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2022 Session Victories: Addressing Housing Affordability and Homelessness
Dear friends and neighbors,
Our state faced a housing affordability and homelessness crisis even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The last two years have only made the situation more urgent.
I have heard from many of you who are concerned about rising homelessness in our district. At the same time, I know housing affordability is also a challenge in our region.
Everyone should have a roof over their head and a safe place to sleep at night. That’s the bare minimum. Yet in every corner of the state, individuals and families are struggling with housing insecurity every day, whether it’s someone sleeping under an overpass, or a family worried they won’t be able to pay the rent next month.
That’s why major investments made during the 2022 and 2021 legislative sessions addressing housing and homelessness are so critical. We also passed key policies to help keep people housed and prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place. Read more about these big wins below.
Major budget investments for homelessness and housing
Last year, legislators put $1.7 billion into rental assistance, mortgage assistance, homelessness response and permanent housing supports to ensure more Washingtonians have stable housing, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, we put over $350 million additional dollars into housing and homelessness support (see below), and that’s not all. We also transferred $500 million – half a billion dollars – from the state operating budget to the state capital construction budget to pay for housing construction and acquisition needs across our state.
We are taking care of our neighbors by:
- Providing increased utility assistance (broadband, energy, water, garbage, and recycling) so those struggling the most can keep these basic services ($160 million investment)
- Providing additional funds for rental assistance so people don’t fall behind ($68 million investment)
- Funding one-time stipends for homelessness and housing service providers — these front line, essential workers are serving more and more people with higher needs at this time, and as a result we are seeing worker shortages in this critical area ($55 million investment)
- Fully funding the backlog of landlord applications to the landlord mitigation fund, which covers rent payments not paid by tenants due to COVID ($27 million investment)
- Funding a grant program to help the State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and local governments provide services for individuals living in public right-of-ways – such as under freeway overpasses – with the goal of transitioning them to housing ($45 million investment)
Bills signed promoting housing security and reducing homelessness
Apple Health and Homes (House Bill 1866) – Establishes a program providing housing and community support services to people who meet certain income and medical risk eligibility criteria. Over 70 percent of people who are chronically homeless struggle with a physical or behavioral health condition, which are very often barriers to finding stable housing. This program treats chronic homelessness as a key component of medical care, so more people can find a home and a way forward.
Reducing youth homelessness (House Bill 1905) – Provides more services and resources to ensure young people have safe, stable housing when leaving a publicly funded system of care. No young person should be released into homelessness after they’ve been in foster care or behavioral health treatment, for example.
Connecting people to housing before they enter homelessness (House Bill 1860) – Requires that patients receive housing-related care coordination services before being discharged from inpatient behavioral health settings. Homelessness and behavioral health (mental health and substance use) are deeply intertwined and unfortunately, many people are discharged from care and have nowhere to go.
Rent payments by check or money order (Senate Bill 5749) – Requires landlords to accept personal checks, cashier’s checks, or money orders for rent payments. This is a major equity issue for seniors, people with low incomes, people with visual impairments, people with limited English proficiency, and those who lack reliable internet access and online banking. Under the bill, landlords can refuse accepting a check from a renter who previously had a rent check bounce, and landlords don’t have to accept a rent check by mail if they provide a secure, on-site drop box for payments. This bill was sponsored by my 27th District seatmate, Sen. Yasmin Trudeau.
Property tax exemption for equity cooperative housing (Senate Bill 5713) – Provides a property tax exemption for limited equity cooperative housing, a low-income home ownership model. This reduces a cost barrier to home ownership for working families, and is another tool to address the need for more affordable housing in our region.
There is more work to be done to close the housing shortage gap and make sure every Washingtonian has a place to call home. As long as there are neighbors in need, out in the bitter cold or sweltering heat without a roof over their heads, I won’t be satisfied. And neither will you.
Our state can be a place where there aren’t people in crisis in the streets, and where people can have peace of mind knowing treatment and care is available for those who need it. That’s the Washington I want for all of us. The work to get us there continues, and we will keep building on the major steps taken by the legislature over the past two years.
Save the date – Community Chat on May 3rd
With the legislative session over, I will be hosting a couple of informal, in-person “community chats” together with Rep. Fey and Sen. Trudeau next month. The first is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3rd at 11:00 AM at the Center at Norpoint, 4818 Nassau Ave NE, Room 101.
We will take your questions and share information about the work accomplished this session for our community and our state. Hope to see you there!
As always, it’s an honor to represent you and to work on behalf of the 27th District. Please reach out to me with your questions, comments, or concerns, and I hope to see you out and about in the community this spring.
Sincerely,
2022 Session Victories: Supporting Students and Educators
Dear friends and neighbors,
The 2022 session was both historic and productive, and I’ll be providing highlights of the major accomplishments in my next several e-newsletters. This newsletter focuses on the big policy and budget wins in the K-12 education space this year.
The past two years have been incredibly difficult for our state’s students, educators, and school districts. COVID-19 brought challenges that our education system was forced to grapple with, like remote learning and quarantining. Many students and families struggled with these changes and disruptions. School district employees – educators, staff, bus drivers, cafeteria workers – were on the front lines of the pandemic.
