Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans in Central Washington, and around the United States.

Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognizing the history of our Hispanic neighbors, and honoring the hardships endured to create a better life for future generations. In Central Washington, our Hispanic neighbors strengthen our communities through their strong family values, cultural diversity, and incredibly hard work ethics. Our region could not prosper without the Hispanic farmers, police officers, teachers, and soldiers who support our society.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring our Hispanic American friends, families, and neighbors and in recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of McCain Foods' 65th anniversary.

McCain Foods is the largest producer of frozen french fries and appetizers in the world, now with over 65 years of experience working with potato, sweet potato, and onion growers from family farms across the United States--including in Central Washington. Every year, they partner with over 3,500 producers to harvest and locally source 6.8 million tons of potatoes.

With processing plants across the United States, including in my district in Othello, Washington, McCain is a strong industry partner that plays a critical role as a customer of Washington grown potatoes, and a provider of safe, nutritious food for consumers across the globe.

Please join me in recognizing McCain Foods as they celebrate 65 years of dedicated service supporting American farmers and filling Americans' plates.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Northwest Community

Action Center as they celebrate 40 years of service to the communities of Central Washington.

The Northwest Community Action Center first opened in 1982 to help expand on the mission of the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, helping families weatherize their homes, pay their bills, navigate the healthcare system, and provide them with after-care school services.

Since its opening, the Northwest Community Action Center has expanded its service programs to meet the needs of families across Washington and Oregon.

Today, community members can take advantage of the variety of services they now offer, which include adult education classes, English language classes, homelessness services, citizenship classes, and so much more.

I extend my congratulations and gratitude to the Northwest Community Action Center for its leadership and many years of service to our Central Washington communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a member of my team for his hard work and dedication over the last 8 years.

Sean O'Brien started working for Washington's Fourth Congressional District at just about the same time that I did. He even stepped up to run my first reelection campaign. Luckily for both of us, he was successful, and he served as my legislative assistant, my legislative director, and eventually my deputy chief of staff.

I was proud to step into the role of Congressional Western Caucus chairman with Sean at the helm. With his vision, knowledge, and steadfast support as the executive director, we worked together to build an organization that I am proud to lead.

Sean, as you join the new House alumni association, never forget what you learned in the people's House. The long hours and late nights are worth it. Our work is important, but the real work happens outside the swamp. And never underestimate a supportive team because you will always be an invaluable member of mine.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor William ``Bill'' Hyslop, a champion for justice and a dedicated public servant to Washington State and the country.

Bill, a Washington State University alumnus, served as U.S. Attorney for Eastern Washington under President H.W. Bush and President Trump, the only person to hold this position for two separate terms.

His resume does not stop there--Bill served as President of the Washington State Bar Association and principal at Lukins & Annis, a Spokane-based law firm, and played a critical role in our work to address the missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW) crisis.

In his most recent efforts as U.S. Attorney, he worked tirelessly to combat fentanyl trafficking and continued this effort as a founding member of the Spokane Alliance for Fentanyl Education until he passed away earlier this month.

Bill's commitment and passion for serving his community and country are inspiring. His death is truly a loss to Washington State, and we will miss him greatly.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a Washington State giant and true champion for Tri-Cities, Bob Ferguson, who peacefully passed away in August.

The first chairman of the Tri-City Development Council, or TRIDEC, Bob played a critical role at the Hanford Site and in the economic development for our region. His resume is nothing short of inspiring-- he was one of the youngest reactor operators at Hanford's B Reactor; Project Manager at the Fast Flux Test Facility, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Department of Energy in President Carter's Administration, Managing Director of the Washington Public Power Supply System, President of R.L. Ferguson & Associates, and much more.

He worked tirelessly to advance energy and education causes and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local colleges, culminating in the creation of the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures at Washington State University Tri-Cities.

Bob was riot only a pivotal leader and pioneer for Central Washington and the nuclear energy industry, but he was also a good friend. Bob was a visionary--he was determined, generous, and kind.

