Rep. Schrier Makes Multiple Stops in Kittitas County

ISSAQUAH, WA – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) spent the day on Thursday making several stops in Kittitas County to highlight recent legislative wins and meet with local officials.

"My favorite part of being a Representative is getting to meet my constituents all over the district," said Rep. Schrier. "Even with the pandemic going on, businesses are still open and projects to protect our wildlife and natural habitats are still ongoing. It was helpful to hear directly from local leaders and my constituents about these projects and how the pandemic has affected them."

Rep. Schrier's stops included:

• Visit to Amabilis Mountain to see lands that will be protected by the recent passage of the Great American Outdoors Act, which permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Using LWCF funding, the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest, with partners like The Nature Conservancy, is able to protect fish and wildlife habitat in the upper headwaters of the Yakima River Basin. Rep. Schrier was joined by Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest Superintendent Kristin Bail and others from the Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy, and Mountains to Sound Greenway, all devoted to protecting our public lands.
• Visit to a fuels reduction project site within the Roslyn Urban Forest with members of the Roslyn Fire Department, The Nature Conservancy, Kittitas County Conservation District, and Kittitas County Commissioner Laura Osiadacz. With public and private funding, the fire department is thinning, clearing and burning in the dense forest on the edge of Roslyn, protecting the town and surrounding communities from the threat of catastrophic wildfire.
• Meeting with Cle Elum Mayor Jay McGowan and local small business leaders at the new Kittitas County Chamber Business Development Center. Rep. Schrier and local leaders spoke about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Kittitas County businesses and what the opening of the Kittitas County Chamber Business Development Center will mean for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Visit to Hairpin Ranch in Ellensburg with state Representative Tom Dent (13^th District). Hairpin Ranch is a 274-acre working ranch that was recently protected from development by an easement secured through the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) program. The NRCS program's mission is to improve, protect, and conserve natural resources on private lands through a cooperative partnership with state and local agencies.
• Vietnam-era Veterans pinning ceremony for two veterans in Cle Elum, a husband and wife. Rep. Schrier and her office are proud partners of the Department of Defense's Vietnam War 50^th Anniversary Commemoration. Nominate a Vietnam-era Veteran here: /services/vietnam-era-veterans-pinning-ceremony

"We were delighted to celebrate the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act by visiting Amabilis Mountain, a spectacular area that will be protected as a result of the bill. As we looked out over the beautiful Upper Valley, we talked about how the Great American Outdoors Act will deliver tools and resources to support our public lands – from expanding recreational access, to protecting working forests, and fixing aging infrastructure. The Act is a big win for Central Washington and we are grateful for Congresswoman Schrier's support for the bill," added Darcy Batura, Forest Partnerships Manager, The Nature Conservancy.