This week as Chairman of the Western Caucus, I led a group of 14 lawmakers to the Southern Border.   Facing Our Nation's Southern Border Crisis Head-On This week as Chairman of the Western Caucus, I led a group of 14 lawmakers to the Southern Border to see firsthand the chaos that is unfolding and hear directly from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) about the challenges they face amidst this crisis. People are desperate to come to the United States. I don’t blame them for wanting to come. But we need to have a controlled entrance into our country, or we’ve lost our sovereignty. While there, we heard from CBP who informed us that illegal immigrants have even been breaking into homes in order to steal food and clothes from American families. This problem has gotten so bad that members of the local community have been leaving their doors unlocked just to prevent further damage to their homes. Fentanyl is also flowing in at a rapid rate, and with the price of the illicit substance going down, the supply is increasing and it is becoming substantially easier to move it across our nation. From drugs and human trafficking to damage to local communities, law enforcement is struggling to manage this unprecedented crisis. While the Biden Administration has made clear their willingness to ignore our Southern Border, I am committed to delivering common-sense, actionable solutions to secure our borders, support the pathway to legal immigration, and stop the flow of illicit fentanyl—for the good of communities across Central Washington and the nation. See Footage from the Border Here Fighting to Protect Federal Lands from the Illegal Immigration Crisis While at the Southern Border this week, I attended the House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee Hearing on the Biden Administration's border crisis and how it affects our federal lands. The Biden Administration has tried again and again to lock up our public lands – and using our Federal Border lands as an open door for migrants is a true dereliction of duty to the American people. Public lands are stewarded by the American people and in my position as Chairman of the Western Caucus, I am working daily to ensure we are protecting our resources while actively managing our lands. This alarming number of continued record-breaking illegal crossings shows how dire the situation is. Every district, whether Central Washington or beyond, is now a border district because of this ongoing crisis. Also, the lands that we work to diligently conserve are being trashed and disrespected, which is unacceptable. It is imperative that swift action is taken to secure our border and I will continue to work diligently to ensure that it does. Safeguarding Wenatchee and Yakima Postal Operations and Maintaining Election Integrity This week, I led a letter to United States Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, and the Western States Government Relations Liaison Director, Jennifer Selde with concerns about local delivery services and election integrity. Upholding delivery standards and election integrity measures is the basis of the United States Postal Services’ operational mandates, and ensuring these requirements are being met is of the utmost importance. The new USPS proposal to move some Wenatchee and Yakima post office operations to Spokane and Seattle will slow the already frustrating process of mail delivery to our rural communities. This proposal will also make mail-in voting more difficult for our region, and it is crucial that we maintain the standards that the American people both expect and deserve. I am urging The U.S. Postmaster General to reconsider this unreliable proposal for the sake of their customers and voters. Read the Full Letter Here Meeting with Visitors from Central Washington This week, I had the honor of meeting with the Washington State Habitat for Humanity Team. We discussed the low supply of affordable houses—especially for entry level homeownership, the challenges their team is seeing locally, and legislative opportunities for Congress. I look forward to continuing the conversation around housing and prioritizing policies which will increase the number of affordable homes in our region. I also met with the Dry Pea and Lentil Council and American Pulse Association this week, where we discussed trade, farm bill updates, my work on the House Committee on Appropriations, and more. Pulse crops provide us the nutrient dense foods that people need to improve their health, and I will continue to advocate for their priorities in Congress.   Services My Office Provides Having trouble navigating the bureaucratic red-tape of a federal agency? Need assistance with VA benefits? Looking to book a tour of our nation's capital? Visit my website to see all the services my office provides. Visit My Website for More Information Looking for Summer Interns Are you a currently an undergraduate student or recent college graduate interested in learning about the legislative process firsthand in the heart of our nation? If so, I am currently seeking paid congressional interns for the Summer 2024 term. The internships are in-person and will run from May to the end of August. Dates are flexible. Apply on My Website   It is an honor and a privilege to serve you in Congress. To stay up to date on how I am working to represent Central Washington, I encourage you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also find regular updates on my website. Sincerely, Dan Newhouse Contact Me     Rep. Dan Newhouse | 504 Cannon House Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20515 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]