Dear friends and neighbors, The 2018 short session is flying by with many exciting bills making their way through the process. This past week, House Bill 1060 passed the house floor on a 67-27 vote. Ducky’s bill, as I call it, was brought to me by a parent who could legally not administer medical marijuana to his epileptic child (nicknamed Ducky) while at school – a medication used to stymie her seizures. Ducky’s bill will protect medical caregivers, in areas where they were not previously, to ensure patients receive the treatment they need. Save the date: Telephone Town Hall This TuesdayPlease join Senator Takko and me at our 19th Legislative District telephone town hall on Tuesday, February 6, from 6:05 to 7:05 pm.
Improving outcomes for 1.1 million studentsThe state’s paramount duty is to fund basic education for every student in Washington. Over the years, that funding became inadequate and the Supreme Court ruled the Legislature had to meet its obligation. In 2017, the Legislature enacted the last remaining major piece of legislation to get our educating funding system back on the right track.
Breakfast After the BellA student has one job upon entering the classroom each morning: to learn. But it’s a very hard job for students who are showing up to school hungry day after day. When hungry kids are distracted wondering where their next meal is going to come from, they aren’t focused on learning.
Making childcare more affordableHigh-quality available and affordable childcare is hard to come by because there is a shortage of providers in our state. Even if parents are able to find available childcare, the cost can be a significant financial burden on working families. Data from Child Care Aware shows that in 2016, the statewide median cost of care for a toddler was $884 per month, or 18 percent of the median income. We passed the Early Start Act in 2015, with the focus on increasing the quality of early learning. While the improvements are great, not all families can enroll their children in these high quality programs. We need to work on increasing access. I am supporting two bills that address these issues: House Bill 2367 establishes a task force to look at childcare affordability and accessibility; and House Bill 2396, the CARE Act, creates incentives for businesses that want to be partners in solving the childcare crisis their employees are facing.
Thanks for reading my newsletter. As always, if you need additional information on these or any other legislative issues, please contact my office. And don’t forget our telephone town hall on Tuesday! |