OLYMPIA – In his freshman session, state Rep. Luis Moscoso’s plate is full with leadership duties and committee assignments.
As Moscoso—a Mountlake Terrace Democrat—learns the ropes of serving his first term in the Legislature, he takes on a leadership position and four committee assignments.
Recently elected Assistant House of Representatives Majority Whip, Moscoso’s duties will include keeping track of his peers to ensure that members are in attendance for votes taken on the House Floor.
“I am deeply grateful that I’ve been given this responsibility and I look forward to this session’s hard work,” Moscoso said. “I will not disappoint my colleagues, who have entrusted me with encouraging an honest debate and ensuring that good policy is enacted as we work on core issues like fixing our economy, creating jobs and protecting our most vulnerable citizens.”
Moscoso was sworn in as State Representative for the 1st Legislative District during last month’s special session when he replaced Mark Ericks, who left the Legislature to take the job of U.S. Marshal for Western Washington.
Moscoso serves on four House committees: Environment, General Government Appropriations & Oversight, Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness, and Transportation.
“Serving in these committees is allowing me to have an educated perspective on a wide array of issues,” said Moscoso. “The amount of information we study is enormous and, while policy on paper is very informative, I highly value the opportunity to listen to citizen testimony in the public hearings.”
The newly created House Environment Committee considers issues relating to climate change, renewable energy, recycling and solid waste, hazardous waste, toxics, air quality, aquatic lands, oil spill prevention, the State Environmental Policy Act, and parks and recreation. The committee also oversees the Puget Sound Partnership’s activities.
The House General Government Appropriations & Oversight Committee considers issues relating to funding and oversight of general government, natural resources, corrections programs and agencies, and makes funding recommendations to the Ways and Means Committee.
The House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee works on issues relating to law enforcement agencies, crime prevention, criminal penalties and sentencing, registration and civil commitment of sex offenders, adult correctional programs and institutions, mentally ill offenders, and state and local government preparedness to respond to public emergencies.
The House Transportation Committee oversees all transportation modes in our state, including state highways, ferries, transit and rail.
“Receiving these four critical committee assignments will enable me to deliver on the key issues that are impacting people in my district and throughout the state,” said Moscoso. “We have a huge to-do list in our hands, from getting the economy revved-up to keeping our air and water clean, our correctional facilities in check, finding creative solutions to our transportation problems, and supporting small businesses and workers alike; I am both excited and ready for the challenges ahead.”
Moscoso will spend at least 20 hours per week in public committee hearings. The legislative session began on January 10, will run for 105 calendar days and is scheduled to end on April 24.