Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope you are doing well. It has been an extraordinarily warm summer and I have certainly enjoyed the cooler temperatures this past week. While summer is the time for sunshine, swimming, and sweet corn -- unfortunately, this summer the pandemic has brought a surge in coronavirus infections due to the highly transmittable COVID-19 Delta variant. This is difficult to hear following the reopening of our state earlier this summer. Many of you are following closely what is happening on the COVID-19 landscape. I appreciate that you have emailed me to express your views and concerns in response to the Governor’s recent mask and vaccine mandates. Please know I am listening. I, too, am frustrated -- and concerned.
The virus is very real. We must all take personal responsibility to do what we can to slow the infection rate and prevent hospitalizations from further escalating. Oregonians in their communities know best how to do this. I support local control over state mandates. I’m concerned that mandates will lead to an increased staff shortage of our vital health care, education, and public workforce.
Let’s work together by focusing on what we have in common. Our desire to remain healthy, for our kids return to the classroom, to live in safe communities, and for our economy to recover and thrive. Though our views on the path forward may look different, let’s focus on our shared values as we work to get through these trying times.
Thank you for taking the time to read the following update on what’s happening in House District 18, in the Capitol, and beyond.
On August 7th, I participated in the Clackamas County Woodland Farmer of the Year tour. Glenn Ahrens, the OSU Extension Forester for Clackamas, Marion, and Hood River Counties, and David Bugni, recipient of the 2020 Clackamas County Woodland Farmer of the Year award, led the tour.
David and Mary Ann Bugni manage the Bugni Family Forest & Tree Farm, a certified family forest in Estacada. They shared their successes in sustainable forest management techniques, including numerous fish and wildlife habitat restoration measures with the group.
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The Bugni family has received a number of awards from the Oregon Departments of Forestry and Fish and Wildlife and the Clackamas River Basin Council for their forestland stewardship activities.
Their foresting methods employ sustainable forestry practices including reforestation, “Pesticide Wise” BMPs, and precommercial and commercial thinning. They manage logging slash, snags and down wood for wildlife habitat creation, family recreation, trails, and bridges.
Fish habitat restoration methods included the placement of over 100 large logs, boulders and 150 tons of spawning gravels by various means and they are exploring grant options to fund additional restoration work and working on plans for carbon storage and sequestration. The Bugni family is doing some great work and it was well worth the visit. Congratulations to David and Mary Ann on receiving this well-deserved recognition!
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On August 20, I visited the North Willamette Research and Extension Center for an updated tour of the facility. I am honored to be an advisory board member and to see the important work that goes on at the facility. In addition to visiting with a number of staff members who discussed their work, I had the opportunity to meet Erica Chernoh, the new North Willamette Research and Extension Center Berry Initiative Project Leader. Erica described her vision of the next two-year Berry Initiative Project.
I also visited with Kristine Buckland who is the Extension Specialist on a new endeavor with medicinal herb and Asian vegetable crops as a part of the Vegetable and Specialty Seed Crops Program. The last part of the tour was a revisit to the section of the facility where they are experimenting with olive cultivars and landscape plants that use less water. Water conservation experimentation is an important part of the work being done at the Center. NWREC provides a valuable service to our farmers and their work is much appreciated. We were able to obtain end-of-Session funding once again for the all-important Berry Initiative program at the Center and I am proud to be a part of that effort together with Representative Christine Drazan.
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Silverton's favorite son, Homer Davenport, was an internationally renowned cartoonist in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Homer left Silverton, fulfilling his desire to become an editorial cartoonist... inspired by his mother's appreciation for the art of caricature.
He was born in the Waldo Hills region south of Silverton on March 8, 1867. He spent much of his early years on GeerCrest Farm, his mother's family's homestead, as well as in Silverton, having moved there with his family at the age of seven or so.
Homer Davenport authored several successful books, including two collections of his cartoons in 1898 and 1900. My Quest of the Arabian Horse (1909) profiled his journey to the desert. The Country Boy (1910) detailed his life growing up in Silverton.
Tragically, Davenport died at the age of 45 of pneumonia. In 1912, he passed away after drawing a series of cartoons about the sinking of the Titanic. He is buried in the Silverton Cemetery next to his father. His legacy, however, endures. Homer Davenport Days began in Silverton in 1980. Every year since, the celebrations have kept Silverton's young and old alike in high spirits.
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Required by the Constitution once every ten years, redistricting ensures that political boundaries reflect population changes. One major development this year is that Oregon officially earned a sixth congressional seat, increasing our representation in Congress.
Earlier this month, the US Census released the 2020 Census Redistricting Data. The House and Senate Interim Redistricting Committees held a joint hearing on August 18th to review that data, the statutory requirements and provide an overview of the committee process moving forward. This meeting can be viewed on OLIS here.
