Inslee Visits King, Pierce Counties On Friday

SEATTLE — Gov. Jay Inslee is scheduled to make stops Friday in the state's two most populous counties. The governor plans to visit Pierce County first, touring a Bonney Lake Food Bank facility.

"The governor will first meet with officials from the Bonney Lake Food Bank, who will provide a tour of their innovative food pantry, The Market," Inslee's office said. "Food banks serve as a crucial lifeline for many Washingtonians. A federal program that expanded SNAP benefits during the COVID-19 emergency expired this month, leaving food banks to brace for a hunger cliff."

Inslee has thrown his support behind legislation in Olympia designed to boost state funding for food programs to make up for the gap left by the pending expiration of benefits.

After the food bank visit, Inslee is scheduled to head north to Seattle for a tour and meeting at the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle.

"While antisemitic views remain widespread in the U.S., the Holocaust Center is working with Washington's public schools and the office of Superintendent Chris Reykdal to provide expanded coursework on the Holocaust and genocide studies for middle and high school students," Inslee's office said. "Studies show that effectively teaching students about the Holocaust helps cultivate empathy and tolerance."