These are hardworking middle-class families quite often that are in need of health insurance, are trying to figure out how to stretch their paychecks to pay for oftentimes increasing premiums.

If you would have told me as a little girl that I would one day put my hand on the bible and be sworn in as the 200th woman to serve in the House of Representatives, I wouldn't have thought it possible.

I appreciate the opportunity to submit a statement before the House Natural Resources Committee regarding the importance of the United States-Canada Columbia River Treaty and its effect on Eastern Washington.

although we were told repeatedly that if you liked your health insurance plan, you'd be able to keep it, we're now being told by the government that they have determined many existing plans to be lousy, subpar.

we know that two out of three doctors don't accept new Medicaid patients, we know that current provider rates are going to drop at the end of 2014.

I'm concerned that the most vulnerable in this country are going to lack access to the care that they they're going to receive.

So isn't it true that in States like Washington, they're going to have new, unexpected costs associated with a dramatic influx into Medicaid?

In reality, this law is becoming quickly less about helping Americans purchase affordable coverage and more about compelling millions of Americans into a struggling Medicaid program.

Listen to the American people.

We have a former Governor, we have numerous legislators in both the House and the Senate, we have U.S. Congresswoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, two former secretaries, the current and the former Secretary of State in the State of Washington, all in opposition.

The potential of hydropower is tremendous.