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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I wanted to take a moment to highlight what I have been working on this summer. I have been getting out in the community and hearing from constituents to learn more about House District 44. I have been taking meetings that will help inform my policy agenda for the 2023 Legislative Session. I am focusing on health care workforce and staffing, health equity, consumer protections and racial equity.
As I prepare for the legislative session, I would like to engage with more of my constituents through newsletters and social media. Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors. If you have not signed up for my newsletter you can do so here. I have also been sharing regular updates on my Facebook page. You can find that page here. Due to House rules, I have to take a break from posting to social media and sending newsletters until after the election but will be posting regularly after November 8th. I hope to send regular updated about the district and the legislative process when my newsletter resumes.
I hope you enjoy reading about what I have learned about the district so far. I look forward to learning even more in my first full term as State Representative for House District 44.
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle Cell Anemia is a disease that effects the blood which causes the cells to have an irregular shape. The cells die quicker and can block blood vessels. Sickle cell disease is inherited and is most common in people with an ancestry of Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and Central America, Saudi Arabia, India, Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy.
I worked with the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Oregon and Governor Brown to have September 2022 declared National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. You can view the proclamation here. I will also be attending the Multnomah County Commission meeting on September 22nd at 9:35am when they will be reading their proclamation.
Getting Out into the District
Over the summer, I have taken some time to visit different parts of North and Northeast Portland. I look forward to more visits in the coming months. If you have ideas of places I should visit, please reach out to my office.
Portland International Airport
PDX is on the most eastern side of House District 44. The airport not only provides transportation to the region but also gives space for local small businesses. I had the opportunity to talk to folks at Tender Loving Empire about their experience with their two locations at PDX. If you travel through PDX, you can take a picture with the old carpet in their Infinity Room which located in the back of the shop in Concourse E. I am looking forward to learning about other areas of the Port of Portland in the future with terminal tours.
Schnitzer Steel
On my tour of Schnitzer Steel, I learned about the steps they take for safety and environmental protections. I look forward to joining them next month for the opening of new equipment which will bring more job opportunities to the district.
Ironworkers Local 29
The Ironworkers union is located in my district. I had the opportunity to do some welding and learn about how they are working on recruiting a more diverse workforce.
Multnomah County Bridges
I joined Representative Grayber on a tour of the Hawthorne and Burnside bridges. The tour highlighted the need for seismic upgrades to our bridge system. The largest project will be replacing the almost 100-year-old Burnside Bridge.
Baltimore Woods
I believe getting out in nature is important for your overall health. I enjoyed taking a walking tour through Baltimore Woods to learn about North Portland Greenways and the work that Friends of Baltimore Woods is doing to preserve and creating access to this nature area.
Shout Out to my Interns
I would like to highlight my summer interns who have helped my office this summer:
- Alexis has been helping with my social media. She has just started her freshman year at Howard University.
- Samantha has been doing research and data collection. She is a now a senior in high school and will be applying to MIT and Harvard for college.
- Geslande has been compiling data on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ organizations in North Portland. She is finishing high school while dual-enrolled at Portland Community College. She will graduate with an Associate’s Degree when she finishes high school.
- Derek has been attending state and local government meetings to keep me up to date on what is happening in the community. He attends University of Portland. Derek will be continuing in my office until winter.
I am grateful for their assistance and wish them the best in their upcoming academic year.
Thank you for reading my newsletter. Please share it with your networks. We will be sending out newsletters again after the election in November. I will update you on all on my Fall tours and events at that time.
Kindly,
 Travis Nelson
State Representative
House District 44
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-275, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nelson
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