November 16, 2017 Newsletter

Rich Vial

November 16, 2017 Newsletter


Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Here is an update on my work as your State Representative.


In the Capitol

November Legislative Days

From November 13th through November 15th, legislators convened in Salem for another round of Legislative Days. Last month, Speaker of the House Tina Kotek appointed me to serve as a member of the House Committee on Health Care. Legislative Days was my first opportunity to participate in this committee’s hearings, and I have found myself once more impressed with my colleagues’ depth and breadth of knowledge, and in admiration of their genuine thoughtfulness with regard to healthcare issues. I am excited to work with my fellow committee members during the 2018 Regular Session.

Also during Legislative Days, members were briefed on the Governor’s support for a bill that would cap greenhouse gas emissions and tax companies for their carbon output. The Oregonian recently published an article on the idea, which you can read here. While I believe it is important that the legislature work to protect the most vulnerable in our society, which in my mind includes the preservation of our natural resources, I am also sensitive to the need for balancing these interests with those of our economy. I am anxious to learn more about these proposals as they develop, and I will try to keep you informed as they do.


In the District

WACC CTE Scholarship

On October 16th, the Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce (WACC) announced that it would be selecting two high school seniors, who currently reside in Wilsonville, will be graduating or earning their GED in the spring, and who plan on attending an accredited vocational or technical school next fall, to each receive a $1,000 CTE scholarship to help pay for tuition, specialized equipment, or tools. The purpose of these scholarships is to address the shortage of skilled workers in our region's trade industries. Applications are available now and due on January 8th. You can read more about the scholarships here. Special thanks to WACC and its members for all they do to support our workforce and the economic vitality of our community!

On November 6th, I attended the “Lights on Afterschool” Celebration at Middleton Elementary School in Sherwood. The Celebration, sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance and hosted by the Champions afterschool program, is an annual nationwide campaign highlighting the importance of quality afterschool programs in our public education system. Champions, a division of KinderCare Education, is a leading provider of afterschool learning programs for school-age children which operates at more than 425 sites in 19 states. During my visit, a group of students and I discussed what it is like to spend a day in the life of a State Representative. Later, they gave me a tour of their Champions program and delivered presentations in support of the Afterschool Alliance. Between 2004 and 2014, participation in afterschool programs increased from 6.5 million to 10.2 million students nationwide. For every child in an afterschool program, however, there are two more whose parents say they would participate if a program were available. Furthermore, one in five students in the United States today is unsupervised after the school day ends. I appreciate the work that the Afterschool Alliance does to raise awareness for this issue, and I want to thank Champions and Middleton Elementary School for inviting me to this event.

Washington County Business Council

On November 14th, I met with the Washington County Business Council (WCBC) in South Hillsboro. The WCBC is a coalition of independent businesses in Washington County that strive to educate each other and government entities about issues and policies that are supportive of job creation and responsive to the needs of the business community. WCBC members cover a broad spectrum of Oregon’s economy, from manufacturing and construction to agriculture and business services, and employ more than 400 Oregonians with combined annual sales of over $395 million. Chief among members’ concerns is our region’s transportation system—how quickly and efficiently they will be able to get their goods and services to market. I spoke with them about HB 3231, a bill I sponsored last session that would have allowed city and county governments to form special districts to plan, design, finance, construct, and operate limited-access highways if they and the communities they represent wish to do so. I continue to believe that the Legislature must take proactive steps to address Oregon’s long-term transportation challenges, and I look forward to working with organizations like the WCBC to ensure that happens.


Around the State

Oregon Forest Resources Institute

On October 3rd, I joined several of my legislative colleagues on tours of both the new "Future of Tall" exhibit at the World Forestry Center and the site of the new First Tech Federal Credit Union headquarters in Hillsboro. The tours, organized by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI), were an effort to raise awareness for the potential of mass timber in Oregon. Advocates believe that timber cross-laminated beams and mass plywood panels can be used in lieu of poured concrete and steel in the construction of modest high-rise buildings between six and twelve stories tall. I am thrilled at the prospect of more wood products being used in modern construction, not only for its beauty, but because of the economic implications it will have in helping to strengthen Oregon's timber industry. I think it is important that policymakers do what we can to facilitate this implementation, from modernizing our building codes to allowing greater timber harvest in our federal forests, and I would like to thank the OFRI for organizing such an interesting event.

On November 1st, I attended the Portland Business Alliance’s 2017 Business Leadership Evening at the Portland Art Museum. The primary purpose of the event was to honor Debbie Kitchin, who serves as a principal at InterWorks LLC, a general contracting company in Portland, with the William S. Naito Outstanding Service Award. This award, named in honor of the late Bill Naito, is the Portland Business Alliance’s most prestigious annual award, created to showcase how business, community, and philanthropy come together to serve our region and create a path to prosperity for everyone. I appreciate Debbie’s contributions within our communities, and I appreciate the Portland Business Alliance’s efforts to recognize the important work that our local business leaders are engaged with.

