WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Legislative Update from Rep. Dawn Morrell

I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be back down in Olympia fighting for 25th district families on the issues important to us. Believe it or not, we are already one month into the 2013 legislative session and I have much to bring you up-to-speed on!

I was sworn-in back on January 14th and it’s been a whirlwind of committee meetings, constituent appointments, caucus meetings and floor action since.

Dawn-Swearing in

This session I serve as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services as well as a member of the Appropriations Committee, Health Care and Wellness Committee and the Technology and Economic Development Committee. We have had many public hearings and work sessions on upcoming legislation and have been listening to the testimony of people from all over the state as we decide which bills to send to the House floor.

Moving forward with health care reform
One of my major priorities has been working with my colleagues on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the Medicaid Expansion to help make sure that everyone has access to the healthcare they need.  This is one of the things that drove me to run for the legislature in the first place and I am truly excited by the prospect of what we can do with the implementation of these programs.

We have the potential to insure 385,000 more people, save the state $200 million and change the whole healthcare system from an expensive medical care system to one that focuses on the health of an individual.  No one should lose a home or worry at night over the cost of their medical bills and it’s time to get everyone access to the care they need.

Funding our schools right

Education is going to be one of the major focuses of session and there has already been much discussion by members of both parties, and between the House and the Senate, on how we are going to actually meet our constitutional obligation to basic education.  You can be sure that I am making education funding a top priority but we don’t just want to give it lip service, we want to fund education, and fund education right.

Any parent knows that the success of a child does not solely depend on the few hours a day they are in a classroom.  If a child is hungry, doesn’t have the proper clothes, or their family doesn’t have the resources or job they need to support themselves, then that child will struggle. I am committed to passing a balanced budget that not only meets the obligations to our schools and teachers, but that also protects struggling families throughout the Pierce County area.

February is American Heart Month

As a nurse, I’d hate to miss an opportunity to promote public health and wellness. Every February we recognize American Heart Month.

Heart disease is still the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In fact, one out of every four deaths is due to heart disease and about 715,000 Americans will have a heart attack this year alone.

The good news is that heart disease is highly preventable. The Center for Disease Control is offering some easy tips for improving your heart’s health.

  • Eat a healthy diet… Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables- adults should have at least five servings each day.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for disease.
  • Exercise regularly… The Surgeon General recommends that adults should engage in moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week.
  • Monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so be sure to have it checked on a regular basis.

Telephone town hall this week

On Wednesday, February 13th I will be holding my first telephone town hall of the session. The interactive call will focus on health care issues and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act here in our state.

Whether you would like to ask a question or just listen-in, I’d love for you to join me on the call. You should receive a call at about 6:10 PM on the 13th. To participate, simply pick up the phone and follow the prompts. If for some reason you don’t receive a call, you can dial 1-877-229-8493 and enter 18646 to be connected to the call.

In addition to the telephone town hall, I’ll also be holding an in-person town hall later this session. I will be sure to pass along that information to you when I have it!