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Update on vaccines, Step One for community and economic recovery
Dear friends and neighbors,
Last week Washington’s new Secretary of Health, Dr. Umair Shah, gave House Democrats an update on distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in our state.
The good news is the lag between when vaccines arrive here and when they are getting into people’s arms is minimal. Data collection is slower than we wish, but it appears what we are distributing is increasing every day, with a rolling average of 24,000 vaccinations per day.
Earlier this week, the governor unveiled an updated COVID-19 vaccine plan that aims to increase the number of Washingtonians vaccinated per day to 45,000. Here’s how you can stay in the loop:
- Vaccines are being distributed in phases. You can use the Phase Finder online tool to find out if you’re currently eligible for the vaccine, or to sign up to get an alert when you are.
- Currently, we’re in Phase 1B-Tier 1. That means anyone 65 and older, and 50 and older living in a multigenerational household, can get the vaccine.
- The vaccine is also still available to those who are eligible in Phase 1A, including high-risk health care workers, high-risk first responders and long-term care facility residents. This timeline lays out the phases and estimated start dates.
- This interactive COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard is a partnership from the Department of Health and Microsoft’s AI for Health team.
Helping Washington families and businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Last week, House Democrats announced a plan that will help people struggling to pay rent, small restaurants and other neighborhood businesses, school districts, uninsured and underinsured individuals, and Black and Brown communities, all of which have been disproportionally hurt by the ongoing pandemic.
We’re calling it Step One, because it is the first but not the only step legislators will take this session to get help out to where it is desperately needed.
The proposal directs $2.2 billion in federal funds into critical areas that help families and businesses:
BOOSTING PUBLIC HEALTH: $618 million for vaccine distribution, contact tracing and testing, and epidemiology funding so that the governor’s plan to vaccinate 45,000 people a day has the necessary funding in the short-term.
KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND FED: $365 million for rental assistance, foreclosure assistance, and for small landlords to stay on top of their mortgages. The plan also includes $52 million for food and cash assistance, and TANF extension.
INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESSES: $240 million for grants for small businesses and non-profits to maintain operations and help with reopening.
GETTING STUDENTS CAUGHT UP: $714 million for schools to address learning loss, keep teachers on the payroll and get ready to bring kids back to the classroom when it’s safe to do so. The plan also includes $50 million for grants for child care providers.
SUPPORTING ALL WASHINGTONIANS: $70 million for long-term care and developmental disabilities programs and $6 million for health care for those who are underinsured and uninsured. The plan also includes $65 million for immigrant relief assistance and $5 million for grants to provide emergency financial aid for undocumented college students.
What’s next:
The Step One proposal had a public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee this week. The bills reflecting the changes and appropriations are HB 1367 and HB 1368 and their Senate companion bills are SB 5343 and SB 5344. We hope to move these bills off the House floor by next week.
Again, this early action is just a first step. Still ahead is a supplemental budget, a new operating budget for the upcoming 2021-23 biennium, and other bills that address needs in our communities due to COVID-19.
I’ll keep you posted on these early action measures. In the meantime, please reach out and contact me with your questions, concerns, and comments.
Sincerely,
Welcome to the 2021 Legislative Session
Dear friends and neighbors,
While the 2021 session will be mostly remote, legislators convened in our state capitol on Monday in person as required by our state constitution so that we could adopt temporary rules allowing for remote proceedings.
The photo at the top of this newsletter is my masked, socially-distanced swearing-in as Speaker of the House on Monday by Washington State Supreme Court Justice Helen Whitener. In the photo you can also see the new plexiglass barriers that have been installed on the House rostrum to help protect the health of members and staff from COVID-19. What a difference from last year’s opening day.
As I said in my brief opening day remarks, we are in the hardest of times as a state right now. But there is hope on the horizon. And legislators will be working hard this session to make hope a reality for all people in our state.
