Tag Archives: News Releases

Inslee signs Boehnke workforce bill aimed at creating jobs, as well as education and training opportunities, in retail industry

A bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Boehnke seeking to create jobs and increase education and training opportunities in the retail industry has been signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee.

House Bill 2019 will require the state’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to work with statewide retail employer organizations to identify existing gaps and engage with stakeholders to make recommendations on:

Strategies to develop additional courses, pathways, and apprenticeships to make retail certifications and credentials available for job seekers and current retail employees;
Strategies to build a network for students and job seekers who complete retail certification courses to connect with potential employers;
Options for engaging and partnering with retail employers to provide courses to incumbent frontline workers for the purpose of upskilling and promotions, including in-demand, higher paid, non-industry specific positions within the retail industry; and
Options for increasing training and job opportunities in the retail industry for underserved communities and previously incarcerated individuals.

The bill received backing from business and labor groups alike, as well as overwhelming bipartisan support in the House (approved 94-2) and Senate (approved 49-0). Boehnke, the ranking Republican on the House Community and Economic Development Committee, says his bill is designed to grow Washington’s workforce and strengthen the retail industry, which accounts for 42 percent of the state’s revenue and is responsible for nearly 400,000 jobs.

“As we continue to try to grow our way out of the pandemic, our focus must be on innovation and fostering an economic environment that’s favorable for business and job growth,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “House Bill 2019 is designed to develop additional pathways for Washingtonians to find jobs in the retail industry, while also ensuring the necessary education and training is available to help them succeed and achieve greater upward mobility. This bill is a product of strong collaboration between Republicans and Democrats, business and labor, employers and employees, and so many others who care about Washington’s workforce and the future of retail in our state. I am grateful for the overwhelming support it received from my fellow lawmakers, and want to thank the governor for signing it into law.”

House Bill 2019 will take effect on June 9.

8th District lawmakers to host in-person town hall meeting in Richland on March 29

Eighth District lawmakers Rep. Brad Klippert and Rep. Matt Boehnke will host an in-person town hall meeting on Tuesday, March 29, at The Arc of Tri-Cities.

During the meeting, the legislators will provide a recap of the 2022 legislative session and take questions from attendees.

Details are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Time: 7-8 p.m.
Location: The Arc of Tri-Cities
Address: 1455 SE Fowler St., Richland

Constituents seeking more information may contact the legislators’ offices:

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick
Email: Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7882

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick
Email: Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7986

Boehnke ransomware protection bill unanimously approved by House

Last year, Washington businesses, agencies and other entities experienced more ransomware attacks than ever before. According to the Attorney General’s 2021 Data Breach Report, which was released in November, ransomware attacks accounted for 61% of all cyberattacks (150 of 245) and more than half of all data breaches (150 of 280).

Ransomware is a unique type of malware (malicious software developed by cybercriminals) that holds data hostage
in hopes of receiving a ransom payment from the breached entity. It’s a problem Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, is seeking to address through House Bill 2044. The bill, which was unanimously approved by the state House on Friday, would do the following:

Require the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to design, develop, and implement enterprise technology standards for malware and ransomware protection, backup, and recovery.
Require the OCIO to establish a ransomware education and outreach program to educate employees of public agencies on the prevention, response, and remediation of ransomware.
Require certain state agencies to perform an assessment of their applications and resources containing data and provide the OCIO with a confidential list of prioritized applications based on mission criticality and impact to constituents in the event of system failure or data loss.
Require various reporting by the OCIO on information relating to mission critical applications, business essential applications, the status of immutable backups for each application, and the breadth of threat landscape.

Boehnke, who serves as the director and lead professor of the cybersecurity division at Columbia Basin College, says House Bill 2044 would meet an urgent need following last year’s startling increase in ransomware attacks.

“Ransomware is a growing threat that is wreaking havoc on individuals, businesses and agencies in Washington state,” said Boehnke. “Last year, we saw more ransomware attacks against our citizens than we had seen in the five previous years combined. This is a crisis that requires immediate action and effective solutions. We must do a better job thwarting cybercriminals and safeguarding Washingtonians’ personal data. House Bill 2044 represents a positive step forward for our state, and I’m glad it received unanimous approval by the House tonight.”

