Central Washington is a beautiful region, but did you know that it is larger than nine states? That's why I am making it a priority to re-start mobile office hours. Introducing Mobile Office Hours Central Washington is a beautiful region, but did you know that it is larger than nine states? That's why we are bringing our office to you. My staff will be traveling all over Washington's 4th Congressional District to meet with constituents about ways we can better serve you. If you need help with a federal agency, stop by and see us at one of the sessions below. The schedule for July is as follows: Wednesday, July 10: North Dam Park, Grand Coulee, WA 99133 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Wednesday, July 17: Quincy Public Market, 1004 F St SW, Quincy, WA 98848 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Thursday, July 18: Tonasket City Hall, 209 S Whitcomb Ave, Tonasket, WA 98855 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Monday, July 22: Pangborn Airport, 1 Pangborn Drive, East Wenatchee, WA 98802 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Tuesday, July 23: Twisp Park, 325 N Lincoln St, Twisp, WA 98856 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Wednesday, July 24: Othello City Hall, 500 E Main St, Othello, WA 99344 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Tuesday, July 30: USDA Service Building, 1251 Second Ave S, Okanogan, WA 98840 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. We hope to see you there! Click Here to See the Full Calendar Celebrating Our Nation's Independence I hope you had a happy Independence Day, Central Washington! Since the beginning of our republic, Independence Day has been celebrated with parades and ceremonies—a loud and proud declaration of our commitment to freedom and the principles outlined in our nation’s founding documents: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As Central Washington and the rest of the nation gathered with friends, family, and the community to celebrate these ideals, we also had the chance to reflect and be grateful for the privilege that life in this nation guarantees and hopeful that, when we unite as one, we will turn the corner to face a better tomorrow. Bridging the Gaps in Rural Healthcare Coverage On Tuesday, I attended the ground breaking of the Astria Toppenish Hospital's behavioral health unit expansion. This expansion represents a significant milestone in our commitment to mental health needs in the State of Washington because it will guarantee long-term, intensive inpatient psychiatric care. Due to the strong support of legislators, community partners, local government, and businesses, the required funding has been secured to complete this new unit. The lack of access to mental healthcare is a serious issue—not just in rural Central Washington, but in the whole state, and this project is the kind of effort that we need to be seeing more of. I am proud to have been able to help secure funding for this project during the fiscal year 2023 Agriculture Appropriations process, and look forward to seeing the role this facility will play in advancing rural and tribal healthcare. Yakima Training Center Change of Command Ceremony On Wednesday, I was honored to attend the Change of Command Ceremony at the Yakima Training Center. Lieutenant Colonel Tim Horn, who has been in command of the Yakima Training Center since June 16, 2022, relinquished command and passed the responsibility on to Lieutenant Colonel Terry Gambrel. The Training Center is the United States Military's premier training destination in the Pacific Northwest, and I am excited to see all the great work they can do with Lieutenant Colonel Terry Gambrel at the helm. Flipping Pancakes with Pasco Residents On Independence Day, I attended the Pasco Kiwanis pancake breakfast. I met with hundreds of constituents, had some great conversations, and truly enjoyed flipping pancakes for a worthwhile cause. The Pasco Kiwanis does such great work to support Central Washington, and events like these remind me of how fortunate I am to be part of such a close-knit community. Discussing Crime in Our Communities with Yakima Police Sergeant Joel Panattoni On Wednesday, I joined Yakima Police Sergeant Joel Panattoni, for a ride along. Together, we discussed the skyrocketing rate of fentanyl overdoses in our communities as well as the crime rate. The past few years have been brutal on our law enforcement, and it is a priority of mine to ensure that our officers have the support they need to make our communities safer. Thank you, Sergeant Panattoni, for inviting me! NOW OPEN: The 2024 Central Washington Congressional App Challenge I am pleased to announce the launch of the annual Central Washington App Challenge! The App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students who reside in or attend a school in Washington’s 4th Congressional District. Students may participate individually or in a team of students up to four. The Congressional App Challenge is an event I look forward to every year and a wonderful opportunity for students in Central Washington to demonstrate their technical skills. I strongly encourage any student with an interest in STEM or computer science to get creative, build an app, and show off your skills on the national stage! The competition will run until October 24, 2024, and applicants are welcome to submit their application any time during this period. The winning app 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 also be invited to the #HouseofCode reception on Capitol Hill and may be awarded additional prizes, to be announced later. Visit My Website for More Information Western Caucus Corner This week, a Louisiana federal court halted the Biden Administration's pause on any new approvals for natural gas exports. As Chairman of the Western Caucus, this news is something to be celebrated. The LNG ban should never have happened in the first place, and if this administration was serious about innovating in the energy sector and bringing costs down, they would be working on ways to incorporate all forms of American energy—not killing the ones we rely on. Services My Office Provides Having trouble navigating the bureaucratic red-tape of a federal agency? Need assistance with VA benefits? Looking to book a tour of our nation's capital? Visit my website to see all the services my office provides. Seeking Paid Fall Interns Are you a currently an undergraduate student or recent college graduate interested in learning about the legislative process firsthand in the heart of our nation? If so, I am currently seeking paid congressional interns for the Fall 2024 term. The internships are in-person and will run from September to the end of November. Dates are flexible. Visit My Website to Apply   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 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice