Investing in our children and working families

Friends and neighbors,

It’s Social Work Month! It was an honor to be recognized alongside my colleague Rep. Tina Orwall in the governor’s Social Work Month proclamation. I’m proud to be a social worker. Every day in the Legislature, I draw from the lessons I’ve learned from this profession. And more than anything, being a social worker has taught me the importance of deeply listening to my constituents. Thank you to all of my fellow social workers!

Passing bills to support our families and kids

Earlier this week, I was honored to start the day by leading the opening prayer on the House floor and end the day by supporting our families with passing bills to make child care more affordable and accessible and expand a tax credit for working families. Too many families are struggling, and I’m proud of these steps toward some relief.

Affordable, high-quality child care is key to restarting our economy, getting parents back to work and giving kids a fair start in life. That’s why I voted for the Fair Start for Kids Act. We urgently need to support child care and early learning programs so families and businesses can thrive, and ensure livable wages for our child care providers. Children are our most precious resource. Investing in them is an investment in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expanding the Working Families Tax Credit will also help put more money in the pockets of working families. It means greater financial stability for more than 400,000 taxpayers, improving the lives of 1 in 4 children in Washington state.

The Working Families Tax Credit is a lifeline for our communities. This bill will help lift up families and give everyone a shot at a healthy, happy life.

New guidance for fully vaccinated people

The CDC is out with new guidance for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who have gotten the vaccine can gather indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask and with unvaccinated people from one other household without masks, as long as they don’t have an high risk for serious illness from COVID-19.

People are fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two weeks after their single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. But vaccinated or not, the CDC is urging people to keep taking precautions in public, like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

Check out the Phase Finder tool to see if you’re eligible for the vaccine — now available in 30 languages! And for a list of vaccine locations, click here. More information about the next vaccine phases is available in English here and Spanish (para español) here.

I know many of us are eager to get vaccinated and frustrated by the distribution process. But we’re on the right track, and we’ll continue to get through this together.

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.

Alicia Rule