Advocating for Central Washington Firefighters

This week, I introduced the Fair Pay for Federal Firefighters Act alongside Rep. Doug LaMalfa.

According to the USDA, the funding allocated to increase the base pay for wildland firefighters is scheduled to run out 3 years early.

As a result, there will be immediate cuts in federal wildland firefighter pay in the middle of this year's fire season—this is unacceptable.

The Fair Pay for Federal Firefighters Act will:

• Establish a new base pay rate scale, with the largest increases going to firefighters at the lowest end of the pay scale.
• Boost the pay rates so they are in line with pay rates for state and private firefighters.
• Increase deployment bonuses for firefighters responding to wildfires.
• Prevent the USDA's pay cuts.

Our firefighters work tirelessly to keep Central Washington safe from wildfires, and we owe it to them to advocate for their best interests. Raising their pay and providing them with increased deployment bonuses will not only attract more talent, but it will also keep our current force motivated.

Firefighters—thank you for all you do to keep Central Washington communities safe. We are forever grateful.

Urging the Biden Administration to Crack Down on CCP Fentanyl Precursors and Human Rights Abuses

This week, I led a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo alongside House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Chairman Mike Gallagher, House Indio-Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim, and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, expressing concerns that the CCP demanded the United States lift sanctions related to human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

The CCP has stated that if the Biden Administration agrees to their terms, they will cooperate in countering their own narcotics operations—including the production and distribution of fentanyl precursor chemicals.

This disingenuous tactic is not new for Beijing—the CCP has requested in the past that the United States cease denouncing their numerous human rights violations in exchange for their cooperation on unrelated issues as a reward for their perceived "good behavior."

But given that most fentanyl precursor chemicals originate in China, the CCP has an obligation to cooperate with the United States on counternarcotics operations without preconditions.

Central Washington is battling an illicit fentanyl crisis, and fighting back is a top priority of mine, but the CCP is using American lives as a bargaining chip to achieve sanctions relief for its vast human rights abuses, and I cannot support this. It is imperative that the Biden Administration does not turn a blind eye to the CCP's atrocities against the Uyghur People in exchange for empty promises.

July Legislative Wrap-Up

Looking for Paid Fall Interns

Are you a currently an undergraduate student or recent college graduate interested in learning about the legislative process firsthand in the heart of our nation?

If so, I am currently seeking paid congressional interns for the Fall 2023 term. The internships are in-person and will run from September to the end of November. Dates are flexible.

Ideal candidates will have a positive attitude, strong work ethic, attention to detail, ability to conduct research, strong writing skills, and be able to work in a fast-paced work environment. District ties will be considered however are not required.