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by Josie Koehne December Revenue Forecast On November 17, the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis presented the shockingly strong December revenue Forecast in a joint session with the House Revenue and Senate Finance & Revenue committees. Personal and corporate income tax collections continue to set records. See the presentation and video . The actual 3rd quarter revenue tallies came in well above the very rosy September forecast, breaking a new revenue record. Rather than returning to a normal economy as anticipated, we have a very hot economy that has been exceptionally favorable for bringing tax revenue to Oregon. Spending, wages, and prices are up as employers are scrambling to find workers as by now, fewer wage earners are going back to work than anticipated. There are 70,000 fewer job openings and 10,000 more people on unemployment, relative to pre-pandemic levels. Part of this is that workers have more savings due to federal dollars and Covid policies, and part is that workers are getting higher wages, reducing pressure on finding work. There are thousands of job openings that cannot be filled! Employees are working more hours and at higher pay. Average wages in Oregon are 15% higher today than before the pandemic, but the real, or inflation-adjusted average wage is up 8%. The supply chain and especially labor is a bottleneck for companies who can’t keep up with pent-up demand. As they wait for parts and employees, they are passing their higher costs on to consumers. Inflation is rising, but it is expected to level off once more post-covid jobs are back in business. Fortunately, the wage gains are mostly going to lower income wage-earners. Unfortunately, with the lack of low-income housing, many workers are still unable to afford the high rents for the few units available. Corporate profits are up 3%, and will be 5% once inventory is restocked. Stock prices are up, expecting future earnings, and tax collections are way up as well, with delayed, late-filer Oregon tax payments coming in, in the 3rd quarter. There is exceptionally higher demand, with higher prices paid for warehousing, transportation, construction, manufacturing and wholesale sectors. Income increased mostly in rural areas in the eastern and southeastern counties and population growth occurred in the central and north central areas of the state, but there was little in-migration. All this adds up to greatly increased personal income tax revenue, mainly from tax withholdings from more higher income wage-earners. Revenue from higher corporate excise tax rates were the biggest gains. Here are the 2021-2023 forecast figures: Total Net General Funds and Lottery Resources is $29.283 billion . Compared to Close-of-Session (COS) estimates, personal income tax (PIT) revenue is up 2.6%, by $531.1 million. Another PIT kicker of $558.3 is expected starting in 2024. Corporate tax revenue growth is up 44% for 2021(!) with $250.3 million from the Corporate Activity Tax (CAT), an 18.6% increase and is projected to be dedicated to K-12 education spending in 2023-25. Corporate income is expected to be much less next year due to CAT revisions and the ability to apply carry-forward tax liability (capital gains) to future years. General Fund gross revenue is up $808.6 million (3.5%) from the 2021 COS estimate. Net GF and Lottery resources are up $1.549 billion (5.6%) from the 2021 COS estimate The projected ending balance is up $1.478 billion from all sources from the 2021 Close-of-Session estimate. Since the last revenue forecast in September, this forecast is up $751 million from all revenue sources. The analysts expressed concern that the economy is so hot that we could come to a sudden crash should interest rates be raised to combat inflation, causing a big and sudden cooling of the economy as borrowing capital becomes less affordable for businesses. There are large and increasing reserve funds (Rainy Day Fund and the Educational Stability fund) of $1.4 billion now, increasing to $2 billion by the end of the biennium, due to new policies. All in all, this year’s revenue is better than we’ve ever seen from all revenue sources including Other Funds at $22,513 million, a 26.3% increase over last year. We can all be grateful this Thanksgiving that Oregon’s General Fund is on solid ground, as we might need it for services in the near future should the economy take a sudden downturn.

by Anne Nesse Starting first with the Senate Education Committee on several issues of note: Michael Elliot reported on the many state-funded summer program grants. Grants had some degree of success for helping students secure High School credits that they had difficulty completing during the first phases of the pandemic. Other grants simply brought fun and equity. A creative summer program came from the Gresham-Barlow District. It allowed all the students signed up to learn to bait a fish hook, and catch a trout! A contested issue came up at the end of the Senate meeting, as a result of a report from Andre Ourso, Oregon Health Authority, on SB 283 . This Bill was a study of the research about the potential dangers of routers, laptops or large numbers of IPADs inside K-8 classrooms, and cell towers on K-8 school grounds; all devices that could possibly affect young children’s growing brains with radiation, according to the opposing scientific testimony in the hearing. Ourso reported that after studying 200 peer reviewed articles, no causal relationship to cancer was found. Ourso admitted that the report by OHA was not well funded. Numerous others testified that OHA’s research testimony might be biased by manufacturer’s claims. OHA’s report is not in line with a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, or other reports submitted in the meeting notes. And, because as was stated, we are the first state to challenge the care for this use of technology, it is significant to get this information correct, or at least not approve it, until proven completely safe. Interestingly no one asked the question, “Are broadband devices necessary in the K-8 classroom, when other means of instruction