SENATE RESOLUTION

8680

BySenators Padden, Lovick, King, Short, Boehnke, Wagoner, Dozier, Warnick, Braun, Torres, L. Wilson, and Fortunato

WHEREAS, In Washington state we have no shortage of outstanding women leaders whose dedication and participation in our political process has brought us a brighter and more hopeful Washington; and

WHEREAS, Linda Smith was born in LaJunta, Colorado, in 1950 and moved with her family to White Salmon, Washington; and

WHEREAS She graduated from Fort Vancouver High School; and

WHEREAS, She and her husband owned and managed a group of tax preparation offices in southern Washington; and

WHEREAS, She was elected to the Washington state House of Representatives in a special election in 1983; and

WHEREAS, Linda was elected to the Washington State Senate in 1987 giving her party the majority in the state senate where her work included sponsoring legislation promoting children, families, the elderly, and agriculture; and

WHEREAS, In 1992 and 1993 she was a successful proponent of Washington Initiative Measure No. 601 and Washington Initiative Measure No. 134; and

WHEREAS, I-601 successfully limited state expenditures by inflation rate and population growth for years and I-134 instituted regulations and accountability for political contributions and campaign expenditures; and

WHEREAS, She was sued over I-601 and she raised the money to defend it and won at the state Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS, She was known for getting things done because she would never bargain away principles when she got behind a cause; and

WHEREAS, She was elected to the United States Congress in the general election of 1994 after perhaps the first successful congressional primary write-in campaign in United States history; and

WHEREAS, She represented Washington's 3rd Congressional District where she served for two terms leading on issues like her "Clean Up Congress Act" to implement campaign finance reform, she led a bipartisan effort to defeat the historic influence tobacco had in Congress, she ended the practice of congressional leaders passing out special interest PAC checks on the floor of Congress, pushing for a balanced budget amendment, bringing reason to the Endangered Species Act, she chaired the Small Business committee on small business taxation, relentlessly worked to lower taxes, worked to reduce regulations on small business owners, and was a leader on international human rights; and

WHEREAS, After serving in Congress, Linda started Shared Hope International, an organization that seeks to prevent child sex trafficking, restore worth and dignity to those caught in the child sex trade, and bring justice to victims and education and prevention tools to the public; and

WHEREAS, In 2001 she formed the War Against Trafficking Alliance, an organization to coordinate regional and international efforts to fight sex trafficking; and

WHEREAS, Linda is a published author on the scourge of sex trafficking; and

WHEREAS, Linda has been a tireless advocate for those with no voice, seeking prevention, justice, and restoration for families and communities affected by sex trafficking;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize and honor Linda Smith's contributions in state and federal government for advocating for children and families, and her contributions to uplift and restore individuals and families caught in the vicious cycle of sex trafficking.

I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8680,

adopted by the Senate

February 23, 2024

SARAH BANNISTER

Secretary of the Senate