Friends and neighbors, 

Last week I spent a full day at the Capitol for a special session.  I was grateful the legislature was able to come together and provide relief for Oregonians in need across our state. I am looking forward to the great work that we will do as we move into the 2022 short session. What we passed last week:

Housing Protections: We extended safe harbor protections to prevent evictions of Oregonians who are still waiting on rental assistance. We also invested $215 million to provide additional rental assistance, speed up the process of applications, and ensure landlords are fully paid.

Drought Relief: We invested $100 million in a drought relief package to support farmers and irrigators across the state who have been impacted by drought, heat, or fire.

Illegal Cannabis Enforcement: We invested $25 million to prevent illegal cannabis operations and address the humanitarian crisis impacting workers at these sites.

Afghan Refugee Support: We invested $18 million to help Afghan refugees arriving in Oregon find housing, education, legal assistance, and language and job training.

Gun Violence Prevention: We invested $2 million to assist the City of Gresham and local community in implementing the East Metro Outreach, Prevention, and Intervention (OPI) program to address rising youth violence.



As we close out the year I’m reflecting on the hard fought wins for our district and state. Here are just a few of the 2021 Legislative Policy Highlights: 

Increasing access to physical and behavioral health care by expanding telehealth services for all Oregonians.

Addressing pharmaceutical costs by creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to study the pharmaceutical system and make policy recommendations to the legislature. 

Decreasing rates of suicide and accidental deaths by firearm by requiring firearms be safely secured when not in use.

Investing in our economic recovery through direct grants to Business Recovery Centers in House District 37

Revitalizing our transportation and economic sectors by creating a public corporation to operate the Willamette Falls Locks, with a $7.25 million investment for repairs.

Securing our community’s transportation infrastructure as a state-wide priority with funding for the Abernathy Bridge Project and surrounding transit improvements.  

Vaccines

We recently marked the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in Oregon. Since Dec. 16. 2020, more than 3 million Oregonians have received at least one dose of a COVID 19 vaccine. Vaccines continue to be our most effective tool in our ongoing response to the pandemic.

As I celebrate Oregon's successful vaccination rollout over the year, I’m also celebrating a HD 37 constituent, Teri Mills, who is lead for the Washington County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteer program. In this capacity, Teri has led her MRC unit in 41 COVID-19 vaccination clinics so far. I thanked her in person over lunch last week! I am grateful for Teri and all the MRC volunteers across our state who are protecting our community against COVID-19.

 

We have come a long way from when I was fighting for homebound Oregonians to be vaccinated. Vaccines are now authorized for people ages 5 and older in the United States, providing protection from COVID-19 infection and illness. Thank you to everyone who has taken this important step to protect themselves, their families, and loved ones. Bracing for a new variant as we head into our second pandemic holiday season is not what we had hoped for; it is scary and frustrating at a time when we are tired. From parents and teachers to our grocery store workers, nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers, we’ve seen Oregonians step up to fight against this deadly virus since the beginning of the pandemic. It has been these sacrifices that have saved thousands of lives and though we are all exhausted, I hope we will continue to step up to this fight.

While no one knows exactly when the pandemic will end, we do know what tools we have available to protect ourselves and our loved ones. One key way to help protect yourself against the omicron variant is to get your booster shot. Boosters work, and are incredibly effective at continuing your protection against this virus and hospitalization. And, if you aren’t vaccinated, please get the vaccine. Children ages five and up are now eligible.

A few things to keep in mind: 

• Recently, the first cases of the Omicron variant were identified in Oregon. We are still learning about this new variant. However, we’re seeing across the globe that it spreads very quickly.
• Modeling from Oregon Health and Sciences University (OHSU) shows the state is weeks away from a spike in hospitalizations, fueled by the quickly spreading omicron variant. 
• When more people are sick with COVID-19 and our hospitals are at capacity, it means our doctors and nurses may not be able to treat other urgent, life-threatening issues such as cardiac events, injuries, and accidents. 
• One key way to help protect yourself against the omicron variant is to get your booster shot. The state will be taking important steps to make sure our most vulnerable Oregonians have access to booster shots. 
• Boosters work, and are incredibly effective at continuing your protection against this virus and hospitalization. Visit Get Vaccinated Oregon to schedule an appointment today.
• If you aren’t yet vaccinated, please get vaccinated. Vaccines are the best tool we have to protect ourselves and our loved ones. If you have questions, that’s normal and you should talk with your healthcare provider.
• Masks, vaccines, and the incredible efforts of our health care workers, public health partners, and National Guard members have seen us through the Delta surge. We will need to make the same statewide, collaborative efforts to see us through Omicron

Protecting Our Mental Health

The past 20 months have been filled with anxiety, stress, and frustration unlike anything we have collectively experienced in our lifetimes. It is disheartening to hear of the coming Omicron surge and the holidays can add a whole new dimension of strain to an already extremely difficult time. Please take time for your own health and well-being. Take care of yourself, and each other, in the difficult weeks and months to come. There are places to turn if you need support. 

 
Some resources:

• Lines for Life crisis line call center: 800-273-8255 OR Text 273TALK to 839863
• ALCOHOL & DRUG HELPLINE: 800-923-4357 OR Text RecoveryNow to 839863
• MILITARY HELPLINE: 888-457-4838  OR Text MIL1 to 839863 
• SENIOR LONELINESS LINE: 503-200-1633
• YOUTHLINE: 877-968-8491 OR Text teen2teen to 839863
• Chat at www.oregonyouthline.org

Gun Safety
 

This month, a 15-year-old boy killed four students and wounded eight others at Oxford High school in Michigan using a gun his parents left unlocked and loaded in their bedroom. 

The reality of the situation is simple: If kids weren't able to get their hands on guns, we wouldn't have school shootings. By passing SB 554 earlier this year, Oregon became the 9th state in the country to require guns be securely stored when not in use, which could have prevented such a tragedy. However, public education and awareness is critical. Resources to educate gun owners of their responsibilities under the new law to keep firearms locked:

• Everytown’s Be SMART page helps parents and adults normalize gun safety conversations and contains shareable graphics and social media posts
• Guide to Secure Gun Storage Devices

Oregon’s new law also allows K-12 school districts and colleges to prohibit guns on their property, including those carried by concealed handgun license (CHL) holders. School boards across Oregon are already taking action to enact new weapons policies and share information with parents about the importance of secure firearm storage. 

Earlier this month, I was interviewed about Oregon’s safe storage laws and Michigan’s push to pass safe storage legislation in the wake of the tragic Oxford shooting. Read here: https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/oxford-shooting-michigan-dems-seek-gun-storage-law-it-may-be-long-fight?fbclid=IwAR2GkhSxC5GiNo-jOLQbENAe1KdJwP6xw86-bu9ONqaRzV5Q6d9m6xSN8wM

Safe Holiday Season

As this year closes, I want to take a moment to thank you for the commitment you’ve shown to caring for one another over this pandemic. Over the next few weeks I will stick close to home and enjoy my holiday tree and fireplace. I will care for my patients, catch up on emails, read a book, watch some holiday movies, and I will prepare for the February short session where I will continue to advocate for policy through a public health lens. I hope you have time to enjoy your loved ones and I wish you peace at the close of a very challenging year.



Happy Holidays and warmest wishes for a healthy new year.