10 Things in 10 Days

📅 India Day in the Senate– On Monday, I joined our friends in the Senate to celebrate India Day, honoring the vibrant contributions of Washington’s Indian American community. 

🐉 Lunar New Year – Wishing a joyful and prosperous Year of the Snake! I’ve loved seeing families and community groups come together to mark this special occasion. My seatmate, Rep. Thai, is hosting an event on Tuesday, February 4th to Celebrate the Lunar New Year – RSVP here!  

🏛️ Back in the District – Holocaust Remembrance Day – On Tuesday, I attended a City Council meeting and joined our community in observing Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day is a solemn and urgent reminder that we must never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and the consequences of unchecked hate. It is our collective responsibility to stand against antisemitism and all forms of bigotry—now and always.

🎓 Meeting with Students – Some of my favorite conversations this week were with students, hearing their ideas and priorities for the future. Their passion, insight, and questions give me so much hope for the road ahead.

🍽️ Freshman Dinner – I had the chance to gather with my fellow first-year legislators, sharing experiences and building relationships that will help us work together for Washington! Things can feel overwhelming, and yet I’m so excited about the breadth of work we get to do for the community. This is a space of learning, my happy place. I am grateful to have colleagues that support each other. What an amazing freshmen group of legislators in Olympia!

Pictured: Two of my fellow freshmen, Rep. Hunt and Rep. Salahuddin

📜 Dropping My First Bill! – A milestone moment! My first bill would allow healthcare professionals to conduct simple iron-deficiency finger prick tests at the point of care rather than requiring families to go elsewhere for testing. This small but meaningful change will make public health services more efficient, accessible, and family-friendly—ensuring people can get the care they need, when and where they need it. 

✅ First Votes in Local Government – I cast my first votes in the Local Government Committee, including one I’m especially excited about—allowing small neighborhood cafés to open up in residential areas. I also supported expanding access to childcare facilities, something so many families need. These kinds of policy changes are how we build stronger, more connected communities. 

🤝 Co-Sponsoring My First Bill – I’m proud to have co-sponsored my first bill, the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) reform, led by my seatmate, Rep. My-Linh Thai. This bill ensures that our tax structure better supports affordable housing, infrastructure, and community investments—helping more people put down roots and thrive in our state. This is especially important for our small cities, who don’t have the resources and benefit from collaboration. 

📢 Human Trafficking Awareness Resolution – Fighting human trafficking is very important. I introduced a resolution to declare January Human Trafficking Awareness Month, reaffirming our commitment to prevent trafficking, fighting exploitation and protecting survivors. Human trafficking is not just a national or global issue—it happens in Washington, and we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to prevent it, protect survivors, and hold perpetrators accountable. Raising awareness is just one step toward that goal, and I will continue working on policies that address this crisis head-on. 

⚖️ Standing with Our Community in Hard Times – The extremism and attacks on fundamental freedoms coming from Washington, D.C. are weighing heavily on all of us. I hear it in my conversations with neighbors, I feel it in our community, and I want you to know this: I stand with you. Even when I’m in Olympia, my heart is in the 41st. This moment demands action. We must fight for a resilient Washington that safeguards our rights, our safety, and our values. What happens at the state level has never mattered more—and I will work every day to protect our people and our future.