Trouble viewing this email? View this in your browser.

Thank you for subscribing to e-news updates from the Office of Gov. Jay Inslee. We hope you find these updates interesting, useful and worth sharing. If you’d like to update your subscription preferences or unsubscribe, you can do so here at any time. If you'd like contact the governor, you can do so through his website's contact page.

Governor and First Lady get vaccinated for COVID-19

Gov. Jay Inslee and First Lady Trudi Inslee received their first doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. They received their doses in front of journalists while the cameras rolled to promote the safety of the vaccine and to encourage anyone who is eligible to make an appointment to be vaccinated.

The governor and Mrs. Inslee are both 69 years old, making them eligible for the vaccine along with any other state residents over the age of 65. 

"It’s a scientific miracle that we have this safe, comfortable, efficacious vaccine so quickly," the governor said after being vaccinated. "These things normally take years to develop. And to have this, that we know is safe, that we know works, that can not only help yourself but your family and everybody around you, it’s just incredible."

The available COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna both require two doses several weeks apart to be most effective for those receiving it. The governor and Mrs. Inslee expect to have their second doses in the coming weeks.

Those who receive the vaccine are still encouraged to wear masks, stay socially distant and wash their hands regularly. For information on who is eligible to get vaccinated right now and where to find locations offering the COVID-19 vaccine, visit the state Department of Health website.

Inslee announces massive vaccination effort in public-private partnership

On Monday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced plans to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations in Washington state and lay the groundwork for administering 45,000 doses a day when more supply becomes available.

Included in the plan is the Washington State Vaccine Command and Coordination Center, a new statewide public-private partnership to boost vaccine distribution efforts. The collaboration includes Washington corporations, labor unions, health care groups and government entities.

The governor also announced changes to who is eligible now for a COVID-19 vaccine, lowering the current age limit from 70 years old to 65 years old, which made an additional 400,000 Washingtonians eligible for the vaccine.

Also effective immediately is a new requirement for providers administering vaccines, mandating that 95% of vaccine allocations be administered within a week of receipt, and every does acquired prior to this week must be administered by Jan. 24.

Additionally, providers must now submit vaccine data to the state within 24 hours of administration and daily information on dosages (i.e. quantity on hand, number administered) must be submitted to the Department of Health.

To assist in the administration of vaccine doses currently on hand, DOH will coordinate volunteer vaccinators to support vaccine administration in Spokane, Kennewick and Bellevue. DOH will also connect with all vaccine administrators across the state to assess where additional assistance is needed to meet the new requirements.

The state will also be establishing multiple high-vaccination sites to prepare for future vaccine allocations. Some of the sites will build upon existing infrastructure. DOH will coordinate with local health officials and the National Guard to set up the sites.

Four sites will be set up to begin vaccine administration starting next week: Spokane Arena in Spokane, the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick; Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee; and the Clark County Fairgrounds in Ridgefield.

For more information on the new public-private partnership, changes to the vaccine phases, and other efforts under way to get more people vaccinated for COVID-19, read the governor's Medium page.

Security changes at Capitol campus

National Guard troops and additional State Patrol officers spent the last week stationed on the campus of the state Capitol in response to threats of potential unrest following the riot at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6.

The National Guard's mission ended Friday, although enhanced security measures provided by the State Patrol will continue, so that the functions of a democratically elected government may continue uninterrupted.

“I am pleased that the Washington National Guard in support of the Washington State Patrol successfully protected the Capitol Campus from potential civil unrest,” Inslee said. “While this current mission will be demobilized over the weekend, we are taking steps to ensure the long-term safety and security of the people who work doing the people’s business in Olympia.

“The Washington State Patrol and the Guard have served our state well in these dangerous and unprecedented times,” Inslee continued, “I am certain their presence and other security measures are among the primary reasons we have enjoyed relative calm for the past two weeks. I thank everyone who has served in this work for their service.”

Legislative Update: Governor's legislative priorities make progress

On Monday, Rep. Debra Entenman introduced governor-request legislation that would mandate independent investigations into police uses of deadly force. The bill, which is based on recommendations made by the governor’s task force, would create a new independent investigation agency under the Office of the Governor. The legislation is scheduled for a hearing in the House Public Safety Committee on Tuesday.

The House and Senate are also moving on public health legislation, with the House Health Care and Wellness Committee hearing legislation last Thursday that would regionalize the state's public heath districts. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Riccelli, would create a more efficient and holistic approach to public health. Sen. June Robinson has sponsored complimentary legislation, scheduled for a hearing Wednesday, that would build our investment in public health services, creating stronger and more resilient communities.

Governor-requested environmental legislation also continues to progress. HB 1091, which would establish a clean fuel standard, was voted out of the House Environment & Energy Committee on Thursday. The legislation would build a clean fuel industry in Washington state while reducing emissions in our highest polluting sector, transportation. In the Senate, the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee heard the Climate Commitment Act, which would cap emissions and then use the funds generated to invest in communities most impacted by the climate crisis.

The House Environment & Energy Committee also heard the Healthy Homes and Clean Buildings Act, which establishes a pathway to phase out fossil fuels for residential and commercial space and water heating. Housing is the fastest growing source of emissions in our state, and Washington must begin transitioning away from fossil fuels now in order to meet future benchmarks in the fight against climate change.

The Senate also acted on governor-request legislation sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser, which would provide unemployment insurance rate relief for businesses and boost unemployment support for workers. The bill, SB 5061, passed out of the Labor, Commerce & Tribal Affairs committee with bipartisan support, and now goes to the Senate Rules committee before going to a full vote of the Senate. In the House, the Labor and Workplace Standards committee heard HB 1097, which would further protect workers from retaliation when they’re raising health and safety complaints. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Mike Sells, is scheduled for executive action on Wednesday.

More information on the governor’s proposed budget and legislative priorities is available here.