Getting down to business
I’m proud to announce my bill, HB 1339, the Native American Voting Rights Act, had its first hearing in the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee. This bill removes obstacles that have prevented Native Americans from voting in government elections. The testimony for this bill had a very positive reception. For more on this bill please visit here.
This week I introduced three bills:
HB 1425 is a bill designed to expand eligibility for the transitional bilingual instruction program.
HB 1485 is a bill which now allows the use of religious coordinators in correctional facilities. Traditionally there was only institutional chaplains assigned to these facilities. This bill ensures that those who are in the corrections system receive their right to express their own religion with a leader of the same religion.
HB 1578 is a bill which will help ensure the safe passage of oil carrying vessels in our waterways. It is my desire to protect our orca and salmon populations through this legislation. One oil spill would be catastrophic for these animals and their environment.
I am also supporting Rep. Strom Peterson’s HB 1205. This bill will see plastic bags in Washington stores replaced with environmentally safer options. It is important that we continue to make changes like this, to protect our environment.
Notable meetings
This week I met with:
Whatcom Community College
- We discussed equitable access to higher education.
Western Washington University Students
- We shared stories and made introductions with each other.
Planned Parenthood
- We discussed reproductive health values and women’s choices with their bodies.
Racial Equity Team
- We discussed labor laws, protecting the workforce, and immigration.
SEIU
- We discussed the behavioral health industry and families in the labor force.
Fire Commissioner from Skagit District 13th
- We discussed the firefighter community, keeping our district safe, and I thanked them for their service in returning power to our district last December.
Port of Skagit
- We discussed implementing electric ferries for the Salish Sea, as an environmental improvement.
Secretary of State Kim Wyman
- We introduced ourselves and discussed the Native American Voting Rights Act.
Collaboration leads to consensus on deadly force initiative
When police shoot or kill someone, and the law doesn’t offer a clear path to justice for the victim, it does damage to the community, to the reputation of law enforcement, and to the notion of justice. For years, communities, especially communities of color, have been frustrated by the outcomes of interactions between police and members of the community. There have been too many instances where people in a mental health crisis end up injured or dead instead of receiving help.
Last fall voters approved Initiative 940, which updates Washington’s statute on police use of deadly force. While I-940 was a great step forward in repairing the trust between the public and law enforcement, there are provisions that need to be more defined. Last session, community groups and representatives of law enforcement worked with lawmakers on language to clarify and strengthen the initiative.
Before the 2019 session began, that coalition of stakeholders called on the Legislature to move quickly and pass the clarifying and strengthening language agreed upon last year. That language is mirrored in House Bill 1064, which was introduced this session by my colleague, Rep. Roger Goodman. Together, I-940 and HB 1064 will improve public safety and interactions between police and the communities they serve by providing law enforcement with the tools to carry out their difficult jobs, while ensuring that victims of unnecessary violence can get justice.
I’m pleased to report that HB 1064 passed the House this week on a unanimous vote!
Ending “surprise” hospital bills
Have you ever visited an emergency room, provided your insurance information and paid your co-pay, only to find a bill mailed out weeks or even months later? You may have seen a story in the news such as this one, where a LaCenter mom received a $112,000 bill after her hospital assured her visit was in-network. These surprise bills cause stress and create a serious financial burden. It’s called “balanced billing” and should be fixed so that these unfair bills don’t surprise families.
What usually happens is you visit a hospital that is in your network, but the doctor you see happens to be visiting or filling in, and not in your network. So, you get stuck with a much higher bill than you anticipated. House Health Care & Wellness Committee Chair Eileen Cody has been working with insurance providers, doctors, and hospitals to address why this care is not covered by insurance, and how to get patients and their families out of the middle of the tug of war between hospitals and insurance companies.
I’m proud to support Rep. Cody’s bill to fix balanced billing, especially for emergency room visits where the last thing on your mind is making sure the doctor treating you is covered by your insurance.
Martin Luther King Jr.
This past Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In recognition of this great leader and activist I gave a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. You can view the speech here.
Let us make sure that we do not only honor the memory of this great man once a year. I hope that my daily work in the state legislature fulfills the dreams of Dr. King – that we may all thrive as equals and respect one another.
Thank You
Thank you all for taking to the time to read this week’s Fantastic Friday and for taking an interest in our progress at the House of Representatives. I will be sending out a Fantastic Friday letter every Friday throughout the legislative session. Please feel free to reach out to me using the information below, with any questions, inquiries, or concerns you may have. I am here for you!