Friends and neighbors,
As a society, we should prioritize protecting and caring for our neighbors. Kids and seniors need us to step up to make sure they are able to thrive. I am proud to sponsor and support bills this session that will help us protect our children and care for our seniors. I will continue to search for ways to improve their lives and help them thrive.
Protecting Kids
Our most important job is to protect our most vulnerable neighbors, including kids. To help protect children, I have introduced House Bill 1211, which makes clergy mandatory reporters. If they hear of abuse, they will be required to report it to police. This means authorities can intervene to help get these kids out of danger.
Every year hundreds of children are accidentally killed by firearms, with many more receiving injuries. Kids should not have free access to firearms. As adults, it is our duty to protect kids from firearms. Responsible gun owners know that you should secure your firearms, whether in your home or in your vehicle. That is why I am proud to cosponsor House Bill 1152, which creates secure storage requirements for gun owners. This is common sense legislation that will save kids lives.
Caring for Seniors
Our Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) Plan 1 and Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) Plan 1 retirees deserve to have their retirements adjust to inflation. That is why I am happy to support Senate Bill 5085, which merges these two plans into the Legacy Retirement System and creates an annual cost of living adjustment – up to 3%. For PERS1 and TRS1 retirees, this means more streamlined administration and reliable COLA adjustments each year. This would be a big win for state and school retirees.
When hospitals merge, services may be lost. I am working to keep this from happening by introducing House Bill 1072.Though this bill applies to reproductive and gender affirming care, it also applies to end-of-life care. Protecting these services means that seniors will have the care they need at one of the most difficult times in their life.
These bills weren’t created on a whim. They are products of conversations in our home districts. My neighbors, like you, constantly reach out to me to tell me their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. I would like to invite you into that conversation. Please reach out to my office. You can find my contact information at housedemocrats.wa.gov/walen/contact/.
Thank you for your continued engagement. I couldn’t do my job with out your input.
Thank you,
Rep. Amy Walen