Dear Neighbors,The legislative session is well underway. In the Labor & Commerce Committee, we’ve moved important bills to improve job conditions for workers. And on the floor of the Senate, we’ve passed bills to increase women’s participation on corporate boards and to ensure comprehensive sexual health education in our public schools.

We are also hearing several bills that are important to our communities in the 33rd Legislative District. Here are a few examples.

Labor Standards at the Port

All workers should be paid a fair wage. Despite the minimum wage initiative passed by the people of SeaTac in 2013, some companies providing airport services are still exploiting a loophole to pay their workers less than the local minimum wage. That’s why I’m sponsoring SB 6217, which would give the port commissioners the authority to set labor standards as high as or higher than local ones. It’s time that all airport employees are paid at least minimum wage. Rep. Gregerson is sponsoring a companion bill in the House.

Continuing Noise Mitigation

Residents in flight paths around the airport are entitled to help from the Port of Seattle to mitigate the noise and air pollution they are subjected to with increasing air operations at Sea-Tac Airport. In the last couple decades, about 10,000 homes, as well as institutions like Highline Public Schools and Highline College, have benefited from these mitigation programs. But now many of the materials used, such as double-glazed windows, are reaching the end of their usable lives. SB 6214 would ensure that the Port of Seattle has the proper authority to replace these materials. Rep. Orwall is sponsoring a companion bill in the House.

In Olympia

I am working on several prescription drug bills to contain costs that I hope will make some real progress. Two bills on insulin have been voted out of the Health Care committee and will be heard in the Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday. The testimony from AARP and individuals with diabetes struggling to pay for expensive insulin has been very persuasive and powerful.

If you’d like to follow what I’m working on in Olympia, you can like my official legislative Facebook page here.

Please don’t hesitate to stay in touch.

Always,

Senator Karen Keiser

Chair, Senate Labor & Commerce Committee
Senate President Pro Tempore