House Bill 2044 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

House approves Boehnke workforce bill aimed at creating education and training opportunities in retail

With a 94-2 vote on Wednesday, the Washington State House of Representatives approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Boehnke that seeks to increase education and training opportunities in the retail industry.

House Bill 2019 would require the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to work with statewide retail employer organizations to identify existing gaps and then engage with stakeholders to make recommendations on:

Strategies to develop additional courses, pathways, and apprenticeships to make retail certifications and credentials available for job seekers and current retail employees;
Strategies to build a network for students and job seekers who complete retail certification courses to connect with potential employers;
Options for engaging and partnering with retail employers to provide courses to incumbent frontline workers for the purpose of upskilling and promotions, including in-demand, higher paid, non-industry specific positions within the retail industry; and
Options for increasing training and job opportunities in the retail industry for underserved communities and previously incarcerated individuals.

The bill has received backing from business and labor groups alike. Boehnke, the ranking Republican on the House Community and Economic Development Committee, says it’s designed to grow Washington’s workforce and strengthen the retail industry, which accounts for 42 percent of the state’s revenue and is its third largest employer.

“House Bill 2019 is a product of collaboration between Republicans and Democrats, business and labor, employers and employees, and so many others who care about Washington’s workforce and the future of our retail industry,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “As we continue navigating an ever-changing landscape due to the pandemic, our focus must be on creating an economic environment that’s favorable for business and job growth. House Bill 2019 would help us develop additional pathways for Washingtonians to find jobs in retail, while also developing the education and training necessary for employees to succeed and achieve greater upward mobility. I am grateful for the overwhelming support the bill has received, and look forward to seeing it continue advancing through the Legislature.”

House Bill 2019 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

8th District lawmakers to provide session update during Jan. 31 virtual town hall meeting

Eighth District lawmakers Sen. Sharon Brown, Rep. Brad Klippert and Rep. Matt Boehnke will host a virtual town hall meeting Monday, January 31, from 6-7:30 p.m.

During the 90-minute event, the lawmakers will provide an update on the 2022 legislative session and take questions from attendees. Those who would like to participate must pre-register in advance.

The remote town hall event will be conducted using the Zoom platform. Constituents seeking more information may contact the legislators’ offices:

Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick
Email: Sharon.Brown@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7614

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick
Email: Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7882

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick
Email: Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7986

Hearing set for Boehnke bill that would help state meet greenhouse gas reduction goals through technological innovation and incentives

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has introduced a bill that seeks to help Washington state achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions future through technological innovation and research and development tax credits.

Washington emits about 100 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. While the state has some low-carbon solutions to address these emissions, many are not yet cost competitive. As a result, Boehnke says new solutions are needed.

House Bill 1864, also known as the Advanced Technology Leadership and Security Act, would establish a strategic fund for the recruitment and retention of the most talented academics across Washington in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The bill would also provide a business and occupation tax credit for research and development across the clean technology sector.

“If we’re going to reach our greenhouse gas reduction goals and achieve net-zero climate pollution by 2050, we’re going to need to speed up the innovation cycle,” said Boehnke. “Starting businesses, launching strategic initiatives, and taking risks all require a strong business climate that encourages innovation and development. My bill seeks to position Washington state as a leader in the clean technology sector, not through mandates, but incentives. My goal is to bring the best research talent to our state, keep that talent here, and help train up the next generation of innovators, all while cutting taxes for small businesses so they can create the technology and jobs of the future.”

Boehnke’s bill is scheduled to receive a hearing Thursday morning in the House Finance Committee.

8th District lawmakers to host virtual town hall meeting Monday, May 24

Eighth District lawmakers Sen. Sharon Brown, Rep. Brad Klippert and Rep. Matt Boehnke will host a virtual town hall meeting Monday, May 24 from 6-7:30 p.m. It will be the lawmakers’ second virtual town hall of the year.

