I hope you stayed safe and warm during the winter storms that hit our region this month. Although local utilities and providers have largely restored power, internet, and water service, my thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and the many Oregonians who are still dealing with damage caused by downed trees. I am in contact with Portland Public Schools about the affected school buildings that will be closed for an extended period because of unsafe conditions. My office and I will continue to look for ways to support local and state efforts as we recover from the dangerous winter weather. Don’t forget that the deadline to get reimbursed through SNAP for food lost during the storm has been extended through Feb. 16 for some Oregon counties.

The climate crisis will fuel more extreme weather. Along with reducing climate-warming carbon emissions, we must increase the resiliency of communities and better prepare for disasters like ice storms and wildfires. I’m encouraged by the stories of everyday Oregonians looking after their neighbors during the ice and cold. Resources from legislation passed by Congress , including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, are also helping to improve our state’s climate resiliency. January’s extreme weather events are the latest reminder that we cannot delay climate action.

Building Affordable Housing

It was exciting to visit Broadleaf Arbor, a beautiful new affordable housing development in St. Helens. I spoke with residents about how they benefit from the intentional steps to build community and connections within Broadleaf. For example, one resident told me she helps teach an art class for children at Broadleaf’s community room.

The construction of Broadleaf was possible because of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. As a Co-Chair of the Caucus on Homelessness, I will continue to advocate for needed reforms to LIHTC and resources to build more affordable housing like Broadleaf.

Learning About Food at Liberty H.S.

Thank you to Liberty High School students and educators for teaching me more about their Sustainable Agriculture and Sustainable Design classes. I had a great time seeing the garden and sampling some of the class’s hot sauce, tortillas, and pickles. The students even have a website where they sell produce and other products to community members.

The enthusiasm and creativity of the students I spoke with shows why it’s important for Congress to continue to support Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

Supporting the Arts

I appreciated the opportunity to speak about my work to strengthen the arts and improve access to arts education at a summit hosted by the National Endowment for the Arts and the White House.

I see the benefits of the arts everywhere I visit in NW Oregon. When I visited the Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center in Hillsboro, I learned that Oregonians across Washington County come to see the art and participate in the classes they offer. Staff at Safe Place, a shelter that serves youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, spoke about how art therapy helps the young people they support. The arts must be part of our efforts to build healthy and thriving communities.

ICYMI

I condemned the remarks of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the rhetoric of far-right government leaders who want to deny Palestinians the right to a state, and continued to call for the release of all hostages and a bilateral ceasefire
I asked for the source of my GOP colleague’s questionable claims about abortion care
I spoke out against the deceptive practices used by crisis pregnancy centers
My office helped a constituent receive needed travel and work authorization
I introduced legislation to address the shortage of nurses in the health care system

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