Back to Work in Washington, D.C.

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. 

One of the top challenges we have faced in the House over the past several years is passing all 12 annual appropriations bills. Chairman Tom Cole has emphasized the importance of getting the Fiscal Year 2026 bills done before the October 1 deadline, and so far, we have passed nine of the 12 bills out of committee, with two having passed the House. This means the committee will be buckling down over the next several weeks to get these bills through the House.

The real challenge will be in the Senate, where 60 votes are required to pass annual funding legislation. If Congress is to pass all 12 bills, then it must be done on a bipartisan basis. I am committed to working with Members on both sides of the aisle to pass common-sense funding legislation to fund essential programs we count on in Central Washington and ensure we are good stewards of taxpayer dollars. 

Before the August recess, my colleagues and I on the House Agriculture Committee delivered the most significant investment in American agriculture in decades with the passage of H.R. 1. The outdated Farm Bill did not meet the current needs of the agriculture industry, and I worked closely with Chairman GT Thompson to make sure farmers had a seat at the table during the reconciliation process. Having secured critical funding for market access programs, specialty crop insurance, and agriculture research, we now must finish the job. 

As many producers work to recover from natural disasters like wildfires, block grants for disaster relief will be a key focus as we work on this legislation. We will also be addressing several rural development provisions that impact Central Washington such as rural broadband, rural hospital assistance through USDA, and conservation programs that protect our lands and natural resources. Farmers and ranchers deserve a comprehensive Farm Bill that spurs profitability, and we will be working hard on the Agriculture Committee to deliver real solutions in the coming months. 

No matter how busy we are this fall, I want to remind you that my office is here to serve you. If you or someone you know needs assistance with a federal agency, please reach out to one of my district offices who help thousands of constituents every year navigate the federal bureaucracy.

It’s an honor to represent Central Washington in Congress, and I hope those who call it home continue to share thoughts on the issues that impact us at home.