Legislators took action this session to address these challenges with policies and investments that provide critical support to our entire K-12 system. I’m excited to share those with you below, because our children — and our community — deserve good schools.
Policy Wins
Supporting students’ mental and emotional health: I touched on this in my last e-newsletter, but it’s worth highlighting again. We know the pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the mental health of our K-12 students. Teachers, parents, and staff have been working hard to support kids through these challenging times, but there’s only so much they can do when they are already stretched so thin. House Bill 1664 brings more counselors, nurses, and social workers into our public, K-12 schools to address these urgent needs. These are exactly the trained professionals we need in our school buildings to make sure every student can move toward a bright, promising future. This bill was signed by the governor on 3/23/2022.
Ensuring ALL parents can engage in their child’s learning and development: Parental involvement is critical for students’ success. But non-English speaking parents are too often left out of their kids’ education because our schools don’t always have the resources to provide interpretation and other language access services. In some cases, students have had to translate for their parents. Washington is a diverse state, and that diversity is reflected in our schools. In one school district, over 137 different languages are spoken in students’ homes. That’s why House Bill 1153, which establishes a language access program for culturally responsive family engagement, is so important. This will help schools serve every Washington family and value the voice of each student. This bill was signed by the governor on 3/23/2022.
Less screens, more fresh air: With the shift to remote learning during the worst of the pandemic, screen time was increased for most students. While this was necessary for learning to continue, we know that some of the best lessons don’t happen on a screen – they happen outdoors, where students can experience the wonders of nature first hand. House Bill 2078 directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to create a program that will award grants to support schools in offering outdoor learning. It also requires OSPI to give priority to schools that have been underserved in science education. This is yet another way to support healing and growth for our kids in the aftermath of the past few years. This bill was signed by the governor on 3/23/2022.
Ensuring kids have the fuel they need to learn, play, and thrive: It’s hard to learn on an empty stomach. Over the past few years, the Legislature has acted to expand access to nutritious meals in schools, from expanding successful programs like Breakfast After the Bell to eliminating lunch co-pays. This year, we expanded free school meals to more than 92,000 students across the state with House Bill 1878. It requires all eligible schools to participate in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), a federal program. This is an important step on our path to ending childhood hunger in Washington state. This bill was signed by the governor on 3/4/2022.
Addressing school employee shortages: House Bill 1699 provides immediate help for our school districts that are desperate for classroom and other support. The pandemic has caused school staffing shortages, including right here in Tacoma Public Schools. One solution is for retired school employees and teachers to come back into schools to fill these gaps, but until now these retirees were limited in how many hours they could work while still receiving their retirement benefits. By temporarily increasing the cap on those hours, we can get more substitute teachers, bus drivers, and nutrition staff to schools needing some short-term help. I recently received a note from a retired teacher in our district who was grateful for this bill’s passage, as she can now step up to help with classroom coverage.
Budget Wins
I firmly believe our children deserve public schools that are safe, fully staffed, and that meet their needs. Making this happen requires investing in our schools, and that’s why House Democrats pushed to invest more, not less, in the 2022 supplemental budget.
One of our biggest K-12 investments was $360 million in the supplemental budget to fund enrollment stabilization and transportation. COVID-19 has left schools with a lot of uncertainty around funding because funds are largely based on number of students enrolled. Throughout the pandemic, enrollments have significantly fluctuated. Stabilizing state funding for schools provides the certainty they need to operate safely, secure the jobs of teachers and staff, and invest in student success.
We also provided $236 million in the supplemental budget for inflation-adjusted salary increases and costs for school districts. This funding is critical to retaining educators and staff at a time when we cannot afford to be losing these valuable employees.
We’re supporting the additional school counselors, nurses, psychologists and social workers mentioned above with an investment of $91 million in the supplemental budget, because our kids’ mental and emotional well-being is worth it.
And we put $28 million in the supplemental budget to support the Learning Assistance Program, or LAP. LAP is critical to helping students who fell behind during the pandemic get caught up in their learning, targeting those needing the most help.
All students deserve a fair opportunity to learn, grow, and develop into the next generation of innovators, creators, problem-solvers and leaders. This year, we prioritized student well-being, expanded accessibility for all, and ensured that students, educators and schools have the right resources to thrive—both during the pandemic and well beyond.
I’m proud of our K-12 investments, and I’m excited to see them make a difference right here in the 27th District.
I’m also really looking forward to visiting the 5th grade class at Sherman Elementary School, which sent me letters in strong support of the outdoor education bill. One of my favorite of those letters asked the straightforward question, “Why are you treating kids like puny mortals?” Totally fair question! I also found out that a group of young women in the class actually play “Madam Speaker” sometimes.
It will be a delight to share the good news that the advocacy of these students helped pass this bill – and many other great education policies – this year.
Meet the Team: Tony and Faith help me serve you better
I’m extremely fortunate to have two incredibly bright and talented staff members as my legislative assistants, Tony Ivey and Faith Flaherty. They help manage my schedule, respond to constituent inquiries, and keep my office running smoothly and efficiently throughout the year.
