Maria Cantwell currently serves as a United States Senator for the State of Washington. As a respected leader – both in public service and in the private sector – Maria has always embraced the values she first learned growing up in a strong working-class family. With the help of Pell Grants, Maria was the first member of her family to graduate college. Later, a successful businesswoman in Washington's hi-tech industry, she helped build a company that created hundreds of high-paying jobs from the ground up.
Small businesses drive job growth on Main Streets all across America. In Washington state, more than 500,000 small businesses employ 1.3 million workers, which is why Maria has worked to expand access to capital for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Washington is one of the most-trade dependent states in the nation, and Maria consistently pushes for new trade opportunities for local companies.
Washington is also home to the second highest concentration of aerospace engineers in the country and nearly 375,000 technology jobs. Maria fights for investments in the job-training programs that give workers the skills they need to seize these 21st century jobs.