Bob's death is truly a loss for our community, but his leadership and contributions to Central Washington and the country will never be forgotten.

Madam Chair, I thank my friend from Arkansas for allowing me to speak on this important issue.

Madam Chair, rural communities across the country are plagued by persistent drought and catastrophic wildfires, especially communities in the Western United States. As the Representative for Washington's Fourth Congressional District and as chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, I have been consistently calling for these issues to be taken up in committees and here on the House floor.

In one sense, I am very glad that our colleagues from across the aisle are finally realizing just how crucial these issues are, but I am disappointed by the fact that today's rushed package of provisions fails to address the root challenges that we face in the West and ignores a myriad of solutions that were offered by my Republican colleagues.

Rather than fixing our broken, duplicative requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, this package adds more regulation and bureaucratic red tape. Rather than enhancing opportunities for long-term water storage infrastructure and offering any type of lasting solutions for forests and species management, it focuses on adding environmental studies and prioritizing environmental justice.

Madam Chair, my colleagues and I submitted numerous amendments that would actually solve these problems--to encourage additional water storage, active land forest management, commonsense reforms to the Endangered Species Act, and critically needed domestic energy and timber development. Unfortunately, Madam Chair, Democrats refused to even let these amendments be considered for debate.

This bill fails to address the actual problems facing rural communities and

will likely exacerbate the very issues Democrats claim the bill addresses.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an exciting addition to Central Washington that has been years in the making.

Vista Field, formally a municipal airport, is well on its way to becoming a vibrant and pedestrian-focused town center with neighborhoods and urban lifestyle amenities. The 103 acres of land will introduce 1,000 single-family homes, retail shops, restaurants, and entertainment to the growing community of Kennewick. The Port of Kennewick is celebrating this new addition to the community by hosting a grand opening celebration, today, where community members can be the first to see the new public amenities, such as a commercial plaza, pedestrian bridges, fountains, and ponds.

Once completed, this new urban development is expected to bring in $51 million in infrastructure investments in addition to over 3,000 jobs for our local community, contributing to a thriving local economy.

Vista Field is a perfect example of the innovative projects that are possible when local leadership and community collaboration are at the forefront, and I am excited to see this project take form and bring new opportunities for everyone in our community to enjoy.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the upcoming retirement of Kent Lopez as General Manager of the Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

For nearly 17 years, Kent has diligently represented the interests of these 14 not-for-profit, rural electric coops and has advocated for the interests of consumer-owned utilities for more than 40 years.

Whether it's my home co-op of Benton REA in Central Washington, Okanogan County Electric and Nespelem Valley Electric to our north; or Big Bend Electric just next door, Kent has dutifully executed his charge of ensuring that hundreds of thousands of rural Washingtonians have access to the affordable, reliable, and abundant renewable cost- based benefits of the Federal Columbia River Power System--a system critically important to the well-being of the Pacific Northwest.

But come July 1st, Kent will hang up his coat and focus on the long ``honey-do'' list his lovely wife Cindy has ready for him.

I wish Kent good luck in retirement; he has earned it.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Chief Ben Majetich, who is retiring as West Richland's Police Chief after 34 years of service to the Tri-Cities.

Ben came to Central Washington in 1980 and spent the next 26 years with the Pasco Police Department. He worked in multiple leadership roles, from street patrol division to leading investigations, to being the lead defensive tactics instructor for the city.

His hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed, and he was soon promoted to captain of West Richland's Police Department, where he would take the lead in developing their newly-opened, state-of-the-art facility.

Chief Majetich truly represents the best of Central Washington: a man of courage and grit, a man not afraid to roll up his sleeves to get the job done. He has proudly served the Tri-Cities for 34 years, going above and beyond to ensure the safety of our community. He is leaving the department in good hands with his successor, Captain Thomas Grego, but he will certainly be missed.

I extend my sincerest gratitude to Chief Majetich for his leadership and wish him the best in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Benton Rural Electric Association's 85th birthday and to sincerely thank them for all of their contributions to Central Washington.

