Kim Schrier: “Two of my amendments were included in this year's National Defense Authorization Act, and I would like to just speak for…”

“Two of my amendments were included in this year's National Defense Authorization Act, and I would like to just speak for a moment about their importance. First, the Department of Defense transfers surplus equipment like hoses, vehicles, and aircraft parts to the U.S. Forest Service to help States with firefighting. But this equipment right now is distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis and doesn't take into account community need or risk. My district is seeing increasingly extreme fire events. But Washington State does not receive equitable access to this equipment. I am asking for an analysis of the program to make sure that equipment goes to the places where it is most needed, like Washington State. My second amendment supports military spouses, most of whom are women, who continue to experience high levels of underemployment and unemployment. This unfair treatment happens too often because of frequent moves and impermanence in communities and surrounding bases, like JBLM in Washington State. This amendment will expand opportunities for military spouses in fields of education, software, and coding in companies with high levels of teleworking to ensure that military spouses are matched with fulfilling and successful employment.”