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Friday, February 5, 2016
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2016 Legislative Session is in full swing and I have already had the chance to meet with many passionate residents of District 21. It is an honor to represent such an engaged district and I encourage more people to visit me in Salem to share their thoughts or concerns.
During this fast-paced and exciting time, I am focused on a range of legislation to improve quality of life for individuals and families across Oregon. In particular, I am committed to raising the minimum wage, promoting affordable housing, supporting small businesses, addressing key environmental issues, and implementing campaign finance reform.
I invite you to review the updates I have provided below, including information about my committee work, new staff, and ways that you can stay up-to-date on current legislation.
As always, I welcome your questions and concerns. I can be reached by phone at 503-986-1721 or by email at sen.dianerosenbaum@state.or.us.
Wishing you a positive and productive month!
Senator Diane Rosenbaum
Senate President Pro Tempore
District 21
Senator Rosenbaum at the 2015 Labor Day Picnic at Oaks Park, advocating to raise Oregon's minimum wage.
In this issue:
I was incredibly alarmed this week to learn about elevated cadmium and arsenic emissions near SE Powell and SE 22nd Avenue. I take the situation extremely seriously, especially due to the close proximity of the site to schools and other areas where children are present.
We are monitoring the situation closely and have been meeting with relevant regulators in an attempt to fix this pressing public health and environmental problem. I am working hard to make sure that the public will have the information that it needs and deserves, and to ensure a swift response.
As a first step, there will be an open house from 5-9pm on Tuesday, February 9th, in the Cleveland High School cafeteria in order to provide more information about the air quality monitoring and high levels of cadmium and arsenic. The event is hosted by the Multnomah County Health Department and Portland Public Schools and will also include staff from the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA).
Community meeting on air quality
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Time: 5-9pm
Summary: Visit agency stations and view maps from 5-7pm, engage in Q&A with County Health Department from 7-8pm, and talk with staff from 8-9pm.
Location: Cleveland High School cafeteria, 3400 SE 26th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
Below, I have listed several other resources that I hope you will find useful. This includes DEQ and OHA websites that provide up-to-date information on the situation, as well as a phone number for the OHA’s Environmental Public Health Section, which you can call with questions about potential adverse health impacts. The DEQ website provides the option to sign up for email updates. In addition, I have included a link to a news release from Bullseye Glass that indicates the company has suspended the use of cadmium and arsenic.
DEQ updates and maps (as they become available): www.deq.state.or.us/nwr/metalsemissions.htm
Oregon Health Authority public health updates: http://public.health.oregon.gov/newsadvisories/Pages/metals-emissions.aspx
OHA phone line: 971-673-0185
Bullseye news release: www.bullseyeglass.com/news-releases.html
Again, I would like to express my deep concern and assure you that I am paying close attention to these developments.
This session, I will be serving in my new role as Senate President Pro Tempore, which means I will preside over important floor sessions.
Senator Rosenbaum presiding over the Oregon State Senate on Thursday.
In addition, I serve on these committees:
I will also continue my work on the Joint Task Force on Campaign Finance Reform and on the Oregon Hunger Task Force.
This week, I have had the chance to meet with many passionate constituents to learn more about the interests and priorities throughout our district. I highly value the input of my constituents and I look forward to hearing from many more of you in coming weeks.
A few of the valuable moments from this week are captured in the photos below.
 Senator Rosenbaum meeting with Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba and environmental champions on Healthy Climate Lobby Day.
 Senator Rosenbaum meeting with constituents to discuss public health and housing concerns.
I am excited to announce that I will be assisted this session by two excellent Legislative Assistants, Nolan Pleše and Greg Mintz.
Senator Rosenbaum with Nolan Pleše (left) and Greg Mintz (right).
Nolan joined my office in the fall of 2015, providing invaluable assistance during my time as Senate Majority Leader. He is a long-time constituent of Senate District 21, with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Portland State University and experience working to promote social justice with organizations such as the Western States Center.
Greg is a native Oregonian with a background in public interest law and environmental justice work. He attended the University of California, Irvine School of Law as part of the school’s inaugural class, as well as the University of Washington. Greg will be covering the many technical bills in the Judiciary Committee.
I look forward to working with Nolan and Greg, and I am grateful for the support that they will provide during this busy session.
Senator Rosenbaum and Governor Kate Brown encourage Oregonians to register to vote.
An engaged population is critical to the democratic process, and I strive to protect the right of every Oregonian to be heard.
That is why I fought so hard to pass House Bill 2177, which was signed into law and took effect on January 1, 2016. This landmark legislation makes voter registration simpler and more secure, while removing barriers to voting and promoting voter participation.
If needed, you can always register to vote or update your voter information online here:
Register or Update Your Voter Information!
You can stay up-to-date on legislative developments by visiting the website for the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS). This useful tool allows the public to search for bills, track the status of legislation, and stay up-to-date on committees, hearings, floor votes, and other matters.
I also strive to provide regular updates on Facebook and Twitter, which you can access through the links provided below.
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