In recent months, the future of the four Lower Snake River Dams has been cast into uncertainty.

The Biden Administration’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and dam-breaching advocates have been involved in ongoing litigation against the Army Corps of Engineers, who control the operations of the dams, over the future of the dams. But this week, President Biden released an ill-informed memorandum outlining its plans for fish mitigation in the Columbia River Basin.

This memorandum further proves that the Biden Administration and dam-breaching advocates will continue to pretend to hear feedback from the community to give the perception that residents and stakeholders are being heard.

The sad truth is, this has not been a collaborative process and they are only seeking to accomplish one predetermined outcome: a breach of the Four Lower Snake River Dams.

The significance of the Snake River Dams cannot be overstated. They serve as the foundation for an array of essential functions that are integral to our communities and power our homes and businesses with clean, renewable, safe, and affordable energy.

I strongly implore the Biden Administration and dam-breaching advocates to engage with all the key stakeholders who will be affected by their decision, rather than solely focusing on the plaintiffs in this case, to ensure a more productive, inclusive, and transparent mediation process.

The Snake River Dams are the lifeblood of Central Washington and the greater Pacific Northwest, and I am committed to ensuring these dams continue to serve our communities for generations to come.

This week, the U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced they are seeking public comment on a proposed rule of the Endangered Species Act related to the potential reintroduction of grizzly bears in the North Cascades.

The debate over grizzly bear reintroduction in the North Cascades is nothing new. North Central Washingtonians have consistently opposed proposals to introduce grizzly bears into the region under multiple administrations because introducing an apex predator to the area would threaten the families, wildlife, and livestock of their communities.

The National Parks Service and Fish & Wildlife should end this process immediately by rescinding the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and proposed rule.

I am beyond disappointed that the Biden Administration is ignoring our concerns by moving forward with the introduction while putting on the façade of seeking more public input after their decision has clearly been made.

It's past time for the Biden Administration to listen to the voices of Central Washingtonians—who overwhelmingly oppose this decision—instead of forcing bad policy on us from D.C. bureaucrats and environmental activists from urban areas hundreds of miles away.

The following are the scheduled public comment sessions:

• Virtual — October 17, 2023 at 7:00 PM.
• In-person meeting — October 30, 2023 from 5:30 - 8:30 PM at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds, 175 Rodeo Trail Rd, Okanogan.
• In-person meeting — November 1, 2023 from 5:30 - 8:30 PM at Currier Hall, 500 Newhalem St., Newhalem.

I urge all Central Washingtonians to attend and voice your opinion on this irresponsible proposed rule.

This week, I was pleased to announce I secured funding for the Town of Winthrop to replace its existing water main over the Methow River.

As a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, I have a unique opportunity to submit essential funding requests for the communities of Central Washington.

The water main in the Town of Winthrop is critical to the livelihood of the Winthrop community as it serves more than 70% of the town's residents and businesses, but it is currently failing.

I am proud to help provide the town with a reliable and safe water system for years to come, and look forward to continuing representing Central Washington as a House Appropriator.

Do you know a high school student who has ever thought about applying to one of our nation's prestigious military service academies? If so, join us for Military Service Academy Information Nights!

Representatives from the U.S. military service academies and my office will be there to help students learn more about the application process and congressional nominations.

Sessions will take place on the following dates:

• Yakima: October 3 from 6 PM - 8 PM at our Yakima District Office, 402 E. Yakima Ave #1000.
• Richland: October 4 from 6 PM - 8 PM at the Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive.
• Moses Lake: October 5 from 6 PM - 8 PM at Moses Lake High School, 803 Sharon Ave E.
• Omak: October 9 from 6 PM - 8 PM at Omak High School, 20 S. Cedar Street.

Reminder, the annual Central Washington Congressional App Challenge is in full swing!

This competition is open to all middle and high school students who reside in or attend a school in Washington's 4th Congressional District, and is a wonderful opportunity for all students from Central Washington to represent our region and demonstrate their ingenuity and creativity. Students may participate individually or in teams of up to four.

The Congressional App Challenge is now open and will run through November 1, 2023. The winning apps will be featured in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on house.gov, and on the Congressional App Challenge Website. Winning students will be invited to the #HouseofCode reception on Capitol Hill and will be awarded additional prizes, to be announced later.

I strongly encourage any student with a STEM background or who is interested in STEM to create an app and show your skills to the country!