Washington State Senate Democrats: Claudia Kauffman

One chapter closes, another opens

Senate Democrats — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:05:00 GMT

My passion for public service burned deep long before I assumed elected office - placed there by my parents who raised me and my siblings to fight for those who have no voice.

Though I am not returning to the Senate in 2011, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you, and I am equally proud of the work I've accomplished, especially when it comes to improving the lives of children. Their economic, social and educational well-being provided the impetus for my Senate run in 2006, and it remains my focus today.

We’ve taken steps to intervene into the lives of our troubled kids; made a commitment to ensuring children have access to health services; and raised the bar by taking deliberative, incremental steps toward building an enviable education system.

During my tenure, I fought to improve quality and expansion of early learning and help the over 3,000 eager children vying for a spot in our early learning programs. I was instrumental in passing legislation to address the achievement gap that exists among minority students, and prevent students from dropping out. I also sponsored changes to our state’s foster care system which, for decades, ignored the needs of minority children.

My fear is years of hard work will be undone by slashing funding to vital programs such as the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). Those programs reflect our state’s values, and they must be protected.

At the local level, I’m happy to have shepherded many local projects such as the Boys and Girls Club at Les Grove Park; improvements on Highway 516 and Highway 169; and planning work on Diesel Multiple Units as a transportation alternative. In addition, improvements we’ve made to the levee system on the Green River will keep the valley safer from catastrophic flooding.

I am often asked what I will do next. That’s simple: Prepare my children for their next phases in life; spend time with my husband and friends; and advocate for public policies that improve the lives of all people. I will continue to work for better schools for all our students and services for our veterans and elders.

And I’ll be monitoring the state budget process, as well.

If long-term solutions aren’t identified and acted on, such as ending tax credits and preferences which are no longer beneficial to the state’s investment, then our children’s education will bear the costs.

Moreover, just as Washington is heralded as a leader for natural disaster preparedness, our state must plan for economic tsunamis when times are good. As stewards of tax payer dollars, it is unacceptable not to plan for worst case scenarios. Failure to do so impacts families and businesses that need assistance the most; and it puts tremendous strain on middle class families. The Rainy Day Fund isn’t enough. A bipartisan commission should be established outside of Olympia to guide state lawmakers on this issue and make recommendations. Then, regular citizens, like you and me, should demand elected officials act.

It is my sincere hope that state and local leaders will come together in a spirit of cooperation to solve these economic and public policy challenges with rational strategies that keep the short and long-term view of our most critical resources - our children - in view.

It has been an honor to represent the 47^th District. Nothing I’ve accomplished in the past four years would be possible without the close ties I’ve developed with various constituencies, including educators and small business owners. Thank you for your support.

Kauffman talks state policy on nationally syndicated radio show

Senate Democrats — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Sen. Kauffman appeared on National Public Radio's Michael Eric Dyson show this week to discuss a number of public policy issues, including Washington state's education system; how and why she entered politics; and her experiences being the only Native American woman in the state legislature.

Kauffman- who taped the show in Washington, DC Wednesday, December 15 - is often asked to give speeches and comment on national issues impacting Native American communities.

Kauffman's insightful interview takes place 13 minutes into the show. Click here to listen.

Kauffman receives top honor from leading child advocacy group

Senate Democrats — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:44:49 GMT

Sen. Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent, has been named a Champion for Children by Children’s Alliance for improving educational opportunities for children in Washington. She won praise during the 2010 legislative session for sponsoring SB 6759, which takes a look at all the questions relating to what an early learning program should look like such as performance measures, transportation and teacher qualifications.

Since entering the Senate in 2006, Sen. Kauffman has sponsored and supported a number of bills to expand and improve early learning programs and improve funding. She currently serves as vice chair for early learning on the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.

Sen. Kauffman praises foster care parents; urges more Washingtonians to become involved

Senate Democrats — Mon, 03 May 2010 01:22:03 GMT

Sen. Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent, spoke to foster care parents before the Mariners game at Safeco field Sunday, calling them heroes for opening their homes and hearts to thousands of foster children in Washington.

Caregivers, foster parents and relatives were recognized as part of National Foster Care Month.

“Growing up in Seattle, I was the youngest of seven children in a three-bedroom house on Beacon Hill,” Kauffman said. “We were a struggling, working class family, but we always had room for another child whether it was a cousin, niece, nephew, new family members or a neighborhood youngster.”

Kauffman, who has been a foster parent to ten youngsters, has led efforts in the Legislature to improve the state’s foster care system.

Recent foster care legislation:

Extended health care coverage for foster youth until age 21. (HB 1201-2007)
Gave DSHS the authority to work with children aged 18 or older in foster care that are in community college or other post-secondary education programs for up to 3 years (HB 1961-2009).
Require courts to consider the wellbeing of siblings separated by adoption when planning for permanent placement (HB 1938-2009).

“The state has also improved the manner in which foster children’s school records are managed between school districts, and we have enhanced our foster care kinship care programs in Washington,” Kauffman said.

In addition, the governor recently signed Kauffman’s SB 6470 into law. The legislation is intended to better protect Indian children who are placed in the state's foster care system by aligning state law with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act regarding the burden of proof standards when taking an Indian child from their home or terminating parental rights.

“We need more people to step up to the plate and foster and adopt these wonderful children. They all deserve to be nurtured and protected in a safe, loving environment.”

Kauffman thrilled child welfare bill now law

Senate Democrats — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 22:24:00 GMT

The governor has signed a bill sponsored by Sen. Claudia Kauffman to better protect Indian children who are placed in the state's foster care system.

