Newhouse, DelBene Underscore Role of Working Across the Aisle at Cascadia College Forum
SUNNYSIDE, WA – Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) underscored the need for more bipartisanship in Washington, D.C. and greater civilized discourse in the current polarized atmosphere at a virtual forum hosted by Cascadia College on Monday evening.
"Encouraging civility and increasing conversations across the aisle has been one of my priorities in Congress. It is no secret that politics have become increasingly divisive, but it is our responsibility to work together and deliver results for our constituents," said Rep. Newhouse. "From our early COVID-19 response to supporting international trade, the Washington state delegation shares several bipartisan priorities that require collaboration, and I am proud of how we have been able to put our political differences aside to address the priorities of Washingtonians. Thank you, Rep. DelBene, for inviting me to join you in this important conversation to show that we can disagree without being disagreeable."
"It is no surprise that politics has become more divisive in recent years but there is still more that unites us than divides us. My congressional district was described as the most evenly divided in the country when it was created and it is an honor to serve all my constituents," said Rep. DelBene. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us we can still come together in a bipartisan way. Our state was hit early by the outbreak. Our federal delegation – Democrats and Republicans – united to do all we could to get the state the resources it needed in those critical early days. I want to thank Rep. Newhouse for joining me for this important discussion at Cascadia and for the strong partnership we enjoy."
The conversation was moderated by Cascadia College President Dr. Eric Murray. The event is part of a series to highlight the importance of working together to solve tomorrow's problems. Engaging students can help prepare future leaders to replace harmful rhetoric with civil discourse and gridlock with progress.
The full video of the virtual forum can be found here.
Reps. Newhouse and DelBene both serve on the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, where they work on a bipartisan basis to bring Congress into the 21st Century and ensure the People's House works efficiently for all Americans. The Select Committee recently approved the fifth package of recommendations. Click here to learn more.
In addition to the Select Committee, Reps. Newhouse and DelBene have worked on several bipartisan priorities for Washington state, including supporting state needs at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening international trade agreements.
Background:
Rep. Newhouse has participated in similar events aiming to promote civility and bipartisanship.
In October 2018, Rep. Newhouse joined Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) on a bipartisan Civility & Respect Tour. The tour allowed both Members to travel to each other's districts, meet with constituents, and discuss how working across the aisle is critical for making progress in Congress and increasing respectful dialogue across the country.
In August 2019, Reps. Newhouse and Kilmer participated in a discussion on bipartisanship as part of the Association of Washington Business Federal Affairs Summit.