As voters across NW Oregon receive and fill out their ballots, I want to tell you more about my work and ask for your vote on May 19th.

Since Democrats won back the House almost two years ago, we've accomplished a lot. Sometimes that means big structural change; other times, it's been smaller but important steps that move us forward.

As chair of the Education & Labor Committee's Subcommittee on Civil Rights & Human Services, I led the House in passing bills to:

• Raise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour,
• Increase resources for child abuse and prevention programs,
• Strengthen Meals and Wheels and other programs for seniors,
• Provide meals to students during school closures, and
• Protect LGBTQ individuals from discrimination.

I'm especially proud of my role in helping the House pass important legislation to:

• Lower the cost of prescription drugs,
• Restore voting rights and expand vote by mail,
• Enact universal background checks for gun purchases, and
• Keep the United States in the Paris Climate Accord.

The Coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to our economy and taken far too many lives. It has also highlighted the considerable inequities that too many people in our community were already experiencing – especially in access to health care, child care, and technology. Congress acted quickly to bring relief to small businesses and individuals, but there is still significant need. I'm proud of the work I've done to increase access to meals for students, funding for childcare, and direct economic relief, but we must do more to help our families and our frontline workers get through this challenging time, and to rebuild our economy while keeping everyone safe.

That's why I'm asking for your vote today. I want to be able to keep fighting for: high quality public education for every student; policies that support working families; clean energy jobs; humane, comprehensive immigration reform; and important programs like Medicare, Social Security, and nutrition assistance. And importantly, I'll continue fighting President Trump's dangerous and hateful policies right up to the time we have a new administration.

I'm honored to have earned endorsements from important advocacy organizations around the state like the Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Firefighters State Council, Oregon Education Association, and the Oregon AFL-CIO. I've also received support from national organizations like Planned Parenthood, League of Conservation Voters, and NARAL, and local papers like the Willamette Week, the Portland Mercury, and the Skanner.

Together I know we can create a better future. Your past support means a lot to me, and hope I can count on your vote again this year,