Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, released this statement today following Gov. Jay Inslee’s State of the State address:

“I am encouraged and excited to see Gov. Inslee call for improvements in public education, treatment for the mentally ill, and wages for working families. I share those priorities as well as the desire to help bring them to fruition.

“At the same time, I am dedicated to making progress on several other issues that may not be as high-profile but are no less urgent for those they affect.

“We need better protections for vulnerable seniors who face physical, verbal and financial exploitation. We need to make sure women receive the same pay for the same work as their male counterparts. We have a growing, devastating homeless and housing crisis in Vancouver and in many other communities across our state that we must also work to address.

“These are all issues I intend to focus on in the weeks and months to come, in addition to working with my colleagues and Gov. Inslee to pursue the crucial priorities he outlined.”