In our first myPatty video, “Action With Voice,” four residents of Kent and Tukwila – Pam, Ben, Audrey, and Jonathan – talk about Senator Murray’s efforts to get the resources the Green River Valley communities needed to fix structural damage to the Howard Hanson Dam.

Watch here:

You can also submit your own story about how Patty Murray’s work has affected your community.

Stay tuned for more myPatty videos, and enjoy!

Thanks,

Doug

But the truth is that veterans are some of the most dedicated and skilled workers we have. A while ago I met a marine platoon commander named Ty Rose who came home from serving our country in Iraq and was unemployed. After attending job fair after job fair, he was finally hired at Hanford, where he is thriving as a safety supervisor – using the very skills he honed in the Army.

This is a very personal issue for me. My father, a World War II veteran, was diagnosed with MS when I was in high school, and times became very hard for my family. But between tuition assistance, food stamps, and worker training for my mom, the government had our back and we made it through that hard time.

So I’m going to be working to ensure that all of today’s veterans have the same help that my family did to get back on their feet in this economy – and I’ll be fighting to pass my bill, the Veterans Employment Act of 2010, when Congress returns from the August work period.

Here are just a few ways the the Veterans Employment Act of 2010 would help returning servicemembers:

• Veterans Owning Businesses - I want to help provide entrepreneurial skills and training to veterans. I believe that not only are veterans very equipped to be successful small business owners, but also that they will hire other vets – my bill establishes a Veterans Business Center within the Small Business Administration (SBA).

• Transitioning Veterans’ Technical Skills – I believe that we have to capitalize on the wealth of technical expertise our veterans have from their time serving – my bill will establish pilot programs to help us find the best way to do that.

• Conservation Corps – I want to expand the successful program that allows veterans access to education and opportunities to reconnect with other veterans while improving our land and communities.

Your voices and your stories will be an enormous help in this effort. I look forward to hearing what you think is needed most – what you are hearing from employers, business owners, and fellow veterans.

I will take your stories back to Washington, D.C. – and I will keep fighting to help people and solve problems for servicemembers, veterans and military families.

Thank you,

Patty Murray

Patty was introduced by a young veteran named Ty Rose, who after serving our nation in Iraq was able to get a job helping clean up waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation thanks to stimulus money that Patty pushed for. “I think given the time of year, it’s appropriate to use a football analogy,” said Ty, before pointing out that losing Patty Murray in the Senate would be like “the Colts trading away Peyton Manning.”

Patty took the stage and talked about her strong record of supporting our veterans, creating jobs and cleaning up Hanford. Patty also talked about how her grandfather settled the family in the Tri-Cities over 90 years ago and got a job working at Welch’s Grape Juice in Kennewick. After her speech, she shook hands and met with supporters.

Then it was on to beautiful Yakima, where the Carpenter’s Hall was already bustling with activity. Patty received a touching introduction from Junior Burson, a former gang member who now provides counseling to at-risk youth in Central Washington. Junior spoke about the Senator’s support for the Yakima Gang Initiative, which has allowed the community to address all aspects of preventing gang violence and crime.

When Patty spoke, she described how the gang prevention program came about: “I listened to your local leaders, I listened to your police officers and I knew that some targeted investments could really make a difference to prevent gang violence, and build a safer community that could attract new businesses and with them – jobs.”

We all had a fantastic time in Kennewick and Yakima – thanks to everyone who joined us! Check out our pictures, and make sure to keep up with the blog for more updates.

Thanks,

Doug

A special thank you to the folks in Spokane, who were up and energetic for our 7:30AM rally. In case you missed it, check out the pictures below.

Thanks again, and we hope to see you in Bothell tonight!

Doug

Patty entered to supporters cheering “Six more years!” and her signature song, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” She was introduced by Rick Hegdahl, a retired 24-year Navy veteran who now works for VoteVets.org. “In all my years in the military, I have never seen another senator fight for veterans like Patty Murray does,” Rick said. He then told the story of how Patty fought to keep VA hospitals open, because “no veteran should be denied the care they need just because of where they live.”

