The following is a statement from Washington House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) on the new membership makeup in the state Senate.

House Democrats look forward to working with new Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson and Governor Inslee on our shared priorities. Washington’s seven million residents deserve a government that works efficiently and effectively for every family. Democrats are ready to get to work.

Democrats will work to ensure all kids have access to high-quality early learning, public schools, and higher education opportunities. We will make sure the Legislature is investing in strong communities – urban areas and rural communities in every corner of the state. Democrats will fight to ensure all kids to have health care coverage, which is in real jeopardy right now because the Republican Congress has allowed the Children’s Health Insurance Program expire. We still have work to do to improve our state’s mental health system and combat the opioid epidemic. And we need to address the growing housing crisis and homelessness issues impacting many communities in Washington.

We look forward to addressing these and many other issues in the upcoming legislative session.

Congratulations to Manka Dhingra on becoming the newest member of the Senate. I look forward to working with Sen.-elect Dhingra and other lawmakers on building a Washington that works for everyone.

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