RECAP: McMorris Rodgers Hosts Two Town Halls, Meets with Colville Community Leaders and Kalispel Tribe

Cusick, Wash. – Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) yesterday hosted two town halls in Chewelah and Usk. She also led a roundtable discussion with Colville community leaders and met with representatives of the Kalispel Tribe. Details and photos from these events are below.

Chewelah Town Hall

Cathy began her day in Chewelah for a “Conversations with Cathy” town hall at the Chewelah Civic Center. At the event, attendees shared their concerns and asked questions about a variety of topics, including: protecting Social Security, expanding Medicaid for individuals with disabilities, the dangers of fentanyl, bringing down the federal debt, the need to secure the southern border, strengthening forest management efforts, and more.

Roundtable Discussion with Colville Community Leaders

Next, Cathy led a roundtable with a group of Colville community leaders. The group had a productive discussion on crime plaguing the community’s streets, an increase in drug addiction, the homeless and mental health crises, and school children falling behind in reading as a result of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cathy was joined by Stevens County Sheriff Manke, Colville Police Chief Meshishnek, Colville Mayor Smith, Colville School Superintendent Knight, Stevens County Commissioners Young and McCart, Colville Border Patrol Agent in Charge Petrey, Border Patrol Acting Deputy Chief Crosson.

Meeting with the Kalispel Tribe

Cathy then traveled to Usk to meet with Kalispel Tribe representatives, including Ray Pierre and Afton Servas, as well as staff members Dean Osterman, Mike Lithgow, and Mark Zorica. They had an important discussion on the issues affecting the Kalispel Tribe like housing and labor shortages, closing the digital divide, ways to treat addiction, and how they can work together to achieve common goals.

Hearing from the People of Usk

Finally, Cathy wrapped up her day in Usk hosting her third “Conversations with Cathy” town hall of the week. The event was well-attended by many community members who brought attention to topics like Border Patrol’s struggle to hire agents at the Northern Border, the need to increase natural gas production here in America, expanding rural broadband access, and more. 

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