Friends and Neighbors,
Although it feels like we just started, we’re over a third of the way through this year’s legislative session! We have plenty of work still ahead of us, especially as we begin putting together the state’s supplemental budget. I’ll be sure to keep you up to date on the funding priorities most important to our community.
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the recent 40th Legislative District virtual town hall with my friends and colleagues Rep. Debra Lekanoff and Sen. Liz Lovelett. The best part of this job is getting to hear directly from all of you, and I look forward to when it’s once again safe to host these events in person. You can view the full town hall by clicking here. If you have a question we weren’t able to cover, never hesitate to reach out to me or my staff directly at alex.ramel@leg.wa.gov.
WA Ferries Update
I know how vital ferries are to the families of the 40th District, and I am working tirelessly to secure the funding needed to meet the challenges now facing our communities.
One of the top priorities is to move from seasonal-based hiring practices to year-round recruitment and hiring efforts, as well as bringing on additional support staff to move applicants through the hiring process more quickly and efficiently.
A fully-funded budget must also be used to provide guaranteed work hours and pay for entry level mariners, while increasing paid-professional development and training opportunities to retain the hardworking ferry employees we already have. We should also look at expanding the successful Pre-Apprenticeship and Supportive Services (PASS) program to support women, applicants of color, veterans and other historically disadvantaged individuals to succeed in ferry jobs.
Lastly, we should include funding to support a recent agreement between our labor partners and the ferries that allows the ferry system to move vessel crew members — engine room and deck — from non-operating vessels to cover gaps in service elsewhere.
Looking at the longer term, we also have to make progress toward funding new vessel construction to replace the aging ferries in the fleet. We’ll be working constantly to make sure these priorities remain at the forefront.
Community Conversations
With the first month of session behind us, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to speak with me and my staff about the issues you care about most. Last week, we heard from the Washington State Hospital Association and from groups of healthcare workers about the challenges of long-term exhaustion facing many in that sector — now two years into this pandemic. Protecting both patients and our frontline healthcare workers has never been more important. I look forward to working with hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, and hospital staff to find the best solutions to keep our communities safe.
We also had the honor to hear from two Washington State student advocates, Giselle Salazar and Anna Corrine Huffman. They spoke in support of House Bill 1835, which would create an outreach program to help students access and complete both state and federal financial aid applications for post-secondary education. Making these applications more accessible allows students to receive the complete financial assistance they need to attend college without sacrificing essential needs. Giselle and Anna also discussed the importance of House Bill 1601 to assist homeless and foster care students, as well as funding for a student healthcare study; all of which I support.
If you have an issue you’d like to connect about, please reach out any time.
In service,
Rep. Alex Ramel
Puedes ver este boletin en español haciendo clic aquí