By Congressman Dan Newhouse
Americans today are facing a lot of uncertainty. Uncertainty about whether they can afford to pay their bills, uncertainty about whether they can find the groceries they need, uncertainty about how this year’s harvest will play out, uncertainty about their own safety within their communities, and so much more. And while much of this uncertainty can be attributed to the actions and policy positions this administration has taken, Republicans have solutions to these problems and are ready to implement them.
The best way to jumpstart our economy and lower the cost of gas and groceries, is to open up American energy production. By tapping into the resources that are *literally* under our feet, resources we can extract in a cleaner and more responsible manner than any other nation in the world, we can lower the cost of gas—and everything in our supply chain. Currently, however, pipelines, mines, and other domestic infrastructure to meet America’s demands have been blocked by unnecessary permitting delays and regulatory uncertainty. That’s where the American Energy Independence from Russia Act comes in. This legislation will unlock America’s energy potential by requiring leasing and permitting of energy and minerals development on federal lands and waters and protecting domestic oil and gas, mining, and critical minerals production from further attacks by the Biden Administration. This will not only enable our country to become energy independent once more but will create thousands of American jobs, jumpstarting our economy.
Americans are also facing threats to their communities, both foreign and domestic—fortunately, we have solutions for that too. By securing our border, supporting our law enforcement officers, and ensuring America retains its strong presence on the world stage, we can ensure a nation that’s safe and communities that are protected. I’ve worked on a number of pieces of legislation that will do just that. The Upholding the Law at Our Border Act will require this Administration to ensure that all laws are being upheld and our agents have the resources they need to protect all of our communities. The COPS on the Beat Grant Program Reauthorization and Parity Act increases compensation and hiring processes for law enforcement officers, particularly those who work in rural and underserved areas, including many of the communities in Central Washington. I also introduced the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from buying up American farmland to secure our food supply chain and protect our national security.
As we look towards the future, we also need to protect our next generation. That means making sure our children can succeed by placing their futures first and giving parents a voice in their education. We can do this by passing the Parents’ Bill of Rights to increase transparency, so parents know what their children are being taught in school and how their tax dollars are being spent. And by passing my legislation to expand school choice, the Open Schools Act, which puts the needs of our children first by helping our students and providing parents with increased options for their children’s education. These are commonsense solutions to the problems we face—and simple steps we can take immediately to help our next generation thrive.
We also need to ensure our government remains accountable to the American people. That means an open and transparent government, of the people, for the people, and by the people. That means holding the Biden administration accountable and providing transparency to the American people on the issues that matter most. That means preserving our constitutional rights, protecting free speech and religious liberty, defending the unborn, fighting for life, and safeguarding the Second Amendment. That means working for our veterans and holding VA accountable for the men and women who have put their lives on the line to protect our liberties. While our country remains deeply divided, we can all agree on one thing: our Constitution and the sacred institutions upon which our country was founded must be preserved.
As a lifelong resident of Central Washington, a farmer, and a business owner, I understand deeply the priorities that matter most to our district and am working every day in Congress on them. From defending our dams from being breached and securing our border, to promoting American energy independence, putting a stop to inflationary policies, supporting our law enforcement officers, and protecting American farmland from China, I take very seriously my commitment to deliver for the hard-working men and women of Central Washington. And come November, I look forward to enacting solutions to so many of the problems we face.
