October 20, 2019 Newsletter

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October 20, 2019 Newsletter

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Fall Image - Autumn Leaves

October is beautiful in House District 18.  In my travels throughout the district and around the state I have enjoyed seeing the colorful autumn leaves and the fields ripe with pumpkins for the fall harvest. 

As a veteran and career law enforcement official, public safety is always on my mind. The first days of frost and fog made their way into the Willamette Valley this month. As the shorter days of fall draw us closer to winter, the rain and the falling leaves serve as a good safety reminder to be aware of visibility and road conditions as we travel about our day and as our children make their way to and from school, and participate in the fall harvest activities throughout our communities.

Smoke Detector Image

The changing season is also a good reminder to test and replace the batteries in smoke detectors, verify that fire extinguishers are fully charged, and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.  For more fall season safety tips click here.



In the District

MCRI Logo

Early this month, I attended the 11th Annual “Giving People a Second Chance” Community Breakfast, hosted by the Marion County Reentry Initiative (MCRI). The event highlighted the issues and promising efforts related to reentry services and honored the life and legacy of the late Senator, Jackie Winters, who dedicated her career to rehabilitation and reentry services.


MCRI is a collaborative effort involving community corrections, education, law enforcement, health and non-profit agencies. I am grateful for our community’s investment in changing lives and improving public safety.

Rep. Lewis
MCRI 11th Annual “Giving People a Second Chance” Community Breakfast

SEDCOR Logo

 

On October 9th, I attended the SEDCOR Business Forum Luncheon. This month’s topic focused on agriculture and explored Oregon's booming hemp industry, the trends, challenges, and solutions. I always appreciate the opportunity to attend SEDCOR events to network and learn about what’s happening in our region. Strategic Economic Development Corporation or SEDCOR is the lead economic development entity for Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley. The 450-plus member nonprofit organization leverages strong public and private partnerships to successfully retain, grow and attract high value traded sector jobs and capital investment to Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties.

Judy's Party Logo


October 12, I attended the 5th annual Judy’s Party at the Mt. Angel Festhalle. This is always a good community fundraising event with a great purpose. The event is sponsored by the Silverton Chamber of Commerce and is named in honor of Judy Schmidt, a life-long Silvertonian and a dear friend who gave so much to our community. 

The evening featured “A Bite of Silverton” local foods, music by the Syco Billy's and an auction. Proceeds from the event are awarded as grants to local non-profits and organizations in the Silverton & Mt. Angel areas.  Thank you to all who made this event a success!

(L-R)  Silverton Police Chief, Jeff Fossholm and wife Teri, Pat Lewis, and Representative Rick Lewis

(L-R) Silverton Police Chief, Jeff Fossholm and wife Teri, Pat Lewis, and Representative Rick Lewis at Mt. Angel FesthalleJudy's Party Photo


Clackamas County

 

On October 16th I met with Clackamas County officials to discuss community corrections, judicial matters, and justice reinvestment initiatives in the county.  A special thanks to Presiding Judge, Kathie F. Steele for hosting us in her office, to District Attorney, John Foote for his insight, and to Captain Malcolm McDonald, of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office for his briefing on Community Corrections.


Port Blakely Logo

On October 17th, the weather cooperated long enough for a group of us to complete a three-hour outdoor tour of the Port Blakely property near Colton. This 30,000 acre site is a commitment to sustainable, renewable scientific forest management practices and conservation measures to ensure preservation of a healthy wildlife and fish habitat. Thank you to the staff at Port Blakely for your hospitality and for providing this onsite experience.  

Port Blakely Tour of property near Colton

North Willamette Valley Habitat for HumanityLogo

October 19, Pat and I enjoyed attending the North Willamette Valley (NWV) Habitat for Humanity "Framing the Future" Dinner and Auction at the Mt. Angel Festhalle

In the last 32 years, 45 homes have been constructed by volunteers and purchased by local Habitat families serving the communities of Scotts Mills, Woodburn, Mt. Angel, Silverton, Oregon City, Gervais, Canby, Molalla, Aurora, and Hubbard. Construction on the 46th home began this summer. In addition, NWV Habitat has completed one home rehab, 22 ReHabitat repair projects and has built 65 homes overseas and for a total of 123 families served through construction projects alone!

It was an honor to spend the evening with such a great community of supporters and volunteers that give so much to help local families access affordable housing. 

