Supporting our Men and Women in Blue this National Police Week

Crime rates in the United States have been exponentially increasing in recent years, and our law enforcement officers are on the frontlines of this battle. This National Police Week, it's important to recognize the remarkable courage of our men and women in blue who are on the frontlines standing between lawlessness and order on our streets.

National Police Week serves as a tribute to our officers, and an opportunity to extend our unwavering support to them, while also recognizing the sacrifices they make each day to ensure our communities are safe. Despite the uncertainty that accompanies each shift, they remain committed to their duty of safeguarding us, and they wear their badges with pride.

For far too long, “defund the police” movements and anti-police legislation have resulted in skyrocketing crime across the country and against our brave law enforcement. We must show our law enforcement officers our appreciation and respect.

This week, I cosponsored H. Res. 363, a resolution memorializing law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and expressing steadfast support and appreciation for law enforcement.

I am constantly in awe of the work our law enforcement agencies do to keep our families safe. These dedicated men and women wake up every day and work on the frontlines to make our Central Washington communities a better, safer place to live and work, and for that, I am grateful. Please join me in praying for the safety of our men and women in blue and thanking them for their service to our country.

Continuing to Advocate for Our Veterans

The freedoms we enjoy each and every day did not come free. They exist thanks to the selfless dedication of our active military and our veterans. These men and women have fulfilled their pledge to defend our nation, and it is time for us to show our appreciation.

This week, myself along with House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee made clear that we can and will prioritize veteran spending during markups. We have repeatedly stated that there will be no cuts to the care and benefits our veterans deserve, and the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill delivers on that promise.

This bill fully funds veterans' healthcare programs, benefits, and other vital VA programs. Meanwhile, Subcommittee Democrats rallied against this legislation which ensures our veterans are properly cared for.

My office is committed to continuing this important work for our veterans, but providing benefits is not the only way we can assist. If you or a loved one are a veteran who needs assistance with the Department of Veterans Affairs, please do not hesitate to contact my office. We are here to serve you as you have served our nation.

Introducing the Western Caucus Farm Bill Priorities

Every few years, Congress is tasked with putting forth a new Farm Bill. It's vital we support our agricultural producers, and this legislation is meant to reflect their interests.

As Chairman of the Western Caucus, I'm proud to share our priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill, which include:

Supporting production agriculture.
Improving voluntary conservation.
Enhancing forest health and active management.
Strengthening rural communities through development.

American farms, ranches, and forests produce the food, fiber, and fuel that provide for the world. The Congressional Western Caucus recognizes a healthy farm economy in America is vital for food security, both at home and abroad, and we will work to ensure rural voices are heard through the development of the 2023 Farm Bill.

These priorities will do much to assist our rural communities, and we look forward to continuing to engage with our famers, ranchers, industry stakeholders, and members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees as they work to draft this crucial legislation.

Minimizing Food Waste and Saving American Families Money

Other than infant formula, the U.S. has zero federal standards for food expiration dates, leading to tons of food waste. We need to do better, especially in these high inflationary times when food prices are skyrocketing.

To combat this issue, I re-introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Food Date Labeling Act. This legislation would standardize the dates on food labels at the federal level to minimize confusion at the grocery store.

As it stands now, states have a series of conflicting laws which leads to food producers using whatever verbiage they desire on their products. This is at the detriment of American families.

We need to mandate food expiration dates at the federal level to cut down on food waste, and I am proud to co-sponsor this legisaltion.