Speaker Pelosi makes first visit to South Sound to speak about infrastructure, future projects

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Western Washington on Wednesday.

She joined Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland to highlight the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and future projects it could support, such as the replacement of the Chambers Creek Bridge, dam removal and habitat restoration, according to a news release.

The dam, built 100 years ago and not maintained in two decades, no longer serves a purpose and blocks fish and ruins habitats. Tribes, local organizations and governments have been working for years to replace it.

“It’s public, it’s private, it’s nonpartisan, it’s bipartisan and the rest, it’s very, very important and you know, you’re a model to the country,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi’s visit to Strickland’s district came two weeks after President Joe Biden visited the Northwest and spoke in Rep. Kim Schrier’s district, who faces a tight reelection fight.

Caleb Heimlich, chairman of the Washington State Republican Party, said Pelosi was coming to town to “prop up Democrats” ahead of the midterm elections.

“(Strickland and Schrier) have voted in lockstep with Speaker Pelosi on an agenda that I think has been unpopular with the American people and with voters in Washington State,” Heimlich said.

Pelosi also talked about the leaked draft opinion by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn abortion rights in Roe v. Wade.

“This is an assault on privacy. Who knows what’s next, who knows what’s next? Marriage equality? There are so many things rooted in privacy that they could go after now. It’s really appalling,” Pelosi said.

The house speaker predicted a ruling against abortion rights would galvanize voters.

“I think women will remember in November,” she said.

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