Tony is a graduate of Howard University and has previously worked as both a field organizer for an environmental advocacy organization, and as a police services specialist.
Faith is a graduate of Eastern Washington University and served as a legislative intern in the 2020 session, and also interned for U.S. Senator Patty Murray.
If you contact my office, it is likely that Tony or Faith is your first point of contact. I’m grateful to have these two as partners in service to the 27th District.
It’s an honor to represent you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with your questions, comments, or concerns.
Sincerely,
Join our virtual town hall on Feb. 22
Dear friends and neighbors,
We have officially reached the half-way point of the 2022 legislative session. The cutoff for policy and fiscal bills to get out of their respective committees has passed, and now both the House and Senate are working hard to pass legislation over to the other chamber for consideration by next Tuesday, February 15th.
It’s a good time for a live check-in, so Sen. Trudeau, Rep. Fey and I will be hosting a virtual town hall for constituents of the 27th District on Tuesday, February 22nd, from 6-7 p.m.
There are several ways to tune in: the event will be livestreamed to my legislative Facebook page as well as Rep. Fey’s legislative Facebook page, to the House Democrats Facebook page, to the House Democrats Twitter feed, and to the House Democrats YouTube channel.
You can submit your questions ahead of time here: surveymonkey.com/r/27thDistrictTownHall
Questions can also be submitted live during the event by entering them in the comments section. We will try to get to as many of your questions as possible during the event.
Can’t make the live event? Submit your question anyway and you’ll be able to watch the event at your convenience on the platforms mentioned above.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you and answering your questions.
Move Ahead Washington transportation package reflects historic listening process, invests in a sustainable future for all
On Tuesday, Rep. Fey and his transportation team, together with their Senate counterparts, rolled out a transformational, 16-year transportation package for our state.
Called the Move Ahead Washington package, it reflects the concerns and priorities shared by communities in the 90+ listening sessions Rep. Fey – who chairs the House Transportation Committee – and his team held across the state.
This is truly a sustainable and achievable transportation future for Washington.
The priorities in the Move Ahead Washington package align well with the priorities House Democrats are focusing on this session:
- Preserving our state’s infrastructure (our roads, bridges, ferries, and sidewalks) aligns with our top-level focus on strengthening economic well-being, because we can’t move people and goods efficiently if our infrastructure isn’t well-maintained
- Expanding safe, accessible, affordable options to get around aligns with our top-level focus on serving Washington better, because Washingtonians deserve convenient, accessible transportation options
- Addressing the harm caused by past transportation policies aligns with our top-level focus on advancing racial equity and justice, because communities of color – along with low-income communities – have borne a disproportionate share of the harm of previous transportation policies
- Reducing carbon emissions aligns with our top-level focus on addressing the climate crisis, because investing in everything from zero-emissions ferry technology to bicycle and pedestrian grants to electric vehicle charging stations is meaningful action against climate change.
I’m excited about what Move Ahead Washington will do for our state, and I look forward to the conversation in both chambers and with the public about this proposal as it moves through the Legislature. Bring your questions to our town hall on the 22nd!
Thanks for reading. It’s an honor to represent you, and I look forward to taking your questions at our town hall. Hope you can join us.
Sincerely,
WA Cares improvements, bringing down costs for Washington families
Dear friends and neighbors,
It is Week 3 of the 2022 legislative session, which means we are already over a quarter of the way through it. That’s how quickly things move in a 60-day session!
I’m excited to share that this week the governor signed two key bills to improve the WA Cares Fund, the long-term care benefit that will help more Washingtonians access the care they need as they age so they can stay in their homes longer. The House took early action to pass those bills last week.
The two bills are:
HB 1732, sponsored by House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, which pauses the program for 18 months to allow lawmakers to implement reforms to expand access to the program to those closer to retirement than the original legislation allowed. During this time, employers won’t have to collect premiums and any premiums already collected will be refunded.
HB 1733, sponsored by Rep. Dave Paul, which enables military spouses, disabled veterans, border state residents, and non-immigrant visa holders to voluntarily exempt themselves from the WA Cares program. Concerns were raised that these folks would pay premiums but would never receive the benefit.
I’m glad we moved quickly to make sure the WA Cares Fund is even more accessible, flexible, and works for everyone. This critical benefit provides more options, so people don’t have to first spend themselves into poverty to access long-term care, or be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
This story from Crosscut highlights why it’s so important for our state to have this life-changing benefit available. Most people don’t have long-term care insurance policies or enough savings to pay for the care they will need as they age. But even those who do have private long-term care policies can find themselves struggling, as the Crosscut article shows. That’s not right, and it’s why we need WA Cares.
While I am thrilled the reforms to WA Cares passed both chambers with strong bipartisan majorities, some legislators say they’d prefer to “repeal and replace” WA Cares. We’ve heard that phrase before in our national discourse, and it isn’t associated with helping more people get the care they and their families need.
Bottom line: Democrats have led the way this session in taking steps to strengthen the WA Cares Fund and address any outstanding issues so it can do what was intended: help people access care, and bring down costs for those struggling to pay for it.
