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Dear friends,
It's hard to believe that we've entered the month of November and that the holidays are fast approaching! First and foremost is Veterans Day on Saturday, November 11. More than 325,000 veterans call Oregon home. I believe we have a responsibility to support our service men and women and am proud to say that during the 2017 Legislative Session, my colleagues and I passed a number of bills to do just that. Those bills are listed below.
The second set of "legislative days" for the 2017 interim is November 13-15. Committees will hold informational hearings and discuss legislative concepts for the 2018 "short" session. You can review committee agendas (once posted) and watch live hearings using the Legislature's online information system.
In 2007, I chaired the Senate Commerce Committee. That year, we passed Oregon's Consumer Identify Theft Protection Act (CITPA). Due to the massive data breach by consumer reporting agency, Equifax, and its impact on Oregonians, I have convened a Senate Judiciary Committee workgroup that will consider policy options for updating and strengthening CITPA during the 2018 short session. The Legislature must take steps to better protect Oregonians from such data breaches.
Below you will find information on:
- Veterans Day Events
- 2017 Session: Legislation Supporting Our Veterans
I hope you, your family and friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please drive safely during the busy traveling and shopping period. Remember to check ODOT's TripCheck.com for road conditions and traffic information. And, as always, feel free to share your comments, questions or concerns with me by phone, mail or e-mail.
Veterans Day Events
Details on Douglas County's parade are below. Please note: Even though the Lane County Veterans Day parade took place on Sunday, November 5, VFW Post 293 and American Legion Post 3 will hold an event on November 11 with State Senator James Manning, a veteran himself, as the principal speaker (details below). For a listing of other local and statewide Veterans Day events, click here.
Douglas County Veterans Day Parade
November 11, 11:00 a.m. @ Jackson Street, Roseburg
Organized by Douglas County Veterans Forum
Contact: Carol Hunt (503-504-8198 / carolhunt15@msn.com)
"Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month"
November 11, 11 a.m. @ Veterans Memorial Building (1626 Willamette St, Eugene)
Organized by VFW Post 293 and American Legion Post 3
Contact: Nick Urhausen (541-344-5070 / nickurhausen@comcast.net)
2017 Session: Legislation Supporting Our Veterans
Continuing my summaries of bills passed during the 2017 session, here is a comprehensive listing of accomplishments related to supporting our veterans in numerical order:
SB 129 - Task Force for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: This legislation creates a task force to study and make recommendations about the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly for veterans. The task force will include members of the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as medical professionals. The task force will be responsible for identifying the best treatments and possible funding for treatment of PTSD.
SB 143 - Expanding Resources for Veterans in Higher Education: This legislation focuses on helping veterans transition from military life to college and beyond. SB 143 establishes and expands the resources offered to veterans on community college and public university campuses. This includes employing campus veteran resource coordinators to assist and act as advocates for veterans enrolled in college or university. SB 143 will help Oregon's veterans pursue and achieve educational goals.
SB 993 - Purple Heart Recognition: The Purple Heart is a medal awarded to members of the armed forces who are wounded in action. More than 21,000 Oregonians are eligible for the Purple Heart. This legislation recognizes the sacrifice these men and women have given for our country and it designates August 7 of every year as Purple Heart Recognition Day.
HB 2220 - Helping Veterans Earn a High School Diploma: This legislation removes an outdated requirement barring veterans from receiving a high school diploma if they have not received a GED or post secondary degree. Under HB 2220, veterans may obtain high school diplomas if they did not complete high school as a result of their service.
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