A lot of thought and planning has gone into making the legislature more accessible than it’s ever been for the people of our state. In this video I recorded with Sen. Andy Billig, we describe the changes in place, and how it’s now easier than ever for people to participate in the legislative process. You can also click here for more information on how to testify remotely, comment on a bill, or submit written testimony.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me this session with your questions, concerns, or comments. We will get through these hardest of times together.
Sincerely,
Hope is here – because of vaccines
So many of us felt hope as vaccines began to be rolled out in our state last month. As someone who works in the public health field when the legislature is not in session, I was thrilled to see that thousands of Pierce County residents had received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the end of last year.
As we begin the 2021 legislative session, my focus is on ensuring that the window between when our state receives vaccine shipments, and when those vaccines get into the arms of people who need them, is as narrow as humanly possible.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recently announced its new timeline for vaccine distribution in our state. As the federal government releases more vaccines, this timeline may be shortened and additional groups added. I will continue to press to get vaccines out more quickly, so stay tuned for updates.
You can check your eligibility by taking a short survey at findyourphasewa.org. Also, visit this DOH page for helpful information and videos that detail everything else you might want to know about the vaccines.
WATCH: House Democrats introduce Police Accountability Agenda for 2021
Across our nation, people are taking part in historic protests calling for systemic change. Here in our own community, we have seen the calls for justice for Manny Ellis, a Black man whose death while in police custody resulted in the Governor ordering a State Patrol-led investigation.
Undoing the grip that systemic racism has on every part of our lives begins by rebuilding communities’ trust in law enforcement through police accountability, reform and justice. That’s why last year House Public Safety Committee Chair Rep. Roger Goodman assembled a Policing Policy Leadership Team (PPLT) made up of members of the Black Members Caucus and the Members of Color Caucus.
Over the interim, the PPLT met with the families of victims of police violence, as well as representatives from major community organizations. This week, together with the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability, they rolled out their legislative agenda for 2021 in a virtual press conference, which you can watch on TVW by clicking here.
The proposed legislation this session will be in the following areas:
- Police accountability and transparency
- Police tactics and use of force
- Independent investigations and prosecutions of police shootings
Happy holidays – we’re all in this together
Dear friends and neighbors,
As the year winds down, I’m guessing most of us are pretty ready to say goodbye to 2020. This has been a tough year for so many, including right here in our community. The struggles people are experiencing – unemployment, financial hardship, housing insecurity, health challenges, isolation from loved ones, stress around remote work and school – are very real.
This week marked the winter solstice: the shortest day of the year with the least daylight. Reaching this point means we have now turned a corner, and each new day going forward brings us a little more light.
Likewise, there is hopeful news as we look ahead. The COVID-19 vaccine is being deployed in our state right now, starting with our frontline health care workers, first responders, and those in congregate care settings. And state lawmakers are gearing up to begin the 2021 legislative session next month to address our state’s most pressing issues, including pandemic response, economic recovery, climate change, and racial equity.
As I said in my last e-newsletter, the coming session will look very different than previous ones because it will be conducted remotely. But it’s how we’ll do the people’s work safely and transparently while continuing to make progress in fighting this pandemic and reopening our economy.
I wish you and those you love a safe and healthy holiday season. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with your questions, comments, and concerns.
Sincerely,
Coping with COVID during the holidays
Staying socially connected while remaining physically distant during this pandemic has been challenging for many of us. Some are using video chat programs to keep in touch with friends and family, but even technology can’t make up for being apart during the holidays.
Maybe you’ve had to have tough conversations with family and friends about how to celebrate while making sure everyone feels safe. Our state’s Department of Health (DOH) experts have pulled together a short podcast with some tips on how to navigate challenging COVID conversations:
- Listen proactively by asking open-ended questions, and shifting away from giving advice or problem solving.
- Set boundaries by being clear about what makes you feel safe and when you need to step back from the conversation.
- Regulate your reactions by taking time to pause and resisting the natural urge to respond quickly and emotionally.
