Washington House Democrats

OLYMPIA— Responding to huge increases in responsibilities and time pressures facing military reservists and members of the Washington National Guard, the state House of Representatives voted unanimously today to double the amount of military leave allowed to state and local government employees from 15 to 30 days annually.

“Our citizen soldiers risk their lives and make enormous personal sacrifices to serve our state and country, and they shouldn’t have to sacrifice their limited family time and vacation time on top of everything else,” said state Rep. Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup, who authored the measure passed today.

Morrell crafted the measure (HB 1127) after hearing from a Puyallup constituent who said he and soldiers under his command were finding it increasingly difficult to balance family responsibilities with training and other military responsibilities.

The constituent, whose name was withheld to protect his privacy, told Morrell about  excruciating time-pressures he faces as a family man who is also a Sergeant with the Seattle Police Department and a Major in the Washington Army National Guard. But his main concern was helping the soldiers under his command and preserving the ability to recruit guard members in the future.

“I am asking that the Legislature recognize that members of the National Guard and Reserves face a much greater burden now than in the past,” the Puyallup constituent said in an October letter to Morrell.

This is the second time that Morrell mustered unanimous support for her military leave proposal in the House. The bill was also supported by every Democrat and Republican in the House in 2007, but died in the Senate.

“I’ve talked and talked with senators about the urgent need to get this help to members of the National Guard, reservists and their families, and I’m confident we can get the bill signed into law during this 60-day session,” said Morrell.

Morrell is a member and former co-chair of the Joint Committee on Veteran and Military Affairs in the Legislature. On Veterans Day, 2007, she was one of two lawmakers named Outstanding Legislator by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee.

Related Links
HB 1127