Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who grew up on an orchard in Kettle Falls, Wash., and has been a longtime supporter of agriculture, has announced that she won’t seek re-election.

“It’s been the honor and privilege of my life to represent the people of Eastern Washington in Congress,” McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said in a statement. “They inspire me every day. They are part of the strength and soul of America — the greatest experiment in self-governance the world has ever known. After much prayer and reflection, I’ve decided the time has come to serve them in new ways. I will not be running for re-election to the People’s House.”

McMorris Rodgers’ office declined to comment further.

She was first elected to Congress in 2004, and is currently chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

“For years now, my team and I have lived and worked by our values of having fun while we SERVE — to Seek excellence, that Everybody matters, to Responsibly own it, practice Vigilant integrity, and Embrace change,” McMorris Rodgers said in the statement. “I’m proud of how it’s helped us be more effective and deliver results to my district and the hardworking people of this country. There is no doubt I’ve had the best staff on my team. They are smart, strategic, and committed to building trust.

“Especially as chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I’ve seen the best of Eastern Washington and the United States of America,” McMorris Rodgers stated. “We will spend this year honoring the committee’s rich history — plowing the hard ground necessary to legislate on solutions to make people’s lives better and ensure America wins the future.”

McMorris Rodgers said her No. 1 priority is to pray each day.

“No matter the division, we must unite in prayer,” she stated. “And as we do, we will bring hope and healing to broken lives, broken families, and broken systems failing broken people. Together, may we always be guided by God’s abundant grace and wisdom to keep the promise of America alive.

“The best is yet to come,” she concluded in her statement.

Mike Miller, retired Washington Grain Commission board member and a Ritzville, Wash., wheat farmer, said McMorris Rodgers has been “second to none” as an advocate for agriculture and Eastern Washington.

“For everyone in the entire ag industry, Cathy has really spoke out for us,” echoed Randy Suess, a retired Colfax, Wash., wheat farmer and former grain commission board member. “Whenever we needed her, she really went to bat for us in lots of situations, especially with the lower Snake River dams.”

“Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been a solid rock for us in Washington D.C. for a long time,” said Ben Barstow, chairman of the grain commission. “We’ve really appreciated always having a place to go to be heard and responded to. She’s been a rock star on the Snake River dams and, everything else that wheat growers have ever needed, Cathy was there for us. We’re really going to miss her.”

“The Congresswoman has been a fierce advocate defending the livelihood of Washington’s wheat growers throughout her career, particularly through her relentless fight to preserve the Lower Snake River dams,” said Michelle Hennings, executive director of Washington Association of Wheat Growers. “We are grateful for her service to not only Eastern Washington, but to the entire state. Her presence in Congress will be missed and we wish her the best.”

“She has been a champion for those that make their living from the land and understands the seriousness of a stable and secure food supply,” said Chris Voigt, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission. “Her steadfast support for clean energy production, river navigation, and irrigation for food have been invaluable to those that are closest to the issues. I sincerely hope we can elect a replacement for Cathy who truly understands the 5th Congressional District and will be an advocate and steward for the unique attributes of the District.”

”She’s been such a wonderful advocate for Northwest ag, our hydroelectric dam system and Marine Highway 84,” said Tom Kammerzell, president of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association and a Colfax, Wash., rancher. “Her advocacy is going to be really lost. We hope that somebody getting into her office will take notice of what it does for the economy and Northwest, and run with it.”

Alex McGregor, chairman of The McGregor Company, called McMorris Rodgers a “Rock of Gibraltar” for people in her district, and beyond.

”Her determination to speak out and make a difference for her constituents has been vital in so many ways—for rural communities, schools, hospital districts, for research at our land grant school, rural broadband, helping communities and people in need,” McGregor said. “Cathy has inspired us, the people she proudly serves, in reminding that our voices matter, that public service can achieve results, and that a positive attitude and civility, respect, a willingness to listen and learn mixed with steadfast determination to serve are cornerstones of what makes our nation strong.”

Read Rep. McMorris Rodgers’ full statement

https://mcmorris.house.gov/posts/statement-from-congresswoman-cathy-mcmorris-rodgers