by Summer D Clemenson | Mar 5, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I am writing to you regarding Revisiting Immigration Reform. According to the American Immigration Council, when Trump took office in January 2025, there were about 40,000 people being held in ICE detention centers, but in just one year, that number has increased to 73,000 immigrants. In November 2025 ICE was using 104 more facilities, than the previous year. With $45 billion in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Trump Administration has funding to operate over 135,000 detention beds, and they have dramatically changed the profile of who is “at-large” which has led to a revolutionary increase in number of federal law enforcement.
There is a 2,450% increase in people with no criminal record being held in detention centers. Changes in policies include no-release and mandatory detention laws that deny people the right to seek bonds so people do not seek a trial.
With more arrests, we are hearing of overcrowding, worsening or substandard medical care, more complaints of abusive conditions and violations of detention standards. Detainees are “disappearing” for days. Access to phones are uncertain. I have seen videos of Congress members that are denied access to facilities and are talking about signs posted, saying that detainees are being fed only 2 times per day. 2025 was the deadliest year to date in ICE detention centers, and 2026 is keeping pace to be worse.
If facilities are overrun, would it not make sense to let immigrants, with no criminal records, return to their jobs and lives so tax payers are not paying for them to be neglected? Better yet, why are we holding them for so long? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to arrest the criminals with violent crimes, work on deporting them and then worry about people who are working and paying taxes?
I know the real purpose of putting immigrants in jail is to make money for rich people that own the jails by misusing the tax dollars of the poor, but since slavery is actually illegal, I would like to encourage you to actually do something morally correct and stop allowing our tax dollars to be used so frivolously, to hurt people. At this point it will take a lot for me to have any faith in you regardless.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
by Summer D Clemenson | Feb 19, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I was watching a video created by Jess Craven on Facebook and she caught my attention because she told me that this year ICE has spent $690 million on 7 warehouses. She said that all of these properties have gone for anywhere between 33-323% over what they were appraised at. These purchases also went through very quickly; much more expeditiously than most purchases like this would have normally been completed. She also said that ICE has plans to spend $38.3 billion turning former warehouses and prisons into detention centers this year. She said this is happening because you have given $75 billion to them with no oversite and lots of room for corruption. With no oversite there is no competitive bidding, no accountability, no one checking if prices make sense and no one verifying who profits. I did a quick check on Google and did find some articles that show Ms. Craven’s numbers are not just being pulled out of the air and ICE needs oversite.
This really upsets me to think that we have all this money to detain people, most of whom have no other charges against them, other than being here illegally. These people would rather be working, taking care of their families and paying taxes. Instead my tax dollars are paying for them to do nothing, except be traumatized. While we are being told that we don’t have money for disaster relief, healthcare or education.
I agree that we have an immigration issue. I am not sure why you can’t come up with a logical way to deal with the humans that need asylum and keep the criminals out. I don’t understand why people don’t see the importance of going after the immigrants that are criminals first and then after we get them out, work with the ones that just want a better life to see what we can do to help them keep working and paying taxes. I’m not sure why children are being held in detention centers at all. It seems that family members should be keeping the children, whenever possible. But my biggest question is why are we buying more detention centers? I thought the goal was to deport them.
I don’t want to pay for people to be held in prisons. I want people to pay taxes and raise their families. If they are violent offenders, call ICE and let them do what they need to get them out of our country. But if someone just wants a better life, can we help them do that? I thought that was the point of The United States of America. Please reign in ICE and The Felon in the Oval Office.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Feb 16, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I am writing to you regarding Alabama’s The Child Predator Death Penalty Act or HB 41. Governor Kay Ivey signed this into law to make sure that when specific criminal acts perpetrated against children under the age of 12 years of age were designated as Class A Felonies.
- First Degree Rape
- First Degree Sodomy
- First Degree Sexual Assault
- First Degree Torture
They also included murder and were very specific about:
- murder during kidnapping
- murder during robbery
- murder during sexual assault
- murder of federal, state, county, local law enforcement officers
- murder during imprisonment
- murder for hire
- murder during sexual abuse
- murder during arson
- murder during anything you could imagine…
In Alabama, people found guilty of these crimes will be sentenced to life in prison and they must serve 30 years in prison before they might be considered for parole. I see wisdom in looking at our own RCWs and making considerable adjustments.
