Friends and neighbors,
Thank you to everyone who joined our telephone town hall on Tuesday. I appreciate your thoughtful questions, and I’m glad public health officials from the Whatcom County Health Department were able to join the call to provide more clarity about COVID-19 vaccine distribution. If you weren’t able to attend, you can listen to the recording here.
Expanding mental health support in our schools
The pandemic has been tough on our children. Young people have sacrificed so much this past year. Their education, friendships, social and emotional learning, and freedom to play and experience childhood have all been affected by this public health crisis.
It’s clear that kids are experiencing something we’re all facing: community trauma. That’s why I introduced HB 1444 to bring trauma-informed mental health professionals to our schools. Our children need qualified experts to help them process the trauma of this pandemic.
I know many of us are looking forward to the day our kids can go back to school, but we need to make sure they have the support they need to succeed. Tune in at the 59:27 mark to watch my testimony on the bill earlier this week in the House Education Committee.
Tackling the child care crisis and economic recovery
Child care was in crisis before the pandemic, and now, it has gotten even worse. Too many Northwest Washington families are struggling to find quality, affordable child care.
I’m proud to support the Fair Start for Kids Act to help make child care more affordable for working families, stabilize and expand the child care workforce, support the expansion of child care, and strengthen prevention and intervention services. This bill will help parents get back to work, spur economic recovery and give more kids a fair start in life.
As a mom of three boys and a social worker with children and families, I’ll always support putting our kids first. You can read more about the Fair Start for Kids Act here.
Bringing relief to businesses and the hardest-hit workers
The Legislature recently passed a bipartisan measure, SB 5061, to help businesses with their tax bills and keep workers afloat. The bill, which the governor signed on Monday, will provide relief to businesses by preventing an automatic increase in unemployment taxes, and to low-wage workers by raising their minimum benefit if they get laid off.
A FINtastic bill encouraging youth fishing and shellfishing
I grew up salmon fishing on the banks of the Nooksack River, trout fishing on opening day at Silver Lake and listening to my dad and his friends talk on our driveway about what bait is good and what’s biting. Just like my dad, I believe every child should have access to fishing. That’s why I introduced the Youth Fishing Act encourage youth fishing and shellfishing.
Thanks for reading! Please don’t hesitate to reach out at 360-746-3744 or Alicia.Rule@leg.wa.gov. It’s an honor to serve the 42nd Legislative District.
Alicia Rule