Newhouse Votes to Secure Major Priorities for Central Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) released the following statement after voting in support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2471—Consolidated Appropriations Act last night. This legislation delivers on many of Central Washington’s top priorities, preserves long-standing conservative priorities, and takes critical actions to strengthen national security. 

“This legislation brings home major wins for Central Washington communities, from funding important water infrastructure projects, like the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program, to delivering critical rural healthcare programs, including my legislation H.R. 769, the Rural Maternal and Obstetric Management Strategies (MOMS) Act,” said Rep. Newhouse. “What’s more, this legislation rejects the Democrat’s proposed cuts to $1.9 billion of existing border wall funding, which is critical to securing our southern border. The legislation also includes my amendment to rein in our adversaries, such as China, from gaining a foothold in our food supply chain by preventing them from purchasing American farmland.”

Rep. Newhouse continued, “The bill also contains many of the appropriations priorities I worked to include such as providing for potatoes, small fruit, hops, barley, alfalfa, and the Tri State Herbicide Resistance Initiative to help our wheat growers retain a sustainable future. It funds important studies to combat Little Cherry Disease (LCD), which has devastated Central Washington orchards, and to better understand how to manage smoke taint, which poses a huge threat to our Central Washington wine industry and local economies. This legislation includes many of the community project funding requests I received from the people of Central Washington, which will deliver significant infrastructure funding to our communities. I was proud to vote for this package and am committed to continuing to advocate for and secure Central Washington’s priorities through my role on the Appropriations Committee.”

The following Community Project Funding requests, which were selected by the Central Washington Community Project Funding Advisory Board—made up of representatives from each county and tribe in Washington's 4th Congressional District—were included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act:

• Yakama Nation – USDA Rural Development – Canal Maintenance
• Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program – Bureau of Reclamation – Project Design and Planning
• Benton County – Health Resources and Services Administration – Facilities Upgrades
• Wenatchee Valley College – Health Resources and Services Administration – Facilities Upgrades
• Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission - Health Resources and Services Administration – Health Workforce Training
• Yakima Air Terminal-McAlister Field – Federal Aviation Administration – Terminal Design
• Walla Walla County – Federal Emergency Management Agency – 911 Emergency Telecommunications Facility Relocation

Legislation highlights:

• Stops reckless spending proposals by the Biden Administration.
  • House Republicans successfully stopped the Biden Administration’s attempt to include additional taxpayer dollars for COVID-19 that would further perpetuate and accelerate harmful government policies.
  • Restrains Democrats’ wasteful spending, slashing the administration’s requested increase in domestic spending by nearly two-thirds.
• Restores long-standing policy riders, such as the Hyde Amendment.
  • Protects the Second Amendment and prevents funds from being used to implement the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.
  • Prevents an Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing of sage-grouse to enable continued domestic energy and mineral development across the West.
  • Exempts farmers and livestock producers from burdensome greenhouse gas permitting and reporting requirements.
• Increases national security spending by 5.6% over FY21 levels, which is $4.5 billion over the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
  • Funds a 2.7% pay raise for our servicemembers.
• Secures an almost 11% increase in funding for the Department of Homeland Security to address the ongoing border crisis.
  • Prevents the Biden Administration’s plan to cancel $1.9 billion of existing border wall funding.
  • Provides additional funding to close the Border Patrol pay gap to help with recruitment and retention
• Provides assistance to the Ukrainian people and counters Russian aggression.
  • Supports U.S. troop deployments to the region;
  • Authorizes additional weapons to be provided to Ukraine;
  • Bolsters cyber and other capabilities to respond to Russia; and
  • Funds sanctions development and enforcement.

###