RCW.9A.44.010 or Washington Criminal Codes is sufficient in defining people groups that might be involved in crimes. When I looked up Washington State Rape and Sexual Assault Laws I was able to find some sentencing information. What bothers me is that there is no words about trafficking. One thing I appreciated about Alabama’s bill was that they used the term: torture. Our laws use the phrase “serious physical injury” but I think that one says more than the other and both are not the same.
At this time adults convicted of Class A felony, those with prior sex offenses and kidnappings and those who are found to have tendencies towards violent sexual crimes will be required to always be registered with the county sheriff, in the county where the person resides. I don’t understand this. Why should peaceful and law-abiding citizens have to live among people who have proven that they can’t control themselves? I think this is a good argument to follow suit with Alabama and put people that hurt our most innocent victims away for a very long time.
Because of this, I am asking for a revision of RCW 9A.20.021 Maximum Sentences for Crimes. People found guilty of Class A Felonies, who are in for a life sentence, are not usually able to pay a $50,000 fine. I understand that Washington State does not have the death penalty as an option for extreme crimes, but we need to consider the safety of our most innocent and law abiding citizens. We deserve protection.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Feb 16, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
Today I am writing to you regarding H.R.22 AKA The Save Act. Last week I began the process of ordering my wife’s birth certificate. Since she works 3 jobs, I am the one that has the time for this. Unfortunately, during COVID we lost our storage unit so our marriage license is gone. I am not able to finish that process until we get a new copy of that document. My wife was born in North Carolina. A copy of her birth certificate costs $65. Luckily, we were married in Cowlitz County and our county seat is located in Kelso, which is only 5 miles from Longview, where we live. We will pay $25 for a new copy of our marriage license. These documents are important. We need to have them but I began this so that we can begin the process of getting her REAL ID which will cost about $100. In the end for both my wife and I to get REAL IDs this year, we will spend $355. I realize that driving is a privilege but voting is a right.
I vote by mail. I do not have to remember when to vote because ballots show up on time. My information is validated regularly. I drop my ballot in a secure box provided by city council. My vote is on paper and can be verified and recounted.
According to a statement accredited to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, I read that nearly 70 million married women do not have a birth certificate with their legal name on it. This accounts for 25% of the voting age population. This only accounts for people who changed their names because of marriage. There are many reasons to have changed your name. However I am passionate about this because my wife chose to take my name when we got married.
My wife is an Army Veteran. She was willing to give her life our country. She deserves the right to vote.
The Save Act is voter suppression and an attempt to rig elections. My wife’s great-grandmother was a freed slave and she also was a voice in the Civil Rights Movement. She was proud to vote and she impressed on my wife how important it was to vote. Please don’t take this away from my wife. Please vote NO on The Save Act.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Feb 6, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
Today I am writing regarding the Gateway Hudson River Tunnel Project. I saw a post by Pete Buttigieg today and I wanted to make sure that it was true. It did not take long to find articles that supported his claims. President Donald Trump wants Washington Dulles International Airport and New York’s Penn Station renamed after himself in exchange for releasing federal funding for the Gateway tunnel project.
The Gateway Hudson River Tunnel Development Project is a multibillion-dollar rail initiative viewed as critical to Northeast Corridor travel and the regional economy, and delays in releasing federal funds threaten construction timelines and union jobs.
Attorney General Letitia James says this project is a critical infrastructure project essential to regional rail service and the national economy.
The Hudson Tunnel Project is the central component of the Gateway Program, a long-planned effort to revitalize Hudson River rail travel. The project will repair the 116-year-old North River tunnel and build a new tunnel beneath the Hudson River. The tunnel was severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy and continues to deteriorate, causing frequent service disruptions and emergency maintenance that impact hundreds of thousands of commuters. Construction on the Hudson Tunnel Project began in 2023 and is currently underway across multiple active sites in New York and New Jersey.
New York and New Jersey have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the project, and the federal government has awarded more than $16 billion in total funding through multiple grant and loan programs. However, despite years of planning and coordination, on September 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) abruptly halted all funding for the project.
The pause immediately affects nearly 1,000 workers, and an extended suspension could put about 11,000 construction jobs at risk, along with the 95,000 jobs and $19.6 billion in economic activity the project is projected to generate.
