Dear friends and neighbors,
I hope you and yours are settled in and enjoying the holiday season together. We’re now just three weeks away from the start of the legislative session on Jan. 12, and this is our last chance to put the finishing touches on legislation we’re introducing and catch our breath before then.
Helping our neighbors
While Thurston County didn’t feel the effects of the recent winter storms as harshly as our neighbors to the north did, I’m sure many of us are thinking of our fellow Washingtonians who had to evacuate their homes due to flooding. Helping people get back on their feet and repairing essential infrastructure and roads is likely going to be a major issue in the coming legislative session.
There are still many people in need right here in our community, though. I know the holidays can be a difficult time for families who need a little help putting food on the table. The Legislature included $93 million for emergency food assistance in this year’s budget to strengthen local food systems and ensure help is available when families need it most.
If you or someone you know needs food assistance, you can get help from the Thurston County Food Bank at tcfb.org or 360-352-8597.
The Legislature’s budget helps people in need with services like food assistance and housing support, but unfortunately, government can’t do everything by itself. If your family is fortunate enough to have the capacity to help out this holiday season, consider spending some time volunteering with one of the many local community organizations that serve our area. I recently spent the day volunteering at our local food bank, and there were many people there in need. It’s a great way to connect to our community and support our neighbors.
Cars lined up at the Thurston County food bank – photo by Matthew Shultz
Protecting homelessness funding
I want to share some news on an important federal housing issue – the withdrawal of a proposed new rule that would have cost Washington up to $40 million in homelessness prevention funding. In November, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) threatened us with a new set of rules around homelessness funding, which would have cut funding for programs like permanent supportive housing for people with severe addiction or mental illness. As the Senate Housing Committee chair, I was immediately concerned about the impact this would have on the thousands of people who could be thrown out onto the street. The best way to end homelessness is to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place, and the loss of this federal funding would force very difficult conversations upon state budget writers about how we could preserve this vital housing to keep people housed.
After a lawsuit was filed by Washington and 18 other states, HUD withdrew this rule. We don’t know for sure what will happen next, but it was an encouraging sign.
This is just another on the long list of issues where the federal government is threatening us with serious harm, and Washington is responding with litigation to defend our residents and our rights. I’m proud of and thankful for Attorney General Nick Brown and the staff at the attorney general’s office for their work on our behalf. You can track the status of the lawsuits between Washington state and the federal government here.
As we wrap up the year, I want to thank you for taking the time to read these updates and for your involvement in the Legislature’s work to make Washington state the best place it can be. May this festive season bring you moments of joy, love, and reflection in the company of family and friends. Here’s to a new year filled with hope, health, and community!
The holiday tree in the rotunda of the capitol building
Warmest wishes,
-Jess
