A Year in Review
The New Year is upon us, and before we dive into holiday festivities, I would like to share my progress on some of the work I’ve been doing in Congress on behalf of Central Washington. While Congress has a tendency to move slow, I have worked hard to advance critical legislation, solve constituent’s cases, and bring a common-sense conservation approach to the issues our area faces.
One issue I know many of you are sadly familiar with is that of deadly fentanyl. The opioid crisis has saturated national news headlines, and in Washington state overdoses of the drug increased by 65 percent from last year. To combat the spread of this deadly substance, I established the Central Washington Fentanyl Taskforce for an all-hands-on-deck approach to fight this crisis. In the House of Representatives, I introduced the SAFE Act to permanently schedule all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs to ensure law enforcement can keep them off the streets. I introduced the William and James Wonacott Act of 2023, named after Andrew Wonacott of Yakima’s two sons who succumbed to fentanyl, to enhance penalties for those who sell, give, or distribute any substance that contains two milligrams or more of illicit fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances to another person without their knowledge. I also introduced two bills, the Law Enforcement Officers Preventing Overdose Death Act and the Stop Overdose in Schools Act, to allocate resources to law enforcement and schools to acquire naloxone, an effective tool in mitigating overdose deaths.
It is no secret that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a significant threat to economic and national security, and their tactic of buying American farmland poses risks to our food supply chains and economy—which is why I have introduced important legislation to combat their interference. My amendment to the Appropriations Agriculture and Rural Development bill was adopted, prohibiting the purchase of U.S. agricultural land by foreign adversaries. I also introduced the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act, to ban the purchase of public or private agricultural land by foreign nationals associated with the CCP. Their threats won’t end there, which is why I’m working hard on the Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party to ensure we don’t let the People’s Republic of China gain a foothold in our country.
As a third-generation farmer from Sunnyside, I know the industry has had it rough lately. Sometimes, it feels like the federal government doesn’t even want our country to have an agriculture industry at all! This year, I introduced the Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2023 to would extend market access programs to ensure that American farmers and ranchers have the support they need to grow their businesses. I introduced the CIAO Act to establish a new framework for advancing organic standards and improve oversight and enforcement of new rules and guidance while clearing regulatory red tape that has hampered innovation within the industry. I introduced the AGRITOURISM Act to support agritourism in Central Washington by creating an Office of Agritourism at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to serve as a dedicated voice for agritourism businesses in the federal government and to consolidate federal resources to sustain agritourism businesses, such as loans, grants, and broadband connectivity programs. I also introduced legislation to protect crops from wildfires, prevent federal land grabs, and help local farmers partner with land-grant universities to boost conservation and innovative climate practices. Our agriculture industry will remain a top priority as we head into the new year and pursue a fruitful Farm Bill.
One of the most important parts of my job is resolving my constituent’s issues with federal agencies. The D.C. bureaucracy is full of red tape, rules, and regulations that make it difficult and frustrating to navigate. This year my office solved over 700 cases that constituents of the Fourth District presented before us, including issues with the VA, IRS, passports, Immigration Services, Social Security, and Medicare. If you are having an issue with a federal agency, I encourage you to reach out to my office and let us see where we can help.
A lot of progress was made, but we have a lot to work on in the new year. I am proud to represent the people of Central Washington, and I look forward to continuing to bring your voice to Congress in 2024.