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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Right now, we are going through a challenge unlike anything most of us have ever experienced before. The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak has had a devastating impact on people's health and financial well-being, and the routine of daily life is far different than it was just a month ago. My heart goes out to the family in Puyallup who lost a loved one earlier this week, and to all of the families across the state who have lost loved ones due to this virus. As we continue to battle COVID-19, it is imperative that we all work together to flatten the curve and slow its spread.

The 2020 legislative session came to a close last week in a spirit of bipartisanship, as the Legislature approved a bill (HB 2965) to appropriate $175 million from the state's rainy-day fund to assist with COVID-19 response efforts. Governor Inslee signed that bill into law earlier this week.

These funds will be used in a variety of ways, including covering unemployment claims. While most large businesses in our state have the necessary cash reserves to weather a financial downturn and still pay their employees, the same cannot be said for many of our small businesses. If you can, I would urge you to place orders for merchandise, buy gift cards, order takeout or delivery, or do anything else you can think of that would be helpful to them. Together, we can help our small business owners and their employees get through this crisis.

The state's Department of Revenue, Department of Financial Institutions, and Employment Security Department have created web pages focused on business relief, benefits available for workers, and unemployment assistance.

I also wanted to provide a number of other links to critical information, along with resources and guidance, that I hope will be helpful to you and your family over the next several weeks. If there is information you're looking for that is not listed below, please contact me at (360) 786-7948 or Kelly.Chambers@leg.wa.gov.

Be safe, stay strong, support one another, and please help flatten the curve. We will get through this together.

It is an honor to serve you.

Sincerely,
Kelly

General information

Washington state's official COVID-19 site:

General guidance from the Department of Health:

  • Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet
    • Wash hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Avoid contact with people who are sick.
    • Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
    • Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.

Department of Health:

  • Call center | 1-800-525-0127
  • 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week.
  • 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak (COVID-19)
    • Symptoms and Testing.
    • Resources and Recommendations.
    • Current Situation in Washington – What's the current risk?
    • 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington.

Health Care Authority:

Updates from the Governor's Office:

Teach with TVW:

Contact information for local health departments and districts

Department of Health:

Recent announcements and news releases

Recent announcements and news releases from the Governor's Office and Department of Health:

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) | K-12 schools

OSPI:

Universities and colleges

Washington State Council of Presidents:

Washington State Community and Technical Colleges:

Independent Colleges of Washington:

Employers and employees

Governor's Office | Partial list of resources to support economic retention and recovery related to COVID-19 coronavirus:

Employment Security Department:

U.S. Small Business Administration:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Department of Labor:

Department of Revenue:

Department of Financial Institutions:

  • Financial Resources for Washington Residents Impacted by COVID-19
    • Accessing Your Financial Institution.
    • Unemployment Help.
    • Trouble Paying Credit Cards.
    • Trouble Paying Your Mortgage.
    • Trouble Paying Rent.
    • Student Loans Deferment.
    • Short Term and Emergency Loans.
    • Paying Utilities.
    • Insurance Issues.
    • Avoiding Scams.
    • At Home Financial Education Resources for Students.
    • Additional Resources.

Department of Labor & Industries:

Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave:

Office of the Insurance Commissioner:

  • Coronavirus
    • Health insurance.
    • For insurers and medical providers.
    • Travel insurance.
    • Other types of insurance

Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

Military & Veterans

U.S. Department of Defense:

Washington Military Department:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs:

Other federal agencies

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services:

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

If you are looking for information that isn't listed above, please get in touch with me at (360) 786-7948 or Kelly.Chambers@leg.wa.gov.

It is an honor to serve you.

Sincerely,


Kelly Chambers

State Representative Kelly Chambers, 25th Legislative District
RepresentativeKellyChambers.com
426 John L. O'Brien Building | P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
kelly.chambers@leg.wa.gov
360-786-7948 | Toll-free: (800) 562-6000