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As the Congressman for Washington’s 4th Congressional District, my number one priority is advocating for the people who live and work right here in Central Washington, contributing to our communities and economy. That’s why, last week, I voted in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This legislation not only delivers on many of Central Washington’s top priorities but preserves long-standing conservative principles and takes significant actions to strengthen our national security.

Decisions about the needs of our communities should be made at the local level, by the men and women who live, work, and farm on our land—not government bureaucrats in D.C. who’ve never even heard of the Yakima Valley. That’s why I established the Central Washington Community Project Funding Advisory Board last year, made up of representatives from each county and tribal leaders in Washington’s 4th Congressional District. These leaders selected which community project funding requests had the most public engagement and support. Thanks to the work of these representatives, 7 major projects were funded in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, from important water infrastructure projects, like the Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program to critical rural healthcare programs and facilities.

This legislation also delivers crucial funding for the Hanford Site, a major step forward from President Biden’s initial budget request, which completely eliminated Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for communities surrounding the Site. These PILT payments are vital sources of funding and serve as a lifeline for rural communities in Central Washington with nontaxable federal lands. Without this support, our rural communities would face devastating budget shortfalls as they juggle planning and paying for basic services like public safety, firefighting, social services, public education, and transportation with a reduced local tax base. It is inexcusable that our president would try to renege on the federal government’s obligation to the Hanford Site and its surrounding communities, and I am pleased that I was able to reinsert this indispensable aid in the appropriations package.

The bill goes far beyond infrastructure, however. It contains many other Central Washington priorities I worked to include, such as my legislation to improve healthcare access and outcomes for new and expecting mothers in rural communities, H.R. 769, the Rural Maternal and Obstetric Management Strategies (MOMS) Act. It also makes great strides in supporting agricultural research. Washington state has one of the most diverse agriculture industries in the country, and we are recognized around the world as a top producer of specialty crops, but this requires constant innovation and research. From potatoes, small fruit, and hops, to barley, alfalfa, and wheat, this package takes major steps to look into innovative solutions to some of the issues facing our producers who are already struggling thanks to supply chain disruptions and lack of inputs. It funds important studies to combat Little Cherry Disease (LCD), which has devastated Central Washington orchards, and to better understand how to manage smoke taint, which poses a huge threat to our Central Washington wine industry and local economies. Combined, this research funding will go a long way towards ensuring Central Washington remains a leader in agriculture.

This package also takes important steps to boost our national security. While Democrats proposed $1.9 billion of cuts to existing border wall funding, which is essential to securing our southern border, Republicans were able to keep this crucial funding and secure an almost 11% increase for the Department of Homeland Security to address the ongoing border crisis. The legislation includes my amendment to rein in our adversaries, such as China, from gaining a foothold in our food supply chain by preventing Chinese nationals from purchasing American farmland. Finally, this package delivers major funding to Ukraine to help them fight off their Russian aggressors, maintain their democracy, and work towards global stability.

I could go on and on about the wins contained in this package, but the bottom line remains: this was an important vote that delivered on major priorities for Central Washington. It is an honor to serve the men and women of Central Washington, and I am committed to continuing to advocate for and secure their priorities through my role on the Appropriations Committee.