SENATE RESOLUTION
8704
By Senators Pedersen, Braun, Stanford, Riccelli, Hunt, J. Wilson, Hasegawa, Cortes, Liias, McCune, Holy, Short, Orwall, Gildon, Frame, Kauffman, Boehnke, Valdez, Christian, Muzzall, Goehner, Warnick, King, Torres, Dozier, Harris, Bateman, Hansen, Chapman, Krishnadasan, Trudeau, C. Wilson, Cleveland, Slatter, Nobles, Conway, Dhingra, Fortunato, Salomon, Alvarado, MacEwen, Robinson, Lovelett, Wagoner, Lovick, Shewmake, and Wellman
WHEREAS, Rebecca Jae Saldaña was appointed to the Washington state Senate in 2016, won a special election in 2017, and was subsequently reelected twice; and
WHEREAS, Senator Saldaña represents the 37th Legislative District, a vibrant and diverse community including parts of South Seattle, Renton, Madrona, the Central District, Leschi, Beacon Hill, Columbia City, Rainier Valley, and Bryn Mawr-Skyway; and
WHEREAS, Senator Saldaña has demonstrated tireless dedication to advocating for frontline communities disproportionately affected by environmental and social injustices; and
WHEREAS, Senator Saldaña has become a leading voice for workers, immigrants, women, and communities of color, ensuring policymaking reflects the lived experiences of those most affected; and
WHEREAS, Senator Saldaña serves as chair of the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, and has used this role to stand up for workers throughout Washington state, strengthen economic fairness, and create opportunity for working families; and
WHEREAS, Senator Saldaña has been an active member of the Senate Members of Color Caucus and the Latino Democratic Caucus, helping ensure that equity and accountability remain central to legislative processes; and
WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Senator Saldaña has sponsored and championed landmark legislation transforming the lives of Washington residents, including the Washington Voting Rights Act, which expanded democratic access and representation for historically marginalized communities; and
WHEREAS, Senator Saldaña was the prime sponsor of the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act, the first statewide law addressing disproportionate environmental hazards faced by Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, establishing environmental justice as a guiding principle across state government; and
WHEREAS, Senator Saldaña championed the Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, guaranteeing minimum wage, overtime, rest breaks, written contracts, and antidiscrimination and antiretaliation protections for domestic workers long excluded from basic labor protections; and