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Marlowe Miyuki Gamble, an eighth grader at McMurray Middle School, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of April 17. Sen. Joe Nguyen (D-White Center) sponsored their week at the Legislature.

The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to witness committee hearings, sit in on floor debates, and deliver materials for Senate staff.

Gamble applied to the program “because it seemed like a unique opportunity and to be honest, it would look good on my college application.”

Gamble’s favorite part is helping on the Senate floor: “Even though you are just passing out documents and watching, you feel like you learn a lot more compared to being in a classroom.”

They sponsored a bill for the page program’s mock committee regarding livestock replacement killed by wolves.

“My group’s bill that we introduced was the killing of livestock by wolves. I really liked the process of the mock committee because it gives you an opportunity to feel what it is like to actually debate and learn about the process to make a bill become a law.”

Gamble also would recommend the program to potential candidates in the future: “I myself am not amazing at social studies and other things like that, but I felt like I learned a lot without having to sit in class and have my mind wander.”

Gamble said the biggest thing they are taking away from this all is how informative this experience has been. “I have learned that no matter your skill level, you can still learn so much from just one week here at the Legislature.”

For more information about the Senate Page Program, contact SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov.

Katherine Pamplin, a sophomore at Summit Atlas, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of April 10. Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-Seattle) sponsored her week at the Legislature.

The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to witness committee hearings, sit in on floor debates, and deliver materials for Senate staff.

Pamplin applied to the program because she’s always been interested in the inner workings of government: “I’ve always been interested in the government and like how things work, and so I thought this is like super cool that you get to be in the floor and like learn all the behind the scenes that goes on.”

Pamplin’s favorite part is working on the floor “because of the intensity when they start debating and arguing over bills.”

She sponsored a bill for her page program’s mock committee regarding recycling plastics, although she wished that they worked on restricting the vaping problem instead.

“I feel like the vaping problem is high and I would like to restrict it more because so many people are doing it now, it’s really affecting teens. So, I feel like if it’s restricted it will hopefully help more people.”

Pamplin also would recommend the program.

“I would recommend it if you’re interested in government and learning about the State Senate.”

For more information about the Senate Page Program, contact SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov.

Khai Nguyen, a junior at Mountlake Terrance High School, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of April 3. Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-White Center) sponsored Nguyen’s week at the Legislature.

The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to witness committee hearings, sit in on floor debates, and deliver materials for Senate staff.

Nguyen applied to this program because his brother did it a couple years ago.

“It seemed liked a great opportunity and I wanted to check it out.”

He sponsored a bill for his page program’s mock committee regarding synthetic polymers in plastic products.

“We are banning the use of synthetic polymers because these particles get leaked into the ocean, and then they’re consumed by fish, and as a Washingtonian we consume a lot of seafood, so we are actually eating these micro-plastics.”

He also added, “If I could add another bill, it would be to add the 4×200 meter relay run for boys to track meets. They have it at my high school for girls, but I would also like to run it.”

Nguyen would recommend the program to potential candidates in the future.

“It was a great experience, you get a lot of good food, and I met a bunch of new friends.”

For more information about the Senate Page Program, contact SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov.

Mia Weiss, a freshman at the Center School in Seattle, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of March 6. Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-Seattle) sponsored her week at the legislature.

The page program offers a week of interactive learning about how state government works. Pages get to sit in on committee hearings, watch floor debates, and deliver papers for Senate staff. Weiss has been interested in the program since elementary school and has an interest in politics and government. She said her favorite part of the program was watching senators debate legislation.

For more information about the Senate Page Program, contact SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov.

Senator Joe Nguyễn (D-White Center), Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien) and Rep. Emily Alvarado (D-Seattle) will host a virtual town hall on Tuesday, March 14 to discuss the current legislative session and answer questions from constituents.  

Questions can be asked live during the event or submitted online prior to the event: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/G6WP6XX  

The event will be streamed to each lawmaker’s Facebook page starting at 6:30 p.m.  

• Sen. Nguyễn https://www.facebook.com/SenJoeNguyen  
• Rep. Fitzgibbon: https://www.facebook.com/RepJoeFitzgibbon  
• Rep. Alvarado: https://www.facebook.com/RepEmilyAlvarado 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 2, 2023

Press Inquiries | 360.786.7298, erin.hut@leg.wa.gov 

OLYMPIA – The Senate took a big step in Washington’s path to a clean energy future by passing Sen. Joe Nguyễn’s (D-White Center) electric transmission planning bill.  

Senate Bill 5165 changes transmission planning from a 10-year to a 20-year timeline. It would also require transmission planners to consider renewable energy projects to ensure Washington increases its capacity to interconnect clean energy projects in future years.  

“Washington is leading the way toward a clean energy future, but that is not possible without transmission lines. This bill guides us to a thoughtful and streamlined way to implement our goals,” said Sen. Nguyễn.  

The bill now heads to the House for consideration.  

Jordan Hurt, a junior at James A. Garfield High School in Seattle, served as a page with the Washington State Senate the week of Feb 20. Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-White Center) sponsored his week at the Legislature.

The page program offers a hands-on opportunity for students to find out how state government works. During the week-long interactive learning experience, students get a firsthand look at the legislative process and get to explore the Capitol campus by delivering papers for Senate staff.

Hurd applied for the program to learn more about the lawmaking process.

“I knew this program would let me learn about political stuff more, and I don’t really follow politics that much, so I was like, ‘I guess I could try something new,’” he said. “And my dad, he was like, ‘Oh, I think this will look good on your resume.’”

He said that the program exceeded his expectations, and that he enjoyed his time speaking with his senator.

At first, I was a little skeptical, but now I’m realizing being a page lets you meet new people, make new experiences,” he said. “My favorite part was meeting my senator, Sen. Nguyễn. He’s cool guy and he’s friends with my scout master. He met us when we were all in third grade, and I’m a junior in high school
now. It’s just really cool to meet him up close and have a good conversation with him.”

Hurd said that he would recommend the program to any student.

“I would recommend this program to other students. I think it’s a great experience, and in the future possibly sets you up for more successful opportunities,” he said. “Great experience learning about how the government works, how it runs, the process of it, and you get to meet new people.” Nguyễn said. “It was a pleasure to have Jordan at the Capitol and on the Senate floor. He representedhis scout troop well.”

For more information about the Senate Page Program, contact SenatePageProgram@leg.wa.gov