Last night, I attended President Biden's final State of the Union address, where we confirmed what people across this country have suspected for a while: President Biden is completely disconnected fro   Responding to President Biden's Final State of the Union Address Last night, I attended President Biden's State of the Union address, where we confirmed what people across this country have suspected for a while: President Biden is completely disconnected from the issues facing Americans. It is hard to process hearing the president say that the state of our union is strong while he refuses to act on the southern border and continues to attack American energy production. These are challenges being felt in every corner of the country, and Central Washington is not excluded from that. I was also disappointed with his overall tone and do not think it was unifying by any means. The way I see it, we have a president that is failing our region, and while the state of the union may not be strong, my commitment to strengthening Central Washington’s economy, infrastructure, and way of life is. Read More on My Website Fighting for Responsible Federal Spending This week, the House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 that includes funding directed to Central Washington, protects American farmland, and cuts wasteful, reckless federal spending. I am proud to support these bills that do exactly what we set out to do: rein in the out-of-control D.C. spending that we have become so accustomed to seeing. This package represents the first overall cut to non-defense, non-VA spending in nearly a decade. We were looking down the barrel of another seven months of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer’s budget, but instead delivered on conservative wins that kick last cycle’s far-left policies to the curb and showed the Biden Administration that they can’t continue to spend money we don’t have without any repercussions. I am also proud to have secured funding for major projects and initiatives in Central Washington that directly contribute to our local infrastructure and economy. This is what happens when we spend responsibly and don’t fund bloated initiatives that contribute nothing to our region. Read More on My Website Updating the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association on Trade and the Lower Snake River Dams This week, I spoke with the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association regarding the Lower Snake River Dams. What we are seeing is the Biden Administration and dam breaching advocates pushing a “de facto” breach of the Four Lower Snake River Dams, by opening the gates to reduce the water below the minimum operating levels for hydroelectric generation. The consequences of this would be losing our reliable, clean, and affordable baseload power source responsible for powering 750,000 homes and businesses. This would also more than double the region’s risk of power shortages and lead to a serious increase in CO2 emissions. It is blatantly hypocritical to call for green energy solutions, yet disregard it when extreme environmental activists tell them to. It was great discussing these concerns with the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, and I enjoyed hearing their thoughts as well. As long as I am in Congress, I will fight to ensure our dams will not be breached. Honoring my Central Washington State of the Union Guest Last night, I was joined by the Executive Director of the Port of Benton, Diahann Howard, as my guest for the State of the Union Address. The Port of Benton is committed to developing local businesses and maintaining multi-modal transportation networks, and under Diahann's leadership, has encouraged economic prosperity throughout Central Washington. Discussing Legislative Priorities with the Hop Growers of America I met with the Hop Growers of America this week to discuss the future of the hops industry and concerns of current growers. The U.S. leads the world in hops production, and brewery growth drives the success of the industry. Continued research and education in this field is important to stay competitive, and as a third-generation hops farmer myself, I remain committed to advocating for common-sense initiatives in Congress. Visiting with the Former Kennewick Chief of Police It was wonderful catching up with former Kennewick Chief of Police, Ken Hohenberg, and his wife, Trish. Ken’s courage and dedication to serving the Kennewick community has not gone unnoticed, and we are all fortunate to have had a leader so dedicated to public safety. Thank you, Ken! Meeting with Young Learners from Winthrop It was a great meeting with the Close Up Foundation participants from Liberty Bell Junior-Senior High School in Winthrop this morning. These young learners were able to ask questions about the legislative process and see where history is made.   Central Washington Veterans Service Fair I am proud to announce the 2024 Veterans Service Fair for all Central Washington veterans and their families! Date: May 11, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM PST Location: Three Rivers Convention Center 7016 W Grandridge Blvd, Kennewick, WA 99336 The Veteran Service Fair will feature organizations offering help with VA and healthcare benefits, counseling, and employment opportunities. This event is free and open to the public. Visit My Website for More Information Central Washington Job Fair If you are seeking employment or looking for a change in career, I invite you to attend my Central Washington Job Fair! Date: April 27, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM PST Location: Yakima Convention Center 10 N 8th St, Yakima, WA 98901 This event is free and open to all Central Washington job seekers and their families. Applicants should come prepared with resumes and/or interview materials. Visit My Website for More Information   It is an honor and a privilege to serve you in Congress. To stay up to date on how I am working to represent Central Washington, I encourage you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also find regular updates on my website. Sincerely, Dan Newhouse Contact Me     Rep. Dan Newhouse | 504 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]