Rapid COVID relief, transportation, and an invitation to our virtual Town Hall

We know families are still struggling during the pandemic. This e-newsletter contains some hope.

Hope because we voted to send $2.2 billion in aid to our families and small businesses.

Hope because the federal government is fixing problems with the vaccine distribution.

And hope because our state has a strong tradition of neighbors helping neighbors. We will get through this–together.

---

$2.2 billion in COVID relief funds 

Last night, we voted to send more help to families and small businesses. 

House Bill 1367 and House Bill 1368 both passed on strong bipartisan votes. The two bills will help fight the virus so we can re-open schools and local businesses, and give aid to families who are suffering due to this pandemic. 

This package, funded by federal dollars, also includes more than $600 million to win the war against COVID-19 through more vaccination efforts, contact tracing, and testing. 

Here are the details: 

• $240 million in grants to small businesses. 
• $618 million for vaccine distribution, contact tracing, and testing, and funding to vaccinate 45,000 people a day. 
• $365 million into rental assistance, foreclosure assistance, and for small landlords to stay on top of their mortgages. 
• $714 million in our schools to address learning loss, keep teachers on the payroll, and get us ready to bring kids back to the classroom.

And because we’ve gotten so many questions about this issue, we’d like to share the state’s current vaccine plan.

---

Transportation issues here in the 44th District

We both signed a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee protesting the pause put on three transportation projects in Snohomish County.

Those three projects are ready to go to bid, and they are long overdue. Our local communities have already put millions of dollars toward these projects–I-5 at Marine View Drive, the intersection of State Route 9 and State Route 204, and State Route 9 at South Lake Stevens Road.

It was not our intent to have these projects delayed by even a day. Fifteen lawmakers representing Snohomish County, from both parties, signed the letter of protest.

Update: The good news is after we sent the letter, Gov. Inslee reversed course, and those projects are now back on track. Let's get to work!

---

Town Hall on Feb. 10

The 44th District has a proud history of communities that are highly involved in their democracy.

We host coffee chats, telephone town halls, old-fashioned town hall meetings, and now our first virtual town hall on Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

This will be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube.

Please add your questions to the SurveyMonkey link or ask them in the discussion box once the town hall starts.

We hope to see you there!