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Friends and neighbors,

June is filled with celebrations and I’d like to start by extending my congratulations to all of the 2022 graduates! Investing in your education is one of the first steps to achieving your aspirations, whether you are heading to a university, going to technical school, or beginning a career in your local community.

I’m inspired by your resiliency and dedication during these challenging years and am one of the many Oregonians cheering you on. I’m eager to see what’s next for the Class of 2022 and look forward to working alongside you to make our state the best it can be. Congratulations on a job well done!


You can read more about the Tualatin High School Graduation ([link removed]) and the West Linn High School Graduation ([link removed]) at these links.

And finally, I want to make a special shout out to my legislative high school intern, Summer Tan, who graduated from West Linn High School last Friday and will be attending Harvard in the Fall. Summer is passionate about civic participation, belongs to several clubs and societies and chairs the West Linn Youth Advisory Council. In other words she is making change and doing good work. I’m incredibly proud of her hard work and dedication to service and can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in the years ahead. Congratulations Summer!


Juneteenth Celebration

In June 2021, the Legislature passed HB 2168 to establish Juneteenth as an official state holiday. Shortly after, President Biden signed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Juneteenth commemorates the historic day on June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston Texas received the delayed, but welcome news, that the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery in Confederate states. Clara Peoples, known as the “the Mother of Juneteenth, '' brought Juneteenth to Oregon, starting the first celebration in the Portland shipyards in 1945. Miss Peoples helped to initiate Portland’s annual citywide Juneteenth celebration in 1972. This legacy was continued by her family and community leaders who have coordinated in following years and for this year’s 50th anniversary celebration. Juneteenth is celebrated by communities all over the state. These community gatherings offer an opportunity to reflect, learn about the history of movements for Black freedom and liberation, pass on stories and traditions to the next generation, and celebrate the contributions of Black Americans. Check out the events in HD 37:

West Linn will be hosting a celebration of Juneteenth this Sunday June 19 at Willamette Park! They're excited to feature educational booths, food and beverage trucks, live jazz, world music, a DJ, a bounce house for the kids, beer cart for the adults, and more! This event is for all ages with free admission. For more information, please contact Doug Erickson at [email protected].

Please take a moment to read the BIPOC caucus press release ([link removed]) which lists events across the state.
Happy Pride

June is also Pride month and this year I am excited to see the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade has returned! The Parade will kick off this Sunday, June 19th at 11 am and you can view the parade route here ([link removed]) and learn more about the festival here ([link removed]) .

As we watch states across the country seek to reduce the civil rights of our transgender, nonbinary, and queer youth, I am proud to be in a state that has supported and stood with the LGBTQIA2S+ communities. Here in Oregon, we took the necessary steps so transgender Oregonians can attain gender-affirming identity documents and healthcare coverage under the Oregon Health Plan. We’ve made it easier to access PrEP & PEP medications by allowing pharmacists to prescribe them. We’ve banned conversation therapy and provided funding to develop LGBTQIA2S+ student-specific supports.

We’ve expanded Oregon’s hate crime and anti-discrimination laws to protect our LGBTQIA2S+ community, and prohibited the use of the “trans panic” or “gay panic” defense, which argues acts of violence are somehow mitigated by the victim’s gender identity or sexuality.

Celebrating Pride 2019

Gun Violence Prevention and Firearm Safety

Many of you may remember my many updates about SB 554, which required the safe storage of firearms and allowed school districts to adopt a policy forbidding firearm possession on school grounds. This restriction extends to those who have a concealed carry license and requires clearly visible signs at all normal points of entry to the school grounds and on the board’s website. The bill became law on September 25, 2021 and I am thrilled to share that both of our local school boards have adopted the provisions of SB 554, forbidding guns on campus. You can read about the recent West Linn - Wilsonville decision here ([link removed]) and read the Tigard-Tualatin Board Policy here ([link removed]) .

While SB 544 was an important piece of protecting Oregonians and our children, we have an opportunity to take more action this November ([link removed]) via a gun safety ballot measure that is currently collecting signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Led by Lift Every Voice Oregon, a coalition of faith leaders, youth, and gun safety advocates, IP 17 will reduce gun violence by making gun owners safer & ammunition less lethal. It would require anyone wanting to acquire a firearm to first get a permit from local law enforcement after completing safety training and passing a background check. The measure would also ban ammunition magazines over 10 rounds, except for current owners, law enforcement and the military.

These are common sense answers the majority of Oregonians support, and would allow us to take action without having to wait for Congress, for the 2023 state legislative session, or until another mass shooting.

You can find out more by visitinglifteveryvoiceoregon.com ([link removed]) do your part by sending your petition signature from home ([link removed]) , or volunteering to collect signatures in your community ([link removed]) !

Every signature counts and we have until July 8th to qualify this ballot measure.

Task Force on Universal Health Care Listening Session
Oregon’s Task Force on Universal Health Care invites Oregonians across the state to join regional community listening sessions via Zoom. The Task Force is hosting six individual sessions throughout June moderated by a professional facilitator. At each session, people will have the opportunity to listen, learn, and provide feedback about the Task Force’s Universal Health Plan. More information on the listening sessions and language services can be found here ([link removed]) .

Anyone can sign up to receive meeting materials and reminders by email here ([link removed]) .

There are several community listening sessions over the next few weeks. This is your chance to hear about this new proposed system, and give them your much-needed feedback!

Oregon’s Joint Task Force on Universal Health Care invites you to a regional community forum.
Come listen, learn, and provide feedback on their work so far. Help Oregon build a health care system where everyone has access to affordable health care.

