Dear Friends and Neighbors,
If you’re getting this e-newsletter for the first time, welcome! I’m Lisa Wellman, your state senator from the 41st Legislative District. I am one of your voices in the state Legislature in Olympia. I will be sending updates each week during the legislative session because it’s important you know what your public officials are doing on your behalf.
Your reactions to my newsletter last week were so positive that I’m encouraged to continue this practice. Thank you for your messages! You’ll be hearing from me weekly about the 2021 Legislative session. Let me know if there are additional aspects of our work you would like to hear about. You can provide that feedback by emailing me here.
This week we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. My colleague, Senator Rebecca Saldaña, put forward a resolution to honor Dr. King’s legacy. Our newest state senator, Senator T’wina Nobles, shared some truly moving remarks on Dr. King’s life’s work, equity, and the responsibility of each of us who embrace his work and vision. That day I also virtually attended Latino Legislative Day. At the very start of my political career I met One America and the Latino Civic Alliance through the 41st Chair, Karol Brown. I’m p
roud to be their champion, and we’ve made important things happen together for the many Latinx Washingtonians. Later that day I also heard public testimony from the Pacific Science Center on SB 5080 while attending the Ways & Means Committee.
Of course, a highlight of the week was watching the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. I was especially moved by the 22-year-old Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, reciting her poem “The Hill We Climb.” To find out more about my thoughts of the inauguration and my week you can watch my recap video on Facebook.
Here are some of the bills I am excited to be sponsoring:
Providing flexibility in the use of funding for education youth facilities.
I am a cosponsor of SB 5080 which asks for flexibility in the distribution and use of local funds dedicated to facilities used for youth educational programing, like the Pacific Science Center, so they may use these funds for operational costs. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the Pacific Science Center has continued providing educational classes and programs to students for free and deeply discounted costs to underserved communities here.
Using computer science credits for high school graduation requirements.
I am especially excited to be the primary sponsor of SB 5299 because it combines my passion for the students of Washington and my background in technology. In a world where computers are an increasing necessity in the work force, I think that students should have an equal opportunity to participate in a computer science course in replacement of a third-year mathematics course if they choose to do so. Computer science courses prepare students for their postsecondary work or education by familiarizing them with technology while teaching them to think critically and solve problems.
How to participate in this legislative session:
Watch- Committee meetings, debates, and more can all be seen live or in a recording at TVW.org
Research- Look up legislation by lawmaker or by topic here.
Learn- You can learn about the entire legislative process from start to finish here.
Testify- Visit here for an overview of the process. Written testimony is also an option, and you can also email me your story.
Get in touch- As always, please feel free to contact my office with any questions or comments.
Best,
Lisa
