The state legislature held legislative days this week, where we met in committee to discuss current issues and get updates from state agencies. It was also a great time to meet with advocates. Thanks to students from #OSPIRG for stopping by to talk about their bill to reduce food waste! #orleg

Last week, Donald Trump announced, "We're going to cut Democrat programs." Yesterday, the US Dept. of Education laid off 466 employees overseeing special education, basically eliminating the department. Apparently, Trump considers special education a partisan issue now.

A legislative update from East Multnomah County: content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORL...

Welcome to your newly renovated Capitol!

Today I was proud to vote for the transportation bill, which asked both sides to give on some of their priorities. The bill we passed today means that the state, counties and cities will be able to keep roads safe and in good repair, provide emergency response and maintain public transit.

I was able to help secure $8 million in state funds to help rebuild Fire Station 74! Many thanks to Gresham Professional Firefighters Local 1062 and the City of Gresham. This station is desperately needed, and with local funding already committed, the project can get started.

Yesterday was a tough day at the Capitol. HB 2025, the transportation package, fell short by one vote in the Senate. This package was based on input from thousands of Oregonians, and it would have stabilized maintenance, safety and transit, brought in Federal funds, and helped modernize the system.

Yesterday we passed an important bill to close a loophole in Oregon's prevailing wage laws. HB 2688 makes sure that any work on a prevailing wage project is included, even if it is performed offsite. Thanks to Rep. Willy Chotzen and Rep. Dacia Grayber for their help! #orpol #labor

Yesterday in #Portland with thousands of others speaking out against Trump's unconstitutional abuses. #NoKings

Proud to join other Oregon legislators at one of the Portland #NoKings rallies today.

Even the geese joined the march! #NoKings

Great crowd at one of the Portland #NoKings events. Happy Flag Day!

I just doesn't stop. Oregon Republicans propose another anti-trans bill, and my colleagues and I rise to speak against it. Nevertheless, looking forward to a Pride Month full of celebration and community. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🎉 #orpol #lgbtqrights

Happy to join other local leaders at Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D.'s Town Hall meeting. Thank you, Rep. Dexter, for your leadership in D.C.!

#JobCorps sites nationwide are getting cut, including those in Oregon. Job Corps is a lifeline for the most at-risk young people to build employable skills. This isn't efficiency, this is DOGE cruelty. youtu.be/UKN2ed62AJk?...

Today I took the opportunity to respond to a floor letter that had been left on our desks. This kind of bad logic is used all to often to target immigrants. #orpol #immigration

Happy to join Urban League of Portland and Reynolds Education Association at the Capitol this week. #orpol

Thanks to Rep. Mari Watanabe for inviting me to the Portland Community College Foundation fundraiser this evening. The foundation gives scholarships to hundreds of #PortlandCommunityCollege students to make their education dreams a reality.

In preparation for a vote on SB 1098, which places limits on book bans and protects books on diverse topics, #ACLU of Oregon has set up a display of frequently banned books in my office. I'm here with Representative Lisa Fragala in support of the Freedom to Read!

This week I got to visit with a delegation of Ukranian professors and university administrators who were visiting through Oregon State University. I was honored to welcome them to our Capitol. #SlavaUkraini

Trump’s Tariffs and uncertainty around federal funding are taking a toll on Oregon workers and businesses. Recently, Portland Business Journal spoke with people from all 36 counties about how they have been impacted. www.bizjournals.com/portland/new...

Great hanging out with the folks at Disability Rights Oregon last night. Congratulations to all the Partners in Policymaking graduates! #disabilityrights #DRO

Photos from the week. Thanks to #350PDX, #BuildingResilience and Centennial Education Association for their advocacy!

Please join Rep. Ricki Ruiz and me on May 16th for an education-themed town hall event at Mt. Hood Community College. This is a great chance for students and community members to get an update, advocate, and ask questions!

