Newhouse hosts telephone town hall

MOSES LAKE — Congressman Dan Newhouse held a live telephone town hall meeting Wednesday night, engaging with residents from Central Washington's Fourth Congressional District.  

“Thank you for joining me this evening. I want to hear what’s on your mind,” he said. 

Newhouse, R-Washington, represents the state in the U.S. Houses of Representatives and said he wanted to address local concerns and get constituent feedback. Newhouse encouraged participation and focused on many topics, from agricultural issues to the fentanyl crisis. There were 19 calls-in users, where people had the opportunity to ask a question.  

One of the topics was the growing influence of the Chinese Communist Party in American agriculture.  

“Food security is national security,” Newhouse said. 

He said he has concerns about land purchases by foreign adversaries. Newhouse recently introduced a legislative effort known as the "Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act," aimed at enhancing oversight on the purchase of agricultural land by foreign entities.  

“The federal government has too often turned a blind eye to this issue,” he said.  

The conversation transitioned to another issue: the fentanyl crisis.  

"We've also recently learned from the news that most of the precursor chemicals that make fentanyl are produced in, you guessed it, China,” Newhouse said. “Not only are they being produced there, but the Communist Chinese party is incentivizing, encouraging and empowering companies in China to send these products to the Mexican cartels in particular. This is leading directly to the increased trafficking of fentanyl across our border and into communities across the country, including right here in Central Washington.” 

Precursors are the ingredients used in making fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. 

Newhouse then spoke about establishing the Central Washington Fentanyl Task Force, initiated to combat the crisis.  

As the hour and half progressed, more call-in questions began to flow. A resident from West Richland brought a localized concern to question at the meeting: rising property taxes in Benton County.  

“My home valuation has doubled in the past ten years, yet my taxes have surged,” the resident said, emphasizing the burdens it placed on those on fixed incomes.  

Newhouse readily acknowledged the problem but clarified it was a state issue, advising the resident to voice his concerns to the state legislature. 

The town hall also tackled questions directly related to agriculture. A Quincy farmer talked about low crop prices amidst soaring food costs.  

“We’re struggling, and the prices we receive for our crops are stagnant,” the farmer said. 

“I'm also a farmer. Agriculture is one of my top priorities in Congress,” Newhouse said. “You know, there are 18 farmers in all of Congress, so many people just do not understand the challenges that farmers face, and so I'm working very hard to help people understand why we need a strong agricultural industry and how we can go about doing that.” 

As the meeting continued, veterans affairs and health care access became points of discussion. One constituent voiced concern regarding the lack of mental health support for active-duty military and veterans, emphasizing the struggles of military families with inadequate benefits.  

“Every opportunity I get, I do what I can to increase not only the availability of what (the Veterans Affairs Administration) can provide, but also the quality of the service that VA provides,” Newhouse said. “I know we don't always have everything people need. I get two groups of veterans: some sing the praises of the VA and think that they have received excellent care from them ... and there's a lot of people who are frustrated as well with what they view as inadequate care.” 

As the 90 minutes ended, Newhouse thanked participants for their engagement.  

“I just want to say thanks to everybody for joining this evening,” Newhouse said. “I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day. This is very important for me to hear what's on your mind. Give me feedback for some of the things that have been going on that helps Truly, it helps me better serve you in Washington, D.C." 

Newhouse, a Republican, is currently up for re-election as the congressman for Washington’s fourth congressional district. His competitor is Republican Jerrod Sessler. The Columbia Basin Herald does not endorse any candidate for political office and encourages all voters to thoroughly research the options on the upcoming November ballot.