Greetings from YOUR state capitol in Olympia. Today is “Cut-Off Day,” the deadline for most bills to pass out of their first committee.
I’ve been working on a series of bills to keep our families healthy and ensure every kid has the same opportunity to start out strong.
I’m pleased that each of these bills have passed out of committee before the cut-off deadline.
- House Bill 1285 would save lives by providing heart screenings for every newborn;
- House Bill 1365 would give equal access to health care by ensuring kids on Apple Health can get the same developmental screenings and early interventions as other children;
- House Bill 1164 would help schools prepare the healthy foods kids need to thrive;
- House Bill 1669 would help identify who falls through cracks in our health care system and find ways to improve access and affordability of coverage; and
- House Bill 1559 would pave the way for a new WSU Medical School in Spokane to improve access to care in underserved areas.
Healthy Children and Families
Healthy families are the cornerstone of thriving communities. But right now, we’re headed in the wrong direction. High health care costs and our broken food system have led us to a point where my son and daughter’s generation is expected to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
That’s a tough pill to swallow. It doesn’t have to be that way, and that’s why I’ve sponsored these bills.
The battle doesn’t end here. It has been a privilege working with advocates from Spokane and across the state in our continued efforts to secure a brighter future for Washington’s children. It is an honor to serve the 3rd District.
Best Regards,
Representative Marcus Riccelli
3rd Legislative District – Spokane