One of the highest honors I have as a Member of Congress is nominating the next generation of young leaders to America's service academies. I'll be holding an open house in Vancouver on Tuesday evening for new applicants to learn more about the process. Stop by!

We need to be able to build things that last and pass them down to create real wealth for our kids – and the Teamsters I met with yesterday agree. I don't want to live in a country that's been turned into a permanent class of renters. People should own their own shit.

In every community I go to in Southwest Washington, I hear horror stories about fentanyl. It's a truly evil force permeating American life that requires an all of the above approach to address.

Next week, my bipartisan constituent services team will be holding our twenty-fourth mobile office hours, this time in Thurston County! 6292.

It's often overlooked how great our water and sewer systems are in this country. We can't take that for granted. But to keep what we've got, we need to make sure that the next generation of skilled workers get trained.

Pharmacy Benefits Managers are jacking prescription drug prices up for Americans all over the country. I'm fighting for transparency about how they operate.

Currently, high school students can get AP credits in subjects like Biology, Calculus, and even Art classes. But for some reason, we don't elevate Shop Class to that same level — even though it's where you strengthen hands-on skills foundational to a career in the trades.

It’s important for me to sit down and talk with law enforcement agencies like Centralia Police Department to understand the unique challenges they face.

After the horror of 9/11 I saw my country come together with an urgency sprung from recognizing the fragility of life — and our way of life.

John Baillie rings loud today — “O merciful Father, you look on the weakness of your human children more in pity than in anger, and more in love than in pity.” Praying for Charlie Kirk and his young family, and that our country would turn towards the peacemakers and away from this isolating anger.

There is broad consensus affirming what parents already know — mandatory active school shooter drills are deeply traumatizing for children and have no evidence of decreasing fatalities. youtu.be/jveOqXjTCis

My team will be holding Mobile Office Hours tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10 in Pacific County to provide assistance navigating federal agencies like the VA, IRS, or Social Security Administration.

You’ve probably seen the craftsmanship that’s coming out of Silver Star Industries, their products are used all over the country. It was really cool to visit their shop floor in North Bonneville and see their work firsthand.

In Washington, as well as in most states in the West, the only way we vote is by mail. Paper ballots are the gold standard of election security, and voting by mail is great for working people who don’t have time to stand in line all day.

Rural emergency management departments have to make a little go a long way. They shouldn’t be bogged down by having to wade through paperwork or chase funding opportunities around.

Upwards of 75% of the emergency vehicles industry has been consolidated by just three companies. That's driven the price of a new rig to nearly a million dollars in some instances and made it ridiculously expensive for first responders to get replacement parts in others.

I signed. We need to go after all child predators. A powerful last name and fancy lawyers shouldn't give anyone a free pass to hurt kids.

We owe our veterans not only our gratitude but also our action, and Rich and Rhonda Black are a prime example of that.

Today, I joined the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council and the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Labor Council to celebrate Labor Day. I’m grateful to the hard-working men and women in Southwest Washington who keep our lights on, our communities safe, and work with their hands to build things that last.

Veterans want to continue serving their communities and country, and the federal government should be empowering them. But too often, veterans are confronted with roadblocks as they transition to applying their hard-earned skills in civilian life.

I appreciate everyone who came out to my recent town hall in Longview to let me know what’s front of mind for you and your families.

Public works folks are some of my favorite people. I enjoyed visiting the Carol J. Curtis Well Field with Clark PUD and seeing these talented people in action.

Doug Paulson, or as many know him “Coach Doug,” is a true example of patriotism, service & dedication. For 33 years, Doug served as a Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy, and he’s also been a leader with Southwest Washington Police Activities League, where he has coached hundreds of kids in Clark County.

Today’s the first day of school in the Stevenson-Carson School District, but it looks very different for many students in Skamania County than it did last year.

Mayor Rob Gordon lived a life of service, dedication to his community, and true patriotism. From working as a volunteer firefighter before he was 16, to serving as Assistant Fire Chief and Mayor of Bucoda, he never hesitated to help a neighbor.

This time of year, I have a morbid fascination with windfall apples rotting in ditches – so I was pretty excited to run into a local Grange pressing cider. 
Our local Grange Halls are the grandaddies of community and economic power for agricultural America.

