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35th District lawmakers issue statement on passage of 2017-19 capital budget

Thanks to the passage of a $4.17 billion capital budget late last week, nearly $37 million has been allocated for construction projects in the 35th District.

Projects include $3 million to build tiny homes for homeless veterans in Mason County, $1.5 million for sewer repairs in Shelton, $515,000 to provide a wastewater connection from the South Kitsap Industrial Area to the Belfair Wastewater Reclamation Facility, and $200,000 for improvements to Camp Schechter in Tumwater.

The bill also allocates $475,000 to construct a new building for the Holly Ridge Center in Bremerton, which has served residents of the 35th District for more than 50 years. Additionally, $27,000 will be spent on shelter resident room improvements, technological replacements and security upgrades at the Turning Pointe domestic violence shelter in Shelton.

“Although it took a lot longer than any of us wanted, I’m happy we were able to send the 2017-19 capital budget to the governor’s desk to be signed into law,” said Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union. “The budget includes a number of important projects for our district, including sewer rehabilitation in Shelton and construction of the Belfair sewer connection to the South Kitsap Industrial Area. It also allocates funding for organizations providing support for domestic violence victims and early intervention services for parents of young children with developmental disabilities. These investments will make a significant difference for our communities in the 35th District.”

The capital budget, financed in large part by bonds, pays for durable assets like buildings, land acquisitions, and improvements to public parks in communities across the state. The capital budget is separate from the state’s operating budget, which is financed with current tax revenues.

“What excites me most about this budget is it prioritizes investments for those who need it most — our students, the mentally ill, and our veterans,” said Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn. “Perhaps one of the projects I’m most proud of securing funds for is the $3 million for affordable housing and tiny homes in Shelton. This will help alleviate some of the financial pressures veterans are facing throughout our communities by giving them a safe place to call home.”

Throughout the state, the 2017-19 capital budget invests $933 million in school construction and modernization, including an additional $35 million for small, rural district modernization grants. It also provides $136.5 million for community- and institution-based funding, including making targeted investments in behavioral health community capacity and security updates to Eastern and Western State hospitals. Additionally, more than $106 million is provided for the Housing Trust Fund, which will help fund housing projects for veterans, those affected by natural disasters, and supportive housing for the mentally ill.

The capital budget, Senate Bill 6090, passed by a vote of 95-1 in the House and 49-0 in the Senate. The bond authorization bill for the capital budget, House Bill 1080, passed by a vote of 94-2 in the House and 47-2 in the Senate.

Reps. Jim Walsh and Drew MacEwen comment on termination of lease for Cooke Aquaculture’s Atlantic salmon farm

After noting several violations following an inspection earlier this month, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has terminated Cooke Aquaculture Pacific’s Port Angeles net pen lease. According to Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, the salmon farm poses serious risks to the environment and the public. With more than 700,000 Atlantic salmon in pens at the farm, DNR has requested the facility be dismantled.

The inspection was prompted by an incident in August in which a net pen operated by Cooke Aquaculture containing 305,000 Atlantic salmon collapsed near Cypress Island, releasing more than half the salmon into Puget Sound. Officials noted several violations at the farm, including missing or damaged anchor lines, some of which are sitting outside the lease area, and fragments of Styrofoam crumbling off its floats.

House Republican Reps. Jim Walsh and Drew MacEwen recently introduced a bill to ban Atlantic salmon farming in marine waters regulated by Washington state. Walsh, R-Aberdeen, says he’s pleased Franz’s actions indicate she’s joining the fight for the right public policy for Atlantic salmon farming. Walsh had this to say about DNR’s recent decision to terminate Cooke’s lease in Port Angeles:

“It’s good to see DNR agrees with Rep. MacEwen and me that these fish farms, and the net-pen structures used for them, are an immediate threat to the public waters of the state of Washington. The risk these fish farms pose to our native stocks of Pacific salmon are real and deserve the attention of all state agencies that have jurisdiction over public waters and aquaculture.

“Going forward, we need to look at revising public policy and statute with regard to Atlantic fish farms and net-pen structures. I hope to work with other legislators from both chambers on good bills that protect our public waters on a permanent basis. We need to ensure the ‘great Atlantic fish escape of 2017’ remains a singular event, helping us form good public policy in the future.”

