This week, I voted YES on the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act.

This bill ensures that the men and women who have served have access to the modern, good care and services they have earned. This bill includes a number of bipartisan proposals that would enhance and reform the delivery of services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by ultimately putting all veterans, their families, and their survivors—not bureaucracy—first.

On Tuesday, I joined the National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition for a discussion on the work being done to modernize the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

We discussed the ESA Amendments Act of 2024 that incentivizes conservation on private lands, protects private lands from DOI interference, empowers states to enact recovery plans for species, limits judicial review and opportunities for extreme groups to file frivolous lawsuits, and creates greater transparency and accountability in the species recovery process.

For too long, the ESA has been abused and has restricted the rights of landowners here in Central Washington and across the nation. It has kept species on the Endangered Species List that have recovered, like grey wolves and grizzly bears, for the sake of land preservation without regard for conservation.

Passing these critical reforms to the ESA will remain a priority for myself and our majority in the new year.

It was great to hear from the Washington State Potato Commission and discuss the status Farm Bill and how it affects potato producers right here in Central Washington.

The Farm Bill is critical to the future of farms in our region and across the country. That is why it is so important to hear firsthand the challenges farmers are facing.

I look forward to continuing to advocate for the over 7,800 farms in Washington's Fourth District!

This week, H.R. 1449 The Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act (CLEAN), passed the House with bipartisan support. This legislation requires the Department of the Interior (DOI) to increase lease sales under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 and establishes deadlines to consider geothermal drilling permits.

Geothermal is an important component of our all of the above energy strategy, and this bill unlocks the full potential of geothermal and boosts energy production on federal lands across the west.