Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Thanksgiving Day brings us together in meaningful ways. It is a time to express gratitude for the many blessings we have received. The past 20 months have brought challenges and opportunities. Taking time to give thanks and express gratitude, even in difficult times, helps boost our resilience and lifts our spirits.
Serving as your State Representative is an honor and I am grateful for your engagement on the issues that are important to you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if I can help you in the legislative process or through personal assistance with state government. The following newsletter is an update on what’s happening in the Capitol, the District and Around the State.
|
Legislative interim committees will meet virtually next week, November 15-18. Links to the committee agendas can be found on OLIS and the meetings can be viewed online in real-time or you can view the recordings at a later time. |
|
 |
I continue to serve on the House Interim Committee On Judiciary, the Joint Committee On Transportation and as Vice Chair of the House Interim Committee On Veterans and Emergency Management, and the House Interim Special Committee On Wildfire Recovery.
During Legislative Interim Days, committees hold informational hearings on topics that could lead to legislation. Lawmakers hear reports and updates on the progress of implementing legislation from previous sessions and may have the opportunity to share their bills and policy priorities for the coming session.
Friday, November 19th is the deadline for legislators to submit bill requests to Legislative Counsel to be drafted for the 2022 session. One last round of interim committee days will take place in January before the Oregon Legislature convenes for a 35 day short-session on February 1, 2022.
|
Bill Limits for the 2022 Short Session include:
- Senators and Representatives may not request and introduce more than two drafts of measures.
- Interim committees are limited to three drafts of measures each.
- The Governor may request up to three drafts of measures on behalf of the Executive Branch.
- The Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court may request up to three drafts of measures for the Judicial Branch.
Bill limits do not apply to:
- The Joint Committee on Ways and Means with respect to appropriation or fiscal measures.
- Measures requested and approved by the President of the Senate.
- Measures requested and approved by the House Committee on Rules.
- Measures requested by the Conduct Committees relating to matters in their jurisdiction.
On October 27th, ODOT formally designated eight miles of OR 211 from Molalla to Colton as a Safety Corridor. Over the next few years, ODOT will work to reduce crashes along this corridor with double traffic fines, signage, easy to implement safety solutions, and education efforts. They are hopeful that this effort will increase safe driving behavior through this area and decrease the serious and fatal injuries that have occurred on this stretch of roadway. More information can be found here.
|
 
November 11th each year we pause to honor our veterans for their service to our nation. It was my honor to speak at the Mt. Angel Towers Veterans Day Ceremony. A big thank you to Jim Kosel of the Mt. Angel American Legion Post #89 for the invitation and coordinating the event.
The Mt. Angel Towers has 33 veteran men and women residents from nearly all branches of the military, including two WW II veterans. These fine men and women have one thing in common. Whether they enlisted in the military or were drafted into military service, each and every one answered the call of duty when called upon to serve their country, joining the ranks of more than 360,000 Oregonians still living who have served in our nation’s armed forces and National Guard. Whether in time of war or time of peace, they served our country, upholding the finest traditions in placing country and freedom above self and family. If you ask them, they do not consider themselves heroes. They will tell you the true heroes are those who never made it home. Many bear the scars of sacrifice, some physical and some not so easily seen. But they share a common bond. They know they are brothers and sisters in service to their country. They are heroes and that heroism has been demonstrated time and again, dating all the way back to the American Revolution and as recently as Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the continued fight in the Global War on Terrorism. Quite often, that heroism, that desire to serve the cause of freedom goes unnoticed by those who take freedom and our way of life for granted. Our debt to those who have served and those who have gone before us can never be repaid. But our respect and our gratitude must go on forever.
Some veterans in the audience served in Vietnam or during the Vietnam era. Sadly, they did not receive a warm welcome home during that time in our history. They were unfairly blamed and criticized for our nation’s policies and public sentiment against the war. Those times have changed thankfully. Today’s veterans returning from overseas military deployments have a great deal more support from our citizens. To those veterans of military service during the Vietnam era, we wish you a very belated welcome home and thank you for your service.
Plans are currently underway to construct a Vietnam War memorial on the Capitol grounds in Salem adjacent to the World War 2 memorial. I proudly serve as a member of the Steering Committee overseeing that project.
On October 20, 2021, Governor Brown took the extraordinary action of using her executive clemency power to change the prison sentences of dozens of individuals throughout Oregon. The Governor’s action was also unprecedented in that it was done without receiving the input of crime victims, prosecutors, or other representatives of the public safety system.
The individuals receiving clemency committed their crimes between the ages of 15 and 17, but due to the extremely violent nature of their offenses, they were sentenced as adults. Per the District Attorney’s Office, in Marion County alone, 17 individuals were granted clemency who had been serving lengthy prison sentences for crimes such as Aggravated Murder, Murder, Rape, Sodomy, and Assault. As a result of the Governor’s decision, these individuals are eligible to seek a hearing before the Parole Board early next year and possibly be released into the community soon after that.
As a member of the Judiciary Committee and a career law enforcement officer, I have dedicated over 40 years to the values of community safety, accountability, and victim rights. It is shocking that the Governor would issue a blanket commutation order with such disregard for the rights and dignity of crime victims. I am also deeply dismayed by the obvious disregard for community safety that is inherent in this decision.
This is yet another example of how the scales of justice have become unbalanced in this state.
More information and media coverage on this topic can be found in the links below:
Governor meets with prisoners one-on-one for possible commutation (East Oregonian)
Oregon governor's office responds to concerns about commuted prison sentences (16 KMTR Eugene Oregon)
Gov. Brown's decision to commute juvenile sentences draws fire (KATU 2)
'It's not right': Fiance of victim speaks out on governor's decision to commute sentences (KVAL13)
Who gets a second chance? Oregon weighs youth sentencing reform (KGW8)
Victims and their families traumatized by Governor's commutation plan (Oregon House Republican Caucus)
|
On November 10th, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) Statewide Veterans Day Celebration at the Oregon State Capitol Park. The heartfelt ceremony honored all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and featured remarks by federal, state, and local dignitaries, included the color guard, national anthem, wreath presentation and the playing of “Taps”.
Oregon veterans of all eras were honored, with a special focus on the contributions of Vietnam War-era veterans. The ceremony was followed by a walking tour of the site of the future Oregon Vietnam War Memorial, led by Vietnam War Memorial Fund President Steve Bates.
The event can be viewed on ODVA’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/odvavet/videos/2739758359656868/
Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes to you and your loved ones as we enter the holiday season with faith, hope, and spirit of giving.
Sincerely,
 Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon’s Christmas Tree District
Previous Newsletters can be viewed at: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis
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
| 
