Dear friends and neighbors, The 2021 Legislature adjourned last night after a 105-day mostly-remote session that was unique in many ways. While it was conducted mostly on Zoom, we managed to complete our work efficiently and deliver several historic policies to improve life here in Kitsap and across the state. In the coming weeks, I will send more updates on the highlights from this session, but first I want to share news on a few grants available now to help people recover and focus on highlights from the state’s capital construction budget.
E-Newsletters
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The 2021 legislative session is nearing the finish line and I want to share an update on some of the progress we are making. It has been a unique session in many ways as the legislature has worked virtually for the first time in its history. We have learned to work on the floor and in committee meetings on virtual platforms that keep all our work open and transparent. And one great outcome has been the ability to connect to people in a different way. Because all the testimony in committee meetings was remote, ...
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Dear Friends and Neighbors, We are about one-third of the way through the 2021 legislative session and continue to focus on helping households and businesses survive and recover during this difficult time. I know the fastest, shortest path to getting our state back open is to contain the pandemic. I also know people need help immediately. Last week Gov. Inslee signed a $2.2 billion measure (HB 1368) to expand testing and vaccine distribution, provide support to schools, make grants available for small businesses, and meet basic needs with rental and food assistance. We are working to get this ...
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Dear Friends and Neighbors, We are just a few weeks into the 2021 session and the Legislature is already taking big steps to help people as our state works to defeat the virus and rebuild our economy. We are also seeing slow but steady progress on vaccination efforts throughout the state. As of today, more than 800,000 vaccine doses have been administered and that includes nearly 30,000 here in Kitsap County. I know access has been difficult for many of those who qualify – we need 3 million doses to get vaccines to everyone who qualifies, ...
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Dear Friends and Neighbors, The last few weeks have been unlike any in our nation’s history -- filled with deep sadness and bright rays of hope. When the 2021 legislative session started last week, the legislative buildings in Olympia were surrounded by security fencing and hundreds of personnel from the Washington National Guard and State Patrol. Their presence was unprecedented and startling, and stood as a stark reminder of the threat of attack and the unrest gripping our nation. I am sincerely grateful for the presence of law enforcement and our state’s security personnel during this time. I ...
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
We are nearing the end of a very challenging 2020 for everyone here and across the world. Like you, I’m eager to look ahead to a new year and renewed hope. I’m also grateful to live in a community that shows solidarity and compassion by masking up, social distancing , and helping our neighbors in need, especially during this latest surge in COVID-19 cases. We are stronger together and I think most of us are looking forward to the vaccines that will help to finally control this virus. ...
Read MoreIt is my honor to represent you as your state senator in Olympia and to take this opportunity to share a few updates on the state's coronavirus response and reflect back on the 2020 legislative session. This week we entered Phase 1 of the governor’s “Safe Start” plan, thanks to weeks of collective sacrifice from people here in Kitsap and across the state. It feels good to be looking ahead, but it’s important we all keep up our social distancing practices to prevent a surge in cases that could reverse our promising course.
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As we continue to see an increase of new COVID-19 infections in our state, all of our lives have been drastically altered in so many ways. I find hope in all the people in our community and across the state who are stepping up to meet so many difficult challenges. I think we all have deep gratitude for the medical professionals trying to save lives in our hospitals and for everyone else regularly putting their health at risk in support of our collective efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, including those on the front lines keeping ...
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