Cathy McMorris Rodgers

McMorris Rodgers grew up working in her family's orchard and was the first person in her family to go to college. She earned her bachelor's degree from Pensacola Christian College and went on to earn her MBA from the University of Washington. Prior to her election to the United States House of Representatives, McMorris Rodgers was a member of the Washington House of Representatives where she served as House minority leader. McMorris Rodgers began her political career as Cathy McMorris before marrying Brian Rodgers in 2006 and taking his last name.[2]

Cathy McMorris Rodgers did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Rodgers’ campaign website stated the following:

National Security

Cathy is rebuilding America’s military might. She delivered for Fairchild Air Force Base, ensuring its mission was protected and expanded, won funding for more air tankers, boosted salaries, and has been a tireless advocate for our military families and veterans.

Cathy has led letters to the Secretary of the Air Force advocating for Fairchild Air Force Base to receive the squadron of KC-135s.

Soon after securing more KC-135 tankers, Cathy secured additional funding for other aircraft upgrades.

Health Care

Cathy succeeded in getting a ten-year extension for children’s health care funding, won expanded support for the Spokane Teaching Health Center and community clinics to help put more doctors in rural communities.

Teaching Health Centers and Graduate Medical Education Extension Act (H.R. 3394) included in H.R. 1892. Bringing more primary care doctors, OBGYNs, and psychiatrists to Eastern Washington is one of Cathy’s top priorities. This legislation extends the THCGME program and doubles funding for residency programs in Eastern Washington and around the country to help meet our doctor shortage, especially in rural and underserved communities.

Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act (H.R. 2465) included in H.R. 1892. This legislation permanently fixes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy that limited access to speech-generating devices for people with ALS and other degenerative diseases.

Budget

Cathy has consistently pushed for a Balanced Budget Amendment and voted for it on the House floor in April.

In the recent Omnibus, Cathy helped to create the Budget Review Commission to make policy proposals to fix our broken budget system.

Cathy is the author of the USA Act, a bill that would stop unauthorized government spending, unless that spending is approved by Congress.

Veterans

Cathy worked hard to pass the Faster Care for Veterans Act which will cut back wait times for veterans seeking health care, and will allow patients to schedule their appointments online or on an app, instead of the outdated 1-800 service.

Introduced the Modernization of Medical Records for Veterans Act (HR 3497). This would require the VA to have a pilot program that would test out transferring patient records to digital copies. Protecting Veterans from losing their medical information, like in the 1973 National Personnel Records Center Fire.

Pushed the VA to implement the 2 year old law requiring the VA to issue ID cards to Veterans.

Secured funding in June 2017 to fix the roof at the Spokane VA and fought to re-open the 24-hour care service.

Education

Cathy worked to include Impact Aid for Tribal and Military schools in the Continuing Resolution in March. Impact aid is funding for schools that are in areas with sizable Federal owned land, which is not subject to property taxes. These school districts are at a distinct disadvantage and receive Federal aid to make up for that loss of revenue. Impact aid was signed in to law by the President on March 23rd.

Cathy co-sponsored the Federal Perkins Loan Program Extension Act of 2017 (H.R. 2482). Perkins loans are loans to need-based college students, where the cost is shared by the government, the student, and the school they attend. The program’s funding expired on September 30th, 2017. This bill would re-authorize and extend Perkins Loans through 2019.

Cathy was a co-sponsor of the Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act (H.R. 2234). This authorized a merit-based program to recognize exemplary teachers of children with disabilities and other paraeducators such as social workers, and occupational therapists.

Environment and Natural Resources

Cathy pushed through legislation to allow local people more say in managing our federal forests, to increase timber harvest and to prevent and fight forest fires. She also helped secure a fix to “fire borrowing” to make sure we have the resources we need to fight fires when they do happen.

Legislation to Extend the Secure Rural Schools Program (H.R. 2340) included in H.R. 1625. The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program gives around $500 million in funding over the next two years for timber-dependent communities that will help support schools and fix roads.

Legislation to protect the Columbia and Snake River dams (H.R. 3144). Our dams are a source of affordable, clean, and renewable energy here in Washington, that benefits our economy and allows us to have some of the cheapest electric rates in the country. This legislation protects our Snake River dams by codifying the 2014 Biological Opinion and stopping any additional spillovers, that could end up costing taxpayers over $40 million.

Hydropower Policy Modernization Act (H.R. 3043). It takes over a decade to fully license a dam and that is too long. This legislation would not change environmental standards, but would cut through government red tape and bureaucracy to speed up the hydropower relicensing process, so Americans are empowered to expand the use of clean renewable, hydroelectric energy, across the country.

Transportation/Infrastructure

Port of Whitman Economic Expansion Act (H.R. 5742) included in H.R. 8. This legislation will authorize a land transfer between the Port of Whitman and the Army Corps of Engineers to continue to develop businesses and create economic opportunity. The land transfer will also help meet the environmental mitigation efforts of Port Whitman, while still creating vital economic opportunities for the people of Whitman County.

Ensured that Spokane’s FAA contract observer program was preserved for 2018, and protected funding for Spokane and Walla Walla contract tower costs. All three of these were included in the House FAA reauthorization bill.

Worked to further the Mill Creek Flood Control project and led a delegation of citizens from Walla Walla to meet with the Office of Management and Budget. She secured funding for an important study which allowed the project to go forward.

Jobs

Cathy was a leader on the recent Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ( H.R. 1) which will save the average family in Washington more than $2,000 per year in taxes.

She had language in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ( H.R. 1) that will extend the orphan alternative energy tax credits to businesses.

Spurring Business in Communities Act of 2017 (H.R. 4111) This bill will help the formation of Small Business Investment Companies in Washington State by giving access to loans and capital to small businesses. As of now, SBICs do not exist in Washington state, but all over the country they give people the opportunity to invest in their community and generate job growth.

Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (H.R. 772) This legislation preserves current nutritional information requirements and protects small food businesses like pizzerias and grocery stores from heavy-handed Obama-Era FDA regulations.

Disabilities

Jul 05, 2018

ABLE to Work Act (H.R. 1896) included in H.R. 1

This legislation will allow those with disabilities to explore the workplace by allowing someone with an ABLE account who earns income for a job to save up to the Federal Poverty Level in addition to their annual contribution limit of $14,000. As Cathy says, “A job is so much more than a paycheck, it’s what gives us dignity and purpose -- the opportunity for a better life.” This bill allows those with disabilities to explore the possibility of work and live more independent lives.

ABLE Financial Planning Act (H.R. 1897) included in H.R. 1

This legislation helps the families of those with disabilities save for their child’s future by allowing for rollovers from a 529 account used for college savings to an ABLE account. This means individuals who may have been saving for their child’s college tuition, which is now no longer needed, can rollover up to the maximum contribution each year until the 529 account has been depleted.

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—Cathy McMorris Rodgers' campaign website (2018)[212]

Campaign advertisements

"Every Day" - Rodgers campaign ad, released May 9, 2018