may be more appropriate, and more centered on social and emotional learning, and physical development, a necessary education for those age groups?” SB 744 was briefly discussed, noting that the committee working on these changes to graduation requirements will be looking at setting up a series of geographic engagement meetings across the state soon. Sen. Dembrow also stated there would be a special committee of legislators to meet during the interim on our severe staffing issues in many areas of education. He also mentioned a new bill during the interim to decrease turnover on school boards, with the possibility of holding elections less often, to maintain less turnover, and greater knowledge base on our school boards. House and Senate Interim Committees heard reports on the many issues of the re-opening of in-person K-12 public schools during a continuing pandemic from Oregon Department of Education (ODE). Colt Gill, ODE Director, presented many issues of stress for students and staff. He states there has currently been a decrease in enrollment of 17,000 students in our K-12 public school system. Answering questions that some families from that number have chosen home schooling, or the limited 3% online choice of virtual private charter schools. Some school districts and public charter schools have their own online virtual schooling. Other issues stated include: 1) staff shortages, 2) Covid-19 protocols both state and federal, 3) impacts of quarantines, 4) social emotional and mental health impacts, 5) attendance, 6) addressing unfinished learning, 7) community harassing, 8) intimidating and threatening educators and their families for doing their job following state and federal guidelines, 8) or misconceptions about equity in schools The Covid-19 pandemic is now recognized as being in the process of changing to an endemic, meaning a disease that will likely always be with us in some form. There are currently issues worldwide, as yet unsolved. This will continue to have an impact on education. As we ease out of the pandemic, Jackson Weinberg, Oregon Student Voice, testified that classes are still large, students use masks poorly, and aside from sports there are no other after school activities. It was reported that we are now in the process of conforming to a statewide uniform 7-day quarantine from in person school for positive-testing unvaccinated students . 10-25% of students statewide have been quarantined at any one time, due to contact tracing, even though they were without symptoms. Therefore we are aiming at a future “ stay in school 7 day period ” for unvaccinated non-symptomatic students who were exposed, but who test negative 2X, at the beginning and the end of the 7 days. Vaccinated students do not have to quarantine. Teacher Standards and Practice is in the process of creating new non-traditional pathways for Teacher Licensure through TSPC , as a result of HB 2166 , on building more equity in the pre-K-12 grades. A brief plan summary was presented in the House Committee on Education, and is shown from the meeting material below: Individual candidate program plans developed by sponsoring district, academic partner, and candidate Allow blended learning/work experiences to satisfy licensing content & pedagogy requirements Plan is based on competency in standards rather than specific course sequence Guiding teacher provided through district support throughout program in a step-down approach This “apprenticeship” model varies from a residency in that it is a continuous improvement and growth model through professional licensure that is paid and emphasizes credit through experience Advocates with HECC and university leadership to adopt experiential tracks to degree Create an apprenticeship license allowing limited teaching of record with co-teacher support TSPC and EAC must work together with EPPs, districts, ESDs, ODE, HECC, and Community Colleges to make sure we can get as many candidates supported.

During the November legislative days, the House Rules Committee did not meet, and the Senate Rules Committee only met to consider executive appointments. However, there has been considerable movement on redistricting and campaign finance reform. Redistricting After the special session of the Legislative Assembly and the Governor adopted the legislative and congressional maps proposed by the supermajority Democrats by its Sept. 27 deadline, three lawsuits were filed alleging gerrymanders. One lawsuit challenges the congressional map and will be heard by a panel of five state judges appointed by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. The other two lawsuits will go directly to the Oregon Supreme Court. In all three lawsuits, the challengers must show that the redistricting criteria have not been sufficiently followed. Since the criteria are mostly in statute and each must only be considered, the lawsuits have only a small chance of success. [Late breaking news: The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Monday against two challenges to the new legislative districts. The Court ruled that challengers had not proven that the new boundaries for the state’s House and Senate districts were crafted with illegal partisan intent, or violated any other rules that lawmakers are supposed to consider.] The People Not Politicians coalition has decided to go ahead with IP 34 (which after some minor changes replaced IP 16), and IP 34 has now qualified with 1000 valid signatures for the ballot title process. A ballot title was recently issued. However, the ballot title process could take months, so it may be at least February before signature-gathering can begin. Some 150,000 valid signatures must be delivered to the Secretary of State by July 8. Stay tuned! Campaign Finance Reform Because the legislature failed to adopt any campaign finance reform bill to implement the Measure 107 constitutional amendment passed by voters in 2020, a collaboration of organizations, including the LWVOR and organized by Honest Elections Oregon , has been meeting with stakeholders to draft an initiative petition for the 2022 ballot. An initiative petition could be filed with the SoS within a few days.

The reports below include information on natural resource agencies and programs, opportunities to engage in the item of interest to you and possible legislation for 2022. Agriculture: The Oregon Department of Agriculture has named a new deputy director from within its own ranks. The appointment of Lauren Henderson was effective on Sept. 29. He has worked for the agency for 22 years. Budgets/Revenue: See the Revenue Report in this Legislative Report. With revenue increase, the League will be requesting funding in 2022 for continuing the Oregon Global Warming Commission work funding an Environmental Justice Council as requested in SB 286 (2021), funding the Private Forest Accord, possibly funding related to the Elliott State Forest and funding the 2021 fire season expenses, as well as issues in other portfolios. For more information, see the Oregon Economic Analysis . Climate (Claudia Keith and Team): See Climate Report in this Legislative Report. See the Forestry section in this report for forest climate work, the Coastal section and the Land Use section related to other agency work. There are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. Coastal Issues (Christine Moffitt): The League commented on the Rocky Habitat Management Site Designation Proposal Process (Section E and Appendix C). This matter will come before the Ocean Policy Advisory Council. The League of Women Voters of Oregon is pleased to congratulate member Peggy Joyce on her appointment to Oregon's Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) and confirmation by the Oregon Senate on Nov. 17. Peggy followed coastal issues on behalf of the League so her knowledge of the issues that will come before OPAC will serve Oregonians well as they consider how to protect our Rocky Shores and issues around our coastal land use Goals. On Oct. 12 the State Land Board ( agenda —this item starts on page 18) received an Annual Report on the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (SSNER), the first of many over the next few years. The League is proud to have been part of the groups that helped the Dept. of State Lands to recognize this very special first-in-the-nation estuarine reserve and its role today in research around the effects of climate change on our coastal areas. Dept. of Environmenal Quality (DEQ) (Josie Koehne and Peggy Lynch): Both DEQ and the Oregon Dept. of Forestry have drafted a new Memorandum of Understanding related to the nexus between the federal Clean Water Act which DEQ is to implement in Oregon and forest practices under the purview of the Dept. of Forestry. This final plan, specifically outlines each agency’s role with a timeline, was posted recently. The League testified in support while making it clear that Oregon’s waters need to be protected. See additional information in the Forestry section. Justin Green, Water Quality Division Administrator at DEQ, is leaving the agency as of Nov. 30 . Justin, who worked to turn this division around and implement recommendations from the consultant work of a few years ago and advocated for the new staffing provided for this division the last two biennia, will be missed. Jennifer Wigal will be Acting WQ Administrator after Justin’s departure. Spoiled food is costing Oregon households real money. In fact, every year the average household loses $1,600 by throwing away spoiled food. While many are already taking steps to reduce food waste, research funded by DEQ found that 85% of Oregon households agreed they could do more to reduce food spoilage. Resources are available at Don't Let Good Food Go Bad . Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) (Peggy Lynch): Bob Houston, Geological Survey and Services Program Manager/Legislative Coordinator, will leave the agency on Nov 24. The League has worked with Bob for many years, most especially during the 2021 session to assure DOGAMI’s science work continued on behalf of Oregonians. Sarah Lewis is the interim Agency Director. No new State Geologist has been appointed. Elliott State Forest (Peggy Lynch): A new Elliott State Research Forest Advisory Committee workgroup has formed to discuss developing a legislative concept to establish an independent public entity for forest ownership. Here are the Oct. 1 meeting materials ; however, much has changed since this initial draft. A new draft outline of a proposed legislative concept has been filed with Legislative Counsel with the expectation that the bill will be considered in the 2022 session. Meeting information, videos, notes, and other public outreach efforts are on the Elliott website . The League has monitored this work and believes, for the most part, the legislation outline fits our positions to assure public ownership and environmental stewardship while also seeing some harvest. We look forward to seeing the actual proposed legislation. The bill should officially establish an Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) under the direction of a new Board of Directors. The State Land Board will still have some oversight of the Forest as they would appoint this new Board. The new ESRF Board will hire an Executive Director for the Forest and will be expected to contract with Oregon State University to carry out the research mission listed in the proposed legislation. The only area not resolved is how the Common School Fund would be reimbursed for the $120.8 million still owed from the last appraisal done in 2016. OSU is suggesting it needs $17 million in infrastructure to house staff on or near the Elliott and $10 million in operating expenses the first three years (before they can gain revenue from timber harvest) in their management plan. A new development has arisen whereby the Coos Bay area Shutter Creek Correctional Facility (which is closing) might be a good fit as headquarters for the ESRF staff and visiting researchers. The House Environment and Natural Resources Committee received an update on the Elliott at its Nov. 15 mtg. While this discussion is on-going, progress is being made to consider a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Elliott. And another Work Group is developing a proposed Forest Management Plan. Again, all this information and more is on the Elliott website . Forestry (Josie Koehne and Peggy Lynch): Since our last report on October 21, there have been several important Forestry developments. After a year and a half of negotiations, the Private Forest Accord agreement was signed on October 30 between representatives of 13 conservation groups and 13 timber industry organizations, with last-minute negotiated terms brokered by Governor Brown that ended at 1am on October 30. The agreement will serve as the basis for a Habitat Conservation Plan for the 10 million acres of privately-owned forestland, which will provide new protections for sensitive and endangered species as required by the EPA to meet Endangered Species Act standards. The plan would provide more regulatory protections from lawsuits and legal certainty for timber companies and small woodland owners when harvesting timber on their lands, while increasing wider “no cut” tree buffer zones in riparian zones to protect fish habitat. See