Your voice is more essential than ever
This story was published in the Winter 2021 issue of The Washington Nurse magazine.
This story appears in WSNA’s priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session.
The legislative session may look different this year, but one thing will remain the same: Your voice is essential to the process! Nurses are the most trusted profession, and your voice carries much credibility and weight with lawmakers. It is important that your legislators hear from you about your experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your voice is crucial as legislators make difficult decisions about where to spend and where to cut government funding.
This year, nurses have faced extreme challenges — from lack of sufficient PPE and long delays for COVID-19 test results to the upending of your personal lives with remote school, closed child care and the fear of bringing COVID-19 home to family members. It is more crucial than ever that legislators know your stories.
Legislators will be deciding on critical issues relating to the nursing profession, such as hospital transparency, worker protection, public health funding and school nursing funding. We need you to share your stories. Lawmakers listen — and they want to help find solutions.
Three tools to help you advocate during this legislative session #
WSNA Action Alerts #
Watch for email alerts asking you to act on WSNA’s legislative priorities. We only send these alerts when it is critical for lawmakers to hear from nurses at key moments during session — to move a bill out of committee or to encourage a floor vote. Please click on the “Take Action” button in these emails!
You can also sign up to receive action alerts via text message. Look for this option when you click through to the “Take Action” link in our action alert emails.
Legislative Hotline #
Call your legislators using the toll-free Legislative Hotline: 1 – 800-562‑6000. You will connect with an operator who can determine your legislative district (using your home address) and connect you directly to your legislators’ offices. Your lawmaker’s legislative assistant will answer the phone and can ensure your legislator is briefed on your concerns.
Attend WSNA Lobby Day (online event) #
Meet with your legislators during WSNA Lobby Day on Feb. 4, 2021. This event is free and will provide you with the training and tools you need to effectively advocate during small-group Zoom meetings with your lawmakers in the afternoon. This year’s Lobby Day will be online, allowing you to meet with your legislators while wearing pajama pants (we recommend wearing a nice top)!
Register to attend WSNA Lobby Day at wsna.org. Legislators value seeing you during session (even if it is on their computer screen!), and it’s a good reminder why they should support our priority issues.
Which legislative district do I live in? #
Use your smartphone to look up your legislative district in two easy steps.
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Both your legislative district and congressional district will be displayed with links to your elected officials’ contact information.
- Visit https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder.
- Enter your home address.
