Oregonians are Waiting for Critical Relief

Unfortunately, the coronavirus crisis is far from over. Cases continue rising in communities across Oregon, and the pandemic is accelerating nationwide. Health experts continue to issue warnings emphasizing the importance of social distancing and mask-wearing. Especially as cases surge, we must remember the workers on the frontlines of this crisis who are trying to keep us safe. We also must remember the families, workers, and businesses who are struggling to stay afloat.

That’s why last month, Jeff led a group of 19 lawmakers in renewing the call for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring up for Senate consideration the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act --legislation that the U.S. House of Representatives passed nearly seven weeks ago to help Americans slow the spread of the coronavirus and deal with the fallout of this crisis. It does critical things like:

- Expand testing and tracing and help make sure hospitals can handle increased case loads;

- Address the disproportionate impacts of the coronavirus on Black and Brown communities;

- Provide subsidies so Americans losing their jobs can keep their employer-provided health coverage;

- Create a special enrollment period in the Affordable Care Act exchanges for uninsured Americans;

- Help essential workers access the tools they need to stay safe, including hazard pay;

- Provide financial assistance to states, tribes, and local governments struggling to open schools and support health and housing needs; and

- Strengthen critical programs, like food stamps, housing assistance, and enhanced unemployment insurance benefits, that Oregonians are relying on to weather the storm.

Oregonians and all Americans are suffering and even dying, and can’t afford for the Senate to keep ignoring the worst crisis in generations. The House bill has been waiting for action for almost seven weeks. Jeff will keep pressing for Leader McConnell to bring the HEROES Act to the floor immediately.

40,000 Americans Dying of Asbestos Every Year

Roughly 40,000 Americans die from asbestos-related causes each year, many of which could be prevented if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would carry out a law that gave the agency the power to ban the material. Last week, on the four year anniversary of the passage of law, Jeff released a statement to renew his push to take on this issue.

“Even today asbestos imports and use continue here in America, with potentially millions of workers and consumers exposed,” said Jeff, who is the lead sponsor of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, which would ban the importation and use of asbestos. “In the absence of action by the agency responsible for protecting Americans’ health and the environment, Congress now must step in and take action instead. We cannot wait any longer for the U.S. to join the rest of the developed world in banning asbestos.”

Working Together to Keep Oregon’s Businesses Afloat

“Throughout this pandemic, I’ve been in frequent touch with small business owners and workers in every corner of Oregon, and what I’ve heard time and time again is the need for flexibility and financial support as they work to re-open their business,” Jeff said. “Any effort to rebuild our economy must happen from Main Street up, not Wall Street down.”

In May, Jeff teamed up with his colleagues to introduce a blueprint to help build a path forward that prioritizes small businesses and workers. The program encourages and expands work sharing -- an existing program supported by previous coronavirus relief legislation that helps participating employers avoid layoffs by instead reducing the hours of their employees with the help of federal unemployment insurance. Instead of turning unemployment insurance on or off, it acts like a dimmer for businesses willing and able to keep employees on, just not at a full time salary. This legislation was formally introduced in June.

The Rebuilding Main Street Act would also make grants available to participating businesses to help cover some of the costs of the coronavirus crisis and reopen when it’s safe to do so.

Addressing Racial Discrimination, Protecting Your Privacy

“At a time when Americans are demanding that we address systemic racism in law enforcement, the use of facial recognition technology is a step in the wrong direction. Studies show that this technology brings racial discrimination and bias. Between the risks of sliding into a surveillance state we can’t escape from and the dangers of perpetuating discrimination, this technology is not ready for prime time,” Jeff warned last month.

The use of the technology has the potential to invade individuals’ privacy and encourage a dangerous surveillance state where Americans can be tracked and identified without their consent. This concern is compounded by the fact that a growing body of research points to systemic inaccuracy and bias issues in biometric technologies, which pose disproportionate risks to non-white individuals. One report, for example, showed that Black, Brown and Asian individuals were up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified than white male faces. Earlier this year, a faulty facial recognition match led to the arrest of an innocent man in Michigan.

Jeff has taken a number of steps to protect Americans from these dangers, including pressing the CEO of a biometric identification company that uses facial recognition for details about how the data will be used and stored. In June, Jeff also introduced the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, which would end the use of this technology by government entities at the federal, state, and local level.

Service Academy Nomination Process Has Begun

Last month, Jeff announced that he has begun the process for nominating young Oregonians to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for an appointment to the Class of 2025.

“It’s a privilege to be able to help students who are looking to dedicate themselves in service to their fellow citizens,” Jeff said. “Each year, I look forward to nominating some of the finest young Oregonians from communities all across our state for possible admission to one of the United States Service Academies.”

You can visit Jeff’s Academy Nomination webpage for more information about the nomination process, and call 503-326-2906 with any specific questions.

Thank you!

Thank you for reading -- and don't forget, you can see the latest updates by liking Jeff on Facebook and following Jeff on Twitter. And be sure to check Merkley.senate.gov for more information on upcoming town halls and current events.

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