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Greetings!
Happy New Year and happy short session! The 2020 legislative session is less than one week away, and Team Piluso is hard at work preparing for a hectic month of February.
You may have heard on the news that clean energy policy will be one of the big issues this session. Last year, I was proud to vote for HB 2020, which would have limited Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions while making investments in clean energy, good jobs, and a greener economy. HB 2020 did not pass the Senate amidst a Republican walkout—but the story isn’t over, and the Legislature will be considering an updated version of the bill this session.
I will be looking for a policy that meaningfully reduces greenhouse gas emissions and makes serious investments, even as it brings more stakeholders to the table. It’s past time for us to take action on climate change, because future generations are depending on us.
2020 will be my last session in the Legislature, and I plan to continue prioritizing the same things I’ve worked on throughout my career: equal access to safety and justice and fair opportunities for every Oregonian to thrive.
Because the short session is so short—just 35 days—Representatives are limited to introducing just two bills. I’ve decided to focus on two ideas that we must take action on this year:
Family Preservation Project (HB 4131): When parents go to prison, kids miss out on a parent’s love through no fault of their own. FPP works intensively with incarcerated mothers and their children, keeping families connected and creating better outcomes for all—including lowering recidivism, reducing trauma, and keeping kids engaged at school. FPP has been doing this work and getting results for years, but the program lost state funding last year. HB 4131 will fund the Family Preservation Project and give the program budget stability going forward.
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Age Discrimination Task Force (HB 4076): Older employees bring proven job and leadership experience to the workplace, and they need and deserve equal access to employment opportunities. But a recent study found that 62% of older Oregon workers have seen or experienced age discrimination on the job. We need to bring the right people around the table to discuss why it is so hard to enforce the laws against age discrimination in Oregon. HB 4076 will establish a Task Force as a first step towards an economy that is fair to older Oregonians.
62% of older Oregonians have seen or experienced age discrimination at work. Source: AARP Oregon
In addition, I’ll be continuing my support of the CourtCare program (SB 1558), which provides high-quality drop-in childcare in and around courthouses. This program gives kids a safe place to be kids while keeping them from witnessing traumatizing scenes in the courtroom. It also breaks down barriers for parents to attend appointments and other court business, giving more families access to justice.
I’ll also be supporting a bill to require safe storage (HB 4005), incentivizing gun owners to store their guns safely—putting a stop to many tragic, preventable firearm deaths. I want this to be the year we take action on common-sense firearm safety measures.
Please welcome the newest member of Team Piluso! Emily will be our Legislative Assistant for the 2020 session and has already proven to be a huge asset to the work we're doing. A native Oregonian, her background is in student organizing and higher education advocacy. We're so excited to have her on our team!
As you hear more about the approaching legislative session, please feel free to contact my office at any time with your thoughts and questions. We are also ready to help you navigate state agencies and find answers to your questions about how state laws affect you.
Sincerely,
 Carla C. Piluso
State Representative, H.D. 50
email: Rep.CarlaPiluso@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1450
address: 900 Court St NE, H-491, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/piluso
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