Kenneth Fletcher
WC Monitor
11/14/2014
Ensuring that the federal government lives up to its obligations at Hanford is a priority for Dan Newhouse, the Republican poised to take over the central Washington district being vacated by Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.). Newhouse was declared the winner by the Associated Press as he maintained a slim lead in last week’s elections over fellow Republican Clint Didier, a candidate who had previously questioned increasing Hanford funding. Cleanup at Hanford will be a major focus during his term, Newhouse told WC Monitor this week. “I want to be certain that the federal government continues to live up to its obligation as far as the cleanup is concerned. I’ll be working very closely on that issue,” he said.
The two Republican candidates faced off against each other in this month’s general election under Washington state’s system in which the top two primary candidates compete in the general election, regardless of party. Just a few thousand votes separated the candidates this week out of more than 150,000 cast. Hastings, a longtime advocate for Hanford funding and cleanup during his 10 terms that stretch back to 1994, is leaving Congress in January after choosing not to seek re-election.
Newhouse Looks to Nuclear Cleanup Caucus
Newhouse is attending orientation this week in Washington, D.C., for incoming members of Congress. “One of the criteria I’m using to figure out and select my committee assignments is trying to figure out where I can be most impactful at the Hanford reservation,” he said. He also is interested in participating in the Congressional Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, a group of lawmakers with Department of Energy cleanup sites in their districts that has been led by Hastings. “I want to continue that kind of engagement and work with other members around the country that have similar issues in their districts,” Newhouse said, adding: “I very much want to be a part of it and I’m hopeful that other members are just as excited about continuing that effort.”
On Budget: ‘I Certainly Don’t Want to Go Below Current Levels’
Newhouse also pushed back this week on a proposed funding cut for cleanup work at Hanford. In its Fiscal Year 2015 budget request, DOE had sought about $93 million less for activities overseen by the Richland Operations Office than current levels—a move that has the potential to put cleanup milestones in jeopardy and that raised concerns from Hastings and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Newhouse said that there should not be further cuts to the Hanford cleanup budget, but acknowledged that increasing funds for the site would be difficult. “I certainly don’t want to go below current levels. From what I do understand, there are critical things happening and we need to maintain what we have going on right now,” he said. “Realizing the challenge of maintaining current levels, at least as an incoming freshman, my perception of that task is that it will be challenging. I’ll consider that a win, if I can be helpful in maintaining current levels. I want to learn more about what’s going on and whether an increase in appropriation is appropriate or not.”
