Dan Newhouse

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's comments. I thank her for adding to the list. The list is far too long for us to list everyone, unfortunately. And it is like the gentlewoman said: I wish we were here for a happier occasion, but this is an important one and I thank the gentlewoman for her contributions. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the Eighth Congressional District of Washington (Ms. Schrier), another neighbor. I am surrounded with good Members of Congress. I believe she lives in the town of Sammamish.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's remarks for a very special occasion here. I yield to the gentlewoman from Medina, Washington, (Ms. DelBene), my friend. We used to work together in Olympia, serving as cabinet members together.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. DelBene for those great words. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen), from the city of Everett, one of our longer-serving colleagues and a very well-respected Member of Congress.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Larsen for personalizing this. This is your hometown, and this is real stuff. Like Ms. Herrera Beutler said, I wish we were here for a more celebratory cause, but this is very important. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Strickland), from the city of Tacoma, one of our newest colleagues in the House of Representatives.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Strickland for making this very special. Pierce County is a huge and important part of our State. Unfortunately, one of the most recent tragedies was in Pierce County, and I thank the gentlewoman for being part of this Special Order and recognizing that. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer), my final speaker today. He may be the last but certainly one of the best, and he is a good friend, who I served with in the State legislature, from Gig Harbor.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Kilmer for his great words and for putting some specifics around what we can do to help the men and women in blue and green and brown keep our communities safe. Madam Speaker, the cost, as you know, of keeping our communities safe, keeping us safe, is great. The people who pay the price of that cost are very dedicated, special people. It truly is a solemn honor for all of us to be able to pay tribute to, and to thank, the men and women who work every day to do just that, keep us safe. As Mr. Kilmer just said, we should be committed to doing all we can to provide all they need for them to be able to do their jobs. Madam Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues from the State of Washington, and I thank the men and women who do their jobs without thinking twice, who are dedicated to protecting us, to keeping our families and communities safe. We owe them a great deal. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott Sax, who is retiring as the president and project manager of the Central Plateau Cleanup Company at Hanford. A leader in the nuclear cleanup industry, Scott has been a pioneer in paving the way for the future of the Hanford Site for the last 20 years. I've had the chance to get to know Scott over the years, and let me tell you, his experience at Hanford has covered just about everything--from the tank farms to the Plutonium Finishing Plant and K Basins, to the Hanford vitrification plant. Under Scott's leadership, Washington Closure Hanford achieved critically important milestones for the cleanup mission along the Columbia River. His passion for serving the people of Central Washington is admirable and I congratulate him on his many achievements during his career. I thank Scott for his many contributions to the State of Washington and the nuclear industry and I wish him, his wife Lauri, and his family the very best in his well-earned retirement.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Mann for his leadership and also for hosting us tonight on this special occasion to talk about American agriculture. I am truly proud to stand with my colleagues to talk about something that affects and impacts every single person not only in this room but listening tonight: the American agriculture industry. In central Washington, where I am from, I know our industry is made up of honest, hardworking, freedom-loving Americans that provide food and fiber for this Nation. My community is home to some of the most dedicated, innovative agricultural producers in the entire country. Washington farmers and ranchers produce over 300 different commodities, including high-quality hay, wheat, beef, dairy, wine grapes, hops--which I raise--potatoes, cherries, mint, and, of course, Washington's iconic apples. Blessed with the conditions to produce such a diverse range of crops, central Washington is proud to share its natural abundance to help feed the country and feed the world. Those of us who live there have a deep appreciation