Acknowledging the Heroes Fighting the Tunnel Five Fire

I want to extend a personal thank you to the brave men and women courageously fighting the Tunnel Five Fire. 

The fire began earlier this week and is currently at 20% containment. Firefighters and emergency crews are working tirelessly to construct direct control lines in the steep terrain along the western fire perimeter to build a blockade near Highway 14.

Washington State Route 14 remains closed between mile markers 56-65, and a reduced Level 3 Evacuation remains in place around Skamania County.

Residents, please stay safe and heed the warnings of local officials.

Securing the Future of Farming by Creating a Stable Workforce

This week, I reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

This legislation, which passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support in the 116th and 117th Congresses, makes meaningful reforms to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program and creates a first-of-its-kind, merit-based visa program specifically designed for our nation's agricultural sector.

The top concern for farmers and ranchers in Central Washington and across the nation is labor, and the problem is only getting worse.

As a third-generation farmer, I know first-hand how challenging it is for the agriculture industry to hire and retain labor so we can continue to feed America and the world.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is the solution to creating a secure, reliable agriculture labor program to provide certainty to our farmers and ranchers for a stable and legal workforce for years to come.

Enhancing Tribal Law Enforcement with New Legislation

Yesterday, I introduced the Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act to combat the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls crisis.

Native women and girls are murdered at a rate ten times higher than any other ethnicity, and more than 4 out of 5 have experienced some type of violence. These rates are unacceptable.

The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act aims to improve hiring and increase retention for tribal law enforcement officers in order to better protect our native communities.

Native tribes in Central Washington and across the nation are encountering significant barriers in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers for their reservation lands.

While their communities are combatting the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women and high crime rates, they need to be well-equipped to protect families and local businesses. The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act will empower our law enforcement officers with the necessary resources to ensure the safety of both tribal and non-tribal communities.

Standing Up for Our Seniors

I will always fight for our seniors to make sure they receive the benefits they have rightly earned.

Carolyn E. Groninger: Veteran Highlight

I would like to highlight the exemplary military service of one of our very own Central Washington veterans, Carolyn E. Groninger. 

Carolyn grew up on a cattle ranch in Winthrop, WA before joining the Navy to serve in the Vietnam War. During her time there, she was sent to COMNAVAIRPAC, a small command at NAS North Island. While there, she held a top secret clearance, was the VIP driver, and helped keep track of the Pacific Fleet.

Thank you for your service, Carolyn!

First Friday Market

Mark your calendars, Central Washington!

This weekend, it's First Friday in downtown Yakima.

Gather your family and head downtown for some art, culture, dining and shopping.

This is a great opportunity to join in on the festivities and support our local downtown Yakima vendors.