News Releases

The public will be better informed of the availability of insurance coverage for breast reconstruction and prosthesis, under legislation passed 97-0 today by the House of Representatives. As Senate Bill 5481 had already passed unanimously in the Senate, it now goes to the governor to be signed into law. “Given the choice, nearly 60 percent of breast cancer survivors opt ...

The Elson Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University and any other medical school in Washington state will be better able to recruit physicians to serve on their faculties, as a result of legislation passed today by the House on a 91-6 vote. Having already passed the Senate unanimously, the bill now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee to be ...

The inability of congressional Republicans to pass a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is good news for Washingtonians, Democratic state lawmakers said today. The scheduled vote on the federal legislation stalled for a lack of support Thursday from moderate Republicans who feel the proposed GOP alternative is too harsh and from conservative Republicans who feel ...

State contractors employed by numerous state agencies would have to observe the requirements of the Senate’s proposed Equal Pay Opportunity Act as a result of an amendment adopted into the Senate’s proposed operating budget late Thursday. “Pay inequity has economic consequences that extend far beyond gender,” said Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver and the author of the amendment. “When a company discriminates ...

The Vancouver Business Journal today published an op-ed in which I make the case for a new bistate bridge connecting Vancouver to Portland. You can read the op-ed here.

Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, issued this statement today following the Senate’s passage of legislation to postpone the so-called levy cliff that would have resulted in massive budget cuts to K-12 schools across the state. “The passage of this legislation should provide long-sought and much-needed relief and reassurance to K-12 schools throughout our district and across our state. I know how much ...

The development of a new replacement I-5 bridge spanning the Columbia River moved a step closer to reality today with the Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 5806, sponsored by Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver. “The most significant north-south interstate freight corridor on the West Coast is hobbled by a dilapidated, outmoded drawbridge that was not built to withstand a major earthquake,” ...

Employers would be prohibited from discriminating against women seeking full health care, under legislation introduced by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, and 17 other senators. The Senate Commerce, Labor and Sports Committee will hold a hearing on the bill today. “The Hobby Lobby decision allowing privately-held employers to discriminate against women by restricting ...

Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, released the following statement today after voting against the operating budget passed by the Legislature. “I recognize the challenges and difficulties in reaching agreement on a supplemental budget for our state. While I wish the final budget was one I could support, unfortunately there were flaws too detrimental to ignore, including one that impedes southwestern Washington ...

Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, offered these comments today when the Senate honored former state legislator and career public servant John McKibbin with Senate Resolution 8740.