Cyrus Habib

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Over the past couple of years ... I have felt a calling to dedicate my life in a more direct and personal way to serving the marginalized, empowering the vulnerable, healing those who suffer from spiritual wounds and accompanying those discerning their own futures.... I have come to believe that the best way to deepen my commitment to social justice is to reduce the complexity in my own life and dedicate it to serving others. [28]

At the time, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni wrote that there was good reason to believe that, were he to stay in politics, Habib would be elected Governor by the age of 40. [29]

He entered the Jesuit novitiate in Culver City, California in the fall of 2020. [30] On August 13, 2022, Habib professed his first vows as a Jesuit. [31]

Political priorities

As lieutenant governor, Habib made expanding equitable access to higher education and promoting job growth through international trade his office priorities. [32]

In his time in office, Habib established a number of college pathway programs for underserved and non-traditional student populations. In 2018, he founded Washington World Fellows, a global leadership program for high school students that includes a study abroad experience and two years of college preparation programming aimed at supporting first-generation college students. [33] The same year, he initiated Complete Washington, a program focused on creating new high-demand degree pathways tailored to the needs of working adults. [34]

In addition to his higher education programs, Habib created the leadership-oriented Boundless Washington program, which seeks to empower young people with disabilities through outdoor exploration and leadership training. He summited Mount Kilimanjaro in the summer of 2019 to help raise money for the program. [16] [35]

In 2019 Habib led a delegation to Dharamshala to meet with the Dalai Lama, where the two engaged in a televised dialogue as part of the establishment of Habib's Compassion Scholars program in Washington State, which he launched to promote more ethical leadership training in public high schools. [36]

In Washington, the Lieutenant Governor traditionally acts as a trade ambassador for the state. [37] [38] Habib led a number of international trips on behalf of the state aimed at improving market access for Washington-based companies and encouraging foreign investment.

Legislative positions

Higher education

In 2018, he attacked the idea that "college isn't for everyone", calling it an "elitist" view, and said that "A failure to expand access to higher education will widen the gap between the fortunate few and the disenfranchised many." [39] In 2020, his office introduced a legislative package focused on removing barriers in Washington state's higher education system. It required all school districts to share financial aid information with twelfth-grade students and their families, the creation of a single college application process for public four-year institutions, and legislation that prevented institutions of higher education from denying students access to their transcripts as a means of debt collection. [40] [41]

Economic development

Habib introduced a number of laws related to technology and the innovation economy. He authored the Washington Jobs Act of 2014, which allowed investor crowdfunding for the first time in Washington, so that entrepreneurs and small businesses could more easily obtain access to capital. [42]

He authored legislation that created a statewide framework for vehicle for hire companies such as Uber and Lyft, and provided insurance minimums for drivers, passengers, and the public. [43]

In the face of diminishing federal funding for cancer research, Habib introduced legislation to create a dedicated cancer research fund in Washington State. [44]

Open government

Habib introduced legislation to allow the public to comment on legislative proposals by submitting video testimony filmed on a smart phone–the first such bill in the nation. [45] Habib's bill gained national recognition when included in a PBS report as one of the "Five Times the Daily Show Actually Influenced Policy". Habib said that he was inspired by John Oliver's success in engaging the public on the topic of net neutrality, and the subsequent use of remote testimony submitted online to the Federal Communications Commission by his viewers. [46]

Habib was also the first Democratic state legislator to seek the impeachment of State Auditor Troy Kelley, who was facing more than a dozen federal criminal charges for tax evasion and fraud. [47] [48]

Social justice

Habib was the prime sponsor of legislation in the State Senate to guarantee paid sick leave for nearly all Washington workers. [49]

He was the Senate prime sponsor of the Washington Voting Rights Act, introduced and passed to prevent cities and counties from using racially polarized voting systems. [50]

As a Senator, Habib pushed publicly for legislation to protect the rights of pregnant women in the workplace, framing it as a fundamental question of civil rights. [51] Habib's 2015 bill to provide standard-issue ID cards to help exiting prison inmates with reentry into society gained widespread and bipartisan support. [52]

Civil legal aid was a priority Habib fought to keep funded in the state budget. He argued that cuts in such funding will most severely impact families facing foreclosure, domestic violence, predatory lending, and those needing help accessing veteran and disability benefits. [53]

Habib also sponsored the Truth in Evictions Reporting Act to ensure that wrongfully evicted tenants will be able to have their rental history corrected. [54]

Environment and transportation

Habib angered some Republicans when he proposed legislative language acknowledging that climate change is real and that human activity is a significant factor in its acceleration. [55]

As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, Habib played a critical role in the passage of a landmark transportation investment package that completed the SR 520 bridge replacement and the North Spokane Corridor, funded extensions of SR 167 and 509, added new lanes to I-405, and authorized the next generation of light rail and bus rapid transit in the central Puget Sound region. This was the first investment in transportation infrastructure in a decade.[ citation needed ]

Habib also authored legislation to give judges flexibility in reducing fines imposed for failure to pay bridge tolls. [56]

Awards and recognition

Habib has been recognized as the first Iranian-American elected to state office in the United States, and as the first to serve in a statewide office. [3]

In 2019, he served as co-chair of the Democratic National Lt. Governor's Association and became a member of the Democratic National Committee.

Habib has been named a Rhodes Scholar, a Truman Scholar, a Soros Fellow, and a Rodel Fellow at the Aspen Institute. He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. [57]

In 2019, he was awarded the Helen Keller Achievement Award by the American Foundation for the Blind. [58] In 2020, the John F. Kennedy Library and The Harvard Institute of Politics presented him with the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award for outstanding public service. [59]

In 2016 Habib was chosen by the leadership of the Democratic National Committee to serve as one of 25 appointed members of the party's Platform Committee. [60]

In 2014, Habib was named one of the "40 Under 40 Political Rising Stars" by The Washington Post . [61] That year he had also been named one of "12 State Legislators to Watch" nationally by Governing Magazine. [62]

See also

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References

  1. "Cyrus Habib from Legacy Washington" (PDF). Washington State Secretary of State Legacy Washington. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  2. Greenberg, Kalie (January 7, 2020). "'I'm Iranian-American': Washington Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib reacts to reports of border detainment". King 5.
  3. 1 2 "Candidate makes history, becoming first Iranian American elected to a state legislature". Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans. November 6, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  4. "Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib: Why I am giving up elected office and joining the Jesuits". America Magazine. March 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  5. "Cyrus Habib - Virtual Embassy of the United States Tehran, Iran". Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  6. "Kamyar Cyrus Habib". Association of American Rhodes Scholars. Archived from the original on September 29, 2003.
  7. "John F. Kennedy New Frontier Awards® Recipients: Cyrus Habib 2020". John F. Kennedy Library. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  8. Nguyen, Stacy (October 27, 2016). "The Man Who Wants to Be Lieutenant Governor". Northwest Asian Weekly. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  9. Rodriguez, Carrie (March 15, 2012). "Diverse newcomers seek 48th District House seat". Kirkland Reporter. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
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  30. "Jesuits West Welcomes Six New Novices". West Province. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
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  33. "Background". Washington World Fellows. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  34. "Announcing Request for Proposals Complete Washington Healthcare Pathway". Office of Lt. Governor. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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  37. Jenkins, Austin (September 9, 2016). "What Is The Proper Role Of Washington's Lt. Governor? Candidates Disagree". NW News Network. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  38. Stang, John (May 18, 2016). "The most diverse race in state history is for... Lieutenant Governor?". Seattle Globalist. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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  43. "SB 5550 - 2015-16, Regulating providers of commercial transportation services". Washington State Legislature.
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Additional sources

Cyrus Habib
Cyrus Habib official.jpg
16th Lieutenant Governor of Washington
In office
January 11, 2017 January 13, 2021
Washington House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 48th district

2013–2015
Succeeded by
Washington State Senate
Preceded by Member of the Washington Senate
from the 48th district

2015–2017
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Washington
2017–2021
Succeeded by