Public Lands
Hunters, fishers, and farmers are the original conservationists. Growing up in Central Washington, I have been surrounded by agriculture my whole life. As our farmers and ranchers work to feed the world, we also recognize the importance of conserving our precious natural resources and native species. The same goes for sportsmen, many of whom hunt or fish in order to honor generational traditions or provide for their families. Without responsible land use, resource development, and local conservation efforts, hunting, farming, and fishing as we know it would cease to exist.
Originally published in the Capital Press on July 27, 2020.
Those of us who live in the West have become all-too-familiar with catastrophic wildfires. Each summer, too many of our communities are susceptible to the devastating impacts of these threats. We've also normalized the stifling smoke and haze that frequently blankets our region while the land around us burns.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, July 7, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) welcomed U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to North Central Washington, where he participated in a roundtable discussion with community leaders to announce that grizzly bears will not be introduced into the North Cascades Ecosystem.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) welcomed Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary David Bernhardt to North Central Washington, where he announced the final rulemaking decision on the North Cascades Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan. After following the federal rulemaking process, reviewing hundreds of local public comments, and hosting a public comment listening session in Okanogan County last year, DOI has concluded that grizzly bears will not be introduced into the North Cascades Ecosystem.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Bernhardt announced PILT payments for Central Washington's local communities:
Our largely rural, agricultural district understands the importance of conservation firsthand. The public lands we enjoy in Central Washington depend on local environmental stewardship, maintenance, and upkeep. I support these efforts alongside the many communities across the 4th District and in districts across the country as Congress works to protect and reinvigorate our national parks, public lands, and national forests.
For generations, farmers and ranchers in Central Washington have understood that in order to continue their important job of feeding the world, we must work together to conserve one of our most precious assets: our land. Much of the land is rich with fertile soil, making it one of the most diverse and productive agricultural regions in the country, but our producers also understand that it is also rich with wildlife and natural resources that are worth protecting.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, January 28, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) hosted an hour-long Special Order in the House of Representatives to discuss the legislative efforts of the Congressional Western Caucus to strengthen and modernize the Endangered Species Act.
In light of the proposal that just never seems to go away: introducing grizzly bears in the North Cascades, I invite all constituents of the 4th Congressional District to join me in expressing your opinion about how this will affect you and your family.
This Fourth of July, America will celebrate its 243rd birthday. Our country has come a long way since 1776, and there is still more progress to be made. Our independence and our patriotism are what set the United States apart from the rest of the world, and we have a lot to be thankful for.
As we gather with our family and friends to celebrate our freedom, we should also celebrate some of our nation's finest treasures: our national parks and public lands.