HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 4700, by Representatives Chopp, Kristiansen, Ortiz-Self, Appleton, Bergquist, Blake, Buys, Carlyle, Chandler, Christian, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, Dahlquist, DeBolt, Dunshee, Fagan, Farrell, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Freeman, Goodman, Green, Gregerson, Habib, Haigh, Haler, Hansen, Hargrove, Harris, Hawkins, Hayes, Holy, Hope, Hudgins, G. Hunt, S. Hunt, Hunter, Hurst, Jinkins, Johnson, Kagi, Kirby, Klippert, Kochmar, Kretz, Lytton, MacEwen, Magendanz, Manweller, Moeller, Morrell, Morris, Moscoso, Muri, Nealey, Orcutt, Ormsby, Orwall, Overstreet, Parker, Pettigrew, Pike, Pollet, Reykdal, Riccelli, Robinson, Rodne, Ross, Ryu, Santos, Sawyer, Schmick, Scott, Seaquist, Sells, Senn, Shea, Short, Smith, Springer, Stanford, Stonier, Sullivan, Takko, Tarleton, Taylor, Tharinger, Van De Wege, Vick, Walkinshaw, Walsh, Warnick, Wilcox, Wylie, Young, and Zeiger

     WHEREAS, Washington State Representative Mary Helen Roberts, first elected in 2004, is in her fifth term serving the best interests of families in the Twenty-First Legislative District of Southwest Snohomish County; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Roberts, for her highest priorities, has invariably established safe and strong communities, quality education, accessible health care, a clean environment, and economic vitality; and
     WHEREAS, During her eminent decade of service in the Washington State Legislature, Representative Roberts dedicated her tireless commitment to wide ranging issues involving children and human services, higher education, public safety, justice, and labor; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Mary Helen Roberts was named "2011 Legislator of the Year" by the National Alliance on Mental Illness; and
     WHEREAS, She has kept the lives of foster kids in the Olympia spotlight, recognizing that more than 10,000 youngsters on any given day are living in foster care here in the Evergreen State; and
     WHEREAS, Among her many legislative successes, Representative Roberts won support for her proposal to extend Medicaid and support services for kids in foster care up to their 21st birthdays; and
     WHEREAS, Her legislation opening doors of higher education for foster kids extends foster care for young people enrolled in a postsecondary or vocational education program; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Roberts championed legislation providing juvenile offenders a fair and justifiable opportunity for earning redemption; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Roberts has stood her ground in working toward state policy that provides mental health care for juvenile offenders, instead of sending them to jail; and
     WHEREAS, Representative Mary Helen Roberts recently announced that later this year she will not seek reelection to the Washington State House of Representatives;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives salute and celebrate Representative Mary Helen Roberts for her dedication to the people of the Twenty-First Legislative District and, indeed, to the people of the entire state of Washington; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the family of Washington State Representative Mary Helen Roberts.

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of
Resolution 4700 adopted by the House of Representatives

March 12, 2014

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Barbara Baker, Chief Clerk