Striving to make Oklahoma a better place

As we wrap up Women’s History Month, I look back at the past week and realize how blessed I am to have this opportunity to help write a piece of Oklahoma history.

I’ve mentioned this before, but my dad’s side of our family moved from Mexico and became U.S. citizens to provide a new trajectory for our family. My mother’s parents were native Oklahomans who worked multiple jobs to provide for their four children.

Neither of my parents grew up having much, but they were comfortable, and they were loved. Because of the hard work they were exposed to during their childhood, they fought hard to provide a better life for their kids, just as their parents had done for them. I do my best to continue that legacy.   

On Monday morning, I visited with students at Kennedy Elementary in Norman. This energetic group of fourth graders asked me to come and talk to them about how it feels to be the first woman elected to represent Senate District 43, the importance of voting, and who my favorite legislators are at the Capitol. On Friday, I had the pleasure of speaking to third graders at Horace Mann Elementary in Duncan about some of the same topics. 

One of the highlights of my week was hanging out with the fifth graders at Horace Mann and helping them use math in Mrs. Cole’s class to get out of the “escape room”. I wrapped up Friday by visiting the Licensed Practical Nursing program at Red River Technology Center in Duncan, talking with adults about how their vote can impact elections and answering questions about healthcare policy this session that can impact their industry. 

On Saturday, I got to help honor the family of David Vallerand, a former teacher and coach at Washington Public Schools. I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but when I heard the Warriors were dedicating their baseball stadium to him, I wanted to help celebrate his legacy and family too. “Coach V’s” motto was to “always leave a place better than you found it.” Honoring him and his family this weekend was the perfect ending to a hectic, emotionally charged, long week. 

We worked hard every day to get all the Senate bills over to the House before Thursday’s deadline. This week, we begin committee work on House bills, so we can start hearing those on the Senate floor and advance the best policies to Governor Stitt.

Last week, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat appointed me as the vice chair of the Senate Retirement and Insurance Committee. I’ve been told by people who have worked at the Capitol for many years that a freshman being appointed to a leadership position is unheard of in the Senate. However, the previous chair resigned his position when he decided to run for Congress, so the membership had to be adjusted.

Having worked in healthcare my entire professional career and being a business owner, I’ve been exposed to many types of insurance and retirement systems. From health insurance and long-term care policies, to unemployment, liability, and worker’s compensation insurance plans,

I have a lot of experience working in this space and look forward to using that knowledge to move public policy forward that will help Oklahomans long term. 

Sitting down to write and reflect on this last week, I couldn’t help but be humbled by the many great people I got to meet. Coach Vallerand’s motto will continue to echo in my mind as we move forward this legislative session. I truly do strive to leave Oklahoma a better place with my service in various areas, and I encourage my children to do the same. 

If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol. Please write to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 237, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email me at Jessica.Garvin@oksenate.gov or call (405) 521-5522.