Representative Dan Newhouse is a lifelong resident of Central Washington and is honored to represent the 4th District in Congress. A third-generation Yakima Valley farmer, Dan brings real-world experience to Congress as a businessman and former state legislator ready to work hard in support of conservative solutions that encourage job creation and economic opportunity in Central Washington. Dan understands that looking out for taxpayers means that Congress must stay on budget and make the government work efficiently to fulfill its responsibilities.
I am committed to ensuring our public lands are managed properly and that the federal government meets its obligations in the Pacific Northwest. In 2014, the Carlton Complex fire broke out in Okanogan County, and at the time it was the most destructive our state's history, burning over 250,000 acres, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses, and devastating the environment. In 2015, Washington once again dealt with the effects of another catastrophic wildfire season – one that burned more than 1 million acres – surpassing the scale of the devastation experienced in 2014.
I have seen firsthand how our communities have pulled together to help one another during these trying times, with firefighters from across the U.S. joining the fight and volunteers from all over the state and country providing support and relief to displaced residents. Changes to federal forest management and fire mitigation policies are needed to better protect Central Washington from the devastating effects of catastrophic wildfires in the future.
This year, Washington State and much of the western United States faced severe drought conditions, water shortages, and rationing, which have had serious impacts on our agriculture, energy, and manufacturing sectors, as well as the many families and small businesses that rely on an adequate and stable supply of water. Many residents are confronting the worst drought they've seen in many years, and a growing number of communities across the West have been acutely impacted by these arid conditions. While this crisis has been caused by the drought, burdensome environmental laws, as well as misguided and outdated regulatory restrictions, have exacerbated the situation. As a third-generation farmer, I understand from personal experience that access to water is vital to the livelihoods and economic prosperity of Washingtonians, which is why one of my first actions in Congress was to introduce legislation aimed at developing new surface water storage projects in the west.
Throughout American history, the burden of keeping our great nation free and secure has largely fallen on the shoulders of the men and women bravely serving in our Armed Forces. The care we provide to our veterans reflects our gratitude to the courageous servicemen and women who selflessly risk their lives in the protection of others. It is our responsibility to ensure that the federal government keeps its commitment to provide our veterans with the respect and highest level of care they deserve.
I have had the opportunity to sit down with local veterans in Central Washington. I listened as they expressed their concerns about understaffing at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical clinics and a lack of information about the VA's programs. Many of the vets described excessive wait times to receive service on their claims and insufficient care from their VA providers. Stories like these are unacceptable and test the promise that our nation has made to its veterans. I believe our veterans deserve our deepest respect and gratitude, and this should be reflected in their level of care. Reports of grave mismanagement and veterans passing-away while waiting for care are unacceptable and must be addressed. I am committed to holding the VA accountable and implementing much-needed reforms.
In Washington, international trade supports 40 percent of jobs and creates economic growth. Our export economy relies on access to international customers - especially to sell the agriculture products that farmers produce here at home. In fact, Washington is the most trade-supported state in the nation. As economies in the Asia-Pacific expand, our Central Washington retailers, manufacturers, and agriculture producers are well-positioned to strengthen our trading position through effectively-negotiated agreements that reduce trade barriers. To benefit our local economy and create jobs, our producers need a level playing field to offer world-class products to overseas customers. In addition to promoting engagement in the world market, increasing the stability of the supply chain is also critical for our economy. Preventing another devastating West Coast ports shutdown, when a disagreement between labor and port management dragged on for months and damaged our economy and reduced our market share, is a top priority of mine in Congress. I support increasing Washington's competitive export economy through improving trade opportunities.
I am in support a fairer, simpler tax code to promote job creation and a healthy economy. I believe our tax code is overwhelmingly complicated and can be detrimental to individuals unable to afford a tax professional, which is why I favor making our federal tax code consistent so that we can encourage economic growth and allow Americans to plan their futures with certainty. I will continue to work in Congress to adopt reforms to our tax code that make it simpler, fairer, and encourages economic growth.
