Yesterday was the Opening Day of the 2018 Short Session, for which I was joined by my granddaughter, Kasandra. The House convened at 8:15 A.M. to credential new members, adopt rules, and read measures for the first time. Later, the Speaker of the House and Senate President convened a Joint Session for Governor Kate Brown’s State of the State Address. I appreciated Governor Brown’s comments on the need to improve public education in Oregon while strengthening our economy, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to achieve those goals while simultaneously working to make our government more efficient, transparent, and responsible. Following the Governor’s remarks, the House reconvened to adopt session deadlines before adjourning so that members could begin conducting committee meetings, public hearings, and work sessions.

As you can imagine, biennial short sessions move very quickly. For bills to remain alive, committee chairs must schedule them to receive work sessions no later than February 9th. Any bills which do not then receive a work session by February 15th will no longer be able to move forward this session. Bills that pass on the floor of the House will then be subject to deadlines set by the Senate for advancement through its own committee process, and vice versa. The 2018 Short Session will adjourn on March 11th for the last time this year, Sine Die.

Back on January 12th, I had the chance to meet Jarod from Eugene. Jarod is a seventh grader who is working to become an Eagle Scout, and he is also the recipient of a heart transplant. For his Eagle Scout project, and with the support of Representative Julie Fahey, Jarod hopes to pass a bill this session that would designate the second week of April each year to be “Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donor Appreciation Week,” during which the Governor would present special awards to the families of selected donors throughout the state. Right now, more than 117,000 people are waiting to receive lifesaving organ transplants in America, of which 22 tragically die every day. I want to commend Jarod for his efforts to promote organ donation awareness in Oregon, and I look forward to voting “Aye” on his bill when it reaches the House floor.

Throughout the session, you may feel strongly about one or more bills. I encourage you to share your views by contacting your legislator directly. To find out who represents you, click here and enter your address in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. In addition, the Oregon State Legislature’s Citizen Engagement webpage provides a great deal of information about how to use the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) to track a bill, provide testimony, e-Subscribe to Alerts and more. If you ever have questions about how you can participate in the legislative process, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Also on January 17th, I participated in a Legislative Reception with the Westside Economic Alliance, presented by Legacy Health. Almost a dozen of my colleagues attended the event, where we took part in a panel discussion about some of the issues affecting Washington County’s economy. Just a few of the topics we addressed were transportation, the budget, Oregon’s public pension system, Measure 101 and, more generally, the purpose of the legislature’s biennial short sessions. I want to thank the Westside Economic Alliance for organizing the event and for having me.

Finally on January 17th, I attended the City of King City’s State of the City address, presented by Mayor Ken Gibson and members of the City Council. This was the first time that King City has held an event like this, and I was proud to be there to receive an update on the city’s activities and efforts and to show my support. I look forward to working with King City officials and advocating for the community as it continues to grow and develop in the coming years, and I want to thank the Mayor and members of the City Council for their willingness to serve.

On January 18th, I hosted a town hall meeting with Representative Ron Noble in Scholls. About 60 people were in attendance, including Yamhill County Commissioner Stan Primozich and Westside Economic Alliance Executive Director Pam Treece. Rep. Noble and I provided attendees with an update and addressed legislation that each of us introduced for the 2018 Short Session, as well as several bills that other members hope to pass—some of which we also support while others we are cautious or even concerned about. Thank you to those who came out for being engaged in the legislative process!

On January 19th, I visited Sherwood Middle School to speak with several groups of 8th graders as part of the American Government unit of their Social Studies classes, which teaches the structure of the United States government by breaking down the Constitution. Each group had about 50 students who, after my presentation, were given an opportunity to ask questions and engage in a dialogue about how our state government works, what its responsibilities are, and how it relates to and differs from the Federal government. Being able to interact with such a sharp group of students was a real treat, and I want to extend a special thank you to Mackenzie DeLong, a student teacher with the Sherwood School District, for inviting me to participate in their education.

On January 24th, I attended a Legislative Forum organized by the Clackamas County Business Alliance. Several of my legislative colleagues representing Clackamas County communities also attended the event, where we were given an opportunity to meet and mingle with members of the Alliance and to have a panel discussion with business leaders about issues affecting Clackamas County, the Portland metropolitan area, and the state as a whole. Much of our conversation focused on topics such as transportation, land use, and the state budget. I appreciate the Clackamas County Business Alliance’s efforts to keep the business community apprised of legislative issues, and I would like to thank them for inviting me to contribute to those efforts. 

On January 25th, I co-hosted a Legislative Breakfast at Oregon Tech in Wilsonville. A number of my fellow legislators attended the event, where we received an update from President Nagi Naganathan on the state of the institute and its legislative agenda for the 2018 Short Session. We also heard from several student body officers about the advantages that attending OIT has given them in their career and professional development. Over 90% of Oregon Tech’s students have a job or are enrolled in graduate school 6 months after completing their degree. I appreciate President Naganathan and the Board of Trustees’ invitation to co-host this breakfast, and I am grateful that my colleagues were able to hear about the role that OIT plays in our communities as the Northwest’s premier polytechnic university.

On January 30th, I attended the City of Hillsboro’s State of the City address, where Mayor Steve Callaway provided guests with an update on both the City’s recent accomplishments and the challenges it faces as its economy and population continue to expand. Also in attendance was former Hillsboro Mayor and friend of mine, Jerry Willey. I would like to extend special thanks and recognition to both Mayors Callaway and Willey for all that they have done together in the past decade to help transform Hillsboro into the economic engine that it is today. While we must do more to maintain the City of Hillsboro’s livability in the face of future growth, I appreciate the hard work demonstrated by each of these public servants and, most of all, the passion they have for their community.

On Friday afternoon, I found myself in the home of my mother-in-law, where my wife has been for the past several weeks. Marilyn is 85, and was recently sent home with the diagnosis that cancer had spread throughout her liver and bones, such that there was nothing to be done to treat it.  She is a wonderful person—always positive and full of love and concern for all. She is tired, and feels that her life has been full. She is fully prepared to move on to the next step in her journey, and looks forward to reuniting with loved ones who have gone before her. I am so grateful for the wife this woman has given me, for the love that I have felt from her over the years, and for the family that she is leaving as a legacy. Since she received her diagnosis, over 100 children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren have visited her to express their love. I am glad I had this chance as well.

As I was at her side, observing the care being given by her children and hospice workers, I couldn’t help but wonder whether our health care system is the best it can be. The cost of drugs and other forms of care is astounding and, for those with fewer resources than we have been blessed with, it can be punishingly discouraging. As I return to the Capitol, I am finding that my unexpected appointment to the House Committee on Health Care has provided me with an opportunity to once again expand my understanding of how government should work. I look forward to wrestling with some of these difficult issues during this legislative session and beyond.

As always, it is a privilege to serve as your State Representative. I welcome your input and value your perspective, and I urge you to share your views by emailing me at rep.richvial@oregonlegislature.gov or by calling my office at (503) 986-1426.

Sincerely,

Rich