Committee Services provides research and
administrative assistance to members of the Senate
and House of Representatives. They are also happy to
help the public participate in and understand the
legislative process.
Agriculture & Natural
Resources
This committee convenes Tuesdays and Thursdays in
Hearing Room D from 8am to 10am. There are nine
members:
Chair:
Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie, 503.986.1431
email
Vice-Chairs:
Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, 503.986.1406
email
Rep. Caddy McKeown, D-Coos Bay, 503.986.1409
email
Members:
Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, 503.986.1421
email
Rep. Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach, 503.986.1401
email
Rep. Jeff Reardon, D-Happy Valley, 503.986.1448
email
Rep. Jim Thompson, R-Dallas, 503.986.1423
email
Rep. Ben Unger, D-Hillsboro, 503.986.1429
email
Rep. Gail Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, 504.986.1456
email
Committee Administrator:
Beth Patrino, 503.986.1751,
beth.patrino@state.or.us
Committee Assistant:
Maria Kelly, 503.986.1742,
maria.kelly@state.or.us
I urge you to contact any of these committee members
and our chairs if you have information you wish to
convey to them prior to committee bill votes. This
week’s bills are:
-
HB 2244,
relating to State Dept of Agriculture commodity
inspections
-
HB 2245,
relating to the transportation of onions
-
HB 2246,
relating to the prune industry
-
HB 2700,
relating to the Beginning and Expanding Farmer
Loan Program
-
HB 2031,
relating to natural resource rights in real
property
-
HB 2233,
relating to marine vessels
-
HB 2257,
relating to personal information displayed on a
water right certificate
-
HB 2259
,
relating to fees charged by the Water Resource
Department
Public testimony from Oregon’s citizens is highly
recommended. This involves calling the committee
administrator and asking which day a bill will be
heard and making arrangements to speak in front of
the committee, as well as bringing a certain number
of copies of your testimony for the committee to
review. You may also e-mail testimony to the
administrator for distribution to the committee
prior to the bill’s hearing.
We have issues coming before this committee on
water, land use, forestry, animals, farming,
ranching, predation, oceanic issues,
conservation/preservationist agendas, fish and
wildlife and nearly every related subject. Please
try to follow the issues bill by bill, and have your
voice heard.
This testimony is read by, and it is very important
for, each legislator to hear citizen input.
Energy & Environment
The second committee assignment I have is to the
Environment and Energy Committee, which convenes
Tuesdays and Thursdays in Hearing Room D from 3pm to
5pm. There are nine members:
Chair:
Rep. Jules Bailey, D-Portland, 503.986.1442
email
Vice-Chairs:
Rep. Deborah Boone, D-Cannon Beach, 503.986.1432
email
Rep. Mark Johnson, R-Hood River, 503.986.1452
email
Members:
Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, 503.986.1421
email
Rep. Wayne Krieger, R-Gold Beach, 503.986.1401
email
Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario, 503.986.1460
email
Rep. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, 503.986.1445
email
Rep. Jeff Reardon, D-Happy Valley, 503.986.1448
email
Rep. Jessica Vega Pederson, D-Portland, 503.986.1447
email
Rep. Gail Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, 504.986.1456
email
Committee Administrator:
Adam Crawford, 503.986.1738,
adam.crawford@state.or.us
Committee Assistant:
Anne May, 503.986.1739,
anne.may@state.or.us
Issues to be heard in the Capitol Hearing Room D
include arguments and bills for and against
renewable energy projects, hydrocarbon based energy,
wind, wave, solar, geothermal,
conservation/preservationist agendas, subsidies from
the government to private companies; the Energy
Trust Fund, etc.
This week's bills are:
-
HB 2436,
relating to energy efficiency and sustainable
technology loan program
-
HB 2274,
relating to reporting of information related to
greenhouse gas emissions
-
HB 2439,
relating to restructuring of State Department of
Energy
-
HB 2440
,
relating to siting of solar energy projects on
farmland
Again, citizen input is the single most important
contribution you can make to your government. If you
do not like how your government is reaching
conclusions and how YOUR ELECTED members are voting,
reach them by e-mail or in person and make your
voice heard. There is nothing more important than
the cumulative voice of Oregonians to influence
legislation.
