Weekly Columns and Op-Eds

As the representative of Central Washington in Washington, D.C., I have the honor of knowing the brave men and women who have defended our nation and protected the values that define our nation. Our veterans have served with courage and conviction, both abroad and here at home, where they continue to strengthen our communities. We have a duty rooted in gratitude, and principle, to ensure they receive the care, respect, and support they have earned. 

The Pacific Northwest stands at a pivotal crossroads when it comes to the future of energy. Blessed with an abundance of hydropower resources, the region has an unparalleled opportunity to lead the nation in developing a hydrogen economy. By leveraging both its hydroelectric resources and heavy industry sectors, the PNW can create a new wave of economic prosperity and develop a regional energy hub that will benefit local industry and consumers. 

The growing number of instances of biological men, who identify as women, competing in women’s sports over the last several years has led to states and the federal government taking action to protect women’s sports. Earlier this year, President Trump signed an Executive Order that would revoke federal funding for any schools that allow biological men to compete against women in athletic competitions.

With a unified Republican federal government, my colleagues and I in Congress and in the Trump administration are working to strengthen America’s energy infrastructure and achieve energy dominance. Every energy source across the sector is key in achieving this goal, but my district in central Washington is home to a vital piece of infrastructure in that mix: hydroelectric dams.

Recently, it seems the daily news is filled with rampant misinformation around the budget resolution passed by the House of Representatives and my vote to support it. Activist campaigns and false media reports are attempting to paint a picture that Republicans in the House voted to cut funding to Medicaid and Medicare. This is causing a public panic and suggesting people in need will not receive benefits. Therefore, I feel compelled to set the record straight and let you know this is not true.

As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, my colleagues and I extensively fought the previous administration over their refusal to enforce laws addressing illegal immigration. Instead, their catch and release approach led to a record influx of migrants arriving at the border, a complete erosion of our nation’s border security, and an increase of fentanyl-related deaths in our communities. However, the tide is starting to turn, and I am encouraged by the progress to secure our border.

Last week, I led a resolution in the House of Representatives to censure Representative Al Green (D-TX) for his actions during the president’s address to a Joint Session of Congress. The House passed my resolution with a bipartisan vote of 224-198-2, with ten of my Democratic colleagues voting to support the measure. While I took no pleasure in leading this effort, I could not sit idly by after watching the decorum of our chamber be blatantly disrespected. 

The national debt continues to grow at an exponential rate, and with unified Republican control of the federal government, we have an opportunity to rethink how we manage taxpayer dollars. Spending more than we take in has become the status quo in Washington D.C., and regardless of which party is in power, reforms to this unsustainable practice have continuously been punted in favor of bloating the national debt.