agreement details in collected documents , with some more flexible options for small forest owners concerning riparian buffers, with incentives (reimbursements) for extending “no cut” zones when they harvest. Legislation based on the agreement will need to be drafted and approved by the Legislature, hopefully by the end of the short session, with rulemaking to follow. A presentation was provided to both House and Senate Committees during the November legislative days. The agreement outlined a rather large price tag to implement the agreement which will need to be adjudicated. Requests include $11.75 million in start-up costs to implement the HCP requirements for private forestlands, and then $18-36 million each year from the General Fund depending on how extensive the details of monitoring, road mapping, etc. and $10 million for mitigation work (fixing logging roads, culverts and streams for fish passage, etc.). The timber industry has agreed to kick in $5 million each year for this mitigation work on their lands. The League expects some budget requests should the agreement be codified in legislation. News articles on the agreement can be found here: OPB , Oregonian , Portland Business Journal and Capital Press. This is welcome news, but other issues such as logging practices, drinking water protection and climate issues related to forestry remain to be addressed. SB 1602 (2020 1st Special Session) continues to be implemented beyond the Private Forest Accord, including addressing some protections for drinking water sources and better notification around aerial spray on forests. Information is on the ODF website , including Helicopter pesticide spraying, Siskiyou stream buffers, neighbor notifications, and mediated discussions about possible changes to Oregon's Forest Practices Act , links to training videos and lists of fish streams. Effective Dec. 15, new procedures for helicopter pesticide applications and neighborly communications will start. A final, stronger and much improved ODF Climate Change and Carbon Plan (CCCP) final draft was unanimously adopted by the Board of Forestry meeting on November 3. It included the Oregon Global Warming Commission (OGWC)'s Final Natural and Working Lands Proposal recommendations, with longer harvest rotations and climate smart forestry practices. Much public testimony supported the plan. See our LWV testimony of the CCCP. There is a final draft of the Memo of Understanding (MOU) between ODF and DEQ that defines the roles and responsibilities of each agency in addressing the need to meet the water quality of the federal Clean Water Act. To do this, the two agencies will coordinate in the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for a number of pollutants that have been found in various state waters that have failed to pass federal standards. This final plan , which specifically outlines each agency’s role with a timeline, was posted recently. It defines a greater leadership role for the Environmental Quality Commission, with frequent consultations with ODF. ODF can provide alternative compliance options but DEQ and the EPA will have final say in whether the proposed compliance options will meet the federal water quality requirements. The MOU was reviewed in a joint session between the two agencies on November 17 ( watch here ) but is not yet available as of this writing. Public testimony was submitted. The LWV testified on a previous draft. And finally, the big news is that a new State Forester, Cal Mukumoto, was unanimously approved at the October 29 Board of Forestry Special meeting. Cal Mukumoto is from Coos Bay and ran unsuccessfully in 2020 as the Democratic and Working Family Party candidate for that district’s state representative position now held by Republican Representative Boomer Wright. Mr. Mukumoto has had 30 years working in the forest industry and chaired the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission. He has served on the Board of Forestry, been a business consultant with a master’s degree in business administration, and worked on the board for the Tribes’ Native American business community as a timber consultant. Cal has been working with others within ODF on an initiative “to realign components of ODF’s leadership and organizational structures to enable the department to be more strategic, proactive, efficient, and effective in its work. This effort will include a realignment of the agency’s core leadership and decision-making functions.” According to an ODF email from interim State Forester Nancy Hirsh, “To more effectively manage and address the department’s core work, emerging issues, strategic initiatives, and other key business, we are splitting out leadership-level roles and responsibilities into four groups. Each group has a distinct role, but they will work closely to ensure coordination and alignment in direction, expectations, and desired outcomes at all levels of the agency.” This seems like quite a new direction in the leadership structure and we look forward to seeing how this change will play out within the agency. The League, along with others, meets monthly to get updates on the department’s many responsibilities. The Senate also confirmed the last Board of Forestry member, Liz Agpaoa , retired USDA Forest Service Southern Regional Forester, to complete the 7-member Board which will continue to adopt rules under SB 762 , any legislation around the Private Forest Accord, and any other policies that come to the Board. ODF ’s Forest Management Plan and Habitat Conservation Plan will be shared on December 7 from 1 – 4 p.m. in a virtual public meeting; RSVP is requested. This meeting will provide an update on the Western Oregon State Forest Management Plan (FMP) and Implementation Plan (IP) Project, the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. A proposed agenda and additional details will be provided closer to the meeting date. More information is available online at the Western Oregon State Forest Management Plan Website and the Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan Website . The agency’s suppression costs for the 2021 season are currently estimated at $127.8 million in gross costs and $67.5 million in net costs (following reimbursements from FEMA and other federal agencies). ODF and Department of Administrative Services have been coordinating closely with the state’s Catastrophic Wildfire Insurance Policy brokers, as net suppression costs exceeded the $50 million insurance deductible. Based on today’s net cost estimate, the state is positioned to make an estimated $17.5 million claim against the $25 million policy. Another issue that may appear in the 2022 session is reconsideration of a harvest tax or severance tax on forest harvests. See 2021 legislative reports for more on this issue. The current harvest tax collection ends Dec. 31 so renewing some form of harvest tax is reasonable considering the amount of General Funds needed by this agency for its many responsibilities. See the Wildfire section for more information and progress on implementing the comprehensive wildfire bill, SB 762 , which will provide for wildfire risk reduction, response