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To contact me, please click here: Rep.HaiPham@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this message finds you well and you are enjoying the sunshine we have had this week!
We have just passed the one-month mark of our 2025 legislative session and things have been moving very quickly. We have had a number of public hearings, meetings with constituents and advocates, and so much more. Here are some of the highlights:
Delivering A Speech for House Bill 2010
Yesterday, I delivered and passed HB 2010 from the House Floor which maintains funding for the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), Oregon's Medicaid program. OHP provides life-saving healthcare to 1.4 million or 1 in 3 Oregonians, including half of all children in our state.
Right here in Washington County over 160,000 people rely on OHP for essential medical, dental, and mental health care. We know that Medicaid allows families to access life-saving care for those living in poverty, kids with special health needs, patients who live with chronic illness or complex needs, individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, veterans, expectant mothers, and everyone in-between.
How is OHP funded? OHP is paid for with both state and federal funds. HB 2010 extends Oregon’s biggest state funding source—fees from hospitals and insurance companies—through 2032. This is important because for every $1 Oregon invests in OHP, we get $3 more from the federal government. This brings in more money for healthcare and helps Oregon make the best use of Medicaid funds.
What’s next? Right now, the federal government is considering big cuts to Medicaid, which could take away some of Oregon’s OHP funding. We do not know exactly what will happen, but I promise to fight hard to protect healthcare for Oregonians and keep OHP strong. If you have questions or want to share your story about OHP, please reach out—I’d love to hear from you!
With the session moving quickly, many of my personal priority bills have had public hearings and work sessions including:
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HB 2685, Education and Expanded Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) - supporting early interventions for screening and awareness for cCMV, a common infectious disease that if left untreated, can result in hearing loss for a newborn baby.
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HB 2591, Rural Anesthesiologist Tax Credit - strengthening the workforce pipeline for anesthesiologists by creating incentives for providers to serve rural communities where access to care can be especially limited.
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SB 699, So Every Body Can Move - closing the gap and require coverage for active prosthetic and orthotic devices necessary for staying active. This will enable so many Oregonians to participate and engage in activities within their communities while reducing financial burden.
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HB 2594, Dental Laboratories Transparency - ensuring that we prioritize patient safety by understanding where products and materials are manufactured.
One of my first bills that have moved out committee is HB 2457 which would establish the Rare Disease Advisory Council here in Oregon.
The collective information of most rare diseases is so insufficient that they are also known as orphan diseases because researchers, drug manufacturers, medical specialists, and policy makers fail to fully understand diseases and its impact. We need to break through these barriers and create a shared space to share more education about rare diseases, increase accessibility across all domains of our society, and set tables to have conversations that will bring experts, advocates, and patients together.
HB 2457 will give Oregon’s rare disease community a vital voice in guiding state policy that will help transform and save lives.
Rep Pham testifying alongside advocates for HB 2457
One of my priority bills will be up for a work session and move out of committee next week. HB 2729 will expand funding for School Based Health Centers (SBHC) which offers essential medical, dental, mental and behavioral health services and supports SBHCs across all our urban, rural, and frontier communities. As a pediatric dentist who has worked with many kids in my own practice, SBHCs are a critical community tool that sets up our kids for success in and out of the classroom.
We had a School Based Health Center Advocacy Day earlier this week and had students from all over the state meet with members. Thank you to all of the youth for making the time to come down to the Capitol!
Representative Pham and Senator Campos With High School Students Advocating For Legislation
If there is a specific bill you are passionate about, this is a phase where you can provide written or verbal testimony and share your thoughts with the committee members. Every public comment is reviewed by members of the committees, and we encourage all our constituents to participate in the legislative process and make your voice heard.
Special Guest: Diego Valeri on the House Floor!
Beloved soccer star and all-time leading scorer for the Portland Timbers was Representative Hai Pham's guest on the House Floor on February 25th. Valeri shared a poem with those in attendance titled, "La Lluvia" or "The Rain". It was exciting for all the Timbers fans to have Diego visit the Capitol, meet fans and take photos. Thank you for joining us, Diego!
You can listen to his poem linked here.
Representative Pham and Diego Valeri on House Floor
Meetings and Meetings and Meetings with Advocates!
My team and I have had so many meetings with advocates! I am grateful for every advocate, constituent, and youth for coming down to the Capitol.
Each of you matter, each of you make a difference, and your time and youth voices truly have a lasting impact on policy makers as each of you have stories that policy makers need to hear. With big issues like youth mental health, education, the climate crisis, making sure we have safe and welcoming communities - each of your voices matter.
Rep Pham with SEIU members
Rep Pham with Latino Health Systems
Rep Pham with NW Regional Education District (NWRED)
January Joint Town Hall with Mayor Pace, Councilor Gonzalez, Commissioner Snider, and Rep Pham
Last month we hosted a joint town hall with Washington County Commissioner Jason Snider, Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace and Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez at the Hillsboro Community Senior Center. Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us for a rich and insightful conversation. During our time together we were able to discuss the needs of our immediate community including housing, behavioral health supports, our climate and the environment, and access to safe transportation.
January Joint Town Hall
I look forward to our next constituent event and I hope you can join me and participate. My office will share more details about our next event as soon as they are available. In the meantime, if you have time sensitive requests or questions, please reach out to my office directly via phone or email and we will do our best to help!
Providence Strike Ends After Six Weeks
As a provider, I am relieved that Providence nurses have agreed and secured to a new contract that ensures we have a just and equitable health care system that focuses on patient care.
Representative Pham Joins the Picket Line at St. Vincent
Healthcare workers across Oregon deserve safe working conditions and fair contracts. A stronger workforce means better care for patients and the community, and a stronger future for workers. I am deeply grateful for all of the bargaining, frontline nurses, and caregivers as we fight for our patients and communities we serve.
Unclaimed Property
Did you know that 1 in 7 Oregonians have unclaimed property? Since the Treasury began managing the statewide program in 2021, our goal has been to reconnect as many individuals with their lost assets as possible. By spreading the word about National Unclaimed Property Day, you can help raise awareness about unclaimed property and direct Oregonians to unclaimed.Oregon.gov, the state’s online searchable database for finding and reclaiming lost assets like uncashed checks, forgotten accounts, and more.
Please follow me on social media to stay up to date on exciting things happening this session! I will continue to work and fight for brighter days ahead for all Oregonians.
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
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/staterephaipham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rephaipham
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