This electric company has changed the way farmers work. Benton REA was established on April 19, 1937, to serve those in Benton and the surrounding counties. One year later, Benton REA helped Benton and Yakima farmers move into the modern era of electricity by flipping the switch to light more than 89 rural farms.

As the oldest operating consumer-owned business serving Benton and Yakima counties, they understand the needs and concerns of the rural community when it comes to electricity needs. I thank them for their many faithful years of serving the 11,000 members across Benton, Yakima, and Lewis counties, many of whom are in my district, and for providing the electricity they need.

Congratulations on reaching this milestone and I wish them many more years of success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Pasco Chamber of Commerce's 110th anniversary and to sincerely thank them for all of their contributions to the Greater Pasco Area.

The Pasco Chamber truly lives out its mission of advocating for local business owners and empowering entrepreneurs, all while keeping Pasco's rich history and cultural diversity at the forefront. Local economic development is crucial for any community to thrive,

and the Pasco Chamber is truly a leader in our region.

In addition, the Pasco Chamber of Commerce has been, and continues to be, a champion for our agriculture community and way of life. The agriculture industry is integral to our community, and their support for our farms and agriculture businesses has not gone unnoticed. I am also grateful for their partnership in working to protect our dams which provide clean, carbon-free energy throughout the region, water for our crops, and transportation to move our goods to export markets.

I extend my congratulations on the Pasco Chamber of Commerce's anniversary and wish them many more decades of servant leadership to our community.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 471, the PAUSE Act, to protect all Americans from the Biden border crisis.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of my Special Order.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of the brave men and women in blue who serve and protect us each and every day. I am proud to be able to be part of this Special Order remembering Washington State law enforcement, and I am proud to share this Special Order with most all of the delegation of the great State of Washington.

According to statistics released by the FBI, intentional killings of law enforcement in the year 2021 were the highest in 20 years. Already this year--and we are only in April--there have been more officers shot and killed than all of last year.

Every day, police officers across central Washington, across my State, and across the United States put on a badge and go to work knowing they face extremely dangerous situations exacerbated by significant economic uncertainties, open border policies, and the raging opioid crisis.

Let me be clear: Nothing justifies the targeting and the murdering of law enforcement. Whether on regularly scheduled patrol duty or answering an urgent call for help, law enforcement officers put on their uniforms every day with no guarantee they will return home safely.

Just 3 weeks ago, Madam Speaker, Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Dominique ``Dom'' Calata, a 35-year-old Army veteran, who had been with the force for the past 6\1/2\ years, made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community. While assisting the South Sound Gang Task Force and serving a warrant for second degree assault, Deputy Calata was shot and killed. The deputy leaves behind his wife and a 4-year-old son.

Tragically, during his memorial service 2 weeks ago, Everett police officer Dan Rocha was killed during a run-in with a suspect who shot and killed him before running over his body while fleeing the scene. His memorial service took place just this afternoon. Officer Rocha leaves behind his wife, as well as two children.

Madam Speaker, I would ask for a moment of silence for both of these brave officers.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to these individuals who risk their lives to enforce the law and to protect our communities.

Law enforcement officers take time away from their families, their loved ones, often without the thanks that they deserve, and often, putting themselves in harm's way. Our men and women in law enforcement deserve nothing less than our full support.

I am deeply concerned, frankly, with the anti-police policies that our State has implemented and continues to consider. While there may have been positive steps taken to roll back this legislation this past session, there is still much progress to be made, both in Washington, and at the Federal level.

We have to fully fund our police departments. We have to provide them with the necessary resources to do their important jobs.

Over the past several years, I have had many opportunities to meet with police officers, with sheriffs, first responders, all across Central Washington in my district. I participated in ride-alongs with officers, from Pasco and from Sunnyside to see firsthand how they interact with their neighbors and local businesses.

And I regularly meet with law enforcement officers in each of our counties to learn how I can help them in Congress to make their policing efforts much more effective.

