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Hello Senate District 19 and beyond,
I have a deep respect, appreciation, and love for Oregon's natural beauty and I strongly believe that we must all be good stewards of our public lands and outdoor areas so Oregonians now and years into the future can enjoy this incredible place we call home.
That is especially true during wildfire season. This year we have already seen 640 large fires and around 700,000 acres burned, with 27 still actively burning. There has been a significant increase in fire activity over the past week, in large part due to lightning strikes.
My thoughts are with those dealing with the impacts from the fires, especially everyone who has been forced to evacuate or who are struggling with the smoke that has blanketed parts of our state. I'm grateful to the hundreds of firefighters — from more than 18 states — who are here protecting Oregon homes and lives.
While crews are working overtime to contain these fires, those of us who work (or recreate) outdoors must do our part to make sure human-caused wildfires aren't adding to the problem. Campfires, smoking in vegetated areas, using vehicles in unmanaged areas, operating a chainsaw, or using an internal combustion engine without a spark arrestor can all lead to wildfires.
Fire meteorologists have told us we are in the 97th percentile for fire danger and are "ripe for any ignition, be it lightning or human-caused."
There are fire restrictions in the majority of Oregon's national and state forests, as well as on BLM public lands in the NW Oregon District. If you plan on being in those areas, please review safety restrictions before you go.
With wildfires throughout the state, it's also important to be prepared before venturing out. Here are some suggestions as you plan your day hikes or overnight camping trips:
- Plan ahead and make sure you pack the right equipment and plenty of water.
- Check the state wildfire map. Stay current on local fire danger and follow all seasonal restrictions to avoid adding more wildfires to the map. You can find both danger levels and restrictions throughout the state here.
- Check TripCheck to chart your course.
- Check air quality in and near your destination.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts and familiarize yourself with the three evacuation levels.
We must do what we can to keep ourselves, our neighbors, and our state safe during wildfire season.
On July 16, Oregon lost Peter Courtney, the longest-serving legislator in Oregon history.
I met Peter back when I was just a legislative staffer and he was still in the House of Representatives, before he started his historic tenure as Senate President.
It was so powerful to read the kind words and stories that everyone shared about Peter after he passed. His impact on Oregon cannot be overstated and will live on in all of us for decades to come.
His family also penned a lovely obituary, which I would encourage everyone to read.
Here are the thoughts that I shared last week:
Today, I share the heartbreak of countless Oregonians as we all mourn the loss of the most influential lawmaker in the history of Oregon.
Peter Michael Coleman Courtney was a legend — larger than life, with a passion for helping Oregonians all across the state, and especially in his beloved city of Salem. The sounds of the Capitol were never complete without Peter’s voice reverberating through the halls. He was bold and hard-charging, but also tender and caring, always looking for private moments to help a young lawmaker find their way.
His legacy is typified by his dedication to the humane care of animals and for the well-being of children and those who struggle with mental health. But his legacy is more than policy — it is a spirit of governing that he brought to Oregon.
Bringing his talent for public speaking from “West by God Virginia,” Peter’s true home will always be here in “Oregon, My Oregon,” the Oregon Capitol, and especially the Oregon Senate.
Peter loved stories of the Oregon Trail — and the sun will never set on his legacy. My thoughts are with his wife Margie and his sons and everyone who knew and loved Peter.
There will be an opportunity in the future for a public celebration of life in accordance with the families wishes. More details to come at a later date.
I will be joining my friends Rep. Daniel Nguyen and Rep. Jules Walters for a summer town hall on July 25 at 5:30 p.m. The community event will be at Lake Oswego City Hall in the City Council chambers and moderated by our very own Mayor Joe Buck.
Town halls are a great opportunity for elected legislators to hear directly from residents in our district about the issues that are most important to them. Please bring your questions and we'll be sure to have a wide-ranging and interesting conversations about the issues impacting Oregon today.
Earlier this month, I had the great privilege of speaking at CSG West in Portland, where legislators and staff from across the Western states came together to discuss issues that affect all of us.
It was particularly special since our very own Sen. Bill Hansell (R-District 29) has served as chair of CSG West for the past year, taking a lead role in planning this massive event. At the conclusion of the week I was honored to present him with an award thanking him for his extraordinary service and sharing a few stories about what makes Sen. Hansell a great Oregonian.
