By Rep. Dan Newhouse

House Republicans made a commitment at the outset of the 119th Congress to rein in government spending, keep taxes low for hard working Americans, and make common-sense reforms to our federal assistance programs that guarantee their viability into the future. I made a promise that I would work through this process with Central Washington’s best interests in mind, and I believe H.R. 1 delivers on our commitment while securing real wins for Washington’s Fourth District to address the challenges we face here at home. 

First and foremost, H.R. 1 successfully prevents the largest tax hike in American history and will put money back in the pockets of families in Central Washington. We expanded the Child Tax Credit, removed taxes on tips and overtime pay, and included an unprecedented provision repealing taxes on Social Security for seniors. Working Americans and those who have put in their time will see hard earned returns reflected in their wallets and budgets. While Governor Ferguson signed into law the largest tax increase in Washington state’s history, I voted to avoid the largest tax increase in American history. 

H.R. 1 delivers key investments into our national and energy security. For the last four years, open-border policies have made our communities less safe. This legislation makes the largest-ever investment in defending our homeland security by hiring 3,000 new Border Patrol agents, 5,000 new Customs and Border Protection officers, as well as funding for over 700 miles of new border wall, and new fentanyl detection technology. In the energy sector, I secured a provision protecting investments in our current and future nuclear energy production that directly benefits both the Columbia Generating Station and the small modular reactor project in Richland. 

One of my top priorities throughout negotiations has been securing essential pieces of the Farm Bill to give our agriculture producers the resources they need. I am proud to have successfully doubled the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Access Program to open new markets for Central Washington agriculture exports. We also delivered critical improvements to the farm safety net to give farmers certainty in an otherwise uncertain industry. I fought not once, but twice, to remove the sale of public lands in this bill. 

H.R. 1 makes needed reforms to SNAP and Medicaid to protect the programs for the low-income individuals, families, and seniors who truly need them. We implemented a part-time work requirement for able bodied adults without dependents, consisting of 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, or pursuit of education to be eligible for benefits. 

For weeks, activist groups have been paid to distribute misinformation about what these work requirements entail. Sections 10102 and 71119 of H.R. 1 exempts caretakers of dependents, disabled individuals, those with serious or complex medical conditions, individuals with substance abuse disorder, disabling mental disorder, pregnant women, women entitled to postpartum coverage and Native Americans from complying with work requirements. Let me be clear – the people who Medicaid was designed to assist will not lose their benefits.

No legislation is perfect, and I have heard both the benefits and downsides from constituents of Washington’s Fourth District, but I believe the product we delivered will directly benefit families, small businesses, rural hospitals, and farmers in our region. I will continue to work hard for Central Washington and do what I truly believe is best for those of us who call it home.