- Own your mistakes by taking responsibility if you say something harsh and normalizing that mistakes will happen in times of intense stress.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends, families or people trained in behavioral health. The WA Listens support line (1-833-681-0211) is free, anonymous, available in multiple languages and happy to guide you to support.
These conversations are not easy. But they’re necessary to keep each other safe while staying connected.
And if you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or sad, know that you are not alone. If you need help coping during the holidays, Washington state DOH has mental health resources as does NAMI Pierce County.
Getting ready for the 2021 session
With remote session, people will have more opportunities to engage with the legislature than ever before. You can still watch committee hearings and floor action, contact your lawmakers, and testify on bills. And for the first time, you will be able to submit written testimony via an online portal that will be entered as part of the official record.
Here are five ways to get involved in the legislative process:
Learn—The whole legislative process, from start to finish, is explained at leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx or check out this step-by-step explanation of How a Bill Becomes a Law
Watch—Go to TVW.org for broadcasts of debates, votes, committee meetings, and other events in the House and Senate. There’s also an extensive archive of past events, if you couldn’t watch it live.
Research—To look up legislation by lawmaker or topic, visit app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
Testify—The House will soon unveil that online portal for written testimony mentioned above. Stay tuned for more information, or contact my office we’ll help keep you informed about how to submit testimony to legislative committees.
Explore—Visit my legislative website to see what I’m working on (all my past newsletters and press releases are posted there), or like and follow my official legislative Facebook page.
Doing the people’s work safely
Dear friends and neighbors,
These are challenging times for our families, our communities, and our state. We’re all in this together, but it’s important to acknowledge that each of us is hurting right now in different ways.
This is at the forefront of my mind as the Legislature prepares for the 2021 session next month. We are ready to do the people’s work safely and transparently, and we can accomplish both in a remote session that protects the health of the public, staff, and legislators.
A remote session is not what we hoped for. It is unprecedented. But it has also given us the opportunity to innovate and come up with ways the Legislature can be more accessible to the people we serve. In fact, the public will have more opportunities to engage with us than ever before.
For example: for the first time, the House and Senate will be accepting written testimony from the public on bills before committees via email and postal mail. No matter where you live, you’ll be able to submit your comments remotely, and they will be entered into the testimonial record.
My focus is on getting the work done and keeping things moving forward in our state. Your questions, comments, and feedback are always welcome, so please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
New round of help for small businesses
Working Washington Small Business Grants are available for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. Applications received by this Friday, December 11, will be given priority.
Who can apply?
Small businesses with annual revenues of $5 million or less in 2019 who are in the sectors most affected by public health measures to fight the COVID-19 virus. Those include restaurants, fitness centers, bowling alleys, and musical venues.
Nonprofits may be eligible if they have a primary activity that’s similar.
Applicants with revenues in excess of $5 million may receive funding if the Department of Commerce has leftover funds after giving grants to all the smaller businesses and nonprofits who applied and qualified.
What is the grant?
The maximum grant is $20,000, which can only be used to cover costs due to the pandemic which were necessary to continue operating. Example: rent.
How can you apply?
For a full checklist of information and to fill out an application online, go to commerce.wa/bizgrants
State launches app to help stop the spread of COVID-19
A new statewide COVID-19 exposure tool for iPhone and Android users called WA Notify is now available! This optional tool is free to use, anonymous, and protects your privacy. It works by alerting you whenever you are around another WA Notify user who later tests positive for COVID-19.
Using WA Notify is completely voluntary. In the first 24 hours it was available, 700,000 people in our state chose to download or activate it on their phones.
Were you one of the 700,000 Washingtonians to activate WA Notify in the first 24 hours it was available? If so, THANK YOU!
Whether or not you chose to use this tool, you can still play an important role in helping stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities by wearing a mask, washing your hands, and staying home as much as possible.
Open enrollment period for health insurance ends December 15
It’s more important than ever to make sure you and your family have the health care coverage you need. The annual open enrollment period ends December 15. Sign up by then to receive insurance beginning in January 2021.
