Dear friends and neighbors,
February is Black History Month
Recognizing Black History Month while the Legislature is in session is an important reminder to us all. There is so much more work to do to ensure our state is more just, more inclusive, and more representative for Black Americans. During the interim, I met with many families, students, and organizations, including one family frustrated over the years spent with their children trying to get their schools to recognize Black History Month, to truly see and value Black students, and to put equity front and center in response to injustice and inequality.
This legislative session offers us a moment in time to honor and do right by that family and all Black families. What we do this Black History Month, and every month that comes after it, will be judged by history. I want our children and grandchildren to look back at this time and see that we chose unity over division, that we moved our state toward a better future for all Washingtonians of color. As public servants, we’re reminded every day of our sacred oath to serve the people. We can’t truly honor that oath or that better future until we do so. |
Back to school
I’m excited to see our local schools start to re-open their doors to in-person learning. School districts all across our region have been busy prioritizing our youngest learners, planning hybrid schedules, and emphasizing the health and safety of our students and staff.
As I continue to work on policy with my colleagues in the state Legislature, I want to acknowledge and call attention to the incredible work done by our community’s educators to welcome our children back into the classroom safely.
A special note of congratulations to all those students experiencing their very first day of elementary school as kindergartners or first-graders – What a milestone moment for you all, especially now! And as a parent myself, I want to give all the parents a shout-out too, as we continue to navigate remote and hybrid learning and the impacts of the pandemic.
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Tahoma School District |
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Riverview School District |
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Snoqualmie Valley School District |
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Issaquah School District |
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Unemployment insurance relief for businesses and workers
Over the last several months, there haven’t been many days when I didn’t hear from both business owners and laid-off workers distressed over the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the dramatic drop in revenues for many businesses and the emotional cost of letting valued employees go, many businesspeople were facing large hikes in their unemployment insurance premium tax bills, brought on by 2020’s unprecedented volume of claims. On the other hand, workers who were laid off because of the pandemic were calling for help because they were unable to make ends meet on their unemployment benefits.
I read those emails, I listened to those voicemails, and I responded to as many of you as I could, because the gravity of those contacts can’t be overstated. It was heartbreaking. The Legislature had to do something, and it had to act fast. In the very first week of the session, the chairs of the labor committees in both chambers introduced bipartisan bills (SB 5061 / HB 1098) to bring relief to both businesses and workers.
The Senate passed its bill last week on a 42-7 vote and we passed it off the House floor two days later with 89 yes votes and 7 opposed. Gov. Inslee signed it into law this week and because of the urgency of the issue, the new law took effect before the ink in his signature was even dry.
Employers should see some relief in their UI tax bills due in April. And I’m happy to report that the state’s hardest-hit, lowest-wage workers will see a five percent raise in their unemployment benefits. People who made between $21,000 and $27,800 a year until the pandemic took their jobs away will receive a larger share of their former weekly wages in benefits. For more information on how the bill will better position us for the next health emergency, as well as rebuild Washington’s Unemployment Insurance trust fund, please go here.
The COVID-19 assistance hotline is here to help
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If you or someone you know is having trouble booking an appointment to get a COVID-19 vaccine, there’s a number you can call for help. To reach the state COVID-19 assistance hotline, dial 1-800-525-0127 and enter #. You can also call the state’s alternate number at 888-856-5816 (a Spanish option is available) if you can’t reach the 1-800 number. The COVID-19 hotline is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
An update on my bills
It’s too early to celebrate, because I can’t predict the future, but three of the four bills I introduced this session are moving quickly toward a possible vote by the full House, and the fourth looks promising as well. Here’s a quick look at those bills.
HB 1295 – This bill, which I detailed in an earlier newsletter, was given a do-pass recommendation on Thursday by the House Education Committee. If signed into law this year, it will offer youth involved with the juvenile justice system the opportunity to receive the education they deserve, the education our constitution says every child deserves.
HB 1325 – I’ve written about this bill as well. It’s a multifaceted bill intended to help connect youth and their families with the behavioral health services they need. It was voted out with strong support by the House Children, Youth & Families Committee and is now being considered by the House Appropriations Committee.
HB 1370 – The state administers a grant and low-cost loan program that helps eligible non-profit organizations plan, renovate, purchase, and build early learning facilities. After studying this program, I quickly saw that we weren’t meeting our state’s need. This bill lifts the caps on grants and loans in an effort to bring them more in line with current costs. HB 1370 was heard in the House Capital Budget Committee earlier this month and is scheduled for a vote of the full committee next week.
HB 1373 – It’s not much of an overstatement to say that if something doesn’t exist on the internet and social media, it almost doesn’t exist. My final bill, which was developed and brought to me by the Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC), recognizes this and hopes to use today’s technology to help youth who might be in crisis and in need of behavioral health services. It’s a simple bill that would require public schools to post contact information for behavioral health organizations on the home page of the school’s website and social media platforms used by the district.
The LYAC is an inspiring group of involved youth, and I’m proud to sponsor this important bill on their behalf. We had a great hearing in the House Education Committee that featured powerful remote testimony from a wide range of young people, including LYAC President Kellen Hoard and students Sierra, Zaina, Phoebe, and Sarnika, seen in this video clip from the hearing. The hearing led to an overwhelming do-pass vote by the committee. It’s being considered by the House Rules Committee now and I’m optimistic of its passage in the House very soon. |