Republican women lawmakers in Olympia have a revitalized focus on legislation that strengthens families, empowers women, and protects women and children. Rep. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, is the prime sponsor of one such bill. She has introduced HB 2713, the Women Helping Women Act, which would dedicate the sales tax revenue collected from the purchase of feminine hygiene products to a special account to support services to victims of domestic violence.

“The taxes we, as women, pay individually for feminine hygiene products is a drop in the bucket, but collectively this money adds up quickly and would really benefit women and their children who are victims of domestic violence,” said Wilson. “These are products that only women purchase. What better way for women to help one another and promote safer communities than by directing these tax dollars to the vulnerable women who need it to restore their sense of security and independence?”

According to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, there were 49,360 reported cases of domestic violence in Washington state in 2014. Seventy percent of those victims were women and 8,531 of those incidents were violations of Protection or No Contact Orders. This legislation would dramatically increase the funding for law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys to make arrests and prosecute these cases.

In addition to HB 2713, Rep. Wilson has co-sponsored these measures:

• HB 2681 would allow women to get birth control pills and other hormonal contraceptives directly from a pharmacist.
• HB 2042 creates the crime of voyeurism in the second degree.
• HB 2401 establishes a court procedure to safeguard adults’ rights to enjoy visitation in situations in which visitation is desired by and in the best interest of the adult, but is being prevented.

For more information about Rep. Wilson, visit: https://representativelyndawilson.com.

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Rep. Wilson’s media:

Washington State House Republican Communications
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
461 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600