Priorities

Legislative Priorities

Protecting Our Health

We must remain vigilant to protect our citizens from the impacts of COVID-19. This means continued attention to safe home and work environments, and support for frontline workers. We must also continue working to ensure that all Oregonians have access to reliable healthcare and needed medications. In particular, paying for health coverage needs to be made easier for both families and small businesses. I am also committed to reducing the exposure of citizens to toxins and pollutants in consumer products and the environment.

Promoting Science and Technology

Advanced skills are the building blocks to staying competitive in a growing and complex economy. Therefore, I am committed to building stronger science and technology programs in our schools to ensure that our students have the skills they need to succeed. I am also extremely interested in supporting the diverse community of entrepreneurs, innovators, and business incubators located throughout the district.

Pursuing Social Justice

I support our BIPOC communities who seek redress from historic discrimination and racism. Change starts with each of us and must flow through our neighborhoods, cities and state systems. In 2020, I voted to pass a suite of bills increasing accountability and transparency of law enforcement in the state. I also support the professional officers who are making the changes necessary to do their jobs better. Redressing historic social injustice will require cool heads and open hearts, and I am honored to undertake this work for the people of District 34.

Supporting Our Children

I was proud to help pass the Student Success Act in 2019 to invest $2 billion per biennium in our PK-12 education system. These resources will help reduce class sizes, improve graduation rates, expand technical education, increase access to early learning and behavioral health services, and much more. In addition, while the pandemic has required flexibility, I will work to safely get out kids back on school campuses where they can learn and thrive.

Strengthening Our Economy

As we work together to recover from the pandemic, prudent use of state resources is paramount. In addition, as a small business owner myself, I understand firsthand the challenges that small businesses face. I am committed to rebuilding our state's infrastructure and increasing the predictability of how and where our cities and counties grow. I also strongly support development of the clean energy sector and jobs that help protect Oregon's natural legacy.

Protecting Our Natural Resources

Growing up in Oregon, I developed a deep respect for our state's natural resources. My career as a land use attorney also served to strengthen this appreciation. As a legislator, I strive to promote sustainable land use and protect the rights of current and future generations to a clean, healthy, and livable environment. As Chair of the Oregon Legislature's House Committee on Water, I strongly believe that our work on climate change is not done. Snowpacks are declining, and we must protect high-quality water for people, fish and wildlife, and uses like agriculture and industry. I will continue working hard to get that balance right.

Examples of Recent Legislation

Supporting Our
Children's Future

In 2019, I joined in passing the Student Success Act, investing $2 billion per biennium in our PK-12 education system to ensure all children have access to the education they deserve.

House Bill 3427

Ensuring Access to Health Care

Everyone should have access to medical care and medicine when needed. My colleagues and I passed House Bill 2391 (2017) and House Bill 2010 (2019) to help protect and expand health care coverage for millions of Oregonians.

House Bill 2391

Protecting Wildlife
from Poaching

I have championed a series of anti-poaching bills to protect Oregon's fish and wildlife for the public, including House Bill 3035 in 2019 to prevent senseless spree killings of wildlife.

House Bill 3035

Keeping Environmental
Protections Strong

I carried the Oregon Environmental Protection Act to passage in 2019, directing agencies to monitor federal rollbacks so we can fill gaps as necessary to protect public health and the environment.

House Bill 4007

Making Housing
More Affordable

In 2019, I helped pass Senate Bill 608 to prevent sudden rent spikes and limit no-cause evictions. Similarly, I proudly supported House Bill 4007 in 2018, raising $90 million per biennium for homelessness prevention and affordable housing needs.

House Bill 4007

Assisting Low-
Income Families

During 2016, I sponsored
House Bill 4110, which increased Oregon's Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families with young children, helping them to pay for basic needs.

House Bill 4110

Funding Transportation Infrastructure

In 2017, I joined in passing House Bill 2017, a historic funding package investing $5.3 billion in infrastructure improvements, maintenance, transit projects, and congestion reduction.

House Bill 2017

Oregon's Outdoors and Public Access

As an avid outdoorsman, Oregon's natural landscapes are critically important to me. In 2019, I Chief Sponsored House Bill 2835, one of the few bills in recent memory that proactively protects access to Oregon's public waterways.

House Bill 2835

Supporting
Small Businesses

I was proud to support small businesses by sponsoring Senate Bill 1589 in 2016. This bill expanded opportunities for businesses to access capitol from the Credit Enhancement Fund.

Senate Bill 1589

Preventing Gun Violence

In a bipartisan vote in 2018, I helped pass House Bill 4145 to prohibit those convicted of stalking and domestic violence or under restraining orders from buying/owning firearms and ammunition.

House Bill 4145

Safe Passage for
People and Wildlife

In 2019, I championed the passage of Oregon's first Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. State agencies will now work together to increase safety for motorists as well as promote habitat connectivity and safe passage for wildlife.

House Bill 2834

Fostering a Clean Energy Economy

I was honored to vote yes on Senate Bill 1547 in 2016. This landmark legislation eliminated coal power from our state's energy supply and doubled our renewable portfolio standard.

Senate Bill 1547