Dear friends and neighbors,
There was an important legislative deadline this week called house of origin cutoff, which means Tuesday was the last day for the state House and Senate to pass policy (not budget) bills that were first introduced in each chamber. In the House, we marked the occasion by passing important bills to support families.
I was proud to vote for legislation to make child care more affordable and accessible, and co-sponsor and vote for a bill to expand a tax credit for working families. Our families are struggling right now, and these two bills are great steps toward some relief.
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Workplace training, help for students and rail safety
The House recently passed three of my bills with bipartisan support, which are now headed to the Senate for further consideration. Here’s a look at those bills:
–Workforce training: HB 1033 extends a tax credit for businesses working with students in workforce training programs. By partnering with community and technical colleges, businesses use these programs to boost job opportunities and help workers expand their skills. Workforce training uplifts our economy, supports small businesses and provides workers with opportunities for professional development.
–Help for students: HB 1166 expands housing and assistance to college students experiencing homelessness and who were in foster care. Housing and essential needs can be a struggle for students right out of high school, adults going back to school and workers seeking retraining, and it’s critical we get them the resources they need to succeed. This bill will help ensure students have access to laundry facilities, technology, reduced-price meals, housing assistance, case management services and other resources.
–Rail safety: HB 1418 helps build a stronger, safer railway network by giving the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission the authority to oversee rail safety. As a co-chair of the Joint Rail Caucus, I’m proud to be a champion for rail safety. This legislation will help keep our railways safe and prevent future tragedies.
You may remember that the House passed two more of my bills last month to provide food and cash assistance to families in need and create pathways from prison to postsecondary and apprenticeship education. These bills are also awaiting approval in the Senate.
Vaccine corner: new guidance for fully vaccinated people
The CDC is out with new guidance for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who have gotten the vaccine can gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask and with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, as long as they don’t have a high risk for serious illness from COVID-19.
People are fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two weeks after their single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But vaccinated or not, the CDC is urging people to keep taking precautions in public, like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
Check out the Phase Finder tool to see if you’re eligible for the vaccine — now available in 30 languages! And for a list of vaccine locations, click here. More information about the next vaccine phases is available in English here and Spanish (para español) here.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out at 253-256-0302 or Mari.Leavitt@leg.wa.gov. You can also follow me on Facebook for the latest. It’s an honor to serve the beautiful 28th.
Mari Leavitt