Although I do not live on the east coast, I am a tax-payer and I feel for my fellow United States citizens. I know that my tax dollars should mean something. I believe this action by this president is just one more self-serving action that proves that he is unable to put our United States first when making decisions. Please do what you can to make the funding that was already voted on for this project to be available to restart this project and get people working, despite the unnecessary needs of this president to have his name in lights on places he has not earned the right to bear it. Why is it that in order to get this president to comply, he must be sued? He has set a precedence of wastefulness, in his need to be #1, but not necessarily the best.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 31, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
Today I am writing regarding SB-5312. Concerning net nanny operations involving fictitious minors. Net nanny operations are undercover law enforcement initiatives where officers pose as minors online to catch individuals attempting to engage in sexual activities with children. These operations aim to prevent child exploitation and apprehend potential predators. This bill is sponsored by Representatives: Lisa Wellman, Noel Frame, T’wina Nobles, and Claire Wilson. It was first read on January 16, 2026 and sent to the Law and Justice Committee. There was a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice on January 27, 2026.
I see that the adults convicted of sex crimes towards children, regardless of whether they are found during net nanny operations or not are following the current RCWs.
- Adults convicted of Class A felony, those with prior sex offenses and kidnappings and those who are found to have tendencies towards violent sexual crimes will be required to always be registered with the county sheriff, in the county where the person resides.
- Adults convicted of Class B felony, without prior sex offense or kidnapping will be able to stop registering with the county sheriff, in the county where they reside, 15 years after they have been released from their jail sentence, as long as they can remain free of new criminal activity.
- Adults convicted of a Class C felony, a violation of RCW 9.68A.090 or 9A.44.096, or an attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit a class C felony, and the adult does not have prior convictions for a sex offense or kidnapping offense, the duty to register shall end 10 years after the last date of release from confinement, if any, (including full-time residential treatment) pursuant to the conviction, or entry of the judgment and sentence, if the adult has spent 10 consecutive years in the community without being convicted of a disqualifying offense during that time period.
I do not want there to be a difference between criminals that knew there was a real child and those that did not know they were not talking to a real child. I believe that sex crimes are not prosecuted strongly enough. I believe that it doesn’t matter that people were caught via a “net nanny operation” because they thought they were talking to a child and they should have said goodbye as soon as they thought they were talking to a child. I have read RCWÂ 9A.44.130 and they should have done the responsible thing and the right thing. Instead they did the sick and wrong thing. They deserve to be treated like the sex offender they are and 3 years of being a registered sex offender is not enough time. I want you to debate and negotiate that adults convicted of Class C felonies and all we see in #3 that these people should have to register as sex offenders for 10 years.
I would also like to see longer sentences for sex offenders. The victims, especially if they are children at the time of the crime, have to live with the affects of the actions of the criminals, for the rest of their lives. Almost everyone I know has been the victim of a sex crime, and most of them as children. It has affected them all their lives. These criminals should not get to just walk away.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 31, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representatives,
Today I am writing regarding SB-6286. Concerning the state’s ability to fine private detention facilities that deny entry to the department of health for an inspection. This bill is sponsored by Representatives: Tina Orwall, Yasmin Trudeau, Emily Alvarado, Mike Chapman, Steve Conway, Manka Dhingra, Noel Frame, Bob Hasegawa, Marko Liias, Liz Lovelett, T’wina Nobles, Jesse Salomon, Vandana Slatter, Derek Stanford, Javier Valdez, and Claire Wilson. The bill was first read on January 22, 2016 and sent to the Human Services Committee. On January 28 there was a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services. It is scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 1:30 PM (Subject to change) on February 3.
This bill, if it is enacted will allow the department of health, in the case that it is denied access to a private detention facility to be able assess fines:
- $1000 per day for the first 30 days
- $10,000 per day for the next 30 days
- $15,000 per day until the department of health is allowed access to the building to assess the conditions of the facility
Moneys collected under this section must be deposited into the federal enforcement accountability and community repair account. Expenditures from the account may only be used for providing assistance to individuals or families with members that have been wrongfully detained and released by the court, assaulted, or killed by agents employed by the United States immigration and customs enforcement, which may include:
- Housing assistance
- Food assistance
- Legal services
- Wage replacement
- Child care assistance
- Transportation assistance
- Grants to nonprofit organizations providing services included in this section to immigrant communities
- Financial compensation
Services provided to individuals through this account are not an admission of fault by the state. This section does not create an entitlement to compensation or assistance for any individual.
