Saturday, April 27, 2024
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I want to take a moment to look back on some of the work I’ve done in Congress for our district in 2022. From passing landmark legislation to securing critical funds for projects in our communities, we’ve accomplished a lot. And as we enter into the new Congress, I’m committed to building off these successes and continuing to fight for Central Washington’s priorities.
As a Member on the Appropriations Committee, I work to secure funding for much-needed projects in Central Washington while ensuring our taxpayer dollars are being spent in a fiscally responsible way. This year, I was able to fund seven major community projects in Central Washington through the FY2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, from important water infrastructure projects, like the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program to critical rural healthcare programs and facilities. The bill also delivered critical funding for the Hanford Site, a major step forward from President Biden’s initial budget request which completely eliminated Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for communities surrounding the Site. And it contained crucial investments in agricultural research to ensure Central Washington remains a leader in agriculture. On the national security front, I inserted a provision which helps us stop Communist China from buying up American farmland, provided a pay increase for our troops, and secured major border funding to ensure the safety of all our communities.
I’m proud of these legislative accomplishments because they build for a brighter future. Future investments, future priorities, future successes. I am even more proud of the work my office does in the here and now, the work we do for the good folk of Central Washington.
Every day, constituents call in to my office for help with federal agencies. And my staff diligently works to return lost benefits, retrieve Social Security and tax checks, solve immigration cases, and much more. This year we were able to secure a religious visa for a pastor in Yakima so he could continue serving people in need. We were able to track down the medals of a Purple Heart veteran from Omak never received to make sure he got the recognition and honor he deserved. After a school in Grand Coulee burned down, we were able to send them books from the Library of Congress so the students would have something to read. And we returned over 300,000 dollars to Central Washingtonians from the IRS. While these are only a few of the cases my office has handled, they signify the breadth and depth of my commitment to the people of Central Washington.
This year, while we have weathered much: drought and wildfire, supply chain shortages, economic hardships, and more, we have also witnessed the very best of humanity in our district. Neighbors came together to support each other. We stood up strong for our beliefs and our way of life. And most importantly, we reopened our businesses and put people back to work. I am so proud to call Central Washington home, and I look forward to the work we will continue to accomplish in the next Congress, together.
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