As Rob Rich tells it, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, kicked off her relationship with the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, of which he serves as president, with a flurry of notes and questions.
Rich described their first meeting, just months after Herrera Beutler took office in 2011, before announcing she is PNWA’s 2018 Legislator of the Year.
“From the get-go, Jaime gets it,” he said at the Portland-based group’s annual conference.
Herrera Beutler said she takes fewer notes now but values the relationship she’s built with the association.
“When it comes to issues that are related to commerce, to resources, to access to our rivers in our waterways, we have decided that our job is to serve you because what you represent are jobs,” Herrera Beutler said.
“This has been a trying eight years, at least in our region for jobs, and today versus where we were when I started, we’re in a much, much better place,” she said. “And you all play a central role in making sure that our rivers and our waterways work for us.”
She added that her role isn’t just to be a voice for the community in Congress, but also in the White House. Protecting local trade from tariffs, for example.
“The biggest question right now for everybody is what’s going to happen with China. I cannot answer that,” Herrera Beutler said after being asked specifically about tariffs and what she’s done to protect Washington.
She mentioned the heads of the U.S. departments of commerce and agriculture.
“I can tell you my job is to make sure that Secretary (Wilbur) Ross and Secretary (Sonny) Perdue are aware of the impacts here locally for us, what it means for us, and I can tell you that they both have been receptive. But ultimately, someone is going to have to pick a fight with China.”
Working together, she added, is key moving forward on all issues facing Southwest Washington.
“This is a fabulous honor,” Herrera Beutler said. “Quite frankly, you don’t ever think you’re going to get recognized in this way, and that’s certainly not why you do it, but I appreciate it.”