Visit WAHealthPlanFinder.org to browse and compare plans—including new Cascade Care plans. WA Health Plan Finder is your one-stop-shop for updating your information, submitting documents and finding financial assistance. Don’t delay!
Students: Apply now for financial aid for college
In Washington state, there are two ways to apply for financial aid:
- U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens apply with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
- People who can’t file the FAFSA—due to immigration status, defaulted federal loans, or other issues with federal aid—can apply for state aid with the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid).
Completing a FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application is a crucial first step toward college and career training. Many families assume they won’t qualify for aid, but there’s more help available than ever before—the only way to know for sure if you’ll qualify is to apply.
It is time to apply for financial aid for the 2021-22 school year. Filing a financial aid application gives you more options for the future. Learn more, get support, and apply for financial aid at wsac.wa.gov/apply.
Our final update for now, and resources going forward
Dear friends and neighbors,
By staying home and practicing social distancing, we slowed the spread of COVID-19 in our state. Last week, the governor announced a four-phased approach to reopening. Phase I started this week, and includes opening up some outdoor recreation and restarting certain types of businesses, like some construction, landscaping, auto sales, and curbside retail.
We support a data-driven and public health-oriented approach as we continue to loosen restrictions and reopen our state further. It’s been said that this will be like turning a dial, not flipping a switch. No one wants infection rates to start climbing so that we have to dial things back again.
That’s why we’re asking you to continue practicing physical distancing, keep washing your hands, and follow the guidelines for the different phases of reopening.
We’re all in this together, and until the development of an effective vaccine and effective treatment for COVID-19, or herd immunity, we all have to look out for each other as we begin our economic recovery.
What House Democrats are working on right now
Currently, issue-focused teams convened after the 2020 session concluded are working on everything from economic recovery, to food security, to bridging the digital divide so that all Washingtonians have access to broadband, and more.
By determining current gaps and needs across the state, these teams will provide our federal partners with recommendations for how to structure future stimulus packages to help more Washingtonians.
Both these teams and our current House committee chairs are taking the lead on the state’s response as it pertains to the Legislature’s role. This work will inform our caucus priorities in a potential special session and in the 2021 Legislative Session, so we can best support workers, small businesses, and communities struggling all across our state.
This is our last newsletter for a while – but we’re still here for you
During an election year, there are certain restrictions on our communications to prevent the use of state resources for election purposes. These restrictions include a freeze on e-newsletters such as this one, as well as updates to our legislative websites – meaning no new content can be added beginning May 11, 2020 until after the general election in November.
However, we are still able to respond to your emails or phone calls, so please continue to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.
COVID-19 resources
As we continue navigating these challenging times, the need for accurate, up-to-date information is important. The links below are trusted sources of COVID-19-related information for our community and state:
- Washington state’s official COVID-19 website
- Washington State Department of Health
- Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Thank you for helping to flatten the curve, and we’re looking forward to when we can see you out in the community once again.
Sincerely,
Speaker Laurie Jinkins Rep. Jake Fey
More steps forward in reopening our state
Dear friends and neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who participated in our telephone town hall. It was so nice to hear your voices and to have a dialogue about how to get through this viral pandemic.
One of the questions we got during the call came from Susan, a constituent concerned about local small business owners who may have been denied federal stimulus funding specifically because they had owned their businesses for less than a year.
We had legislative staff look further into that question, and it appears owning a business for less than a year does not disqualify that business from receiving help from the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Additionally, businesses not eligible for PPP are listed in this Small Business Administration document, and owning a business for less than a year is not singled out. However, the PPP program left it up to banks to determine who they would work with to submit applications for the PPP loans, and this has resulted in some small businesses being unable to access the program. This is one of the issues state lawmakers are raising with Washington’s congressional delegation as we convey our state’s specific requests for further federal help.
