DAVE PAUL: 2022 Legislative Session Update

Rep. Dave Paul’s campaign email account (dave@votedavepaul.com) sent the following email on Mon., Jan. 10, 2022:

Dear Friends, 

The 2022 Legislative Session begins this week. I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time over the last year to meet or email me about your policy priorities, feedback, and legislative ideas.  

This is a 60-day session—often referred to as the “short session”–where the legislature writes a supplementary budget, strengthens policies from earlier sessions, and addresses emergent needs in our community and state. Here’s a short highlight of some of the policies I’m working on this year.  

We know that education is an important pathway to family wage jobs. I’ve introduced House Bill 1760 to expand access to important educational programs, like Running Start and College in the High School. I’ve also sponsored House Bill 1805 to expand the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship and better connect rural residents to apprenticeship programs. 

Healthcare is very important to our community. I’ll continue to fight for better reimbursement rates for mental health and primary care providers. I’m proud to have sponsored House Bill 1733, which will strengthen the Washington Cares Act and will help ensure more seniors are able to age at home. I’ve also cosponsored House Bill 1671 to help lower the costs of prescription drugs. 

Ferry service is also critical to our community, and many of us rely on ferries for work and access to healthcare and education. I’ll continue to work to help ensure our state prioritizes new vessel construction, the maintenance and preservation of the existing fleet, and the recruitment and training of new crew members to keep the ferries moving. I will be proposing legislation to create pathways for high school and community college students to start their careers in Washington State Ferries.  

Finally, protecting the environment and addressing climate change is absolutely necessary to protect the quality of life in our region and state. I’m proud to have introduced House Bill 1700, which will provide more resources to our state to remove derelict vessels from our waterways—and before they pollute the environment. I will continue to lead the House’s plan to electrify our ferry system. Hybrid and electric ferries are not only less expensive to maintain, but they also will reduce pollution and vessel noise. 

I hope you are having a healthy and safe New Year. As always, it is an honor to serve as your representative.  Sincerely, 

Dave