A tearful House debate over fentanyl-exposed babies ended Saturday with Democrats voting down a Republican amendment to fund a child-protection fix.
The House floor fell quiet at times as Republicans, some visibly emotional, pleaded for more resources to protect infants and toddlers from accidental fentanyl exposure. Amendment 2105 would have increased funding to help courts, prosecutors and DCYF carry out House Bill 1092, a child-safety proposal Democrats refused to advance this session.
Representative Joshua Penner of Orting read from fatality reports involving babies exposed to drugs and later found dead.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s fifty or ninety. We should be crawling out of our skin if it’s one.”
Republicans said the 2021 Keeping Families Together Act set the bar so high caseworkers are forced to leave children in homes where fentanyl is present until it is too late. Representative Stephanie Barnard was in tears on the House floor.
“I can’t read about a four-month-old dying because of a fentanyl overdose.”
Representative Travis Couture said children do not have time for another year of study.
“These kids, Madam Speaker, don’t have any more time left to give.”
Democrats still rejected the amendment, 49 to 44, with some crossing over to vote with Republicans.
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Washington State House Republican Communications