Dear friends and neighbors,
I hope you are staying healthy and safe this holiday season. I am excited to share that since the Secretary of State certified the election results earlier this month, election year communication restrictions have been lifted and I can send you e-newsletters again!
Last week we finalized committee assignments, and I am eager to continue in my role as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee and my new role as Vice Chair of the Consumer Protection and Business Committee. I look forward to working with the committee to prioritize economic recovery and review recent proposals for restructuring our regressive tax system, including the capital gains tax proposed by Governor Inslee. I will also continue as a member of the Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee.
This newsletter has a lot of helpful information about the federal stimulus package, our state’s phased plan for a return to in-person learning in our schools, the COVID-19 vaccines plan for Washington state, and coping with COVID during the holiday season.
The legislative session starts on January 11, 2021 and will be our first remote legislative session! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not safe to hold a normal in-person legislative session. We will be conducting our legislative work virtually (including committee meetings, floor session, and constituent conversations) to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy.
You will be able to watch all public meetings online and participate in the legislative process through remote testimony. In my next newsletter, I will include information on how to get involved and stay informed from the safety of your home.
Congress Reaches Agreement on $900 Billion in Stimulus Relief
The next COVID-19 economic relief package will deliver long-overdue help to struggling businesses and families across our country. After months of negotiations, with the death tolls from COVID-19 escalating and elevated rates of unemployment, federal lawmakers finally reached an agreement for a second federal stimulus package. The bill extends federal unemployment benefits at a rate of $300 per week for 11 weeks and provides a $600 direct stimulus payment to Americans earning less than $75,000 per year. In addition, the bill provides funding for vaccine distribution, emergency relief for renters, support for schools, and a new round of loans to small businesses.
Phased Approach for Returning to In-Person Learning
Governor Inslee and State Schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal recently announced updated guidance for bringing students back into classrooms in a phased approach. The guidance includes state Department of Health suggested categories for re-introducing in-person learning: one approach for counties with a “low” number of COVID-19 cases, and another for counties with a “moderate” number of cases, and a third for counties with a “high” number of cases.
This guidance reflects the latest research indicating in-person learning can be phased-in while also protecting the health and safety of students, staff, and their communities.
The decision to begin or expand in-person learning will be made by the school districts. In addition to the new guidance, Governor Inslee also announced $3 million from set-aside funds that will be directed to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to support health and safety work in our state’s schools.
With careful planning, preparation, and precautions, in-person learning can happen safely. The new guidance and directed funds will hopefully help more districts start to transition kids back into classrooms.
Washington’s Coronavirus Vaccines Plan
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the world has been anxiously awaiting a vaccine. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective. Washington state is wasting no time distributing vaccines to those most at risk of contracting COVID-19. The Department of Health (DOH) has been working with local partners in each county of our state to plan for vaccine distribution and the first doses were administered to high-risk health care workers last week.
There will not immediately be enough vaccines for everyone who lives in our state. Workers in healthcare settings that care for patients with COVID-19, along with staff and residents of long-term care facilities will be among the first to receive the vaccine. Additionally, the National Academy of Medicine’s “Framework for Equitable Allocation COVID-19 Vaccine” will serve as a guide in our state’s development of a distribution plan, along with feedback from communities across Washington, and additional sectors and industries that are heavily impacted by COVID-19 here.
I know many people are anxiously awaiting their opportunity to receive the vaccine. It is important to remember that even after the vaccine is widely available, wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, frequent handwashing, and staying home as much as possible are our greatest tools for slowing the spread of the virus. Practicing these efforts together to the greatest extent possible is how we’ll reopen our economy and make sure Washington remains the best state for working families.
I also understand that there is uncertainty and may be concerns about the vaccines, and I wanted to share these two short videos explaining how vaccines are made, tested, and approved, and how vaccines work in your body. Vaccination is the necessary next step to end the pandemic and eventually resume regular activities. You can learn more about Washington’s vaccine distribution plan here.
Coping with COVID this Holiday Season
The holidays are definitely different this year and many of us are missing celebrating with our dearest family and friends. Please know that you’re not alone in coping with COVID stress this holiday season. Behavioral and mental health is critical to overall health and they are issues that I will track in bill and budget decisions during the upcoming session.
For more information on mental health and emotional wellbeing during COVID-19, please visit the Washington State Coronavirus Response page. I hope you take care of yourself this holiday season!
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. It has been quite the year and I hope that this next year brings an abundance of health and a return to togetherness and the social activities that we treasure. I hope that you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season.
Sincerely,
Rep. Amy Walen