On the recordJanuary 21, 2015
As the newly elected Congressman from central Washington, I rise to mark the 150th birthday of Yakima County, a county at the heart of my congressional district and the county where I was born and am proud to call my home. The Washington Territorial Legislature created Yakima County in 1865, nearly 25 years before Washington itself became a State. I am a third-generation Yakima County farmer. My family and I continue to operate a 600-acre farm near the city of Sunnyside. Even before the creation of Yakima County, the agricultural industry recognized the vast environmental benefits of the region. Today, agriculture remains the lifeblood of Yakima County's economy, and I am pleased to represent those interests before the House Committee on Agriculture. Today marks Yakima County's sesquicentennial. Happy 150th birthday. It is an honor to represent you in Congress. ____________________
