This is your Northwest report for Tuesday, February 21, I'm David Sparks and remember yesterday Republican representative from Hood River Oregon Greg Walden came out with a pledge to improve healthcare for many rural Americans. Today we find out that Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined 42 Members of Congress in cosponsoring H.R. 1121, the Pre-Existing Conditions Protection Act of 2017. Here is Congressman Simpson's spokesperson Nikki Wallace: “It is clear that Idahoans want patient-centered reforms that put health care decisions into the hands of patients.That is why Simpson cosponsored Chairman Walden’s bill to protect patients with pre-existing conditions. Preserving access and providing safeguards is a perfect example of a patient-centered reform that puts consumers in the driver’s seat.”

Elsewhere, according to agri-pulse.com, the Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, clearing the way for him to begin working to remove or soften Obama-era regulations on the agriculture and energy sectors.

Finally Seattle climatologists are saying that this February could break the all-time record for rainfall.