Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Welcome back to my legislative newsletter. The primary election is over and blackout period for sending newsletters and correspondence to constituents using state resources has ended. The next blackout period takes place 60 days prior to the general election in November. This publication catches up on what I’ve been doing, provides updates and information from state agencies and what’s coming up as we prepare for May legislative interim days next week.
It is my great honor to continue to represent your voice in Salem. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. I welcome the opportunity to serve you in any way, whether it is through the legislative process or through personal assistance with state government.
Sincerely,
 Rick Lewis
State Representative
House District 18
Oregon’s Christmas Tree District
In this Issue:
View previous newsletters here.
This is the first of three scheduled Legislative Interim Committee days to take place before the 2025 Legislative Session. During Committee Days, Committees hold informational hearings on topics that could lead to legislation in upcoming sessions, hear updates on implementations of past legislation or hear, reports from state agencies. You can access the legislative calendar for important dates here.
I am serving on the following Interim Committees:
Click on the committee links above to follow along to see what’s happening in my committees next week.
In addition to my legislative committee assignments, I also serve on the following groups:
On March 29th, I had the honor to participate in the ceremonial groundbreaking of the long-awaited Vietnam War Memorial on the corner of Wilson Park on the Oregon Capitol grounds. This event coincided with the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony. It was a privilege to speak at this event that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War Veterans Day and share my thoughts and lived military service as a Vietnam-era veteran.
I currently serve on the House Veterans Committee as a Vice Chair. I’ve been a member of that committee since 2017 and a vice chair for the past six years. It is an honor to work in the legislature to pass legislation honoring the service of our veterans and their families. But more work needs to be done. We have an active veterans caucus that will be working even harder to address the needs of our veterans.
Military service is in my blood. My grandfather served with the 5th Division in France in WW1, fought in four major campaigns, suffered numerous attacks from mustard gas and ultimately died in a VA hospital. I never got to meet him in person.
|
|
 |
My dad was career military serving in the Army Air Corps in WWII and with the 300th AFA battalion in Korea during the Korean War. He retired from the Wyoming National Guard as a Command Sergeant Major. I was born the day his Guard unit was activated for the Korean War and left for training and deployment to Korea. We lived on the north fort at Fort Lewis during that 3-month training period prior to his deployment. I also have an uncle who served with the 82nd Airborne and parachuted behind enemy lines at Normandy on D-Day and participated in Operation Market Garden and the Battle of Bastogne.
.
|
I am a Vietnam Era veteran. I enlisted in the Army three days after my 18th birthday in 1968. At that time, it was a three-year enlistment, and I took my basic training at Fort Lewis in Washington. All but a handful in my unit were draftees serving two years and almost without exception, all of the draftees became 11 Bravos on graduation from basic and continued infantry training at Fort Lewis prior to deployment to Vietnam.
|
I became a 15 Bravo (a nuclear capable Missile Operations crewman) and was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for further training and deployment to Europe where I served three years, followed by two years in the Wyoming National Guard.
In 2005 I served under the Department of Defense in Iraq training and supervising the training of the Iraqi Police leadership during Operation Iraqi Freedom following the downfall of the regime of Saddam Hussein.
|
|
 |
What I remember most about my years in the military were the men I served with and the friends we became. Sadly, many of those friends are no longer living. Some of my Basic training friends died in Vietnam. My best childhood friend died in Vietnam. Old age has taken many others over time. I remember scanning every issue of the Stars & Stripes newspaper when I was in the service because it carried the names of those who were killed in action in Vietnam.
The late 60’s and early 70’s was a turbulent time to have served. Those returning from Vietnam having served in combat are acutely aware to this day just how unwelcome they were on their return. We were required to wear Class A uniforms while in transit and it was a very uncomfortable time to be among civilians in airports and train stations. Most of us sought out fellow service members in uniform and did not feel welcome at all. It was especially painful for my dad who could not comprehend the treatment those of the Vietnam Era experienced, especially when he fondly remembered the welcome home, he and his fellow service members received at the end of WWII and the Korean War.
Thankfully that sentiment toward service members no longer exists for those serving today.
