Commencement Address
Last month, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address for the Spokane Falls Community College graduation ceremony. In my speech I focused on the benefit to being open-minded and quoted Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham,” one of my favorite stories to read with my daughter when she was little. The message of the story – to be open to new experiences – seems not only important when considering if you will eat eggs of an unusual color but also how you live your life. I know that my life would be very different if I had not been open to the unexpected paths that presented themselves in my baseball and political careers as well as many other experiences. Similarly, I urged the SFCC class of 2014 to guard against closing a door before ever looking to see what’s behind it, especially as they begin a new chapter in their lives. They may just decide they like the green eggs if they just give them a try! I am proud of the accomplishments of the many students I met, and I’m excited about the opportunity that lies ahead for them. Congratulations to the class of 2014!
In The Community
One of my priorities during the interim between legislative sessions is to spend time diving deeper into the challenges and successes in our community. I work toward this goal by meeting with constituents, touring businesses, and experiencing state programs first hand. Here are some of my recent experiences:
Berg Industries – One of the oldest companies in Spokane, I enjoyed a recent tour of this Spokane business that was founded in 1883 and employs 160 people. Berg makes tents and other portable living facilities for the U.S. Government and other entities.
Spokane Transit/Central City Line – I had a productive meeting with two of the leaders from Spokane Transit to get an update on the Central City Line, Spokane’s planned electric trolley bus service. I strongly support this important transportation infrastructure project and I was pleased to see the STA board last week approved the next step toward the creation of the Central City Line.
Nurse-Family Partnership Home Visit – Nurse-Family Partnership is a successful evidence-based program that helps vulnerable first-time parents achieve healthier outcomes by connecting them with nurses that provide in-home services before and after the birth of their child. After receiving an overview of Nurse-Family Partnership services in our district, I had the opportunity to shadow a nurse during a home visit. It was powerful to see this program in action and get a glimpse of the struggles facing vulnerable new mothers as well as the successful outreach being offered to these families.
Keeping In Touch
If you have a comment, idea, question or an invitation for me to attend an event or tour a business/organization in Spokane, please let me know. I would love to hear from you! You can reach me by e-mail (andy.billig@leg.wa.gov) or by phone at 509-209-2427. And if you know someone who would like to get their own copy of my weekly e-newsletter, tell them they can go to my website at http://www.senatedemocrats.wa.gov/senators/billig/ and click on the link to “Sign up for my e-newsletter.”
Onward!
Andy
