In Person Individual Office Hours

Now that the long session has concluded, I’ve been holding individual office hours across the district. As many of you know, our district spans a large and diverse geographic area. While we cherish the rural character of our communities, it can make it difficult for constituents to meet with me in person.

To help bridge that gap, my office has been scheduling office hours in various cities throughout the district.

Our next scheduled office hours will be on Monday, August 12, at the Banks Fire Station #14, located on Highway 26.

If you’d like to take this opportunity to meet with me—and Representative Darcey Edwards—you can book a time using the link to my August 12th booking calendar. If you encounter any issues or don’t see a time that fits your schedule, please email me at Sen.SuzanneWeber@oregonlegislature.gov, and my staff will work with you to find a time that works.

I look forward to hearing from you!

 

Funding wins for Senate District 16

This year was especially challenging when it came to securing funding for projects across our district. We submitted requests ranging from $20 million for essential water and sewer infrastructure, to $100,000 to support programs for military-impacted children in Oregon.

While we weren’t able to secure funding for every request, I’m proud to say we achieved several important wins for our communities. These successes reflect the hard work, collaboration, and persistence of so many who helped advocate for these priorities.

Along with Rep Edwards support we secured $800,000 for The Amani Center which provides critical child abuse assessment and support services to families in need.

I was proud to advocate for the Columbia River Maritime Museum during this legislative session and am pleased to share that the museum was awarded $700,000 for the Mariners Hall project. This funding came through a submission by the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon (CREF).

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. Executive Director Bruce Jones’s remarks that day captured exactly why this project resonated and earned the support it did. His vision and leadership, along with the museum’s strong community presence, were key to its success.

“We are all committed to a number of ideas: the idea that Columbia River Maritime Museum must remain a cultural and economic anchor of our community. 

That residents of rural northwest Oregon should not have to travel to Seattle or Portland for world class cultural and educational opportunities, because we will provide those opportunities right here.

And if you spend some time in the Cedar and Sea exhibit you will see the quality of world class exhibit work we are planning for Mariners Hall.

We are committed to supporting local economic development both by hiring majority local contractors and subcontractors for Mariners Hall while under construction, and by attracting visitors who will spend money on local lodging, dining and shopping after Mariners Hall opens.

And we’re committed to the idea that Astoria deserves beautiful modern architecture that both complements our heritage and looks to the future.

In short, we are committed to our community, and intent on adding value here on the North Coast, in our state and the entire Pacific Northwest.”  

I’m proud to share that Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) has been awarded $6 million to support the expansion of critical health services for our North Coast communities.

It was an honor to support this effort in Salem. With resources tight this session, securing this funding is a true testament to the power of local leadership and effective teamwork.

Sincere thanks to Erik Thorsen, Mark Kujala, and the entire CMH team for their unwavering advocacy and strategic vision. Their leadership was instrumental in securing this critical investment.

Our office regularly receives requests for assistance on a wide range of issues. Recently, one such request involved a tax-related concern. In response, my Chief of Staff reached out to the Oregon Department of Revenue to arrange a meeting where we could ask questions and better understand the situation.

During that meeting, we were able to discuss some of the roadblocks taxpayers are currently facing. I was encouraged by the Department’s responsiveness and pleased to learn that, as a result of this particular issue, they are exploring improvements to their letter notification process.

I share this to highlight how raising concerns with the appropriate agencies can lead to meaningful changes that improve how systems function for everyone.

One helpful resource I’d like to mention is Oregon Revenue Online. If you haven’t already signed up, I highly encourage you to do so. It’s a great tool for managing your tax information and streamlining communication with the Oregon Department of Revenue.

Fun around the District

A Busy and Joyful Month Around District 16

It’s hard to believe it’s only been 30 days since the legislative session ended. In that short time, I’ve had the opportunity to attend many events throughout the district—and I’ve truly enjoyed reconnecting with friends and neighbors along the way.

District 16 is full of vibrant small communities, and one of the things I’ve loved most this summer is taking part in so many local parades. There’s something special about the joy on kids’ faces as they watch the floats go by and gather candy. It’s one of my favorite parts of the season.

Beyond parades, I’ve also had the honor of attending several groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, and grand openings. It’s exciting and encouraging to see the progress being made across our district. The momentum and community spirit are truly inspiring.

Supporting Community College Students Across Oregon

This summer, Clackamas Community College President Dr. Tim Cook is taking bold action to highlight the pressing needs of Oregon’s community college students. Through his Running for Oregon Community College Students (ROCCS) campaign, Dr. Cook is running over 1,500 miles—visiting every community college in the state—to raise awareness and support for vital student services like food, housing, child care, and transportation.

It was a pleasure to join fellow Tillamook residents in welcoming Dr. Cook as he arrived at Tillamook Bay Community College. His dedication is both inspiring and a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting our students.

 

 

Join me today for our discussion on post-legislative session activities, including community parades and events like the Tillamook County Fair.  We get into concerns about ODOT’s leadership and funding, education, forest fires, and logging, and the failure of the transportation package to pass.  You can tune in on SoundCloud or Youtube below.

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1716  District Phone: 503-300-4493
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-405, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen​.SuzanneWeber@oregonlegislature.gov
Website:  ​https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/weber/​