It has been a great pleasure to watch more and more women walk the halls of the Senate. We went from two women senators when I ran for office in 1992 to 24 today – and I know that number will keep climbing. We should all thank the women who led the way, particularly the one-of-a-kind Barbara Mikulski, the first woman to serve five terms and a powerful example for us all.

The inclusion of $4 billion in the reconciliation bill to address the historic drought in the West is critical for communities throughout the region, particularly in California.

By overturning Roe v. Wade, the conservative majority on this Supreme Court has declared that women no longer have the right to control their own bodies. This decision is an outrage for the women of this nation and will have catastrophic consequences for generations.

Our country is still mourning the tragic shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde in which a total of 31 innocent people were gunned down by teenagers using weapons of war. While these terrible events get our attention – and have in this case galvanized the Senate to act – they are only two of the 279 mass shootings that have taken place this year.

Federal wildland firefighters are a critical line of defense in the West, particularly as drought conditions worsen. We must recruit and retain these skilled workers, and that means providing them with the pay and benefits commensurate with their importance.

Information on COVID-19 vaccines is available here. If you have any questions, concerns or difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic, I encourage you to contact my office for assistance.