The 2018 legislative session began Monday, January 8 and our team has been kicking into full gear in Olympia. Here are highlights from our first week:
Regents and Trustees Day
Starting day two of session, over 40 Regents and Trustees representing two- and four-year public institutions across the state of Washington partnered together to meet with Governor Inslee and 30 legislators from the Senate and House. With seven of our Regents representing the University, Regents and Trustees advocated on key issues such as continued investment in the State Need Grant (SNG), and state financial support for public higher education.
Stop the Bleed
On January 10, a consortium of surgeons and trauma specialists from Harborview Medical Center, UW Medicine, and additional hospital care providers facilitated a “Stop the Bleed” training on the capitol campus to raise awareness of how to prevent loss of life in situations where significant blood loss occurs among individuals. Participating healthcare organizations plan to make a donation of several “bleeding control kits” to be placed around the capital campus in order to further education and awareness about the national “Stop the Bleed” campaign.
Legislative Testimony Highlights
Joe Dacca, Director of State Relations, testified on the University’s legislative agendas in both the Senate Ways and Means committee and House Appropriations committee. To review our legislative priorities, check out our previous blog post here.
Jillian Kilby, Associate Director of State Relations, testified in the House Higher Education Committee support of HB 2386 to provide room and board for college bound students who are homeless.
Faculty Presentations
On January 9, Dr. Amy Snover, Assistant Dean for Applied Research in the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, was invited to brief the Senate Energy, Environment & Technology committee on the impacts of climate change across Washington state. To watch Dr. Snover’s presentation, click here.
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