If you are seeking employment or looking for a change in career, I invite you to attend my Central Washington Job Fair! TOMORROW: 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 Discussing the Lower Snake River Dams with Washington Policy Experts This week, I hosted a Lower Snake River Dams debate with the Washington Policy Center. This debate allowed policy experts from our state to come together, present the facts of the ongoing mediation, and take questions from local residents. As you may know, the Biden Administration recently announced a 10-year stay in the Columbia River System Operations (CRSO) mediation. Throughout this mediation process, key stakeholders directly impacted by the litigation have been left in the dark as negotiations take place behind closed doors. The Lower Snake River Dams are a powerhouse to our economies, and without them, businesses and producers in our region would be forced to make significant and expensive changes to their entire operations to account for that loss. These dams also provide residents of the Pacific Northwest with clean, reliable, and affordable energy. I have been working tirelessly in Congress to underscore the importance of the dams, and soon, I will be announcing new legislation to protect them from the Biden Administration's quest to breach them. Convening My Central Washington Fentanyl Task Force Yesterday, I convened my Central Washington Fentanyl Task Force in Prosser for our fourth quarterly meeting to discuss the escalating fentanyl crisis plaguing communities across Central Washington and the United States. Fentanyl has impacted every community in America, underscoring the critical need for immediate action, and unfortunately, our state has not been excluded from this crisis. In 2023, overdose deaths in Washington state surged by an alarming 34%, the steepest one-year increase nationwide, according to Families Against Fentanyl. With the crisis worsening, meeting with my Task Force is of the utmost priority. We gathered a diverse group, including law enforcement officers, addiction treatment organizations, medical professionals, drug court officials, school resource officers, tribal leaders, elected officials, community representatives, and individuals impacted by the illicit fentanyl crisis to have a productive discussion on approaches we can take to fight this epidemic at the federal, state, and local levels. Addressing this crisis goes beyond just a few pieces of legislation in Congress; it demands a comprehensive, collaborative approach involving representatives from all levels of government and solutions that will address the needs of our communities. This is a pervasive issue sweeping the nation, and I am resolute in my commitment to enact commonsense legislation to safeguard Central Washington and prevent further unnecessary overdose deaths. Read More About the Fentanyl Crisis on My Website Hearing from Local Leaders at the Tri-City Regional Chamber's State of the Counties Lunch Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending the Tri-City Regional Chamber's State of the Counties Membership Luncheon. While there, I listened to local leaders, like Benton like Benton County Commissioner Michael Alvarez, and Franklin County Administrator Mike Gonzalez, who discussed the challenges businesses are currently facing, as well as all the new developments coming to our region. I also spoke with local government leaders and those in the business community about current and future opportunities that could have a significant impact on the economy of the Tri-Cities. I remain committed to working in Congress to ease the economic strain on Central Washington families. Addressing the Tri-Cities Sunrise Rotary Club Today, I spent the morning with the Tri-Cities Sunrise Rotary Club, where I gave an update on the work I have been doing in Washington, D.C. to represent Central Washington. I also got the chance to hear from members and discuss the issues important to them, like the Lower Snake River Dams and reining in irresponsible federal spending. While I have been disappointed in the current administration's small business agenda, I am committed to continuing to lead pro-Main Street policy efforts in Congress. Supporting Access to Rural Healthcare This week, I joined leaders from Skyline Health to tour White Salmon's Skyline Hospital. While there, we discussed the necessity of Critical Access Hospitals and the services they provide to rural communities like those in South Central Washington. Ensuring our rural communities have access to healthcare is of the utmost importance to me, and I look forward to our continued partnership in this endeavor. Speaking with Healthcare Administrators About the Needs of Our Region I also visited Klickitat Valley Health in Goldendale this week. While there, I spoke with administrators and staff on how crucial their services are to our rural communities in Klickitat County, and celebrated their 75th anniversary of service our region. KVH has acquired a new, state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell generator that can sustain increased demand when needed and is the first of its kind to be used in healthcare here in the United States. Thank you for all your hard work, Klickitat Valley Health! Slamming the Biden Administration's Grizzly Bear Restoration Directive This week, the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a Record of Decision for their grizzly bear restoration plan, confirming that their preferred option will move 3-7 grizzly bears per year to the North Cascades Ecosystem for 5-10 years to establish a population of at least 25 total bears. The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision regarding the North Cascades grizzly restoration plan is outrageous, yet consistent based on the recent actions of this administration. Throughout this entire process, I have been hearing from local residents, participating in public comment sessions, and meeting with the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent this misguided decision from moving forward, and today’s announcement reinforces what we feared: no amount of local opposition was going to prevent these federal bureaucrats from doing what they wanted all along. While it was my hope that NPS and USFWS would listen to the will of concerned of residents in the affected areas, this administration is, once again, disregarding local public opinion and instead catering to the whims of coastal elites and the out-of-touch environmentalist lobby, which has been rushing to finalize this plan since its inception. Read the Full Grizzly Restoration Plan Here   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 2024 Central Washington Art Competition I am pleased to announce the start of the annual Central Washington Art Competition. All high school students are eligible to participate, and the winner will be invited to attend a reception in Washington, D.C. and their entry will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Please contact my Washington, D.C. office with additional questions or one of my district offices to schedule a time for the artwork to be dropped off. 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]