It's vital that Oregonians take part in the redistricting process because of the impact it has on a variety of issues. Not only will legislators determine where to put Oregon’s sixth congressional seat, but all congressional and state legislative lines are subject to change. This affects who our elected officials can be for the next ten years, and influences local funding for things like emergency services, schools, and transportation.
The House and Senate Interim Redistricting Committees were scheduled to hold in-person statewide meetings, but will begin holding virtual public hearings instead on redistricting in September. I encourage you to take part in this process. Your views can greatly influence how maps are drawn, and without your participation it will be harder to draw district lines that accurately reflect your interests. Oregon is at a high risk of gerrymandering which would favor one political party over another. Strong public participation can greatly reduce this risk.
Meetings will be organized to hear from residents of each current congressional district. Oregonians can participate by signing up for video or phone testimony, uploading written testimony, or by submitting a map for consideration by September 7. More information Oregon Redistricting webpage here.
Yesterday, the Office of Economic Analysis released the September Economic and Revenue Forecast.
A steady revenue outlook continues, and Oregon taxpayers are in line to receive a record $1.9 billion Kicker. The corporate Kicker will send an additional $850 million to K-12 schools. The state budget will also have an ending fund balance of $699 million.
We have more money than ever before. The positive news did not come without risks. Economists warn that if drastic measures like shutdowns continue to occur, there is a larger risk to our economic stability because we cannot expect the same level of support from the federal government. Persistent inflation is also a risk to our economic stability. If we raise interest rates too quickly and cool the economy, then we risk going back into a recession. If the last 18 months of uncertainty has taught us anything, it is that we can’t predict what’s around the next corner. Fiscal responsibility by maintaining our reserves is critical to prepare for the future challenges ahead. You can read OPB’s comprehensive coverage of the forecast here.
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Also, on August 25th, Christine Goodwin, was sworn in to fill the remainder of the late Representative Gary Leif’s vacant term in the State Legislature, representing House District 2. Representative Goodwin is a former interim Douglas County Commissioner and a member of the Douglas County Planning commission. She taught and coached at Roseburg High School for 7 years and has been a resident of Douglas County since 1978. As a former commissioner and business owner, she brings a wealth of experience to the legislative process. Please join me in welcoming Representative Christine Goodwin. I look forward to working with her in the months ahead.
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Legislative committees and task force meetings are scheduled for September 21-24. All meetings will take place virtually. You can access committee agendas and watch the hearings on OLIS here.
I continue to serve as Vice Chair of the House Interim Committee On Veterans and Emergency Management, Vice Chair of the House Interim Special Committee On Wildfire Recovery, and on the Joint Committee On Transportation and the House Interim Committee On Judiciary.
We are still waiting to hear details about a possible special session slated for Monday, September 20th.
Legislators have been receiving weekly fire season updates from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM). I am pleased to report that the Bootleg Fire is now fully contained.
Cooler weather conditions this past week have been helpful on existing fires and initial attack fires. This weekend crews expect to see an uptick in warmer conditions but nothing like we have seen the past couple months. Overall, crews are expecting a favorable forecast over the next few weeks. However, with 99 percent of the state in severe, extreme, or exceptional drought conditions, fire activity remains a challenge. Our experts are mindful of the critical dangers that exist, and they will be on the watch for any east wind events, like we saw last year moving into September.
Our fire crews have worked non-stop this summer to extinguish a record number of fires across the state to keep our communities safe. We owe them a great deal of respect and gratitude for their tireless work in often very dangerous conditions. I was saddened to hear that a firefighter from Medford died on Monday while battling a Gales Fire southeast of Eugene. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and crew members for their loss.
Please remain cautious and vigilant about fire prevention as you continue to enjoy outdoor adventures around the state.
The following resources are provided to help you remain up-to-date on what is happening on Oregon’s fire landscape.
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These are challenging times and a lot has changed in the last month on the COVID-19 front. In response to the recent surge of infections and hospitalizations related to the Delta variant, Governor Brown reinstated face coverings in public places. Students returning to school will be required to mask up. All State of Oregon executive branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated. The Governor also removed her initial option for Oregon health care workers and K-12 school district employees and volunteers to get vaccinated or undergo routine testing. They now must be fully vaccinated by October 18th. She deployed the Oregon National Guard and secured contracts to deploy medical crisis teams to support Oregon hospitals and long-term care facilities throughout the state.
On Monday, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, which will be marketed as “Comirnaty.”
Under the newly granted FDA approval, Comirnaty will be available to all people ages 16 and older to prevent COVID-19 disease. Under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), the vaccine will continue to be available to all people ages 12 and older, and a third dose will be available to immunocompromised people
Effective tomorrow, pursuant to the Governor’s directive, masks will be required in most public outdoor settings, including large outdoor events, where physical distancing is not possible, and regardless of vaccination status.
Visit the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19 and The Governor’s COVID-19 sites for the latest updates and resources.