This week, we’d like to talk about two new steps Washington state is taking to reopen, along with what’s next.
Restarting work on transportation projects
Construction work–including transportation projects here in the 27th District and across the state–was put on pause due to the global pandemic.
We’re happy to report that construction can restart as long as they meet the safety requirements outlined by Gov. Jay Inslee. The governor’s office has also created a list of Frequently Asked Questions on this topic.
This new order includes not only residential and commercial construction, but transportation work. It’s great news because without these safety measures, our summer construction season could have been lost.
Transportation projects funded in the new state budget are critically important for our economy–and our economic recovery. They mean jobs today for construction workers and engineers and jobs tomorrow as build a better, more sustainable transportation network.
Enjoying the outdoors, safely
During our telephone town hall, many of you had questions related to outdoor recreation. Why couldn’t you fish alone, hike, or golf? Enjoying the outdoors is a big reason people choose to live here in Washington state.
A new order by Gov. Inslee announces fishing, hiking, hunting, and golfing will be open again on May 5, as long as people maintain social distancing.
You can read the details for the partial reopening of outdoor recreation here.
What’s next?
There’s a lot happening every day during this global pandemic.
One of the issues we’re watching is the next step in Congress to fight COVID-19 and the economic damage it’s done.
Lawmakers and governors from both parties are advocating for the next round to include funding for state and local governments. It’s not a legal option, despite what some politicians and pundits have said, for any U.S. state to declare bankruptcy.
Without help from the federal government, it may be impossible for states, including Washington state, to keep doctors, nurses, public health experts, firefighters, and police officers on the job.
We’re in close contact with members of our state’s Congressional delegation and will keep you updated on any new developments on this front.
Please call or email if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Sincerely,
Speaker Laurie Jinkins Rep. Jake Fey
Safely reopening our economy
Dear friends and neighbors,
On Tuesday evening, several thousand of you joined us for a telephone town hall – thank you! Washington State Secretary of Health John Wiesman and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson were also on the line to help answer questions about the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and the governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order.
For those who were not able to join us, the audio recording of the event is available here.
Many of the questions were about how and when our economy will begin reopening. What we know is that reopening will be strategic and intentional. Think of it as turning a dial rather than flipping a switch.
The planning process is already underway, with discussions happening between the Governor’s Office and House and Senate lawmakers. Shortly before our town hall, the governor released a recovery plan for Washington.
We will continue to keep you informed as more specifics around timelines and businesses are announced. But the key to reopening our state is a sustained decline in COVID-19 infection rates, and that means staying home as much as possible and keeping up our social distancing measures.
Beware of scams and price gouging
The federal government has begun sending out stimulus payments to individuals and households, and that means scammers are trying to take advantage of people who are waiting for that direct deposit or check to show up. You may receive a phone call, text, or email asking for personal financial information, like your bank account number or social security number.
Here is what you need to know:
- The government will not ask you to pay anything upfront to get stimulus money.
- The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number.
If you spot a scam, contact the Federal Trade Commission. The Washington State Office of the Attorney General also has consumer protection information and resources for reporting scams.
The Attorney General has also launched a “See It, Snap It, Send It” campaign to combat COVID-19 price gouging. Since March, the office has received over 400 price-gouging complaints.
Stay safe when disinfecting
State lawmakers increased funding in the current two-year budget for the Washington Poison Center (WAPC). The WAPC helps Washingtonians with information and advice about poisoning emergencies, toxic exposures, and drug overdoses through their 24/7 toll-free helpline (800-222-1222) and through safety programs and campaigns.
Recently, the WAPC reported that harmful or toxic exposures to household cleaning products is up 23% over this time last year. Many exposures are related to COVID-19 exposure concerns. Their advice for staying safe when disinfecting:
- Wear gloves and open windows and doors for ventilation when cleaning.
- Do not mix cleaning products, as mixing can create hazardous gases.
- Do not use cleaning products on food.
