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Dear friends and neighbors,
For my staff and I, the work (and play) started before the session did! We had the chance to spend some time together in one of my favorite places, Welches, Oregon. It was refreshing to work together to create a plan for the session, set expectations, and have fun doing it. Thank you to my wonderful team for working so hard, and I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together.
The first day of session was an inspiring day! Walking onto the floor as Majority Leader for the first time, seeing newly- sworn in President Wagner at the rostrum, and listening to Governor Kotek give her swearing in speech was a humbling sign of changing times. I am so proud to represent the people of Senate District 14 as their Senator and to have earned the trust of the Democratic caucus to serve as Majority Leader.
No matter how busy it gets at the Capitol, I’m always excited to spend time in the district! Last month, I joined many of my Portland-area colleagues at the annual Multnomah County Legislative Breakfast. After three years, it is refreshing to return to in-person community gatherings. Listening to the needs of the county always guides my decision-making process at the Capitol and I am grateful to have such thoughtful constituents and colleagues. Multnomah County has many challenges to overcome, none greater than the homeless crisis. I have great confidence in our new county chair, Jessica Vega Pederson, and her plans to make progress on this issue. I look forward to partnering with our cities and counties to meet our shared challenges head on.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with a class of Portland State University students with Representative Grayber. It was inspiring to see the next generation of leaders in Oregon and hear about their studies and aspirations!
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If you’ve visited the State Capitol lately, you’ve noticed that it looks a little different than usual. Thanks to the dedicated work of construction workers and the Capitol Accessibility, Maintenance and Safety (CAMS) director Jodi, the Capitol will be back and better than ever by the time session starts in 2025! Committees are in full swing, and you can still visit the Capitol through the public entrance on State Street to get an up-close look at the legislative process and meet your representatives. |
It’s only been a month, but we are already seeing progress on legislation! I’m proud to share that a bill brought by a constituent, SB 628, has already had a public hearing. The bill would require health insurers to cover treatment for PANDAS/PANS, a devastating pediatric autoimmune disorder that affects approximately one in 200 children. Ten other states have passed similar legislation, and I am working to ensure that children with PANDAS/PANS can receive life-saving care.
We have already passed over 40 bills through the Senate, with large bipartisan support. I was proud to give my first floor carry for this session, Senate Concurrent Resolution 1, which expresses our support for county clerks and local election officials. We depend on our election officials to ensure that all eligible Oregonians are able to exercise their right to vote. In recent years, we’ve seen increased challenges that range from the COVID-19 pandemic to threats of violence. Facing these challenges, these dedicated election workers and volunteers have stood strong in protecting our democracy. I’m honored to express my support of Oregon’s election workers by carrying SCR 1 to the floor.
There is still a ways to go until the end of session, but we’ve had a great start and I look forward to what’s next. Keep up with what I’m working on my visiting my Facebook page and keep an eye out for my newsletters.
Sincerely,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1714
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-223, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.KateLieber@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lieber
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