Dear John,

Every year, I travel to each of Oregon’s 36 counties to host a town hall to hear directly from Oregonians about what issues matter most to them and their communities. I can’t imagine doing my job without having those conversations, and am deeply grateful to you and your neighbors for taking the time to share your valuable insights so I can bring them with me to the U.S. Senate.

And year after year, I hear from Oregonians about the urgent need for federal funding to support vital community services, like firefighting, emergency response, social services, transportation, and housing -- particularly in our rural counties, where funding these services can be a challenge.

So I’m pleased to share that I was able to use my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee last month to support a funding bill that includes $515 million for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. The PILT program is a critical lifeline that has long helped Oregon’s rural counties with large tracts of federal land -- which doesn’t generate property taxes -- pay for those essential community services. The next step for the bill is passage through both houses of Congress, and I’ll be sure to keep you updated on the bill’s progress.

Every Oregonian, regardless of whether they live in an urban or rural area, deserves access to the basic services they need to stay safe and healthy, get where they need to go, and have a roof over their head. From introducing bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the PILT program for ten years -- which would help nearly 1,900 counties across 49 states -- to pushing back against proposed cuts to the program that would have devastating impacts on rural Oregonians, I’m going to keep doing all that I can to ensure that the need for vital services is met in your community.

All my best,
Jeff