Dear friends & neighbors,
Things are different than when I began my first term two years ago. I first came to Olympia at time of hope and a clear vision for a better future. Now, I prepare for my second term we face a great amount of uncertainty. This January will bring a new set of challenges — including a new federal administration and a looming state budget deficit – that will take their place alongside the ongoing work we have to do on education, climate change, transportation, and housing. While I don’t know what the future holds, I can say for certain my colleagues and I remain committed to building a Washington that works for working families, that helps our residents thrive, that welcomes immigrants, stands up for vulnerable communities and guarantees reproductive care for those who need it. Our coalition in Washington continues to grow and we continue to move forward. You’ve asked me to serve you, and I will do it to the best of my ability every day for the next two years. Now let’s get to work!
Rep. Reed’s Interim Activities
It’s been a while since you’ve last heard from me! Washington’s election laws prohibit using state resources to aid our re-election and sending out official updates while I’m on the campaign trail falls under this restriction. As much as I love keeping in touch with you, I do appreciate our State’s commitment to holding free and fair elections. Now that the restriction is over, I wanted to catch you up on what I’ve been working on in the interim.
One of the more important aspects of representing you in Olympia is coordinating with our local city and county governments. This helps shape my legislative agenda and informs which budget requests will best serve our most important needs in the upcoming biennium. My seatmate, Rep. Liz Berry, and I met with the City Council Members whose districts are in the 36th as well as the two at-large members to discuss our shared priorities and the best ways we can meet the needs of our constituents.
Additionally, I was able to tour city service providers and meet with businesses driving our district economy to learn more about how they work, what their future looks like, and what they need from the state government to meet these goals. These tours included…
- Seattle’s 911 center. I got to see how these vital centers work and sit down with the operators and listen to them take calls.
- Seattle Storm’s new practice center at Interbay. As a proud supporter of women’s sports, it was great to see the completed facility in use and to learn about the community camps and activities the team has planned. Our embrace of the Storm is just another reason why Seattle continues to lead the way in building a more equitable future.
- Whim W’him Contemporary Dance Studio. As a theatre kid turned arts patron it was great to learn more about this great organization providing a creative outlet for district residents. Their adaptation of a Queen Anne church into a community dance center is simply beautiful and a true asset to our area.
- Mary’s Place shelter and St. Vincent de Paul food bank. These organizations provide essential services for those dealing with housing and food insecurity. Supporting these institutions is vital to the health of our district.
- Fred Hutch Cancer Center. This tour included learning more about the future of cancer treatment and discussing workforce development so we can continue to place people in family sustaining jobs that make a difference in the community.
Supporting our Maritime Industry
Chairing the Maritime Caucus is a great honor. Keeping our Maritime industry strong is essential for the future of our district and State. Not only does the industry support good paying jobs that are essential us and our neighboring states, it also provides a critical resource for emergency response. If we are hit by a major earthquake, our working mariners will be a critical link to supporting the city and region’s recovery.
This interim I took the opportunity to visit several maritime sites throughout the State. Many of these focused on education and workforce development like the Maritime Training Institute, the Port of Everett, the Pacific Maritime Association Training Center on Pier 46, Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies’ Pacific Maritime Institute, and the Washington State Ferry System’s Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility – it is inspiring to see these institutions work to support Washington’s maritime industry for generations to come. Another highlight of the summer was getting to go out on a tug ride in Ballard with Western Towboat and the American Waterways Operators to see them navigate our beautiful waters up close.
One of my greatest honors this interim was cutting the ribbon at Waterway 18, the Sea Scout’s newly rebuilt dock which I helped secure funding for during the last legislative session. As a former Sea Scout, I know firsthand the value of this program for young people and the professional training, life skills, and character building it instills. The new dock ensures that future generations will continue to benefit from these experiences for decades to come.
I was also granted the privilege to spend the day on a U.S. Navy Vessel during Seafair’s ship week. When I was a Sea Scout, I never imagined I’d have the opportunities I have now. I look forward to continuing my work in the maritime sphere this upcoming session.
Seattle Public Schools
You may remember that my legislative priorities last year focused on helping our record-high number of high school graduates navigate enrolling in college or training for a post-secondary credential. I plan to continue that work while also working to support Seattle Public Schools so we can continue to build on these amazing numbers.
I also know that one of SPS’s greatest strengths is its’ neighborhood-based schools. Thank you to everyone who contacted my office this summer and fall to share how much you value your local schools, and to advocate for keeping them open – your advocacy has had a huge impact on SPS’ plans for the future of our schools, and a huge impact on legislators like me.
My colleagues in the Seattle Delegation and I are working tirelessly to make sure our district gets adequate funding. Our priorities include passing bills like Sen. Frame’s wealth tax (SB 5486/HB1473) and increasing the cap on Special Education funding (HB 2180). I see this as an interim step to removing this cap altogether – I believe in fully funding our student’s needs. This biennium we secured $2.2B for Public Education and after hearing that schools need more funding, added an additional $335M for 2024. I started my education in Seattle Public Schools, and I want to do everything possible to make sure all future students get the education and opportunities I enjoyed. Given the budget challenges the state is facing, I think it is essential the legislature explore every option in the 2025 session to secure revenue for our public school system, and that will be one of my session priorities.
While right now it feels like we’re facing a headwind when we return to session, I’m confident in the ability of my colleagues and I to continue to advance the issues that are important to the working families of this state. I look forward to working with you during session to make that happen. And I hope you’ll keep in touch and let me know what’s on your mind!
In Service,
Rep. Julia Reed