Top Issues Impacting Oregon

Floor Speech

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Mrs. CHAVEZ-DeREMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the top issues impacting Oregon and the Fifth District that we have to address in the 118th Congress.

We need to get our economy back on track, secure the border, support safe immigration, and reduce homelessness and drug overdoses.

A report from the National Drug Helpline ranked Oregon worst in the Nation for drug problems. Oregon is number one in drug use, but number 50 in drug treatment.

This crisis in Oregon starts at our southern border and is exacerbated by the lack of leadership, including the lack of commonsense security measures that have allowed dangerous drugs like fentanyl to enter our communities.

I frequently hear from moms and families who are begging their leaders to please pay attention to this fentanyl crisis. The drug cartels have insisted on taking our children from us.

We have also seen an increase in violent crime. Mr. Speaker, 2022 was the deadliest year in Portland metro history with over 100 homicides. We are already on track to break that record this year, a record that we should never want to break.

Rising crime rates have forced businesses to close their doors, further weakening our economy. We have seen businesses leave the metro area for suburbia or leave the State altogether.

Tackling the drug crisis will, in turn, begin to help Oregon's homelessness crisis. Oregon had at least 18,000 homeless people living on the streets every day in 2022.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to address these issues in the 118th Congress. Honoring the Life of Lowell Miles

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Mrs. CHAVEZ-DeREMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to say the name of a gentleman I heard passed from Happy Valley, Oregon. He was a pillar of the community, and I want the families back home to know that we will miss Lowell Miles from Miles Fiberglass.

He was a pillar of the community, not only in Happy Valley, Oregon, where I reside, but in Clackamas County.

Mr. Speaker, the family has my support here in Washington, D.C., and I look forward to coming home this weekend and paying my respects.

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