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Delivering on Oregon's Priorities
As the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, Jeff uses his seat to make sure Oregonians’ tax dollars come home to address the priorities of our state. Last month, Jeff helped secure critical funding to address a wide variety of pressing topics -- including wildfire management, salmon recovery, earthquake preparedness, industrial hemp, and rural housing -- in a series of bills that passed out of the Appropriations Committee, the Senate’s spending committee.
Jeff knows that Oregon’s needs aren’t the same as Ohio’s or Oklahoma’s, and he’s going to keep fighting to make sure that Oregon’s unique needs are met, and that Oregon has a voice at the table.
The next step for the bills is a full Senate vote. They’ll eventually merge with their counterpart bills from the U.S. House of Representatives, in order to be passed by both houses and signed into law.
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Addressing the Housing and Homelessness Crisis
In September, Jeff used his seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fight to include nearly $1 billion in new funding to address homelessness in the committee’s Transportation, Housing and Urban Development bill, which is headed for a full Senate vote. This funding would be used to build affordable housing, as well as create Homeless Assistance Grants to benefit organizations across Oregon.
“As our cities and towns in every corner of the state face their biggest housing affordability crises in decades -- with rents dramatically outpacing incomes -- we must do everything we can to make sure families have the decent homes they deserve,” said Jeff.
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Keeping You and Your Family Safe from Asbestos
Despite the fact that it is a known and deadly carcinogen, many everyday products on the market in America -- from colored pencils to potting soil -- still contain asbestos. That’s why Jeff introduced the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019, which would once and for all ban the mining, importation, use, and distribution of asbestos in the United States. Now, this important piece of legislation is on the move: Last week, a key House subcommittee advanced the bill with bipartisan, unanimous support.
“More than 60 other nations have already recognized asbestos as the deadly substance it is, and acted to protect their citizens with the obvious response: A ban on asbestos,” Jeff said. “It’s time for us to catch up to the rest of the developed world, and end this dangerous public health threat once and for all.” Jeff is continuing the fight to get this legislation across the finish line and signed into law. |
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RAWR!
Experts are warning that some of the world’s most beautiful and wondrous animals -- like elephants, giraffes, and rhinos -- are at grave risk of extinction because of wildlife trafficking and poaching. That’s why Jeff introduced the bipartisan Rescuing Animals with Rewards (RAWR) Act, legislation that would allow the State Department to give financial rewards for critical information to bust up wildlife trafficking networks. Last week, the RAWR Act passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is now ready for a full Senate vote.
“I still remember reading picture books to my kids, and their joy from the incredible wonders of the animal kingdom,” Jeff said. “We simply can’t rob future generations of these incredible treasures.” Jeff will keep fighting to pass the RAWR Act, and to protect animals across the globe. |
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