Weekly Columns and Op-Eds
As we barrel towards a government shutdown due to Senate Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR), essential programs and services here in Central Washington are now at risk. Congress has the responsibility under our Constitution to fund the federal government, and allowing a shutdown is a disservice to the American people.
On September 30, the federal government’s funding will lapse, and a government shutdown will begin if Congress does not pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend current funding levels. Just last week, the House of Representatives passed a clean CR to keep the government open until November 21, which would prevent a shutdown and allow us to continue negotiating the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding legislation. Now, the responsibility falls on the Senate to follow suit, pass the House CR, and keep our government open.
We are just one month away from the start of hot commissioning at the Waste Treatment Plant (WTP) at Hanford, a milestone in the cleanup effort more than twenty years in the making. Throughout my time in Congress, I have supported the Hanford mission and helped deliver resources to the project through my role on the House Appropriations Committee. While federal spending levels and policies change over the years, one thing remains true; Hanford will make history with the vitrification of radioactive waste this fall.
In July, Congress passed an unprecedented Working Families Tax Cut, delivering tax relief for families and small businesses while making reforms to Medicaid to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability. Two months prior, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed the biennial state budget which included over $780 million in cuts to Medicaid over the next two years. In fact, the Governor held a performative press conference in Kennewick calling my position on H.R.
After a productive August district work period in Washington’s Fourth District, it’s back to DC for Congress. Passing H.R. 1 in July delivered much-needed relief for working families, small businesses, and farmers. Now, we turn our focus to federal spending through the annual appropriations process and passing outstanding Farm Bill priorities not included in H.R. 1. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and House Agriculture Committee, I am bringing feedback from constituents across the district to the halls of Congress this fall.
At the end of this week, Congress recesses for the annual August district work period. While I hope to spend some time with my son as he is preparing for the busy harvest season, I will also be making time to hear from constituents, business owners, and local leaders about everything we have accomplished in D.C. House Republicans have made real progress in delivering common-sense, conservative priorities this Congress, and we have more work to do. Here’s a look at some positive wins from the last six months that will impact us here at home.
The border crisis came to a boiling point last year, with record high encounters at the southwest border. In May of this year, CBP reported 8,725 encounters, or about two days’ worth of the 117,905 illegal immigrants let in during the month of May just one year ago. This drastic shift reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to secure the border and end the crisis that has allowed millions of illegal immigrants into the country unchecked.
House Republicans made a commitment at the outset of the 119th Congress to rein in government spending, keep taxes low for hard working Americans, and make common-sense reforms to our federal assistance programs that guarantee their viability into the future. I made a promise that I would work through this process with Central Washington’s best interests in mind, and I believe H.R. 1 delivers on our commitment while securing real wins for Washington’s Fourth District to address the challenges we face here at home.
Over the weekend, the United States executed precision airstrikes inside Iran, targeting key components of their nuclear infrastructure located in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Reports suggest this has seriously crippled, and possibly destroyed, Iran’s chances at successfully building a nuclear weapon. Resembling President Reagan’s “Peace Through Strength” approach to foreign policy, these targeted strikes against Iran will hopefully bring stability to the region.
Over the last four years, the Biden administration led a constant tirade of attacks on the four Lower Snake River dams. With dam breaching as the end goal, the administration refused to hear public or stakeholder input on how to support our region’s energy needs. Just last week, President Trump reversed course and signed a memorandum revoking the previous administration’s executive actions targeting our dams.