Click HERE for the post. March 4, 2022
Together, we passed the entirety of our 2022 Legislative Agenda to #EmergeStronger! This translates to huge strides forward on community-led priorities to enhance racial justice, immigrant rights, economic and food security, stable homes for all, access to childcare and much more.
We wanted to share specifically some of the major victories for our communities:
Equal Opportunity to Thrive
We believe in an Oregon where everyone is welcome and has the opportunity to thrive. Yet immigrants and refugees in our communities face a host of systemic challenges, including double the rate of food insecurity as people born inside the US. Advancing immigrant justice is key to ending hunger and fostering a stronger, more resilient food system.
- Overtime Protections for Farmworkers (HB 4002): Ends the Jim Crow-era exclusion of overtime protections for an estimated 86,000 essential agricultural workers in Oregon.
- Oregon Worker Relief Fund (HB 5202): Invests $65 million to support essential workers harmed by the pandemic who were excluded from various types of pandemic assistance.
Stable Homes for Oregonians
Everyone deserves a safe, healthy place to call home. We face a crisis of affordable housing in every corner of the state, made worse by the economic impacts of the pandemic. Continued action is needed to keep Oregonians in our homes — whether rented or owned.
- Affordable Housing and Houselessness Prevention (SB 5202): Invests $400 million in stable homes for all with short, medium, and long-term investments in addressing challenges faced by those without stable housing, building and preserving affordable housing, and supporting homeownership.
- Emergency Heat Relief (SB 1536): Strengthens access to affordable, efficient, and safe heating and cooling as Oregon experiences increasing extreme weather events.
Safe Communities for All
We all should feel secure in our homes and neighborhoods. Feeling safe is foundational to every family’s ability to earn an income and thrive — and we need equitable, accountable systems that help ensure safety for everyone in our communities.
- Transforming Justice (SB 1510): Advances racial justice by reducing disparities in traffic stops, improving success for people on probation and parole, and invests in communities.
- Universal Representation (SB 1543): Keeps families together by establishing due process for Oregonians who are immigrants and refugees.
In addition, we successfully advocated for critical investments in our emergency food assistance network and direct support to families facing hunger and poverty.
- A stronger emergency food system (HB 5202): Provides $8 million to support food purchases and strengthen our emergency food infrastructure in Oregon.
- 24/7 access to 211info (HB 5202): New investments will help even more people identify and connect with essential resources in local communities, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- $600 cost-of-living payments (HB 4157): Provides one-time $600 payments for Oregonians who receive the Earned Income Tax Credit in 2020.
- Support to families experiencing deep poverty (HB 5202): Establishes periodic boosts in cash assistance for costs of living for participants in the TANF program.
- Dental Health Equity (SB 1538): Ensures access to health care for approximately 300 elders in Oregon’s community of Oregonians with Compact of Free Association (COFA) status.
- Child Care for Oregon (HB 4005): Makes important reforms to rebuild Oregon’s child care system by providing fairer compensation for providers and by increasing capacity at the new state agency.
- Expanded outreach for the Earned Income Tax Credit (HB 4117): Expands access to free tax prep services, connecting more Oregonians with the EITC.
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