Gluesenkamp Perez Releases 2023 Year-End Report Highlighting Progress for Southwest Washington

Today, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) released her 2023 Year-End Report to highlight her progress on bipartisan legislation and constituent service work for Southwest Washington.

“As a rural mom working in the trades, I wasn’t your typical Member of Congress when I was sworn in a year ago. But I arrived on Capitol Hill with the mission to serve as an independent voice for Southwest Washington and represent my rural community,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “One year in, I’m glad to say I’ve made meaningful, bipartisan progress on issues like bringing prestige back to our trades, protecting our right to fix our own stuff, and keeping our woods working. I’m excited to see what this new year brings, and I’m grateful to all of the folks who have reached out to my office for the direct constituent support we provide every day.”

Read the full report here.

Highlights of Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez’s First Year

Constituent Service Accomplishments:

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez speaks with constituents at her new Kelso office in December.

• Recovered $701,936 for constituents owed to them by federal agencies.
• Assisted 849 residents with a federal agency – including the IRS, VA, State Department, and more.
• Sent 59,076 responses to calls, emails, and letters from residents.

• Had 454 meetings with Southwest Washington constituents, stakeholders, and community leaders – including 229 in Southwest Washington and 225 in Washington, D.C.
• Held 11 in-person town halls, spanning all 7 counties in Washington’s Third District, as well as 4 coffee hours.
• Hosted 3 Farm Bill listening sessions with local agricultural leaders.

Legislative Achievements:

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez speaks with Ilwaco resident and Spawn Fly Fish owner Josh Phillips before he testified at a House Small Business Committee hearing in July.

• Introduced 30 bipartisan bills – which made up 90% of all the bills Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez introduced.
• Cosponsored 12 bipartisan bills which passed the House.
• Authored 9 amendments considered on the House floor.
• Attended 38 committee hearings and markups.
• Cast more than 700 votes on the House floor – 77% of which were bipartisan.

• Introduced the House-passed bipartisan Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act to expand lands eligible for Good Neighbor Authority forest management efforts.
• Introduced the House-passed bipartisan Protecting Moms and Infants Reauthorization Act to provide resources for pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders.
• Co-led the House- and Senate-passed bipartisan VET MEDS Act to support veterans’ access to VA-certified specialists and examiners in rural and high-need communities.

Federal Funding Wins:

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez visits the I-5 Bridge with White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu in September.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez helped secure:

• $600 million for the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project from the Department of Transportation (DOT).
• $40 million in funding for the Washougal 32nd Street Underpass Project from the DOT.
• $24 million for the Shoalwater Bay Tribe from the DOT to relocate vital community infrastructure amid aggressive flooding 
• $24 million for rural broadband expansion in Lewis County from the USDA, which will make high-speed internet available to 2,863 people, 119 businesses, 487 farms, and 4 educational facilities.
• $1 billion for green hydrogen production, which includes Centralia, from the Department of Energy.

Other Accomplishments:

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez rides along with the Columbia River Bar Pilots in August to discuss workforce training and maintenance needs.

• Met with 13 ports and 5 PUDs across Southwest Washington.
• Took 4 rides on boats during meetings and visits.
• Transported a 23.5” Bigleaf Maple leaf across the country.
• Won 1 bipartisan bet on the Huskies’ win.