NEWS UPDATE FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID GOMBERG: Home from Washington and Off to Salem

11/06/2023

By Representative David Gomberg, House District 10

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

I have just returned from a three-day trip to Washington DC. Two weeks ago, I received an invitation for several legislators and community leaders to visit the White House and discuss infrastructure investments.
Because of historic legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS & Science Act, Oregon legislators have been able to reduce unemployment, create more good-paying jobs, strengthen the state’s infrastructure, and support small businesses.
Funding addressed big projects like the expansion of our semiconductor industry in Washington County and plans to expand the Port of Coos Bay for shipping container traffic. Both have the potential to create thousands of new, clean jobs. But just as important are investments in smaller projects spread across Oregon that make our communities stronger and look to the future.
These investments have been critical to Oregon’s recovery and are going to help us build back better and stronger. Projects in rural and coastal Oregon like the replacement of the Newport Dam, water systems in Waldport and Monroe, ports and harbors in Toledo, Newport, and Depoe Bay, or cultural enhancements in Philomath and Lincoln City across our district are going to revitalize our infrastructure, create jobs, and keep our economy strong.

Representatives Paul Evans (D – Monmouth & Independence), Hoa Nguyen (D – E Portland & Damascus), Annessa Hartman (D – Gladstone), Jules Walters (D – West Linn & Tualatin Oregon City & N Clackamas County), Emerson Levy (D – Bend, South Redmond, Tumalo & Sisters), David Gomberg (D-Lincoln and Western Benton and Lane Counties). Not pictured: Tom Andersen (D – South Salem).

The Biden administration talked about what they had done for Oregon. I thanked them and talked about what we need to do next. In Oregon, we have 395 bridges and 1,287 miles of highway in poor condition. Eighteen percent of Oregonians have no internet. We’re building more housing but our water and sewer is wearing out and needs to keep up. Ports and waterways are in need of repair and investment. If we build wind energy farms off the Southern Oregon Coast, we need to do it right with minimal consequences to our environment and fishing fleet. And we need to work to become more resilient to wildfires, floods, and earthquakes.

I flew over on Tuesday and returned home late Thursday night. It was a constructive conversation and a productive trip.

Oregon lawmakers voted four years ago to keep the state permanently on daylight saving time, eliminating the annual need to “fall back” an hour as the leaves change color and the air grows chillier. But at 2 a.m. on Sunday we changed our clocks again anyway.

On the West Coast, Oregon and Washington have passed measures to stay on daylight saving time. California voters approved a similar measure in 2018, but it failed to get legislative approval and then stalled again in 2022. In recent years, several states passed legislation to keep the clocks from changing but federal approval is required to make it official. Despite efforts made last year and again this year in Congress to adopt the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, the twice-yearly changing of the clocks still stands.

At times like this I get plenty of mail arguing we should shift either to daylight savings or standard time. I don’t have strong feelings about either. I just want to pick one!

Proponents argue that staying on daylight saving time means more sunshine later in the day with benefits that include:

Improved traffic safety, including reduced collisions with animals in the dark
Reduced risk of cardiac issues, stroke and seasonal depression
A boost to overall economic activity and agriculture
Reducing childhood obesity as kids exercise more after school
Reduced energy usage

Some of those points have been debated, though, and sleep doctors say moving permanently to daylight saving time may not be good for people’s health. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has argued that, if anything, Americans should stay on standard time.

Several states have enacted legislation to stop changing the clocks, but they’re also waiting for the U.S. Congress to act for that change to go into effect. Other states have legislation pending or failed, or have no recent proposals in the works. Arizona and Hawaii already do not change their clocks, but permanently remain on standard time.

Read more at OPB.

This week I return to Salem for “Legislative Days” — a time when committees hold informational hearings on a variety of topics, but do not vote on policy or pass legislation. Typically we schedule several days of business like this every three months when we are not in session. Topics can often be ones that may lead to legislation in upcoming sessions or committees may hear updates on previous bill implementations. Many committees will hear reports from state agencies and Task Forces or consider testimony regarding current subject areas affecting Oregonians.

For my own part, I’ll be participating in the Special Committee on Transportation Planning and the General Government Budget Committee Monday. On Tuesday, I co-chair the budget committee on Transportation and Economic Development and attend a Water Caucus roundtable. Wednesday is a marathon meeting of the full Ways and Means budget committee where I am one of three vice-chairs. Between formal meetings, the calendar is filled with appointments, conversations, and updates.

I’ll travel home to the Coast each night and there is plenty going on here as well.

Tuesday I speak to the Arts & Economic Prosperity Study Group at the Newport Performing Arts Center. Wednesday I plan to be at the Toledo Chamber of Commerce Mingle. Thursday I’ll attend a reception of the Legislative Wine Caucus, which I co-chair. Sunday I’ll be at Celebrate Ukraine in Newport. And of course, Friday is Veterans Day. I continue to believe we should celebrate and honor our veterans every day but take a special opportunity this particular day.

Given the very difficult and distressing realities in our world right now, especially for our Jewish and Muslim friends and neighbors, I want to remind you all of an important resource: the Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents Hotline at 1-844-924-BIAS (2427).

Hate crimes and bias incidents have been on the rise, both in Oregon and nationally. It is up to all Oregonians to make sure that everyone is safe in their community.

If you have been the victim of or witness to a bias crime, the victim-centered Bias Response Hotline will help you understand your options, make choices about next steps, and receive support in the aftermath of experiencing or witnessing bias. When you call the Bias Response Hotline, you will be connected with trauma-informed hotline advocates who are trained in crisis intervention and can provide bias response advocacy, including assistance in reporting a bias crime to law enforcement.

The Oregon Hate and Bias Hotline is managed by the Oregon Department of Justice and can be reached at 1-844-924-BIAS (2427) from 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday, or online at StandAgainstHate.oregon.gov.

Saturday I was in Newport and the State of the Coast symposium at Hatfield Marine Science Center. I was asked to talk about the nexus of plastic pollution and legislative policy.

Microplastics seep into our fields, streams, and ocean. They end up in our plants, animals, and fish. And ultimately they end up in us as well. Studies indicate we each consume about five grams of plastic each week – the equivalent of eating a credit card.

Recent legislation includes a ban on the production, sale, and distribution of polystyrene containers in Oregon, a ban on the production, sale, and distribution of polystyrene packing peanuts, and a ban on the use of PFAS in food ware containers. Just last week, the Department of Environmental Quality entered its second phase of rulemaking to implement Senate Bill 582, a monumental piece of legislation that establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility program for firms producing the kind of waste that has historically fallen on our local governments and the public to contend with when it’s thrown in the landfill.

While these efforts are certainly not a panacea to the problems we discussed in Newport, they represent a good start to address a problem that’s not going away anytime soon. If you are interested in Environmental and Climate progress in Oregon, you can review bills and a “scorecard” on legislators voting history here. I’m pleased to report I have the highest ranking on the Coast.

I finished out the week with the Lincoln City Chamber of Commerce and their renewed business award dinner. New businesses, customer service, beautification, and the business of the year were all honored. All the nominees should be proud whether they received the big award or not. It is always encouraging to see people working, investing, and cooperating to make our small communities stronger, more interesting, and more vibrant!

As you can see, a busy week lies ahead. Make yours a productive one as well, and again, thank you to our veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.