Weekly Columns and Op-Eds
If you were asked to describe a "navigable waterway" in the U.S., you would most likely not think of the stream in your backyard or the irrigation ditch in your field. You would probably mention the Columbia and Mississippi rivers or the Great Lakes. These massive bodies of water are navigable because they function as highways for commercial traffic by ship or boat. Under the Obama Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would disagree. These agencies have defined waterways in a way that only D.C.
On May 25th, our nation observes Memorial Day. While many may take the opportunity of a long weekend to barbeque, enjoy time in the company of friends and celebrate the arrival of summer, I hope Americans remember the true meaning of this day. This Memorial Day let us reflect on the high price paid for our freedom and honor the fallen. We honor all of those who have died in service of our nation.
No American should fear that their government has made a false choice between prioritizing either national security or civil rights. Our nation needs a continuing, robust debate on the proper balance the federal government should strike in defending American lives and freedoms. As that debate continues, Americans deserve more transparency and accountability—the federal government must address legitimate civil rights concerns and reform intelligence agencies' approach to surveillance in a manner that maintains security of the homeland.
I recently visited Northwest Harvest in Yakima to get a firsthand look at the important work the food distribution center and the food bank network are doing to support the vulnerable in our community and to hear about challenges that food banks may be facing. Federal policy can hinder or help distribution of emergency food aid through our nation's food banks. Federal regulations should ensure that non-profits are able to operate in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
The critical water shortage facing many drought-stricken western states is a cautionary tale: when nature intervenes, it tests whether water management planning is meeting demand and providing stable, adequate supply. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor for March 31, 2015, all or significant portions of 11 western states, including the state of Washington, are suffering from severe to exceptional drought. Faced with extreme drought conditions, California has resorted to fines for excessive water usage – however, conservation by rationing shrinking water supplies will only go so far.
Businesses, farmers and agricultural producers in Washington state are renown for producing high-quality manufactured goods, services, and agricultural products. Washington increasingly plays the role of ‘international supermarket' for customers in fast-growing nations on the Pacific Rim, creating jobs and economic growth here at home.
Americans prosper and create prosperity for others when they are able to keep and spend more of what they earn. April is Tax Month, and it can be a reminder that nothing in life is ‘as certain as death and taxes,' to paraphrase Benjamin Franklin. The federal tax code should be consistent, encourage economic growth, and allow Americans to plan with certainty. That is why I supported legislation passed in the House this month to reduce the tax burden on families, farms, and businesses by repealing the federal estate tax (or "death tax") and to make the sales-tax deduction permanent.
Washingtonians are familiar with the key role that the Hanford site played in the defense of our nation during World War II and the Cold War as a component of the Manhattan Project. The legacy of the federal government's work at Hanford left behind 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste in 177 underground tanks. Progress on moving the high-level nuclear waste to permanent storage has needlessly stalled due to the Obama Administration's attempts to shut down Yucca Mountain.
Today, the Middle East is a dangerous place where America's enemies seem to be expanding their reach as America's allies watch anxiously. From the growth of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the persecution of minority Christians, to a Shia rebellion in Yemen that recently toppled a government assisting the U.S. with counterterror efforts, the region is aflame with strife and uncertainty. Yet it is within this context that President Obama is seeking a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran.
The Pacific Northwest is true timber country, blessed with an abundance of forests that provide rich natural resources and recreation in Central Washington. The health and management of public forests like Okanogan and Gifford-Pinchot National Forests are closely tied to job growth and economic opportunity for neighboring rural communities. Too often, however, local communities feel left out when federal decisions are made regarding public land. In Congress, I am committed to addressing that imbalance.