Email from Rep. Dan Newhouse This week marks the beginning of the 119th Congress and just the third time in the last 70 years that Republicans have controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House. Weekly Column - January 7, 2025 New Congress, New Opportunities This week marks the beginning of the 119th Congress and just the third time in the last 70 years that Republicans have controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House. Over the past four years, we have had an administration that sidestepped Congress and wielded the executive branch to tighten the federal government’s grip on taxpayers, small businesses, farmers and ranchers, and countless other industries while pushing inflation to record levels. I am optimistic about the opportunities that this Congress will provide. As a third-generation farmer and small businessman from the Yakima Valley, I have spent my time in Congress working towards common-sense conservative policies that reduce the regulatory burden of the federal government, and this Congress will be no different. We are hitting the ground running on legislation that will lower taxes on American families, support an American energy industry that puts us back at the forefront of innovative production in the world, cut wasteful federal spending and secure our southern border to stop the flow of illicit drugs that have been plaguing our communities. This Congress I will be re-joining the House Agriculture Committee in addition to my position on the House Appropriations Committee and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. It is one of my top priorities to pass a five-year Farm Bill to provide certainty to our agricultural producers in Central Washington who are facing record-high input costs, burdensome regulations, and harmful inflation. As a member of both the Agriculture and Appropriations Committees with jurisdiction over agriculture issues, I am uniquely positioned to ensure our farmers and ranchers have the safety net needed to ensure their operations survive for the next generation. I have been disappointed to see the Farm Bill extended rather than reauthorized, but my Republican colleagues and I are determined to get this critical legislation out of Congress and on the President’s desk. One of my first actions this Congress will be introducing legislation alongside Senator Bill Cassidy, of Louisiana, to return federal agency employees to their office, rather than exploit taxpayers through excessive at-home teleworking. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, bureaucrats in D.C. have abused locality pay and bonuses while federal agencies still pay ridiculous rent payments for empty office space. The pandemic is over, and it is long past time for federal employees in Washington, D.C. to get back to work and do the job that the American people deserve and expect of them. Thank you once again for placing your trust in me as your representative in Congress. I am committed to continuing to deliver resources and investment into Central Washington, and leading policies that support rural communities like the ones we call home. A new Congress will bring new challenges and opportunities alike, so I hope you will follow along as we deliver on our commitments to get the greatest country in the world back on track. View on My Website newhouse.house.gov     Congressman Dan Newhouse | 504 Cannon House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice