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My office has continuously reached out to the Governor’s office in regards to getting our kids back in sports competitions. As a mother of two boys who play sports, it is vital for the mental health of our kids to exercise and socialize safely. We have to get kids back on the courts and fields in Oregon. With the continued pressure from parents across the state and in my district, the Governor’s office is starting to down the right path. See an article today on the Governor’s new guidelines for high school sports.
COVID is declining in Oregon and all of our community businesses need to be open. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is notorious at this point for moving COVID goal posts; this has continuously hurt our local businesses. Restaurants in small communities across House District 55 and Oregon are critical sources of income for many families and communities. Take out orders work well in metro areas with large populations, but in smaller communities it just does not ‘pencil’. Many of these restaurants have chosen just to shut their doors.
Restaurants in small communities usually have larger square footage buildings; there is the ability to serve people indoors all across Oregon safely. We can not lose precious job providers in small communities that are disproportionately punished for being in a small town.
My colleague, Representative David Brock Smith has a great bill, which I am co-sponsoring, that will limit the Governor’s power of closing certain businesses in Oregon. Please take a look at it here.
Virtual Committee hearings do not work. We need to open the Capitol today and do the people’s business in clear view. Providing testimony for bills in committee is difficult, challenging, and lacks a process that is easily followed by the public. There are ways to do ‘in person’ meetings to satisfy a public input process.
As far as bills go, there are so many it is challenging to track. My office is staying on top of many bills, testifying where we need to, and ultimately trying to kill the bad bills that will hurt so many Oregonians.
Speaking of bad bills, here are a few you should be aware of:
SB 238 - Will ban School Resource Officers in our schools. What a horrible idea to not have local police resources helping keep our kids stay safe and recognizing potential emotional/physical abuse.
HB 2942 - Would create a pathway for individuals charged and convicted of crimes such as manufacturing and/or delivering hard drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth or prostitution—including crimes targeting children within 1,000 feet of a school—to be eligible to work in school settings.
HB 2244 - Representative Wilde, (D) Eugene, introduced this bill. This bill targets Klamath County irrigators. I encourage you to read the bill and follow the process through the Water Committee. Oregon Farm Bureau and my office are actively engaged.
Gun Bills - All of these are horrible. Our 2nd Amendment rights are under attack.
SB 396 - Punishes manufacturing, importing, offering for sale or transferring undetectable firearm by maximum of 10 years' imprisonment, $250,000 fine, or both. Senator Prozanski, Manning Jr,
SB 554 - Authorizes city, county, metropolitan service district, port operating commercial airport, school district, college or university to adopt ordinance or policy limiting or precluding affirmative defense for possession of firearms in public buildings by concealed handgun licensees. Senator Burdick, Manning Jr, Wagner, Representative Prusak, Reynolds
SB 585 - Repeals statute creating state preemption of local firearm regulation and statutes creating exceptions to preemption. Senator Burdick
SB 604 - Requires person to obtain permit before purchasing or otherwise receiving firearm under circumstances requiring criminal background check. Senator Frederick
HB 2510 - Requires owner or possessor of firearm to secure firearm with trigger or cable lock, in locked container or in gun room except in specified circumstances. Representative Prusak, Sollman, Reynolds, Grayber, Senator Burdick
HB 2543 - Prohibits transfer of firearm by gun dealer or private party if Department of State Police is unable to determine whether recipient is qualified to receive firearm. Representative Reynolds, Sollman
Oregon is currently vaccinating seniors 80 years and older.
For those who wish to be vaccinated, you can find the sign up tool HERE.
If you need assistance, please call 211 or 1-866-698-6155 (open 6am-7pm daily) and an operator will help you through this process. Wait times may be long due to high call volumes and you can choose the option for a call back instead of waiting on hold. You can also find a list of FAQs HERE.
 Vikki Breese-Iverson
State Representative
House District 55
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1455
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-395, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.VikkiBreeseIverson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/breese-iverson
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