Dear John:

Perhaps you remember the signature catchphrase of the famous American chef Emeril? It was a loud and sudden "Bam!"

That's how it felt to start this year's 60-day legislative session.

Bam!

Opening day ceremonies. Bills passing out of the House on Day One. Governor Inslee's State of the State the next day. Hearings at breakneck pace including one on a bill that revamps the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations which I have the honor to chair.

Bam!

And very meaningfully, the ceremony held last Wednesday to unveil a replica (called a maquette) of the statue of Billy Frank Jr. that will go in Statuary Hall in the nation's capitol. There will also be one on display in the Legislative Building in Olympia.

The State Reception Room was filled to capacity with tribal leaders and elected officials. We heard from several speakers including Governor Inslee and the Nisqually Tribe's chairman, Willie Frank, Billy's son. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.

The maquette is four feet high and made of clay. The final version will stand 11 feet tall and cast in bronze. But the maquette is a spectacular representation until the final statue is done in about 15 to 18 months.

And best of all, the public can view it in the lobby of our office where it will be on permanent display along with a series of explanatory poster boards about Billy Frank's amazing life (so amazing that he won our nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom).

For those of you who come through Olympia, I hope you will come by and visit it.

For all of you, stay tuned for more updates on this very fast-moving legislative session.

Bam!

Denny