and recovery that include programs related to defensible space, prescribed fire, landscape resiliency and community emergency preparedness. Hanford Cleanup Board (Marylou Schnoes): The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board held a virtual meeting on October 4. The agenda included an update on Hanford Site tank waste; updates from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Washington State Department of Ecology; and a presentation from ODOE’s summer intern regarding the Natural Resources Damage Assessment process. Information is available on ODOE's website . Jordan Cove News : The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has asked Pembina, the the Jordan Cove project developer, and others to provide briefs by Dec. 15 to “clarify” how it intends to move forward since it lacks essential state permits and, at this point, has not submitted new applications to DEQ and DLCD. To learn more, read here . Land Use/Housing (Debbie Aiona, Nancy Donovan, Peggy Lynch and the Climate Team): The Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) is continuing to shepherd implementation of HB 2001 and 2003 (2019). The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) has had presentations by local governments at each of its meetings . The League of Oregon Cities has provided this report as well. Budget Notes were included in HB 5006 related to continued work on the Regional Housing Needs Analysis-- Budget Note #4 and #8 : OHCS and DLCD are to provide an initial legislative report no later than February 1, 2022 and a final legislative report no later than December 31, 2022 on efforts to develop a legislative proposal for incorporation of a Regional Housing Needs Analysis into future state and local planning processes. LCDC approved their Policy Agenda (department work plan for 2021-23) at the meeting on Nov. 18. This document might have some minor edits not yet been captured on the web document. The Senate confirmed Barbara Boyer to LCDC. Ms. Boyer, a farmer near McMinnville, also serves on the Board of Agriculture. DLCD Director Jim Rue announced his retirement in the near future, a major announcement. A conversation around the search for a new Director also occurred during the November LCDC meeting. with a target for filling the position by May 2022. Another program the League supports, the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities rulemaking , is on-going. See more about this in the Climate Report. Interesting facts from that rulemaking: In Oregon, 50% of people’s income is under $60k; 25% are disabled; 24% are people of color; 38% are renters. And they expect 40% of electric vehicle charging to happen away from home. The League continues as a member of the Oregon Housing Alliance . Members attend regular meetings to discuss past and future legislation and programs. See also the Housing Report in other sections of this Legislative Report. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW): T here have been management changes at ODFW: the deputy director for administration, Erica Kleiner left at the end of October. Shannon Hurn is currently the deputy director for fish and wildlife programs but transfered into the administrative deputy position effective November 1. Also effective November 1, Debbie Colbert returned to ODFW as the deputy director for fish and wildlife programs. The League supported the reestablishment of a Habitat Division and Sarah Reif has been named Administrator for the newly created Habitat Division as of Dec. 15. Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB): Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, formerly Deputy Director of the Dept. of Agriculture since 2005, has become Director of OWEB. Stephanie Page has also moved to the Oregon Water Enhancement Board from the Dept. of Agriculture as Deputy Director. Radioactive Waste (Shirley Weathers): The League will be participating in rulemaking to implement SB 246 (2021), Radioactive Waste Disposal Definitions and Enforcement. There are tentatively six meetings scheduled with the last meeting held on Nov. 2. Transportation : See Land Use/Housing Report on Climate Friendly Communities work. DLCD is doing rulemaking on that and on Every Mile Counts along with the Oregon Dept. of Transportation, DLCD and Oregon Housing and Community Services. The Directors and representatives of these agencies provided testimony at the Nov. 18/19 LCDC meeting. Toxic Free Kids Act Update (Amelia Nestler) : Adding just 5 new chemicals to the list every three years is not enough. Since the Toxic Free Kids Act Program was enacted 6 years ago , more than 4,000 reports have been filed, disclosing harmful substances like arsenic, lead, and formaldehyde in children’s products. See our new Pesticides and Other Biocides study . Local Leagues have been considering the study and the League is analyzing consensus results to adopt advocacy positions based on this important educational work. Watch for a new position, anticipated by February. Water (Peggy Lynch and Amelia Nestler): The Water Resources Dept. (WRD) received a huge infusion of staff positions and program changes with the 2021 session. Director Tom Byler announced a major reorganization in an email to stakeholders on Oct. 15 . Jan Lee, a League of Women Voters of Clackamas County member, has been appointed and confirmed to the Oregon Water Resources Commission for the Northwest Region. She is the current Executive Director of the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts and has a wide range of experience in water issues. A volunteer extraordinaire, she is currently also a member of the City of Sandy Planning Commission. Her first Commission meeting will be Dec. 3rd. The House Interim Committee on Water received a Drought Report at its Nov. 17 meeting, among other important information. The House Interim Agriculture and Land Use Committee heard from a variety of water users about the effect of Oregon’s megadrought on their businesses and need for water. Of note is that State Rep. Brian Clem, long the Chair of land use committees, is resigning as of Dec. 1. With the on-going drought throughout Oregon, League members may want to check the U.S. Drought Monitor , a map updated every Thursday. And here’s the counties in Oregon for which a drought declaration has been approved. WRD received Budget Note #9 in HB 5006 (2021): WRD is directed to use provided funding to contract with Oregon Consensus to convene a workgroup comprised of a balanced membership including, but not limited to, conservation groups, agricultural water users, municipal water users, environmental justice organizations, tribal interests and state agencies including WRD and ODFW to consider regional water management opportunities that build on the 100-Year Water Vision and further the goals of the Integrated Water Resources Strategy. Oregon Consensus has begun to interview a wide variety of water interests, including LWVOR, to ascertain next steps, including establishment of a Work Group to consider how some form of regional water planning might work. We expect that group to begin early next year. The League continues to remind everyone that water in Oregon belongs to all of us. The onsite septic program advocated by LWVOR has started again with the $2 million attained in the 2021 legislative session. A separate $15 million was allocated to DEQ but that is a separate pot of money and will need rules and criteria before allocating—hopefully mostly to our 2020 wildfire victims and businesses. The federal bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress and signed by President Biden includes, for Oregon, over $500 million. Among the bill’s funding is money for tribal infrastructure . We can only hope that our Warm Springs Tribe will receive the help needed for drinking water and sewer repair/replacement. On Nov. 18 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) announced a proposed rule to re-establish the pre-2015 definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) which had been in place for decades, updated to reflect consideration of Supreme Court decisions. This action advances the agencies’ goal of establishing a durable definition of WOTUS that protects public health, the environment, and downstream communities while supporting economic opportunity, agriculture, and other industries that depend on clean water. This proposed rule would support a stable implementation of “waters of the United States” while the agencies continue to consult with states, Tribes, local governments, and a broad array of stakeholders in both the implementation of WOTUS and future regulatory action. Amelia Nestler serves as the League’s statutory member of OHA’s Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC). The committee meets quarterly to consider issues around drinking water systems serving Oregonians. Among the issues being considered are systems affected by wildfires, including possible benzene contamination and new rules for very small water systems where staff is needed to manage drinking water requirements. Also being addressed are the drinking water systems that could be contaminated with PFAS, or per- and poly-fluorinated substances. Oregon plans to test about 150 drinking water systems across the state that could be contaminated. The systems were chosen because of their proximity to known or suspected PFAS use or contamination sites. PFAS are a family of chemicals used since the 1940s for their non-stick, heat-, moisture-, grease- and stain-resistant qualities. They’re found in everyday items like non-stick pans, waterproof outerwear, food packaging and firefighting foam. PFAS are referred to as “forever chemicals,” meaning they don’t break down in the environment or human body, and can accumulate over time. Growing evidence points to their adverse health effects including increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, small decreases in infant birth weights, decreased vaccine response in children, increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, and increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer. DEQ’s laboratory will test the drinking water samples for 25 PFAS compounds, in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority. Results of the testing will be provided online at https://yourwater.oregon.gov/ . Visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. We have also seen beach closures this late summer, many of which may be related to failing septic systems along the coast. Wildfire (Josie Koehne and Peggy Lynch): SB 762 (2021), the omnibus wildfire bill that requires a multitude of rulemaking by various agencies has begun and some grant programs are being opened. See the Dept. of Forestry website for their work and progress. The League is monitoring this work and has provided testimony as necessary. Other agencies that will be required to do rulemaking include the Oregon Fire Marshal’s Office, Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (as maps are created to recognize which properties are in the Wildland Urban Interface (“that geographical area where structures and other human development meets or intermingles with wildland or vegetative fuels.”) and what level of risk they might have related to wildfire, the Dept. of Consumer and Business Services and the Public Utility Commission. An appeals process will be included in the final rules for property owners since these maps will guide future rules on action needed around the defensible space for the most at-risk properties. Those rules will be determined by the State Fire Marshal. The current Oregon Wildfire Risk Explorer tool lets homeowners and potential buyers put in an address and receive a general summary of what’s called the “home ignition zone,” along with recommendations to dampen the potential of wind-whipped flames. This website does NOT reflect the upcoming rules. Videos of ODF’s rulemaking deliberations can be found here . All meetings are open to the public and have opportunities for public comment. To access the meetings, visit the RAC webpage for the Zoom links . You can also sign up to receive meeting reminders and agendas. Written comment or questions about any aspect of implementation of SB 762 may be submitted by email to sb762.rulemaking@oregon.gov . The House Interim Special Committee on Wildfire Recovery received information on both the 2021 investments for Wildfire Impacted Communities and then heard the status of Housing for the 2020 wildfire victims. At the Nov. 19 LCDC mtg., reports were received about the hardest hit of these 2020 fire areas. We encourage people still in need to call the Oregon Department of Human Services' wildfire survivor toll-free number at 1-833-669-0554 for support and to access resources at https://wildfire.oregon.gov . Those eligible for wildfire survivor support will be referred and assigned to a disaster case manager, who will help them navigate recovery. The outreach campaign includes a flyer ; ads in print, social media, and other digital spaces; and, where available, transit and billboard ads. Here are ODOT's tree removal articles and an Almeda fire rebuild update in Jackson County. New funding may come to Oregon: The recently passed and signed federal infrastructure bill includes $1.5 billion for improving resilience to wildfires, including funds to restore forests after fires. The measure will also raise wildland firefighter pay and requires Interior to transition at least 1,000 seasonal firefighters to full-time workers. A portion of $5 billion is available from the federal government for states to better safeguard power transmission systems See the Forestry section for information about SB 762 and forestry actions. Volunteers Needed : You can see the names of League volunteers who covered one or more issues in these reports. Volunteers are needed to participate in rulemaking to implement the bills passed in the 2021 session and to consider following legislation in 2022, a short 5-week session starting Feb. 1st. If not actually serving on a rules advisory committee (RAC), you could simply monitor and report back on their work. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources interests you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, at peggylynchor@gmail.com . Training will be offered.

