Dear Friend,

The record-breaking heatwave was one of the deadliest natural disasters in Oregon in more than 100 years, and we grieve for the lives lost. The climate crisis is making extreme weather more common. I’m doing all I can to help those who are most vulnerable as we continue the work to curb carbon pollution.

Last week I helped the House pass the INVEST Act to address our transportation needs, mitigate the climate crisis, and create good-paying jobs. I’m excited that it includes five local transportation projects I advanced. I will continue to work to bring significant federal funding to NW Oregon for needed upgrades and repairs to our roads, bridges, and public transit systems. 

Restoring Protections for Workers

It was an honor to stand with President Joe Biden as he restored important protections for workers. This new law will undo a harmful Trump-era regulation that created barriers to victims of employment discrimination. I have been leading several efforts to protect Oregonians and Americans from discrimination in the workplace. Americans are living and working longer, and unfortunately, age discrimination in the workplace remains disturbingly pervasive. Older workers in Oregon and across the country face unreasonable obstacles in holding employers accountable. I’m glad that the House passed my bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act to restore the legal rights of older workers and send a clear message that discrimination in the workplace is unacceptable.

Listening to Small Businesses

My first job was in my mom’s small business, and I have heard from many small business owners, especially restaurant owners, who have struggled during the pandemic. I worked to provide federal relief through programs like PPP and EIDL, which have delivered more than 3 billion dollars in relief to Oregon.  Recently, I heard from small businesses in McMinnville about how PPP helped them, and what challenges still remain. Reliable and fast mail delivery is also essential to small businesses, and I’m standing up against harmful proposed changes to the US Postal Service that could slow the delivery of mail.

Climate Progress

It’s been a year since we released our bold, comprehensive, science-based plan for solving the Climate Crisis, and we are making progress. The Plan included more than 700 recommendations; we have already passed 258 through the House and 113 have been signed into law. As Congress acts on infrastructure, I will continue working to reduce emissions, create good-paying jobs, and support frontline communities.  

It was wonderful to celebrate World Oceans Day on the coast and learn more about the rare tufted puffins that gather at Haystack Rock. I’m grateful for the dedicated volunteers who are educating visitors about our treasured natural resources and protecting our ocean and coastal ecosystems for future generations. I’m also working to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean. 

In Case You Missed It

-        Senators Wyden and Merkley and I called on the President to extend relief for student loan borrowers for another six months.

-        Child care is infrastructure for families, and I am calling for a robust investment of $700 billion over 10 years to fix the child care crisis.

-        Oregon’s wildfire season has already begun, and I spoke with experts about how to strengthen our understanding of wildfire science and respond to the threat.

-        Federal resources are helping to close the equity gap in vaccinations at a free clinic in Beaverton.