Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The summer is upon us and there’s no better place to spend it than Tacoma! Since the legislative session ended, I have been out in the community connecting with people across the 29th District. Read on to learn about some of the things I have been up to the last couple of months. Also, if you have Apple Health, check the end of the newsletter for an important update.
Washington State Labor Council President’s Award
I was honored to receive the Washington State Labor Council’s President’s Award this year! This session, I worked shoulder-to-shoulder with union members to pass critical, lifesaving privacy protections for workers. Together we worked to pass HB 1533, now law, which protects public employees who are survivors (or have dependents who are survivors) of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, or sexual assault from having their personal identifiable information or location disclosed.
While this sounds like a no brainer, this was one of the toughest fights we had this year. But opposition was no match for our collective strength. Thanks to people with lived experience who bravely told their stories, union reps who worked around the clock to build support, and colleagues who stood with us until the last bipartisan vote, privacy protections for public employees whose lives may depend on it is now the law in Washington. United, we can do incredible things.
Tacoma Community College
I recently had the privilege of taking a tour of Tacoma Community College with its President, Dr. Ivan Harrell II. It was great to get a chance to speak to TCC students and hear about the issues they see and experience as well as their ideas for effective solutions. I especially was impressed by TCC’s Titan Food Pantry, which provides a free, weekly on-campus food pantry with food, diapers, and school supplies.
TCC is breaking ground on a new Center of Innovative Learning and Engagement this summer! The center will be the new home of TCC’s business, humanities, and social sciences programs and will offer plenty of places for students to learn and collaborate. I was proud to work with the rest of the Pierce County delegation to make sure this great project was included in the Capital Budget.
Tacoma Pride
Happy Pride! Tacoma celebrates Pride on the second weekend in July. I had an incredible time celebrating in Tacoma with Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Pierce County Councilmember Ryan Mello, and other Congressional, state, and local leaders.
The LGBTQ+ community has always been a part of Washington’s history, but we have more work to do to build a state where everyone can be their authentic self without fear of discrimination. Over the past year, we have seen a rise in hateful rhetoric and policy around the nation targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially Trans people and youth. In the Washington Legislature, we passed bills to ensure the safety of trans youths seeking shelter (SB 5599), make it easier to seal name change records (SB 5028), and shield doctors who provide gender-affirming care from being targeted by red state laws (HB 1469).
While we remain conscious of all we have ahead of us, it was a privilege to celebrate love, authenticity, vibrancy, and beauty with my fellow Tacomans!
What to know about the end of pandemic-era Medicaid coverage
During the pandemic, the Health Care Authority (HCA) extended coverage for all Apple Health (Medicaid) clients but due to federal action, that extension is ending. If you use Apple Health for health care, you should log on to Washington Healthplanfinder at wahealthplanfinder.org to ensure your contact and income information is up to date.
If you are still eligible, you will be re-enrolled in Apple Health. If you no longer qualify, you can select a new health plan on the Healthplanfinder within 60 days to prevent a gap in your coverage. Most people who will lose Apple Health coverage can get a Cascade Care plan for less than $10 a month. Find out if you qualify or switch to a Cascade Care Silver or Gold plan at wahealthplanfinder.org.
For enrollment assistance, there are experts in many areas across the state. Find one near you at wahealthplanfinder.org or the WAPlanfinder app. You can also call customer support at 1-855-923-4633.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. Hearing from you is the most important part of my job. Please do not hesitate to keep reaching out throughout the interim with your thoughts and ideas.
Sincerely,
Sharlett Mena
State Representative
29th District