Newhouse: Congress Must Do More For The Ag Sector

While the 2018 Farm Bill has been extended, maintaining funding for a host of farm programs and projects, many in the agriculture community feel that Congress doesn’t appreciate, or doesn’t care about the needs of farmers.  Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse is one of a handful of farmers currently serving in Congress.

“Ag Country is feeling some tremendous pressures right now. I understand that, I feel that on our own farm.  I see that in my neighbors' operations as well up and down central Washington, it's a very similar story," Newhouse said.  "And interestingly, it's the same way across the country.  So, I do think Congress has some ideas to the state of the agricultural industry.”

Newhouse added the glacial pace at which D.C. moves can be extremely frustrating.  He said lawmakers need to learn how to do multiple things at once.

“We can walk and chew gum at the same time, so to speak, and so some of the issues of international importance can be accomplished while we are addressing those things on a of national importance.  And we have to do that, we have to multitask.  That's why I continue every single day to try to educate and drive home the urgency of some of the things that we must accomplish on behalf of our agricultural industry, because it is so important.”

When the 119th Congress starts January 3rd, Newhouse will return to the House Ag Committee, a position he first held during his first term in 2015-2016.

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