I appreciated the chance to sit down with the Cowlitz Chaplaincy and learn more about their unique perspective on what law enforcement, victims, and their loved ones need on their darkest days. Chaplains are unsung heroes and I’m so grateful for their selfless service.

My great-great uncle, Andrew Wilson, was a stonecutter in Tenino. So it was especially meaningful to sit down with Dan and Keith, two Tenino stonecutters who are continuing that heritage, to talk about what we can do to foster a culture that values knowing how to make things that last.

Volunteer firefighters in rural communities like these guys I met in Yacolt yesterday are usually the first people to answer the call when one of their neighbors has a problem. They put their community first, and I’m so thankful for their patriotism and service.

My town hall in Skamania County this coming Friday will be my eighteenth since I’ve been in Congress. My top priority is delivering on issues that matter to the people of Washington’s Third District, and these town halls help focus my work on what matters to you and your family.

Democracy is all about commitment to community. I’m very grateful to everyone who participated in my town hall in Battle Ground tonight. Your willingness to engage on the issues that matter most to you, your families, and your neighbors will continue to guide my priorities in Congress.

Downstream communities affected by Mount St. Helens are still dealing with the long-term effects of the eruption. We need to trust their knowledge and experiences as we look for solutions to the ongoing challenges they face.

Volunteer groups like the Longview Pioneer Lions Club are part of the fabric that makes Southwest Washington so special. Their willingness to dig into issues like the substance use crisis and cognitive acuity standards for members of Congress will help inform my work in D.C.

Local leaders in Longview are doing the important work to make sure their neighbors have clean drinking water by upgrading the city's reservoir. The knowledge I gained from visiting the site is going to help guide my push to bring federal dollars home to support the project.

On Wednesday, I’ll be holding my sixth town hall of the year. My legislative priorities in Congress come directly from discussions like these, and I’m grateful to everyone who participates. Your engagement makes our democracy work.

The team at LifePort exemplifies what it means to steward the talents of skilled craftsmen. I enjoyed learning more about what they do to keep our troops and law enforcement agents safe, and I’ll keep supporting local manufacturers like them across Southwest Washington.

I’ll be holding my fifth town hall of the year in Longview tomorrow, August 14, at 5:30 PM. I hope to see you there and answer your questions about the issues that matter most to you and your family.

The hydroelectric power generated at Cowlitz Falls helps hardworking families in Southwest Washington keep the lights on at a cost that doesn’t break the bank. It was great to see the dam up close to hear about the importance of trades education and how we can build things that last.

The Morton Loggers’ Jubilee is the kind of thing that makes me proud to be an American. It was great to be there again this weekend for the lawn mower races and celebrate the timber heritage that makes Southwest Washington such a special place.

Rural communities like mine rely on SRS funds for schools & roads to address timber revenue shortfalls. After the program expired, the Senate voted to renew it, and it's a shame the House was sent home until Sept. without passing it. We need action now. www.camaspostrecord.com/news/2025/au...

As a small business owner, I know how crucial it is to plan for a rainy day, and hardworking families know it too. Our government should hold itself to the same standard, so my bill requires annual fiscal contingency plans so our economy can better weather any crisis.

Congratulations to Vancouver PD Officer Nick Copley for retiring from the U.S. Navy. Thank you for serving not only your community, but also your country. It was an honor to be able to fly such an important flag over the U.S. Capitol.

Our kids are starting a new school year, but our rural schools have been left out to dry. The SRS program expired, and our timber counties have already laid off teachers and halted road projects. Congress must act now, and our kids deserve a long-term fix.

In Pacific County, I'm fighting for investments in healthcare, our fishermen, and critical wastewater infrastructure to help keep your utility rates down. These funds are now through the Appropriations Committee, and I'll keep working to make it a reality.

Thanks to the @seattletimes.com Editorial Board for supporting basic, nonpartisan ethics standards for Representatives facing major cognitive decline. Every American deserves fierce representation, and my proposal would keep Congress accountable and voters informed.

In Congress, I'm fighting for what's worth having. We get there with a more level playing field for small businesses, investments in public utilities to keep costs down for families, and robust pathways to good jobs in the trades.

I'm so proud of the students in Southwest Washington who've placed at the national SkillsUSA conference. It's a fantastic opportunity for students to test out their career-ready skills – and competitions like these are how we honor hands-on work in our next generation.