After considering all of this: What can happen to someone who might be living in terrible conditions for a month or longer. I don’t like this bill. I think you can do better. I don’t want you to find a way to collect dollars. I want you to find a way to make sure you get inside of these places and make sure people are being fed, clothed and getting medical attention. I want you to make sure they have access to their lawyers. I want them to be able to call their families and even have reasonable visitation, especially if they are not violent criminals, especially if their are children present. Keep working on this bill. Please do not pass it, like it is. Many of the people in these facilities are not criminals and they are not animals. Please don’t treat them like a number.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 31, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
Today I am writing regarding HB-2597 concerning remedies for violations of federal constitutional rights occurring during immigration enforcement. This bill is sponsored by Representives: My-Linh Thai, Mary Fosse, Tarra Simmons, Lisa Parshley, Mia Gregerson, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Alex Ramel, Chris Stearns, Roger Goodman, Edwin Obras, Strom Peterson, Julio Cortes, Beth Doglio, Timm Ormsby, Gerry Pollet, Shaun Scott, Cindy Ryu, Greg Nance, and Osman Salahuddin. It was first read on January 20, 2026 and referred to the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committees.
This bill states that federal officials have not been beyond the reach of state laws because they are federal employees, since the beginning of the history of The United States.
The purpose of HB-2597 is to add that:
- Any person who is hurt during an interaction with civil immigration enforcement, may bring civil charges against that government agent in any court.
- A person found to have violated the United States Constitution while participating in civil immigration enforcement is liable to the injured person for legal relief, equitable relief, and any other appropriate relief. A prevailing plaintiff may recover compensatory and punitive damages.
- If a government agent has been found guilty of causing harm to a person during a civil immigration enforcement, a court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff.
I am in total agreement with HB-2597 and I would like you to vote YES on HB-2597.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 31, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
Today I am writing regarding HB-2641 prohibiting certain law enforcement agencies from hiring certain federal employees. This bill is sponsored by Tara Simmons, Shawn Scott, Kristine Reeves, Natasha Hill, and Nichole Macri. The bill states that no United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and United States Customs and Border Protection (CPB) who was hired on or after January 20, 2025 will be able to be hired as a general authority Washington law enforcement agency or a limited authority Washington law enforcement agency.
I agree that we have seen some disturbing events at the hands of ICE and CBP. But I also agree that they were following orders. I think each person should be held accountable for what they have done. I believe if people serving as ICE and CPB officers can be found innocent of crimes and they can prove that they can fulfill all the standards of the Washington Law Enforcement Agencies they might be applying for and maintain those standards, they should be able to be hired and maintain those positions.
I believe that Washington Law Enforcement Agencies may want to apply their own process for handling candidates that may require more training in order to reach their standard. But I believe that you should vote NO on HB-2641.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 31, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions
Dear Representatives,
Today I am writing regarding HB-2644, concerning the use of body worn cameras by law enforcement officers. It has been found that public trust in law enforcement is strengthened by transparency and accountability. Body worn cameras provide an objective record of law enforcement interactions to protect both officers and the public while aiding in accurate investigations and judicial proceedings. Because of this legislature intends to establish a uniform statewide standard requiring all law enforcement officers to activate their body worn cameras during all law enforcement encounters and responses to incidents, ensuring continuous and reliable recordings of public interactions.
- If this bill is agreed upon, it would become valid on July 1, 2027.
- Recordings must be kept for 90 days.
- In the case of use of force by a law enforcement officer, an arrest or detention, or a complaint or investigation involving a law enforcement officer’s conduct, recordings must be kept for 3 years.
- Unauthorized access, alteration, or deletion of body worn camera recordings is prohibited and subject to disciplinary action by the employing law enforcement agency, in addition to any other penalties provided under state law.
- All law enforcement agencies must have updated all their policies in order to be able to fulfill their capabilities to follow these requirements by July 1,2027.
- A civilian who is subject to an incident involving an officer, has the right to a copy of the video of the body cam footage, unless it goes against any state law.
I believe that this bill will help in the process of keeping civilians and law enforcement officers more safe. I urge you to vote YES. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 31, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
Communities are stronger and safer when people are not forced to live in fear. I am writing regarding SB-5906. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and United States Customs and Border Protection (CPB) has been operating in communities without judicial warrants and targeting people who are Brown, Black, and Asian. This bill protects sensitive spaces. It ensures Washingtonians can go to school and go to medical appointments without fear. People need to feel safe in places where they learn, heal, and vote.
- This bill outlines that federal officers must a valid judicial warrant, judicial subpoena, or a court order before they are allowed to enter a non-public area of an early childcare facility, school site or medical facility.