Bringing down costs for Washington families
In my opening day of session remarks, I said this legislative session was going to be about moving EVERYONE forward.
One way to help people move forward is to bring down costs that people are paying in our state, and my colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus are championing bills that do this:
For students and families struggling to pay for college, there are proposals to expand the Washington College Grant, our state’s nation-leading financial aid program that provides free or reduced tuition for students from middle- and low-income families. By providing additional flexible dollars that can be used for housing, food, transportation, books and child care, HB 1659 would address costs that are a burden to many students but aren’t currently covered by the Washington College Grant.
For students who don’t qualify for the Washington College Grant, HB 1736 establishes a low-interest (one percent!) student loan program, to reduce borrowing costs and help those who want to avoid higher-rate federal or private loans.
When it comes to health care, it’s hard enough to pay for medical expenses you can plan for, but unexpected medical bills can totally derail a family’s finances. That’s why I’m excited about HB 1688, which protects consumers from charges for out-of-network health care services. It aligns state law and the federal No Surprises Act, addressing coverage of treatment for emergency conditions.
And one of the most costly times of the year for families is back-to-school season. Those costs can really add up, as I remember well from school shopping for my son. As we look for ways to invest one-time funds the state has by putting it back in people’s pocketbooks, a sales tax holiday a great way to do this.
HB 2018 would suspend the state sales tax this year on Sept. 3, 4, and 5 for certain items priced $1,000 or less, including clothing, school supplies, computers, durable medical goods, and energy efficient appliances.
A sales tax holiday would have an immediate impact on family budgets as they plan for purchases this fall, and would give a boost to our small and main street businesses as well.
These are just some of the ideas House Democrats are bringing forth to help bring down costs for families across our state. I hope we see every one of these bills make it to the governor’s desk.
As always, I want to hear from you. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about anything in this newsletter or another legislative issue, don’t hesitate to reach out.
It’s an honor to represent you in the state House.
Sincerely,
Moving everyone forward
Dear friends and neighbors,
Hello from Olympia, where the 2022 legislative session got underway on Monday!
As one of the presiding members, I am one of a small handful of lawmakers in person on the House floor at this time. With the rapid spread of the omicron variant, the House unfortunately had to shift from its original plan of beginning the session in hybrid format to mostly remote (you can read the 2022 House COVID-19 session operations plan here).
Even though I am fully vaccinated and boosted, before entering the House chamber on floor session days, I and other legislators, staff, and members of the press are also required to take a COVID test on site. This helps protect everyone in the legislative community who is here in person.
We will reassess the situation every two weeks and adjust House operations according to the dynamics of the pandemic, and state and local public health guidance.
My priorities for this short, 60-day session remain safety, transparency, and doing the people’s work. I know we can accomplish all three of these because last year the Legislature made unprecedented changes to how we operated in order to be more transparent and accessible to the public.
And it worked: we had historic levels of public engagement in the 2021 session and passed the Washington Recovery Budget.
So what are the priority bills for this session? This year is all about focusing on policies addressing our state’s most urgent needs and making sure everyone MOVES FORWARD as we get through this pandemic. As I said in my opening day remarks, previous economic recoveries in our state haven’t always brought everyone along. We need to make sure EVERYONE recovers from this pandemic in a healthier and more
economically-resilient way.
House Democrats will be moving forward with bills strengthening economic well-being and ensuring the services Washington provides get to everyone in a way that Washingtonians can use them to better their lives.
We’ll also be championing policies advancing racial equity and justice and addressing the climate crisis, as we did last year. These are complex issues requiring ongoing commitment and work, and cannot be solved in just one session.
I’m excited to do this work on behalf of the 27th District and the people of the great state of Washington.
Be part of the legislative process
The Legislature’s web site has a helpful page that is a one-stop shop for information about how you can participate in the legislative process. Testify remotely on a bill, submit written testimony, send me your comments on a bill, and more. Public input is essential to good policymaking.
You can also follow my legislative Facebook page, as well as the House Democrats Facebook page, and the House Members of Color Caucus Facebook page for more informal but informative posts about bills under consideration and other legislative news and info.
You can also reach out to me with your comments, questions, or concerns.
It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Get involved: The 2022 legislative session is around the corner
Dear friends and neighbors,
There is lots of legislative activity happening this week, with Committee Assembly Days in both the House and Senate. Senate committees met on Monday and Tuesday, and House committees convene today and tomorrow.
All meetings are public and are being conducted remotely in order to adhere to local and state public health guidance. The House of Representatives website has details like dates, times, agendas and documents for these meetings, as well as links to live video. If you are unable to tune in live, the meetings will also be available for later viewing in the TVW archives.
Committee Assembly Days is when committees gather for work sessions on policies and issues likely to come before the Legislature in the next session. With the 2022 session convening on January 10, we are only a few weeks away from the start of another legislative session!
In even-numbered years, legislative sessions are 60 days, as opposed to 105 days in odd-numbered years. The 60 days go by quickly, and I know many of you are waiting to hear how the House will conduct business this year (remote? in-person? hybrid?). I expect the final session operations plan for the House to be made public before the Thanksgiving holiday, and it will be posted to the House website and linked on my legislative Facebook page.
