Happy Fantastic Friday!
MMIWP Task Force Appointment
Earlier this week, I was appointed as a legislative representative to the newly established Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIWP) Task Force. The task force will be led by the Office of the Attorney General and is comprised of representatives from tribal nations, the Legislature, the Governor’s office, law enforcement, and other expert stakeholders. The task force will examine a wide range of issues relating to gender based violence against American Indian and Alaskan Native people including the systemic causes behind gender-based violence, data tracking and reporting practices, prosecutorial trends and practices, and barriers to providing more state resources. It will also make recommendations and identify best practices for data collection and reporting by tribal, local, and state law enforcement agencies as well as jurisdictional and data sharing issues on tribal reservation land and urban areas. During the session, I worked closely with Senator Manka Dhingra to secure the $500,000 budget proviso to establish the MMIWP Task Force. Now I get to take that a step further and be a part of their ongoing work to develop policies that further address the MMIWP crisis. Together, we can bring justice and help families and communities heal. Graphic Credit: National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center |
Thank you to the National Guard!
I wanted to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you to the men and women of the Washington National Guard who served here in the 40th District and across the state to support vaccine distribution efforts. In particular, I want to call out the incredible work done in San Juan County over the last few months.
Thank you for all you did to help and support our community!
Three National Guard members board the Tillikum during a visit to San Juan County to help distribute COVID vaccines in early 2021. (Credit: U.S. Army)
The Washington Green Amendment
Despite state environmental laws, regulations and agencies, Washington’s water, air, soils, and ecosystems are being degraded, affecting our health and lives. That’s why this past session, I introduced a resolution to ensure the rights of all Washingtonians to clean water and air, a stable climate and healthy environment. While the measure did not pass the Legislature this year, I plan to continue to work on this issue and promote the Washington Green Amendment. Learn more in an upcoming announcement on Sunday, July 13, the first annual National Green Amendment Day!
The Washington Green Amendment amends Article I of the Washington State Constitution to recognize the rights of every Washingtonian to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate, for both present and future generations.
As an amendment to the state constitution, it requires a two-thirds vote in each house of the Legislature. Once through the Legislature, the amendment would be on the ballot during the next general election. That means every Washingtonian will have the opportunity to vote on whether environmental rights should be protected by the state constitution.
I believe this amendment is a foundation that generations of lawmakers can build upon to ensure we make decisions that reflect a prosperous economy and a healthy environment. If we are going to grow Washington; let us grow it in a way that reflects the values of generations of Washingtonians and all those who built this great state. This bill is not to hinder growth, the economy or jobs, it is to respect the history of Washingtonians who made decisions to preserve and honor, and to ensure our generations to come can enjoy a clean environment and healthy natural resources.
Salmon in the News
“In the mid-80s Baker River sockeye salmon were teetering on the brink of extinction with only 99 adults coming back to the river to spawn. That dismal number was a wakeup call to Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a private utility, that operates two dams on the river to generate electricity.
PSE began rethinking strategies for helping salmon that were blocked off from habitat they could use to spawn and grow. Eventually, through a dam relicensing process that involved collaboration with three Skagit Valley Indian tribes, Skagit County government, state and federal regulators and environmental nonprofits, PSE agreed to a $170 million investment to improve conditions for fish.” – via KING 5
Learn more about PSE’s efforts to restore salmon around dams on Baker River, as well as the ongoing license renewal negotiations around the three similar hydroelectric dams operated by Seattle City Light on the Skagit River in this recent article by KING 5.
“After several years of additional studies and design work, the organizations that want to restore fish habitat in the Barnaby Reach near Rockport are ready for the work to begin.
In early July, a crew will begin to remove old fish hatchery infrastructure to restore fish passage to Barnaby Slough, a horseshoe-shaped side channel of the Skagit River.
The area has long been identified as important spawning and rearing habitat for salmon.” – via the Skagit Valley Herald
Learn more about the upcoming restoration of the Barnaby Slough, as well as the history of the project, in this recent article in the Skagit Valley Herald.
Employment Security Department Updates
Job search requirements going back into effect in early July
With the economy recovering, the job search requirement is going back into effect. This means individuals drawing unemployment insurance will be required to look for work and document approved job search activities each week in order to remain eligible for unemployment benefits. Job search activities begin the week of July 4th, and claimants will report those activities starting the week of July 11th and every week thereafter that benefits are needed.
The Employment Security Department (ESD) is committed to helping individuals understand the job search requirements before they go back into effect. ESD will send multiple notices with details about what to do leading up to the requirement going back into place. Learn more.
Important action required for some past and current claimants
Since June 11th, ESD has begun running a scan within the unemployment benefits system to ensure claimants are or were receiving benefits from the correct program. ESD is required to do this by federal law, even if claimants have stopped filing weekly claims. Many current and former claimants will be required to answer additional fact-finding questions when ESD staff think the claimant might qualify for a new claim. The fact-finding includes a link to apply for a new claim.
Claimants are advised to respond to all emails, postal mail, and web notices from ESD. For more information, read the potential new claim alert webpage on esd.wa.gov.
Eviction Moratorium “Bridge”
Yesterday, Gov. Inslee announced a “bridge” between the eviction moratorium and the housing stability programs put in place by the Legislature. The bridge is effective July 1 through September, and will allow for a transition to the tenant protections established in SB 5160, including the Eviction Resolution pilot programs and the Right to Counsel program for indigent tenants.
The bridge is not an extension of the existing eviction moratorium, first declared in March 2020. Under the new order, new provisions will support renters and landlords until resources and programs become available.
Learn more about the protections available during the “bridge.”
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 the last two Fridays of each month.
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