MacEwen, R-Union, applauded DNR for taking steps to protect native Pacific salmon in Washington’s waters:

“With DNR’s latest findings indicating unsafe conditions within Cooke’s Port Angeles facility, it’s even clearer we must end Atlantic salmon farming in our waters,” he said. “Months after the Atlantics escaped, we’re still finding them alive as far as 42 miles up the Skagit River, where they pose a threat to Pacific salmon habitat. DNR’s decision to terminate Cooke’s net pen lease has set us on the right path forward in protecting our native salmon populations.”

The 2018 legislative session, which will run for 60 consecutive days, begins Jan. 8.

MacEwen, Kilduff introduce bills to end Legislature’s overreliance on special sessions

After years of special sessions that have often pushed the state to the brink of shutdown, Reps. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, and Christine Kilduff, D-University Place, have joined forces to bring an end to the problem, introducing two budget process reform bills Thursday.

MacEwen’s bill would change the state’s fiscal year to coincide with the end of regular session. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the fiscal year would begin May 1 in long, 105-day sessions and April 30 in short, 60-day sessions. The 35th District lawmaker says this simple change would prevent the Legislature from relying on additional sessions to finish its work.

“I find it impossible to believe we need to go into special session every year to complete our work on time,” said MacEwen. “Special sessions are a waste of taxpayers’ time and money, and we should be embarrassed that we continue to use them as a crutch year after year. We should only be in Olympia for the allotted session time we’re given, and then get back to district to serve our constituents. This bill removes all excuses for not being able to do that.”

Since 2013, the Legislature has gone into special session 10 times, each of which has cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

Kilduff’s legislation would create a constitutional amendment to restrict the Legislature from considering any bills not related to the operating budget if it has not been adopted by the 90th day of a 105-day session. The remaining 15 session days would be required to be spent considering budget and NTIB (necessary to implement the budget) bills, prioritizing the work required to keep the state running.

“As elected officials, the people expect us to be accountable to them,” said Kilduff. “Our focus should be on delivering results, working hard, and finishing on time. If we cannot fulfill these basic duties, no other bills or policy matters until we pass the budget.”

The 2018 legislative session begins Jan. 8, and is scheduled to run for 60 consecutive days.

MacEwen, Walsh introduce legislation to ban Atlantic salmon farms in Washington state

House Republican Reps. Drew MacEwen and Jim Walsh have introduced a bill to ban Atlantic salmon farming in marine waters regulated by Washington state. The legislation comes on the heels of an August incident in which a net pen containing 305,000 Atlantic salmon collapsed near Cypress Island, allowing more than half of the salmon to escape into Puget Sound. It was the fourth such incident since 1996.

Despite the collapse at the salmon farm operated by Cooke Aquaculture, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) recently approved a permit for the company to rear one million more Atlantic salmon at a different facility in Puget Sound.

Rep. Drew MacEwen says enough is enough.

“It simply doesn’t make sense to continue allowing Atlantic salmon farms to operate in Washington state,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “Escaped Atlantic salmon pose serious risks to native Pacific salmon with regard to competition for resources, and also threaten the survival of Pacific juveniles. It’s time we close these farms and put strong policies in place that enable our Pacific salmon populations to thrive.”

Although recovery efforts have been underway for decades, Pacific salmon populations in Washington state remain in danger, with multiple runs listed as threatened or endangered.

Rep. Jim Walsh, who called for an end to Atlantic salmon farms in an op-ed earlier this year, is the prime co-sponsor of the bill.

“We need to boost the stocks of our native salmon by building on our own resources rather than continuing to cultivate an invasive species,” said Walsh, R-Aberdeen. “As we’ve seen, farming Atlantic salmon in Washington waters is, at best, a nuisance and, at worst, a catastrophe.”

Also supportive of the legislation is Arnold Cooper, Squaxin Island Tribal Chairman. The Squaxin Island Tribe operates a net pen complex in South Puget Sound in cooperation with WDFW, releasing 700,000 Coho each year and providing vital fisheries for tribal and sports fishermen.

