Rural ambulance bill becomes law

By Sen. Mark Schoesler

OLYMPIA–Senate Bill 5198, the rural ambulance bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, passes the Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee. The bill allows ambulance-service providers to fill personnel shortages in Garfield and Farmington Counties, with ambulance drivers with no first aid or EMT training, but must be 18-years or older, pass a background check and have a clear and valid driver’s licenses.

USDA Boosts Food Assistance for Homeless Young Adults Seeking Refuge in Shelters

WASHINGTON D.C.–The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act expanded several nutrition assistance programs which now provide young adults under the age of 25 experiencing homelessness due to the pandemic, access to meals at emergency shelters participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Under normal circumstances, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) only reimburses shelters for meals served to children through age 18.

Proposals to Invest in Rural Communities, Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change, and Restore Support for American Agriculture

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the President’s priorities for fiscal year 2022 discretionary spending. The funding request invests in the core foundations of our country’s strength and advances key U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) priorities, including economic development and growth in rural America, maintaining support for American agriculture, rebuilding scientific expertise in our agencies, aiding in an all-of-government approach to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and supporting a strong safety net to address hunger and nutrition insecurity.

Inslee reverses some counties to Phase 2

OLYMPIA–Governor Jay Inslee has placed Cowlitz, Pierce, and Whitman Counties back to Phase 2 under his Healthy Washington Roadmap plan. The Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, M.D., MPH indicated even though many people have been vaccinated, an increase in cases and hospitalizations have occurred in these counties.

Funding received for four State Veterans Homes

OLYMPIA–The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) received confirmation that the agency in Orting, Port Orchard, Spokane and Walla Walla, will receive more than $13 million in funding for these four State Veterans Homes. The grant funding is provided through the CARES Act Extended Care Facilities Construction Grant.

37 New Skills you can learn on LinkedIn Learning this week

POMEROY–Access to all the LinkedIn Learning classes available for free with your library card. Bit.ly/LinkedInLearning Library