Clean energy, child care costs and housing crisis should be priorities for 2020 session

The House Democratic Caucus motto is “Putting People First.” That principle guides our work to pass laws and create programs to help Washington families thrive for generations to come.

In recent years, we put people first by increasing K-12 funding by $13 billion, offering Washingtonians paid family and medical leave, investing $175 million in housing, making tuition far more affordable — or free — for working families, improving mental health care, and creating a long-term care benefits program.

But there is more to achieve, and I am excited to put my passions to work representing the 22nd Legislative District. Here’s how I’ll work to put people first in 2020.

Protecting the environment: 2019 was a banner year for legislation to protect our environment and climate: 100 percent clean electricity, clean buildings, and the nation’s strongest toxics protection law. But, with the bush fires raging in Australia, there is no time for inaction on climate.

We must move forward with a clean fuels program to clean our air and improve our health while lowering greenhouse gas pollution. Working with Olympia Community Solar, I am sponsoring a solar bill to include low- and moderate-income Washingtonians in the clean energy revolution.

Also on the climate agenda is my “Buy Clean-Buy Fair” proposal. “Buy Clean-Buy Fair” means every taxpayer dollar spent procuring materials for state construction projects should be used on materials that are manufactured in a cleaner, less carbon-intensive manner with the best possible labor standards.

Child care and early learning: Child care costs more than college these days. That hurts our kids, families and businesses. This year, I’m working to make child care more affordable, help child-care businesses keep their doors open and pay employees a living wage, and increase access to early learning programs so Washington’s kids are ready for kindergarten.

Homelessness and housing affordability: Our lives come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and backgrounds, and so do our housing needs. It’s heartbreaking to see so many people living on the streets, trying to get by without the life-sustaining necessity of permanent housing.

In 2019, we made record investments in homelessness solutions and affordable housing, but we still need more housing options of all shapes and sizes for all our neighbors. In Thurston County alone, we need thousands more affordable homes just to keep up with current needs, and the need will continue growing as our population grows.

I applaud Gov. Inslee for focusing on immediate shelter needs for people experiencing homelessness, and I’ll push my colleagues to follow his lead.

We know that shelters are just one part of our broader needs, so I’m sponsoring plans that will give cities and counties greater tools for permanent affordable housing and homelessness services that people desperately need, and another that better empowers nonprofits and housing cooperatives to provide housing for very low-income people.

Let’s put people first. Transitioning to a clean energy future, making child care affordable and tackling the housing crisis are all tough problems. And we can only make progress on these issues by listening to each other, being creative, and by finding common ground in pursuit of solutions.

In 2020, let’s listen to each other with humility and work together to put people first.