I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 27, the Tax Code Termination Act, which would abolish the current tax code. This would then allow the Congress to debate a new tax system, such as the Fair Tax or Flat Tax to take the place of our current complicated tax code. Additionally, I support repealing the federal estate tax – or "death tax" – which affects rural landowners, small businesses, farmers, and ranchers. The death tax is a form of double taxation that hurts families by getting in the way of passing on a lifetime of hard work to the next generation.
I am a strong, life-long supporter of the Second Amendment and the protection of law-abiding citizens' right to keep and bear arms. Along with the rights of free speech and free exercise of religion, the Founding Fathers believed the Second Amendment was important enough that it warranted inclusion in the Bill of Rights, and held that this right was the personal and fundamental right of all citizens. Like many Central Washingtonians, I grew up responsibly exercising my constitutional right to bear arms, and I am a longstanding advocate for the protection of those rights. During my time in the Washington State Legislature, I received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and I have continued my ardent support of the Second Amendment since coming to the United States Congress. Law-abiding citizens should not have to fear the federal government regulating their firearms out of existence and Congress must remain on the watch for any efforts to infringe on our Second Amendment rights. I opposed the Obama Administration's recent backdoor attempt to restrict the Second Amendment by banning popular rifle ammunition. As your Congressman, I will remain a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and oppose any attempts to encroach on your right to bear arms.
I believe we have a responsibility to use our natural resources wisely and with care. As a farmer, I consider myself a conservationist and steward of our resources. I believe we must continue to respect the environment and ensure clean water and air for our citizens. As a life-long resident of Central Washington, I have a great appreciation for, and interest in, protecting our region's and our nation's rich natural heritage. I believe it is important that we preserve our beautiful national parks, forests, recreational areas, and wildlife for our children and grandchildren to enjoy. Upon entering the 114th Congress, I was assigned to serve on the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees. I believe these assignments to be a reflection of the strengths I bring to Congress as a state legislator, farmer, and former Director of the Washington State Department of Agriculture.
Accountable and transparent public land management is a critical issue for farmers, businesses and landowners in our region. Land-use decisions should be made locally, not by far away federal bureaucrats. It is Congress' duty to ensure that public land management promotes economic development, not burdensome regulations and red tape.
Located in the Tri-Cities, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a storied institution and one of our nation's seventeen national labs. PNNL is one of the foremost national labs in the country and continues to make many great contributions to the scientific community, the Tri-Cities, the State of Washington, and in support of our great nation for over 50 years. The work being done at PNNL addresses some of our nation's most complex national security, energy, and environmental challenges. This world-class facility is absolutely key to the long-term growth of the Tri-Cities, because of the leading role the Lab plays in preserving our capacity to innovate, enhancing our competitive edge in the global economy, and improving our quality of life. The Lab operates in a remarkable public/private partnership with Battelle, and this collaboration sets an example of the unparalleled success such partnerships can have for our country. I will continue to work to provide the Lab with the support it needs to serve our nation for generations to come.
I will always stand up for our men and women in law enforcement who bravely protect our communities and have worked steadfastly to increase funding to our local police departments.
America is a land of immigrants, but our current immigration system is broken. Executive actions that can be revoked with the stroke of a pen or struck down as unconstitutional create uncertainty for millions of families and individuals instead of security. The need for reform, both in our nation and in Central Washington, is critical. I am committed to fixing it for families, for our local communities, and to create a stable, reliable, legal agriculture workforce. Our nation currently faces national security threats that demand vigilance and securing our border. That first step is the beginning of this conversation. Next, we should offer a pathway to legal status for the people here who are contributing to our communities and have no criminal record. We should also streamline and modernize guest-worker programs, so that they are workable for those who want to come here to work legally and then return home. Make no mistake, the federal laws on the books must be enforced. It is the job of Congress to work together for a solution to our immigration system that encourages respect for the rule of law and legal entry to our country. I am committed to supporting a long-term solution to fix our broken immigration system.
I was proud to vote to restore individual healthcare choices and government accountability by repealing Obamacare. I continue to hear personal stories from individuals in Central Washington about the uncertainty and dramatic cost increases Obamacare has created for their families and businesses. A top-down, mandate-centered, one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare does not work for families or businesses in Central Washington. Obamacare has caused health insurance premiums and increased deductibles to become less affordable for too many Americans, which is why I am working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure patient-centered care that will increase access and make insurance more affordable. Americans should have the freedom to purchase insurance across state lines, protection for patients with preexisting conditions, and care for our most vulnerable citizens.
