calls for global cooperation on AI development to preserve public safety and human control; Cantwell-led bill established the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee; Last year, Cantwell halted an effort to impose a 10-year moratorium on states establishing AI regulations WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined 16 of her colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) models with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “We write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI’s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement,” the senators wrote. They continued: “The conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.” “AI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues,” the lawmakers concluded. The letter can be read in full HERE. As Commerce Committee Chair in 2024, Sen. Cantwell assembled and advanced a bipartisan package of bills designed to build that federal infrastructure and establish an AI safety and security framework before the most dangerous AI threats would appear. These bills included the Future of Artificial Intelligence Innovation Act, the TEST AI Act, the Validation and Evaluation for Trustworthy (VET) Artificial Intelligence Act, the CREATE AI Act and the Promoting United States Leadership in Standards Act of 2024. Taken together, these bills would have built out a robust Standards, Testing, and Evaluation ecosystem capable of mitigating to help mitigate the most dangerous uses of AI, including harmful AI swarms and AI-enabled cyberattacks. Senate Republicans blocked this bipartisan solution from ever coming up for a vote by the full Senate. In August 2023, Sen. Cantwell hosted a Future of AI Forum in Seattle with a panel of AI experts.
The costs of President Trump’s unnecessary war with Iran continue to mount, and the American people want it to end. We have lost valuable lives, and the conflict is compounding the burden of high gas and grocery prices at home.
I am honored to be a recipient of #NAFTAE’s Friend of Adult Learners Award. It’s my pleasure to support adult learners by strengthening adult education opportunities. Thank you @NAFTAE_org . https://t.co/Id0Z6g3uPA
Cantwell, Daines Lead WA, MT, & AK Lawmakers in Letter to RFK Jr. Defending Top NW Organ Donation Group LifeCenter Northwest, the primary organ procurement organization in Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho, threatened with decertification due to CMS criteria that disadvantages geographically large and sparsely populated service areas; “Decertification would create unnecessary risk for our region - jeopardizing timely access to organ transplants and undermining support for donor families” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) led 17 House and Senate members from western states in sending a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz expressing support for recertification of the regional organ donation group, LifeCenter Northwest – as well as concern that the HHS and CMS criteria used to evaluate the organization’s performance may undervalue organizations that serve large, rural areas. Organ procurement organizations, or OPOs, are responsible for helping recover organs from deceased donors and getting those organs to patients who need transplants. Under the framework established by CMS in 2020, OPOs are assessed on two measures: How many potential donors become actual donors, and how many organs from those donors are ultimately transplanted. But in January, the Trump administration proposed major oversight and accountability changes that will determine whether OPOs may continue operating during the 2026 recertification cycle. If these changes are finalized, it is estimated that approximately 75% of OPOs could be at risk of decertification. “LifeCenter Northwest plays a vital role in sustaining organ donation and transplantation across a uniquely large and complex donation service area. We are deeply concerned that their decertification would create unnecessary risk for our region – jeopardizing timely access to organ transplants and undermining support for donor families,” the lawmakers wrote. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that LifeCenter Northwest serves an unusually large and difficult-to-reach region, where long distances, few transplant centers, remote communities, and transportation challenges make its work especially difficult. The letter also argues that CMS’s current evaluation system may not fully account for the unique challenges of the region and that replacing LifeCenter Northwest could disrupt lifesaving services. “The organization serves more than 10 million people across approximately 808,000 square miles and coordinates donation services for more than 200 hospitals. Despite serving this expansive region and large population, there are only five transplant centers in the entire service area, all located in Washington state,” the lawmakers continued. “We support performance evaluation frameworks grounded in sound, evidence-based measures. However, we are concerned that CMS’s current OPO evaluation methodology does not adequately account for the unique circumstances and operational challenges inherent in serving a large, rural, geographically dispersed service area, like our region.” When considering LifeCenter Northwest’s performance, the lawmakers asked HHS and CMS to: Consider the regional and operational circumstances beyond LifeCenter Northwest’s control, including the availability and proximity of transplant centers, variation in acceptance practices for medically complex organs, transportation and logistical challenges, and the unique demands of serving remote and geographically dispersed communities. Refrain from automatic decertification based solely on the current outcome-only, single-year tiering methodology. Provide LifeCenter Northwest with a clear pathway to demonstrate sustained, measurable improvement over time before taking any certification action that would disrupt the donation service area. The letter was led by Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Daines. They were joined by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and U.S. Representatives Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Michael Baumgartner (R, WA-05), Troy Downing (R, MT-02), Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Ryan Zinke (R, MT-01), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10), Rick Larsen (D, WA-02), Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03).
Cantwell Hails Final Approval of $25M Federal Grant for New Lummi Island Ferry and Dock Upgrades WASHINGTON, D.C. – Whatcom County and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have announced they have finalized a $25 million federal grant that will allow Whatcom County to replace the 64-year-old Lummi Island ferry with a state-of-the-art vessel and rebuild the aging ferry terminal. The grant came from DOT’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, which was championed by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee. “This federal investment will allow construction to begin to replace a 64-year-old ferry used by over 175,000 passengers each year as the only link between Lummi Island and mainland Whatcom County,” said Sen. Cantwell. “Now and for decades to come, residents will have a reliable way to get to the mainland for vital services like jobs, groceries, education, and health care.” Sen. Cantwell visited Lummi Island and rode the existing ferry when the grant was first announced back in summer of 2022. Photos of her visit are available HERE, b-roll of Sen. Cantwell stepping off the Lummi Island Ferry is available HERE, and a transcript of her remarks is available HERE. Lummi Island is a rural community, with the ferry producing the only connection between the island and the mainland of Whatcom County. The Lummi Island Ferry is located on Lummi Nation land. The Lummi Island Ferry is one of the state’s oldest vessels and is well past the end of its useful life. The RAISE grant for the Lummi Island Ferry Replacement and System Modernization Project will help replace the ferry with a battery-hybrid vessel that would reduce emissions and increase ridership capacity to meet future growth. This funding comes following a letter of support written by Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Patty Murray to then-Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in March 2022. RAISE grants, which were originally created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as TIGER grants, can be used for a wide variety of infrastructure projects with local or regional impact. As then-chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Technology Committee, Sen. Cantwell worked to authorize the RAISE grant program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided the program with $7.5 billion over five years, a 50 percent increase in funding.
This #AeroWeek, we celebrate the 100,000+ aerospace workers and 1,500+ companies in Washington state creating the future of flight and space exploration. WA boasts over 100 years of commercial aviation heritage and we are proud to be a leader in the aerospace industry.
I want these rules in place because sports is about any given Saturday. It’s not about whether you have a billionaire in your backyard. It’s about whether you can coach, recruit, have academic performance, & have fairness. But that fairness does not exist today without this bill.