The 2021 Legislative Session
Thank you for returning me to the Legislature for another term. With the election now certified, my legislative website and Facebook page can now be updated regularly and I can return to sending out these legislative updates. I have stayed engaged and continued working to provide relief and support for 47th District constituents.
While I am relieved at the arrival of the vaccine, we are unfortunately still in the middle of the worst surge in cases and deaths that Washington has seen since the outbreak of the pandemic. In order to keep everyone safe, for the first time, the Legislature will be convening remotely this year. We will meet in a safe, and socially distanced manner on Monday to vote on the new rules and then the rest of the session will be virtual.
This will likely lead to fewer bills being passed than in a typical year, but we are committed to ensuring that Washingtonians have the support they need to come out of this pandemic with access to health care, economic relief for small businesses, and road map to build our economy.
A remote session will also remove some of the barriers that have prevented participation in our legislative process. All committee testimony will now be done virtually, written testimony will be accepted for the first time, and remote testimony will be expanded.
Here are some ways that you can have your voice heard and observe the legislative process.
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.
Stay informed—Sign up for my legislative e-memo here.
Get in touch—You can reach my office by telephone (253-458-9919) or email me at Debra.Entenman@leg.wa.gov.
Committee Assignments
Every two years, a biennium, the Washington House of Representatives and the Senate evaluate the committees that they use to review and craft legislation. In addition, members of the Legislature also get to state their preferences and, if available, move to new committees or become a committee Chair or Vice Chair.
During the next legislative session, I will continue to serve as Vice Chair of the College & Workforce Development Committee as well as on the Transportation Committee. For the first time I will join the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee. This committee focuses on a wide range of legal issues, including constitutional and anti-discrimination measures, courts, firearms, and judicial administration. Serving on the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee will allow me to further my goal promote civil rights and ensure that everyone in Washington has fair access to justice.
The Innovation, Technology, & Economic Development Committee that I served on last biennium has been reorganized into several different committees. While I will no longer serve on this committee, please know, that my commitment to the most fundamental American right of privacy has not waivered. I will continue to legislate and advocate for stronger data privacy protections and appropriate guardrails when using facial recognition technology.
WA Notify
The state of Washington recently unveiled a new statewide COVID-19 exposure tool for iPhone and Android users called WA Notify. As a staunch advocate for privacy, I am often wary of sharing the data on my phone with corporations or the government. However, this tool voluntary, anonymous, and protects your privacy. More importantly, we can use this tool to slow the spread of the virus. It works by alerting you whenever you are around another WA Notify user who later tests positive for COVID-19.
Over 700,000 Washingtonians have already activated WA Notify. In order to maintain anonymity, the app requires a few manual steps to turn on. Please see the graphic below for an explanation of turning the app on. It’s a small step, but one that will play a big role along with mask wearing, handwashing, and staying home as much as possible.
Testing Resources
If you feel sick or are alerted by a contact tracer, WA Notify, or friend that you have had a close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, it is vital to get tested. You can only stop the spread of the virus if you know you have it. King County is offering easy, free testing for those with COVID-19 symptoms or who have had close contact. The King County website also has information available in 16 additional languages. You can call 206-477-3977 7 days a week to access an interpreter for questions about COVID-19 resources.
Due to the high demand for tests, King County recommends registering online before showing up at a testing site. Auburn has a testing location at the Public Health office at the Seattle & King County GSA Complex. You can register for a test here.
Food Resources
This pandemic has seen levels of food insecurity that we have not seen since the Great Recession. If you are experiencing hunger or food insecurity, please find some resources for getting food in South King County below.
South King County Food Coalition has several programs that connect farmers with families in need of food.
Washington Food Coalition has information on local food banks and their hours.
Food Lifeline provides and interactive map of food resources across the state.
If you have lost your job and are not already enrolled on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), you can find more information at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
Constituent Services
If you are having an issue with a state government agency, our office stands ready to assist you. We know that the Employment Security Division has had major issues processing unemployment claims this year. If you still need help getting what is owed to you, please do not hesitate to reach out and we can elevate your claim. Please email my Legislative Assistant, Derek Loville (Derek.Loville@leg.wa.gov) or call at (253) 330-5504. The more information that you have available when you call (claim ID number, current claims status, a short summary of your claim, your residential address), the quicker we will be able to help.