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Dear Friends and Constituents,
I hope you and your loved ones were able to connect, relax, and enjoy time together over the holidays. I can’t believe how fast this year has flown by! As we look back on 2023 and look forward to the New Year, it has been phenomenal to connect with the district and advocate for our communities.
2023 was an ambitious Legislative session as we passed policies that directly addressed many of the most urgent issues. We allocated over $200 million as part of the Governor’s Housing package which goes towards increasing our housing supply, shelter those who are experiencing homelessness, and long-term interventions towards prevention. We committed over $200 million for the CHIPS Act in boosting our semiconductor manufacturing industry which positions Oregon to pull in millions of federal dollars and create thousands of new jobs. We budgeted a $10.2 billion K-12 budget paired with $140 million allocation for early literacy to support teachers, staff, students, and their families. And we protected access to abortion and gender-affirming care.
Celebrating with other first-time elected Representatives on inaguration day
In my first year in office, I helped pass a landmark bill that expanded access to hearing aids and cochlear implants for children, HB 2994B. More specifically, it clarified the statute of covered services and devices and closed a gap to help ensure families can work together with insurance companies to find the most medically appropriate care.
Governor's signing ceremony for HB 2994B
The passage of this bill was truly a community-led effort and I am honored to have worked alongside hundreds of parents, advocates, and providers who have been collectively working to ensure better access to care for children and our deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
My office also introduced and passed HB 3223 which aligns statute with current practices where a licensed dentist will train their dental assistants, attest that they have completed a set of hands-on procedures, and move their application to the Oregon Board of Dentistry for final certification to practice. This removes the need for a written exam as hands on training and mentorship empowers dental assistants to gain experience and removes a barrier for a costly written examination.
And among many other bills, I am excited to have worked alongside Senator Hansell for SB 463 and SB 955.
Sharing public testimony with Senator Hansell
SB 463 passed last session with nearly unanimous bipartisan support in both chambers which removes the need to meet prior authorization for proton beam therapy, and covers the treatment at the same limit as other radiation therapies. As a cancer survivor, I know that time is of the essence when it comes to life saving-care.
I am also excited to have worked alongside Senator Hansell to pass SB 955 which allocated $300,000 for the AgriStress Helpline. With our state in the midst of a behavioral health crisis, we need to have strong intervention systems to best connect Oregonians to get the support and care they need. The AgriStress Helpline is a free and confidential resource with trained crisis specialists to help support those in the agricultural, forestry, and fishing industries. If you or someone you love needs crisis support, please call or text 833-897-2474. The crisis line is available 24/7 for workers and their families.
A huge shout out and thank you to Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty and the City of Beaverton Public Works Department for their strong advocacy on the Purple Pipe Program where we secured $2.5 million!
City of Beaverton Purple Pipe Tour
The Purple Pipe Program is a new system to conserve potable water to use for irrigation and recharging streams in the South Cooper Mountain area and will help water conservation efforts. This is a fantastic program that moves towards sustainable and environmentally responsible solutions.
My office and I have been hard at work during the interim tracking issues and staying in touch with constituents. January Legislative Days is just on the horizon and will be our last opportunity to hear updates from agencies and highlight policy solutions we are considering before the 2024 Legislative Session.
Looking ahead to the coming session which begins on February 5th, one of my priority bills will close a gap in the existing statute as it aims to eliminate disparities in health care coverage. Every session, the Legislature is tasked to consider and pass an array of bills that mandate health plans to cover certain benefits or require payments to providers. While current statutes require that proponents must submit a report to accompany any legislative measure mandating health insurance coverage. My bill will aim to eliminate disparities and gaps in health care coverage by requiring proponents of a health insurance mandate measure to study and consider the social and financial impacts to Oregonians.
I will be focusing on building up and strengthening our semiconductor talent workforce pipeline to help families secure stable jobs and to seize on the opportunity we have with funding from the federal government. We must be prepared and best position Oregon to receive significant investments and a comprehensive statewide strategy that aims to advance a more diverse workforce. This will truly be a catalyst in transforming existing programs and benefit opportunities to open the door for all families.
In the bigger picture, we know that addressing the gaps with our behavioral health and addictions crisis along with Measure 110 will be a key piece of the session. Access to affordable a diverse range of housing options is an ongoing issue that community leaders across the state must address. We must also ensure adequate school funding so that teachers and students have the classroom resources they need to thrive. While we have made great strides this past year, there is still so much more left to do.
Thank you for coming out to my Veteran Listening Session!
Group photo from my Veteran Listening Session
I had a great time meeting and having a discussion with our veterans on their lived experiences and the issues that they face in the community - from housing stability, benefits, and bringing the veteran community together.
