Happy Fantastic Friday!

Making History

This was a historic week! On Monday, Laurie Jinkins was sworn in as the first woman and LGBTQ Speaker of the House! It’s the first time in nearly two decades that a new Speaker takes the gavel here in the people’s House.

In her opening day speech, Speaker Jinkins said that while her title may be Speaker, she sees her primary job as listening. She also made clear her commitment to equity and inclusion, and to expanding opportunity for all people in our state.

With a new Speaker, we are entering an exciting new chapter for the legislature and for our state. I look forward to working with Speaker Jinkins to pass good policies that put people first and help communities across Washington thrive!

Lawmakers wore white as a tribute to the suffragette movement, which paved the way for a woman to become Speaker of the House. This year is the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage – although we acknowledge the victory was only for white women.

Welcome to the 2020 Session

Click on the image to watch my most recent video update.

Earlier this week, I stepped into the gallery to film a quick video update on the opening of the 2020 Legislative Session. I spoke about some of the legislative priorities for the 40th District and welcomed my new seatmate, Rep. Alex Ramel! I also extended a warm congratulations to those who have stepped up to represent our community in all levels of government, including Sen. Liz Lovelett, Rep. Alex Ybarra, and the new Whatcom County Executive, Satpal Sidhu.

Watch the video to learn more about the first week of the 2020 session!

I am excited to be working with my colleagues on a number of bills including creating a Joint Legislative Committee on Salmon, modernizing the Growth Management Act to include a salmon provision, creating a select committee on water, wildlife management, and more!

Keep up with my legislative work, and track my bills here.

Constituent Corner: Climate Change

Many of you have reached out this week to tell me of your support for environmental protection legislation. I have always been a strong advocate for our environment, and will continue to do so this session as I proudly support climate action legislation, such as the bills to set climate pollution limits for the state, establish a clean fuel standard, and promote zero-emission vehicles, ban single-use plastics, and fully fund the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Protecting our water, land, and air is vital to our state, to our tribal nations, and to our children’s future.

Governor Inslee may have said it best in his State of the State Address earlier this week: “We know this: Washington state is not a state of climate denial. It is a state of climate science acceptance. For those who say we should not take action, I say climate inaction is just as deadly as climate denial.” You can read or watch the whole speech here.

Watch the Governor’s State of the State Address by clicking on the image.

Notable Meetings

Rep. Lekanoff with WWU President Sabah Randhawa.

This week, I met with:

WWU President Sabah Randhawa

  • We discussed the importance of college affordability, workforce development, and the funding to build a traditional Coast Salish style longhouse at WWU, which would honor the historic importance of the place which WWU occupies.

Skagit County Public Utility District General Manager George Sidhu

  • We discussed our continued partnership on water issues in Skagit County.

Michele Thomas with Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

  • We discussed reducing barriers to affordable housing, particularly in Skagit County, small towns, and rural communities.

American Indian Health Commission and Seattle Indian Health Board

  • I have been working with AIHC and SIHB on three critically important issues: a budget proviso for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Taskforce, the Indian Behavioral Health Act, and the Indian Suicide and Addiction Response Act.

Tulalip Tribe

  • It is an honor to work with the Tulalip Tribe in making sure we are collaborating as two sovereigns to support sustainable economies and prosperity in our communities.

Tulalip Tribe Vice Chairman Glen Gobin (right) and his daughter.

Stay Involved and In Touch

Our democracy is strongest when everyone has the ability to learn about the issues and share their comments, questions and ideas.

Please reach out, whether by hand-written letter – like the one here sent to me by a young constituent! – or by phone, email, or an in-person meeting. Your views and interests, combined with your participation, are crucial to my decision-making here in Olympia.

I hope to hear from you soon!


Please feel free to reach out to me using the information below, with any questions, inquiries, or concerns you may have.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 e-newsletter each week throughout the legislative session.

I am here for you!

All best wishes,

Rep. Debra Lekanoff