Dear friends and neighbors,
As we approach the end of the year, we’d like to provide you with a little guidance on various ways to engage in your democracy this upcoming session. Additionally, we’re sharing information about our Page Program, and you’ll also find resources for food assistance. To get a clearer picture of the issues that matter to you, we we’ve included a brief survey.
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Ways to participate in 2024
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- Watch — TVW.org broadcasts all debates and votes that happen in the House or Senate, as well as all committee meetings in both chambers.
- Testify — Go here for an overview of the process, here for instructions on how to testify remotely, and here to sign in for hearings in the House or Senate.
- Research —Look up any bill by number, lawmaker, or topic here. To learn about the entire legislative process, click here.
- Stay Informed — Visit our websites and official social media pages:
- Get in Touch — You can always reach our offices by email or phone; our contact information is included at the bottom of this newsletter.
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Page Program applications are open!
Do you know any 14-16 year-old students who are interested in state government and politics? Encourage them to check out the House page program!
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Washington has one of the best Legislative Page programs in the country.
Paging presents students with a unique educational opportunity to participate in the legislative process as they:
- Contribute to the efficient operation of the Legislature by providing assistance to the chamber during floor debates.
- Receive daily civics instruction while attending the Legislative Page School.
- Draft their own bills.
- Participate in mock committee hearings, and more.
This program gives students an up-close look at government in action, while they are having fun, making friends with kids from different parts of the state, earning a stipend, and receiving community service hours.
Spots fill up quickly and there’s a limit as to how many pages a legislator can sponsor. The good news is that even if/when our slots are full, legislators from any part of the state can sponsor pages from other districts. Click here to apply.
The expense of travelling to and staying in Olympia for a week can restrict young people’s ability to participate in the page program, that’s why we created a scholarship to help offset costs for those who qualify.
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Food assistance
The holiday season is a time of joy for many of us, but it can be particularly challenging for individuals and families grappling with the difficulty of putting food on their tables.
If you or someone you know is facing this struggle, here are some available resources to provide support for those experiencing food insecurity:
We know that nearly 700,000 people in Washington don’t have consistent access to enough food for everyone in their household. Last session we passed legislation to help meet the need left by reduced federal funding, we expanded free school meals to 90,000 additional students, and removed barriers for college students to access basic needs like food, water, housing and childcare. We invested $95 million in food assistance programs, $81 million for refugee supports, and $44 million to fund an increase for TANF and other cash assistance programs. We also invested $19 million in TANF for diaper subsidies and a time limit extension. Though our current efforts are commendable, and we are proud of this work, we also recognize that hunger remains a persistent issue in our state. But our commitment to combating food insecurity in Washington is unwavering, so we will continue pushing for increased funding and resources in every legislative session. |
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Your 2024 priorities
The 2024 session kicks off on January 8 and, since this will be a short session, maximizing our time is crucial. So, we’re reaching out to ask for your input on your priorities. We need your insights to effectively represent your interests in Olympia and to guide the decisions we make. We encourage you to take this short survey, helping us identify the key issues that matter most to you.
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Keep in touch!
As we wrap up the year, we want to thank you for taking the time to read our updates and for your interest in our work on your behalf. Please keep in mind that your input and feedback are the driving forces behind our shared journey, so we hope you’ll take our survey, and always feel free to contact our offices with any concerns.
May this festive season bring you moments of joy, love, and reflection in the company of family and friends. Here’s to a new year filled with hope, health, and happiness!
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Your state representatives,
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