Weekly Columns and Op-Eds
As someone who was born and raised in beautiful Central Washington, I understand the importance of bolstering our clean energy resources. For as long as I can remember, our communities have been recognized as a hub for innovative solutions that ensure a cleaner, brighter, more energy-efficient future for us all.
As we head into autumn, many Central Washington families, students, and businesses look forward to celebrating the fruits of our agricultural region at state and county fairs. For many, showcasing animals, livestock, and locally-grown food is a point of pride and the pinnacle of a year's hard work.
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.
When rural communities call, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) answers. Our postal service employees provide critical services to the communities of Central Washington and are often the only delivery service that will go the "final mile" to ensure that important mail – including prescriptions, bills, and checks – can be safely delivered to every house in America.
I recently conducted a survey of constituents in Central Washington, asking a question that is on the minds of parents across our district and the entire country: "Do you support doing everything we can to safely reopen schools for in-person instruction in the fall?"
The overwhelming response was "yes."
It's no secret: Rural communities face many unique challenges, and the COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap. In Central Washington, we are proud of our way-of-life and the systems we have built, but there are key investments we must make to ensure our citizens are not disadvantaged.
You owe the government $204,000. That may seem like an exaggeration, but that is the share of the national debt shouldered by each household in the country. The total national debt of the United States just surpassed $26 Trillion – its highest number in history. It has quintupled in just the past twenty years, and it grows with every passing second.
If you have ever visited Washington, D.C., or even looked into planning a trip to the nation's capital, you know there are quite a few sights to see. Washington, D.C. is a hub for both American history and cultural exploration, from the U.S. Capitol building and the Library of Congress, the world's largest library, to memorials to great presidents and soldiers who fought in past wars.
The men and women of our military fight tirelessly to protect and defend our country, and as a Congress, we have a responsibility to provide for them. To do so, each year, the U.S. House of Representatives passes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), providing authorization of critical programs for our nation's military.