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Greetings from Salem!
This week the House approved the $7.255 billion K-12
budget that provides stability for students and teachers for the next two years
and funds full-day kindergarten for every child in Oregon for the first time in
state history. This represents a 25%
increase in K-12 funding since 2011. We
passed this budget earlier than any K-12 budget in the last 25 years so school
districts will have the certainty they need to plan for the next two
years. HB 5017 also includes provision
that dedicates a percentage of any new revenue to education funding. While I am hesitant to make any predictions,
if the economy shows improvement in the May revenue forecast, a significant
portion of the new revenue will be allocated to schools. At the same time, our overall budget is still
a work in progress. Under the current
budget proposal, there is a $140 million shortfall in the Human Services budget
for programs like senior services, and mental health care, as well as a $58
million dollar gap in funding for public safety.
SJM 9 urges Congress to expedite the appropriation of
funds to monitor and prevent the spread of invasive species including quagga
and zebra mussels. This bill was
unanimously approved on the Senate floor on Thursday, and now moves to the
House side. Quagga and zebra mussel invasions have had catastrophic impacts in
the ecosystems in which they have established.
They can collapse entire food webs, reduce fish populations and
devastate fisheries. While small, their
shells are razor sharp, and cover beaches, docks and boat hulls adversely
affecting recreational uses. These
organisms clog water intake structures which greatly increase maintenance costs
for water treatment and power plants.
These mussels are native to Russia and the Ukraine, and have been
spreading throughout the world in the ballast of ships. They became established in the Great Lakes
in 1988 and 1989 and in California in 2008.
SJM 9 urges Congress to take appropriate action to prevent the spread of
the mussel infestation into the Pacific Northwest and the Columbia River
Basin. As a co-sponsor of this bill, I
am working with Senator Roblan to see that this legislation is approved and
forwarded onto Washington, D.C.
On Monday I was pleased to welcome Friends of Family
Farmers from House District 32 at the Capitol.
These farmers came to Salem from Nehalem, Gales Creek, Astoria and
Tillamook to speak in support several bills, including HB 2721 promoting Farm
to School and School Gardens, HB 2723 allowing the creation of Urban
Agriculture Incentive Zones and SB 341 providing limited liability for
Agriculture Tourism providers. We had a
great discussion on a wide range of topics like genetically engineered crops,
reforming the Board of Agriculture to include small farmers, protecting
farmland from aggregate mining, and the overuse of antibiotics in healthy farm
animals.
Deb and Friends of Family Farmers
Back in the district, the Oregon Department of
Transportation will be removing containment structures from the US 101 Necarney
Creek (Sam Reed) Bridge. For the week of
April 6-10, flaggers will control single lane traffic from 7:00am to 5:00pm,
and motorists can expect delays of up to 20 minutes. The project is expected to be completed by
the end of the month. ODOT will also be
working on the Old Youngs Bay Bridge and the Astoria-Megler Bridge. As a safety reminder, Oregon State Police will
be enforcing speed limits through construction zones, and traffic fines double
in work zones.
Congratulations to the Astoria Toastmasters! On Monday,
the Astoria Toastmasters will commemorate its 65th Anniversary at
the Hotel Elliot. Since 1950 the club
has been dedicated to helping people increase confidence, build critical
thinking skills and become effective listeners. Many people list anxiety over public
speaking as their greatest fear, and Toastmasters helps members overcome that
fear by teaching public speaking and leadership skills, while helping build their
confidence in front of an audience.
I want to send a thank you to the 5,100 volunteers who
turned out last Saturday for the 30th Annual SOLVE Spring Beach
Clean-up. This year, 62,500 pounds of
litter and marine debris was collected, including a baby stroller in Seaside,
200 feet of fishing rope in Cannon Beach, and a bayonet on Sunset Beach. Our beaches not only look better, but are
safer for people and wildlife. Great
Job!
In order to best represent my
district, I need to hear about your concerns. My door is always
open to constituents from House District 32, and I enjoy meeting with friends
and neighbors when they visit Salem. My office has moved to the
fourth floor, I’m now in H-481. If you are planning to visit the
Capitol, let my office know a few days in advance so we can schedule an
appointment. If you have a concern or comment about a state agency
or legislation under consideration, you can write, phone or email my office.
If you are interested in the
legislative process, you can learn all about the Oregon Legislature, follow
proposed bills, and watch committee meetings and floor sessions live, by
accessing the Oregon Legislative Information System via the following link:
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Pages/Legislative-Video.aspx
It is my privilege to represent
you in the Oregon House of Representatives and I look forward to hearing from
you.
Sincerely,
Deborah Boone
email: Rep.DeborahBoone@state.or.us I phone: 503-986-1432
address: 900 Court St NE, H-481, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boone
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