If you have ever been to the Capitol campus, you may have been to the John L. O’Brien Building – also known as JLOB – where many House members have their legislative offices. The corridors in JLOB are tight and member offices cannot safely hold more than one person in most cases. The House also has twice as many members as the Senate, so while it is possible for our colleagues in the other chamber to gather in person on the Senate floor while maintaining proper social distancing, for the 98 members in the House this is not possible. Committee hearings also pose a social distancing challenge.
At the same time, all members of the House Democratic Caucus are fully vaccinated (I got my booster shot recently!), and there is a strong desire among legislators – myself included – to do more in person this coming session.
The final plan will most likely be some version of a hybrid session, with the goals of keeping the safety of the public, members, and staff paramount while operating transparently and safely.
It’s important to remember the unprecedented changes made last session in order to be more transparent and accessible to the public in the midst of the pandemic. More people across our state than ever were able to testify on bills and meet with their legislators without having to leave their homes and travel all the way to Olympia. Lawmakers will continue to have the opportunity to meet with constituents virtually over Zoom, or in district if they choose in compliance with local and state public health guidance. And I’m hoping we’ll see more legislators in person on the House floor – safely distanced – than last year.
Redistricting: What comes next
The Washington State Redistricting Commission reached an agreement on new legislative and congressional district maps late Monday night. Commissioner April Sims, who I appointed to represent the House Democratic Caucus in the redistricting negotiations, informed me of the agreement when it was reached. I have been incredibly proud of Commissioner Sims’ steadfast commitment to the negotiations and to this very important work for our state. There are not enough words to convey my gratitude for how she lived up to the values and duties required of a redistricting commissioner.
As the commissioners were finishing drafting maps based on their agreement, the clock ticked past midnight and for that reason the redistricting process now falls under the jurisdiction of our state Supreme Court. This is an unprecedented situation for Washington.
The Commission did submit the agreed-upon maps to the Court. Whether or not the Court considers those maps, I remain confident the legislative and congressional boundaries drawn will honor the constitutional requirements, as well as the principles of fairness and equity.
You can read my statement on the outcome of the Commission’s work here.
Ensuring our neighbors are housed and fed this holiday season and beyond
The arrival of colder weather and the holiday season is especially hard on those in our community experiencing housing or food insecurity. The pandemic created hardship for more people, and that’s why economic recovery was one of the top priorities for House Democrats last session.
Instead of cutting services for the most vulnerable in our communities, we invested in keeping people housed and fed with the Washington Recovery Budget (bolstered by funds from the American Rescue Plan Act). This budget is helping people in our district and beyond right now with:
- Rental assistance totaling nearly $1 billion between the Washington Recovery Budget and our early action bill in February
- Mortgage assistance totaling $187 million through the ARPA Homeowner Assistance Fund to help prevent foreclosures and delinquencies
- Funding for food assistance programs totaling $124 million so that families will not go hungry
- Homelessness response and permanent housing supports totaling $292 million
- A 15% increase to temporary cash assistance for the lowest income households, and extended time limits for these benefits to give people more time to get back on their feet
- An increase to the state Housing and Essential Needs Program of $26.5 million to help 1700 more people in our state who are homeless, have disabilities, and are eligible for the program
- An increase of $29 million for the Emergency Cash Assistance program for families who need one-time funds to maintain safe housing and utilities or have an unexpected emergency
Until next year…
Due to state election-year restrictions around legislative communications that kick in next month, I am prohibited from sending any e-newsletters from December 1, 2021 until the start of the 2022 legislative session. This will therefore be my last e-newsletter until the session convenes in January. However, you can continue to follow my legislative Facebook page for news and updates, and I always welcome your emails with questions, comments, or concerns.
Wishing you and those you love a healthy, safe, and happy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Supporting our veterans and their families
Dear friends and neighbors,
Next week our nation observes Veterans Day, a federal and state holiday. With many veterans and their families calling Tacoma and greater Pierce County home, this holiday holds a lot of meaning for many in our community.
Veterans Day recognizes the service and sacrifices of those who are serving or have served our country. But supporting our veterans and their families is a year-round effort.
One of the many ways we can support veterans at the state level is to provide outreach and services to help prevent suicide among veterans and military members. Veteran suicide rates have been increasing and in Washington state, we average more than 200 veteran suicides each year. We need to do more to help protect those who have taken up the call to protect us.
In the 2021 legislative session, a bill advanced out of the House Committee on Housing, Human Services & Veterans. It would extend and modify the Suicide-Safer Homes Task Force, and establish a suicide prevention community-based services grant program to provide peer support and other assistance to at-risk and transitioning military members and their families.
While the bill didn’t make it all the way through the Legislature, I expect to see it taken up again in the 2022 session, and my hope is it will cross the finish line this time. You can follow the bill’s progress here.
Preventing suicide and supporting those experiencing a behavioral health crisis requires a robust infrastructure of trained providers in our state’s communities. That’s why I was so excited about the recent groundbreaking of the new UW Medicine Behavioral Health Teaching Facility on October 15.
