Category Archives: E-News

26 Jun
1

Legislature invests in behavioral health

Dear friends and neighbors, Like many other states, Washington has struggled to meet the needs of people with mental health or substance use disorders, now often referred to as behavioral health. These issues touch nearly every family in one way ...

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16 Jun
0

Legislature invests in community facilities

Dear friends and neighbors, Each year the state makes hundreds of new investments to improve public spaces around the state. Thanks to persistent and effective advocacy by community members and nonprofits, many projects in the neighborhoods of the 43rd district ...

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09 Jun
2

Expanding access to Washington’s Death with Dignity Act

Dear friends and neighbors, We have learned much since voters in our state approved the Death with Dignity Act by initiative in 2008. The law allows terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to request lethal doses ...

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02 Jun
0

Washington officially abolishes the death penalty

Dear friends and neighbors, Our state’s long journey to abolish the death penalty has been difficult and emotional. For decades, advocates and a growing number of lawmakers fought to end the practice because it was expensive, morally problematic, and inconsistently ...

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30 May
1

Climate action and protecting the environment

Dear friends and neighbors, From heat waves and flooding to catastrophic wildfires and drought, climate change is affecting our state’s communities, economy, and natural systems. This session, the Legislature passed several new bills and made historic investments to reduce greenhouse ...

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19 May
0

Legislature advances LBGTQ+ rights

Dear friends and neighbors, Pride Month starts next week, and I’m delighted to report that this year’s legislative session produced several significant new laws to celebrate. We focused on policies to promote greater health, safety, and dignity for members of ...

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12 May
0

Historic year for housing

Dear friends and neighbors, The lack of affordable housing and homelessness are two of the primary challenges facing our state. In the last decade, roughly one million people moved to Washington, but only about 250,000 homes have been built. Our ...

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08 May
0

Legislature boosts support for public education

Dear friends and neighbors, Before this year’s legislative session concluded last month, the Legislature took several important steps to strengthen public education in our state. As the father of four students and the husband of a special education teacher in ...

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26 Apr
1

New laws protect access to reproductive care

Dear friends and neighbors: Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, many states have adopted radical and dangerous laws eliminating access to reproductive care. Activist judges have also made rulings that further threaten access to critical ...

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22 Apr
6

Session ends with big wins for gun safety

Dear friends and neighbors, Last night, we officially adjourned the 2023 legislative session in Olympia. During the 105-day session, legislators introduced 2,306 bills, and we expect that Governor Inslee will sign roughly 500 of those into law. We made remarkable ...

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