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This week Legislative Days were held in Salem. Legislative
Days provide an opportunity for legislators, staff, and the public to get
together during the interim. We hold committee hearings, approve appointments,
and learn more about potential legislation for the 2017 Legislative session. If
you’re interested in attending Legislative Days your next opportunity is
September 21, 22, and 23.
Legislative Announcements
I’m proud to announce that I was recently named Chair of the
new Senate General Government and Accountability Committee. I am excited to use
this position to address issues of government transparency and efficiency in
Oregon.
Constituent Coffee
Mark your calendars – Representative McLain and I are hosting
a joint constituent coffee on July 23, at Manaia
Coffee House and Island Grill in Hillsboro. We’ll be there from 9:30 AM to 10:30
AM to speak with you about towing and environmental issues. I hope to see you
there!
Legislative
Updates
If you are interested, you can read a brief summary
of legislation that was enacted during the 2016 session. There is also
information on some bills that were heard in committee but didn’t make it all
the way through the legislative process during the short session.
My Children’s
Special District bill unfortunately fell victim to tight legislative
timelines and did not pass during the 2016 session. Children’s Special
Districts are designed to pick up where the Commission on Children and Families
left off, by providing services for Oregon’s kids outside of school time. I am
looking forward to growing our bipartisan support during the 2017 session to
make sure we get this bill passed.
There were questions about certain provisions of my predatory
towing bill as it relates to signage. Unfortunately, when you only have a
few days to get a bill out of committee, a small issue like this can prevent a
bill from passing. I am working to make sure this language is fixed in the 2017
session so we can move forward to protect consumers from predatory towing
practices.
We did have some great victories during the short session. I
was proud to be one of many chief sponsors of “Melissa’s Law” (SB 1571),
which passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor during May
Legislative Days. This is a great step forward in helping rape victims in
Oregon by clearing the untested rape kit backlog and preventing a future
backlog from occurring.
I was also proud to be one of the sponsors of SB 1586,
which helps reduce barriers for Oregon college students to vote. Oregon is an
example to the nation for open and accessible elections, and I am happy we were
able to take another step forward to ensure all Oregonians can participate in
the election process.
Many Oregonians have been impacted by rapidly rising costs
of housing. During the short session we were able to pass SB 1533,
which lifted the ban on Inclusionary Zoning in Oregon. This is a small but
meaningful step we took to address the housing issue for Oregon’s citizens.
Another victory for Oregon was the passage of SB 1507,
which extended the tax credit for the TV and film industry in Oregon. These tax
credits help support Oregon’s burgeoning TV and film production industry,
including Laika Studios here in Hillsboro.
Community Events
and Announcements
Memorial Day is Monday, May 30. On this day we come together
to remember our veterans who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
There are a number of Memorial Day events happening around the state and in
Senate District 15. You can read the statewide list here,
which includes events in Beaverton, Forest Grove, and Hillsboro.
On June 21 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Beaverton Library
Oregon AARP will be hosting a community
meeting to discuss respite care for family caregivers. If you provide
unpaid care for an adult loved one consider attending this meeting to share
your thoughts on how respite care can be improved in Oregon.
Saturday, June 25, 2016 is Aspen Dental’s
National Day of Service. On this day veterans can receive free dental care
at participating practices. The Aspen Dental office in Beaverton is one of the
participating offices this year, but there are five participating practices in
Oregon. Veterans are urged to call 1-844-AspenHMM (1-844-277-36466) to make an
appointment – spaces fill up fast!
Another event happening on June 25th is the Concert
at the Capitol. This free event is open to the public from 11:30 AM to 12:30
PM at the Capitol building in Salem. Everyone is invited to bring a blanket or
lawn chair and enjoy the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra play selections from Star
Wars, Oklahoma!, Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, and the American Frontier. Your
Capitol will be open during the event and will offer tours at 1 PM and 1:30 PM
following the concert. You can also sample gourmet foods from around Oregon
inside the Capitol at the Capitol Store’s Customer Appreciation event (while
supplies last).
Home fires are the greatest disaster threat to individuals
and families in the United States. The American Red Cross of Oregon and
Southwest Washington is offering free
installation of smoke alarms for your home. Be sure to visit the Red
Cross website, or call them at 503-528-5783 to schedule an appointment!
This service is available free of charge to all residents living in Oregon and
Southwest Washington, so please share this lifesaving tip with family and
friends.
Senate President Peter Courtney and Speaker of the House
Tina Kotek have created a special joint committee to develop a statewide
transportation package for consideration during the 2017 legislative session.
As part of the process, the co-chairs want committee members to learn more
about transportation needs across the state. The members of the Joint
Transportation Committee are embarking on a statewide
tour over the summer to identify local transportation needs and hear
directly from Oregonians about their transportation priorities. There will be
meetings in Salem, Portland, Ontario, Hermiston, Eugene, Bend, Medford,
Newport, and Hillsboro. The Hillsboro meeting will be in the Shirley Huffman
Auditorium at the Hillsboro Civic Center on September 19 at 5:00 PM.
The Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems has
announced that every hospital in Oregon can now provide a cost estimate for
hospital services for scheduled procedures within three days. This policy is
especially helpful for uninsured or out-of-network patients to understand their
potential medical costs. You can use the “Cost Estimates” section at www.OregonHospitalGuide.org to
select a hospital and learn more about their medical cost estimates.
Snapshots
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Here I am with Sen. Burdick, Sen. Hass, Rep. Williamson, Rep. Read, and other stakeholders witnessing Governor Brown sign SB 1507 into law at Laika Studios. |
Here I am with Rep. McLain at the Team Up event at Echo Shaw Elementary School. Proceeds from Team Up go to help provide classroom supplies for kids in Washington County. This year's proceeds went to Cornelius Elementary students in Forest Grove. |
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Here I am meeting with folks and learning more about Bethesda Lutheran Communities -- they work to provide homes and services to people with developmental disabilities so that they can live the lives they want. |
Stay in Touch!
We want to stay in contact with you! If you are not already subscribed, please
visit my legislative website and enter your email address into the
“e-Subscribe” box at the right so that you never miss a newsletter. You will also find me on Facebook, or you can follow me on Twitter to stay up to date with what my office is up
to. Or, you can always check the events calendar on my legislative website!
As always, I am here to serve you.
If there is something I can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate to
reach out to my office.
Sincerely,
 Senator Chuck Riley
Senate District 15
email: Sen.ChuckRiley@state.or.us I phone: 503-986-1715
address: 900 Court St NE, S-303, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/riley
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