What actions would you take as a state legislator to protect and strengthen Washington’s food security safety net, including both public nutrition programs and the food banks and food pantries serving communities across the state?

Trump’s unconscionable cuts to SNAP benefits have worsened a long-standing issue of food insecurity in our county. I was proud to support HB 2238, a Food Lifeline-supported law which directs the Washington State Department of Agriculture to take a number of steps to allow the state to more actively combat food insecurity. It’s a start, but Washington can become an example to the nation on making food accessible to all. That approach should start with schools, where we need to provide healthier food to more kids year-round, but needs to also include working-age adults and seniors. Washington also needs to partner with non-profit organizations to better coordinate our efforts and make sure the State does not get in the way of their work. That includes making sure sales taxes don’t raise costs on food banks, as proposed in SB 6006, another bill supported by Food Lifeline.

What have you done to understand food insecurity in the communities you seek to represent—including engaging with people experiencing hunger or local hunger-relief organizations—and what policies would you prioritize to address the root causes of hunger and ensure Washington residents can afford and access the food they need?

I’m laser-focused on improving overall affordability in Washington. I’ve especially been a leader throughout my career on housing affordability, which is one of the biggest lines in most families’ budgets, and is one of the issues we can do the most work on at the local level.The Urbanist called me “One of the most effective affordable housing advocates in the state”, because of my leadership in passing policies that allow new housing developments like those near the light rail stations in Shoreline. Because of my work on the issue, Senate Democratic leadership has tasked me with spearheading housing legislation in the State Legislature. As chair of the Local Government committee, I also work to rapidly advance legislation that addresses the housing shortage in this state. I have worked extensively to expand the supply of housing, including rental units, condominiums, cottage housing, and smaller “starter” homes that have long been missing from the market. In particular, I am proud to have written and passed Washington Senate Bills 5818 and 5412, which cut red tape and made it easier to build new housing, among many other bills. I also supported HB 1217, landmark legislation to limit excessive rent increases, helping renters stay in their homes and providing greater stability for families across Washington. Many Washingtonians who are food insecure are also housing insecure, so reducing housing costs directly improves food access. While many of the pressures impacting prices right now are due to the current administration’s failed policies and illegal war on Iran (alongside deeper, systemic issues), we need to work in Olympia to alleviate what we can at the local level. Affordability is a deeply multifaceted and interlinked issue, and anything we can do to improve affordability in one sector will reduce the pressure on families’ budgets overall. I also support strong investments into Washington’s education system, to fulfill our constitutional duty of elevating education as the paramount priority of our state, to set up our children for economic success.

What policies or investments would you support to strengthen Washington’s food system, increase access to locally produced food, support Washington farmers and producers, and reduce food waste?

I’ve been delighted to support funding generated from the Climate Commitment Act that helps distribute Washington-grown produce and supports community food hubs. I also voted for a $10m expenditure to cover costs for local food pantries and food bank distribution centers in the Capital Budget. All those actions were supported by the Food Lifeline. The state needs to take a more active role in facilitating coordination between non-governmental, state, local, and federal efforts to address food insecurity to ensure no food is going to waste. Washington’s vibrant agricultural industry can and should be brought into the process to bring locally grown produce, including goods that would otherwise simply turn into food waste, to strengthen its role in addressing hunger.