Dear friends and neighbors, We often enact laws to correct or eliminate activities that are causing harm. What’s even better is when we can address a problem before it can even become a problem. That’s the case with my legislation to ban seabed mining, a growing industry that ravages natural habitat to extract minerals and deposits from the ocean floor. Simply put, seabed mining sucks up the ocean floor to capture metals, minerals and gemstones. This gouges the seabed, creating plumes of sediment that resettle in surrounding areas and can smother deep sea vents. The threat to marine life is obvious — locally we could see serious disruption to crabbing, fishing and shellfish. But the risks extend as well to scientific progress ...
Read MoreAlthough pandemic safety measures will be observed throughout the 2021 legislative session,
Quick Links
Latest News

About Sen. Kevin Van De Wege
Kevin has represented the communities of the 24th Legislative District for 10 years in the House followed by the past four years in the Senate, where his priorities are the creation of rural, family-wage jobs, access to health and long-term care, and quality education.
Read Kevin’s full biography here.
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege In The News
Van De Wege, Tharinger, Chapman request Clallam County reopening
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) and Reps. Steve Tharinger (Port Townsend) ...
Read MoreVan De Wege bill to stabilize nursing home residency becomes law
Legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Inslee will protect residents in ...
Read MoreVan De Wege bill to boost regional wineries becomes law
A new law signed today by Gov. Inslee will increase the ability ...
Read MoreSenate passes bill to align timber industry with state carbon goals
State agencies would recognize and support efforts by timber companies to reduce ...
Read MoreSenate passes Van De Wege bill to update nursing home Medicaid rates
Legislation passed unanimously today by the Senate would help stem closures of ...
Read MoreBill to simplify prosecution of wildlife abuses passes Legislature
Legislation passed today by the Senate will reclassify most minor fish and ...
Read MoreSenate budget adds $5 million to help rural exporters hurt by coronavirus
The operating budget passed today by the Senate would add $5 million ...
Read MoreVan De Wege bill would align timber industry with state carbon goals
State agencies would recognize and support efforts by timber companies to reduce ...
Read MoreVan De Wege staffed by new legislative assistant
The new legislative assistant to Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) brings ...
Read MoreLegislature funds study of state production of generic drugs
The operating budget passed late today by the Legislature includes $20,000 to ...
Read More