EPHRATA — Economic development, federal investment and immigration policy are among the issues shaping the race to represent Washington's 4th Congressional District as voters weigh their choices ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. 

Republican Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County commissioner, and Democrat John Duresky, a retired federal employee and military veteran, are seeking to succeed retiring Congressman Dan Newhouse and represent a district stretching across much of Central Washington, including Grant, Adams, Benton, Franklin, Yakima and portions of several neighboring counties. 

As part of the Columbia Basin Herald's election coverage, both candidates were asked a series of identical questions on issues affecting the region and the nation. Their responses will be published in a three-part Q&A series. This is the second installment.

In this edition, McKinney and Duresky discuss the impact of federal investments in Central Washington, from irrigation infrastructure and Hanford cleanup efforts to transportation projects and clean energy development. They also outline their approaches to immigration reform, addressing the challenge of balancing the workforce needs of the district's agriculture industry with calls for stronger border security. 

Ballots must be postmarked or returned to an official ballot drop box by Nov. 3. Voters can verify their registration status and access election information through VoteWA. Grant County voters may also contact the Grant County Elections Office at 509-754-2011 ext. 2704 with election-related questions. 

Question: Billions of federal dollars have flowed into Central Washington through infrastructure, broadband, clean energy and economic development programs. Which investment has delivered the greatest benefit to residents of the 4th District, and which federally funded project or initiative do you believe taxpayers are not getting sufficient value from?

McKinney: I would put federal investment in the Columbia Basin Project at the top of the list. Its irrigation infrastructure supports the farms, food processing businesses and communities that anchor our regional economy. The Odessa Groundwater Replacement Program builds on that investment by helping farms transition from declining groundwater supplies to Columbia River surface water. 

Completed delivery systems are already serving agricultural land. 

An example deserving greater scrutiny is spending associated with Hanford’s original waste pretreatment facility. Federal watchdogs have documented substantial costs, construction delays and shortcomings in evaluating alternatives. Taxpayers deserve clearer answers about what additional spending will accomplish. 

I strongly support fulfilling the federal government’s Hanford cleanup obligations and protecting workers, surrounding communities and the Columbia River. That commitment requires dependable funding alongside stronger oversight, realistic schedules and measurable cleanup progress. The standard should be how much risk we reduce and waste we safely treat for each taxpayer dollar. 

Duresky: The investments that have delivered most for this district are the ones you can see: roads, bridges, water systems and broadband funded through the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. The Apple Loop project is in-work and according to Senator Maria Cantwell, will provide better roadways for fruit growers to more quickly transport their product to market.  

Central Washington has been severely impacted by $7.6 Billion in cuts to clean energy development. Grant County has seen approximately 2,000 job losses. We could be building a new economy for the future, but instead, instability and rapid changes have led to uncertainty and job losses. In Congress, we will work to make sure incentives are in place to get the economy working for everyone. 

Question: Agricultural employers throughout Central Washington say they need a stable workforce, while many voters want stronger border enforcement. If you could pass only one major immigration reform, what would it be, and how would it balance the economic needs of the district with concerns about border security?

Duresky: We have a duty and responsibility as a sovereign nation to control who comes into our country. However, the deportation regime under the current administration is immoral and un-American. Changing the legal status of immigrants without their knowledge, deporting immigrants at their hearings and mandatory appointments, internment camps; these actions are wrong. Our rich agricultural legacy was built on the backs of these immigrants, we owe them a fast, fair and affordable pathway to legal status. And we need legislation for comprehensive immigration reform. 

In conjunction with immigration reform, we must defend agricultural labor access. If we’re going to be reliant on migrant workers to fuel our economies, then our immigration and border policies need to reflect their importance to ensure safe labor and living situations for workers and their families. 

McKinney: I would pursue one comprehensive agricultural workforce and enforcement bill that creates a reliable, lawful hiring system while strengthening border security. 

Our farms, orchards and dairies need workers when the work must be done. I would streamline agricultural worker visas, establish dependable processing deadlines and create a workable option for year-round employers such as dairies. The system should protect workers, require fair treatment and reduce unnecessary administrative costs that make it harder for family farms to compete. 

That reform must also include secure identity verification, screening, enforceable visa requirements and consequences for employers who knowingly violate the law. Border personnel need the resources to stop unlawful entry, trafficking and fentanyl smuggling. 

A functioning legal workforce system and strong enforcement support each other. Agricultural employers should have a dependable way to hire legally, workers should have clear rules and protections, and Americans should have confidence that immigration laws are enforced.