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Inslee appoints Regina Malveaux as next Women's Commission director
Gov. Jay Inslee named Regina Malveaux director of the Washington Women's Commission on Aug. 10. The announcement follows the departure of Michelle Gonzalez in June. Malveaux was previously appointed to the commission shortly after its formation in 2018.
Malveaux currently serves as CEO of YWCA Spokane, where she facilitates legal, mental health, domestic violence protection and family services for women and families. In that role, she collaborated with the Spokane Mayor's office to form the Spokane Family Justice Center and worked with the Washington State Legislature to secure funding to support the project.
Malveaux began her career in nonprofit social service and advocacy as a legal advocate for YWCA of San Diego. She then went on to serve as Executive Director of YWCA South Hampton Roads in Virginia. Before that, she founded the Women's Legal Center and served as a director at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in San Diego.
Her appointment is effective September 1. For more about Malveaux's appointment, read our news release.
New relief funds to aid immigrant and agriculture workers affected by COVID
Gov. Jay Inslee also announced the creation of two funds to help workers during the COVID-19 pandemic on Aug. 10.
The Immigrant Relief Fund will provide $40 million to assist Washington residents who are unable to access federal stimulus programs due to their immigration status, and the Food Production Paid Leave Program will provide $3 million of financial resources to certain food production workers who remain home when ill.
The governor and his staff worked closely with a coalition representing 430 immigrant rights and social services organizations, and labor advocacy leaders, to develop the funds. Washington is now one of only a few states providing this aid to the immigrant community that has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to select a nonprofit that will administer the Immigrant Relief Fund. The institution will then partner with community organizations to manage applications and awards of $1,000 per eligible individual. Initial awards are expected to be made later in the fall.
Inslee has strongly supported immigrant and refugee communities throughout his time in office.
“Immigrant workers are critical to communities throughout the state and are the backbone of our economy,” Inslee said. “While some have been hit by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, others face safety risks as front-line workers. And even though immigrants in the United States pay billions of dollars in taxes, they do not receive the same support when a crisis occurs. This is one way to help rectify that situation.”
In response to COVID-19, the governor has worked to provide agricultural operations with the personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies needed to keep agricultural workers safe. In particular, he has directed the procurement and distribution of more than $1 million worth of hand sanitizer for use in agricultural operations, and the distribution of more than 700,000 cloth face coverings to agricultural workers. Further distributions of PPE to agricultural workers will bring the total number of cloth face coverings and KN95 masks provided to more than 2 million.
To access the RFP, go to the DSHS Procurement Website at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ffa/procurements-and-contracting or find it at https://pr-webs-vendor.des.wa.gov/Search_BidDetails.aspx?ID=44256.
Gov. Inslee reacts to the death of former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton
Inslee issued the following statement after learning of the passing of former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton on Wednesday.
“Trudi and I join all Washingtonians in mourning the loss of Sen. Slade Gorton. Slade loved this state and spent decades in its service.
“We worked together representing Washington in Congress and, while we didn’t always agree, he leaves an important legacy for the state and the nation.
“In the U.S. Senate, Slade was an influential member of the Armed Services Committee, where his own service in the Air Force and the Army gave him a deep understanding of the military and the people who serve our country.
“Slade was an important voice in pushing for the clean-up of Hanford, and he fought for health care, the arts and transportation solutions. He worked to keep orca whales out of captivity and in Washington's waters.
"His leadership on the 9/11 Commission put aside partisanship to help our country start to heal and prevent future terrorist attacks.
"When Slade served as Washington's attorney general, he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and helped to promote women in the legal field, including former Gov. Christine Gregoire. His career in public service began in the Washington State House of Representatives, where he quickly earned the respect of his colleagues and worked his way up to House majority leader.
“I send deep condolences to his family and friends. Washington state flags will be lowered in his honor on the day of his memorial service.”
Governor issues proclamation requiring agricultural worker testing
On Wednesday, Inslee issued an update to Proclamation 20-57, “Concerning the Health of Agricultural Workers.” The proclamation now requires agricultural employers to test their workforce broadly when health officials identify an outbreak that passes certain thresholds.
The announcement followed two visits to Central Washington by the governor and Department of Health Secretary John Wiesman over the last two weeks. They traveled to Brewster in Okanogan County on Aug. 13 and to Wenatchee on Tuesday to meet with local leaders in health, government, business and labor to discuss COVID-19 activity and its impacts locally.
Since the governor first issued Proclamation 20-57 on May 28, the total number of cases in Washington has increased from 21,138 to 67,721, an average rate of more than 500 new cases per day. Many of these are appearing at farms and food-packing facilities, where employees often work, travel, and live together in close contact.
