Every year, I visit each of Oregon’s 36 counties to host a town hall meeting -- an opportunity to hear directly from you and your neighbors about the issues that matter most to you. Throughout my travels, I am consistently struck not only by Oregonians’ dedication to making our state a better place for all, but by the amount that we all have in common, even in these divided times.

          Collaboration has long been a core value for Oregonians, and I’m committed to bringing that spirit to Washington through my work in the U.S. Senate. And I’ll work with anyone, on either side of the aisle, when it comes to fighting for Oregon. That’s why when we were in a fight to save over a thousand Oregon jobs after the Trump administration announced the closure of our Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs), I noticed that Kentucky was affected too -- so I called up Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

          For years, CCC staff members -- many of whom are veterans -- and thousands of their students have worked hard to maintain our forests and reduce the severity of wildfires. Closing or altering these centers would have meant kicking hundreds of current students off of their path to a better life, while eliminating a critical workforce that helps keep our families safe.

          I was able to convince Senator McConnell -- and with his help and that of other senators on both sides of the aisle, the leadership at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the program -- that the administration’s reckless decision to end the centers as we know them would only hurt our communities. Ultimately, we were able to work together, save the centers, and continue to make our forests more resilient to wildfires.

          Our nation is at its strongest when we seek out and built on our common ground. At a time of heightened division in Washington, please know that I’m committed to finding ways to bring my colleagues together to fight for the bipartisan solutions Oregonians need.

All my best,
Jeff