In Central Washington, we are aware of the important role Hanford played in bringing an end to World War II and winning the Cold War. The federal government now has a legal and moral obligation to clean up the legacy of nuclear waste.
Ensuring that Hanford has the resources and oversight required to continue cleanup progress and meet the federal government's legal cleanup commitments is my top priority. I have had the opportunity to get a first-hand look at the critical cleanup activities being accomplished at Hanford and this work must continue as safely, quickly, and efficiently as possible. I am a co-chair of the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, and meet regularly with Hanford officials and Tri City leaders to ensure Hanford's cleanup needs are being met. I am continually communicating with my colleagues in Congress and with the highest levels of the Administration to advocate for proper funding and federal policies that will allow us to meet the many cleanup challenges at Hanford.
Success at Hanford depends on other factors as well, such as the availability for storing spent nuclear fuel at the Yucca Mountain Repository. I am focused on continuing to develop Yucca Mountain, which has already been identified as scientifically safe and remains the legal, Congressionally-mandated repository where much of Hanford's nuclear waste will eventually be sent for long-term storage. Wasting decades of work and billions of taxpayer dollars by disregarding this legal repository makes no sense and does nothing to get Hanford's nuclear waste out of our state sooner.
We must continue to increase the development of domestic energy sources to ensure greater economic security for Washington State and the U.S. In order to maintain access to affordable energy for Central Washington's residents, it is essential that the U.S. continue to develop a safe, domestic, all-of-the-above energy strategy.
Renewable energy plays a critically-important role in our nation's energy portfolio and is a key source of energy in Central Washington and in the 4th Congressional District. We are blessed to have a diverse mix of renewable energy sources in the region—from hydropower and nuclear energy to natural gas, biomass, wind, and solar power – making Central Washington a great example of an "all-of-the-above" energy strategy. Much of the clean, renewable energy produced in the Pacific Northwest comes from hydropower, and I support protecting dams that provide this affordable, renewable energy source. I led efforts in the House to prohibit any federal funds from being used to remove federal dams – a vital component of water infrastructure in the west – and directed the Environmental Protection Agency to recognize hydropower as a renewable, carbon-neutral energy source.
In 2011, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Admiral Mike Mullen said, "I believe the single, biggest threat to our national security is our debt, so I also believe we have every responsibility to help eliminate that threat."
The federal government cannot continue to burden our children and grandchildren with high yearly deficits and insurmountable national debt. Currently, our national debt has surpassed $28 trillion – to put that number in perspective, the total U.S. economic output in the first quarter of 2021 was $22 trillion. That's roughly $84,940 of debt for every man, woman, and child living in the country right now. We owe our children, grandchildren, and future generations a return to fiscal responsibility, and I am committed to reining in federal spending and utilizing taxpayer dollars in a prudent and responsible manner. Congress must take steps to balance the budget and eliminate our debt over the long term, which is why I support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.
Reining in the federal debt is not a partisan issue. A broad majority of Americans are united in consistently supporting a requirement to balance the federal budget. Runaway federal spending creates an unsustainable outlook for our economy and our nation's future. We must rein in government spending through reforms, effective oversight of current programs, and addressing waste.
Central Washington farmers and producers grow the highest quality hay, wheat and more than 300 specialty crops such as potatoes, cherries, hops, apples, mint and wine grapes. Blessed with the conditions to produce such a diverse range of crops, Washington shares its natural abundance with the world, playing the role of "international supermarket." In 2014, Washington State exported $8.9 billion in agricultural products, creating jobs and supporting economic growth. In fact, Washington fruit and hay producers export one-third of their harvests to international customers.
As a third-generation farmer, I understand the importance of agriculture for families, jobs, and trade in Central Washington. I support opening international markets and reducing trade barriers as crucial steps to expand export opportunities that build our area's economic future. I also believe we must increase water storage capacity and end the "death tax," which disproportionately harms farmers, their families, and future generations. I am committed to advocating for policies that promote agricultural abundance and the economic opportunity it brings to Central Washington families.