Clackamas County Courthouse Replacement Project

On November 2nd, I attended a celebration of the Clackamas County Courthouse Replacement Project. During the 2017 Regular Session, the Oregon State Legislature dedicated $1.2 million to help replace Clackamas County’s current courthouse, which is seismically unstable and which cannot meet the needs of the county’s growing population. A number of key stakeholders gathered in the Public Services Building in Oregon City to hear from county leaders about the next steps in the project and to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively and efficiently in this endeavor. I am excited for this new facility to become a reality for the people of Wilsonville and the Clackamas County community, as a whole.

OTF Annual Meeting

Also on November 2nd, I participated in a Legislative Panel at the Oregon Transportation Forum’s (OTF) Annual Meeting in Tigard. The primary purpose of this year’s OTF Annual Meeting was to celebrate the passage of HB 2017 earlier this year, the $5.3 billion transportation funding package that will be used to fix Oregon’s crumbling roads and bridges, address congestion, and invest in transit and multimodal projects around the state. The panel discussion focused on the next steps in the package’s implementation, including technical fixes that will be made during the 2018 Regular Session, administrative rule drafting, and how the package might affect Oregon’s relationship with Washington State. I would like to extend a special thank you to OTF for having me and several of my legislative colleagues, and for all the work that it does to advocate on behalf of transportation policy in our state.

On November 6th, I attended an update from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) at the Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency building in Beaverton. The purpose of the update was to inform judges, county commissioners, and a variety of public safety stakeholders of the work that DPSST’s Board of Directors, its various committees, and the agency as a whole has done to improve its Criminal Justice Professional Standards and Training Programs. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and to provide the leadership team with feedback regarding what  DPSST is doing well and what it can do to better serve Oregonians. I appreciate the work that DPSST does to train our public safety personnel, and I appreciate all that our public safety personnel do to make Oregon one of the best places in the world to work, play, and raise a family. 

Madrona Recovery

On November 10th, I attended an open house at Madrona Recovery’s renovated facility in Tigard. Madrona Recovery is an organization that offers services and programming to support youth ages 13 to 17 through both mental health and chemical dependency issues. Since breaking ground in April of 2017, the Madrona Recovery team, comprised of medical personnel, skilled clinicians, chemical dependency counselors, and experienced wellness staff, has worked hard to design and create a physical space that is a warm and therapeutic place for youth and families to receive the care and services that they deserve. The new, 23-bed, short-term residential facility will be opening its doors on November 13, 2017. At a time when mental health and opioid and other forms of chemical addiction appear so frequently in public discourse, I appreciate the work that Madrona and other programs do to stabilize youth, educate families, and increase the chances of long-term success in recovery.


Personal Reflections

Veterans Day

November 11th was Veterans Day, and I hope you were able to enjoy it with friends and family while appreciating the sacrifices that our veterans have made for our freedom. My father-in-law, Darwin (pictured on the far right), was in our nation’s Capital when the Korean War began. Not long afterwards, he returned home and enlisted in the Navy, where he served as a hospital corpsman on an LST-1068 tank landing ship. In the line of duty, he saved two sailors’ lives before studying in San Diego to become a dental lab technician. He was later sent to the Naval Station on Treasure Island in San Francisco, where he served the remainder of his four years. I am very proud of my father-in-law and I am tremendously grateful for his service, as well as that of everyone who has served, is serving, and will serve in our armed forces.

Madagascar

Last month, Paula and I spent several weeks touring and photographing birds in Madagascar. The countryside was beautiful and we were fortunate enough to see some of the rarest species of animals in the world. Our guide, Francisco, works full time at a nature preserve in Andaside, where he lives in a small shack. He is 55 years old and has two children. Between he and his wife, who sells rice in the village market, the family makes about $500 per month. Despite having little in the way of material goods, he describes himself and his neighbors as happy and healthy.

Getting to know Francisco and some of the other people who live there, I was reminded of what is really important in life—that is, I was reminded of all that I have to be thankful for. This Thanksgiving, it is my hope that you and your loved ones are able to enjoy each other’s company and that you are able to appreciate all that we, as Americans and Oregonians, even given the many challenges our society continues to face, are blessed with.

As always, it is a privilege to serve as your State Representative—just one more thing that I feel truly thankful for this holiday season.

Sincerely,

ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE - Rich

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1426
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-484, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RichVial@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/vial