Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We are halfway through the legislative session and I am excited to share that we passed 6 of our 8 priority bills through the House. I believe that by working together and really listening to one another, we can negotiate policy that works for all of us.
Vaccine Updates
Major announcements regarding vaccine distribution broke last week and I want to make sure you heard the news. President Biden announced that all adults will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination by May 1. This is hopeful news, though it is important to acknowledge that the process of administering the vaccine will take time.
In Washington state, our teachers and child care providers are approved for vaccinations immediately and additional people became eligible this week, including people working in agriculture, fishing vessels, food processing facilities, grocery stores, food banks, prisons or jails, and public transit.
If you work in one of these industries, then you are eligible to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine TODAY. There are three ways to sign up for a vaccine appointment this week: 1) Visit the Vaccine Locator to see a list of locations offering vaccination appointments near you. 2) Call the King County Vaccination Partnership at 425.899.3933 (wait times may be 45 minutes or more) or 3) Schedule an appointment online for March 28 at the Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Vaccination Clinic.
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Vaccine eligibility will be expanded on March 31 to include anyone with two or more comorbidities, those between the ages of 60 and 64, workers in restaurants, food service, manufacturing and construction, people experiencing homelessness and others. This means that by the end of this month, 5 million Washingtonians will be eligible for a shot. For help finding a vaccine appointment, use the Vaccine Locator or call the state COVID-19 Assistance Hotline at 1-800-525-0127.
Our healthcare providers are telling us that vaccine supply from the federal government is low and appointments fill up fast, but more vaccine is on its way. We’ve come a long way, with more than 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine being administered and we are meeting our goal of 45,000 vaccines administered each day. We owe thanks to the healthcare workers who are working hard to vaccinate people quickly!
Animal Welfare
This session, I introduced two bills focused on animal welfare. As an animal advocate, I believe that animals should exist without abuse or exploitation.
Humane Pet Sales
My passion project this session has been to end the puppy mill to pet store pipeline. Puppies are coming in from outside of our state and being sold at retail stores to consumers without their knowledge prior to purchase. Most pet stores choose not to sell puppies and instead help their customers find reputable breeders to buy from or help them look at adoption options. However, there are a few stores in Washington that do sell puppies and unfortunately, most of them do so using predatory financing programs and with a lack of transparency about the health history of the puppies and where the puppies were born and transported from. Inhumane breeding practices are known to cause health and behavioral issues, and consumers deserve to know under what conditions puppies are born. The bill (HB 1424) allows the six existing pet stores in our state that sell puppies and kittens to continue doing so but would prohibit any new pet stores from opening in Washington that sell puppies and kittens.
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I sponsored this bill for several reasons, including but not limited to my love for animals and at the request of my constituents who also care deeply about this issue. Our four-legged family members bring us so much happiness, and every puppy and kitten in Washington deserves a life filled with that same love and care. If you’d like to read more about the bill and my intentions in sponsoring this legislation, please read this press release or this recent Crosscut article.
The bill passed the House floor and is scheduled for a public hearing next week in the Senate. You can read the bill, track its progress, and watch the recorded public hearing, committee vote, and floor debate here. We really need to pass this bill as soon as possible as pet stores that sell puppy mill puppies are pushing to open as many stores as possible before the bill is signed into law. If this is an issue you care about, please reach out to the Senate and express your support!
Fur Production and Manufacturing
Due to the recent outbreaks of COVID-19 at mink farms in nine countries and four states, including Oregon, I sponsored legislation that would prohibit the production and manufacturing of fur in Washington state. Unfortunately, the bill will not be moving forward this year because it did not make it out of committee before policy cutoff. However, the bill had a public hearing last week and I was pleased to see the number of Washingtonians who spoke in support of this legislation. The public hearing was a great opportunity to describe the issue to the committee members and set the stage for next year. You can watch the public hearing here.
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HB 1375 follows other timely legislation that has been introduced across the nation in Rhode Island, Oregon, Connecticut, Hawaii, and New York as well as around the world in countries including the Netherlands and France. With only a handful of mink farms continuing to operate in Washington and the majority of farmed pelts being shipped overseas, this is an outdated industry that doesn’t represent the values of Washingtonians. I plan to continue to work on this legislation and am open to suggestions about how we can help ease these farms out of the mink business.
Equitable Climate Legislation
I wanted to take this opportunity to share why I voted against the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (HB 1091). I care about our climate and consider myself a strong environmental advocate. In addition to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the legislature is also considering proposals for a gas tax (up to 18 cents per gallon), a carbon fee, additional fees for clean air on vehicle sales, and a cap and trade system, all of which are likely to increase the cost of transportation significantly.
There are many people in our state who are not able to work from home, including our essential workers. Many people have long commutes to work and do not live near transit centers. They are unable to afford electric vehicles and more often than not, they may be driving older vehicles that do not get good gas mileage. These are the people who are going to be most impacted by this legislation. Essentially, the poorest people of our state are going to be the ones paying for this policy.
I care deeply for our working families and seniors, and I know many families in our community are struggling. Without the context of the transportation package and considering environmental justice, I could not, with good conscience, vote in favor of this bill. I know I may have lost a few of you over this issue, but nevertheless, I wanted to thoughtfully share why I voted the way I did so that you can better understand the factors I considered in making this difficult decision.
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The Low Carbon Fuel Standard did pass the House and is now being considered in the Senate. I am proud to have supported several climate bills this session, including HB 1099, which would update the state’s Growth Management Act to add a climate change element, and I look forward to voting in support of the HEAL Act (SB 5141) which would address the disproportionate exposure of Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, along with low-income communities to environmental hazards in neighborhoods across Washington state.
Legislative Youth Advisory Council Applications Now Open
Do you know any students who are interested in civic engagement? The Washington Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is a nonpartisan youth advisory body to the Legislature and is now accepting applications for the 2021-2023 cohort. This is an amazing opportunity for young people to get involved with the legislative process, including meeting with legislators, testifying in committee, and writing and lobbying for bills. Applicants must be entering 9th, 10th, or 11th grade this fall in Washington State. To learn more and apply online, please visit walyac.org. Applications are due by March 31, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
The people of this district and in our state are in my heart and on my mind at every moment during this legislative session. I hear you. My legislative assistant and I read your emails and receive your calls every day. Thank you for your trust in our office to assist with and advocate for the issues that impact you.
Yours in Service,
Representative Amy Walen