Thanks to legislation passed in 2019, a Behavioral Health Innovation and Integration Campus is coming to the University of Washington School of Medicine, increasing access to behavioral health services in our state. Not only will this campus have 150 new behavioral health treatment beds focusing on inpatient and outpatient care, it will also train the behavioral health workforce to meet our state’s growing needs. I was proud to co-sponsor and vote for this bill.
What else has the Legislature done in recent years for veterans and their families?
- Created the position of Military Spouse Liaison within the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides assistance and information to military spouses seeking professional licenses, credentials or other employment, and helps military spouses access high-quality child care, among other services. Federal and state governments often overlook military spouses when supporting active duty or retired service members. We owe it to military spouses to provide these supports in recognition of the great sacrifices they make, including the loss of opportunities due to frequent relocations and deployments.
- Established an LGBTQ Coordinator within the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. Our LGBTQ veterans face isolation, stigma, and disproportionate suicide rates. By helping connect these veterans with the services they need, our state makes sure all veterans feel welcome and supported.
- Ensured access to in-state tuition for disabled veterans. By passing this measure, our state was able to continue participation in the federal Choice Act, which enables public institutions of higher education to receive payments under the Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and other veteran education benefits.
- Expanded access to in-state tuition for veterans and their families. Prior to this legislation, veterans and their families did not qualify for in-state tuition until all discharge paperwork was completed, a process that could take significant time. Now, even if the technical transition from military to civilian life hasn’t been officially completed, veterans and their children can access in-state tuition, making college and postsecondary training more affordable.
- Provided better consumer protections for military service members. When a service member has to relocate to report to a new duty station, this can mean severing contractual ties with memberships and service providers, such as cable, phone and internet providers. Our state’s law now allows members of the military and their families to get out of these contracts without penalty or financial loss.
- Created an Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance within the state Attorney General’s Office to promote and facilitate civil legal assistance and pro bono programs. Our military service members, veterans, and their families shouldn’t have to go it alone when it comes to legal issues surrounding things like housing or VA benefits.
- Granted veterans and their spouses who are state employees immediate access to paid leave through the “uniformed service shared leave pool” – without the usual six-month probationary employment period. The six-month limitation meant those service members returning from deployments with injuries or other conditions often had to take unpaid leave for necessary VA medical appointments (if they didn’t have sufficient paid leave banked). Spouses often assist in providing transportation to these appointments. Now both can qualify for shared leave.
To all veterans in the 27th Legislative District: Thank you for your service. We will continue to look at what actions the Legislature can take to provide more support and better opportunities for you and your families.
Welcome, Sen. Trudeau!
On Tuesday, the Pierce County Council voted to unanimously appoint Yasmin Trudeau to the state Senate seat for the 27th Legislative District. She was immediately sworn into office by Washington Chief Justice Steven González.
Sen. Trudeau replaces former Sen. Jeannie Darneille, who recently retired from the Legislature in order to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Women’s Prisons for the state Department of Corrections. She is the first woman of color to serve as senator for the 27th District.
I released this statement on Sen. Trudeau’s appointment, which I hope conveys how very excited I am to work with her on behalf of the people of our district:
“Sen. Trudeau’s appointment is wonderful news for our district, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to the 27th LD delegation. With deep connections to our community through her lived history here, she is immediately ready to take on the work to address the needs of the people and communities we represent. I know she will be a hard-working and effective senator, because she already has a strong track record of involvement in issues like addressing gun violence, making health care accessible and affordable to all, and protecting consumers.
“I was fortunate to serve alongside former Sen. Jeannie Darneille for many years, and she left shoes that no one can possibly fill. But Sen. Trudeau will walk in her own shoes, building her own legacy championing policies that lift all people. I’m excited to be both her seatmate and her constituent.”
Committee Assembly Days are almost here
On November 18-19, House lawmakers will convene virtually for “Committee Assembly Days.” This is when House committees hold public meetings and work sessions to discuss policies and issues likely to come before the Legislature in the coming session (the Senate has their Committee Days on November 15-16).
You can follow what’s happening on the legislative website or on TVW.
It’s an honor to serve as your state representative. If you have any comments, questions, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Financial aid for college, share your input at the upcoming tax town hall
Dear friends and neighbors,
This newsletter begins on a somber note, as I want to acknowledge the recent suspected arson at the Islamic Center of Tacoma. While the Center is located next door in University Place, it has been a place of gathering and worship for Tacoma and Pierce County area Muslims, many of whom live here in the 27th District, for over 40 years. I stand with our community members affected by this terrible crime and joined Gov. Inslee to meet with them on Tuesday.
I agree with the statement released by state Rep. Mari Leavitt of University Place, which said unequivocally that our communities have a right to safely pray and worship, and that hate has no place here in our community or our state.
That’s why I was proud to co-sponsor a bill in 2019 that made changes to our state laws to improve the identification of and response to hate crimes. One outcome of that bill was the formation of the Hate Crime Advisory Working Group within the state Attorney General’s Office, which was tasked with developing strategies to raise awareness of and appropriate responses to hate crime offenses and hate incidents. The group’s report, which came out in 2020, can be viewed here in its entirety.