Human Resources &
Housing
My final committee is Human Resources and Housing
which convenes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in
Hearing Room D from 3 to 4:45 pm. There are nine
members:
Chair:
Rep. Carolyn Tomei, D-Milwaukie, 503.986.1441
email
Vice-Chairs:
Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany, 503.986.1415
email
Rep. David Gomberg, D-Central Coast, 503.986.1410
email
Members:
Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, D-Portland, 503.986.1446
email
Rep. Joe Gallegos, D-Hillsboro, 503.986.1430
email
Rep. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, 503.986.1416
email
Rep. Vic Gilliam, R-Mollala, SIlverton, 503.986.1418
email
Rep. Gene Whisnant, R-Sunriver, 503.986.1453
email
Rep. Gail Whitsett, R-Klamath Falls, 504.986.1456
email
Committee
Administrator:
Regina Wilson, 503.986.1505,
regina.wilson@state.or.us
Committee
Assistant:
Debbie Nealy, 503.986.1506,
debbie.nealy@state.or.us
This committee will hear bills
relating to the disbursement of public funds to
individuals (SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, TANF - Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families), the Oregon Lottery, and public
housing will be covered in this committee.
This week's bills are:
-
HB 2165,
relating to investigating the abuse of adults
with disabilities
-
HB 2446,
relating to tax treatment of sale of
manufactured dwelling park
-
HB 2447,
relating to tax credits for closure of
manufactured dwelling park
-
HB 2676,
relating to cancellation of ad valorem tax
assessment of personal property
-
HB 2350,
relating to teen dating violence
-
HB 2388,
relating to state financial administration
-
HB 2392,
relating to the Youth Development Council
-
HB 2163,
relating to the Oregon State Lottery
-
HB 2166,
relating to alcohol server education curriculum
about state lottery
-
HB 2355
,
relating to funding treatment for problem
gambling
Over one third of our All-Funds Budget for the
entire state is addressed by the DHS (Department of
Human Services), and the OHA (Oregon Health
Authority) addresses over $20 Billion of our
federal, state and other funds tax dollars. This is
a hugely important committee as it relates to
overall policy expenditures.
Rep. Whitsett's Staff
Two legislative assistants have been hired to help
House District 56 with the workload for these three
very important committees. Sarah Dressler, a BA
Psychology degreed UCLA graduate from Bend, Oregon
and Kelsey Ferry, a BS degreed OSU graduate in
Health Management and Policy. I welcome them and
their expertise to this office. |
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Sarah Dressler |
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Kelsey Ferry |
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About Rep. Whitsett
A little about myself. I am a former Senate Chief of
Staff for Oregon Senate District 28 (Klamath, Lake,
Crook, parts of Deschutes and Jackson Counties) for
8 years. My background includes being raised on a
large working ranch, presently owning two small
farms in southern Oregon and being a small business
owner.
I also am a graduate of the OSU Honors College with
a BS in Geology and hold a Master of Geology degree
from OSU, with further work at Princeton University.
I was employed as a professional geologist by one of
the world’s largest energy companies and have worked
on projects in the Williston Basin on the oil-rich
Bakken Formation and as both a development and
exploration petroleum geologist in the Overthrust
Belt and deep gas basins of the Western United
States.
I look forward to serving the people of the state of
Oregon, to advance their health, education and
prosperity through the careful and considered
utilization of all of this state’s natural
resources.
Best regards,
Representative Gail Whitsett
House District 56 |
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FIRST READINGS
For Feb 11, there were over 150 first readings of
bills. Many of these will be coming through the
Energy & Environment Committee.
View the first readings list
here.
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COMMITTEES:
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Ag & Natural Resources
-
Energy & Environment
-
Human Services & Housing
PAST ISSUES:
View past issues of
the newsletter
here.
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