Dear friends and neighbors,
This e-newsletter is a quick look at what’s happening in Olympia and some of the work and advocacy we’ve been focusing on. In this issue, I’ll discuss my first town hall, the status of my bills in the Senate, and funding requests that directly help our community. I hope you will find it useful!
Town Hall Thank You
Thanks for coming out and joining Sen. June Robinson, Rep. Julio Cortes, and me for our first in-person town hall of the year. I was excited to see SO MANY people come share their thoughts and questions with us! Civic engagement is a priority of mine, so I was delighted by the massive turnout (we’ll need a bigger venue next time)!
Legislative Update
Do you ever wonder why session occurs in the winter? Well, it was the best time for farmers to convene back in the day. It wasn’t until 1979 that voters approved annual gatherings for the Legislature. Thank goodness they did because we have certainly grown as a state! Legislative session is now constitutionally limited to a 105-day session in odd numbered years and 60 days in even numbered years. This limits the amount of time we have to pass bills.
I am happy to report that this year, we have passed over 300 bills out of the House – a record amount, with nearly two-thirds receiving unanimous support and over seventy six percent receiving strong bipartisan support. This includes a few of the bills I’m working on:
House Bill 1106 expands eligibility for unemployment benefits to workers who have to voluntarily quit due to childcare or care for a vulnerable adult becoming inaccessible. This will be especially impactful for single parents and lower wage workers who are also parents and caregivers. This bill will allow for temporary basic support to keep families in their homes, food on their table, and keep gas in their cars as they seek new opportunities.
Yesterday the Senate Committee on Labor and Commerce voted to pass this bill. It now heads to the Senate Rules Committee.
House Bill 1107 removes racist and antiquated terms from our state’s unemployment law and Paid Family and Medical Leave statutes. It replaces them with language more reflective of the relationship between workers and employers. This bill passed the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce unanimously and was pulled from the Senate Rules Committee for an upcoming vote.
For more of my thoughts on my bills and helping working families,
House Bill 1525 addresses the lack of affordable childcare faced by those in state registered apprenticeship programs. Childcare costs are a large barrier in the recruitment and retention of apprentices – especially women, and negatively impacts the overall resiliency of our workforce. The Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education voted to pass this bill with strong bipartisan support. Earlier this week, this bill was heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee.
In addition to this legislation, I am proud that the House of Representatives passed very impactful legislation to expand housing options and protect warehouse employees. For more info, click here or on the image below.
Funding For Our Community
Each legislative session, we have the opportunity to make requests for state, local, and transportation projects in Washington to help communities thrive across our state. Here are some of the items I’m advocating for in our state budget:
- Tulalip Tribes – Funding for the Tulalip Creek Adult Salmon Collection and Spawning Facility. The Tulalip Creek Adult Collection and Spawning Facility project will significantly improve adult salmon survival, and juvenile rearing and release facilities.
- Help Me Grow – Hiring additional staff to support seamless access to critical community services and supports for parents and caregivers.
- Housing Hope – Supporting construction of the New Tomorrow’s Hope Child Development Center in Everett. This additional facility will be critical in helping our community overcome poverty, and increasing access to childcare, behavioral health services, and job training. This new facility will create between 136 and 142 new childcare slots, including adding additional ECEAP and Head Start classrooms.
International Women’s Day
Earlier this month, the legislature celebrated International Women’s Day! This was a great moment to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, but also acknowledge the struggles we still face. From structural injustices, violence, and workforce inequities to the denial of personal autonomy and rights over our own bodies and lives, we know there is still much work to do. I am honored to be in the Washington State House of Representatives working to address some of these issues, and proud to call these powerful women my colleagues
Share Your Thoughts with Me
Hearing from members of our community about the work they are doing is both energizing and grounding. A core part of this job is making sure that all of our neighbors in our community can connect with their state government and help us understand how to better solve real problems.
If you have comments, questions, or ideas, please contact my office. I hope to hear from you soon!
In solidarity,
State Representative Mary Fosse
38th Legislative District