Rep. Greg Gilday receives three new appointments
Rep. Greg Gilday's list of duties in Olympia just became longer. The first-term legislator was recently appointed by House Speaker Laurie Jinkins to two committees and one work group.
Gilday, R-Camano, will serve as a member of the Office Of Homeless Youth and Prevention and Protection Advisory Committee. The committee leads statewide efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness for youth and young adults.
“I'm honored to be part of a team working to identify effective means of connecting homeless youth to the housing and services they need,” said Gilday. “Youth are often an invisible and under-counted population among the homeless. If these children aren't helped, they can be at risk for a host of troubles with lifelong adverse impacts—substance abuse, mental health problems, sexual exploitation, and physical abuse.”
The 10th District lawmaker will also serve on the Ruckelshaus Center Work Group on Homelessness and Housing. Authorized under House Bill 1277, the group, in coordination with the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, will examine trends and policies affecting housing and services for individuals and families at risk of homelessness, as well as develop viable solutions.
“Government alone cannot solve the problems many homeless are facing. That's what makes this appointment so meaningful,” said Gilday. “The work group includes all facets of the solutions necessary to reduce the number of people living on the streets—mental health and substance abuse counselors, housing providers, business leaders, and advocates representing the interests of the homeless, among others. We need these partnerships to find a better path forward.”
Gilday has also been appointed to the Joint Legislative Unanticipated Revenue Oversight Committee. Authorized under Senate Bill 5092, the committee will review unanticipated funding from federal and other non-state sources and review requests from the governor on proposed allotments.
“In light of the huge influx of federal money Washington state has received in recent months, this committee's work is critical,” added Gilday. “Working individuals and families don't often have extra cash lying about, ready to spend. But for now, many state and local governments do. How we spend this money matters. We need to use the extra funding to encourage investments, innovation, and employment—not increase government bureaucracy.”
