Committees
- Environment (Chair)
- Early Learning & K-12 Education
- Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections
Olympia Office
218 Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0434
(360) 786-7667
Local Governments
News
Put kids ahead of profits 5/10/2012
Sen. Nelson wrote the following opinion column for the Seattle Times:
For the last two days of the most recent legislative session, a bill that would have protected Washington's children from a pair of toxic chemicals sat and waited for a final vote in the state Senate.
Sen. Nelson calls for ban on toxic chemicals in children’s products before end of session 4/9/2012
The Legislature's special session has less than 48 hours remaining, and Monday Sen. Nelson urged her colleagues to pass the Toxics-Free Kids Act:
"This has been a very difficult year in the Capitol, but we can seize an opportunity to do something positive. The Senate has the ability to step up now to protect the health and safety of children across our state," said Nelson. "There's no reason not to act."
Hungry children can’t learn 3/15/2012
Sen. Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, released the following statement on a new proposed budget from Senate Republicans:
"Clearly the Republicans have realized the budget plan they voted for just a week ago hurt our children and students by cutting K-12 and higher education. Today they announced they are willing to correct that mistake. That's the right choice, but the Republican budget fails to acknowledge that hungry children can't learn. Their proposal eliminates the state Food Assistance program and will leave children at risk of coming to school hungry.
Sen. Nelson's statement on special session 3/9/2012
Sen. Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, released the following statement on the need for a special legislative session:
"When the Republicans passed their budget just before 1 a.m. last Saturday morning, March 2, they were knowingly forcing the Legislature into a special session that will cost the people of the state of Washington both money and time.
Nelson: put education ahead of prizes at the fair 3/5/2012
Faced with a surprise budget that cut education, Sen. Nelson responded with a proposal prioritizing Readiness to Learn over funding prizes at county fairs. Readiness to Learn supports mostly younger students who are significantly at-risk of eventually dropping out by combining school and community-based resources, helping ensure they are able to attend school, ready to learn. More than 6,000 kids made intense use of the program last year as an early intervention program.
“Let this state move forward” 3/3/2012
Sen. Sharon Nelson took to the floor in the early hours of the morning Saturday to speak against a Republican budget never presented to the public that would cut millions from support of education and safety net services.
Challenges ahead for environmental protection 2/20/2012
Children's Safe Products Act passes Senate 2/13/2012
The Children's Safe Products Act, which would ban specific toxic chemicals in childrens' products, has passed the Senate ahead of an important deadline.
"Washington is moving forward in protecting our littlest ones from chemicals we know are dangerous to their health, and that's important," said Sen. Nelson.
Toxics-Free Act advances 1/25/2012
Why taking on toxics matters 1/19/2012
This week, we heard the Toxics-Free Kid's Act, SB 6120, in the Senate Environment Committee. As high a priority this is for me personally, and for the state Environmental Priorities Coalition, a mother and small business owner made the case better than I could in our hearing: