ANNOUNCING OUR 2023 CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN
We are proud to recognize 11 state lawmakers with the 2023 Champions for Children Awards. Each of them provided significant leadership during the recent legislative session to secure policies and investments to improve the well-being of children in Washington. If your legislator is on this list, please join us in thanking them for their outstanding service on behalf of children.
Representative Lisa Callan (D-5th district) championed a great number of behavioral health bills and budget items for kids. She was the lead sponsor for House Bill 1580, which aims to connect children stuck in hospitals with services and living arrangements. She also pushed for a significant reimbursement rate increase for Medicaid behavioral health providers in the state budget.
Representative Mary Fosse (D-38th district) was the primary sponsor of two bills that addressed families’ access to child care. House Bill 1525 offers safe, stable, affordable child care as parents participate in state-registered apprenticeship programs. House Bill 1106 expands eligibility to unemployment insurance for parents who have a consistent 90-day shift history and experience a non-temporary change in their shift by six or more hours without employee request or seniority considerations.
Representative Marcus Riccelli (D-3rd district), a steadfast champion for oral health care, was primary sponsor of House Bill 1678, authorizing dental therapists to practice in community health settings statewide. Riccelli also championed House Bill 1238, increasing the supply of free school meals, and persuaded his colleagues to invest capital dollars to expand and upgrade oral health infrastructure in health clinics.
Representative Tana Senn (D-41st district) met with members of the Early Learning Action Alliance numerous times throughout the 2023 session to exchange information and strategize together to secure passage of key bills and budget investments for babies and children ages 5 and under. Senn was the primary sponsor of House Bill 1199, which protects child care business operations in common interest communities (such as condominium associations), and House Bill 1188, which creates protections for kids with disabilities using child welfare services.
Representative My-Linh Thai (D-41st district) led the insertion of a budget item for health coverage for all Washington adults who are income-qualified for Medicaid coverage, regardless of immigration status. This innovative measure creates a pathway for full-family health care coverage for tens of thousands of immigrant households.
Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-3rd district) is the Senate’s early learning budget champion, responsible for securing hundreds of millions of state budget dollars in affordable child care for working families by raising subsidy payments to child care providers who enroll families that use the state’s Working Connections Child Care program.
Senator Noel Frame (D-36th district) continued her leadership for progressive revenue to fix the state’s upside-down tax code. Though House Bill 1473, a tax on extreme wealth, did not move forward this legislative session, Frame persuaded budget leaders to commission a one-year study of the idea and report back to lawmakers in 2024.
Senator Karen Keiser (D-33rd district) led her colleagues to ban the practice of female genital mutilation or genital cutting which is often inflicted on young girls. Sen. Keiser also responded swiftly to protect reproductive health care by countering an out-of-state threat to the supply of abortion medication with Senate Bill 5768, which authorized the Department of Corrections to purchase, sell, deliver, and dispense abortion medications to Washington state health professionals.
Senator Emily Randall (D-26th district) ensured the passage of Senate Bill 5555, authorizing the employment of peer support specialists to address mental health and substance needs among kids and adults. Sen. Randall also co-sponsored a number of other oral health, behavioral health, and reproductive health bills, as well as a measure that seeks to prevent the use of tobacco and vapor products by minors.
Senator Rebecca Saldaña (D-37th district) championed Senate Bill 5365, which takes a new approach to preventing tobacco use and vaping among minors. Recognizing that punitive measures disproportionately harm children of color, the bill replaces monetary fines with community service and a free, optional smoking cessation program. It also increases penalties on retailers caught selling tobacco or vapor products to anyone under age 21.
Senator Claire Wilson (D-30th district) introduced bills that advanced families’ access to quality child care through the expansion of Working Connections Child Care. She was the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 5225, which extended Working Connections eligibility to immigrant families, child care employees, and parents directed to find care by therapeutic courts. Sen. Wilson also addressed barriers to quality child care with Senate Bill 5316, which eliminated the fees paid by early childhood educators when they submit to routine background checks.