- It is the job of child care facilities to exhaust the emergency contact procedures provided by the families and guardians of the children.
- Unless required by state or federal law, a health care facility and its personnel may not allow any person access to the nonpublic areas of the facility for immigration enforcement purposes, unless the person has a valid judicial warrant or court order that specifically grants access to the nonpublic areas of the facility.
- During primaries, general elections, and special elections, a county auditor shall designate as nonpublic any place where ballots are handled, processed, counted, or tabulated. Federal agents will also be required valid warrants to enter these areas as well.
I am fully in agreement with this bill. I am asking you to vote YES for this bill. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 25, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I writing regarding HR-5653 the Trust Through Transparency Act of 2025 which was introduced in the House on September 30, 2025 by Donald Norcross. This bill requires that immigration enforcement officers to wear & operate body-worn cameras during public facing immigration enforcement actions: patrols, stops, arrests, searches, warrant services, checkpoints, interviews & all actions that are not undercover operations.
In 2022, the Biden Administration administered Executive Order 14074 Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing & Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust & Safety, that directed federal law enforcement agencies to adopt & enforce body cameras for officers effectively encouraging widespread use of cameras as a transparency tool. But on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump rescinded that executive order, along with other executive orders that were consistent with that order so there is no current standing federal policy that requires body cameras for federal officers, including Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) & Customs Border Patrol (CBP) Officers.
H.R.7006 – Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026, that just passed, includes $20 million for body cameras for ICE & CBP but it is only a funding bill. This bill is not a permanent change to immigration law. At the same time that we are seeing terrors unfold in Minneapolis, I have heard the Trump Administration is backing financial cuts to ICE and CBP that include programs that handle accountability. So even as money is being set aside for equipment, it is not the same as making laws requiring officers to use the equipment.
We need a body camera mandate written into HR-5653 that forces body cameras to be worn by all ICE and CBP Officers during all public face enforcement actions. We need clear rules regarding footage & retention so that cameras cannot be unevenly deployed, turned off, or sidelined. We must have accountability and transparency in our immigration laws and our federal officers.
At this point we know that at least 3 people have been killed by ICE officers and 9 children have been detained by ICE, including a toddler and a 5-year-old in Minneapolis. I have seen videos of doctors, military veterans and police chiefs who are stating that illegal immigrants are not ICE’s only targets. You must act. You must vote YES on HR-5653. Now.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 23, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
Washington State Democrats want to pass another tax. Our legislators say we don’t have enough money but I don’t like how they are spending our money. Recently I saw a video of an interview of State Representative Shaun Scott on a podcast with Brandi Kruse, where he said that he supported laser hair removal and boob jobs as healthcare for transgender inmates as healthcare for people serving time in jail.
>>>Watch the video on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1a1aYJhJgu/.
I support trans people. However I don’t support criminals. I don’t want to pay for people in jail to get procedures my insurance won’t cover for me. Why should it work that way? The way I understand it, once you have chosen the life of crime and you are in jail, your rights are limited. If you want to have your full rights, you must obey the law, try to do the best you can and then you are entitled to all the electrolysis and breast augmentation you can figure out how to get. There are people that will help you achieve your goals out here.
Every chance I get, I will vote for trans rights and medical freedom, if they are law abiding citizens. But I have never voted for people in jail to have more resources than I do, that have nothing to do with education and rehabilitation, in return for breaking the law. You might argue, and be right about the mental health of a trans person needing these procedures, however, the corrections system should not be fun or how you get what you want out of life. It is where you go when you hurt people or their things. It is where you go when you have done something very wrong. It is punishment.
I am not sure where to send this to, so I will send it wherever I think I can make the most impact.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 21, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I am writing regarding H.Res.767 and HR-1678. I was trying to learn what you were planning as far as ICE is concerned.
I see that H.Res.767 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that violent attacks against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities and officers are unacceptable, must be fully condemned, and that Congress stands in support of ICE’s mission to protect national security, public safety, and the enforcement of immigration law was introduced on 9/26/2025 by Russell Frye. I see it was sent to the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committees on Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs on the same date.
I also see that HR-1678, Homeland Security Improvement Act was presented on 2/27/2025 by Veronica Escobar. I do see that this act passed the House, Senate, President and became Law.
