Rep. Schrier Highlights First Term Accomplishments, Constituents Helped

September 28, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) today announced that she has hit the milestones of over 10,000 miles driven in the district, and over $5 million secured for her constituents.

"It is deeply rewarding to do this work on behalf of my constituents, and my office and I continue to go to bat for them every day," said Rep. Schrier. "The last few months have been especially difficult as our country faces the health and economic challenges of COVID-19. My office was able to help secure several million dollars in unemployment assistance for 8^th district residents facing long delays and continues to assist constituents navigate federal agencies. We remain hard at work."

Among Rep. Schrier's major constituent service accomplishments are:

62 town halls
10,091 miles driven
158,537 constituents responded to
$5,201,118 secured for 8^th district residents, including $3,776,195 in state unemployment insurance money during the pandemic
1,819 constituents helped
102 Vietnam-era Veterans officially thanked for their service and pinned in commemoration of the Vietnam War anniversary

Despite the challenges facing our country, Rep. Schrier has leveraged her experience as physician and worked with colleagues in both parties to make a real difference for the people in the 8^th district.

Six bills she led have been signed into law by the President:

Protecting Access to Biosimilars Act, which will speed up production of biosimilars (generic drugs), and help bring down the cost of medications like insulin.
No Cost for COVID-19 Testing Act that codifies the promises of insurers that all COVID-19 tests will be administered at no cost to the patient.
Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project Phase III Act, introduced with Rep. Dan Newhouse, which will ensure Washington has a reliable water supply for years to come.
Specialty Crop Research Initiative fix to the 2018 Farm Bill, which will help farmers access critical research grants.
HR 1932 to help home health care workers save for retirement.
**WIC Waiver Extension Act, which makes it easier for moms and children to access critical nutrition services during the pandemic.

As the only member on the Committee on Agriculture from the Northwest, Rep. Schrier has been a leader fighting for farmers and orchardists in the 8^th district and Washington state.

Rep. Schrier introduced two bipartisan bills that will directly help the 8^th district's agriculture community. The Farmers Feeding Families Act, introduced with Rep. McMorris-Rogers, will assist farmers, whose markets have closed because of the pandemic, partner with local food banks to help families who are struggling to get food. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, introduced with Rep. Newhouse and Rep. McMorris-Rogers, will make meaningful changes to the H2A worker visa program and create a first-of-its-kind path to citizenship for farm workers.

Additionally, Rep. Schrier has supported wildfire response and is working to make our forests more resilient and less susceptible to wildfires in the future.

Continued Rep. Schrier, "The recent wildfires in our state and in the whole west lay bare the realities of climate change. More work must be done now to help prevent these fires from becoming catastrophic."

In 2019, Rep. Schrier held two wildfire-focused Town Halls, one on either side of the Cascades. This year, Rep. Schrier held several public meetings with fire chiefs from across the district to discuss planning for the upcoming wildfire season. On the House floor, Rep. Schrier had her amendment included in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to evaluate how to improve the allocation of Department of Defense's firefighting equipment to states. Currently that allocation, astonishingly, is not based on need and acres burned. Rep. Schrier also supported the Great American Outdoors Act, now law, that will permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund. That Fund has been instrumental in conserving and protecting Washington state's public lands.

And as the only woman doctor in Congress, Rep. Schrier has found natural partners in both parties to bring down the cost of health care, champion children's health, and support rural clinics.

Working with Republican physicians she introduced three bipartisan bills:

The VACCINES (Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunizations Nationally and Enhance Safety) Act addresses vaccine hesitancy and under-vaccinated regions in order to increase immunization rates. The Health Care at Home Act ensures insurance coverage of telehealth for normally covered benefits, including mental health and substance use treatment, for the duration of COVID-19 pandemic. The Immediate Relief for Rural Facilities and Providers Act, helps keep rural health care facilities financially viable and open during the pandemic, and ensures these critical services and providers continue to exist in rural areas.

Rep. Schrier also helped the House pass H.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which will allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of the most expensive prescription medications, and then extend those savings to all Americans.

** Passed the House, expected to pass the Senate and be signed by the President this week as part of the Continuing Resolution to fund the government.