Greetings!
We are almost two months into the 2023 Legislative Session and many of our bills are in full swing!
Read below to get the latest on EMO's collaborative efforts this past month:
- Environmental Justice
- The Treasury Investment and Climate Protection Act (HB 2601)
- Watch: Building Neighborhood Climate Resilience (Interfaith Earth Summit)
- Equitable, Anti-Poverty Energy Protections
- Ensuring Access to Heat & Electricity (HB 3439)
- Addressing and Prevention Homelessness
- $25m to support youth and families advances! (HB 2454/2456/2001)
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Compassionate Medical Release (SB 520)
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is proud to help to advance legal protections and investments that will make Oregon a better, more caring and welcoming place.
Britt, Cherice, Lorena, Olivé, Nacia, Kim and Julia
|
|
Environmental Justice Policy Updates |
|
House Hearing on the Treasury Investment and Climate Protection Act
|
|
Oregonians need the Treasury to protect PERS and the rest of the Treasury’s investments by removing carbon-intensive investments that pose significant financial and environmental risk.
The Treasury Investment and Climate Protection Act, HB 2601, sets an expedient, yet reasonable, timeline for the Treasury to move its investments away from risky carbon-intensive investments.
|
|
Our 10th annual Oregon Interfaith Earth Summit, “Care for Our Common Home: Building Neighborhood Climate Resilience” was held at the beginning of February and was a smashing success! This was our first hybrid Summit, where local groups met and had local speakers and conversation as well as joining together for a statewide portion on Zoom. We held 10 simultaneous regional gatherings in Beavercreek, Bend, Corvallis, Dallas, Eugene, Florence, Medford, Newberg, Portland and Salem, plus others who attended virtually.
|
|
To learn about the other climate-related legislation we are supporting, sign up for our Oregon Interfaith Power & Light Advocacy Team. You will receive regular action alerts by email, can attend monthly Zoom gatherings for updates and training, and hear about opportunities to meet with your state and federal legislators!
|
|
HB 3459: Ensuring Access to Heat & Electricity
Rep. Annessa Hartman introduced HB 3459, which would protect low-income Oregonians from being disconnected from their energy utilities simply due to an inability to pay. Oregon lags far behind other states in protecting our most vulnerable neighbors from the dangers and insult of losing heat and electricity. More to come on this important bill that centers community well-being, human dignity and public health.
|
|
Affordable Housing Policy Update |
|
Housing Package HB 2001 Moves to Subcommittee; Includes $25m to Support Youth Experiencing Homelessness, and to Prevent K-12 Homelessness in the First Place
In our last e-newsletter, we shared that the bills we are championing to secure more funding for services for youth experiencing homelessness, HB 2454 and 2456, were moved into a package of housing bills called HB 2001. On Tuesday, Feb. 28, HB 2001 had a work session and was voted on in the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness. In a 6-2 vote, HB 2001 passed the House Committee and, with referral from Ways and Means, will be heard by the Joint Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development on March 7!
With your help and continued support, we can ensure that the youth experiencing homelessness and K-12 homelessness prevention provisions of HB 2001 stay at the $25 million dollar funding ask.
|
|
Contact your Oregon House representatives and ask them to support House Bill 2001 and keep the youth experiencing homelessness provision at $25 million dollars in funding! To learn more, read our action alert sent out last week.
|
|
Criminal Justice Policy Update |
|
EMO stands with adults in custody and urges you to support SB 520 for Compassionate Medical Release
Oregon has a growing population of adults in custody who struggle with basic daily activities due to either aging or medical conditions. While Oregon has already enacted compassionate medical release laws, the current system is confusing, timelines are too drawn out, and the method of review is not medically informed.
SB 520 would create an Independent Medical Release Advisory Committee, within the Board of Parole, comprised of 5 to 13 licensed medical professionals appointed by the governor. This committee would be charged with reviewing compassionate medical release applications and make release recommendations solely from a medical and public health perspective.
Prisons are not set up to provide dignity to those in the end stages of their life. We are tracking this bill and are asking for your support for SB 520 today.
|
|
Contact your State Senator and ask them to support Senate Bill 520!
|
|
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