- Store cleaners, household chemicals, and other potentially harmful substances in their original containers. Keep these products up high and out of reach of young children.
- Supervise young children when using hand sanitizer, as ingestion could lead to alcohol poisoning. Store hand sanitizers up high and out of reach of children.
Looking ahead – and keeping in touch
The number of questions we received during our telephone town hall on Tuesday was far greater than we could get through on the hour-long call. Look for responses to some of these questions in upcoming e-newsletters.
We’re all in this together. Our offices are still here to serve you as we get through this challenging time. We look forward to when we can have in-person meetings again, but in the meantime please call us or send us an email with your questions, comments, or concerns.
Sincerely,
Speaker Laurie Jinkins Rep. Jake Fey
Legislative update–and a personal invitation to our telephone town hall next week
Dear friends and neighbors,
Thank you for staying home and staying healthy during this pandemic.
We know many of you have questions about what’s happening, and what’s next when it comes to this crisis. To help answer your questions, we’re hosting a telephone town hall (with special guests – see below!).
This update also includes information about protecting seniors and your mental health.
Join us: Telephone town hall on COVID-19
The 27th District town hall is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21.
You should receive a phone call on your landline at 6 p.m. If you only have a cell phone, or otherwise want to join, please sign up here.
To help answer your COVID-19 health questions, Department of Health Secretary John Wiesman will be joining us.
And for expertise on the economic side of this problem, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson will also be on the line.
We hope you can take the time to join us!
Reminder: Please take the census!
Every person counts, and every person needs to be counted.
The census helps determine how much federal funding our state receives for critical services people and families in Tacoma and across the state rely on, including public health, transportation, and education.
Visit 2020census.gov to learn more or take the census, which is quick and easy this year, with more options on how you can take it.
Protecting seniors
People age 60 and above are especially vulnerable to serious complications of COVID-19, and have a higher risk of dying from it. It’s important to do all we can to protect seniors.
Gov. Jay Inslee recently issued a proclamation to protect high-risk workers, including those aged 65 and up or anyone with pre-existing conditions that make them more vulnerable.
There’s also a new and comprehensive resource page for seniors, which you can find here.
Your well-being is important
This crisis has put tremendous stress on families, whether you’re working from home, furloughed, laid-off, or a student trying to figure out how to continue your education.
It’s critical that you take care of your own and your family’s mental health and well-being.
Please check out our state’s new page for resources on this issue.
COVID-19’s effect on our state’s economy and budget
Please click on the photo above, or on this link, to watch Austin Jenkins’ recent interview with Speaker Laurie Jinkins on TVW’s “Inside Olympia” program. She discusses what re-opening the state might look like, and whether a special legislative session is likely this year to deal with the impacts to our state budget.
Stay in touch
Your questions, ideas, and comments are important to us.
Please continue to keep in touch by email and phone–and we’ll keep giving you the latest information every week.
Stay safe,
Speaker Laurie Jinkins Rep. Jake Fey
It’s working: Flattening the curve together
Dear friends and neighbors,
Since our last e-newsletter to you, our state has taken several more steps to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and “flatten the curve.” This includes the governor’s extension of the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” emergency order through May 4, and an extension on school closures through the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
We recognize that while these measures will help save more lives and protect our first responders and health care workers on the front lines of this pandemic, they also place additional burdens on families and businesses.
That’s why we want to ensure you have the following information about additional steps to help unemployed workers and small businesses, and resources for families with school-age children. If you experience problems with the websites or contacts below, please let us know so we can be aware of the problems and help facilitate getting them solved.
Also, we will be hosting a telephone town hall for constituents on Tuesday, April 21 at 6:00 PM. Secretary of Health John Wiesman and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson will join us on the call to answer your questions. More details to come.
Unemployment assistance: Applying and info
The Employment Security Department (ESD) has been receiving record numbers of new claims for unemployment insurance. Many people have questions about the recent federal stimulus package and the expansions to eligibility and available benefits. We’ve heard from many of you about long wait times or inability to get through on ESD’s toll-free number, and we know this is frustrating for you.
