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Hello Friends,
The holiday season is in full swing! I hope you were able to spend some time last week with family and friends and eating good food. I spent a few days enjoying the sunshine at the coast, feeling grateful for all the beauty our state has to offer.
Sunset on Heceta Beach.
We’re back in the office, getting ready for legislative days in Salem next week and the session (which starts in just 6 weeks!). Read on for my thoughts on the election, updates about Oregon’s economy, news from around our community, and more.
Like many of you, I’ve had some time to rest and reflect after the election results in November. Here in Oregon, we have a lot to be proud of and on a personal level, I’m honored to have been re-elected by you to serve as the State Representative for House District 14 and nominated by my colleagues to continue serving as Speaker. Thank you for your continued trust in me.
The results at the federal level are, obviously, not what I’d hope for. But as Vice President Harris said when conceding the election, now is not the time to throw up our hands, it’s time to roll up our sleeves. The work we’ll do in Oregon in the coming months and years will be more important than ever.
I was sworn in to the legislature in 2017, which means I spent my first four years in state government with Donald Trump as President. During that time, the legislature took action to insulate Oregon from harmful federal policies that were not aligned with the values that Oregonians hold. For example, the Trump administration rolled back key environmental protections, so we passed the Oregon Environmental Protection Act to help ensure we could keep our air and water clean and our drinking water safe. We also acted quickly to pass the Reproductive Health Equity Act in 2017 to protect access to reproductive health care, including abortion. And we saw an increase in hate crimes in our state and worked to strengthen our hate crimes laws.
At the same time, we also continued our work on issues critical to our state – we passed major housing policies, supported working families by expanding access to childcare and the Earned Income Tax Credit, and increased our investment in schools with the Student Success Act.
That experience gives us in the legislature a blueprint for the path ahead: we must continue to govern our state and make progress on the issues that are most important to Oregonians – housing, homelessness, cost of living, and public safety. And we must also be prepared to respond to decisions coming out of the federal administration. We can and will do both of those things.
Oregonians should know that even if there is instability at the federal level, here in Oregon there are responsible, focused leaders who will be steady hands at the wheel. We are prepared to protect the freedoms that Oregonians expect and the values we espouse.
After the 2024 election, Oregon House Democrats elected a new leadership team ahead of the next legislative assembly. I’m deeply honored to have been nominated by my Democratic colleagues to continue my service as the Speaker of the House, leading our chamber during the 2025 session. The full House of Representatives will vote to elect the Speaker of the House on the opening day of the session.
Oregon voters were very clear when they sent a strong Democratic majority back to Salem – we must remain focused on what matters most to Oregonians. We need to do everything we can to bring down the cost of living for Oregon’s working families, continue our efforts to develop affordable housing, invest in better education outcomes for Oregon’s children, increase public safety, and stand up for the rights and freedoms of the most vulnerable Oregonians.
House Democrats elected an incredibly strong leadership team that I’m confident will represent the diverse perspectives of Oregonians during the 2025 legislative session. Our work to improve the lives of Oregonians continues, and this team is poised to ensure the voices of those we represent are heard in Salem.
I spend a fair amount of time driving to Salem on I-5, and when I’m not making phone calls, I’m usually listening to podcasts. Recently, I had the chance to be a guest on two podcasts that I enjoy. The National Conference of State Legislatures podcast did an episode about Oregon’s historic campaign finance legislation that I helped to pass earlier this year. The Oregon legislature passed House Bill 4024, which reformed our campaign finance system here in this state – it put limits on campaign contributions, increased transparency, and helped level the playing field for everyday Oregonians. I am very proud of my bipartisan work on this bill, and I had the chance to talk about the bill and the process on this policy-oriented podcast.
And then, a few days after the election, I was a guest on the Text Me Back! live show in Beaverton (Text Me Back is a podcast hosted by Pacific Northwest writer Lindy West and democracy policy expert Meagan Hatcher-Mays). We processed the election results, talked about the importance of state legislatures in the next four years, ranked some state/local policies, and, maybe most importantly, laughed and had some fun with a big roomful of people. It was just what we all needed -- check out the episode here! |
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Two weeks ago, state economists released their quarterly revenue forecast, which indicates that Oregon’s economy is strong and the worries of a recession have subsided. A healthy economy means we can continue delivering for working families and maintain critical investments in priorities like housing, addiction treatment, and public safety.