Hate crimes are on the rise in our state, as newly-released FBI data shows. That’s unacceptable to me, and I will continue to stand against hate and work to strengthen laws that keep all people and communities safe.
October kicks off financial aid application season
The 2021-2022 school year may have just started, but when it comes to applying for financial aid for college, it’s time to start planning for 2022-2023 already.
Thanks to legislation passed in 2019 and improved in 2020, a family of four making up to $102,000 can qualify for financial aid in Washington, including full tuition for eligible students whose families earn around $56,000 or less per year. It’s called the Washington College Grant.
The Washington College Grant is available to all eligible Washington residents, including undocumented students. This is a grant, not a loan. There is no repayment. And there is even a grant for apprenticeships. It’s one of the best postsecondary financial aid programs in the country.
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is providing online support and resources—including virtual events—to help families complete their financial aid applications. Learn more here.
Share your input on modernizing and rebalancing our state’s tax code: Nov. 3rd
As I mentioned in a previous e-newsletter, the Tax Structure Work Group is inviting taxpayers to explore several scenarios to change the state’s tax structure, and this is your opportunity to weigh in.
Washington’s current tax structure places a heavier burden on working families and small businesses than those at the very top of the income bracket and relies on sales, property, and other excise taxes to fund schools, public health, and other vital services. It’s fundamentally inequitable, but there are ways to change it. Taxpayer input is critical to this discussion.
Two virtual Tax Town Halls for folks in our region of the state are scheduled for Wednesday, November 3rd. One is an afternoon session from 2:30-4:00 PM, and the other is an evening session from 6:30-8:00 PM. I will listening in on the evening session that day.
You can register for either town hall online here or via the South/East Puget Sound Tax Town Hall Facebook event.
My interview with NPR’s Austin Jenkins for “Inside Olympia”
Last month, NPR’s Austin Jenkins interviewed me on Inside Olympia, a show about what’s going on in our state capitol that airs on Washington’s public affairs network, TVW.
The interview covered topics like redistricting, the governor’s vaccination mandates for state employees, the state’s new long-term care benefit for workers, policing reform legislation, and what the 2022 session might look like. The segment is archived here.
It’s an honor and privilege to serve as your state representative. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about a topic covered in this newsletter, or any legislative issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Sincerely,
Redistricting, vaccine boosters, and eviction protections
Dear friends and neighbors,
October is here (already!) and preparations for the 2022 legislative session continue in Olympia. That includes planning and preparing for the next cohort of legislative interns.
If you know someone who is currently a college junior or senior in good academic standing, you may want to let them know about the Washington State Legislative Intern Program. Applications are being accepted for the 2022 session now, with a priority deadline of October 15.
More information about intern responsibilities, eligibility requirements, and the application process is available here. Fun fact: interns have been part of each legislative session since 1955, including during the 2021 remote session.
This program is open to students of all majors and backgrounds. No political experience is necessary, just an interest in learning about and participating in the legislative process. Having had the opportunity to work with several outstanding interns who were assigned to my office over the years, I strongly encourage eligible students from the 27th District to learn more about this opportunity.
Proposed redistricting maps are online
Once every 10 years, the political boundaries in our state are redrawn to evenly balance the population among each legislative and congressional district. Doing so ensures each district represents an equal number of residents, because communities and populations change over time.
In our state, an independent redistricting commission is charged with redrawing these boundaries. The commission is made up of four commissioners that are each appointed by the four legislative caucuses, plus a fifth nonvoting commissioner. Back in December 2020, I was proud to appoint April Sims to be the redistricting commissioner for the House Democratic Caucus.
Last month, the commissioners each released their proposed legislative and congressional maps. These proposed maps can be viewed online here.
Now it’s YOUR chance to weigh in. A public outreach meeting on the proposed legislative maps already took place this week on Oct. 5th, but you can still leave a comment on each commissioner’s map even if you didn’t attend the meeting. And you can watch a replay of the full meeting here in English, Spanish, or with ASL interpretation.
A public outreach meeting on the proposed congressional maps is taking place online this Saturday, Oct. 9th. You can watch the meeting or register to comment here.
I hope you’ll add your voice to the conversation. It is critical that the commission’s final maps reflect the input of the people and communities of our state.
COVID-19 booster shots now available to certain populations
A third “booster” shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been approved by the FDA and the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup. To help protect those most at risk of complications or death from COVID-19, and to help stop community spread of the virus, I urge all qualified individuals to get their booster shot as soon as possible.
The CDC recommends booster doses of Pfizer vaccine for people who have completed two doses of Pfizer at least 6 months ago and are:
- 65 years or older
- Residents in long-term care facilities
- 50-64 years who are at high-risk because of underlying medical conditions
- Essential front line and health care workers who face a high risk of exposure and transmission
The following people may also receive the booster shot at least 6 months after receiving two doses of Pfizer vaccine based on their individual benefits and risks:
- 18-49 years who are at high-risk because of underlying medical conditions.
