Read first time 01/27/2004.   Referred to Committee on Children & Family Services.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Tens of thousands of Washington State residents have a need to access a variety of human and social service needs each day, ranging from appropriate child care to affordable housing, support for a homebound parent to food or crisis counseling for teen parents; and
     WHEREAS, Thousands of different local, regional, and statewide organizations in Washington State, both public and private, provide services that respond to these needs; and
     WHEREAS, It is often extremely difficult and time consuming for residents to identify and access available services; and
     WHEREAS, The process of connecting those living and working in Washington State with needed services can be simplified by the establishment of a 211 telephone dialing option; and
     WHEREAS, The local, regional, and statewide providers of human and social services would benefit from the more accurate and timely information about needs and resources around the state that is connected by 211 services; and
     WHEREAS, Seventy million Americans (23% of the United States population) have access to 211 service in 83 communities nationwide; and
     WHEREAS, Washington Information Network 211 seeks to create a statewide 211 system using existing information and referral providers; and
     WHEREAS, In 2003 the Washington State Legislature overwhelmingly supported and passed an act supporting 211 development and implementation for the residents of our state; and
     WHEREAS, 211 service will soon be available in Clark County and King County, providing 211 access to over 2,000,000 people in Washington State; and
     WHEREAS, 4,000,000 residents in rural and economically depressed areas of Washington State will not have access to 211 service until such time that sustainable public funding is secured; and
     WHEREAS, Philanthropic contributions already support the majority of costs associated with 211 development for Washington State; and
     WHEREAS, Congress recognizes the value and broad public benefits of 211 through the inclusion of 211 service in the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002; and
     WHEREAS, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Maria Cantwell, Representative Jay Inslee, Representative Jim McDermott, and Representative Rick Larsen from our fair state of Washington are cosponsors of Senate Bill 1630 and House Resolution 3111;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress immediately pass the Calling for 211 Act, HR3111 and SB1630.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.