Last week, the Biden Administration began seeking public comment on a proposed ruled under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) concerning the potential introduction of grizzly bears. However, the draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) was introduced concurrently with the proposed rule. This is incredibly reckless and underscores a larger concern: the Biden Administration seems to have a preconceived conclusion in mind.

Time and again, Central Washingtonians have expressed their deep concerns about the introduction of grizzlies into the North Cascades, as they are a danger to the safety of their communities. Despite this opposition, the Biden Administration is set on moving forward with the introduction of these apex predators against the will of locals.

That’s why I’m demanding an extension of the public comment period on this proposed relocation of bears so that the members of our region impacted by this have adequate time to review and respond.

Since opening the public comment period on the draft EIS, over 6,200 comments were received—unfortunately, the vast majority came from outside Washington State. While it's vital to consider all perspectives, the Biden Administration should prioritize listening to local voices rather than being swayed by unelected bureaucrats from D.C. or radical environmentalists from out-of-state who will not be affected by these dangerous creatures.

The public comment period on the Draft EIS runs from September 28 - November 13, 2023. There will be one virtual meeting for this public comment period to present information and provide opportunity for questions on October 17, 2023, from 7:00-8:30 PM PST. There will be two in-person meetings. One on October 30, 2023, from 5:30-8:30 PM PST at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds and one on November 1, 2023, from 5:30-8:30 PM PST at Currier Hall in Newhalem.

This week, I held the second quarterly meeting of my Central Washington Fentanyl Task Force.

Throughout the meeting, the group was briefed by community leaders, as well as law enforcement, rehabilitation, and outreach professionals. Coordinated initiatives by these advocates have led to increased fentanyl and illicit drug seizures as well as enhanced mapping of overdose and consumption trends.

This meeting allowed members of the community to discuss challenges witnessed by those on the front lines and provided an open forum to create tangible, and most importantly, attainable solutions.

In order to effectively fight the fentanyl epidemic, we have learned that funding, policy, and education efforts requires an all-hands-on-deck approach – from the local, state, and Federal level.

At the Federal level, some of these solutions include:

• The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, which passed the House of Representatives and sanctions Chinese Communist Party (CCP) actors who are known foreign opioid traffickers.
• The HALT Fentanyl Act, which passed the House of Representatives and permanently places fentanyl-related substances as a class into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
• The William and James Wonacott Act, which is named after two Central Washingtonians and ensures significant consequences for fentanyl distribution.
• The Law Enforcement Officers Preventing Overdose Deaths Act, which authorizes a program for naloxone purchasing and distribution to rural law enforcement officers.
• The Stop Overdose in Schools Act, which sets aside funds for naloxone purchasing and distribution in schools—specifically for school resource officers, school nurses, and security personnel.

It will take much more than just a few pieces of legislation in Congress to put an end to this epidemic, but I am looking forward to continuing the conversations like the ones I have been having with my Task Force to help shape policy and provide solutions to fight the fentanyl crisis.

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.

Our final session will take place in Omak on October 9 from 6 PM - 8 PM at Omak High School, 20 S. Cedar Street.

Don't forget, the Central Washington Congressional App Challenge is still accepting submissions!

This competition is open to all middle and high school students who reside in or attend a school in Washington's 4th Congressional District, 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!