Military veterans are a special class of people. Whether they enlisted in the military or were drafted into military service, each and every one answered the call of duty when called upon to do so. Whether in time of war or time of peace, they served our country, upholding the finest traditions in placing country and freedom above self and family. If you ask them, they do not consider themselves heroes. They will tell you the true heroes are those who never made it home. Many bear the scars of sacrifice, some physical and some not so easily seen. But they share a common bond. They are brothers and sisters in service to their country. Quite often that desire to serve the cause of freedom goes unnoticed and unappreciated by those who take freedom and our way of life for granted. Our debt to those who have served and those who have gone before us can never be repaid. Those who served in Vietnam sadly did not receive a warm welcome home during that time in our history. They were unfairly blamed and criticized for our nation’s policies and public sentiment against the war.
I mentioned there is much more work to be done at both the State and the Federal level to honor those who have served, those who gave their lives in defense of freedom and the families that have sacrificed so much. It took years before Agent Orange was recognized as a combat related disability. Far too long… Whether it is mental health and substance abuse treatment services, veteran suicide, veteran homelessness, PTSD or any number of other needs that must be met, I am proud to say those of us serving in either the House or the Senate veterans committee work across party lines to accomplish the mission.
To those who served in Vietnam, I wish you a very belated welcome home and our sincere appreciation for your service and for your sacrifices.
The Vietnam War Memorial on the Capitol grounds would not have become a reality without the vision of Steve Bates. Steve is a super-citizen volunteer that serves as the president of the Vietnam War Memorial Fund. His tireless work on this project to honor our warriors and remember the fallen is greatly appreciated.
The names of nearly 800 service members with Oregon ties who died in Vietnam will be engraved on columns.
Read more about the groundbreaking and the Vietnam War Memorial Project here, as well as take a virtual tour of the proposed Vietnam War Memorial here.
In April we recognized National Child Abuse Prevention Month and on April 5th, I attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the Liberty House Woodburn Clinic. The support for this essential service is strong and noted by the many community partners and dignitaries who joined together to celebrate this exciting occasion. Liberty House serves children and families facing child abuse, neglect, grief, and trauma and we are fortunate to bring access to this essential service to Woodburn and north Marion County. Thank you to Liberty House for your care that truly changes hurt into hope!
|
In mid-April I attended the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police (OACP) annual conference in Pendleton. OACP is a professional organization that represents police chiefs and other law enforcement leaders in Oregon. The OACP provides leadership, training, and resources to its members to promote public safety and improve the quality of law enforcement services in the state.
As a former Chief of Police, OACP President, and law enforcement retiree with nearly four decades in uniform, this conference has been valuable to my legislative work to keep me informed of the policing challenges and issues faced by our law enforcement officials.
The OACP also has a number of committees and task forces that focus on specific issues, training and education, and community engagement. The conference brings its members together and provides opportunities for professional development and networking and has been a time to catch up with old friends and retirees that I have served with from around the state.
 |
|
Although I was not able to attend the 2024 Military Hall of Fame ceremony in late-April, I want to give another shout-out to Lt. Col. Dick Tobiason, who was inducted into the Military Hall of Fame this year for his service to country and community.
|
LT. COL.(R) ALLAN R. "DICK" TOBIASON, U.S. Army Vietnam, Master Army Aviator with 20 years’ service including 2 tours in Vietnam, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, 15 Air Medals with V for Valor device, and Purple Heart. One of his proudest assignments was helping repatriate 27 American POWs in South Vietnam during “Operation Homecoming” in 1973 during his second tour. Personally responsible for getting all 9 border to border highways across Oregon named to honor nearly one half million Oregon wartime veterans and 6,000 Gold Star Families and Medal of Honor Highway Across America on the 3,365-mile US Hwy 20 between Newport, OR and Boston, MA, and many more impressive accomplishments.
|
Thank you, Dick, for your unwavering service to our country and community.
Attending the 2024 Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony each year is a somber and meaningful event. On May 7th, we gathered at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem to honor the state’s law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
The names of two fallen Oregon law enforcement officers were added to the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial during an engraving ceremony on Tuesday, April 16: Jared J. Miller of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, end of watch Dec. 9, 2021, and Joseph W. Johnson of the Nyssa Police Department, end of watch April 15, 2023. On Nov. 10, 2021,
Sergeant Jared J. Miller fell ill while working as a shift sergeant at the Marion County Jail during an outbreak of COVID-19 at the facility. Sergeant Miller died from complications of COVID-19 on Dec. 9, 2021. Sergeant Miller had served with the Marion County Sheriff's Office for 16 years. He is survived by his wife, father, sister, brother, and grandfather.