“We support banning Atlantic salmon aquaculture from our waters,” said Chairman Arnold Cooper. “Continuing to allow Atlantic salmon aquaculture means future spills are inevitable. Future spills mean Atlantic salmon will compete with native fish for wild food, and they also mean we risk Atlantic salmon colonizing. Our tribe has always depended on natural resources, so there is no acceptable margin of error for us in protecting our way of life and our economy. While we know raising native salmon temporarily in net pens is an effective way to provide fisheries, non-native species like Atlantic salmon have no place in the Pacific Northwest.”

The 2018 legislative session, which will run for 60 consecutive days, begins Jan. 8.

MacEwen named co-chair, executive member of Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs

During a meeting of the Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs Monday, Rep. Drew MacEwen was selected to serve as co-chair and an executive member of the committee.

MacEwen, a six-year veteran of the Navy’s submarine force, said he’s looking forward to serving on the committee in a new capacity.

“In this new role, I’ll have the opportunity to work alongside my co-chair, Senator Steve Conway, to craft agendas for upcoming meetings, and work in a bipartisan fashion with all committee members to make recommendations to the Legislature on how to best address active military forces issues and aid veterans,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “This committee is an important component to ensuring the security and preparedness of Washington state during emergencies. As our nation continues to face threats from around the globe, the continued involvement of the committee in our state’s emergency preparedness is critical.”

In addition to studying issues regarding veterans and service members, and emergency management and preparedness, the committee considers matters relating to the National Guard, the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, the Washington Military Department, and more. The committee consists of 16 state legislators, four members from each caucus.

MacEwen was first appointed to the committee in 2013.

Those interested in learning more about the committee can view past committee documents, sign up for updates, and more by visiting the committee’s official website: https://leg.wa.gov/JointCommittees/VMA/Pages/default.aspx.

MacEwen attends commissioning ceremony for USS Washington

On Saturday, Oct. 7, 35th District Rep. Drew MacEwen was on hand to witness the commissioning of the U.S. Navy’s newest Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, the USS Washington. Joining him at the ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia were Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib and Secretary of State Kim Wyman.

The USS Washington is the third Navy ship, and first submarine, to be commissioned with a name honoring Washington state. The last was the battleship, BB-56, which was in service from 1941 to 1947 and was credited with sinking more enemy tonnage than any other Navy battleship in World War II.

The crest of the USS Washington features the submarine emerging from the waters of the Puget Sound with a paint scheme reminiscing an orca whale, the state’s official marine mammal. It also features Mount Rainier, the Seattle skyline, evergreen trees, and silhouettes of the two previous USS Washington’s — also represented by two solid gold stars.

In 2015, MacEwen, a six-year veteran of the Navy’s submarine force, was named an honorary co-chair of the commissioning committee for the $2.6 billion sub.

“At a time when our country faces serious threats from unstable actors around the world, having a strong naval presence is critical,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “While we all pray for a more peaceful world, I’m reminded of the words of our nation’s first president: “To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.” I have no doubt the USS Washington and its crew of nearly 130 submariners will play a vital role in ensuring our security and prosperity in the decades to come.”

The USS Washington will be ready for deployment in the summer of 2019 under the command of Cmdr. Gabriel B. Cavazos.

Governor signs MacEwen bill reforming high school assessments to benefit students

A bill sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen to change high school assessment and graduation requirements was signed into law by the governor Friday. MacEwen’s House Bill 2224, which passed both chambers unanimously, is set to make several adjustments to current law that will enable more students to graduate on time.

Earlier this session, MacEwen introduced House Bill 1046, which would have delinked all state tests from high school graduation requirements. House Bill 2224 builds off that effort, and while state tests will not be delinked from graduation under the legislation, it will provide students with more time to meet the standard necessary for graduation. Math and English language arts assessments will be moved up from 11th to 10th grade beginning in 2019, and meeting standard on the state’s biology assessment will be delayed as a graduation requirement until the class of 2021. The latter change also applies retroactively to the class of 2017.

MacEwen, R-Union, says that while he would have preferred House Bill 1046 to be signed into law earlier this year, House Bill 2224 is a fair, bipartisan compromise to the original bill.

“This is one of the most consequential pieces of reform legislation I have seen during my time here in the Legislature. Our job is to do what’s in the best interest of our students, and we are doing that through this bill,” said MacEwen. “I appreciate the level of buy-in from legislators on both sides of the aisle in each chamber, as well as from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. While I strongly believe delinking state tests from high school graduation requirements is the right policy for our state, House Bill 2224 represents a fair compromise that will move us forward and help students who are graduating this year and in the years to come.”

