According to Harvard Medical Magazine, 100% of Americans have microplastic in their body.

– 2025

 

Humanity is facing a “triple planetary crisis”: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

UNFCCC, 2022

 

In 2021, Washington had more wildfires than the first six months of any year on record since the states’ comprehensive tracking began in 2005.

-Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

 

Washington State will have it’s fourth year of drought in 2026.

– Dave Upthegrove, Public lands Commissioner

Eastern Washington is rich in natural beauty. From golden hills, to lakes, to forests. We live in an area that has something for everyone. Human beings have lived off of the land since the beginning of time. Our resources are limited and we need to make sure that they are properly managed and protected for our benefit, our survival, our safety as well as the sustainability and health of our only planet.

That’s why we need to protect our environment and preserve the balance of our ecosystems. I am committed to finding solutions that foster investment in our communities, as well as protect our precious natural resources and keep Eastern Washington safe and healthy for future generations.

Hemp! Hamp! Hooray! is designed to produce the multitude of byproducts from hemp including hemp blocks for building affordable, new housing which preserves our forests, creates jobs, and is a sustainable crop-based source for building materials. Grant funding for this type of manufacturing and processing of raw hemp on a regional level is a job creator and a benefit to the environment.

Pass on Plastic is another farm-related bill I have written which not reduces single use plastics, creates grants for plastic recycling and re-use businesses and stimulates businesses in wheat straw packaging, wheat bio-plastic or molded fiber packaging using leftover wheat stocks and husks.

Support a program to produce blue and green ammonia fertilizer on a regional basis, improving the environmental impact, lowering the cost of fertilizer and creating jobs.

We need to get serious about rail and other forms of public transport and makes plans in every industry that relies on oil to move away from its use. Transportation is the largest contributor and we start with fleet vehicles owned and operated by the government and provide incentives that have an expiration date that meets market supply to push demand. This must be reinforced with programs to create a network of charging stations unlike prior bills that have been a disappointment. R&D must work to increase efficiency to meet new, higher public standards and we need to research ways to retrofit or decrease output of older vehicles as those that can not afford to buy new will keep old cars on the market until the used market grows to meet demand.