This week, the FY25 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act PASSED the House of Representatives. Wildfire Resource Center The catastrophic wildfires facing our region are, unfortunately, something that we have come to expect during the dry, summer months. That said, I encourage you to continue to take caution to protect your families, homes, businesses, and communities. Please visit my website and check out my wildfire toolkit, which includes a list of federal, state, and local resources to help keep you and your family safe from wildfires. Click Here for My Wildfire Toolkit A Victory for Rural America On Wednesday, the Fiscal Year 2025 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act passed the House of Representatives. This year's Interior appropriations bill is a huge victory for rural America. This bill unlocks America’s energy and mineral resources to restore our energy independence, curbs administrative overreach and abuse of the Endangered Species Act, and reins in annual spending. I am also proud to have secured critical funding for communities in Central Washington. This includes: $1.3 million for the City of Oroville for the Water System Improvement Project. $1.5 million for the Town of Winthrop for Water Source and Distribution System Improvements. $1 million for the City of Othello for a Regional Water Supply Project. $1.5 million for the City of Moses Lake for a Water Infrastructure Project. $1.5 million for the City of Tonasket for a Water Improvement Project. This legislation also: Prohibits funds to implement the final rule titled “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of Grizzly Bear in the North Cascades Ecosystem. Protects access to our public lands by prohibiting multiple U.S. Fish and Wildlife rulings to weaponize the Endangered Species Act against land users and energy producers. Provides funding for wildfire activities and permanently addresses wildland firefighter pay and capacity. Expands access to critical minerals, reducing our domestic reliance on the Chinese supply chain. Stops the Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health rule to ensure continued access to public lands for grazing, recreation, and energy development. Visit My Website for More Information Leading Better Tribal Healthcare This week, I delivered remarks at the House Natural Resources Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee hearing on my legislation, the Uniform Credentials for IHS Providers Act. This bill amends the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to create a centralized system to prevent malpractice, cut down on the onboarding backlog, establish a standard of care for tribes, and ensure the providers at IHS facilities are vetted in an efficient and proper manner. In Central Washington, constituents have reported instances in which the current IHS credentialing system has negatively impacted health provider recruitment and onboarding efforts, including one instance in which providers were interested in working for the local service unit only to pursue an opportunity elsewhere because of the slow pace of the credentialing process. Given the health disparities that exist in Tribal nations, recruitment of quality health personnel should be of the utmost priority, and I look forward to my legislation getting a vote soon. Click Here for Full Bill Text Welcoming Our Commitment to Our Ally, Israel On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted a Joint Address of Congress. His message was one of unity and strength between our great nations as Israel continues to fend off the attacks of the terrorist organization, Hamas. I appreciate him joining us as we reaffirm our support for our great ally and sole democracy in the Middle East, Israel. Meeting with the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association This week, I met with the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. We discussed the Columbia River Treaty and the steps that need to be taken to ensure transparency to ratepayers. The current treaty expires in September of this year, and I am urging all parties to iron out the details of this agreement sooner rather than later and that our hydroelectric system and flood management be a top priority so our regional partners can plan for the coming flood season. Fighting CCP Money Laundering with the Fentanyl Policy Working Group This week, I led members of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party for our third Fentanyl Policy Working Group Meeting. We discussed the pervasive issue of CCP money laundering, with a focus on its detrimental impact on global financial systems and its role in facilitating the trade of illicit materials—mainly fentanyl. As you know, Central Washington and communities across the nation have been devastated by the fentanyl epidemic, and my Fentanyl Policy Working Group is getting to the bottom of how it manages to get here in the first place. Meeting with Student Ambassadors from the GEAR UP Program I met with students from the GEAR UP Program this week from Pasco, Kennewick, Benton City, Richland, Clarkston, and Vancouver. The GEAR UP Program is an incredible way for our youth to get involved, gain leadership skills, receive mentoring, tutoring, scholarships, and financial aid, and plan for college and their future careers. Thank you for visiting, I look forward to continuing my support of this important program. Accepting the 2024 Hero of Main Street Award Yesterday, I met with Washington small business owners Blake and Jennifer who presented me with the National Retail Federation's 2024 Hero of Main Street Award. This award is presented to those supportive of our nation's small businesses, and I will continue to fight for our community's entrepreneurs. Join My Office for Mobile Office Hours This week, my staff traveled to East Wenatchee, Twisp, and Othello for mobile office hours. Mobile office hours are a great opportunity for folks to come out and let my office know how I can better serve you. If you are having an issue with a federal agency or want to come ask a question, I urge you to stop by! Missed this week's session? Don't worry, mobile office hours will occur on a weekly basis. Next week, join my office on Tuesday, July 30 from 10 AM - 12 PM at the USDA Service Building, 1251 Second Ave S, Okanogan, WA 98840. *Due to ongoing wildfires, please check my Facebook page for any updates. Click Here for the Mobile Office Hours Calendar 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, as Chairman of the Western Caucus, I joined Todd Spencer, the President and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, to write an opinion piece on the EPA's semi-truck emissions regulations. Pushed by the environmental lobby, the EPA recently announced new emissions regulations for semi-trucks set to take effect by 2032. While Congress and truckers both want to protect our environment, the practical implications of the agency's overreach for small businesses and the broader economy cannot be overstated. Read the Op-Ed in the Washington Times 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