Although the current forecast is strong and our reserves are healthy, I’m mindful that potential changes at the federal level could create uncertainty for some of the state's most important responsibilities. We’ll be watching for any changes that might impact our state’s budget and are prepared to respond if needed.
With this forecast heading into the upcoming legislative session, the legislature now has the information it needs to begin crafting a balanced budget that funds Oregonians’ top priorities.
Meeting with bright young Oregonians at the Eugene YMCA
I recently had the chance to visit with the Eugene YMCA Youth & Government program, which empowers high school students to participate in their government. They're preparing for a mock legislative session in Salem in February, so we talked about what makes a good bill, what issues they're most engaged in, and what it's like being a legislator. I loved hearing the student's questions and thoughts about the issues -- thanks for having me!
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Community forum on Health Care recap
With the closure of PeaceHealth’s University District hospital and Optum’s purchase of the Oregon Medical Group, the healthcare landscape in our community has shifted significantly. Simply put, decisions made by private enterprises are making care less accessible and affordable.
In late September, the Churchill Area Neighbors hosted a citywide forum to talk about these challenges with legislators, appointed officials, and healthcare professionals. I was so appreciative of this opportunity to hear what questions members of our community had and to hear about their experiences and perspectives.
I want to thank the organizers of this event, particularly Jensina Hawkins, for all their work. You can watch a recording of the event here.
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Behavioral Health Stabilization Center announcement
In mid-October, Lane County and PeaceHealth unveiled a plan to construct a mental health stabilization center and a behavioral health hospital close to PeaceHealth's Riverbend campus.
Oregon has been working to increase behavioral health treatment capacity across the state and this is great news for Lane County, specifically. The Eugene/Springfield delegation secured $5 million in state funding for the behavioral health stabilization center, which will provide a place for emergency responders to take people experiencing a mental health crisis instead of the jail or the ER.
Together the stabilization center and the behavioral health hospital will mean that more people in Lane County will have access to the care they need in an appropriate setting — whether that's short-term stabilization, a longer-term stay, or both.
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JH Baxter update – progress!
For decades, J. H. Baxter released hazardous chemicals into the air, soil, and groundwater in our community. Since I was first elected to office, I have heard concerns from constituents about the pollution at the J. H. Baxter site and the impact on neighboring homes, and I have kept a close eye on the Department of Environmental Quality’s efforts to hold J. H. Baxter accountable for their many environmental violations.
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, I’m grateful that the Environmental Protection Agency has stepped in to lend its support in the initial phases of what will undoubtedly be a very long clean-up process. More recently, leaders from the EPA in coordination with local leaders hosted a press conference to announce a proposal to add the J. H. Baxter site in West Eugene to the Superfund National Priorities list. The Superfund National Priorities List includes sites across the nation that contain hazardous waste and are eligible for federally funded cleanup.
2021’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law accelerated the EPA’s work to clean up pollution across the United States with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program. This funding has strengthened the EPA’s ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment. I am glad to see the EPA recommend declaring this area a Superfund site, and I strongly support the designation, which could mean a significant investment in needed cleanup efforts.
We’re still waiting on the EPA’s decision, but I’m feeling hopeful that the Superfund designation will help deliver the justice our community deserves.
November served as a time to reflect on Indigenous history, raise awareness of ongoing Native issues, and honor the invaluable contributions Native Americans have made to society. Native American Heritage Month began in the early 20th century as an initiative to establish a single day of recognition for the pivotal role of the first Americans in the founding and expansion of the United States. It has since grown into a month-long commemoration – more information and resources about Native American Heritage Month are available here.
Oregon is home to nine federally recognized tribes, as well as members of unrecognized tribes or tribes based outside of Oregon. Each tribe has unique cultural identities, rich histories, and deep-rooted connections to the land. You can learn more about the native peoples of Oregon here, or by visiting the websites of each of the nine tribes below.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you need help navigating local or state government services or if you have thoughts about bills for the 2025 legislative session, which starts in mid-January.
Yours truly,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1414
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-271, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/fahey
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