A valve comprising: a block having a cavity positioned between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a valve assembly positioned within the cavity that selectively permits communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the valve assembly including: a hollow valve retainer having a first port that communicates with the fluid inlet, a second port that communicates with the fluid outlet, and a valve seat between the first port and the second port, the hollow valve retainer housing a movable poppet including a valve member that is configured is engage and disengage with the valve seat to permit fluid to travel from the fluid inlet through the first port to the second port, and then to the fluid outlet; a solenoid assembly coupled to the valve assembly that is configured to actuate the valve assembly to permit the communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the solenoid assembly including: a movable armature engaged with the poppet, a first bushing that surrounds the armature, a plate spring positioned between the armature and the first bushing, and a solenoid coil that is configured to move the armature and the poppet to permit the communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the plate spring is configured to bias the valve member of the poppet into engagement with the valve seat of the valve retainer, the plate spring having a spring force, the solenoid coil is configured to move the armature and the poppet based a voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, and based on the spring force of the plate spring and the voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, the solenoid assembly is configured to control a distance that the valve member moves relative to the valve seat of the valve retainer to proportionally control an amount of flow that is permitted through the valve assembly, characterized in that the first bushing includes a stepped recess that is configured for receipt of the plate spring, the stepped recess including a first annular surface and a second annular surface located radially inward from the first annular surface, and the plate spring being mounted to the first annular surface. a block having a cavity positioned between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a valve assembly positioned within the cavity that selectively permits communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the valve assembly including: a hollow valve retainer having a first port that communicates with the fluid inlet, a second port that communicates with the fluid outlet, and a valve seat between the first port and the second port, the hollow valve retainer housing a movable poppet including a valve member that is configured is engage and disengage with the valve seat to permit fluid to travel from the fluid inlet through the first port to the second port, and then to the fluid outlet; a hollow valve retainer having a first port that communicates with the fluid inlet, a second port that communicates with the fluid outlet, and a valve seat between the first port and the second port, the hollow valve retainer housing a movable poppet including a valve member that is configured is engage and disengage with the valve seat to permit fluid to travel from the fluid inlet through the first port to the second port, and then to the fluid outlet; a solenoid assembly coupled to the valve assembly that is configured to actuate the valve assembly to permit the communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the solenoid assembly including: a movable armature engaged with the poppet, a first bushing that surrounds the armature, a plate spring positioned between the armature and the first bushing, and a solenoid coil that is configured to move the armature and the poppet to permit the communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the plate spring is configured to bias the valve member of the poppet into engagement with the valve seat of the valve retainer, the plate spring having a spring force, the solenoid coil is configured to move the armature and the poppet based a voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, and based on the spring force of the plate spring and the voltage or current that is applied to the solenoid coil, the solenoid assembly is configured to control a distance that the valve member moves relative to the valve seat of the valve retainer to proportionally control an amount of flow that is permitted through the valve assembly, characterized in that the first bushing includes a stepped recess that is configured for receipt of the plate spring, the stepped recess including a first annular surface and a second annular surface located radially inward from the first annular surface, and the plate spring being mounted to the first annular surface.