Dear Friends & Neighbors,
Last week I was sitting in a committee hearing in Olympia when I received a text message from Seattle Public Schools that a student named Mobarak Adam was shot and killed near Chief Sealth International High School in West Seattle. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children in America. As the parent of an SPS student, this news was devastating to me.
Since this tragedy, students staged a walkout to demand action. I recently met with members of the Washington Youth Alliance who were lobbying the legislature to pass commonsense gun safety measures. Young people are demanding lawmakers to do more to keep them safe.
That’s why I am working to pass these priorities this session:
- Lost or stolen reporting (HB 1903): 380,000 guns are stolen from gun owners in America each year, many of which are trafficked or used in violent crimes. This bipartisan measure requires that lost or stolen firearms be reported to law enforcement within 24-hours after discovering it.
- Firearm dealer code of conduct (HB 2118): Creating a robust code of conduct for licensed gun dealers will ensure they do everything possible to keep guns off the illegal market and out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. This bill requires gun dealers to secure their inventory against theft, have general liability insurance and maintain sales records to aid gun crime investigations.
- Authorize local governments and law enforcement to dispose of forfeited firearms through transfer to a museum or historical society, and the Washington State Patrol to do so through transfer or destruction (HB 2021).
Learn more about how my personal story inspires my work to end gun violence –>
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Success for students
In addition to keeping kids safe at school, I believe we must do more to set up every student for success. Hungry students can’t learn. Trauma that kids experience at home too often shows up in the classroom. And our students with special needs require more resources.
As a public-school mom and Legislator, I’m laser-focused on these measures to:
- provide FREE breakfast and lunch for ALL public-school students (HB 2058) 🍳🥞🥓
- purchase zero emissions school buses which will improve kids’ health and performance in school (HB 1368) 🚌🌲🌤️
- make financial education instruction a graduation prerequisite and a required component of public education (HB 1915) 💵💰🏦
- expand special education services to students until the age of 22 (HB 2130) 👩🏫🏫👨🎓
- support student well-being through instruction in social-emotional skills (HB 2239) 🧠🙂🤔
My #1 job is Mom to George and Eleanor, and I am passionate about uplifting up families and children who rely on access to a world-class public education system.
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As always, reach out anytime to my Legislative Assistant Sam Tinsley or email me. It’s an honor to serve you in Olympia.
Best wishes,
State Representative Liz Berry
36th Legislative District