By Claudia Keith Climate Emergency Coordinator and Climate Emergency portfolio team members: Julie Chapman, Shirley Weathers, Cathy Frischmann, Josie Koehne, Kathy Moyd, Robin Tokmakian and Greg Martin Climate Emergency Highlights - Claudia Keith Federal The $2.0T Build Back Better (BBB) reconciliation bill moved to the Senate after the House of Representatives passed it Nov 19. Secretary of the Treasury JANET Yellen: “… This fiscally responsible package takes aim at the challenges many middle class families face: It makes child care affordable, freeing parents from having to choose between raising kids and working a job. It prevents children from entering the first grade at a disadvantage by providing universal pre-K. It gives seniors the affordable care and housing they need. As important, the Build Back Better Act also makes an historically large investment in combatting climate change. This bill is more than fully paid for by asking large corporations and the country’s top earners to pay their fair share and by finally ensuring high-income tax evaders pay what they owe…”. Independent Bond rating Agencies say the bill will not add to inflationary pressure . The Congressional Budget office analysis reflects a slight increase in the deficit over a ten year period. The climate related spending /investments in the BBB are outlined here. The House and some Senators expect the Senate to make changes . Early Nov Treasury analysis reflected the bill would reduce the deficit. Earlier this month Congress passed, and the president signed the $1.2T infrastructure bill; ‘ How Oregon will spend ( ~3.7B) funds from the federal infrastructure package’ – OPB. LWVUS UN observers attended Cop26 Here's a late update from one of the LWVUS attendees... COP26 President Alok Sharma gathered the Parties on the last day to assess progress toward reaching consensus in negotiating the cover statement, with options still in the text issued that morning. He reaffirmed his commitment to conducting transparent and inclusive negotiations and to keeping 1.5 degrees C alive. The President said, "This is our collective moment in history." He would take the afternoon's comments into account in releasing another version in the evening for another review round in hopes of concluding COP26 on schedule, but he had to go into overtime. I hope he uses the remainder of his newly-extended term to accelerate NDCs and establish an enforcement mechanism for any hope of not exceeding 1.5. Three dozen Parties presented interventions in the afternoon session. Most encouraged the President to write a strong, ambitious, and clear cover statement; many called 1.5 nonnegotiable; some asserted that action is needed in this decade. They want to include indigenous people and human rights in the text, as well as a long-term finance plan, which should be aligned with science, focused on implementation, and factor in climate vulnerability; to give credit to LDCs and island nations for work done since 2020; nature-based solutions to use accepted standards, including oceans; a uniform reporting format; more than a workshop for Loss and Damages/climate justice, such as a new centre; to end all support for fossil fuels, which's subsidies are much larger than financing; to involve private finance; emissions reductions, mitigation, adaptation, and implementation; and biodiversity. They didn't want any watering down of commitments to the lowest common denominator yet varied in how they viewed the loss and damage text. Financing should be new/additional and dependable and come with accessible terms and conditions. And they asked how regional negotiations will take place. The UK asserted that developed countries haven't done enough for finance and suggested that a new financial agreement is needed in the next round and that the IMF and the World Bank aren't up to the task. Kenya said to focus on action rather than hiring consultants to explain Loss and Damage and wants a chance to explain what Africa has been experiencing. Speaking for the US, John Kerry said 20 countries account for 80% of emissions and we need to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 to keep 1.5 possible. Antigua and Barbuda said doubling adaptation financing needs to happen by 2023, not 2025. Switzerland said to prevent credit carryover and double-counting. Bangladesh suggested an annual President's report on implementation. Mexico suggested NDCs should say how they lead to 1.5. Panama noted that much of this was agreed upon in 1992. Only Russia and Saudi Arabia ignored the President's request for specific interventions to advance the text. Russia said COP26's purpose is to operationalize the Paris Agreement, more work is needed to incorporate market and non-market actors, and there is no consensus on a baseline. Russia added "we'll all have to make concessions," perhaps only wanting them from others while seeking the most favorable interpretation of the Paris Agreement for Russia by taking the floor first. Saudi Arabia similarly raised staying faithful to the Paris Agreement and questioned how to meet 1.5. China spoke about the need for capacity building and about basing the timetable on national politics and giving LDCs flexibility. India mentioned the need to accelerate the long-term finance agenda and for developed countries to take a fair share of emissions reductions. I later learned that they both pushed back during negotiations on ending the use of coal. Brazil also argued for considering national circumstances after pointing to the NDCs' not adding up to keeping 1.5 possible. Signed: LWVUS COP26 Delegation ------ Governor Brown attended COP26 and highlighted Oregon DEQ’s efforts to tackle food waste. ‘A global climate pledge could change Oregon’s relationship with natural gas.’ ‘ World urged to cut gas 33% , to avoid climate disaster ‘Gas is the new coal’, says Climate Analytics report that finds it the fastest growing source of carbon dioxide emissions’. Nature: ‘ Cop26 hasn’t solved the problem’: scientists react to UN climate deal - The Glasgow Climate Pact is a step forward, researchers say, but efforts to decarbonize are not enough to limit global temperature rises to 2 °C. ( 1.5 C is recommended). Other Regional and Oregon News Highlights The City of Eugene recently voted to stop future natural gas building permits . Find the NRDF Natural Gas 101 tutorial HERE . ‘ The BBB act would provide historic commitment to wildfire mitigation funding.’ Portland Zenith Energy challenges permit denials , and will continue operating during legal battle. New Climate Change public Health report published in November; “ Climate Change is making health worse for Portland area residents. “ . 