I am constantly in awe of the great work that these officers are doing to engage with families that are in need, or at-risk children, as well as students, and individuals who may be in danger. They do all of this with the goal of making our Central Washington communities a better, safer place to live and work; and for that I am truly grateful.

Police officers around the country are dedicated to protecting us and defending the liberties that we hold dear. Law enforcement officers selflessly put themselves in harm's way to protect Americans, preserve the peace, and maintain law and order. They are truly heroes in blue, and we owe them our respect and our support.

Today, I remember Deputy Calata and Officer Rocha, and offer my sincere condolences to their family, their friends, and the departments that they left behind all too soon.

I commit to continuing to fight for the men and women in law enforcement and their families who sacrifice so much to keep our communities safe. Today, as well as every day, we offer our appreciation and our respect for law enforcement officers across this great Nation.

Madam Speaker, as I said, I am honored and delighted that we have many members of the Washington State delegation to share in this Special Order this evening, to share their thoughts and their observations about what is going on, not only in our State, but States across the country.

I first want to turn to my neighboring district, to my east and thank her for being part of this Special Order.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Spokane, Washington, (Mrs. Rodgers).

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her remarks; heroes, I couldn't say it better.

Now I yield to the gentlewoman from the west side of my district in Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler), my good colleague and friend.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's comments. I thank her for adding to the list. The list is far too long for us to list everyone, unfortunately. And it is like the gentlewoman said: I wish we were here for a happier occasion, but this is an important one and I thank the gentlewoman for her contributions.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the Eighth Congressional District of Washington (Ms. Schrier), another neighbor. I am surrounded with good Members of Congress. I believe she lives in the town of Sammamish.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's remarks for a very special occasion here.

I yield to the gentlewoman from Medina, Washington, (Ms. DelBene), my friend. We used to work together in Olympia, serving as cabinet members together.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. DelBene for those great words.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen), from the city of Everett, one of our longer-serving colleagues and a very well-respected Member of Congress.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Larsen for personalizing this. This is your hometown, and this is real stuff. Like Ms. Herrera Beutler said, I wish we were here for a more celebratory cause, but this is very important. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Strickland), from the city of Tacoma, one of our newest colleagues in the House of Representatives.

Madam Speaker, I thank Ms. Strickland for making this very special. Pierce County is a huge and important part of our State. Unfortunately, one of the most recent tragedies was in Pierce County, and I thank the gentlewoman for being part of this Special Order and recognizing that.

Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer), my final speaker today. He may be the last but certainly one of the best, and he is a good friend, who I served with in the State legislature, from Gig Harbor.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Kilmer for his great words and for putting some specifics around what we can do to help the men and women in blue and green and brown keep our communities safe.

Madam Speaker, the cost, as you know, of keeping our communities safe, keeping us safe, is great. The people who pay the price of that cost are very dedicated, special people. It truly is a solemn honor for all of us to be able to pay tribute to, and to thank, the men and women who work every day to do just that, keep us safe.

As Mr. Kilmer just said, we should be committed to doing all we can to provide all they need for them to be able to do their jobs.

Madam Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues from the State of Washington, and I thank the men and women who do their jobs without thinking twice, who are dedicated to protecting us, to keeping our families and communities safe. We owe them a great deal.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Scott Sax, who is retiring as the president and project manager of the Central Plateau Cleanup Company at Hanford.

A leader in the nuclear cleanup industry, Scott has been a pioneer in paving the way for the future of the Hanford Site for the last 20 years. I've had the chance to get to know Scott over the years, and let me tell you, his experience at Hanford has covered just about everything--from the tank farms to the Plutonium Finishing Plant and K Basins, to the Hanford vitrification plant.

Under Scott's leadership, Washington Closure Hanford achieved critically important milestones for the cleanup mission along the Columbia River. His passion for serving the people of Central Washington is admirable and I congratulate him on his many achievements during his career.

I thank Scott for his many contributions to the State of Washington and the nuclear industry and I wish him, his wife Lauri, and his family the very best in his well-earned retirement.