Dear friends and neighbors,
Last month we kicked off the 2023 Legislative Session. We wanted to send you a quick note to highlight some of our biggest priorities for the year, as well as some great ways to stay engaged along the way. It continues to be a privilege to represent all of you in the 34th district – never hesitate to reach out to us if there’s anything we can do to better support you or your family.
A Note from Emily
Washington needs strong reforms to dismantle systemic injustices so that every family has a chance to thrive. That starts with the basics: high-quality early learning and public education, economic justice for working people, and access to affordable, permanent housing for all. Without these essentials, far too many Washington families get trapped in a cycle of poverty that is almost impossible to escape.
I hope to use my time here in Olympia to change that.
This session, I’ll be serving as Vice Chair of both the Housing & Local Government Committees, as well as a member of the Capital Budget committee.
I believe we have the opportunity to make real progress this legislative session, but only if we have the courage to take bold action. I hope you’ll join us as we begin this new journey together.
A Note from Joe
With the 2023 Legislative Session under way I have an update to pass along-
My colleagues have trusted me to serve as the new House Majority Leader. This means I’ll help lead the House Democratic Caucus, including intensive work on our proposed budget and caucus-wide priorities.
Some of the biggest things on our agenda this year are housing, behavioral health, climate change, workforce growth and development, and criminal justice reform. I know these are broad categories, so expect more detailed information as we get further into session.
I’m also excited to have Rep. Alvarado joining our legislative delegation and look forward to working together for you.
Stay Engaged this Session
- Learn — Curious about how the legislative process works? You can watch a start-to-finish overview by clicking here. If you prefer text instead, click here.
- Watch — TVW.org broadcasts all legislative debates, votes, committee hearings and other events in the House and Senate. There’s also an extensive archive of past events if you can’t watch it live. Check out TVW’s “Legislative Review” for a quick recap of everything that’s happened each day of session.
- Research — Find detailed information about legislation by lawmaker or topic by clicking here.
- Testify — Share your thoughts on legislation! This session, you’ll be able to testify in person, remotely or in writing based on what’s easiest for you. Click here for more information on how to testify.
The legislative page program is back!
With the Legislature returning to in person session in Olympia, the legislative page program is back and accepting applications! The page program gives young Washington residents the chance to learn and participate in the legislative process by attending page school, assisting offices, delivering messages and working on the House & Senate floors.
This unique opportunity is open to Washington residents who are at least 14 years old but have not reached their 17th birthday. We’re making a one-time exception this session to allow 17 & 18-year-olds to participate during two specific weeks since the program was discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information, visit the page program’s website by clicking here.
Thanks for reading!
– Emily and Joe