There is language for committees of people. The goal is to protect the workers, United States citizens, make sure people are properly trained and continually trained, proper files filled out and kept, ways to communicate are specified, how to lodge a complaint, there are words about nonlethal use of force, there is talk about vulnerable populations, talk about cultural and societal differences, de-escalation practices.
“Protecting the civil, constitutional, human, and privacy rights of individuals, with special emphasis on the scope of enforcement authority, including —
(i) chain of evidence practices and document seizure; and
(ii) use of force policies available to agents and officers;…
I have also read the notes from the meeting on January 13, 2026: ICE Under Attack.
Notably the democrats have terrible things to say about ICE. We have seen all the scenarios they have proclaimed on the news, newspapers and social media. When it was the republicans turn, we got to hear about all the atrocities conducted by illegal aliens, many of whom had recently been released from prison and jail sentences for their crimes and had deportation orders on their files.
So I have two concerns:
I have seen what looks like ICE and CBP agents stopping people. Not having warrants. Not asking for identification. Not listening to what people are telling them. I do understand that you can frame a video to be biased. I know that I might not be seeing the entire story. I also know that in places where there are thousands of ICE or CBP or military of any kind, that emotions are going to be high.
It does not look like these federal agents are protecting the civil, constitutional, human and privacy rights of individuals, with special emphasis on the scope of enforcement authority. It looks like people are not receiving due process. I am reading about reports of people, United States citizens and people here, legally that are being detained for unknowable amounts of time, with poor food, medical treatment and no contact with their families or lawyers.
My second concern is that I want to know why, these criminals, when they had completed their terms in jail or prison, where they not immediately deported? Why were they set free on the streets of the United States? This seems like a simple thing to handle. We don’t allow sex offenders to just walk out the door without an action plan, at least not in Washington State.
I am not against deporting criminals. I am not against ICE and CBP doing their job. I am against the fact that it looks like United States citizens and immigrants that are here legally and those trying to do the right thing are being treated like criminals. When people feel like they need to defend themselves, they do things they would not normally do. I am not justifying the abuse of ICE or CBP or our military, but if you treat people like criminals, they sometimes respond like criminals, even if they are not.
What I am asking regarding H.Res.767 for is a REFORM of ICE and CBP. Can these federal employees be trained to do what HR-1678 says they are supposed to do?
By the way I support the impeachment of Kristi Noem. I think she has proven herself as dishonest and I think the Secretary of Homeland Security should be someone that can be trusted.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 20, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I am writing regarding the Millionaire’s Tax that Governor Bob Ferguson started talking about in December of 2025. As far as I understand this tax increase will affect those making over $1 million dollars, people in small business startups and tech workers receiving restricted stock units, that might vest all at once. This additional tax is sure to make Washington unattractive to high wage earning people. It would make sense that many people would see a great financial benefit to move to other states with smaller taxes and it wont be hard, because if this tax increase goes into affect, Washington will be the highest taxed state in the United States.
We already tax our high earner’s capital gains income at 9.9%. The state taxes us for the Washington Cares tax and Paid Family & Medical Leave tax. There are 2 more taxes that people who live in Seattle pay. I see that Ferguson’s priorities include making housing more affordable, improving public safety, strengthening education, and reducing costs for Washington families. Raising taxes are not how your reduce costs.
I have family members that have left Washington because of the taxes already. There are more making plans to leave. These tax increases are not causing growth, they are causing failure, because the people you need to stay, can afford to leave and the ones that can’t afford to leave, can’t afford to pay your taxes and will become a burden on society if you keep making it so expensive to live here. Ferguson wants to allow people who don’t want to follow the rules of society, to camp anywhere they want, but that makes tax payers and small businesses (more tax payers) feel unsupported. Law Enforcement is not allowed to arrest people that are using drugs on the street, vandalizing local businesses and causing havoc. This doesn’t make sense. Your choices are not supporting businesses and tax payers.
Poor does not equal unintelligent. I voted for Bob Ferguson, but I am not a fan of the decisions that have been made since Bob Ferguson took office.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 20, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I am writing to you regarding HB-2489 which establishes statewide standards for how law enforcement regulates the use of public spaces for life-sustaining activities. From what I have read, this bill wants to make it illegal for cities to enforce laws that make it illegal for people to camp in city limits, unless they can prove that they have provided adequate shelter space at the time and place of the person camping.
