Everyone deserves to feel safe in our community and thrive. As a member of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, Emerson has been a champion of workforce housing, including introducing bills to increase housing affordability. The Legislature recently passed the largest bipartisan housing investment in the state’s history.
Emerson helped bring $1.4 million to Central Oregon for youth homelessness. This money will be used to purchase a building in Redmond for youth in crisis who are experiencing homelessness. If a youth is homeless for more than three months, that youth is statistically likely to be a homeless adult. Early investments in youth save money and make our communities healthier and safer.
Additionally, Emerson helped secure $5 million to be awarded to the Northpoint Housing Development, which will bring 450 units to Redmond, including affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing. Emerson continues to be an avid supporter of increased funding for infrastructure projects, with the state as a partner to build sewers, roads, and pipes, we can bring down the cost of housing for working families. She will continue to work to make Central Oregon a place where families, seniors and people can thrive.
School safety is one of my top priorities. I have a young daughter and I deeply understand the fear many parents feel sending their kids to school.
My school safety strategy includes improving emergency response times in schools, increasing school-based health and mental health centers for students, and risk assessments for school entrances and exits.
I brought forward a Silent Panic Alarm Technology bill that was one of the most bipartisan pieces of legislation of the entire 2023 legislative session, sponsored by 32 of the 35 House Democrats and all 25 House Republicans. This legislation would provide wireless panic alert devices for schools to use in case of a wide number of emergencies, reducing the precious time it takes to reach first responders. I was able to secure $2.5 million of funding for this technology through the budget process. This important technology is in the process of coming to our schools.
I am the only pro-choice candidate in this race. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, state legislatures have become a battleground for reproductive rights.
I will always protect a woman’s freedom to make her own healthcare decisions. Oregonians have made it clear time and time again that they overwhelmingly support a person’s right to make their own reproductive healthcare choices without government interference.
Preserving our natural resources and the beauty that central Oregon holds is incredibly important to me. In Oregon, and especially in Central Oregon, it is important that we manage our resources well.
I have been a champion of addressing climate change by building clean energy projects here in Oregon. Oregonians deserve to enjoy the prosperity of the clean energy economy. Serving as the Vice Chair of Climate, Energy and Environment as well as a member of the Joint Ways and Means Committee for Natural Resources has afforded me the opportunity to be an advocate for projects like the newly announced $1 billion investment in a Hydrogen Hub in Oregon and renewing the electric vehicle rebates.
It is important that we continue to diversify our economy, specifically new energy jobs that strengthen our local economy and grow our workforce. We must create an environment where business and innovation can thrive. Affordable childcare is an important component of the solution and I am proud to have worked to secure funding for more Head Start preschool spots in Redmond starting in 2024.
Central Oregon can and must be a leader in innovative manufacturing so that people who work here can continue to have opportunity for growth. I believe in building up middle class jobs.
Public education is so important in our community. Our schools in Deschutes County should be preparing students for the changing world by increasing trade programs, technology programs and life skills training.
Kids should have the option to go to college and they should also have an option to pursue an apprenticeship, which allows students a career in the trades without acquiring debt.
Oregon has underfunded Special Education for decades. Emerson supports a significant change in the way we fund Special Education programs, including lifting the current cap on Special Education funding and allowing schools to seek full reimbursement for services.
I believe that healthcare reform should achieve three goals: better care, better care for more people, and better care for more people at a lower cost. I am a champion for rural healthcare, including expanding tele-health access for those who are far away from a primary care doctor.
As an advocate for primary care, I believe that no one should be without access to needed medical care, which includes dental care. I am a strong believer in expansion of mental health services in Deschutes County. Currently there is a huge need for mental health services and very long wait times. We need to get people help when they need it.
Transportation safety is paramount to our commitment to the well-being of our community and state. We are facing big challenges in our transportation system, including the epidemic of traffic deaths. We experienced more pedestrian deaths in Deschutes County this year than in the last 20 years. With the upcoming transportation package, we must prioritize transportation safety and address crumbling infrastructure and bridges.