Step One for Washington’s Community and Economic Recovery

On Monday, House Democrats passed early action COVID-19 relief. This is the first step in the House and Senate plan for Washington’s community and economic recovery, starting with the allocation of $2.2 billion in federal funds to provide assistance to Washington families and businesses who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal will ease the financial hardship of struggling renters and landlords, small restaurants and other neighborhood businesses, school districts, uninsured and underinsured individuals, and Black and Brown communities, which have been disproportionately hurt during the pandemic.

• BOOSTING PUBLIC HEALTH: $618 million for a state Department of Health fund for vaccine administration, contact tracing and testing.
• KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND FED: $365 million for rental assistance and foreclosure assistance, and for small landlords to stay on top of their mortgages. The plan also includes $52 million for food and cash assistance, and TANF extension.
• INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESSES: $240 million for grants for small businesses and non-profits to maintain operations and help with reopening.
• GETTING STUDENTS CAUGHT UP: $714 million for schools to address learning loss, keep teachers on the payroll and get ready to bring kids back to the classroom when it’s safe to do so. The plan also includes $50 million for grants for child care providers.
• SUPPORTING ALL WASHINGTONIANS: $70 million for long-term care and developmental disabilities programs and $6 million for health care for those who are underinsured and uninsured. The plan also includes $65 million for immigrant relief assistance and $5 million for grants to provide emergency financial aid for undocumented college students.

This is just the first step in making sure we support those most impacted by the pandemic so that we can recover, together. In the coming months, House Democrats will have bills, a supplemental budget, and an operating budget for the next biennium that continue to invest in public health, equitably address needs across the state in struggling communities, and help families and small businesses.

Creating Systemic Change in Our Law Enforcement Agencies

Photo Credit: Pyramid Communications

When someone is shot or killed by police and the law doesn’t offers pathways to clear justice for the victim, it damages the community, the reputation of law enforcement, and the notion of justice. Unnecessary police violence and a lack of accountability for that violence has led to many in the community losing trust in law enforcement. This summer we saw millions of people around the world and tens of thousands here in Washington demand racial justice and police accountability.

In response, the Washington House of Representatives organized the Policing Policy Leadership Team. Led by lawmakers from the Black Members Caucus and the Members of Color Caucus, the team met with community members, the families of victims of police violence, youth organizations, civil rights organizations, law enforcement unions, and academics. From this work, a clear picture of how we can change the culture of policing and reestablish communities’ trust in law enforcement emerged. We must:

Set Expectations

HB 1310 sets the clear expectation that de-escalation should be an officer’s first instinct and that deadly force should only be a truly necessary last resort.

HB 1054 set a baseline of acceptable tactics and equipment that make it clear that preserving and protecting human life must be law enforcement’s highest value.

Create Transparency

HB 1203 creates community oversight boards that allow the community the ability to review and provide input on the policies, discipline processes, and complaints for their local law enforcement agency.

HB 1092 mandates the collection of data on police uses of force so that we can study this issue and make systemic change.

Build Systems of Accountability

HB 1267 creates an independent agency to investigate deadly uses of force, allowing families of those killed by police as well as the community to have faith that a proper investigation occurred.

HB 1082/SB 5051 expands the grounds on which an officer can be decertified and reforms the process so it is more effective and quicker. Quickly removing problem officers keeps the public safe and helps rebuild trust between law enforcement and the community

HB 1202 creates a new state level civil cause of action for the violation of state constitutional rights. This will provide a remedy for those who feel their rights have been violated and prevent future misconduct by properly incentivizing law enforcement agencies to properly train and discipline their force.

No single action will change the culture of policing in Washington or rebuild the community’s trust in law enforcement, but by setting expectations, creating transparency, and building systems of accountability we can begin to create systemic change.

Vaccines For Teachers

As vaccines continue to roll out across the country, it has largely been left up to each state to decide how and where they should be administered. Washington state is currently in Phase 1B of vaccine distribution, which allows those 65 and older plus those 50 and older living in a multigenerational household to schedule their vaccination appointments. This is also in addition to those eligible in phase 1A, mainly health care workers and first responders.

Alongside the vaccination roll out plan, last week the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente Washington, announced their ‘Get Ready’ plan. The plan will ensure that educators and school staff are promptly vaccinated when their designated time comes, as well as a commitment to equity and consistency in the distribution.

Our educators have worked tirelessly to guarantee that our children have continued to receive exceptional education throughout the COVID pandemic. I am happy to see that OSPI has a plan to rapidly vaccinate teachers and help get our kids back in the classroom. If you would like to read more about the ‘Get Ready’ plan, you can do so here.

Opportunity For All Caucus

This year I am serving as the Chair of the Opportunity for All Caucus, a stakeholder group focused on human services in Washington State. This caucus was created to promote legislation that will protect the most vulnerable and consider the matters of children and families. At each meeting, a broad array of stakeholders are invited to share their policy and budget priorities in the public assistance, developmental disabilities, and broader human services realm.

Our first meeting was on January 22nd and there are two more meetings scheduled for February 12th and March 5th. Ensuring that all Washingtonians have equitable access to public assistance and services is very important to me, and I am excited to see what we can accomplish together. I will be closely tracking the legislation relevant to the caucus and I look forward to continued collaboration with these stakeholders throughout this session.