OLYMPIA—The committee dedicated to timber and farm country will be chaired by Rep. Mike Chapman (D-Port Angeles), a longtime resident of the 24th District.
“It’s an honor to follow in the footsteps of the previous chair, Rep. Brian Blake,” Chapman said. “Whatever we accomplish in this committee will only build on the good work he did along with the members of the committee from both parties and every corner of the state. We work hard because the people we’re fighting for—in farming, logging, or fishing—work even harder, day after day.”
Chapman previously served as vice chair of the committee and as a county commissioner.
“Rural areas got hit the hardest by the virus,” Chapman said. “Small businesses are hurting, and working moms and dads are struggling to find child care—or to work from home while they have students trying to learn from home, often without fast internet. Those are some of the everyday, kitchen-table issues that we need to come together on, as Democrats and Republicans, in a spirit of bipartisanship.”
The 2021 session of the Legislature will be different, with the House choosing that the safest option is a remote session until the virus is vanquished. Committee meetings, floor debate, and votes will all be done remotely.
“Your voice matters to me,” Chapman said. “I want to hear your thoughts, ideas, and stories. Please stay informed and involved in your democracy, which is only strong when everybody has a chance to participate and be heard.”
Six ways to participate in your democracy during the 2021 session:
Watch—TVW.org broadcasts all of the debates and votes that happen in the House or Senate, along with committee meetings and other events in the public interest.
Research—Visit app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ to look up legislation by lawmaker or topic.
Learn—The whole legislative process, from start to finish, is explained at leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx
Testify—Visit leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Testify.aspx for an overview of the process. Written testimony is also an option, and you can also email me your story.
Get in touch—You can reach me by email at mike.chapman@leg.wa.gov