Dear friends and neighbors,
In this week’s GoodMinute, I talk about testimony heard in the Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee from students from the Green Hill School.
Young adults in the justice system
Incarcerated youth testify on MLK Jr. Day in support of sentencing reform
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we had the privilege of hearing compelling testimony from incarcerated youth at the Green Hill School. Their insights were invaluable as we discussed House bills 1325, 1383, and 1396, which aim to establish more effective pathways for youthful offenders’ rehabilitation and reentry. During the hearing, our focus was on aligning sentencing practices with recent advancements in brain science, particularly in recognition of continuing brain development until the age of 25.
Local students serve as pages in the Washington State House of Representatives
It was an honor to sponsor two remarkable students, Andre Omusoru and Aiden Li, for their service as pages in the Washington State House of Representatives. Andre, a student at St. Louise Parish School, and Aiden, a student at The Overlake School, displayed admirable dedication and enthusiasm during their time in the Legislature.
I am proud to acknowledge Andre, the child of Angela Omusoru of Sammamish, and Aiden, the child of Ning Li and Xiaofei Kong of Redmond, for their commitment to public service and civic engagement. As pages, they took on diverse responsibilities, from presenting the flags to distributing amendments on the House floor, contributing significantly to the smooth functioning of the Legislature.
Beyond their daily duties, both students engaged in valuable civics instruction had the opportunity to craft their own bills, and actively participated in mock committee hearings. Their involvement not only supported the effective operation of the Legislature but also provided them with firsthand experience in the democratic process.
Working for Better Animal Care
I am an active member of the Fur Fighters Caucus and I’ve been legislating for many years to reduce animal cruelty and to promote humane treatment of animals.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many visits to the veterinarian with our beloved animal companions were done with parking lot pick-ups and drop-offs, and getting appointments was extremely difficult.
The “fur fighters” are working on this issue twofold: first, we want to introduce legislation that will authorize telehealth for vets and our companion animals; and second, we need to address the vet shortage in our state.
Animal telehealth would address some of these emergent needs, yet within the next decade, the U.S. will be short 3,000 to 5,000 veterinarians. The pandemic saw a boon in animal companionship, especially with the rise in remote work. More than 23 million American households—nearly 1 in 5 nationwide—adopted a pet during the pandemic, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Unfortunately, at the same time as the rise in animal companionship rose, the country was already in the middle of a veterinarian shortage.
Our communities are no different, as a severe workforce shortage is restricting the delivery of vital veterinary medical services. There simply are not enough veterinarians being trained to care for either our farm or companion animals.
The “fur fighters” have been working with the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association on a solution. As one of the top veterinary schools in the nation and around the world, Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (WSUCVM) is renowned for its training in veterinary medicine and science, animal health, and wellbeing. With funding from the Legislature, WSU-CVM will be able to add 20 additional in-state students annually. I will be supporting their request.
This year, we’re also working on House Bill 2403, that aims to increase safety at doggie daycare and boarding facilities after two Seattle-area dog resorts caught fire in the span of less than a year. It is expected to pass out of committee later this week.
Thank you and please reach out with questions, concerns, or comments.
Sincerely,
Rep. Roger Goodman
Roger Goodman
Representative, 45th District
Washington State Legislature