During the 90-minute event, Brown, Klippert and Boehnke will provide a recap of the 2021 legislative session and take questions from attendees. Those who would like to participate must pre-register in advance.

Details are as follows:

Date: Monday, May 24, 2021
Time: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual

The remote town hall event will be conducted using the Zoom platform. The conference can only accommodate the first 500 attendees, so participants are encouraged to register early.

Constituents seeking more information may contact the legislators’ offices:

Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick
Email: Sharon.Brown@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7614

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick
Email: Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7882

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick
Email: Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7986

Manufacturing jobs bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Boehnke signed into law

A bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Boehnke that seeks to double the number of manufacturing jobs in Washington by 2031 has been signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee.

House Bill 1170, the Building Economic Strength Through Manufacturing (BEST) Act, will provide a framework for the state to add 300,000 new manufacturing jobs and double the number of small manufacturing firms and the number of women- and minority-owned manufacturing firms over the next 10 years.

Boehnke, who serves as the ranking Republican on the House Community and Economic Development Committee, says he’s optimistic the bill’s goals can be achieved.

“Washington’s manufacturing sector has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The goal of House Bill 1170 is to restore it by providing a pathway to double the number of manufacturing jobs in our state over the next 10 years,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “With the Department of Commerce leading this effort and business, unions, and the building trades working in solidarity, I truly believe we can hit our jobs target and position our state as a manufacturing powerhouse for decades to come.”

Under the bill, the state Department of Commerce will be tasked with:

Preparing a biennial report to the Legislature on the state of the manufacturing and research and development industry and workforce in Washington.
Convening a manufacturing council to advise and consult on the development of the report and recommendations.
Granting funding for initiatives that accelerate the development of regional clusters in manufacturing and research and development.
Appointing a workforce innovation lead to coordinate needs identified by the manufacturing, clean technology, and aerospace sector leads.

House Bill 1170, which has 23 Republican and Democrat cosponsors, received unanimous approval in both the House and Senate. It will go into effect July 25.

8th District lawmakers to host virtual town hall meeting on March 20

Eighth District lawmakers Sen. Sharon Brown, Rep. Brad Klippert, and Rep. Matt Boehnke will host a virtual town hall meeting on Saturday, March 20.

During this 90-minute virtual event, the legislators will provide an update on the 2021 legislative session and take questions from attendees.

Details are as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 20, 2021
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual

The remote town hall event will be conducted using the Zoom platform. Those who would like to participate must pre-register in advance for the conference by visiting RepresentativeBradKlippert.com or RepresentativeMattBoehnke.com. Both website homepages have a drop-down that links to the registration for the virtual town hall meeting.

The conference can only accommodate the first 500 attendees, so participants should register early. You may also submit questions early via the registration page.

Constituents seeking more information may contact the legislators’ offices:

Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick
Email: Sharon.Brown@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7614

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick
Email: Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7882

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick
Email: Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7986

Boehnke bill would prohibit state agencies from selling Washingtonians’ personal data

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has introduced a bill to prevent state agencies from profiting from the sale of Washingtonians’ personal data.

Under House Bill 1552, all state agencies would be prohibited from selling such data to third-party vendors, and would also be required to certify compliance with the state Office of Privacy and Data Protection on an annual basis. Furthermore, the bill would compel agencies to be more transparent with Washingtonians by disclosing the categories of personal data being collected, the data being shared with third parties, and the purposes for which the data is being shared.

Boehnke, who serves as the director and lead professor of the cybersecurity division at Columbia Basin College, says it’s time for the state to end a practice that violates its obligation to respect and protect Washingtonians’ personal property.

“Washington state should not be in the business of profiting from the sale of its citizens’ personal data,” said Boehnke. “House Bill 1552 is designed to protect Washingtonians and restore their trust in state government, while also increasing transparency and accountability at our state agencies. If signed into law, this bill will signal to our citizens that we believe their data privacy is more important than profit. It’s the right policy for our state, and I hope we can get it to the governor’s desk this session.”

The 2021 remote legislative session is scheduled to adjourn April 25.