Friends and neighbors,

Week one of the 2022 legislative session is officially in the books, and we are already off to a strong start! From committee hearings to floor votes, bills are moving quickly through the process during this short, 60-day session. Keep reading this newsletter to get an inside look into my top priorities this year, meet my team, and find out the details of the 40th Legislative District’s next virtual town hall!

Funding Washington State Ferries

There is perhaps no issue of greater consequence to our island communities than the devastating ferry service disruptions that so many have endured over the last year. Your stories have helped illustrate critical needs, and with your continued advocacy and support, I am confident we can deliver meaningful investments and deploy smart strategies to solve both the short- and long-term issues we’ve faced.

As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, I’ve been encouraged to see a renewed focus on investing in Washington State Ferries in multiple work sessions in the last week. We have plenty of work ahead to ensure we fully fund the replacement of our aging fleet and address staffing shortages, but I believe we can make it happen and secure these investments.


Bill priorities this session

Along with continued support for WSF investments, I am excited to champion a few other pieces of legislation that will help so many of our neighbors across Washington.

It’s no secret that working families have faced the most significant challenges because of the pandemic. It’s absolutely crucial  that we pass comprehensive policies that  invest in those communities most financially impacted. Senate Bill 5785 will do just that by increasing access to food assistance for families in need.

Kelp and eelgrass are a crucial part of the Salish Sea and Washington's ecosystem
The climate crisis is already creating devastating consequences across our state, and we must act now to ensure our environment is protected for generations to come. That is why I am proud to sponsor Senate Bill 5598 that will further our previous work to remove abandoned and derelict vessels from our highly sensitive marine waters. Additionally, Senate Bill 5619 will help to conserve and restore kelp forests and eelgrass meadows for decades to come – a crucial element of our marine ecosystems. Other work, including to prevent oil spills with Senate Bill 5747, is still ongoing and moving through the legislative process.
Meet Team Lovelett 2022!

I am beyond excited to introduce my wonderful team for the 2022 session! These bright faces will serve as your primary point of contact for my office – they’ll be answering your calls, tracking my bills, helping resolve case work, communicating my legislative priorities, and much more. Jordan Kronen is still my superstar legislative assistant, Beth Paul is joining our team as this year’s amazing session aide, Makenna Page is our incredible intern for the session, and Courtney James remains the team’s fantastic public information officer.

You can get in touch with us using the contact information on my website!


Save the date – 40th Virtual Town Hall!

Reps. Debra Lekanoff, Alex Ramel, and I will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall in the 40th legislative district later this month, and we want to see you there! Join us live on Jan. 27 from 7-8pm on Facebook to ask questions about the 2022 legislative session, hear our priorities, and more.

 

As always, your voice is a vital part of the legislative process! Reach out to me with your thoughts at Liz.Lovelett@leg.wa.gov and let’s talk about how to best meet the needs of our communities.

All my best,

Liz

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