June 18 – MOSES LAKE – There are issues important to Central Washington, but the region is not immune to national concerns, says U.S. Congressman Then Nieuwhuis.
Newhouse was in Moses Lake on Monday, where he toured New Hope/Kids Hope and the site of the new Samaritan Hospital.
“Certainly, a lot of the national issues that people are concerned about affect us as well,” Newhouse said. One of them is immigration.
“The open southern border – a lot of the human trafficking and drugs that come into the country come right here,” Newhouse said. “So many people are coming into the country illegally when we need legal immigrants. We’re trying to improve that situation so we can get the immigrants we need. So we don’t have an open border that’s overrun with immigrants.”
Homelessness is one of those local and national issues that highlights the complexity of solving big problems, he said. A lack of housing contributes to the problem in Washington, and the regulatory environment makes it difficult to build affordable housing in the state, he said. But housing is only part of the problem.
“All these things are intertwined — it’s not easy, simple, ‘This is what we have to do.’ There are a lot of things that contribute to homelessness. There are drug problems, mental health problems, all that stuff, the tough economy and the lack of resources to help people weather the storms that I wish there was an easy solution.”
Newhouse is a third-generation farmer in the Yakima Valley and says it’s not easy to work in agriculture right now.
“The agricultural economy has some real challenges,” he said. “High input costs, interest rates going up, low commodity prices – there are a lot of challenges. Agriculture is a big part of our economy. That’s definitely on my mind.”
Newhouse also cited labor issues and high energy costs to add to the challenges farmers face.
“Energy costs are a big part of what drives everything,” he said. “High prices for gasoline and groceries. Everyone is talking about that. We are trying to get a grip on that and ensure that our energy costs become more affordable.”
Newhouse said he hopes to see progress on the Columbia Basin Project and eventually its completion. He was a leading opponent of dam removal along the lower Snake River.
“Why would we want to tear down things we’ve worked so hard on?” he said.
Newhouse was given a tour of both New Hope and Kids Hope, which provide services to adults and children affected by sexual assault and domestic violence. Director Suzi Fode said the scope of its services has been expanded to include victims of other crimes.
“Anyone who has been hurt or harmed by someone else,” Fode said.
New Hope and Kids Hope operate out of the same facility, but are separated — literally by a concrete wall, Fode said. That actually helps simplify operations, Fode said.
“We try to keep our kids very separated,” she said.
The organization is one of few in the state that offers services for different types of victims in the same location, Fode said.
Kids Hope also has a four-legged staff member: Valor, Kids Hope’s courthouse dog. Valor exists to provide companionship and comfort to children who are clients of New Hope or Kids Hope. Sometimes he also offers comfort to adults, Fode said, from staff to police officers assigned to investigate crimes against children.
Samaritan Chief Executive Officer Theresa Sullivan and hospital district commissioners showed Newhouse progress on construction of the new hospital.
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.
Information box:
Newhouse is running for re-election to Congress this year and has seven challengers in the August primary. Contact details of the candidates can be found below.
Maria Baechler
www.maryforcongress.org.
Jerrod Sessler
www.jerrodforcongress.com
Johannes Malan
www.restore-america.info
Then Nieuwhuis
www.Dannewhouse.com
Benny “B3” Garcia
Vote4bennyWA04@zohomail.com
Barry Knowles
4thdistrictelectbarryk@gmail.com
Tiffany Smiley
www.tiffanysmileyforcongress.com
“Birdie” Jane Muchlinski
birdie4uscongress@gmail.com