In addition to the above changes, House Bill 2224 will:

Establish an expedited appeals process for students in the 2014-2018 graduating classes who have not met standard on the math and/or English language arts assessments;
Discontinue the collection of evidence objective alternative assessment;
Allow, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, qualifying students to meet the applicable state standard by: 1) taking and passing a locally determined course in the content area in which the student was not successful, and 2) completing a state-approved and locally administered assessment. Students would also have the opportunity to successfully complete a dual credit course in English language arts or math, which would qualify as an approved alternative assessment; and
Require school districts to provide students who have not earned a certificate of academic achievement (CAA) before the beginning of the 11th grade the opportunity to access interventions and academic supports, courses, or both to enable students to meet minimum high school graduation standards.

House Bill 2224 will go into effect later this year.

House unanimously approves MacEwen bill changing testing requirements for high school graduation

After months of negotiation between education leaders in the state House and Senate, a compromise bill that would change high school assessment and graduation requirements is finally moving forward. In a 94-0 vote Tuesday, the House passed Rep. Drew MacEwen’s House Bill 2224, which would make several adjustments to current law in order to enable more students to graduate on time.

The legislation builds off MacEwen’s House Bill 1046, which would have delinked all state tests from high school graduation requirements. The bill was approved three times in the House earlier this year, but stalled in the Senate on each occasion.

While state tests would not be delinked from graduation under House Bill 2224, the bill would move math and English language arts assessments up from 11th to 10th grade beginning in 2019. This would provide students with more time to meet the standard necessary for graduation. Additionally, meeting standard on the state’s biology assessment would be delayed as a graduation requirement until the class of 2021. That change would also apply retroactively to the class of 2017.

MacEwen, R-Union, says that while he would have preferred House Bill 1046 to be signed into law earlier this year, House Bill 2224 is a fair, bipartisan compromise to the original bill.

“Our job is to do what’s in the best interest of our students, so it was critical to have buy-in from legislators on both sides of the aisle in each chamber, as well as from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction,” said MacEwen. “While I strongly believe delinking state tests from high school graduation requirements is the right policy for our state, House Bill 2224 represents a fair compromise that will move us forward and help students who are graduating this year and in the years to come. In the future, however, I hope we can avoid spending months working on long overdue fixes by thinking more critically beforehand about the policies we’re implementing in our K-12 system.”

In addition to the above changes, House Bill 2224 would:

Establish an expedited appeals process for students in the 2014-2018 graduating classes who have not met standard on the math and/or English language arts assessments;
Discontinue the collection of evidence objective alternative assessment;
Allow, beginning in the 2018-19 school year, qualifying students to meet the applicable state standard by: 1) taking and passing a locally determined course in the content area in which the student was not successful, and 2) completing a state-approved and locally administered assessment. Students would also have the opportunity to successfully complete a dual credit course in English language arts or math, which would qualify as an approved alternative assessment; and
Require school districts to provide students who have not earned a certificate of academic achievement (CAA) before the beginning of the 11th grade the opportunity to access interventions and academic supports, courses, or both to enable students to meet minimum high school graduation standards.

House Bill 2224 now advances to the Senate for further consideration.

35th District lawmakers to hold town hall meeting in Shelton

Thirty-Fifth District Sen. Tim Sheldon and Reps. Drew MacEwen and Dan Griffey will be holding a town hall meeting on Thursday, March 23 in Shelton. The meeting will take place from 6-7 p.m. in The Johnson Library at Olympic College Shelton.

Those residing in the 35th District are encouraged to bring their questions, ideas and concerns about legislation and issues before the state Legislature. The representatives will provide a brief update on the 2017 legislative session, then open the forum up to answer specific questions from constituents.

Details are as follows:

Time: 6-7 p.m.
Venue: The Johnson Library, Olympic College Shelton
Address: 937 Alpine Way, Shelton, WA 98584

For questions prior to the event, people may contact Sen. Sheldon’s office at (360) 786-7668 or tim.sheldon@leg.wa.gov, Rep. MacEwen’s office at (360) 786-7902 or drew.macewen@leg.wa.gov, or Rep. Griffey’s office at (360) 786-7966 or dan.griffey@leg.wa.gov.