|
Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Rep.MarkGamba@oregonlegislature.gov
Hi folks,
I wanted to send out a brief update along with a change to my calendar of Constituent Conversations. I have to push the event that was supposed to happen this Saturday back by one week. My Constituent Conversation in Sellwood is now scheduled for 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 6th. The next one in Oak Grove is still scheduled just a few days later, on 7/9/24. I hope you are able to join me at one or both events. I am finding the conversations to be quite valuable as my team and I build my legislative agenda for 2025.
Speaking of, here is a glimpse of a few more concepts I am preparing for next year’s legislative session:
- Feasibility funding for affordable housing - This will be very similar to a concept I ran in 2023 which passed out of the Housing Committee but died in Ways and Means. We know that nonprofits and faith communities own thousands of acres of land all across the state that would be perfectly suited for affordable housing. This land is often owned by an organization that wants to put it to a mission-driven purpose, it is located near services, and can be connected to water and power infrastructure with minimal difficulty. The problem: the nonprofits and faith communities that own the land just don’t have the expertise to know how to develop housing and there are virtually no resources they can currently make use of to do it. My bill will bridge that critical gap and get more affordable housing built where we need it.
- Aquaculture - Oregon law currently treats terrestrial animals and aquatic animals differently. In my view, the lesser protections afforded to aquatic animals result in much more inhumane, unhealthy, and, frankly, unethical conditions where they are raised and slaughtered for food. This is a problem not only because of the cruelty being inflicted upon living beings, but also because of the increased risks for disease spread and contamination. As the aquaculture industry grows and takes shape in Oregon, I believe we need to set some basic ground rules before things get too far along. To that end, I am working on two concepts to regulate how we farm fish for food and to look at aquatic animal welfare, more generally.
I currently have 42 bill concepts on my list for next year. They are all in varying states of readiness and we may cut it down a bit further, but they cover a broad range of policy realms. I will continue including a couple brief descriptions in each newsletter, so please keep coming back if you’d like to know more.
That’s all for now. I hope to see you at one of my Constituent Conversations. Otherwise, please feel welcome to share your thoughts with me by E-mail at rep.markgamba@oregonlegislature.gov.
All my best,
Mark Gamba
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1441
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-477, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.MarkGamba@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/gamba
|