Senator Murray took the mic, and after giving Rick a huge hug, she thanked everyone for coming out to support her. “I love this job,” she said, “I love getting up every day and fighting for you – with your help, I will continue to be your voice in Washington.”

Check out these pictures below, and don’t forget about our Kickoff Events on Thursday and Friday!

Thanks all,

Doug

When Wendy got the news that she had won, she immediately called her husband Russell Davis. “Whatever you have on your calendar for Tuesday, cancel it,” she said, “We’re having lunch with the President!”

Wendy is currently earning her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Washington. After moving to Seattle to work as a news producer, she became heavily involved in local organizations focusing on child poverty and children’s health care, including Childhaven and the Echo Glen Children’s Center. Wendy left her news job and returned to school so she could make her advocacy work the center of her career.

Wendy said she’d always been impressed by Senator Murray’s tireless work for Washington – it was Patty’s work on the Women Veterans Health Care Bill this past year that led Wendy to want to get involved further. “The issues and the reasoning behind that bill not only speak to the needs of veterans, but the children of those veterans as well,” Wendy told me.

Congrats again to Wendy and Russell! We hope you enjoy yourselves tomorrow – and a huge thanks to everyone who entered.

Like you, the President knows how important it is to keep Patty in the Senate fighting for you and solving problems every single day — and we want to give a lucky supporter the opportunity to win two tickets to hear the President’s message.

So today, we’re kicking off an online contest for two free tickets to the luncheon with Patty and President Obama. We hope you’ll sign up for your chance to attend this special event!

Click here to enter our online contest for two free tickets to the event with President Obama and Patty on August 17!

We’re so honored that President Obama will be visiting Washington state in a couple weeks.

President Obama knows how important it is to continue our work to create jobs, hold corporate lobbyists on Wall Street accountable, and finally provide access to quality health care for all Americans.

But he needs strong partners like Patty in the Senate to continue to move our country forward — and that’s why this election is so critical.

We are so excited to have the President here campaigning with Patty — so I hope you’ll take a moment, right now, to enter the contest for a free pair of tickets to hear his message.

Thank you so much for your continued support of Patty and our campaign.

I hope you’ll be able to join us in welcoming President Obama to Washington state on August 17. Good luck!

Sincerely,

Jeff Bjornstad
Campaign Manager
People for Patty Murray

P.S. After you’ve signed up for the contest, tell  your friends & family and invite them to enter the contest too. Just make sure they promise to take you if they get the free tickets! Or, if you’d rather enter the contest via Facebook, click here to do it — and then share the contest with your friends on Facebook.

Before he was an intern in my office, Chris served two tours as US Navy corpsman in Kuwait and Iraq.  In 2006, Chris was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – or PTSD – and was honorably discharged.  Since Chris’ diagnosis, Pele has been an irreplaceable part of his life.  His soothing presence has helped Chris to sleep soundly and study better. Service dogs could provide similar valuable aid to other veterans struggling with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and other combat-related injuries and issues..

I am proud to introduce this legislation on the heels of the 20^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  While that historic piece of legislation went a long way towards leveling the playing field for those who are disabled, there is still much work to be done.  Our veterans deserve every bit of support that we can give them.  Chris and Pele’s story reminds us that sometimes that support can come from unexpected places.

Thanks, and have a great weekend,

Patty

Patty knows as well as anyone how military service can affect veterans and their families, which is why she worked so hard to have her bill, the Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act of 2009, signed into law this past May. Women represent 7% of the veteran population and 15% of the US current active duty, guard, and reserve forces, but the VA was still operating on a medical care system designed entirely for men. Patty is making sure that all our veterans get the care that they have earned and that they deserve.

Patty would like to thank VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, as well as Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Representative Bob Filner (D-HI) for speaking at the reception and showing their support. But most importantly, Patty thanks all our veterans and military families for keeping our country safe and free through their inspiring courage and leadership. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.

-Alex

Please watch our new ad, “Boeing” and use the links below to share it on Facebook and Twitter.

Share on Facebook.                     Share on Twitter.

Thanks for everything!

Doug