Corbett School District's Federal School-Based Mental Health grant is being ended early. It was supposed to go through 2027. The Trump administration makes big claims about reducing "waste" in Federal spending. Don't fall for it. They're cutting programs that help kids. #education #mentalhealth

Some of my colleagues across the aisle have difficulty with any idea outside of the gender binary. I took this opportunity to speak up for intersex Oregonians. #orpol #lgbtqia #intersexawareness

At the Gresham Indivisible Oregon rally this afternoon. We're resisting the Trump agenda here in East County and across the nation. #indivisible #dumptrump

Proud to stand with my colleagues in support of workers this May Day. Thanks to Rep. Lesly Muñoz and Governor Tina Kotek for their inspiring words. #mayday #internationalworkersday

It's always great to talk to students and teachers when they come to the Capitol. This is from Portland Community College's advocacy day. We talked about the important contributions community colleges make to our state, and the need to invest in our students' future. #orpol #education

Today is University of Oregon day at the Capitol! It was great visiting with these students advocating for the textbook affordability, student housing and the Oregon Opportunity Grant. #GoDucks

Yesterday I got to meet with Unite Oregon to discuss their 2025 priorities. I appreciate their advocacy for students, patients and renters! #orpol

Proud to support Rep. Lisa Fragala's bill to require the State Board of Education to include standards on climate change and sustainability in our state standards. #orpol #climate #sustainability

I’m fighting to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home. We will not rest until he is reunited with his family and Trump is held accountable. No president is above the law.

#HandsOff #Gresham #orpol #SlamPoetry #DumpTrump

I had the honor of joining RSD Board Chair Michael Reyes as a judge at the Reynolds High School ethics bowl today. The students did a great job presenting their cases and debating the other team. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase critical thinking and public speaking. #ReynoldsHigh #orpol

Thanks to #PCUN for stopping by today in support of Oregon farm workers!

Happy Trans Day of Visibility! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 #LGBTQ #Pride #orpol #transdayofvisibility

Great turn out from East Multnomah County at the legislature's Ways and Means roadshow. #orpol www.google.com/amp/s/www.ko...

The Ways and Means roadshow came to East County today, hosted at Mt. Hood Community College. The Ways and Means committee makes the budget for the State of Oregon, and today they got to hear from East County residents about what was important to them. Thank you to everyone who attended!

A highlight of the week: meeting with Gresham’s Youth Advisory Council in D.C. Every young person deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe.

The legislature has some big decisions to make about education very soon. I'm grateful to have leaders from Centennial, Parkrose and MESD giving input and advocating for students.

This is absurd; denying climate change doesn't make it go away. Rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, melting Arctic ice, and more are affecting the work of every Coast Guard servicemember. insideclimatenews.org/news/0703202...

Gutting the Social Security workforce won’t make the system “efficient”—it will make it impossible for millions to access the benefits they earned. This is cruelty, not reform.    www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

About half of all births are covered by Medicaid. Over a third of all children are covered by Medicaid. More than half of all nursing home residents are covered by Medicaid. Republicans in Congress are making a big mistake targeting these families’ health care to pay for tax cuts for the rich.

I'm happy to say HB 2551, which expands background checks for special campus security officers, passed the House yesterday. www.theoutlookonline.com/news/oregon-...

It has been great meeting with advocates for so many important bills. This week I've gotten to meet with OSEA, AFT, students from Portland Public Schools, Habitat for Humanity Portland Region, Friends of Family Farmers, and many others.

Throwback to 2023. Another representative felt it necessary to attack trans and nonbinary people, and I wasn't having it. #lgbtq #pride

While Congress debates cuts to Medicaid, Oregon is standing strong to protect the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Our state has led the way in making Medicaid work efficiently, ensuring healthcare access for 1.4 million people.

Thanks to Dr. Bennings and the team at Portland Community College for their advocacy for higher education in Oregon. Our community colleges do amazing work in career training and academic opportunity.

From yesterday's town hall in Troutdale. It's hard to predict exactly what Donald Trump will do next, but we know our immigrant community is a target. Look out for your neighbor, reject calls for division, and know your rights.