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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Summer’s Here — But the Work Continues
Between community events and interim meetings, I’ve been tapped for new leadership roles, taken on fights the state should have handled, and kept pushing for accountability in Olympia. Here’s the latest.
Standing Up for Babies Born Addicted to Drugs
The Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) in Kent — a national model for caring for newborns addicted to meth, heroin, and fentanyl — is being forced to turn babies away. Why? Because Democrat budget writers slashed funding and the governor vetoed the rest. Then, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families pulled PICC’s contract, shutting the door on these kids.
PICC had enough donations to stay open another year while we fought for a long-term fix — but the state wouldn’t allow it. That’s outrageous. I’m working with Republicans and Democrats to restore funding and get the contract reinstated so these babies aren’t abandoned by the system.
New Roles, Bigger Impact
This summer, I was appointed to three major state boards and committees that affect public health, justice, and education:
• Public Health Advisory Board — Overseeing our state’s public health performance, emergency readiness, and improvement strategies. My decades in medicine mean I bring a real-world perspective to these conversations.
• Civil Legal Aid Oversight Committee — Making sure state dollars for civil legal aid are spent wisely to help low-income Washingtonians get fair access to justice.
• Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight Committee — Working to make sure every K-12 student has the same shot at success, no matter where they live.
Town Hall in Roy Next Month
We’ll talk about these issues, what’s ahead, and — most importantly — your priorities. Final date, time, and location coming soon in my next update, or check my legislative website for details.
I’m here to fight for you year-round. If you’ve got concerns, ideas, or frustrations with how the state’s doing things please let me know. My office is always open.
Sincerely,
Matt Marshall