Habitat for Humanity Dinner Group Photo

Community Leaders Spotlight

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month Logo



    October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 

Please join me in expressing appreciation to House District 18’s District Attorneys, their deputies, advocates, and staff for their service to our communities.Thank you, Marion County District Attorney, Paige Clarkson, who always steps up to walk the extra mile to support survivors and to Clackamas County District Attorney, John Foote, who has been a leader in the Clackamas County Domestic Violence Emergency Response Team. Your collective voices provide survivors hope and healing.

Image:  DA Clarkson participates in Oct. 5th walk/run Steps  to Safety 2019 to support the Center for Hope & Safety and to put an end to domestic violence.

Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson
John Foote, Clackamas County DA

If you, a friend, or family member are experiencing domestic violence help is available. 

The Marion County District Attorney's Victim Assistance Division is located at 555 Court St. NE, Salem, OR  97301.  Additional Marion County community-based shelters and advocacy programs can be found here.

The Clackamas County District Attorney's Victim Assistance Program is located at 707 Main St., Suite 201 in Oregon City, OR 97045 map. A 24-hour crisis line can be reached at 503-655-8616, or email at victimsassistance@clackamas.us. Additional Clackamas County community-based shelters and advocacy programs can be found here.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), also has advocates available 24/7 to provide support, resources, and hope.


Around the State

On October 8th, I participated in a very informative all-day tour of the Hanford cleanup project. The site encompasses 586 square miles and is the largest and most expensive environmental cleanup project in the world at more than $2 billion a year. The Hanford site produced plutonium for America’s weapons program for several decades starting shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. 

Hanford B ReactorHanford Tour Group photo

 

The process created massive amounts of radioactive and chemical hazardous waste. It will be decades before the waste treatment will be completed. 

Photos were not allowed on most of the site, with the exception of the decommissioned B Reactor, which is now a part of the Manhattan Project National Historic Park.This reactor was the world’s first full-scale nuclear reactor and produced the weapons grade plutonium used in the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan in August of 1945 to help bring an end to the second World War. Much remains to be done, but substantial progress has been made.

You can read more about the Hanford Story here.

Hanford Tour
Mobilization Ceremony - Portland

 

 

Late last month, I attended the mobilization ceremony in Portland for a portion of the 41st Brigade as they prepared to deploy to Qatar in the Middle East. These 456 soldiers are one of several 41st unit deployments coming in the next several months. This group heads to Texas for a month of training before they ship out. I wished them Godspeed and a safe deployment as they leave their families and loved ones behind. I was joined by fellow State Representatives and the Director of Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs.

 

 




On October 13th, Pat and I attended the mobilization ceremony for Bravo 741 Brigade Engineer Battalion in St. Helens. The unit is deploying to the Middle East (UAE).  We look forward to seeing them all return safely.

Mobilization Ceremony - St. Helens


October 15th, it was an honor to serve as a Legislative panelist at the statewide Veteran Services Officer (VSO) Conference in Welches. I sat on the panel with State Representative Paul Evans and State Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson.  Representative Evans and I serve as Chair and Vice Chair respectively on the House Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee. The Conference brings VSO’s together from all over the state to share ideas and discuss matters related to care for our military veterans.  As a Legislative Committee, we rely on their expertise to identify the gaps in services and particularly as they relate to the urban vs. rural parts of Oregon.

ODVA Veteran Services Officer Conference

Governor's Proclamation

October 19th, I participated in the 235th Birthday Celebration of Dr. John McLoughlin held at the McLoughlin House National Park Unit of Fort Vancouver in Oregon City. 

It was an honor to read the Governor's proclamation, designating October 19, 2019, as "Dr. John McLoughlin Day," and to recognize "The Father of Oregon" for his great contributions to the early development of the Oregon territory.

The celebration included a special appearance by Dr. McLoughlin and a cast of characters dressed in period attire organized by the McLoughlin Memorial Association and the National Park Service. KOIN 6 News Anchor, Ken Boddie, emceed the event. A link to KOIN 6 News' coverage is provided here.

Photo of Rep. Lewis, John McLoughin and men and women dressed in period attire

In the News


Oregon State Seal

Representatives Lewis and Moore-Green Urge Emergency
Board to Allocate Funds to Community Corrections


Community Corrections is an absolute integral key element of Oregon’s Criminal Justice System, particularly as it relates to justice reinvestment. About 25 years ago, the State made a decision to transfer this responsibility to the counties and committed to providing the funding. The result has been some excellent work by counties, including significantly reducing recidivism rates. A recent “Actual Cost Study” recommended a baseline increase of nearly $50 million to counties to meet the actual costs of providing these services to the state.  Instead, the Department of Corrections budget bill (HB 5504) passed in the 2019 session, underfunded this critical area.  Counties all over the state are looking at closing facilities and laying off employees critical to the success of these programs.  Some may actually move to turn their programs back over to the state where the track record for controlling recidivism is not so good. 

