APPROPRIATIONS BILL FULLY FUNDING VA AND BOLSTERING MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PASSES HOUSE

On Thursday, the House passed our first appropriations package to fund military construction projects, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and related agencies in fiscal year 2024. I was proud to vote in favor of the bill, which fully funds the veterans’ health and medical care – building on my successful effort that will help expand medical services for veterans at the Portland VA.

This critical appropriations package also includes $799.1 million above President Biden’s budget request for family housing and other quality-of-life projects. $293.8 million of this amount was allocated for the construction of seven child development center projects.

It’s an honor to serve those who have served us, and delivering results for Oregon’s veterans will continue to be one of my top priorities.

MORE GOOD NEWS FOR OREGON VETERANS: HOME ACT PASSES VETERANS’ AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a markup on my proposal to help homeless veterans this week, and the bill has now advanced to the House floor!

My HOME Act seeks to provide homeless veterans with needed resources and assistance – boosting funding for nonprofit organizations that provide veterans with transitional housing and creating a stipend to help homeless veterans pay for shelter, food, clothing, and other necessities.

Oregon has one of the fastest-growing homeless populations in the country, and unfortunately, it’s a problem that has not spared our veterans. They have sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms and liberties we peacefully enjoy every day, and now it’s our duty to ensure they are well cared for. Learn more about the HOME Act by clicking HERE or on the graphic below:

CRACKING DOWN ON INTERNATIONAL FENTANYL TRAFFICKING

On Tuesday, the House passed H.R. 3202, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, with bipartisan support. I voted strongly in favor of this proposal, which seeks to hold China accountable for the proliferation of illicit fentanyl and fentanyl precursors.

The fentanyl crisis continues poisoning Oregonians and devastating our communities. According to the Oregon Health Authority, fentanyl-related deaths have soared in Oregon by 210 percent since 2020. To tackle this problem effectively and get fentanyl off our streets, we must start at the source and hold international traffickers accountable.

The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act would sanction individuals involved with the production and distribution of precursor chemicals, which are then converted to powdered fentanyl in Mexico and smuggled across the border. This is just one of several efforts I’m supporting to combat the fentanyl crisis and hopefully save lives.

MEETING WITH OREGONIANS

I enjoyed meeting with IBM employees from the 5th District recently! We had a very interesting conversation about artificial intelligence regulation, investing in quantum computing technology, and related training and teaching programs to help fill jobs in the tech industry.

I recently helped introduce legislation, the Jobs of the Future Act, that seeks to ensure employers are prepared for the effects of artificial intelligence on our workforce. Learn more by visiting my website HERE.

CELEBRATING NATIONAL BLUEBERRY MONTH

July is National Blueberry Month, so I handed out delicious Oregon blueberries to my colleagues ahead of Thursday’s House Agriculture Committee meeting. Before the month is over, be sure to support our blueberry growers and #GrabABoostOfBlue!

ONE MORE THING!

Thursday was National Intern Day, and I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the dedication and hard work our interns put in every day. The future of the 5th District is brighter thanks to their service!

When I served as mayor of Happy Valley, I was proud to start the Happy Valley Youth Council to give students an opportunity to become more involved in public service. Now as a member of Congress, giving students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with serving constituents at the federal level is one of my favorite parts of the job. If you or someone you know is interested in an internship, we hire both in Washington, D.C. and my Oregon district offices. Apply today!

Thank you for reading my weekly newsletter. It's an honor to be your voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. Your thoughts, concerns, and comments are very important to me. Always feel free to get in touch by calling (202) 225-5711 or by visiting my website at chavez-deremer.house.gov.

Sincerely,