SSMCP Policy Positions

Strengthen State Support for Military Affairs in Washington 

SSMCP believes in a strong commitment from the State in support of military affairs. This support should include:

• Increasing access to quality affordable childcare for all WA residents, including service members, veterans, and their families.
• Expansion of attainable housing opportunities in the South Sound Region for military members and their dependents.
• Evaluating alternate transportation routes and options to ensure mission readiness.
• Investments in high-quality behavioral health resources that improve access to care, reduce the stigma associated with mental health treatment and encourage seeking help when needed.

Expand the Workforce

SSMCP supports state policies that promote employment of transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses. Specifically, SSMCP supports:

• Establishing a tax incentive for employers of military spouses and veterans.
• Workforce development organizations maximizing military veterans experience and support transitioning service members to enhance the local economy.

Improve Infrastructure Resiliency

SSMCP recently completed a Military Installation Resiliency Review (MIRR) of Joint Base Lewis McChord. The study identified assets with the greatest risk of compromising mission readiness and discovered 11 of the top 22 assets are off base transportation facilities. For this reason, SSMCP supports state investment in infrastructure resiliency including, but not limited to I-5, SR16, SR512, Nisqually Road, US101, SR507, and the at grade rail crossing at Exit 120.

Protect Military & Civilian Compatible Land Use

SSMCP was founded on and strongly agrees that collaborative partnerships are vital in identifying and resolving existing land use conflicts and preventing potential future land use conflicts. SSMCP supports joint land use strategies that do not usurp local control. Specifically, SSMCP supports:

• Designating military installations as regional centers for the purposes of regional and transportation planning
• Close monitoring of the Commercial Aviation Work Group tasked with making recommendations to meet the state’s growing demand for commercial and passenger aviation services. SSMCP will oppose any recommendation that is incompatible with the operations of a military installation.