Yakima Times

Throughout his tenure in Congress, the Chairman of the Western Caucus has been actively involved in various committees and caucuses to address issues affecting Central Washington. As Chairman, he emphasizes that the Western Caucus allows him to advocate for rural America's concerns.

The Western Caucus is a bipartisan group with over a hundred members nationwide. It focuses on rural policy issues across the West and beyond. Key priorities include promoting responsible resource development, energy independence, public land access, wildfire prevention through forest management, water infrastructure support, and agricultural empowerment.

The Chairman leads member delegations on field tours to discuss rural priorities. Recent visits included a policy forum in Boise about the Farm Bill and American agriculture challenges, a public lands tour in Grand Teton National Park, discussions on wildfire risk mitigation and Endangered Species Act challenges in Montana, and a tour of Arizona's southern border with Customs and Border Protection.

Two weeks ago, he led a delegation through Washington state's 4th District. They met ranchers in Klickitat County, discussed Farm Bill priorities with local farmers, and observed differences between publicly and privately managed land. These visits help shape legislation aligned with rural values when they return to Washington D.C.

As Chairman, he has introduced several bills addressing Western priorities like forest management. Last month saw the House passage of the Fix Our Forests Act co-introduced with House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04). The act aims to restore forest health by enabling proactive management through reduced lawsuits and expedited permitting.

Affordable energy for rural communities is another focus area. He introduced the Reducing Environmental Gamesmanship (REGS) Act alongside Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming. This bill restricts federal agencies from implementing "environmental justice" standards unless directed by Congress.

The Chairman expresses pride in this year's progress on critical issues for rural America under his leadership of the Western Caucus. He remains committed to advocating for policies that ensure the well-being and prosperity of the region while maintaining its vital role in the nation's future.