With a new year beginning, I have been reflecting on my resolutions for 2024—a time-honored tradition for Americans across the nation. Take a look at some of my resolutions for the New Year: 

Cut spending and restore fiscal sanity.

Last week, the national debt reached $34 trillion for the first time in history. In the last three years the federal government has spent trillions of dollars outside of regular budgeted spending. Prices are up, interest is high, and there is no excuse not to reverse the harmful policies that have brought us to this point.

Families across Central Washington are struggling to make ends meet, and it is apparent that Congress must work to get spending under control. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am committed to balancing our budget and bringing a common-sense, conservative approach to federal spending that works for Central Washingtonians.

Protect the Lower Snake River Dams.

Hydropower is an energy source we should be encouraging not dismantling. We know the Lower Snake River Dams power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses within their vast grid and are particularly helpful after major outages caused by extreme weather and cyberattacks. Yet rather than applauding this renewable source of clean energy, efforts to breach our dams persist. 

The Lower Snake River Dams are the lifeblood of Central Washington and the greater Pacific Northwest, and the Biden Administration’s recent package of actions and commitments is a slap in the face to those living in the region. This year, I am taking the fight to them and standing up for our communities, to ensure that these dams continue to serve our communities for generations to come.

Enact tangible and attainable solutions to fight the raging fentanyl crisis.

Communities across Central Washington have been devastated by the fentanyl epidemic—the leading cause of death for people ages 18-45 in the United States.

Addressing this crisis goes beyond just a few pieces of legislation in Congress—it demands a comprehensive and collaborative approach from all levels of government, and I am resolute in my commitment alongside the Central Washington Fentanyl Taskforce to protect our region and prevent further tragedies in our communities.

This week, I spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the retirement of an educator and community leader from Pateros, Washington—Mike Hull.

Mike Hull has been an educator for 42 years and has taught some of the most important subjects that engage our students to become better informed on the democratic process. It is more important than ever to instill this in our young people, and Mike has done so by fostering an environment of inclusion, curiosity, and learning. In fact, it was not uncommon for former students to return to his classroom to visit with him and speak about the positive impact he had on their lives.

His work in education also extended well beyond the classroom. During the 2014 Carlton Complex Recovery, Mike was the principal of the Pateros School, which was the central location for food distribution and temporary shelter, and was instrumental in coordinating recovery efforts and volunteer work. Mike led his community even when his own home was at risk from the flames. 

Mike is the true embodiment of a public servant deserving of an honorable service recognition, and I wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement.

This week, I testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to promote key provisions for water resource issues in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA).

The policies, studies, and projects authorized by WRDA and executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers affects the daily life of all Central Washingtonians.

This includes locks and dams that enable navigation and boost recreation, hydropower facilities that generate clean, reliable, and efficient power, and levees that reduce the impact of storms on our communities.

During the hearing, I discussed the Lower Snake River Dams, urban canals of concern, the Othello Water Supply Project —all projects that I have been advocating for, and will continue to support.

The Water Resources Development Act touches every corner of the country, and I’m working tirelessly to ensure Central Washington’s priorities are included in this important legislation.

This week, I sent a letter alongside a bipartisan coalition of colleagues to the Chairwomen and Ranking Members of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting a freeze on the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) that determines H-2A wages.

The national average AEWR has already more than doubled over the past two decades, making agricultural guest labor unaffordable for farm employers and resulting in higher consumer costs.

As prices and cost of living continue to rise, increasing labor costs for farmers and producers threatens both the domestic and global supply chains that rely on American goods made in states with high H-2A labor rates. 

As the author and sponsor of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, I have long been an advocate for meaningful reforms to the H-2A agricultural guestworker program with a first of its kind, merit-based visa program.

For farmers and ranchers who use H-2A, the skyrocketing AEWR will only compound inflated input costs like energy and fertilizer, other guest worker expenses like transportation and housing, and burdens from impending federal regulations and fees. I remain committed to fighting to level the playing field and provide affordable labor for our agricultural producers.