Dear friends and neighbors,
It’s been a busy three weeks here in Olympia! From the swearing in of our new governor to committee meetings, bill hearings, and floor action, there’s always something happening.
My priorities and goals are still the same. I want Washington to work for you, whether that’s getting kids safely to school, providing mental health resources for Kitsap youth, helping working moms and dads get the childcare they need, or fixing our ferry system so you can depend on WSF to depart and arrive on time, I’m laser-focused on passing bills and securing investments that will make a big difference in people’s lives.
Serving on House Committees
Attending meetings, listening to public testimony, and voting on bills in committee is a big part of my job during session. This year I’m honored to be the Vice Chair of the Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee. Here’s a little bit about the three House committees I serve on:
- Vice Chair, Postsecondary Education & Workforce
Setting young Washingtonians up for success by bolstering workforce training opportunities is one of my top priorities as a legislator, and serving on this committee gives me a front-row seat to all of the bills related to post-high school education in a variety of formats like technical training, apprenticeships, and credentialing and professional licensing. Some of the bills that come before the committee include things like investments for Olympic College, West Sound Tech, and Western on the Peninsulas.
We have lots of ways to get around our state, from freeways and highways to mass transit and ferries. The Transportation Committee works to ensure each mode is funded and maintained, along with funding transportation agencies like the Washington State Patrol, Department of Transportation, and Kitsap Transit.
We have abundant resources in our state that range from prime agricultural land on the east side of the Cascades to marine resources in Puget Sound. This committee looks at how we manage the resources in our state in a way that is sustainable and economically successful. In this committee you’ll see bills that advance salmon recovery initiatives and protect Puget Sound.
Here’s a little bit more about the House Transportation Committee:
In addition to these committees, I’m also proud to be the Vice Chair of the Legislature’s Maritime Caucus, as well as Co-Captain of the recently established Running Caucus (ok, that last one is unofficial but a fun way to connect with lawmakers and staff from across the state).
Fix our Ferries Town Hall Saturday, Feb 1
I hope you’ll have the opportunity to join me at a Fix our Ferries town hall this Saturday (Feb 1) in Bainbridge or next Saturday (Feb 8) in Poulsbo. I’ll be joined by Kitsap County Commissioner Christine Rolfes again this Saturday, as well as Bainbridge Mayor Ashley Mathews. You can find us at Bainbridge City Hall from 1-3PM. Bring your complaints and suggestions (and your friends!) because it’s going to take our best ideas to right the ship and get our ferry system back on track.
Do you want to go the extra mile to make your voice heard and influence lawmakers? Join the Fix our Ferries Lobby Days in Olympia! On February 4th, 5th, and 6th ferry riders from across the state – from San Juans to Whidbey, Port Townsend, Seattle, Vashon, and Tacoma – will gather at the Capitol to meet legislators and budget writers to share our stories and the importance of reliable ferry service… Let’s make sure Kitsap shows up strong!
Pick a date that works for you and join us in the capitol – I’ll be there to welcome you and help train you – it’s fun and it makes a huge difference as we negotiate the House Transportation Budget.
Learn more and register here: https://fixourferries.org/lobby-days
Kelp as the State Marine Forest
Earlier this year, people in the Pacific Northwest and around the world watched as southern resident orca Tahlequah J35 pushed her dead calf hundreds of miles in a display of grief akin to a funeral procession.
This demonstration of heartache was also a warning. When populations of top predators like killer whales steadily decline year over year, it’s not just trouble for orcas – it’s a sign that the entire ecosystem is starting to fail and food is in short supply up and down the chain.
This week I introduced legislation to establish bull kelp as the state marine forest. Kelp is an often overlooked but hugely important part of the marine ecosystem and food chain. Fostering kelp is a strong step to protect Puget Sound.
You can find out more about HB 1631 here.
Special thanks to Puget Sound Restoration Fund’s Betsy Peabody + Jodie Toft, Seattle Aquarium’s Nora Nickum, and Bainbridge High’s Sebastian Ford for the big help on this important legislation!
Alrighty, that’s all for now. I’ll be sending you an update every few weeks as we make our way through the 105-day session to let you know what I’m working on and what bills we’re passing in the House. I hope you’ll keep in touch by following me on Facebook or by sending me an email: Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov.
As always, it’s an honor to represent the Kitsap community that raised me.
