INTRODUCING BIPARTISAN HOMELESSNESS LEGISLATION

After working with community organizations, street medicine professionals, and my congressional colleagues, I was proud to introduce a new bill this week to address the homelessness crisis.

I believe we need to take a different approach that breaks up the never-ending cycle of substance abuse, mental illness, and poverty. Last year, more than one in three homeless people had a substance use or mental health disorder, but we have failed to provide them with the accessible and affordable health care treatment they need. Oregon ranks 49th in the country for addiction treatment.

My bipartisan DIRECT Care for the Homeless Act would take overdue action to provide dual diagnosis treatment directly to the unsheltered homeless by creating a pilot program that expands street medicine services, which would ultimately help this vulnerable population transition into safe and stable housing.

Federal data shows Oregon’s homeless population is growing at one of the fastest rates in the nation, and I’ll continue doing my part to address it through this new legislation and by supporting efforts to expand affordable housing.

Learn more about the DIRECT Care for the Homeless Act by clicking here or below:

WORKING TO ALLOW THE HARVESTING OF SPECIAL FOREST PRODUCTS

I recently helped introduce the Special Forest Products Program Reauthorization Act with Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. It would continue to allow special forest products to be harvested in a sustainable manner – benefiting communities across the region while also contributing to healthy forest management.

Currently, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Special Forest Products pilot program allows the public to harvest natural forest resources for personal or commercial use – including mushrooms, roots, seeds, Christmas trees, and firewood – after they’ve obtained a permit and paid a fee to USFS.

Despite this program’s success, it must be reauthorized yearly during the House Appropriations process. Learn more:

WELCOMING OREGONIANS TO OUR NATION’S CAPITAL

I enjoyed meeting with the Deschutes Basin Board of Control earlier this week – they provided me with an update on PL-566 projects, and we discussed opportunities to bring federal help to Oregon. I also met with Oregon Teamsters who were in D.C., along with Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien. I look forward to maintaining an open dialogue on federal labor issues and supporting working people!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: MY NEXT TELE-TOWN HALL IS COMING UP!

I will be holding my next tele-town hall on Tuesday, September 26 at 5:30! Dial in to the number below to hear about my work to address homelessness, stop tolling, and much more. I will also have poll questions for the audience, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions of your own. I hope you will consider participating!

MY LETTER TO EPA REGARDING A VULNERABLE SPECIES PILOT PROJECT

On Wednesday, I wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency to express concerns regarding the impact a proposed pesticide pilot project would have on Oregon agriculture and commercial forestry.

The program would result in pesticide restriction for a vast area of land, which would harm farmers and foresters who rely on these protection tools to produce food and fiber for families across the country.

Read my full letter by clicking HERE.

ONE MORE THING!

On my first day back in Washington after a productive District Work Period, I was quickly reminded that you never know who you're going to run into in the halls of Congress 🏈

Fun to stop and chat with Gronk for a few minutes!

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,