As someone who is currently living in a hotel and has been in a a state of homelessness for many years, and also a person who had volunteered with Love Overwhelming and The Salvation Army, I have put a lot of thought into my viewpoint. I know there are people in need. But I also know there are people that take advantage of the system. While small business owners are victims of people who refuse services while they vandalize and torment them because they are on drugs and can’t be held responsible. I also know that not all cities are the same. Some cities are able to handle the needs of the homeless and some can not. Forcing cities to endure camping, without backup funding to pay for sanitation or mediation is not right.
Allowing people to camp in city limits is not the best way to answer rising housing costs, when you insist on raising taxes on hardworking people you only hurt the middle and lower classes of people, when the ones who own the buildings tend to have more money. So while I am telling you that I am so very much against HB-2489, I am also against anymore sales taxes. If you can’t balance the budget with the money you already have, you aren’t doing your job right.
It doesn’t make sense to hurt small businesses ever. Where I live, when homeless people harass my mother’s small business or threaten her, she is lucky if the police will charge the person with trespassing, however, if they break her window, she is responsible for replacing those windows, even though she doesn’t own the building. Why don’t you make a law that supports local businesses? When the drug-addicted homeless people left their paraphernalia in the bushes and my mom’s dog almost died, no one helped pay the vet bill or helped her take care of her dog. When she shows up to open her business and someone has pooped on her welcome mat, she is the only one to clean it up, but she isn’t the only business on her block that has similar stories. Downtown Longview, Washington deserves to decide that people do not get to camp in their business district.
We have shelters in Longview, WA. If you want services, you have to get sober. I used to think that was too hard for some people, but my wife works 3 jobs so we can live in this hotel. We are not eligible for help. We make too much money. I have worked hard to overcome mental illness. It can happen. I am better than I have ever been. I know some people can’t make good choices but I have to have faith that the right people will help those people. For the rest, they will have to choose to follow the rules.
Please vote no on HB-2489.
Sincerely,
Summer D. Clemenson
by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 18, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I am writing to you in regarding SB-5855. After reading the text of this bill, I would like to encourage you to vote for this bill. This Senate Bill further defines 10.116 RCW by expressing that while peace officers are allowed to wear:
- A translucent face shield or clear mask that does not conceal the wearer’s facial identity.
- An N95 medical mask or surgical mask to protect against transmission of disease or infection or any other mask or device including, but not limited to, air-purifying respirators, full or half masks, or self-contained breathing apparatuses necessary to protect against exposure to any toxin, gas, smoke, or any other hazardous environmental condition.
- A helmet used to protect the wearer’s head during transportation on a bicycle or motorized vehicle.
Under any other situation and normal circumstance, face coverings are not allowed to be worn by Law Enforcement Officers, in accordance with 10.116 RCW.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 9, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I am writing in regards to Trump’s January 7, 2026 Memorandum: Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations.
In his order Trump says that after hearing from his Secretary of State regarding the United States representative for the United Nations, he has decided that the interests of the United Nations are no longer aligned with the United States of America and he has decided that as soon as possible he wants us to cease our involvement in 35 Non-United Nations Organizations and 31 United Nations Organizations.
The mandate of the U.N. Security Council is to maintain international peace and security.
“The charter states that UN membership is open to all ‘peace-loving states’ that accept obligations under that charter and, in the judgement of the organization, able and willing to carry out such obligations.”
After recent events, including Venezuela and several shootings involving ICE and border security, I am feeling more and more as though we are not a peace-loving country. Comments that Trump has said in front of cameras or shared on social media where he threatened Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Greenland have also made me feel more insecure in this world.
It seems as though Trump wants to remove us from the UN. I haven’t been able to find whether our relationship with the UN was created by Congress, however I did find that the UN was created after World War II. I don’t want to see WWIII in my lifetime.
I am terrified. I don’t believe this man has good intentions for the United States. Please help.
Sincerely,
Summer D. Clemenson
by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 5, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I have written to you regarding my desire to see Trump removed from the presidency in the past. But now that I know that he has been working with his cabinet and other people in authority to overcome Venezuela and kidnap their president and his wife, while you were out of session, I want to see Donald Trump and his entire cabinet and any compliant government officials impeached and removed from their positions in our government. Not only have the actions that he has ordered since September 2025 against Venezuela killed at least 155 people but I have read articles that tell me that North Korea has tested nuclear missiles, in preparation for war. Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay have joined forces to criticize the actions of the United States as against International Law and any future exploitation of natural resources in Venezuela would not be in harmony with International Law and sovereignty. I have also read of adverse judgment from Iran, Russia and China. I don’t want to live in another 20+ year war.
