Transportation Budget, HB 1273 and How to track your stimulus payment

April 3, 2021

Greetings, friends and neighbors,

We are in the final month of the 2021 Legislative Session! Serving as your state representative in this historic virtual session has been an experience. However, that has not slowed down my colleagues and me from working for you and your fellow Washingtonians.

Throughout the 33rd District, WA-99, I-5, and SeaTac International Airport draw heavy traffic, leading to horrible air quality. However, targeted transportation investments in the 33rd District can clean up the air we breathe, help our residents travel with more ease, and connect our community with more opportunities across King County.

The House Transportation Budget would invest over $20 billion in eco-friendly transportation and electrification, construction projects, and policy reforms addressing equity and boosting opportunity from 2021 to 2023. Here is a non-exhaustive list of equity and climate initiatives that have been incorporated into the House’s proposal.

Expanding Public Transit in Underserved Communities:

  • Directs the Joint Transportation Committee to conduct a study on the impacts of current and historical city transportation investments on communities of color, low-income households, vulnerable populations, and displaced communities. The assessment will include specific approaches to addressing existing inequities within cities, as well as recommendations to develop best practices to improve, diversify, and expand city transportation investments.
  • Continues funding authority for public outreach activities focused on underserved and harder to reach populations.

Increasing Diversity in the Workforce:

  • $6 million provided to increase diversity in the transportation construction workforce through the pre-apprenticeship support services (PASS) program and assistance to minority and women-owned businesses to perform work in highway construction.
  • $2 million provided to the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises to increase the number of certified women and minority-owned contractors outside of the Puget Sound area in the transportation sector and support these contractors to successfully compete and secure more transportation contracting opportunities.

Investing in Clean Energy:

  • $1.2 million provided for pilot programs to develop clean fuel car-sharing opportunities for underserved communities located in areas with high level of carbon emissions.
  • $152.5 million provided to continue electrifying Washington State Ferries within the Department of Transportation.

While the proposed House Transportation Budget addresses many issues of equity and climate justice, we must continue furthering our legislative goals to lead Washington towards a clean and just future in transportation.

Read more on the House Transportation proposal here.

How to get your stimulus payment

Are you still waiting to receive any of your stimulus checks? Find when and how you will be sent your 2021 Economic Impact Payment with the Get My Payment tool. Get My Payment updates once per day, usually overnight. Follow this link and then click the Get My Payment Button.

 

In this edition of Visiting with Mia, I chat with Western Washington University students Morgan Woodruff and Jade Phillips. We discuss the need for House Bill 1273, concerning menstrual hygiene products in schools. Click here to watch.

Vaccine corner: expanded eligibility for all Washingtonians 16+!

Yesterday, Governor Inslee announced that everyone over the age of 16 in Washington will be eligible to receive the vaccine starting Apr. 15.

Additionally, starting yesterday vaccine eligibility was expanded to include anyone with two or more comorbidities, those between the ages of 60 and 64, workers in restaurants, food service, manufacturing and construction, people experiencing homelessness, and staff and volunteers in congregate settings.

It is also no longer necessary to show proof of eligibility from the Department of Health’s Phase Finder to get a vaccine. For help finding a vaccine appointment, visit this link or dial 1-800-525-0127. Language assistance is available both online and over the phone.

Local Community Resources

 

To stay up-to-date on the issues I am working on, visit my legislative website or follow my official Facebook page.

Please, do not hesitate to email me with your questions or concerns.

Warm Regards,