Half a million Washingtonians may benefit from the federal government's student loan relief, Inslee, Murray say Lower Snake River Dams must



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Half a million Washingtonians may benefit from the federal government's student loan debt plan
Student loans

Graphic courtesy of @POTUS on Twitter.

On Tuesday, President Biden announced details for the Student Debt Relief Plan [ [link removed] ], forgiving up to $20,000 in debt for Pell Grant recipients with loans held by the Department of Education, and up to $10,000 in debt cancellation for non-Pell Grant recipients. This forgiveness could impact 40 million people across the nation and half a million Washingtonians, providing relief for low and middle-class borrowers.

The administration also granted an extension of the?pause on federal student loan repayment through Dec. 31. Those potentially eligible for the PSLF waiver can visit this website [ [link removed] ] by Oct. 31 to see if they qualify.

"My student loan plan makes sure working people have a shot at a college degree without the fear of being saddled with insurmountable debt," said Biden.

There are three parts to the debt relief plan:


* Final extension of the student loan repayment pause to Dec. 31.
* Targeted debt relief to low- and middle-income families.
* A student loan system that is more manageable for current and future borrowers.

"This is providing relief to hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians. Thank you to the Biden administration for delivering on your promise and helping to fuel the economy," said Gov. Jay Inslee.

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Inslee, Murray say Lower Snake River Dams must be breached but only after replacing their benefits
Lower snake river dams

On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee and?U.S. Sen. Patty Murray?released the?findings and recommendations [ [link removed] ]?of the months-long Joint Federal-State Process that evaluated the feasibility of breaching the Lower Snake River Dams as a way of protecting endangered salmon and steelhead species.?

The senator and governor?s recommendations include three key themes:


* Status quo is not an option. Changing economic, energy and climate conditions require leaders to plan for changing circumstances in the Columbia Basin region during the coming decades.
* Saving salmon and other iconic species in the Columbia Basin is imperative. The scientific review affirms that breaching these specific dams offers the greatest benefit to the salmon.
* The impacts and benefits of breaching the dams are significant, but they can and must be mitigated or replaced. Until the energy and economic benefits of the dams are replaced or mitigated, breaching is not a feasible or responsible option.

The ultimate decision to breach or not breach the dams will now fall on Congress, since the dams are federally owned.

?The state and federal governments should implement a plan to replace the benefits of the Lower Snake River Dams to enable breaching to move forward," said Gov. Jay Inslee.

Read Inslee's full statement here. [ [link removed] ]

Read Murray's full statement here. [ [link removed] ]

Read the full report here. [ [link removed] ]

Read all recommendations here. [ [link removed] ]

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Agreement reached to address leaking tanks at Hanford
Hanford tank

The inside of tank B-109 at the Hanford site. Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Ecology.

On Thursday, the state Department of Ecology and the U.S. Department of Energy announced an agreement on the cleanup of tanks at Hanford that have been leaking dangerous radioactive waste. The legally binding agreement will allow for continued work to fully clean up the tanks at the Hanford Site that have been leaking since 2013.

?It?s been a priority for the state of Washington to address leaking tanks in a way that protects nearby communities and the Columbia River,? said Ecology Director Laura Watson. ?We know that ongoing vigilance and commitment will be needed to fully address these risks, but I appreciate the work put in by both teams to agree on a plan that prioritizes safety and environmental protection.?

Under the agreement, partners will:


* Cover the tank farms with surface barriers to prevent rain or snowmelt from seeping into the tanks, and to slow the migration of leaked waste.
* Develop a response plan for future leaks.
* Evaluate the viability of installing a ventilation system to evaporate liquid waste.
* Evaluate conditions in and around tanks to determine if additional work is needed to prevent liquids from getting in.
* Explore ways to accelerate the schedule to retrieve waste.

"Leaking tanks at Hanford threaten nearby communities and the Columbia River. Today?s agreement between the Department of Ecology and the U.S. Department of Energy paves the way for critical progress," said Inslee.

Read Ecology's full news release. [ [link removed] ]

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Rent increases add to housing insecurity for military families

Washington has one of the highest concentrations of military families and personnel in the country, but as rents increase our military families have had a more difficult time finding affordable housing. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland is calling on federal Defense Department officials [ [link removed] ] to address the housing supply and affordability at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM). As the base grows, more housing is critical.?

"Servicemembers and their families ? who sacrifice so much for our nation ? must be securely housed. That?s why I introduced my Ensuring Every Servicemember has a Home package, which will increase access to safe & affordable housing for our nation?s hero?s in #WA10 and across the country," said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland on Facebook.

"The congresswoman's leadership is crucial for making sure our servicemembers - in Washington and all across the country - have access to affordable housing options. Thank you for leading this fight," said Inslee.

Read more from the Associated Press [ [link removed] ].

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More Washingtonians now eligible for free or discounted hospital care

Millions of Washingtonians are now eligible for free or reduced health care thanks to an update to Washington state law that took effect July 1. Washingtonians within 300% of the federal poverty level now qualify for charity care for their full out-of-pocket hospital bill. Those within 400% of the federal poverty level are eligible for reduced care.

This care has to be considered ?medically necessary.? In Washington approximately 4 million people may fall into these groups.?

"This is a large help for low-income consumers who are facing large hospital bills. Changing this law allows for more people to get help with the impact of these large medical costs," said Inslee.

For more information about the new charity care law and how you can apply for coverage, visit the?state attorney general?s website [ [link removed] ]?or the?Washington State Hospital Association?s website [ [link removed] ].

Read more from The Seattle Times. [ [link removed] ]

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News you might have missed:

*WA wants to secure housing for youth exiting state care [ [link removed] ]*

Washington is continuing to provide more investments and supports to help keep our youth coming out of foster care or detention centers from experiencing homelessness.

*Real ID is approaching fast, get your enhanced driver's license now [ [link removed] ]*

Starting May 3, 2023, anyone traveling by airplane or visiting certain federal facilities must use a REAL ID compliant license or identification card. Those thinking about upgrading to an enhanced driver?s license will pay less if they do it before October.?As demand increases, it could become harder to find an appointment at your nearest driver licensing office so book your appointment soon.

*Commerce Director Lisa Brown and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell?visit Spokane to highlight opportunities with the CHIPS Act [ [link removed] ]*

The $280 billion CHIPS Act bill was passed by Congress in July, helping ensure America remains a tech leader and to spur scientific advancement and create more jobs. Brown and ?Cantwell's event in Spokane highlighted opportunities for Washington companies with the CHIPS Act.

*The ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system [ [link removed] ]*

Be prepared for an earthquake and download the MyShake App. The app sends a warning to mobile phone users that shaking from seismic activity is about to occur. The system uses ground-motion sensors to detect earthquakes that have already started and estimates their size, location, and impact.?

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