Trump consistently says one thing and then the next day, he changes his mind. This is a paraphrase of the nicest way I have ever heard someone call him a liar, that I have ever read, as of yesterday. The actions of the Trump Administration has put us under scrutiny and possibly in danger. Under Article 11, Section 4, please invoke the powers of impeachment for treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors as you and your colleagues see fit. We cannot afford to keep this administration in office. Their cost is too dear.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Jan 4, 2026 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
I am writing to you in regards to H.R. 5722 Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act. This Act was introduced on October 8, 2025 by republican Representative Chip Roy. This Act is meant to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit entry of aliens who adhere to Sharia Law.
“The term Sharia comes from the Arabic word meaning “path to the water,” which reflects the concept that Sharia is divine guidance drawn mainly from the Qur’an and Sunnah (teachings and guidance of Prophet Muhammad) for the purpose of helping humanity draw close to God and live in kindness and justice with His Creation.” A Closer Look at Sharia in the United States by ING
Muslims follow Sharia in the same way that people of other faiths follow their sacred laws and traditions. The First Amendment of the Constitution protects our rights to religious freedom as long as our practice respects other people’s rights. No religious law can supersede state or federal law. Sharia law commands that Muslims honor the laws of the land where they live.
I do not believe that H.R. 5722 is necessary and I am surprised that republicans would be for more laws, when they say they want less government. While reading the Immigration and Nationality Act from October 1965, in section 203 there are words regarding people from the Middle East and people from communist countries. In Statute 176, section 205, it states, “The Attorney General, at any time for what he deems to be good and sufficient cause, may revoke the approval of any petition approved by him in section 204.”
I believe that H.R. 5722 is a ploy to invoke fear and hate and is unnecessary because we already have given the ability to the Attorney General to remove immigrants who are not willing to follow the laws of the United States before they become naturalized.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Summer D. Clemenson
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by Summer D Clemenson | Dec 10, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions, Politics
Dear Representative,
Tonight I saw a video by an influencer I follow. She was talking about Bill S.3386 which was introduced to the Senate on 12/08/2025 by Senator Mike Crapo, to be voted on, on 12/11/2025. The influencer stated that this bill was in response to the Affordable Health Care Act tax credits that are expiring next month. Her main concern was that she felt that this plan was about the rich becoming richer while the poor were not cared for at all. She said that monthly costs for currently insured people would skyrocket, deductibles would double and there would be more out of pocket costs. She also stated that insurance companies would be free to deny coverage for care. This would mean that many people would just not be able to afford to have health insurance. I agree with her, that we do not need more poor people filing bankruptcy because they got sick.
I also thought her point that Universal Healthcare would save the United States $450 billion a year if we were to switch over, because of how inefficient and expensive our medical system currently is. Have you looked into that? Is she correct?
When I read the text of the bill, honestly there were not many details there to come up with her premise. This actually bothers me because there is not enough text available to know how to vote. What I did see was that, although the the bill is called the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act for 2025, there are stipulations that people will not be able to have gender affirming care under this health insurance policy. I believe very strongly that what my doctor and I decide needs to or will be happening with my body, should be between my doctor and I. I don’t see why you should have any say in that.
So overall, I am a hard no on this bill.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
by Summer D Clemenson | Nov 20, 2025 | Letters to My Representatives, Opinions
Dear Representative,
I am very concerned about hearing about a massive structural shift in the Department of Education. I have heard that the Elementary, Secondary & Post Secondary Education programs are being moved to the Department of Labor. These are core educational functions for the entire United States of America. Foreign Medical Accreditation (FMA) & Childcare Access Means Program (CAM) are being sent to Health & Human Services. International Education & Foreign Language Programs are going to the State Department.
Usually Congress, public comment, & impact statements are done before anything like this would take place prior to a federal agency being dissolved or restructured, but the Trump administration is forgoing the legislative process by reallocating the Department of Education’s core functions. This is diluting accountability, removing civil rights protections & national educations standards for all students, nationwide.
The mission of the Department of Education (ED) is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access for students of all ages.
The mission of the Department of Labor is: To foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.
Please tell me how The Department of Labor is able to take care of the educational needs of our students? I could go on, but it would be redundant. I am very concerned by the direction we are going as a country. I am very much against the fact that Congress is allowing this sidestep to happen. Please make this stop.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
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