- 18-64 years in occupational or institutional settings that put them at high risk for COVID-19 (healthcare, schools, childcare, homeless shelters, correctional facilities).
You can find a COVID-19 vaccination appointment here.
Housing stability “bridge” extended through Oct. 31
The governor recently extended the housing stability “bridge” proclamation through Oct. 31st, continuing protections for certain renters who are struggling to recover financially from the pandemic.
If you currently need rent assistance or anticipate not being able to pay rent, apply now to ensure you are protected, even if your application is not processed before October 31.
Multiple tenant protections specifically designed to provide help to those who need it were signed into law this past session. This includes the new Eviction Resolution Pilot Program, which helps people avoid losing their home.
I’m proud of the steps the legislature took this year to strengthen renter protections, provide rental assistance, and bolster economic survival measures to make sure people emerge successfully from the severe economic hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some additional resources:
- Housing and other rights in multiple languages: www.walawhelp.org
- Toll Free Eviction Defense Screening line: 855-657-8387.
- Washington State Attorney General’s question/complain form: submit questions or concerns online here, or call 1-833-660-4877 to leave a message.
Landlords who lost rent or have property damage caused by tenants can also access funding through the Landlord Mitigation Program.
Thanks for reading this e-newsletter. It is an honor to serve as your state representative, and I hope you will reach out to me with your comments, questions, and concerns.
Sincerely,
Upcoming town hall: Rebalancing and modernizing our tax code
Dear friends and neighbors,
We officially entered fall this week, and it certainly feels like it. Leaves are changing colors and falling from the trees, the air more crisp, and the sun sets a little earlier each evening. Whether you love fall or hate it, it is definitely a season of change.
Preparations for the next legislative session get fully underway in the fall. In the House, we are planning for Committee Assembly Days in November, when legislative committees will meet to discuss issues likely to come before the Legislature next year. You can find out when these public meetings will happen and sign up for committee email notifications on this page.
I know many of you are wondering if the 2022 legislative session will be held in person, remotely, or in some hybrid fashion.
My preference – and I think every legislator’s preference – is that we can all be together in Olympia, in-person. If we are able to do that, it will mean that COVID-19 is under control and the capitol campus is safe for the public, staff, and lawmakers to return.
The 2021 session was an enormously productive one despite having been held remotely, with historic public engagement through remote testimony options and not a single case of COVID traced to the work of the Legislature. All along, state and local public health guidance have driven the decision making about how to conduct session, and that will continue to be the case heading into 2022.
The good news is now the infrastructure exists to have an effective, transparent legislative session even if we have to be remote or partially remote.
That said, I hope people continue to get vaccinated, mask up, and take every precaution to stop the spread of the virus in our communities. If we all do our part, we can get back to normal operations sooner and safely.
It’s too early to know for sure how things will look in January, but I will keep you informed about plans for the 2022 session in these newsletters and on my legislative Facebook page.
You are invited: A town hall on rebalancing & modernizing our state’s tax code
Over the past two years, the Tax Structure Work Group has held listening sessions and conducted robust analysis to find out how the Legislature can create a more equitable, transparent, and stable tax code.
Washington’s current tax structure places a heavier burden on working families and small businesses than those at the very top of the income bracket and relies on sales, property, and other excise taxes to fund schools, public health, and other vital services. It’s fundamentally inequitable, but there are ways to change it.
The Tax Structure Work Group is inviting taxpayers to explore several scenarios to change the state’s tax structure, and this is your opportunity to weigh in. How do you think the state can better provide vital state services like schools and public health through an improved tax code?
Virtual “Tax Town Halls” are taking place this fall. These 90-minute interactive listening and sharing sessions provide opportunities to share your thoughts and ideas with your neighbors, local businesses, elected officials, and extended community. All taxpayers are welcome – you don’t need to be an accountant or tax expert to participate! The sessions will be conducted remotely on Zoom – if you have any questions or accessibility concerns please contact info@taxworkgroup.org.
If you live or work in the 27th Legislative District, I hope you’ll join one of the two virtual Tax Town Halls on Wednesday, November 3rd for folks in our region. There’s an afternoon session from 2:30-4:00 PM, and an evening session from 6:30-8:00 PM. I’ll be listening to your comments during the evening session that day.
You can register for the town hall online here or via the South/East Puget Sound Tax Town Hall Facebook event.
Thank you, Sen. Darneille
This week, my friend and 27th District seatmate, Sen. Jeannie Darneille, announced her retirement from the Legislature.
Sen. Darneille has served our district for over two decades, first in the state House, and since 2013 in the state Senate, where she chairs the Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee.
She has had an incredible impact during her legislative career, championing policies that have made our state safer for all people, and helping countless individuals live fulfilling lives and contribute in many positive ways to our communities. She leaves a lasting and inspiring legacy as a legislator. You can read my statement about her retirement here.
Please join me in wishing Sen. Darneille well as she transitions to her new role as Assistant Secretary — Women’s Prison Division for the Department of Corrections.
As the days get shorter and the temperatures cooler, I hope you and your loved ones have a safe and healthy fall. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your feedback, questions, or concerns. It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,