On August 11th, as a member of the Joint Committee on Transportation, I participated in a legislative panel discussion at the Oregon Trucking Associations (OTA) annual conference in Bend.
This year’s conference focused on accelerating Oregon’s economic recovery. Legislators relayed our experiences and the challenges of the virtual 2021 session. We also shared our perspectives on the Joint Transportation Omnibus bill, HB 3055, that was passed on a party line vote in the 2021 session. Although the bill makes many beneficial updates to various statutes, there was a lot of moving parts and it created provisions to change the funding mechanisms for projects in the 2017 transportation package - moving Oregon closer to a toll state. A toll tax would be in addition to the $5 billion (10-year) road tax bill passed in 2017 that included 10-cent gas tax, car sales tax, truck tax increase, auto registration fee increase, auto title fee increase, payroll tax for transit, and the nation’s first ever bike tax. The bill limits transportation options for low income communities that are more dependent on driving. While creating tolls along I-5 and I-205 may reduce traffic on our state freeways, it will only make congestion worse on ancillary routes within our cities. HB 3055 also increases the cost of living throughout the state through congestion pricing and a utility fee increase for transportation electrification and other alternative forms of transportation. We have all been through an incredibly challenging time and are still recovering. Now is not the time to be adding additional fees to the cost of living for Oregonians which is why I opposed the bill’s passage. Other discussions included the I-5 bridge replacement and Rose Quarter projects, as well as the Governor’s executive order on carbon and the added cost the program would be passed down through the increased price of fuel.
I asked those in attendance to share their concerns regarding a shortage of truck drivers. Nearly every trucking business represented in the audience was extremely concerned about the shortage of drivers. One company spokesman said he could hire 60 qualified drivers today if they could be found. There is no shortage of opportunities for good paying jobs as a truck driver in Oregon. I encouraged them to contact local Veterans Services Officers since many returning veterans are looking for work and may already be qualified due to their military service experience. This Fox 12 News video from 2018 speaks to this long standing shortage.
I greatly appreciated the opportunity to participate in the panel discussions and want to extend a thank you to OTA for the invitation. Oregon Trucking Associations (OTA) is the official trucking trade organization for the state of Oregon that is dedicated to educating, influencing, and promoting the trucking industry. For over 80 years, OTA has advocated on behalf of Oregon’s trucking industry. Given the vital role that trucking plays in keeping Oregon’s economy moving, OTA ensures that their carrier and allied members have a voice in the decisions that will shape the future of Oregon’s trucking industry.
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Yesterday, I attended the memorial service to honor OSP Sgt. John Burright, who passed away in May -- nearly 20 years after a tragic crash while in the line of duty, left him with debilitating career-ending injuries. His family shared loving stories as they remembered his passionate zest for life and his service to others. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and our public safety community who will miss him greatly.
KGW 8 shared the touching story of Sgt. Burright’s life in their news coverage of the service here.
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I am saddened to see the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan and my heart goes out to those who have served in our military who have to watch this debacle. I thank ODVA Director Fitzpatrick for her words to our veterans (see below). It is difficult to watch what can only be described as a failed withdrawal with poor to no planning and little regard for those left behind – both American citizens and those Afghans who served our military well as translators and in other capacities. As one who served in Iraq training the Police leadership in 2005, what is happening today is a repeat of the failed withdrawal strategy that left millions of dollars in high tech equipment to ISIS and resulted in countless lives lost. It is difficult to put into words the risk we have created for those civilians who worked with our military and their families. Just today we learned that members of our military have been killed trying to fix this problem. I pray for those left behind.
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This week, Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) Director Kelly Fitzpatrick made the following statement.
“As we continue to watch the events unfold in Afghanistan, I share the heartbreak and concern being expressed across the country by veterans who served for nearly two decades in the Middle East. The immediate and swift insurgence of the Taliban following the withdrawal of American troops in Afghanistan has struck a chord among our nation's service members who served in Afghanistan and other wars alike.
"Oregon has a strong network of Veteran Service Offices across every county in our state and on some tribal lands. They are available to help veterans access earned benefits and behavioral health resources that can help you and your loved ones in this difficult time. These advocates also act as a local veteran advocate to facilitate and connect veteran community support where federal and state programs can't provide services.
"I encourage all those needing immediate support — or just someone to talk to who understands — to call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 (press 1), text the crisis line at 838255, or chat online at the Veterans Crisis Line.
"Now more than ever is the time to rally together — reach out for a buddy check. Reach out for services. Reach out for help. Thank you for your service and continued sacrifice in the time when our country needed it most. We are all forever in your debt. Because of that debt, I ask that you please reach for help if you need it. You are not alone."
Federal and State Behavioral Health Resources for Veterans can be found here.
Again, thank you your engagement and for sharing your thoughts and concerns. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if I can be of assistance.
Sincerely
 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
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