for our Nation's farmers and recognize how important it is that we have a strong domestic agricultural sector. But lately, unfortunately, the President and his far-left Democrats are so focused on radically altering the country with their trillion- dollar spending proposals, they are blind to the impacts their own policies are already having on Americans across the country. The cost of living is at a 40-year high and still going up. Now, they are looking to raise taxes again on small businesses, on family farms. As a lifetime farmer and former director of the Department of Agriculture for the State of Washington and current chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, I understand the vested interests that we all share in supporting our agricultural producers. I am proud to join my House Republican colleagues in advocating against burdensome regulations that impact rural communities and for real solutions, not just empty promises, to help our farmers and our ranchers, our farmworkers, and all Americans, who deserve a strong food supply chain. I introduced the first serious agricultural labor reform bill to pass the House in over 30 years, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to ensure that those who wish to come to our country, abide by our laws, and contribute to our farms, ranches, and local communities are able to do so. I, along with my Republican colleagues, am leading efforts to stop our foreign adversaries, such as Communist China, from gobbling up American farmland and taking control of our food supply chain. I am protecting our hydroelectric dams in the Northwest that provide irrigation water, baseload power for central Washington and beyond, and serve as a sustainable and efficient way to transport our Nation's crops. The Columbia River barges carry more than 50 percent of U.S. wheat destined for export, and barging on the Columbia and Snake Rivers system keeps--get this--700,000 semitrucks off the roads and their emissions out of the air each and every year. I am leading the entire Congressional Western Caucus in fighting against this administration's efforts to revive the single-most overreaching Federal regulatory action in history. It is called the waters of the United States rule, or the WOTUS rule. This dangerous policy empowers Federal bureaucrats to place every single body of water--every ditch, every puddle, every stream--under Federal regulation. As a result, the livelihoods of our farmers and rural communities across the Nation--not just in Washington; all over the country--are at stake. While it is clear to me, just as I know it is clear to my constituents, President Biden and Democrats are failing to display the leadership America needs and deserves, there is a silver lining here. American agriculture is strong. We have overcome far worse, and we will not let these radical policies hold us back from the job of feeding this Nation. I call on the administration to take a good long look at how their policies are harming us here in central Washington and in rural communities across the country and take immediate steps to reverse them. We deserve far better. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Mann for helping recognize the importance of American agriculture, and I appreciate his leadership.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, today, in recognition of Women's History Month, I rise to honor three incredible women from central Washington. Shannon Polson of the Methow Valley became one of the first women combat pilots in the U.S. military. After graduating from the University of Alaska ROTC, she was commissioned as an Army aviator and was one of the first women to fly the Apache attack helicopter. She served two tours as an Apache platoon leader, and one as a company commander, deploying to three continents. Kathy Bryson of Richland is the Pacific Northwest disaster response coordinator for the United Methodist Church. Kathy has provided the overall leadership for recovery from fire disasters in Okanogan and Whitman Counties over the last 2 years, as well as for the wildfire disasters in Oregon and northern California. Kayla Barron of Richland was not only a member of the first class of women commissioned into the submarine community for the U.S. Navy as a submarine warfare officer, but is currently serving as mission specialist of the NASA SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station. In fact, just yesterday morning, she successfully completed a spacewalk. She has accomplished much since graduating from Richland High, and you can bet that we are all rooting for her every step of the way. These women exemplify the very best of central Washington: Service to community, determination, integrity, and grit. They have paved the way for women in our communities and across the world. Their stories are an inspiration for all of us in central Washington, and it is a privilege to honor them during Women's History Month. Congratulating Jared Balcom

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate National Potato Council's newly elected president, and fellow central Washingtonian, Mr. Jared Balcom. Jared is the owner of a fourth-generation potato growing and fresh packing company, Balcom & Moe, based in Pasco, Washington, so he knows firsthand the challenges our central Washington producers face and how to best address them. I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know Jared over the years and know that he is well-equipped to advocate for the potato farmers who provide so many jobs and boost our local economy. Congratulations, Jared, on this new role. I look forward to continuing to work together to advance our shared goals of modernizing water infrastructure, improving trade agreements, supporting agricultural research, and fixing our agricultural labor crisis. Honoring the Service of Clifton Malm

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to honor one of central Washington's veterans, Clifton Malm of Omak. Clifton served our country honorably as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and risked his life to protect his fellow servicemembers. His courage earned him a Purple Heart which, unfortunately, he never received until just now. While it may be just a small piece of metal, it represents what I believe is the gratitude of a truly thankful Nation. Clifton, thank you for your service and for your continued dedication to the United States of America. Your story is a reminder to all of us of the sacrifices the men and women in our Armed Forces make every single day.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, before I begin, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of my special order.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I hope it is clear to all of my colleagues in this body that rural America faces a myriad of challenges. Every day, members of the Congressional Western Caucus, of which I am very honored to be chairman, and many partners throughout rural America are working to ensure that local communities across the country are heard in our Nation's Capitol, right here, and that these challenges do not go unaddressed. For many in big cities and urban areas, I think it can be pretty easy to overlook our rural communities. But we truly are the backbone of our great country, and our challenges are not our challenges alone. Rather, they are reflective of the entire Nation's challenges, things like managing public lands and fulfilling the government's multipurpose-use doctrine, or supporting local economies and encouraging economic development, promoting critical infrastructure like roads and bridges and dams, ensuring a strong agricultural industry that feeds the world, and empowering the communities that we represent to embrace expanded domestic energy production and clean energy technologies. Our State, local, and private land managers are conservation partners. Small businesses and local communities are eager to take the reins and make the improvements that we need, but they are consistently held back by bureaucratic red tape, delayed permitting processes that add years and millions of dollars in cost to projects, and outdated laws that don't take into account the best available science of modern technologies. Over and over again, I hear from my constituents in central Washington State, and also from community leaders from across the United States, that we need to get the Federal Government out of the way. That is why, throughout this month of March, Congressional Western Caucus members are taking the opportunity to highlight why reforming our duplicative and burdensome permitting process is the key to unlocking rural America's potential. Madam Speaker, broken permitting systems negatively impact the progress that we could be making at nearly every step of the way. The National Environmental Policy Act, or what many refer to as NEPA, is one of the most egregious examples of a well-intentioned law turned into a bureaucratic nightmare for those of us who are working to improve the communities where we live, work, and farm. The Endangered Species Act is another. This landmark species protection law has become outdated, and it is now used as a weapon by serial litigators and misguided environmentalists, who want nothing more than to sue and settle, wasting our limited government resources, which are stalling projects across the United States and disincentivizing investment in rural America. Both of these laws play an important role in protecting lands, waters, and wildlife that we cherish throughout the West and across rural America. But because Congress has not been able to meaningfully reform them, they have actually begun to work against us. ESA regulations can add decades to the permitting processes for forest management projects or projects that would help prevent catastrophic wildfires across the West. In my own home State of Washington, and across the Pacific Northwest, the policies surrounding the northern spotted owl wreaked havoc on our forest industry, destroying--literally destroying--local economies. Now, our region experiences some of the worst wildfires in our Nation's history. Madam Speaker, that is not a coincidence. Delays and roadblocks, and I intend to insert a pun there, Madam Speaker, that are caused by NEPA regulations have slowed or completely stopped infrastructure projects like highway improvements or installation of new hydropower technologies that generate clean energy and provide increased fish passage. Just last week, our members met with former Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt, who worked within the Trump administration to streamline inefficiencies and cut the environmental review process from 4.5 years, if you can believe that, down to no more than 2. The Biden administration, of course, is now reversing this progress and bending to politically motivated interest groups at the expense of rural communities. It is clear to us in the Western Caucus that it is time for Congress to act. For decades, rural America has been kept in regulatory limbo at the mercy of each changing administration. Congress is a coequal branch of government, and we need to, we should, assert our authority to ensure that our communities have the certainty that they need to move forward on these critical projects. Our rural communities deserve the investment and the development that is disincentivized by our broken permitting processes. I know we have Western Caucus members here today who will help shed some light on some of these examples in their home districts, in their States. We will continue to demonstrate the harmful impacts of the status quo and outline our vision for a future that empowers rural Americans to tackle our challenges head-on. I am very happy to have a group of colleagues here who are very interested in this topic, and I will first turn to Mr. Bruce Westerman, who is the vice chair of the Western Caucus, one of my vice chairs, but also the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Westerman for his comments. It just goes to show that it is not just Washington State, but clear across the Nation in Arkansas as well. To further prove that point, I would like to turn to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), my good friend and colleague from the northeastern part of the State, a place where I have had the privilege to visit and see the great things that are happening in the energy sector there.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Keller for reminding us that these policies and decisions have impacts not just domestically but truly impact our relationships and our position of strength throughout the world, and especially in the situation we find ourselves in today. Next, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), a good friend and colleague, the ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Committee, someone I have served with for a long time, not only in the statehouse in Washington State but here in the people's House in Washington, D.C.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman very much for helping to bring home the impact this is going to have on Americans, on families, on people just trying to get to work every day and having to fill up their gas tanks. These policies have consequences, and we need to understand that.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. We do absolutely.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks), one of our great Members who has truly been a champion in helping to reduce red tape and improve the regulatory picture for people throughout this country.

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's work on WOTUS and the navigable waters issue. I think I have heard her say something like those things, WOTUS, is truly the most--the worst regulatory overreach in our Nation's history and it is something we have to stop. I thank the gentlewoman for her work on that. I would like to go just a little bit south from the State of Washington to another State that adjoins my State, and the good gentleman from Oregon, in his first term in Congress, but just doing an excellent job; and I am just delighted to have him as part of this effort. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for focusing on a very important issue for us in the West. Every summer we hear the West is burning. We have got to change our policies in order to prevent the loss of property, loss of life, the detriment to our environment. I would like to turn the floor over now to someone who is--you know, we are the Western Caucus, right? But we have members from all over the country. And one of our members represents almost the furthest east in our caucus. The good gentleman from the great State of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Georgia and the beautiful community of Savannah (Mr. Carter).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for helping illustrate the impact that this has on local communities, the costs, not only in dollars, of the long permitting process, but the delay to communities for these much-needed projects. Now, this could probably come under saving the best for last. The great Representative from the great State of California, I would like to say is was one of the premier members of the new freshman class. I appreciate Mr. Valadao, a fellow farmer, a fellow West Coaster, being here being part of this Special Order to talk about some very important issues here. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao).

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, the gentleman is right. What is more precious than water? And those of us in the West understand that very well. So, Madam Speaker, let me just say I am very grateful to have colleagues from across this great country join me tonight to talk about these issues, and to discuss our efforts in the Western Caucus as it relates to permitting month. As you have heard, the broken processes surrounding permitting throughout the Federal Government have truly kneecapped our rural communities. This has slowed progress and has cost millions and millions of dollars. In order to truly unleash American potential, we have to reform this process, and we will. Between the Western Caucus and those of us in Congress, we will continue to advocate for commonsense policies that are going to do just that. Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the Special Order opportunity this evening, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Dr. Joyce, from the great State of Pennsylvania and the HEAT Team for providing this opportunity for a Special Order because the American people need to know. They need to know that for months the Biden administration has been using the excuse that global markets are complex and there are dynamics out of our control that have led to the highest average gas prices since 2008 and spiking oil prices around the world. This, I want you to know, is disingenuous at best, and the reality is simply not true. As my colleagues in the Congressional Western Caucus and the House Energy Action Team have been saying, we have the ability to achieve our own secure energy future. In fact, we achieved just that, that energy independence, just a few short years ago. But with this President and his administration at the helm, we have thrown that energy security out the window. Don't believe the President's revisionist history of blaming Vladimir Putin for high gas prices. You can be sure the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline, the moratorium on oil and gas leasing on Federal lands, the lack of action on the offshore leasing program, and the commitment by this President and his administration to make American energy producers obsolete in just a few short years, yes, all of those are reasons to hold this President responsible for the burden now placed on the American people. These rising prices started long before this conflict, and we will continue to hold this administration accountable for the burden they have placed on the American people. Again, Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Joyce; the American people need to hear this.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate one of Central Washington's native sons on his remarkable accomplishments, and to commend him on his sportsmanship, character, and honorable representation of his community. From his time as a student athlete at Davis High School in Yakima to his impressive career at Eastern Washington University to leading the Los Angeles Rams to a show- stopping win and being named MVP at Super Bowl LVI, Cooper Kupp is an inspiration and source of pride for Central Washingtonians and Americans across the country. While his achievements on the field are truly laudable, it is Cooper's character off the field that makes him a role model to whom we can all look up to. A dedicated teammate, father, and husband, Cooper has demonstrated sportsmanship, humility, faith, and gratitude--offering thanks to God and family for his successes, rather than taking credit for himself. His words in the wake of winning the most anticipated sporting event in the country remind us that we should all live in service of something greater than ourselves, and that we should operate ``from victory, not for victory.'' As someone who has spent my life in the Yakima Valley, I want to thank Cooper Kupp for serving as a shining example of the very best our community has to offer. I congratulate him and his teammates on their victory in Super Bowl LVI, and I wish the entire Kupp family a joyous and restful period of celebration. Cooper's hometown couldn't be more proud of him.

Mr. NEWHOUSE

Mr. NEWHOUSE. Madam Speaker, I thank Mrs. Cammack very much for yielding. I am proud to join my colleagues and rise today in honor of the brave men and women in blue who serve and protect us each and every day. According to new statistics released by the FBI, intentional killings of law enforcement in 2021 were the highest in 20 years. Every day police officers across central Washington, as well as the United States, put on a badge and go to work knowing that they may face extremely dangerous situations, exacerbated by significant economic uncertainties, open border policies, and the raging opioid crisis. We owe a debt of gratitude to these individuals who risk their lives to enforce the law and protect our communities. Law enforcement officers take time away from their families and their loved ones, often without the thanks that they deserve and often putting themselves in harm's way. Before I highlight some of our officers who are currently serving the great State of Washington, I would like to ask for a moment of silence for the victims of today's tragic shooting in Richland, Washington, and the officers who are currently investigating that incident. Trooper David Brandt of the Tri-Cities was selected as the 2020 Washington State Trooper of the Year. Trooper Brandt not only demonstrates a strong commitment to law enforcement, but takes the time to personally connect with his community; from reading books to schoolchildren to conducting safety classes for women to delivering meals to families in need. King County Trooper Patoc also goes beyond above and beyond the line of duty and just last year saved the life of a man on the brink of committing suicide, who is now receiving the critical help that he requires. These officers are the kinds of heroes that we need, and they deserve our utmost support and recognition. I also want to recognize some officers whose lives were recently lost. In just January of this year, we lost Trooper Robert LaMay of Yakima, who served honorably for over two decades. In October of last year, we lost Trooper Detective Eric Gunderson of Tacoma in the line of duty. These and all of our fallen officers will not be forgotten. I want to personally thank the police and sheriff's departments of Washington State Patrol, and all of the officers who keep central Washington's communities safe. Today and every day we offer our appreciation and respect for law enforcement officers across the Nation. Madam Speaker, I also want to thank Mrs. Cammack, my friend, for putting together this Special Order.