Because ESD is experiencing extremely high volumes of calls and emails, the best way to find out more information is to visit online resources like the ones listed below. Please do not call their toll-free numbers first. Instead:
- Visit their website at esd.wa.gov. There you can sign up for their action alerts to receive the most recent information possible about these benefits, view their Frequently Asked Questions for Workers and for Businesses and use their checklist before applying for benefits.
- Watch this video tutorial on how to create an account with ESD and apply for unemployment benefits.
Again, please use online resources for information. Calls to the toll-free lines need to be reserved for individuals who have unusual needs for assistance with their claims.
Here is some additional info from ESD about implementation of the federal stimulus programs included in the CARES Act:
While we are still receiving final guidance from US Department of Labor, we are already upgrading our technology systems to be able to begin accepting applications that will deliver the three main elements from the new law, including:
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance – expands benefits to those directly impacted by COVID-19 who are not otherwise eligible for Unemployment Insurance in Washington State. This will be available until December 26, 2020 and is retroactive to February 2, 2020
- Pandemic Unemployment Compensation – increases the weekly benefit amount by $600 increase for all unemployment assistance recipients (including those already on Unemployment Insurance or participating in SharedWork). It runs until July 25, 2020 and is retroactive to March 29, 2020.
- Pandemic Emergency Compensation – adds 13 additional weeks of benefits on top of the standard 26 weeks (if needed). It runs until December 26, 2020 and is retroactive to March 29, 2020.
Help for small businesses
This week, Gov. Inslee announced additional steps to help small businesses mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19:
- The Working Washington Small Business Grant, through the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund and administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce with the help of county economic development organizations. The grants will provide up to $10,000 for small businesses under 10 employees. Businesses can use this money to pay for rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory and other operating expenses. To apply for an emergency grant, visit coronavirus.wa.gov.
- Business resiliency assistance, through the Washington State Department of Commerce by partnering with organizations that serve economically disadvantaged communities across the state.
- Forgivable loans, through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small businesses, non-profits, independent contractors or self-employed individuals in need of financial help may be eligible for a forgivable loan from the SBA. Beginning last Friday, local banks began taking SBA applications and issuing forgivable loans. For more information go to sba.gov.
Update on school closures and resources for families
On Monday, Gov. Inslee and Superintendent of Public Schools Chris Reykdal announced that all schools will remain closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year in order to continue flattening the curve in our state.
We know this news is difficult as well as disappointing to students, families, teachers, and staff. Tacoma Public Schools maintains a dedicated web page with school closure info and resources.
Additional helpful links include:
- School Closures Q&A
- COVID-19 in Schools: A Parent Guide (English) (Spanish)
- Guidance for School Districts
- Information about school meals
- Resources for continuous learning during school closures
- Special Education Guidance for COVID-19
What we’re doing in Washington to promote social distancing appears to be working. That’s why we support these additional measures like extending the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order and keeping schools closed through the end of this school year.
We were the state with the first reported COVID-19 death, but we are also leading the way on slowing the spread of this virus.
There’s no simple, easy answer to handle a crisis like this. This challenge impacts us all, some harder than others. We will get through this. And when it’s over, we’ll rebuild our economy and institutions to be stronger than before.
Sincerely,
Speaker Laurie Jinkins Rep. Jake Fey
Help is on the way
Dear friends and neighbors,
Before the end of the 2020 session, the COVID-19 pandemic was just hitting Washington state. We voted to spend $200 million to fight the virus.
But this battle isn’t over, and there’s more to be done.
This week, we’d like to update you about three pieces of breaking news:
• What the new federal plan will mean to us here in Washington state
• Expanded unemployment benefits
• Options and aid for small businesses
This e-newsletter is also a chance to tell you about the state’s new transportation budget, written by Rep. Fey and signed by Gov. Jay Inslee this week.