When and Where:
* Southern Region | Saturday, June 18 - 10:30 am to 12:30 pm - Zoom link: shorturl.at/pvxRX ([link removed][0]=AT2R3niPq3SYL7fx_eTNj-tbUwW_2eoEolLXlcMTdZhcmQxcI1CRdP2RiEc35ePe8xURm_S2PrNKgznoB7h8pTZU99qZh_w9cZG8HMMNSPFoTX05Pj2fC5QOiJVN9PzqCIvBhH_ziaiWUmaHAx3ySbbfJVRXuAoNNdsaBwElTIop26F4IZoNyuxbhqyDYDul3Mg483pG)
* Portland Metro | Tuesday, June 21 - 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Zoom link: shorturl.at/uDGQ4 ([link removed][0]=AT2R3niPq3SYL7fx_eTNj-tbUwW_2eoEolLXlcMTdZhcmQxcI1CRdP2RiEc35ePe8xURm_S2PrNKgznoB7h8pTZU99qZh_w9cZG8HMMNSPFoTX05Pj2fC5QOiJVN9PzqCIvBhH_ziaiWUmaHAx3ySbbfJVRXuAoNNdsaBwElTIop26F4IZoNyuxbhqyDYDul3Mg483pG)
* Willamette Valley | Saturday, June 25 - 10:30 am to 12:30 pm - Zoom link: shorturl.at/rGJZ2 ([link removed][0]=AT2R3niPq3SYL7fx_eTNj-tbUwW_2eoEolLXlcMTdZhcmQxcI1CRdP2RiEc35ePe8xURm_S2PrNKgznoB7h8pTZU99qZh_w9cZG8HMMNSPFoTX05Pj2fC5QOiJVN9PzqCIvBhH_ziaiWUmaHAx3ySbbfJVRXuAoNNdsaBwElTIop26F4IZoNyuxbhqyDYDul3Mg483pG)

To participate or receive materials in a language other than English, please email: [email protected]

New Board Position

I’ve been driven to help people and keep our communities strong my entire career. It’s why I became a nurse, why I ran for office and why I volunteer so much of my time serving my community so I'm excited to announce that I am officially on the Fora Health Treatment & Recovery Board of Directors. Fora Health provides treatment, care and advocacy to those who are affected by substance use disorder. I'm committed to this work in dedication to a dear friend whose life was cut short from substance use disorder. I will bring the lens of a family member to someone who has access to medication assistance treatment, a nurse practitioner caring for patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorder, and a policy maker who fought for access to treatments that will save lives.

Fora Health builds on De Paul’s nearly five decades of excellence, innovation and experience providing trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies with the goal of building healthier individuals, families and communities. At Fora Health, we believe everyone has the innate ability to heal and recover. To change their lives for the better. Forever. That belief guides us in envisioning communities where every person affected by substance use disorder has access to the support needed to emerge from this disease. Where healthcare systems become advocates for hope. Where stigma ceases to exist.

An Unexpected and Special Honor

In May I was excited to spend time with the Oregon Nurses Association at their convention where I presented my insights on being a nurse legislator; covering policies passed during my time in the legislature and what policies we still need to address. It was a meaningful presentation to me and putting it together allowed me to reflect on the accomplishments of the past several sessions, the challenges of the pandemic, and of service during unprecedented crisis’. I’m certainly proud of the work I’ve done on behalf of our district, Oregon’s healthcare workers, and patients across the state, so I was deeply honored to be given the “Hall of Fame” Award this year. Thank you ONA!


Willamette Falls Locks

June 15th marked a milestone for efforts to re-open the Willamette Falls Locks. With federal and state funds now secured to begin the necessary repairs, the State of Oregon has appointed "Willamette Falls Locks Authority" to oversee the effort and prepare the Locks for eventual re-opening for both recreational and commercial use.

More than fifty community members, tribal leaders, city and county officials, and Locks visionaries gathered to celebrate the success so far and set the stage for the important next steps that will take place over the next five years. The long-term history of the falls and the locks, which have operated since the 1870s, connect our communities in Clackamas County and upriver. It's encouraging to see the success and broad support for this community-led effort and will be exciting to watch the progress that will be made over the next few years as we work to fortify the Locks for a safe reopening. Thankful to have been engaged in the bipartisan and bicameral efforts of the Clackamas Caucus advocating to make this happen.

Two years ago I spoke on the house floor alongside Representative Meek to carry HB 4150 which was an important step to getting to where we are today. Watch here ([link removed]) .

The Future of House District 37

Looking ahead to the 2023 session, I am proud to endorse Jules Walters as the future state representative for House District 37. Jules is deeply engaged in our community, and I’ve watched her work with cooperation, dedication, enthusiasm, and respect for others; those are qualities she’ll bring to Salem and ones Salem needs.

As your Representative, I’ve been honored to work with Jules both during her time on city council and during her time as our Mayor. On council she worked to build strong relationships with regional partners giving West Linn an impactful voice on regional issues and as Mayor, I’ve been continually impressed by her leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, and ice storms. She has stood strong as a voice for our community and is making sure the state considers how their transportation plans will affect West Linn and its residents, and she will continue to fight for more investments in our district.

Jules will keep the focus on the values that are important to our community: addressing the rising cost of living, the continued effects of COVID-19, and the growing impact of climate change. She knows every Oregonian deserves affordable and accessible childcare and healthcare, reproductive care including abortion, and freedom from gun violence - Jules is committed to fighting for those values and I hope you will join me in supporting her.

Sincerely,
Rachel Prusak

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West Linn, Or 97068
USA
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