May 24, 2021

Special to BuzzFlash by Spenser Seddon

This week’s BuzzFlash “Wings of Justice” Award goes to Pramila Jayapal, the US Representative for Washington's 7th congressional district and Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. First elected to the House in 2017 and now serving in her third term, Rep. Jayapal has steadily made a name for herself as a bold, consistent, and effective advocate for progressive values and policy – being called “a rising star in the Democratic caucus,” per Speaker Pelosi. Starting her Congressional tenure as an upstanding figure of resistance in the face of Trump’s election, Jayapal is now helping to foment a crucial turning of the tide as Biden occupies the White House with a Democratic majority in force. Time is of the essence when it comes to implementing restorative policy (and getting results) in the lead up to next year’s midterm elections – and so it’s an apt moment for us to show our deep appreciation, respect, and support for that work that Rep. Jayapal continues to do.

Prior to her election to Congress, Jayapal spent time in a variety of spheres and roles over the years – encompassing a fairly wide array of life experiences and developing an expertise and sensibility that she brings to bear on her work today. Immigrating to the US from India at age 16, Jayapal studied English and economics as an undergraduate before working a brief stint on Wall Street and eventually earning an MBA. Jayapal later worked for a decade in global public health and development, and subsequently founded OneAmerica, one of the largest immigrant advocacy organizations in the country, directing its work for 12 years.

Starting her “official” political career shortly thereafter with her election to the Washington State legislature, Jayapal has shown herself to be an effective, knowledgeable, and compassionate advocate for the diverse body that is the American (and global) public. As an immigrant, a South Asian woman, a working person, and a parent (at the least), Rep. Jayapal knows firsthand of what it can often mean to be marginalized or subject, and that understanding clearly informs her perspective, her advocacy and activism, and her legislative efforts.

The years since Jayapal’s initial election to Congress can be fairly characterized as a period of crisis (or crises, really), coinciding with Trump’s election and erratic reign of incompetence and malice. That Jayapal comes at it all forcefully with a multitude of policy formations and a substantive program to address our conjuncture, organized in league with her Democratic colleagues, speaks to her grasp of the urgent, intersectional nature of those crises – and the fact that our collective response needs to be similarly urgent and comprehensive.

Rep. Jayapal’s proposals and positions span the progressive gamut, as you’d hope, balancing a big-picture perspective with attention to details and specifics. Immigration and human rights issues are a significant focus for Jayapal, as are economic inequality and labor advocacy, including her long-running support for the “Fight for $15.” Climate justice and environmental issues rank as one of the most crucial concerns for Jayapal and her colleagues, and she’s been a reliable and persistent advocate on that front. And of course, healthcare has proven a critical concern amid the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, making Jayapal’s proposed “Medicare for All” Act more relevant and necessary than ever, and for which she continues to fight.

The coronavirus pandemic, incidentally, has revealed with intense clarity just how precarious our present moment and way of life is. But with crisis comes opportunity, and Jayapal has shined as a forceful and compelling advocate for the systemic change we need — grappling with the interrelated crises of our woefully inadequate healthcare system, absurdly distorted economy, slow-moving ecological disaster, and the social catastrophes that attend them all. Striving to meet the moment, Rep. Jayapal is one of many presently pressing for overarching infrastructure legislation, programs, and funding that we’ll need to truly “Build Back Better” with sufficient size, scope, and speed to credibly face the unprecedented challenges at hand and ahead. For that, we are grateful.

Ultimately, we’re all in this fight for our future together. As Rep. Jayapal is fond of saying: “How do we call people in after we’ve called them out?” Her words are instructive and worth putting into practice – to the fullest extent we can, anyway, as we work to make the future. For her ongoing work to help in that endeavor, we’re proud to recognize Rep. Pramila Jayapal and to honor her with the BuzzFlash “Wings of Justice”.

Spenser Seddon is a writer, editor, and marketing & communications professional based in Seattle.

BuzzFlash is once again honoring upstanding & outstanding people with our Wings of Justice recognition! Read the full collection of recent honorees here, and peruse selections archived from our original website here.

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