HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2018-4692, by Representatives Chopp, Kristiansen, Appleton, Barkis, Bergquist, Blake, Buys, Caldier, Chandler, Chapman, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, DeBolt, Dent, Doglio, Dolan, Dye, Eslick, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Frame, Goodman, Graves, Gregerson, Griffey, Haler, Hansen, Hargrove, Harmsworth, Harris, Hayes, Holy, Hudgins, Irwin, Jenkin, Jinkins, Johnson, Kilduff, Kirby, Klippert, Kloba, Kraft, Kretz, Lovick, Lytton, MacEwen, Macri, Manweller, Maycumber, McBride, McCabe, McCaslin, McDonald, Morris, Muri, Nealey, Orcutt, Ormsby, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Pellicciotti, Peterson, Pettigrew, Pike, Pollet, Reeves, Riccelli, Robinson, Rodne, Ryu, Santos, Sawyer, Schmick, Sells, Senn, Shea, Slatter, Smith, Springer, Stambaugh, Stanford, Steele, Stokesbary, Stonier, Sullivan, Tarleton, Taylor, Tharinger, Valdez, Van Werven, Vick, Volz, Walsh, Wilcox, Wylie, and Young

WHEREAS, Representative Ruth Kagi served in the House of Representatives for twenty sessions with poise and an unwavering focus on helping people; and

WHEREAS, She has a long history of community and public service that includes serving for 20 legislative sessions in the House of Representatives and formerly as Chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures Human Services Committee, the Vice President of the League of Women Voters of Washington, and the Vice Chair of the Thrive Washington board of directors; and

WHEREAS, Representative Ruth Kagi worked tirelessly to champion the cause of supporting children and families including helping foster children, improving the child welfare system, reforming drug sentencing laws, and strengthening early learning and child care; and

WHEREAS, She spearheaded the creation of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, which united programs and services that had been scattered among other state agencies. She advocated for the Early Start Act of 2015, which expanded high quality early learning to thousands of Washington children; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Frank Chopp praised Representative Ruth Kagi's legacy of advocating for children and families by saying,"Ruth is the conscience of our caucus when it comes to children and families"; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Chopp also said, "With her leadership, the Legislature changed the way the state views early learning challenges, transforming the way we address these issues from separate components to a holistic approach";

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives celebrate and commemorate Representative Ruth Kagi's dedicated service to Washington state and for representing the people of the 32nd Legislative District with focus and grace; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Representative Ruth Kagi and her family.