Rep. Newhouse visits Ritzville for Meet and Greet

Congressman Dan Newhouse made a return trip to Ritzville on July 6 to meet with community leaders to discuss local and national issues and concerns. Newhouse has been serving as congressman for the Fourth District for six months, and made his first trip to Ritzville since being elected.

Newhouse explained he currently serves on four committees in Congress: Agriculture Committee; National Resources Committee; Science, Space and Technology Committee; and the Rules Committee.

At the national level, Newhouse said the primary discussions are around trade, the treaty with Iran, healthcare, transportation and water. As states throughout the country suffer from drought conditions, water has been at the forefront of discussions as representatives work to find solutions, Newhouse said.

The first question poised to Newhouse concerned the ability to have safety issues with railroads included in the Federal Transportation Act.

Community members described the situation with Ritzville being split by a rail line, and with increased rail traffic in the upcoming years, there is growing concern about the safety of residents and visitors.

Newhouse asked questions regarding the issues of the railroad, and explained Ritzville is not the only community affected by the increased rail traffic. He said safety concerns with rail traffic is an ongoing conversation he has with constituents.

Mayor Linda Kadlec asked Newhouse about the possibility of breaching the dams on the Snake River, and Newhouse replied he believed it was highly unlikely. He said activist groups would ensure it remains in conversation, but it is not an issue currently.

Newhouse also discussed the progress of the Columbia River Treaty. He explained a letter had been sent to the state and the Obama administration and recently received a response.

Though there has not been any progress yet, Newhouse believes it will begin soon, as the Army Corps of Engineers is also engaged in the discussion.

He also discussed the ongoing Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations and the passing of the Trade Promotion Authority.

Newhouse said trade is vitally important to the nation, and Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the country. Because of this, Newhouse explained, it is crucial to remain active in international and fair trade agreements.

When asked about the long-term effects of the recent port slow down on the west coast, Newhouse said the country will be feeling the negative effects of the slow down for a long time. Just because the issue has now been resolved does not mean the issue should be forgotten about, Newhouse said, and it is crucial for leaders to work on a solution to prevent further slow downs in the nation’s ports.

Lind-Ritzville Schools Superintendent Rob Roettger addressed the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind.

Newhouse said it should be determined by August and it appears to be going in a good direction.

Roettger continued on to say while the overall programs associated with the program as good, such as assessments and highly qualified teachers, rural schools struggle to meet the demands of the new programs due to limited staffing. He told Newhouse small districts are struggling to meet the expectations, while still providing a variety of learning opportunities to students.

A question was raised regarding cyber security and Newhouse said identity theft and cyber security is a priority for the federal government. Newhouse said the country must remain vigilant in trying to prevent cyber attacks, but the National Security Administration also has to be careful with privacy and ensure citizens are protected, but their privacy is not invaded.

With water being an ongoing issue, Newhouse explained the ongoing Columbia-Snake River treaty work is being based around the desire to expand irrigated ground with an innovative new method. Though the treaty is antiquated, Newhouse said research needs to be done to ensure resources are being used to benefit all users and other options should be looked into.

Those in attendance brought up the future of ObamaCare, as well as began a discussion about veteran’s services at the VA. Newhouse agreed the VA has huge issues, and he has been meeting with veterans to discuss their level of care and needs.

He said he finds veterans like the services they receive after being admitted into the VA, but the red-tape process to get in has many veterans frustrated or prevented from receiving services.

Regarding the future of ObamaCare, Newhouse said the longer it is in place, the harder it will be to change. While the healthcare act has provided increased healthcare access to citizens, there are still issues regarding it. He said for the most part, citizens are not receiving coverage that they did at a previous level, or the coverage is more expensive.

Newhouse also touched briefly on the Transportation Plan, which will most likely be postponed passed September, he said. He expects Congress to “kick the can” on the issue, but hopes a decision will be reached by the end of the year. Adams County Public Works Director Todd O’Brien stated the postponing of the plan puts counties in a difficult situation as they are unable to plan capital projects since they do not know what time of federal funding will be available.

Newhouse ended the meeting by encouraging residents to contact him by phone or email to keep him informed on issues and concerns in the district. He said he relied heavily on public feedback and input.