ByRepresentatives Pettigrew, Harris, Appleton, Barkis, Bergquist, Blake, Boehnke, Caldier, Callan, Chambers, Chandler, Chapman, Cody, Corry, Davis, DeBolt, Dent, Doglio, Dolan, Dufault, Dye, Entenman, Eslick, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Gildon, Goehner, Goodman, Graham, Gregerson, Griffey, Hansen, Hoff, Hudgins, Irwin, Jenkin, Jinkins, Kilduff, Kirby, Klippert, Kloba, Kraft, Kretz, Leavitt, Lekanoff, Lovick, MacEwen, Macri, Maycumber, McCaslin, Mead, Morgan, Morris, Mosbrucker, Orcutt, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Paul, Pellicciotti, Peterson, Pollet, Ramos, Reeves, Riccelli, Robinson, Rude, Ryu, Santos, Schmick, Sells, Senn, Shea, Shewmake, Slatter, Smith, Springer, Stanford, Steele, Stokesbary, Stonier, Sullivan, Sutherland, Tarleton, Thai, Tharinger, Valdez, Van Werven, Vick, Volz, Walen, Walsh, Wilcox, Wylie, Ybarra, and Young

WHEREAS, Speaker Chopp's father, an electrician in the Bremerton Navy Ship Yards, and his mother, a school cafeteria worker, taught their children the values of hard work, compassion, equality, and activism; and

WHEREAS, Even as a student at East Bremerton High School, Frank lived the values he learned at home, leading a protest against a local fraternal organization that would not allow people of color as members; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from the University of Washington, Frank honed his passion for public service by working as a community organizer on a variety of issues, ranging from feeding and housing the less fortunate, to low-income transportation services and job creation programs; and

WHEREAS, Frank has been involved with a number of groups, service agencies, and programs including the Coalition for Survival Services, King County Housing Opportunity Fund, Cascade Shelter Project, the Food Resources Network, the Workers Center, Lettuce Link, Community Voice Mail, the Sand Point Community Housing Association, PortJOBS, the Committee for Economic Opportunity, and the Low Income Housing Institute, to name just a few; and

WHEREAS, In 1994, Frank's dedication to public service resulted in his running for and being elected as state Representative from the 43rd Legislative District in Seattle; and

WHEREAS, He quickly rose to leadership, serving as House Minority Leader from 1997-1998, and as Co-Speaker from 1999-2001 when the House was split evenly among Democrats and Republicans; and

WHEREAS, Frank has served as Speaker for 20 years, the longest serving Speaker in the history of the State of Washington, and the second longest-serving state House Speaker in the nation at the time he stepped aside from the position; and

WHEREAS, With the love and support of his wife Nancy, and children Narayan and Ellie, Frank has created, initiated, or presided over an astounding list of accomplishments; and

WHEREAS, A small sample of Frank's legacy includes: The State Housing Trust Fund; an increased minimum wage; paid family and medical leave; the Marriage Equality Act; the Dream Act; the Voting Rights Act; the Long-term Care Trust Act; the Education Legacy Fund; the College Bound Scholarship Program; and Apple Health for All Kids, among many others, not to mention his staunch defense of the programs that make up the state's social safety net; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Frank Chopp's tireless work on behalf of the people of Washington, especially those in need of compassion, opportunity, and a helping hand, has benefited many millions of Washingtonians, and will benefit many millions more in the generations to come;