Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As we approach sine die, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the work that still needs to be done. It has been an honor to represent you and to work alongside my colleagues to pass meaningful legislation that will improve the lives of Washingtonians. I am proud of what we have accomplished so far and excited to see what else we can achieve. Thank you for your continued support and engagement in this important work.
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Investing in our community
We have an opportunity during each legislative session to request funding from the state capital budget for local community projects in our district. The House has already approved our budget, so we are currently in negotiations with the Senate. I have been meeting with individuals throughout our district to determine the needs of our community. Here are some of the projects I strongly support:
- The Sam Chastain Trail Project: This project connects the end of the Cedar River Trail to Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, providing beautiful views of Lake Washington and connecting the trail to the downtown corridor.
- Assisting Immigrants and Refugees: We are partnering with ABICWA to secure affordable commercial and residential spaces for African immigrant and refugee communities. This project will build affordable housing units and support communal economic growth, saving over 100 businesses from displacement.
- Starfire Sports Investment: Funding will be used to retrofit Starfire Sports’ outdoor fields with LED lights and solar panels, providing higher quality facilities and reducing environmental impact.
- Revamping Talbot Hill Reservoir Park Courts: Funding will be used to refinish playing surfaces and improve the drainage system, allowing for more access to high quality outdoor pickleball and tennis in our district.
Building a Resilient Washington
Resilient Washington operating budget is proposing significant investments to support equity, improve access to vital services, protect the environment, reduce poverty and homelessness, promote public safety, and ensure that individuals and families have the support they need to thrive. Here’s a look at our 2023-2025 investments:
- $991 million for public health and healthcare
- $491 million for poverty reduction
- $1.8 billion for natural resource protection
- $528 million for housing and homelessness
- $316 million for the Climate Commitment Act
- $1.9 billion for k-12 education
- $356 million for higher education and workforce development
- $1.9 billion for long-term care and developmental disabilities
- $226 million for community safety
- $608 million for childcare and early learning
- $1.3 billion investment for behavioral health
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Keeping our ports competitive
Port districts play a crucial role in our state’s economy by providing facilities and infrastructure for transportation and commerce. House Bill 1257, which I sponsored, helps smaller port districts collaborate with other ports, which is important for maintaining competitiveness, especially for exporting goods both east and west of the mountains.
The bill clarifies the existing situation and allows certain marine operations to be exempt from federal antitrust laws. This means that port districts can work together without worrying about breaking any laws related to competition.
I’m happy to report that the bill has passed in both the House and Senate and is now awaiting concurrence in the House before going to the governor’s desk. This bill will allow port districts to coordinate and implement actions on issues of mutual interest regarding the movement of cargo and passengers. The authority granted by this bill will expire after ten years.
Thank you for your support in our efforts to promote economic growth and ensure the smooth operation of our state’s ports.
Watch my video on keeping our ports competitive here:
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A step forward for community safety
I am pleased to share with you that after strong advocacy efforts, the pursuits bill empowering our law enforcement has passed in the House. As you may recall, a few years ago, the Legislature passed a bill that prohibited law enforcement from vehicular pursuit without probable cause. While the intention was to prevent dangerous high-speed chases, we received feedback from many of you that public safety is a top priority, and that many in the community support vehicular pursuits when law enforcement has reasonable suspicion that a suspect was involved in specific criminal activity.
I am proud to say that our advocacy efforts have paid off, and this bill has now passed in the House: this is not a rollback, but a step forward. I will continue to push for its passage in the Senate and work tirelessly to ensure that our communities remain safe and secure. Thank you for your support and commitment to our collective well-being.
Watch my speech on the House floor here:
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As we enter the final stretch of the legislative session, I want to remind you that your engagement and advocacy are critical to our success. We still have important work to do, and I remain committed to fighting for the issues that matter most to our community. I encourage you to stay tuned for updates on our progress and to reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.
Thank you again for your support, and let’s continue to work together to build a brighter future for all Washingtonians.
Sincerely,
