Earlier this month, I asked you to share what matters most to you and your community. The top four results were: 1.) Housing Affordability 2.) Combating the Climate Crisis 4.) Lowering Everyday Costs I hear you. Your input will help focus our legislative agenda in Congress. Here’swhat I heard and what I will do: Oregonians need meaningful access to affordable housing. I strongly support Portland Mayor Keith Wilson’s $28 million plan to invest in shelters, specifically nighttime shelters, which is one of the missing pieces in our region’s system to support our unhoused neighbors. In the Oregon State Legislature, I championed a multi-billion-dollar investment in the production of affordable and middle housing and services for people experiencing houselessness. These local and state investments are critical to addressing housing affordability and homelessness, and this crisis demands urgent action from all levels of government. The federal government needs to more effectively come to the table. That’s why I’ll push Congress to not just reinvigorate federal investment in the construction of affordable housing but also address the intersection of housing insecurity and mental illness.
Combating the Climate Crisis Oregonians know the climate crisis is real and it demands our immediate attention. I was elected Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The House Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction over our public lands, water, wildlife, and fisheries. As a leader on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, I’ll be a fierce watchdog on any attempt to repeal environmental protections in favor of reckless drilling. But I know we also need to do more than just play defense. I will champion the transition to clean energy and focus the federal government on the inescapable intersection of public health and environmental degradation.
Oregonians believe in the fundamental power of democracy, and we will not stand by as our highest ideals are attacked. First and foremost, that means protecting the cornerstone of our democracy: equal access to free and fair elections. In Congress, I’ll work to make Oregon’s vote-by-mail model a national one so that every American can conveniently and securely access the ballot box. But defending democracy also means standing together in the face of misinformation, hateful rhetoric, and attempts to villainize our most vulnerable. I’m grateful that Oregon is a sanctuary state, and our local leaders are committed to upholding our values no matter the federal landscape. There is no doubt that the next four years will be challenging, but the way we get through it is together.
Too many Oregonians are struggling to afford the cost of everyday expenses, from health care to groceries. I grew up in the working class and took care of patients for decades who feel these challenges on a personal level. I am serving in Congress because I believe every Oregonian should do more than just get by— they should thrive.
Let me be clear: I am in Congress to represent our community’s values. That means listening, learning, and acting on what matters most to you. Last weekend I was thrilled to hold town halls with Senator Merkley in Hood River and East Portland, where I had the opportunity to hear from many of you in person. I will continue facilitating these important conversations, but it is helpful for me to know: |