A huge thank you to Representative Paul Evans who was able to join us and share his personal story as a military veteran and his expertise and knowledge as a policy-maker. A special shoutout to Mike, a veteran in Beaverton who first reached out to my office to make this community event possible!
Hillsboro Police Department Ride-Along
Rep Hai Pham with Officer Bonn, Hillsboro PD
A huge thank you to the Hillsboro Police Department and Officer Bonn for taking me out last week to the community on a ride-along and keeping our communities safe. I deeply appreciated the opportunity to see the work up close and how well our community is served.
PCC Quick Start Graduation Ceremony
I was honored and humbled to have the opportunity to speak at the Portland Community College’s Quick Start Graduation Ceremony! These wonderful students achieved a huge milestone in their lives and will look to join Oregon’s semiconductor workforce. Congratulations graduates!
Rep Hai Pham with PCC Quick Start Program graduates
The Quick Start Program at PCC is a one-of-a-kind opportunity that is a model for the country. It’s an intensive paid two-week program aimed at building a strong workforce for the state’s chip industry and diversifying the talent pool working in semiconductors.
Programs like this one are critical as the Oregon Legislature pulled significant federal and state dollars to boost our semiconductor industry. Oregon is expected to add more than 6,000 semiconductor jobs over the next several years and combined with an existing workforce shortage across all sectors, there is an urgent need to strengthen the workforce pipeline.
Washington County’s Family Peace Center
My staff had attended a “before tour” of what will soon be the Family Peace Center. The current Family Justice Center, located in Beaverton, serves individuals and families experiencing sexual assault, domestic violence, or family violence. They have critical on-site services from drop-in childcare, food pantries, kitchens, showers, legal clinics, and so much more to help break cycles of violence and support survivors towards healing and peace.
Family Peace Center "Before" Tour
Post-pandemic, there has been an heightened need to meet the demand of our communities as rates of child abuse and domestic violence has increased. The new Family Peace Center will be a significant physical expansion and will provide a host of new services from a child-abuse clinic, counseling, legal support and so much more in one co-located space.
OSU Extension Services
Extension Services partners with local communities and offer programs, research, and volunteer opportunities to foster a healthier community. They have great education and programs where families can engage with the 4-H Youth Development, become an OSU Master Gardener or get advice on gardening and pest management, and learn about nutrition, food security, and health with the Washington County branch.
Programs like this can help communities find environmentally friendly, sustainable, and safe solutions in maintaining yards, gardens, or even farms. We can all do our part to stay educated and help our environments and ecosystems.
Oregon Kids Credit
With tax season just around the corner, be sure to check if you’re eligible for the Oregon Kid’s Credit, a bipartisan bill that passed last session which helps our most vulnerable families and gives relief to those impacted by rising costs of living.
The Oregon Kids Credit is a refundable credit for low-income families with $30,000 or less in annual income who can claim up to $1,000 per child, for up to five children aged five and below. People who don’t owe any taxes may also be eligible to claim the refundable credit.
To receive the credit on your 2023 tax returns, eligible families need to file an Oregon state income tax return. For families who need assistance filing a return, visit the Department of Revenue’s Free Tax Help Page.
Oregon Marketplace Coverage
The deadline for open enrollment on the federal online marketplace will close on January 16th, those who sign up beginning in 2024 will be covered starting February 1st. Open enrollment is the only time when anyone who is not offered coverage from a job or a public program like Oregon Health Plan or Medicare can enroll in health coverage through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, often with financial assistance.
Visit OregonHealthCare.gov to see the different plans and savings that are available in addition to see which plans cover your prescription drugs and are networked with your preferred doctors or hospitals. If you need assistance, free local help with licensed insurance agents and trained community groups are available.
Oregon ONE Mobile App
Oregonians can now manage their medical, food, cash, and childcare benefits through the new Oregon ONE mobile app managed by the Department of Human Services. People will first need to apply for their benefits online, in-person at a local office, or over the phone. You can learn more about the app or how to use it on one.oregon.gov.
Agriculture Employer Overtime Tax Credit
The Oregon Department of Revenue encourages taxpayers who plan to apply for the new Agriculture Employer Overtime Tax Credit to set up a Revenue Online account soon as the application window closes on January 31, 2024.
You can watch this video on how to set up and log in to your Revenue Online Account. Details about the tax credit program are available on the DOR Agricultural Employer Overtime Tax Credit website. For general questions about the employer tax credit for agricultural worker overtime, email Ag.Overtime@dor.oregon.gov.
Thank you for reading my last newsletter of 2023 and for a wonderful year together. I remain dedicated to our communities as we work together to address disparities and make progress. Wishing you peace, joy and a Happy New Year!
Yours truly,
 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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