“There is no question that we need to escalate our response to this pandemic, and we know that additional focus must be placed on agricultural workplaces,” Inslee said. "From the data, we know that people of color have been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic, and while we have much work to do to address that, this is one step in the right direction."
In addition to the governor’s proclamation, Wiesman concurrently directed an order to Gebbers Farms, following a significant outbreak among their operations and the subsequent deaths of three of their Okanogan employees. The order will require all Gebbers employees to be tested within the coming weeks, and the effort will be led by the Department of Health’s epidemiology team.
“Testing is one of the critical tools we have available to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Wiesman said. “With the large and disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on agricultural workers, it is important that we come together to quickly identify cases, including those who may be asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic, so we can ensure they have a safe work environment.”
Inslee’s rural workers and follows his August 10 announcement of two relief funds and a commitment to additional PPE distribution.
"Agricultural workers are some of the hardest-working people of our state. Their labor is integral to Washington’s economy, and they bring to our table the many nutritious foods that Washington has to offer," Inslee said. "We call upon all agricultural employers to join us in proactively safeguarding against workplace outbreaks. When employers are unable to do so on their own, local health jurisdictions and state Department of Health will be ready to intervene.”
Read the full proclamation here.
Read the full order here.
State of emergency issued in response to wildfires around Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statewide emergency proclamation Wednesday to ensure immediate response to multiple wildfires in Central and Eastern Washington, as well as the Olympic Peninsula.
"Wildfires are threatening the safety and livelihoods of Washingtonians all across the state," Inslee said. "And the COVID-19 pandemic has put additional strain on our resources, as some of our usual support is further limited due to international movement restrictions."
The proclamation authorizes the activation of the Washington National Guard statewide in response to a request from the state Department of Natural Resources to help protect homes, public facilities and utilities, businesses, agriculture and natural resources.
The order remains in effect until September 30 at 11:59 PM.
Read the proclamation here.
Inslee issues guidance for museums, bowling and agritourism; updates guidance for outdoor recreation
On Thursday, Inslee announced and updated guidance as part of Washington's Safe Start phased reopening plan.
“We have worked with stakeholders for weeks and sometimes months to arrive at these guidelines. We continue to balance the need for activities that contribute to physical, mental, and emotional well-being with the steps needed to control the virus. Our ability to reopen depends on every Washingtonian doing their part to ensure fewer, shorter and safer interactions,” Inslee said.
Museums:
These guidelines would allow museums in Phase 2 counties to operate as long as they meet certain requirements. Museums in Phase 3 counties would be required to lower occupancy.
Read the full guidance here.
Bowling:
These guidelines would allow for bowling league play in Phases 2 and 3, as long as facilities meet certain requirements.
Read the full guidance here.
Agritourism:
This guidance would allow for agritourism such as U-pick farms and tree farms to operate in Phase 2 counties.
Read the full guidance here.
Read the attached memo here.
Outdoor Recreation:
Updates to the outdoor recreation guidance clarify restrictions to non-spectator motor-sports in Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Safe Start plan. These changes go into effect on August 24.
Read the full updated guidance here.
Find a full list of current reopening guidance here.
ICYMI: Inslee letter to Trudeau seeks solution for Point Roberts residents
IInslee sent a letter Friday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requesting cooperation in finding a solution to help Washington residents of Point Roberts.
Due to the community’s geography, the approximately 1,300 Washingtonians residing there cannot travel by land to Washington without entering British Columbia and traveling through the Peace Arch Border Crossing. The border crossing was first closed to nearly all travel due to COVID-19 on March 21.
The closure is currently scheduled to last through Sept. 21.
The letter reads, in part:
"Given the community’s isolation, there are very limited services available in Point Roberts and residents customarily travel into Canada or to Whatcom County to obtain needed goods and services, including regularly accessing schools and education centers due to quarantine rules. As such, Washingtonians living in Point Roberts face unique hardships resulting from COVID-19 border closures, including challenges for students’ academic and athletic careers, increased uncertainty for local businesses, and an inability to see family and loved ones living outside the Point Roberts enclave on the Tsawwassen peninsula."
The U.S. and Canada have previously agreed upon a transit pass for Americans traveling by land to Alaska. In the letter, Inslee suggests one solution would be a similar method for Point Roberts residents, allowing them to travel to and from mainland Washington through the Peace Arch Border Crossing by displaying an approved pass. Inslee’s letter also expresses openness to other suggestions from the Canadian government.
Read the full letter.
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