SENATE RESOLUTION
8640
By Senators Pedersen, Braun, Riccelli, Dhingra, Shewmake, Conway, Salomon, Chapman, Alvarado, Orwall, Lovick, Slatter, Valdez, Hasegawa, Wellman, Bateman, Frame, Trudeau, Cortes, Saldaña, Robinson, Stanford, Liias, Krishnadasan, Hansen, Ramos, Kauffman, C. Wilson, Nobles, Cleveland, Lovelett, King, Warnick, Short, Goehner, Wagoner, Holy, Gildon, Torres, Dozier, Muzzall, MacEwen, J. Wilson, Harris, Boehnke, Fortunato, Christian, and McCune
WHEREAS, Karen Lynn Keiser was appointed to the Washington State House of Representatives in 1995; ran and won her first election in 1996; was appointed to the Washington State Senate in 2001; and was reelected six times; and
WHEREAS, For nearly 30 years, Senator Keiser represented the 33rd legislative district, a diverse area that includes the cities of SeaTac, Des Moines, Normandy Park, and parts of Burien and Kent; and
WHEREAS, Senator Keiser was elected by the Senate to the position President Pro Tempore on January 8, 2018, and presided over the Senate with grace when called upon to do so; and
WHEREAS, While serving on the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee, Senator Keiser was a pivotal leader in reforming Washington's health care system; and
WHEREAS, Senator Keiser sponsored the legislation establishing the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, which has since provided more than 1,900,000 Washingtonians with health care coverage; and
WHEREAS, Senator Keiser was instrumental in the passage of the Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which has since allowed over 600,000 Washington workers to bond with newborn babies, care for ailing relatives, or take time off for their own medical conditions; and
WHEREAS, Senator Keiser sponsored the legislation establishing the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, with the goal of monitoring and mitigating unsupported price increases of prescription drugs for Washingtonians; and
WHEREAS, Senator Keiser fought for years to lower the price of insulin for Washingtonians, culminating in her successful establishment of a permanent out-of-pocket price cap of $35 for a 30-day supply; and
WHEREAS, Serving as the chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, Senator Keiser championed policies that helped working families, improved women's economic security, and reduced workplace sexual harassment; and