Sen. Hansell has announced that he will be retiring from the Senate at the conclusion of his term, so I very much appreciated having the opportunity to recognize him for his lifelong dedication to Oregon and his years of public service.
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As legislative works tends to slow down during the summer months, I'm fortunate to have more time to get into my community and have conversations about the issues most important to Oregonians. Here are just a couple stops that I made over the past few weeks.
Lake Oswego School Board
The fourth stop on my summer tour of the school boards in my district was also a homecoming for me. I graduated from Lake Oswego School District, as did all four of my kids.
I also got my start as an elected representative as a member of the Lake Oswego School Board working on local issues and helping make sure our students were getting a great education. When I served in the Senate and school board simultaneously, it was always eye-opening to have policy debates in the Senate Education Committee and then hear those same topics discussed at the school board from a local perspective.
I'm proud to say the Lake Oswego School Board is doing phenomenal work. Building career and educational pathways is one of my key personal priorities as a legislator, and K-12 schools are the foundation for those pathways.
It is so important that we have open lines of communication between the local level and the state level so the Legislature can be responsive to issues as they arise and ensure the laws we pass are having the intended effect.
 It's been a real treat to visit all of my local school boards this summer and ensure we are all working together to improve outcomes for all of Oregon's students.
Lake Oswego Rotary Club
I recently spent the afternoon with the Lake Oswego Rotary Club with more than 50 of my friends and neighbors discussing a variety of issues critical to this community. I value these opportunities to talk about the work the Legislature is doing and to hear directly from Oregonians about the issues they care about.
Some of the topics that we talked about included public education funding, bipartisanship, and balancing the state budget.
 Speaking to the Rotary Club is always a blast -- you never know what questions are going to come up or who might be there to have a conversation with.
Oregon has nearly 200 state parks, from the rocky coastline to the high deserts of Eastern Oregon. This summer, I began a project to visit all of them. It's been a joy to see the beauty of our state one park at a time, with every stop solidifying for me how important it is we protect the natural beauty of our state.
I was recently able to make a trip to a few state parks in Central Oregon, including a stop at Smith Rock State Park. Park Manager Matt Davey showed me around the rock spires that dot this region and attract 200,000 climbers per year. Matt took over the manager position in 2019 and has been a part of the Oregon State Parks for nearly two decades.
Even though I took a shorter trail on my visit (it was about 97 degrees that day) I could quickly see why this park — from the Crooked River running through the center to the Just Do It route on the east face of Smith Rock, which wasn't successfully climbed until 1992 — attracts so many active users.
I'm about 50 state parks into this project and I'm looking forward to sharing more about these parks and the people I meet as I make my way around the state.
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Statesman Journal: Final concrete pour scheduled Wednesday for new Capitol foundation
The final part of a mat slab that will serve as the new foundation for the Oregon State Capitol building will be poured early Wednesday.
An estimated 60 to 65 trucks will roll into Salem to complete a section of the slab on the west side of the building. On the east side, the thick mat slab is complete.
Oregon Capital Chronicle: Oregon Democrats praise Biden, welcome his decision to drop out
Minutes within the announcement that President Joe Biden is withdrawing from the presidential campaign, Democratic leaders in Oregon reacted to the news.
OPB: Record dry conditions, lightning spark dozens of wildfires across Pacific Northwest
The U.S. Forest Service is warning that hundreds of thousands of acres of forestlands across the Pacific Northwest are burning under record-breaking dry conditions this summer, without much relief in sight.
Oregonian: Oregon to get nearly $200 million from feds to fight climate change and pollution
Oregon will receive $197 million from the federal government to build more electric-vehicle charging stations, incentivize homebuilders to install heat pumps and reduce methane emitted from landfills, among other measures designed to target climate change and pollution, state and federal officials said Monday.
If you would like to contact the Senate President's Office, send an email or call and either myself or a staff member will assist you. If you are a constituent coming to Salem and want to arrange a meeting, I'm always happy to meet, so please let us know well in advance as my schedule fills up quickly.
email: Sen.RobWagner@OregonLegislature.gov
phone: 503-986-1600
address: 900 Court St NE, S-201, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/wagner
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