Washington US Senator
One of two federal lawmakers representing Washington in the US Senate.
Full office description
- The US Senator is a member of the United States Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress. There are a total of 100 US Senators. Washington, like every other US state, has two senators.
- US Senators have a great deal of power when it comes to bringing the concerns of their state to the national arena. US Senators can author, sponsor, amend, debate, and vote on bills that may become national law.
- US Senators have an important role in deciding who runs the federal government. They hold confirmation hearings for most presidential appointees, including new Supreme Court Justices and Presidential Cabinet Members.
- Senators can be appointed to committees that focus on particular issues. Examples include the Appropriations Committee, which handles budget planning, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is a diplomatic body that welcomes foreign delegations.
- Senators are elected to six-year terms in statewide elections. US Senators are paid a salary of $174,000/year.
How this impacts you
Foreign Policy and Immigration — The Senate can affect foreign policy by passing bills that fund foreign involvement, such as providing weapons to Israel, or by passing symbolic resolutions, such as a resolution condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Economic Growth — The Senate passes bills that can stimulate the economy, such as the American Rescue Plan of 2021 which provided $1.9 trillion in stimulus money for Americans struggling to work or maintain businesses in the COVID-19 pandemic.
