Friends & Neighbors,
I am truly humbled to be back in the “People’s House” fighting for our kids, working families and our South Sounds communities in our state capitol.
Having spent the last short two years learning on the job, I came back to Olympia this year ready to continue leading on important issues to working families. It is why, on Wednesday, January 16, I gathered with working moms, early childhood education advocates and lots of cute littles to introduce the cornerstone of my #WorkingMoms Agenda: The Washington CAN (Childcare Access Now) Act.
This historic package would require our state legislature to:
- Provide all children and families across Washington with access to high-quality, affordable childcare by 2025;
- Cap child care expenses at seven percent of a family’s income;
- Immediately increase the Working Connections Child Care reimbursement rate to 75% of market rate to stabilize the childcare market, building a foundation to increase access, and
- Immediately invest in the Career & Wage Ladder to raise the wages of the childcare workforce, and in the long term invests in a compensation pay scale to raise the wages of childcare providers.
Speaking of historic, this is an incredibly exciting year to serve in Olympia as we have the most diverse legislative body in Washington State history! We now have a female majority House Democratic Caucus (there are now 30 of us!) with women of color serving in both House and Senate Democratic leadership! I am so proud to serve with these women and see our elected officials looking more like the diverse communities we serve. Read more about us here!
Along with this increasingly diverse legislative body, I now have the privilege of serving as deputy majority whip. With this new role I will help determine which bills are ready for a full vote on the House floor. I want to utilize this role to make sure that every member of our caucus has their voices and votes heard equally.
In addition to my new leadership duties, I will serve on the Housing, Community Development and Veterans Committee. I will return as Vice Chair on the Consumer Protection and Business Committee and act as the new Vice Chair on the Commerce and Gaming Committee.
Finally, check my newly updated Policy Priorities Page. The page will be your one stop shop for staying up to date as my bills travel through Olympia!
Thank you for taking the time to read my weekly newsletter. As always, I have an open door, an open mind, and I look forward to hearing from you, throughout this session, on issues that matter most to you and your family.
In Service,
