Sep 30, 2020Germany must tell Putin: Enough is enoughBy Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) Until Vladimir Putin is held accountable for his crimes, the vicious attacks on those who oppose him will not stop. …4 min read
Dec 4, 2019It has been an honor to serve you.A letter from Congressman Denny Heck — Dear Friends: With the bulk of the Intelligence Committee’s work on impeachment behind us, Thanksgiving week provided me with a good opportunity for rest and reflection. I thought a lot about the privilege it is to serve the people of the 10th Congressional District and to be one of only…Congress6 min read
Jul 19, 2018Enshrining equal rights in our ConstitutionToday marks the 170th anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention, the United States’ first women’s rights convention. As we celebrate and reflect on the successes and gains women have achieved since 1848, it is necessary to consider the work left to be done.Politics4 min read
Apr 28, 2018My take on the shameful firing of Father Conroy, Chaplain of the U.S. House of RepresentativesSpeaker Paul Ryan recently fired Father Patrick Conroy, the U.S. House Chaplain. In an institution that is inured to being roiled on a daily basis, this action sent a seismic shock through the chamber and member offices. Understandably. It crossed a new line and sunk to a new low. …Politics4 min read
Oct 18, 2017Forty-five years laterWhen people visit our region, they’re greeted by the beautiful backdrop of the Puget Sound. Orcas leap from the water, salmon adorn restaurant menus, ferries carry people from the shoreline to the islands, seagulls chirp from the air and glare in Native art, and rocky beaches serve as home to…Environment3 min read
Aug 29, 2017A century of defense and military tradition in the South SoundEveryone loves to talk about the Greatest Generation. Many of them were our parents or grandparents. But 100 years ago, it was the generation that raised the Greatest Generation who forever changed South Puget Sound. This was the generation born at the turn of the 20th Century. Automobiles had hit…Military5 min read
Feb 16, 2017Peace, prosperity, apple pie, and a secure retirement.I feel a little lost. — I came to Congress to work together and solve problems. I acknowledge that in the current environment, that is more difficult than ever. But I still cling to the hope that there are a few things Republicans and Democrats agree on and can find common ground: 1. Peace. 2. Prosperity. 3. Apple pie being delicious. 4. Helping all Americans access tools to build a retirement nest egg.Politics2 min read
Oct 21, 2016My views on the proposed Transpacific Partnership trade agreement (TPP)The TPP covers 12 nations whose aggregate economies constitute 40% of the entire world’s economy. This would be, by far, our largest trade deal in history, and few issues have galvanized the emotions of advocates on both sides. Given the attention and reactions focused on the TPP, I think it…TPP10 min read
Oct 20, 2016Standing with our LGBTQ youth this Spirit DayA long time ago, I was a senior at Columbia River High School in Vancouver, Washington. On paper, I looked like I had it all together. Second in my class. Senior Class President. Football player. I had it all, right? Well, the truth is, I felt like an outsider looking…LGBTQ5 min read
Jun 14, 2016My thoughts on the tragedy in OrlandoIn the aftermath of the mass killing in Orlando, I found myself uncharacteristically speechless. I couldn’t tell if I was completely numb or abjectly sad. Or both. It has taken a couple of days for me to regain my equilibrium and to begin to form some perspective. …Politics3 min read