The year in photos: 2021
As we end 2021, here’s a look back through photos of some of Gov. Jay Inslee’s work across the state. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact Washington in large and small ways. Inslee was able to lift almost all restrictions in late June, until the Delta variant made it necessary to re-instate the mask mandate*.
*Note: all photos without a mask are during a time when it was safe to do so.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students and educators did remote learning for much of 2020 and part of 2021. Many school districts returned to in-person learning prior to the governor signing an emergency proclamation requiring in-person education opportunities for public K-12 schools on March 15, 2021.
Gov. Jay Inslee signed HB 1372 on April 14, which will place a statue of tribal leader Billy Frank Jr. in the National Statuary Hall. Inslee was joined by members of Frank’s family, tribal and community members, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck and Rep. Debra Lekanoff when he signed the bill in a ceremony at Wa He Lut Indian School in Olympia.
In early May, Inslee signed an economic justice legislative package, including the Working Families Tax Credit and the capital gains excise tax, that starts the process of making Washington’s upside-down tax system fairer and more equitable.
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a historic climate change legislative package on May 17 during a three-stop tour through King County.
The governor signed the Climate Commitment Act, environmental justice legislation, a clean fuels standard and bills related to reducing Washington’s single-use plastic waste and hydrofluorocarbon pollution.
Read more about the 2021 climate legislative package.
In late June, due to declining number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, Inslee lifted most restrictions on capacity and operations.
In June and July, Inslee announced a suite of incentives to help encourage unvaccinated Washingtonians to get the COVID shot.
The Washington State Lottery conducted the “Shot of a Lifetime” giveaway series during the month of June, working with state agencies, technology companies, sports teams and higher education institutions across the state to offer a myriad of different prizes to vaccinated individuals.
In late September, Inslee visited Snohomish County and toured Eviation, a manufacturer that is creating the first all-electric powered aircraft.
Washington’s wine industry continues to be impacted by climate change. In October, Inslee traveled to Walla Walla and visited Les Collines Vineyard. He talked with experts about the impact on fruit development.
In late October, Inslee helped break ground a new behavioral health teaching facility. The project, a priority of the governor’s, is a key piece in transforming the behavioral health system across Washington state.
The governor attended the Glasgow Climate Change Conference in Scotland in early November. He led a coalition of 68 state, regional and city governments to affirm their urgent commitment to addressing the climate crisis by signing a range of emissions-slashing actions ahead of 2030. The work is part of a global call from local and regional governments in recognition of the increased impacts of climate change and their critical role in addressing it.
The governor announced his 2022 supplemental budget in mid-December, in which he proposes significant funding to reduce poverty, increase housing and resources for homeless individuals, expand K-12 learning supports, invest in clean transportation and green economy, decarbonize buildings, and protect salmon habitat.
And, finally the governor and Trudi Inslee created a video to wish Washingtonians happy holidays and encourage them to continue to take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19. Watch the video here.