The financial impact to counties and in House District 18 alone, totals nearly $3 million.  Costs cuts impact programs such as; transitional housing, treatment and monitoring of sex offenders, client-based needs services, a reduction in the numbers of probation and parole officers and counselors, and the list goes on.  I voted against the corrections budget bill last session, specifically because this critical funding was excluded.  This needs an immediate fix. The State needs to honor its commitment to the counties in Oregon. 

I appreciate Representative Raquel Moore-Green for joining me in calling for the Emergency Board to provide this essential funding now. A full version of the October 3rd Press Release can be found on my legislative news and information webpage here.

 

OHA Logo

     Vaping and Your Health


On October 4th, following the nationwide outbreak of respiratory illnesses and deaths associated with the use of vaping devices, Governor Brown issued Executive Order No. 19-09, calling for a temporary ban on flavored vaping products for up to 6 months. 

On October 17th, the Oregon Court of Appeals granted a temporary stay of Oregon Health Authority’s temporary rules banning flavored vaping products. The stay does not affect flavored cannabis vaping products sold at Oregon Medical Marijuana Program dispensaries.The emergency disease reporting rule remains in effect.

In the meantime, the Oregon Health Authority has launched a statewide public education effort to warn Oregonians about the risks e-cigarette use or vaping products pose to youth and adults.

A great deal more research needs to be done to identify where the problem lies. While most of the deaths have been linked to vaping THC products according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), they acknowledge that no single product or substance has been linked to all lung injury cases. Exclusive use of nicotine containing products has been reported by some patients with lung injury cases, and many patients with lung injury report combined use of THC- and nicotine-containing products. Therefore, the possibility that nicotine-containing products play a role in this outbreak cannot be excluded at this time. 

The Oregon Health Authority is urging Oregonians to stop using all vaping products until federal and state officials have determined the cause of serious lung injuries and deaths linked to the use of both cannabis and nicotine vaping products.

State health officials continue to work closely with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to determine the cause of deaths and illnesses in Oregon and across the nation.

Links and the latest updates are available at the Oregon Health Authority website here. More information regarding the outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarette use or vaping can be found at the Center for Disease Control website here

 


DHS Real ID logo
Real ID TSA image

What You Need to Know Before October 1, 2020

Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will begin issuing Real ID cards on July 6, 2020. Because Oregon is one of the last few states to roll out Real ID, this allows only a three month window before the October 1, 2020, deadline when the federal government will require Real ID compliant identification to board a domestic commercial flight or to enter a secure federal building or military base. 

What this means for Oregonians is that you will NOT be able to use a standard Oregon Driver License or ID Card for these purposes after October 1, 2020. However, you may use a passport or other acceptable forms of federal identification. Please see the TSA website​ for other forms of identification that will be accepted.

If you are planning to fly after October 1, 2020 and you are concerned about long lines at DMV when the Real ID cards become available, you are urged to apply/renew your passport right away. You can do that at one of the nearly 80 acceptance centers in Oregon, the requirements are similar to that of an Oregon Real ID compliant card (proof of citizenship – like a birth certificate, passport photo, photocopy of your driver license.) and it only takes about four to six weeks.

For background and more information about Real ID you can visit the Oregon DMV or the Department of Homeland Security websites.​

In the Capitol

Capitol


Mark your calendars! November 18-21, Legislators will return to the Capitol for a second round of Interim Committee and Task Force meetings. Additionally, November 22nd marks the deadline for bill requests to be submitted to Legislative Counsel to be drafted for the 2020 session.  

During Legislative Days, Committees may hold informational hearings on topics that could lead to legislation in upcoming sessions, hear updates on implementations of past legislation, hear reports from state agencies and Task Forces, and keep current on the subject areas which affect Oregonians. During this time, the Senate may also convene for the purpose of making executive appointments. Join us in person at the Capitol or tune in live online through OLIS here

I continue to serve on the following task force, council and committees:  

As always, it is an honor to serve as your State Representative. Please feel free to reach out to my office if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Rick Lewis Signature

Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon's Christmas Tree District

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-484, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RickLewis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis