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Happy Fantastic Friday!
Step One for Washington’s Community and Economic Recovery
House Democrats announced today the first step in the House and Senate plan for Washington’s community and economic recovery, starting with the allocation of $2.2 billion in federal funds to provide assistance to Washington families and businesses who have been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal will ease the financial hardship of struggling renters, small restaurants and other neighborhood businesses, school districts, uninsured and underinsured individuals, and Black and Brown communities, which have been disproportionately hurt during the pandemic.
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BOOSTING PUBLIC HEALTH: $618 million for a state Department of Health fund for vaccine administration, contact tracing and testing.
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KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES AND FED: $365 million for rental assistance and foreclosure assistance, and for small landlords to stay on top of their mortgages. The plan also includes $52 million for food and cash assistance, and TANF extension.
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INVESTING IN SMALL BUSINESSES: $240 million for grants for small businesses and non-profits to maintain operations and help with reopening.
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GETTING STUDENTS CAUGHT UP: $714 million for schools to address learning loss, keep teachers on the payroll and get ready to bring kids back to the classroom when it’s safe to do so. The plan also includes $50 million for grants for child care providers.
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SUPPORTING ALL WASHINGTONIANS: $70 million for long-term care and developmental disabilities programs and $6 million for health care for those who are underinsured and uninsured. The plan also includes $65 million for immigrant relief assistance and $5 million for grants to provide emergency financial aid for undocumented college students.
This is just the first step in making sure we support those most impacted by the pandemic so that we can recover, together. In the coming months, House Democrats will have bills, a supplemental budget, and an operating budget for the next biennium that continue to invest in public health, equitably address needs across the state in struggling communities, and help families and small businesses.
The Step One proposal was heard in the House Appropriations Committee this week. The bills reflecting the changes and appropriations are HB 1367 and HB 1368 and their companion bills are SB 5343 and SB 5344.
An Update on My Bills
- House Bill 1072 removes the restriction that keeps undocumented immigrants from accessing civil legal aid. It had a hearing and was scheduled for executive session in the House Appropriations Committee earlier this week.
- House Bill 1117 would integrate salmon recovery into the Growth Management Act (GMA), which guides land management and planning in our state. The bill was heard yesterday in the House Environment & Energy Committee.
- House Bill 1172 repeals a part of Washington law in direct conflict with the judicially-affirmed and treaty-reserved fishing rights of Northwest tribes. By repealing this section, we can avoid any legal confusion with state-tribal cooperative agreements in the management of salmon, trout, and steelhead resources. The bill had a hearing in the House Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday.
I also introduced two new bills this week:
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House Bill 1372 authorizes putting a statue of Billy Frank Jr. in the National Statuary Hall collection. Billy Frank Jr. dedicated his life to advocating for equality, justice, and environmental protections. He vocally advocated to unify people to save salmon and restore their habitat. His endless work on salmon recovery was based on inclusivity and an understanding that tribal treaty rights will help recover salmon and benefit everyone. To elevate his story and continue to acknowledge and apologize for the decades of violence and oppression the federal and state governments perpetuated against Native Americans and sovereign tribes and nations, Washington state should officially recognize Billy Frank Jr. as one of its two statues in the National Statuary Hall in Washington D.C. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on Monday, February 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Restoring Voting Rights
The first bill from my new colleague, Rep. Tarra Simmons, was heard and passed out of the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee last week. House Bill 1078 restores the right to vote to formerly incarcerated persons who are no longer in total confinement under the jurisdiction of our Department of Corrections. As a member of the committee, it was powerful to hear Rep. Simmons' testimony and firsthand experiences as a person who was once incarcerated, and how that led to this bill.
We know that an increase in civil rights has a strong correlation to lower recidivism rates, which means this bipartisan, common-sense bill can not only help formerly incarcerated individuals feel like a part of society again, but can also benefit the safety of our communities. I was happy to vote in favor of the bill, and will continue to support Rep. Simmons in her journey to pass this bill that will change the world for so many who need us to believe in them.
Washington deserves a state dinosaur
Last year, a fourth-grade class from Elmhurst Elementary School brought a bill idea to Rep. Melanie Morgan about making the Suciasaurus rex the Washington state dinosaur. The bill, House Bill 1067, was introduced again this session and recently had a hearing in the State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on which I serve. While no one would argue that this is the most significant bill we will pass this session, the passion of these students, and other young people, was inspiring!
In the midst of a pandemic, young people from around the state participated in their government and made their voices heard. Our youth are the future of our communities, our state, and our country. Empowering them to stand up for what they believe in and encouraging them to use their voices to generate positive change is key to manifesting a culture where our youth feel valued and heard. House Bill 1067 is a shining example of how government should be accessible to everyone, and how to teach our students to be active community members who care about their voice in government.
Notable Meetings
I was pleased to join the virtual event hosted by the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission to explore the life and legacy of Billy Frank Jr., including my newly proposed state legislation that would recognize Billy Frank Jr. as one of Washington’s two statues representing our state in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. It has been an honor to work on this monumental bill with Billy’s son, Nisqually Councilman Willie Frank, as well as the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, Defenders of Wildlife, and Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck. By memorializing Billy and his life's work, I believe we can work together to honor our First Washingtonians, our fight for civil rights and justice, salmon recovery, and commitment to co-management. Thank you to my 31 colleagues who have co-sponsored my bill, House Bill 1372.
Terrific Tuesday Roundtable
For this week's Terrific Tuesday Roundtable, I got to hear from city, county, and tribal elected officials and law enforcement officers about some of the good work they are doing in our 40th District communities. I was joined by Public Safety Committee Chair Roger Goodman and Vice Chair Jesse Johnson, who both provided an update on public safety and police reform bills being considered. As a member of the Policing Policy Leadership Team, it has been an honor to work with my colleagues and experts in the community to develop good policy, that reflects the values of the 40th LD. We may not always agree on everything, but building our relationships and bringing us all together around my virtual kitchen table has enabled us to learn from one another and develop policy that prioritizes successful community policing models and increased training and education to prepare our next generation of peace officers.
Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest
A huge thank you to the Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest for inviting me to speak on the Blue-Collar, Green Power: State-Level Strategies to Win Climate Solutions panel. It was an honor to join my friend Vlad Gutman at Climate Solutions, Maine Senator Chloe Maxmin, and Aaron Regunberg to discuss climate policy, advocacy, and engaging our Jewish community. I got to speak to the role of state policy in addressing the global challenges of climate change. As a state representative, I understand firsthand that state policy can often serve as a model for federal policy. Here in Washington state, we can be more progressive in our state climate policies – we can push the cutting edge then scale up our successes. I was excited to share with the audience my work on a number of bills this year including the Washington STRONG Act, incorporating salmon recovery into the Growth Management Act (GMA), the HEAL Act, and the Washington Green Amendment. At the end of the day, it is important for us to all work together at every level to enact and implement progressive climate policy. We must think seven generations ahead in our decision making and ensure our children’s children have a safe and healthy Earth to call home.
Constituent Coffee
Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday's Constituent Coffee. These events are an opportunity for you to hear from me about what's going on in the Legislature and to ask questions or make comments on current legislation. I'll be hosting these events each week throughout session, so pre-register today for next week and check back in for more details on future events.
Please also note that due to the ever evolving nature of legislative session, we may need to cancel or reschedule this meeting. If you have any questions, please contact my Legislative Assistant, Kaylee, at kaylee.galloway@leg.wa.gov.
Fairhaven Middle School
This week I had the privilege to meet with students from Fairhaven Middle School who wrote letters to me about my bill to ban Native American symbols, names, and images as school mascots, logos, or team names. We also discussed my role as the only current Native American state legislator and how important it is that community leadership looks like the community and reflects the community's values and culture. It was an honor to meet the next generation of our community leaders!
Constituent Corner
I've received emails from you in support of House Bill 1216, sponsored by Rep. Bill Ramos. The bill is intended to help cities manage their forests and encourage robust tree canopy within urban communities. I'm proud to report that I am co-sponsoring this legislation, which will enable the state’s Department of Natural Resources to deliver guidance, grant money and other resources to cities interested in improving urban forests.
Learn more about the proposed legislation in this recent article from Crosscut.
 State representative Bill Ramos touches a tree while walking on a trail leading to Tiger Mountain in Issaquah, Washington on January 24, 2021. Ramos has introduced a bill that would energize the state's leading urban forestry initiative, which stalled early in the last recession. (David Ryder for Crosscut)
In the News
The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act, which will help Washington address environmental health disparities because who you are and where you live should not impact your health and well-being, has recently been in the news:
- “The HEAL Act is going to help protect and provide environmental justice for all of our communities." - A quote from me in a recent article from the South Seattle Emerald
- “We are going to invest in our most vulnerable communities and we're going to protect the human health of Washingtonians..." - A quote from me in a recent KNKX article
As a member of the Policing Policy Leadership Team, which has been working on legislation to strengthen police accountability, to limit questionable police tactics and use of force, and to increase transparency of police activity, I've been keeping track of police accountability discussions in the news. Here are a few recent articles on the subject:
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Thank you all for taking to the time to read this week’s Fantastic Friday, and for taking an interest in our progress at the House of Representatives. I will be sending out a Fantastic Friday letter each week throughout the legislative session.
Please feel free to reach out to me using the information below, with any questions, inquiries, or concerns you may have.
I am here for you!
All best wishes,
 Rep. Debra Lekanoff
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