My father was a baggage handler at SeaTac airport and an active member of the local Machinists' Union, and I understand how important labor unions can be in the lives of American workers and their families. The right to organize and collectively bargain for benefits has been one of the most important advances in American history and has been a major contributor to the strong American middle class.

As we start the 21st Century, we need to continue the fight for good American jobs, worker protections, and benefits. As our economy changes and develops, we must also determine how to help workers succeed in the New Economy, where stock options and contract employees are a new reality.

I am committed to fighting for Boeing and Boeing subcontractor jobs in the Puget Sound region and creating a climate that is conducive to job growth - improved education and higher education, solutions to our traffic problems, and a vibrant national economy that demands airplanes, software, and other Pacific Northwest commodities.