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Dear Friends and Constituents,
Happy October! I hope you all have been enjoying watching the leaves turn from green to red and orange as we head into fall.
Last week, I was back in Salem in time for Legislative Days, which is an opportunity for many to participate in committees, hear about updates from agencies on implementation of bills, and have ongoing discussions on key issues from housing, behavioral health care, and economic development in the state.
Representative Hai Pham in Committee
Save the date for October 20th in the Beaverton City Library for a constituent coffee! This is a great opportunity to hear about ongoing policy discussions in the state and share issues that matter to the community.
I look forward to seeing and hearing from you soon. Please register in advance by using the link here, so we can bring enough treats and coffee for everyone.
If you have any questions about the event or need any accommodations, please email me at Rep.HaiPham@oregonlegislature.gov.
One of the more important highlights of last week included the new Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response. This new bipartisan, bicameral committee is part of the long-term commitment to carrying out our vision of a sustainable, system-wide, and accessible treatment infrastructure.
Everyone has a friend or family member that has been impacted by the national addiction crisis. As a healthcare practitioner, I believe that we need to do more to ensure safer communities, get more people the help that they need, and build up our addiction treatment services and bolstering our behavioral health workforce. This committee will allow for a robust and democratic process that brings all impacted voices to the table.
If you want to follow this committee and receive regular updates, you can click “E-subscribe” on the committee page.
Governor’s Ceremonial Bill Signing for HB 2994!
The Governor signed into law HB 2994, my personal priority bill! HB 2994 is a huge win for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community as this legislation will expand access and affordability to hearing aids and cochlear implants for children to improve their quality of life. As a pediatric dentist, I know that access to critical services and medically appropriate care is key to making sure all kids have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Photo Credit: Lynn Howlett
I am so grateful for this bipartisan effort. My sincere gratitude for Representative Charlie Conrad and Representative Lisa Reynolds for their support. And a huge thank you to AG Bell Pacific Northwest and the Oregon Academy of Audiology for their incredible work!
Photo Credit: Lynn Howlett
You can read more in my recent press release linked here.
Bipartisan Support for AgiStress Suicide Helpline
As a health care practitioner, I know that our state is in the midst of a behavioral health crisis where too many Oregonians are not getting the support and care that they need. That is why I was a co-chief sponsor of SB 955 alongside Senator Hansell and Representative Bobby Levy. SB 955 is a bipartisan bill that invests $300,000 to support a suicide helpline for people who work in farms.
Photo Credit: Caden Perry
The AgiStress Helpline is a free and confidential crisis/support line that is available 24/7 with interpretation services provided in 160 languages. The specialists have supplemental training to understand the culture, values, stressors, and often have personal experiences of agriculture workers.
If you or someone you love needs crisis support, please call or text 833-897-2474.
Expanding Access to Proton Beam Therapy
While it might sound like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie, proton beam therapy is a non-invasive treatment that targets cancer for prostate cancer patients, and leaves health tissues intact. This treatment does not give patients debilitating side effects like many other cancer treatments.
As a cancer survivor myself, I believe that we must ensure affordable and accessible treatment options are available to all Oregonians. Removing the need to meet prior authorization for proton beam therapy, and covering it at the same limit as other radiation therapies, will remove barriers for patients seeking care in one of the hardest moments in their life.
I am beyond grateful for Senator Hansell who championed this issue for years, and helped cancer patients get the chance to live full, healthy lives.
In July, I attended the Special Olympics at the Hillsboro Stadium for bocce and softball. It was fantastic to see and meet with so many families and kids, be active, and have fun!
In August, I joined the Neighborhood Health Center’s (NHC) Annual Community Health Fair. The NHC is a fantastic organization that is dedicated to meeting the needs of our neighbors and clinics in the community. They have hosted several community health fairs in Washington County, bringing in many health-related vendors and community partners to offer a wide range of free services to the community.
As a pediatric dentist, I know how important it is to be able to access affordable dental, medical, and behavioral health services. I want to give a huge shout out to hospitals and providers like Care Oregon, the Neighborhood Health Center, Kaiser, Providence, and so many more who showed up in the Hillsboro Community to make this event possible.
My staff attended the tour for the City of Hillsboro’s Year-Round Shelter Project on the corner of SW 17th Ave and TV Highway.
Photo Credit: City of Hillsboro
This shelter is critical to meet the needs of all of our community members by reducing homelessness with collaborative, proven solutions that create rapid pathways to stabilized housing.
And to finish the summer, I had the honor of touring the Refugee Welcome Center in Portland to meet with residents.
The Welcome Center is operated by the Oregon Department of Human Services in collaboration with various housing, security, and food/catering organizations to support the diverse needs of residents.
Families and individuals from over a dozen countries call this building home as they aim to be granted asylum, get work permits, and transition to more permanent housing. Thank you to the hard work of the ODHS team for making it a point to provide English-language education, career opportunities, and even culturally appropriate food!
What touched me most during this visit was listening to the stories of refugees and asylum seekers. Some of these families traveled through 12 or 14 countries, through rainforests, rivers, and on boats, fleeing violence and persecution. It reminded me of my parents' bravery as they fought to get to the US, without knowing if they'd make it here…
I am immensely grateful for the work of Senator Kayse Jama and his team for establishing the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Advancement last year to make this all happen. And, I am appreciative of my colleagues in the legislature like Representative Lisa Reynolds and Representative Hoa Nguyen for continuing to prioritize this funding for our refugee and asylum communities as they seek to create better lives for their families here in Oregon.
Thank you for reading my newsletter! If you want to hear regular updates about the work that I am doing in Salem, please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. And as always, you can reach me by emailing my office at Rep.HaiPham@oregonlegislature.gov.
Best Regards,
 Representative Hai Pham
House District 36
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1436
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-282, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.HaiPham@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/phamh
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