Reserve Corporal Joseph W. Johnson was shot and killed on April 15, 2023, while making a traffic stop in Nyssa. After being dispatched to a domestic incident, Reserve Corporal Johnson engaged in a short vehicle pursuit with the suspect, who stopped and opened fire on the officer while he was still in his patrol vehicle. Reserve Corporal Johnson succumbed to his injuries at the scene. He had served with the Nyssa Police Department for almost five years, and also served as a corrections officer with the Oregon Department of Corrections for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Sergeant Miller, Reserve Corporal Johnson and 194 previously fallen officers were honored during the ceremony.
The Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial honors officers who have died in the line of duty since the 1860s. This includes law enforcement, corrections, and parole and probation officers from city, county, state, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies. The ceremony is a significant event that the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) is proud to host each year in partnership with the Oregon Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, Oregon Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, and Oregon's various statewide law enforcement associations.
.
In the month of May to honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week, I extend my deepest gratitude and respect to the brave men and women who dedicated their lives to safeguarding our communities. This solemn week reminds us of the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty, their courage and commitment to justice serving as a beacon of hope and safety. We honor their legacy, remember their service, and express our heartfelt appreciation to those who continue to protect and serve with unwavering dedication.
On May 16th, my office in cooperation with the Monitor community Neighborhood Watch organization, held a community meeting to provide an opportunity for the residents of Monitor and the surrounding area to discuss the OR211/Meridian Road intersection traffic safety concerns with state and local transportation and public safety experts.
There has been a long history of tragic accidents in this intersection. Upward of 50 residents were in attendance, along with representatives from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police, the Clackamas County Sheriff, Clackamas County Transportation, Clackamas County Board of Commissioners and Monitor Fire.
Thank you to all who attended to provide input, information, and insight as we work together as a community to elevate the need for additional safety measures in this area. In my closing remarks, I acknowledged the large community turnout which demonstrated the high level of concern and, more importantly, the need for concrete solutions and timelines for completion. The community has waited long enough to get the problem fixed. I will continue to advocate for a 4-way stop, rumble strips and overhead flashing lights very soon as well as a long-term strategy for the intersection and a timeline for implementation of the strategy.
|
Thank you to all who attended to provide input, information, and insight as we work together as a community to elevate the need for additional safety measures in this area.
 |
|
A big thank you to the Monitor Fire Station and to Jay and my Constituent Services Director Jodie Fleck for their work in putting together this event.
|
Link to ODOT Project Details to safety improvements at the intersection of OR 211 and S Meridian Road here.
Sign up for Alerts and Email Updates: Oregon Department of Transportation (govdelivery.com)
Approximately 12,000 Oregon taxpayers who used TurboTax to prepare their 2023 federal and state tax returns may be able to reduce their tax owed or increase their refund by amending their state return.
Intuit, the makers of TurboTax, said the software program might not have selected the best deduction option (standard vs itemized) for some taxpayers, resulting in a possible overpayment to the state.
|
Intuit has contacted the affected taxpayers and provided instructions for filing an amended return at no charge.
Taxpayers will need to complete the amended return in TurboTax, print it out, and then choose one of the three options below to file their return.
- Mail their return to the Oregon Department of Revenue at P.O. Box 14700, Salem, OR, 97309-0930.
- Bring their printed amended return to one of the Department of Revenue offices. (Drop boxes are available to accept documents after regular business hours in Salem, Bend, Eugene, Medford, and Portland.)
- Enter the information from the printed return into Direct File Oregon to electronically file their amended return free of charge.
Directions for using Direct File Oregon to file an amended state return are available on the Department of Revenue website.
Some amended returns can take up to six months to process if they require manual review due to errors or missing information. Taxpayers should make sure they follow these important steps that will allow more timely processing of their amended return.
- Make sure the printed return they file is complete, including the federal form and all schedules (like Schedule OR-A).
- Make sure they have checked the "Amended Return" box on the first page.
- Use their current address, if it is different from the address they used when filing their original return.
- Provide their direct deposit information for their refund, otherwise the department will mail a paper check.
- Sign their amended return.
