Honoring Coast Salish Peoples
Last week, I joined San Juan County officials, representatives from our local tribes, and community members on Orcas Landing to unveil a mural that honors our Coast Salish peoples, and the land and water from which we come. The mural was a project sponsored by the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee (MRC). As many of you know, a significant piece of my legislative priorities is to help protect our forage fish and orca populations, which have cultural, environmental, and economic significance for our state and tribal nations. It has been a privilege to help provide funding for Marine Resource Committees in our region and along Washington’s coastline, including for projects such as this beautiful mural! |
Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery Extended
At the end of last week, Gov. Inslee issued an extension of the Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery emergency proclamation. It provides that all counties are in Phase 3 and incorporates the new CDC face covering guidance, which generally provides that fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask inside or outside, except in certain locations (health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, schools and public transportation).
Find information on gathering safely once vaccinated from the WA Department of Health.
The proclamation clarifies that business owners and local authorities have the option to require a mask, and that local authorities may not prohibit business owners from requiring that their customers wear a face covering. It also addresses the application of this new rule to employees and employers. Find more detailed employer guidance from the Department of Labor & Industries.
Find a vaccine appointment
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there are also signs of hope! The great news is everyone 12 and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine! More and more local locations are opening up with walk-in appointments, but for help finding an appointment, use the Washington State Department of Health Vaccine Locator or call 1-800-525-0127, then press #. Language assistance is available.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe and put us on the road to recovery!
I got my second shot this week!
Thank you to our service members!
This week I had the privilege to meet Brigadier General Dan Dent of the Washington National Guard to learn more about the work they are doing here in the 40th District, across the state, and abroad.
Nestled in the small harbor town of Anacortes lives one of the smallest facilities in the Washington National Guard inventory, but also maybe one of the most important.
“The Anacortes armory is one of our most critical infrastructures we have in the Washington Army National Guard,” said Brig. Gen. Dan Dent, commanding general of the Washington Army National Guard. “It is our northern most armory just off of Interstate Five and partnered with our field maintenance shop in Sedro-Wooley provides a strategic foot print in Skagit and Whatcom counties.”
For nearly 60 years the 15,000 square foot armory has been home to soldiers of multiple units in the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Originally built for a unit of 42 personnel with limited equipment, today more than 150 soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment are stationed there.
“We believe that Anacortes plays a vital role in growing the Guard in Washington and that means upgrading the facility,” said Dent.
The Legislature recently funded the design phase, which will happen in fiscal year 2022, with construction kicking off in fiscal year 2023. The project will restore and modernize the armory, improving the facility’s functional areas to include the office, classrooms, kitchen, restrooms, showers, heating and cooling system, electrical system, information technology and facilities infrastructures. It will also bring the facility into compliance with state building codes, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and environmental requirements.
In the past 15 months Guardsmen from the location have been active with the COVID-19 response across the state, provided support to the Seattle Police Department during civil unrest and are currently deployed to Poland in support of a NATO mission in the region.
Members of the Washington Air and Army National Guard are supporting food banks around the state during the COVID-19 pandemic response. (U.S. National Guard photo by Joseph Siemandel)
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. Now that we’re headed into the summer months, I will be sending out an official Fantastic Friday every other week.
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!
All best wishes,
Rep. Debra Lekanoff