Each Thanksgiving, I am reminded in Central Washington we have much to be thankful for. We are blessed with gorgeous national forests and public lands, powerful rivers, dams, and bountiful farmland.

As we observe the world around us, it may seem we live in a time where many people are prosperous, yet discontent. To be certain, there are poor among us, and those who find themselves in difficult situations.

Rwanda, even after the years of 1994, is still considered full of poverty and racism - a major problem facing the country today.

The students of Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers were recently given a second chance.

I have never met a veteran who did not inspire me. From the hundreds of veterans who receive assistance from my office seeking lost medals or help with VA benefits to the veterans and their families I meet at community events and pinning ceremonies throughout Central Washington, each of them has a unique story.

It seems like there are so many dangers in our world today, shooting, tornados, fires, drugs, car accidents, diseases, etc.

WASHINGTON DC — When I talk to farmers in Central Washington and across the country, having access to a stable and legal workforce is often their number one concern.

All of Central Washington’s constituents are special, and I am proud to represent each of them in our nation’s capital. One constituent I am most proud of is General James N. Mattis, decorated four-star general and former U.S. Secretary of Defense.

After Jesus Christ’s resurrection, and before He ascended to heaven, he spent some time with His apostles, who He had called and chosen to lead His church on earth after his mission here was complete. Portions of His last instructions to Peter, the chief apostle, are recorded in the Gospel of John, chapter 21. Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter truly loved Him, three times Peter replied “thou knowest that I love thee,” to which Jesus responded, “feed my sheep.”

There has been a lot of buzz around the Snake River dams. In the decades-old argument, anti-dam advocates consistently point out if the people of the Northwest love salmon, the dams have got to go.

With over 300 different commodities, 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.

Across the country, we have seen communities and patients struggle to access and afford healthcare. In rural areas, this struggle is intensified by longer distances and the remote nature of our communities. Living in rural America, we recognize emergency services aren’t always just a phone call away. Many of us travel many miles between our homes and the medical facilities that provide primary and long-term care – not to mention specialized treatments, which are often provided across the mountains in Seattle.

Each year, Congress breaks from session for what is referred to as “August Recess.”