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Dear friends and neighbors,
As you know, I serve on the Public Safety Committee and also as one of the vice chairs on the Transportation Committee, which deals with issues relating to the Department of Transportation, as well as the Washington State Patrol. In this year’s session, a big priority in both committees was to ensure we considered bills under an equity lens.
This session, after months of discussion with community leaders, families impacted by police violence, advocates, and law enforcement officers, we passed a police accountability package that included a full ban on chokeholds, neck restraints and no-knock warrants, a uniform state standard on use of force that prioritizes de-escalation, and a bill I sponsored concerning compliance audits of requirements relating to peace officers.
I am proud we delivered on accountability and justice, but there’s more work to be done. In particular, there is an undeniable need to increase diversity in our law enforcement agencies and the State Patrol.
The Seattle Times and NPR have partnered in a couple of stories about this issue and, on Monday, the Times editorial board also chimed in. Below are the links to those stories, as well as a short video (click on the image to play) with my comments.
September 26: Washington State Patrol’s hiring under fire as agency failed to diversify over decades
November 4: Washington State Patrol replaces longtime psychologist after concerns raised over hiring bias
November 8 editorial: Washington State Patrol’s welcome hiring reform
This is an important issue, and I would really appreciate getting your take on it. So please email me with your thoughts and feedback.
As you saw on the video, Rep. Lisa Callan and I have received questions about the new Long Term Care program, WA Cares, and it is obvious that there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation floating around, so we’re working on a virtual event to clear up the air. You’ll get a notice with the details as soon as we finalize it.
Honoring Our Veterans
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, which recognizes the work and sacrifices of those who have put their lives on the line for our nation. I count myself among the many who are grateful for their service every day.
Supporting our veterans and military members at the state level is about providing outreach and services through legislation. Here are some of the bills we have passed in recent years with that goal in mind:
- Created the position of Military Spouse Liaison within the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides assistance and information to military spouses seeking professional licenses, credentials or other employment, and helps military spouses access high-quality child care, among other services. Federal and state governments often overlook military spouses when supporting active duty or retired service members. We owe it to military spouses to provide these supports in recognition of the great sacrifices they make, including the loss of opportunities due to frequent relocations and deployments.
- Established an LGBTQ Coordinator within the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. Our LGBTQ veterans face isolation, stigma, and disproportionate suicide rates. By helping connect these veterans with the services they need, our state makes sure all veterans feel welcome and supported.
- Ensured access to in-state tuition for disabled veterans. By passing this measure, our state was able to continue participation in the federal Choice Act, which enables public institutions of higher education to receive payments under the Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and other veteran education benefits.
- Expanded access to in-state tuition for veterans and their families. Prior to this legislation, veterans and their families did not qualify for in-state tuition until all discharge paperwork was completed, a process that could take significant time. Now, even if the technical transition from military to civilian life hasn’t been officially completed, veterans and their children can access in-state tuition, making college and postsecondary training more affordable.
- Provided better consumer protections for military service members. When a service member has to relocate to report to a new duty station, this can mean severing contractual ties with memberships and service providers, such as cable, phone and internet providers. Our state’s law now allows members of the military and their families to get out of these contracts without penalty or financial loss.
- Created an Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance within the state Attorney General’s Office to promote and facilitate civil legal assistance and pro bono programs. Our military service members, veterans, and their families shouldn’t have to go it alone when it comes to legal issues surrounding things like housing or VA benefits.
- Granted veterans and their spouses who are state employees immediate access to paid leave through the “uniformed service shared leave pool” – without the usual six-month probationary employment period. The six-month limitation meant those service members returning from deployments with injuries or other conditions often had to take unpaid leave for necessary VA medical appointments (if they didn’t have sufficient paid leave banked). Spouses often assist in providing transportation to these appointments. Now both can qualify for shared leave.
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We will continue working on measures to provide more support and better opportunities for veteran in the 5th district and throughout the state. Again, a heartfelt THANK YOU for their service today and always.
Sincerely,
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