New funding in our state
The latest relief package passed by Congress is a huge boost to state and local programs.
It won’t fix every problem, and there may be additional actions that lawmakers in Congress—and in Olympia—need to take before this is over.
For now, the new federal funding is a good first step toward winning a long war against this virus.
Here’s the estimated breakdown of funding coming to Washington state:
- State Coronavirus Relief Fund—$1.624 billion for state government and $1.329 billion for local governments for a total of $2.953 billion, which goes directly to our state and local public health systems, personal protective equipment, human services, and more;
- Child Care Development Block Grant—$58.2 million toward helping childcare providers during this unprecedented crisis;
- Community Services Block Grant—$11.8 million for local community-based organizations providing social services and emergency assistance to those with the highest need;
- Low-income heating assistance program—$11.1 million to offer help to those who need assistance paying their utility bills; and
- Education Stabilization Fund—$56.6 million, along with $216.9 million for elementary and secondary education to help schools purchase technology to support online learning, plan and coordinate school closures, and other emergency needs due to COVID-19
Help for workers, businesses, and families
The state unemployment insurance system has become more flexible during this COVID-19 pandemic. Here are the biggest things to know about:
- More people are eligible for assistance today, including the self-employed, part-time workers and people in the gig economy — please check the state unemployment page for workers and sign up for alerts for the latest news;
- Benefits will increase by $600 per week through the end of July;
- An additional 13 weeks of eligibility are added; and
- Job search requirements are relaxed and now optional, as the governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order makes it hard for people to look for work.
For businesses, there are also changes to help get through this crisis:
- Reduced tax impacts for businesses who utilize state unemployment insurance programs;
- Relaxed penalties and fees for employers and workers who miss key deadlines due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
- SharedWork allows businesses to reduce worker hours without having to lay them off, with the option of reducing hours by 10 percent to 50 percent while having Unemployment Insurance provide partial wage replacement for those reduced hours.
Help for families coming from the CARES Act includes a $1,200 per person check for those making under $75,000 a year and $2,400 for a married couple who file jointly earning $150,000 or less. There’s an additional $500 per child.
For small businesses, the Small Business Administration offers small business guidance and loan assistance online on the SBA website for COVID-19 response. There are also several programs and other relief options that can help during this difficult time:
- The Paycheck Protection Program: This provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance: A loan advance that provides up to $10,000 in economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.
Special Enrollment Period for Washington Healthplanfinder Extended to May 8
Responding to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange is giving families more time to find the right plan for them if they find themselves suddenly uninsured due to a change in status, such as losing a job that provided health insurance coverage. Originally this special enrollment period was set to end on April 8, but is now extended another month. If you or a loved one is in sudden need of coverage, please visit WaHealthPlanFinder.org.
A transportation budget that keeps Washington moving
With the governor’s assistance, we produced a good transportation budget that successfully dealt with the impacts of Initiative 976, which reduced revenue by almost half a billion dollars. That budget (House Bill 2322 by Rep. Fey) passed the House 96-1 and the Senate 48-0.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have bigger consequences than Initiative 976. Right now, the projects funded by the new budget are on pause.
When the crisis is over and construction resumes, there’s a lot to be happy about in the new transportation budget, including full funding for the green transportation efforts originally put in motion in 2019. That blueprint is designed to help move Washington state toward cleaner, more sustainable ways to move people and goods throughout our state.
Please take the census!
It’s important for Washington state, the 27th District–and your family–that you fill out the 2020 census.
Every person counts, and every person needs to be counted.
The census also helps determine how much funding we receive to help the people of Washington state.
For the first time, you can take the census online, by mail or by phone.
Visit 2020census.gov to learn more or take the census, which is quick and easy this year.
Staying in touch
With so much happening due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will try to keep you informed with regular updates, especially when they may help your family or business.
Please stay in touch–and stay safe out there!
Sincerely,
Speaker Laurie Jinkins Rep. Jake Fey