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Last Monday, the House of Representatives gaveled in the 82nd Legislative Assembly. I, along with 21 newly elected and 38 returning members, took the oath of office. It is the honor of a lifetime to be trusted to serve my community - the people of House District 22.
Becoming your state representative has been a challenge that I have met head on! Before deciding to run for this office, I was a stay-at-home mom. Like many of you, my husband, Jake, and I were focused on raising our kids and running our small businesses. Since COVID, we have all felt the weight of government overreach in our personal and professional lives. We have seen problems in our schools, their curriculum, and the impacts on our children because of remote learning. Sitting on the sidelines was no longer an option.
Now I am here. Somedays, it still doesn't feel real, but my goal is to always to be a thoughtful and fair voice for our community. I cannot be a good representative without your voice and input. Please contact my office with any issues you have with state government at Rep.TracyCramer@oregonlegislature.gov or 503-986-1422.
Over the next six months, the Legislature will be meeting to discuss the big issues facing Oregonians. I want to use this newsletter to send out regular updates to keep you informed about what is going on, how you can get involved, and how state government is impacting your life.
Please, help me and forward this email to a few of your neighbors. They can sign up for this newsletter at www.oregonlegislature.gov/cramer, my official legislative website.
Here is what the 2023 landscape looks like in the legislature:
In this last election, Republicans broke the Democrat's supermajority in the House by picking up two seats. That means the majority party cannot pass new tax hikes without Republican votes. That's a big change from the last couple of legislatures. I hope this promotes bi-partisan policymaking for the good of ALL Oregonians and keeps lawmakers accountable for the rising cost of living in our state.
Looking forward to serving you,
Tracy
Committees
This session, I will serve on the Education Committee, Early Childhood and Human Services Committee, and the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. You can follow along with what these committees are doing by following the links.
I am excited to serve on these committees. Education was a significant reason I ran. I saw what was happening locally in our schools and continue to watch taxpayer's dollars misused and education standards fall. Our schools should get back to the basics; prioritize reading and writing, reinstate graduation standards, and protect our kids with school resource officers.
Legislative Priorities
I have sponsored and will be introducing several pieces of legislation this session. I will also work with community leaders on ways to help with local projects.
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HB 2557 - Removes the arbitrary cap on virtual charter school enrollment that keeps education options from parents and students. It also provides optional saving accounts for Charter schools and parental choice.
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Gervais School District/ Fire Station - The Gervais School District desperately needs repairs. Old buildings need to be upgraded to make them a safe and productive learning environment for students. As a Gervais graduate, this issue is dear to me. I understand many Gervais residents' concerns about the bond proposed last election. A hefty tax increase at a time of inflation is a challenging proposal. I look forward to working with the Gervais School Board to explore ways to upgrade facilities. I also see the increasing need for fire and medical in a growing community and will be supporting the community leaders in their efforts to fund the building of this new station.
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Community Safety for North Salem - During the campaign, I had many people express safety concerns about their North Salem neighborhoods. I am actively reaching out to the Salem City Council to learn what the state can do to address these concerns.
I will be introducing and sponsoring additional legislation in the coming weeks. I will keep you up to date in this newsletter!
Want to testify before committee? The process has changed.
Last week, we got word that the process to sign up to participate in the committee process has changed. Before, you could show up and sign up to testify at the Capitol. But now, you must register online in advance to provide verbal testimony during a committee meeting. Registration closes one hour before the scheduled start time of the meeting.
Get all the info here:
“But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we’ve come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.” - Dr. Martin Muther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" Speech
I also refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. Dr. King pushed this nation forward, not by abandoning America’s principles but by applying them fully. We must continue his work.
 2023 Oregon House Republican Caucus. I an honored to serve with such a talented and diverse group of leaders from across the state.
Last week, the entire House Republican Caucus sent the newly sworn-in Governor, Tina Kotek, a letter about how she can work with us to create a better Oregon. As Governor, it is our responsibility to hold her accountable. We asked her to come to the table and find bipartisan solutions that benefit the whole state.
  Capitol Phone: 503-986-1422
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-476, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TracyCramer@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/cramer
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