Candidate Profile: Pramila Jayapal For 7th Congressional District

SEATTLE — The 2020 election is heating up in Washington and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the occupants of several state representative and senate seats.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Pramila Jayapal, a Seattle resident is running for U.S. House of Representatives District 7.

Age: 55
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family: spouse: Steve Williamson, child and step child
Occupation: Congresswoman 4 years
Previous elected experience: State Senator
Family members in government: Yes my sister Susheela is a county commissioner of Multnomah County
Campaign website: www.pramilaforcongress.com

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Currently, it is the support recovery that is needed in the face of the pandemic. I am fighting for relief that is enough to actually help protect and lift families and small businesses, rather than the token piecemeal offerings we are seeing from the Republican Party.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Unlike my opponent I am for Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, Racial Justice, Immigration Protections, Free College and more.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In the short time that I've been in Congress I've been elected to be the co-chair of the Progressive Congressional Caucus and was chosen to serve on the Biden Sanders Healthcare Unity Task Force. I am the author of Medicare for All and am proud that it has become part of the framework in which candidates for president discuss the future of our healthcare system.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?

We must pass my Paycheck Recover Act which would deliver certainty and stability by covering the full wages of workers earning salaries up to $90,000 and ensuring employers can rehire those laid-off or furloughed since March 1. It does this in a quick and direct manner by utilizing existing payroll tax infrastructure instead of relationships with banks and lending institutions. We have to continue to push for the Senate to also pass relief. But let's be clear, it's not about the size of the package, it's about does it provide real relief to workers who are unable to get through the unemployment system, to folks of color, who are going to be disproportionately burdened coming out of the unemployment system, and to small and medium sized businesses who desperately need the government to have your back right now.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?

I have worked to reform the policing system in Seattle—serving on police accountability panels and helping lead the coalition that brought the US Department of Justice in to Seattle to investigate the Seattle Police Department for biased policing. I am continuing to fight to demilitarize our police forces, provide strong oversight on use of force, train officers on de-escalation, and address the culture of racism that permeates too many of our institutions, including our police force.

How do you think Washington should address the threat posed by climate change?

I am a proud co-sponsor of the Green New Deal. Most recently we've witnessed here in our own state the ravaging effects of a warming planet by way of wildfires, and it just gets worse every day. We need the bold reform that these times call for, and nothing less.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Free college, Immigration Justice and LGBTQ Justice, Corporate Regulation

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am honored to serve as your Congressional Representative and would be grateful for your vote.