Senate Bill 6470 addresses the needs of Indian children by aligning state law with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act regarding the burden of proof standards when taking an Indian child from their home or terminating parental rights. Courts are prohibited from placing an Indian child in out-of-home care unless the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence including testimony of expert witnesses, that the continued custody of the child by the parent would likely result in serious emotional or physical damage.

"Indian children are overrepresented in our state’s child welfare system," Kauffman said. "This bill is a safeguard against taking children out of a home unnecessarily or breaking parental bonds prematurely. This bill will make sure courts act in their best interest."

Indian children represent just 2 percent of the Washington population but represent more than 12 percent of children in out-of-home care.

Kauffman, who represents a half dozen cities outside the Seattle area, says the next step is to invest more public dollars in services that will make families emotionally and physically healthy and decrease the need for foster care services.

Kauffman is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe and made history in 2006 when she became the first Native American woman elected to the state Senate. Since then she has been a tireless advocate for children and public education. During the 2009 regular session, she helped orchestrate the passage of several bills that would expand and improve early learning programs for children across the state. As vice chair for early learning on the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee, Kauffman has sponsored legislation to address the achievement gap and make the education system more sensitive to the needs of students of color. She recently sponsored a bill to help dropouts earn General Educational Development (GED) certificates.

Gov. Chris Gregoire signed SB 6470 into law April 1^st.

Photo: Kauffman’s weatherization bill signed into law

Senate Democrats — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:48:58 GMT

On April 1st, the governor signed SB 6468 into law. The legislation expands the low-income residential weatherization program to include structural rehabilitation assistance. In addition to helping low-income families, it is expected to create much needed jobs.

Photos: early learning & Green River flood insurance bills signed into law

Senate Democrats — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 15:29:13 GMT

Kauffman’s early learning, flood insurance bills signed into law

Senate Democrats — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:12:00 GMT

The governor has signed several bills into law that will protect Green River Valley businesses from catastrophic flood losses and improve the state's education system.

HB 2560 authorizes the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to carry out a Market Assistance Plan to help businesses find surplus flood and business interruption insurance. If it turns out that private insurers are not offering to sell the coverage our businesses need—or that a competitive market doesn’t exist in the area, then a temporary Joint Underwriting Association (JUA) can be created.

While basic flood insurance is available to homeowners and businesses from the federal government’s national flood insurance program, coverage is only offered up to $500,000 for a structure and $500,000 for contents. That’s not enough to cover a lot of the heavy machinery the businesses use. Likewise, the distributers in the Valley, which is the second largest distribution center on the West Coast, must have business interruption insurance which is not available from the federal program.

SB 6759, sponsored by Sen. Kauffman, creates a working group to develop a comprehensive plan for a voluntary early learning program. The plan would examine the pros and cons of establishing early learning as a component of basic education, either statutorily or constitutionally protected.

The working group would be convened by Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Department of Early Learning, but must be monitored and overseen by the Quality Education Council, which was created in 2009 to develop strategic recommendations for implementation of a new definition of Basic Education and the financing necessary to support it.

HB 2731 adopts a go-slow approach to establishing an early learning program for three to four year old children as an entitlement when it’s fully implemented. Under the bill, funding would be at no less than current funding for the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP). It would also fully implement early learning at the same pace as the implementation of all-day kindergarten. Beginning in 2013-14, additional funding must be phased in beginning in school districts providing all-day kindergarten. In the 2018-19 school year, any eligible child is entitled to be enrolled in the program.

SB 6696 makes the state more competitive in its application to the federal “Race to the Top” grant program. It will benefit all schools by increasing accountability, flexibility and targeted reforms in educator preparation and evaluation systems. Schools that continue to struggle will have access to a new strengthened system of support. This was a well worked bill that included teachers, administrators, the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

SB 6403, also sponsored by Sen. Kauffman, strives to tackle the dropout problem by allowing school districts to enter into agreements with educational service districts, community or technical colleges and other public entities to provide services to former students such as GED preparation, counseling and instruction. OSPI must develop local government models for districts to use.

Kauffman attended the bill signings today in Auburn.

Green River Valley flood bill, education legislation signed into law Monday in Auburn

Senate Democrats — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:46:00 GMT

Sen. Claudia Kauffman, D-Kent, will attend the bill signings of several important pieces of legislation Monday in Auburn, including a bill to protect Green River Valley businesses from catastrophic flood losses.

HB 2560 authorizes the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to carry out a Market Assistance Plan to help businesses find surplus flood and business interruption insurance. If it turns out that private insurers are not offering to sell the coverage our businesses need -- or that a competitive market doesn't exist in the area, then a temporary Joint Underwriting Association (JUA) can be created.

Kauffman’s small biz relief bills signed into law

Senate Democrats — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:27:49 GMT

Two bills to help local small businesses recover from the economic downturn and expand were signed into law today by the governor.

Sen. Kauffman, right, is joined by, from left, her legislative assistant, Olgy Diaz, senior legislative assistant and top aide, Jeremy Oslund, and Jack Brummel, Senate Committee Services.

SB 6679 authorizes the Small Business Export Finance Assistance Center to make loans or provide loan guarantees to finance export activities for Washington businesses with $200 million or less in annual sales.

“Finding adequate financing has been extremely difficult for some businesses even though there is a market for the types of products they sell,” Kauffman said. “This legislation will help improve their access to capital. These small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they need help.”

The Small Business Export Finance Assistance Center provides export finance counseling assistance to small- and medium-sized exporters or prospective Washington-based exporters. The group works closely with both federal and state partners.

The second bill Kauffman, SB 6667, creates an entrepreneurial development and small business reference service in the Department of Commerce to establish and maintain an inventory of training and technical assistance services, programs, and resources available in the state. The end goal is to get everyone in the small business community on the same page with a short and long term focus on business stability, innovation and entrepreneurship.