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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
It is my honor to once again be serving you in the 2023 legislative session! Thank you for your involvement and interest as we work through this new session, scheduled for 105-days through April 23.
The opening gavel fell Monday, Jan. 9. The past three weeks have been very busy in our committee meetings and on the House floor. We are finally meeting in person after nearly three years. It is refreshing to see faces again without being tied to a computer screen. I believe it will make a big difference in legislation, because we can negotiate again in person on important bills for you and your family.
I want to encourage you to stay engaged in the legislative process. You can watch all the proceedings on TVW, follow House Republicans on Twitter and Facebook, and frequently visit my legislative website, where you can find my latest press releases, video updates, bills and much more. You can learn more about how to be involved from this webpage.
A few days ago, I recorded a video update in which I discuss this year’s legislative priorities, including:
- restore public safety;
- return affordability; and
- reboot education.
You can watch it here for more details, or click below to watch it.
Committee and leadership assignments
This year, I am serving as ranking member of the House Regulated Substances and Gaming Committee. This committee considers issues related to the regulation and taxation of alcohol, tobacco, vapor products, as well as product safety and access, and issues related to regulation and oversight of gaming, including the tribal compacts.
In addition, I am continuing to serve as assistant ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, which considers the operating budget and fiscal issues, such as pension policy and compensation.
Plus, I have been appointed to the Innovation, Community and Economic Development and Veterans Committee. This committee considers issues relating to community development, community investment programs, underrepresented communities and veterans’ and military affairs.
Finally, I am honored my colleagues chose me as vice-caucus chair. In addition to presiding over daily meetings of the House Republican Caucus, this position puts me squarely at the Republican leadership table, where we discuss some of the most important issues to come through the Legislature on a daily basis.
These leadership positions allow me to bring your voice to the committees on which I serve and through the caucus.
Major issues and our solutions in the 2023 session
Besides the budgets, my House Republican colleagues and I have some heavy lifting on other major issues that need to be addressed this session.
- Reducing your cost of living
SOLUTION: Offer sales tax relief or property tax relief and repeal the regressive long-term care insurance program and payroll tax. - Making communities safer
SOLUTION: Combat crime, restore vehicular pursuit, address drug addiction, and put more officers on the street. - Fixing our housing crisis
SOLUTION: Expedite housing permits, expand development boundaries, and create housing opportunity zones. - Empowering all families
SOLUTION: Help students recover from learning loss, offer school choice, and expand the working families tax credit.
I am also working on legislation to reduce our workforce shortage in health care, and specifically, long-term care. I will provide more details in future email updates.
Watch your mailbox for our mailer and survey!
My seatmates, Sen. Chris Gildon, and Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen, have joined with me to send out a “2023 Legislative Session Mailer,” with details about what we are working on at the Capitol. It also includes a link to a survey. We want to hear from you! Be watching your mailboxes for our printed update and survey.
I am here to serve you! Please reach out to my office!
Please call, write or email my office any time you have questions, comments or suggestions about state government. I am here to serve you and work on your behalf. My email address is: Kelly.Chambers@leg.wa.gov, and my office phone number is (360) 746-3670.
Sincerely,
Kelly Chambers
