Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It’s been so wonderful operating in-person and interacting with so many of you, both virtually and face-to-face. Thank you to those of you who have already reached out to share your input—I really appreciate it. One of the most important parts of my job is informing you about what we’re working on in Olympia—and hearing from you about what’s important to you. Here are some of the things we’ve been working on, as well as some ways to stay in touch and engaged throughout the rest of this legislative session:
A new tax credit for Washington workers starts in 2023!
In 2021, we successfully passed legislation by Rep. My-Linh Thai to better support families in Washington. The Working Families Tax Credit is a new program that will provide payments of up to $1,200 to low-to-moderate income individuals and families. The amounts are based on income level and the number of qualifying children, if any. This credit is projected to reach more than 400,000 Washington households. It will benefit one in three kids in our state.
This new program goes live this month and will help us stimulate local economies, promote racial equity, and provide the financial stability Washington families need right now. To find more information in several available languages, and to see if you qualify, visit WorkingFamililesCredit.wa.gov.
Getting in touch
One of my greatest legislative priorities is to better serve our community. Here are some ways to continue to stay involved in the legislative process this year:
- Watch — TVW.org broadcasts all the debates and votes that happen in the House and Senate, along with committee meetings and other events you may be interested in.
- Research — Look up legislation by lawmaker or by topic.
- Learn — Learn about the legislative process, from start to finish.
- Testify — Committee testimony will continue to have a virtual option, so instead of driving to Olympia to weigh in on legislation during the committee process, you can continue to do so from home. Written testimony is also an option, and you can always share your story with me. Learn more about how to testify.
- Get in touch — You can reach my office by emailing me here or are welcome to call the legislative hotline number (toll free 800-562-6000). This year, I will be accommodating in-person and virtual meetings. In-person meetings are limited to two masked individuals. To schedule a meeting, please email my legislative assistant, Shoubee Liaw, at Shoubee.Liaw@leg.wa.gov.
Serve as a Legislative Page!
The Washington State Legislature has one of the best Legislative Page programs in the country. Because we are operating in-person again, and many youth did not have an opportunity to participate during COVID, our page program is back and for this year, open to youth ages 14-18. I invite you to apply.
Pages contribute to the efficient operation of the legislature, receive daily civics instruction, draft their own bills, and participate in mock committee hearings. They’re sponsored by members of the Legislature, usually from the district in which they live. Pages earn daily stipends of $50 and can also earn up to 20 hours of community service.
To help lower-income families participate in the program, the House of Representatives created the Gina Grant Bull Scholarship; check out the FAQ page to see if you can apply.
Taking part in the page program is a great opportunity for young people to gain a unique perspective of the legislative process. If you have a teen who could benefit from this experience, I encourage you to consider sending them to Olympia for a week.
For more information, please visit the House Page Program website.
It is an honor to continue to represent the 32nd Legislative District. I look forward to hearing your continued stories, priorities, advocacy, and feedback. Please don’t hesitate to send me an email or give my office a call at (360) 786-7880.
Sincerely,
Rep. Cindy Ryu