Affected taxpayers have three years from the date their return was originally filed or from the due date of the return, whichever was later, to file an amended return.
If you applied for jobless benefits through the Oregon Employment Departments (OED) new system “Frances Online” it is likely that you have experienced difficulties and delays in getting your claim processed timely. This is unacceptable.
A great deal of work needs to be done and I will be monitoring this issue closely. Last week, joined my Republican colleagues in sending a letter to the Governor to prioritize restoring the public’s trust in the OED by publicly releasing a detailed plan of action —beyond the normal increases to staffing, complete with aggressive increases in agency performance targets at set deadlines, as well as how the agency will achieve them.
The current status of this issue remains unresolved. OED recently announced a plan to change customer service hours beginning June 3rd as follows:
- Phone lines will be closed for Unemployment Insurance, Paid Leave Oregon, and Contributions & Recovery on Mondays, starting Monday, June 3.
- The phone hour changes go into effect on Tuesday, June 4.
- Staff will answer inbound calls from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Staff will answer calls on hold until about 6 p.m.
- This change will also affect live chat for UI.
- The most efficient way to contact us is by messaging us through a Frances Online account or by using the Contact Us form.
- Please do not send more than one request for the same issue.
- If customers have questions about the status of their claim, they should log into their Frances Online account each day to check their action center, follow any instructions, and respond to any questionnaires they find there.
- Hours for WorkSource Oregon offices and other OED programs will not be affected.
- The weekly claim line, Frances Online, and our online Contact Us form will remain available 24 hours a day.
- Customers can still start the initial claims process using the UI telephone initial claim line 24 hours a day, but they must complete it within phone hours.
- Employers who need to file a payroll report but have no employees will be able to file a report 24 hours a day by phone at 503-378-3981.
A tech upgrade leaves some Oregonians unable to access unemployment benefits – OPB
Oregon employment officials promise more effective service with reduced phone line hours – OPB
Last month, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) emphasized a focus on fire safety in Oregon and provided an array of education and other resources to Oregonians. Check out the April issue of The Gated Wye for information and data here.
This month is designated as National Wildfire Awareness Month. OSFM offers information to educate and prepare communities for the upcoming fire season and updated its Wildfire Awareness Month webpage.
With wildfires becoming increasingly common in the Pacific Northwest, the need for proactive measures to prevent and lessen their impact has never been more urgent. Be sure to check out OSFM’s new webpage and share all the ways you and your community can be #WildfireAware this summer.
|
Be sure to sign up for emergency alerts for your county. You can do that by going to OrAlert.gov. For more resources and information about evacuation levels in Oregon and how to be prepared, check out the Oregon Department of Emergency Management's website.
|
Together, we can make a difference in preventing wildfires and keeping Oregon safe.
|
|
 |
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will host Oregon’s annual Statewide Memorial Day Ceremony in person at 11 a.m., Monday, May 27, at the Oregon World War II Memorial, located at the intersection of Cottage and Court Street NE on the grounds of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
This event honors Oregon’s fallen service members from all eras of service and will include remarks from ODVA Director Dr. Nakeia Council Daniels and Oregon Adjutant General Alan R. Gronewold, along with other veteran leaders and state dignitaries.
The event will also feature a color guard ceremony, a performance of the national anthem by West Salem High School’s award-winning a cappella group Soundscape, and other ceremonial elements. The theme of this year’s Memorial Day event is “Oregon Remembers.” ODVA Strategic Partnerships Division Director and Navy veteran Sheronne Blasi will serve as emcee.
Limited seating will be available. Attendees are welcome to bring their own seating for the park setting and are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather.
For those unable to attend in-person, the event will also be livestreamed beginning at 11 a.m. on ODVA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/odvavet and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAQVavs9KmvDeJ42ySFtY8A.
Memorial Day holds profound significance as a time to honor and remember the brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. More than picnics and parades, this day serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by countless men and women throughout history, highlighting their courage, valor, and dedication to preserving freedom.
This Memorial Day, I hope you take time to reflect and show gratitude for those who gave their lives in defense of the principles we hold so dear. By remembering and honoring their sacrifice, we ensure that their legacy of selflessness and service is never forgotten, and we reaffirm our commitment to upholding the ideals for which they fought. .
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1418
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-385, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.RickLewis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lewis
| 