2022 Legislative priorities could include access to Cooling and improved OSHA heat and air quality regs and addressing antiquated building codes via new REACH codes. Oregon EQC approves new Truck standards a Significant Move toward Fighting Climate Change and Protecting Human Health. OPB: Researchers study effects of extreme heat on Pacific Northwest Trees. The Olympian Editorial board refers to this research HERE , ‘The good news? Climate warriors aren’t waiting for nations to take the lead on change’. During Leg Days the W&M committee voted on OHA budget item , grant #12 . It did not pass. This federal grant line item will likely be addressed in Dec or Jan. (the submission of a federal grant application request to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for $12 million over five years to support strategies that reduce negative health outcomes attributed to climate change). Mark your calendars Attend as a League Observer, interested citizen, and/or view recorded agency and commission meetings, including new reports and studies. ​ ODF Climate Carbon Plan Updates DEQ Climate GHG Program Updates Oregon Global Warming Commission : Meetings ODOE , DLCD Land Use and Transportation planning ​ Agency and Commissions ​ Find State of Oregon “Action on Climate Change” updates across many agencies HERE . Find weekly 2021 updates at Oregon Greenhouse Emissions Program HERE. DOE weekly blog updates are HERE . New Oregon Dept of Energy (ODOE) Report HERE . ​ Clean Energy - Kathy Moyd Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) The appointments of Amy Slusser and Greg Addington were approved by the Senate on November 15, but they were not able to participate as members at the November 17 - 18 meeting. They were allowed to participate in the informational sessions. Climate Protection Program The League has been following the Climate Protection Program, which originated from the “cap and reduce” directive in the Governor’s Executive Order 20-04. Draft rules were issued for public comment on August 4. The League presented oral testimony at a public hearing conducted by the EQC on September 30 and submitted written testimony on October 25. At the EQC November 17-18 meeting, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) presented a summary of the comments received. Adoption of a more stringent target and ensuring that large stationary sources actually reduce or offset emissions were supported by many of the over 7000 comments received and had been supported in League testimony. Based on support from some EQC members, it is likely these will be included in the final rules to be adopted on December 16. A League Member has been participating in the Natural Gas workshops conducted by the Public Utility Commission in preparation for the expected implementation of the Climate Protection Program in January 2022. Landfill Methane Rules Although the League certainly supports the control of methane from landfills, we opted not to testify because it was not clear why the California rules were not accepted completely, leaving the possibility that some small rural landfills would unnecessarily be included. The smaller landfills had been removed from the final rules approved by the EQC on October 1. Cleaner Air Oregon Air Toxics Alignment The League was the only speaker at the July 22 public hearing.The approved verbal text was incorporated in a letter . The rules were approved at the November 17 -18 EQC meeting. Clean Trucks Rule Two public hearings were conducted on September 16. The League opted not to testify because the California Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rules to be adopted by Oregon had not been completed. The rules were approved at the November 17 -18 EQC meeting. Clean Fuels Program Expansion 2022 A League member participated in the October 13 listening session for the expansion of the Clean Fuels program in response to the Governor’s Executive Order 20-04. The first Rulemaking Advisory Meeting is scheduled for December 9. Forestry & Jordan Cove (find reports in the NR LR) Our Children’s Trust - Claudia Keith Sen. Merkley and Rep. Jones Lead Letters to President Biden and 165+ Orgs Join Letter to DOJ in Support of Children’s Rights to a Safe Climate and Juliana v. U.S. plaintiffs Climate Emergency Team Volunteer Opportunities Please consider joining the CE portfolio team; we lack volunteers in these critical policy areas: 1) Natural and Working lands, specifically Agriculture/ODA 2) Clean Buildings 3) Public Health Climate adaptation 4) Regional Solutions Infrastructure 5) State Procurement Practices (Dept. of Admin. Services) 6) CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets 7) Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment 8) Join Julie, DOT/Transportation with a focus on DLCD/LCD Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities – a major program across multiple agencies. and a priority focus on a just transition , ie; 9) Climate and Environmental Justice. We all collaborate with Natural Resource Action members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics.

Oregon Legislative Days November 2021 The Oregon legislature is meeting Monday through Thursday this week, starting this morning. LWVOR can use volunteer observers. If these topics interest you, please click the committee agenda links, click the video buttons (under “MEETINGS” on the right), watch and summarize proceedings. Committee agendas are linked below. Interested in helping out? Contact us for instructions to share and join our team! We can use more observers for health and transportation, for starters! Send us an email at lwvor@lwvor.org . Thank you! Monday, November 15 8:00-10:30 Senate Judiciary and Ballot Measure 110 Implementation Committee : Ramos Decision (Potential Overturning of Cases Decided by Non-Unanimous Juries) Ballot Measure 110 Update Compassionate Medical Release Work Group Update Implementation of Delta-9 Cannabis Regulations House Housing Committee: Update on Housing Planning and Zoning Requirements: HB 2001 (2019) and HB 2003 (2019) Construction Costs and Regulatory Barriers New Home Construction Discussion of Committee Members’ 2022 Legislative Concepts 11:00-12:15 Joint Ways and Means, Human Services Subcommittee: Consent Grants Oregon Health Authority - Health Insurance Marketplace Oregon Health Authority - Climate and Health Program Individual Items Oregon Health Authority - Mobile Crisis Services Oregon Health Authority - Provider Relief Fund Oregon Health Authority - COVID-19 Federal Awards 12:45-2:00 Senate Rules and Executive Appointments: Appointments to Boards and Commissions and Executive Appointments that Require Senate Confirmation. (See agenda for list of appointments.) Joint Ways and Means, Education Subcommittee: Consent Grants Higher Education Coordinating Commission - Comprehensive and Accessible Reemployment Higher Education Coordinating Commission - Fostering Access, Rights, and Equity Higher Education Coordinating Commission - AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Department of Education - Preventing School Violence Individual Items Department of Education - Summer Learning Grant Programs Department of Education - Department of Early Learning and Care and ERDC Transfer Department of Education - Child Care Development Fund Cash Flow Joint Ways and Means, Public Safety Subcommittee: Consent Grants Criminal Justice Commission - Smart Probation Criminal Justice Commission - Project Safe Neighborhoods Military Department - Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Individual Items Judicial Department - Elder Justice Innovation Department of Corrections - Overtime Usage Military Department - Ten-Year Capital Construction Plan Department of Justice - Housing Stabilization for Survivors Department of Justice - Child Support Payment Processing Services 2:30-5:00 Senate Education: K-12 School Reopening Prison and Reentry Education Programs Summer Learning SB 283 (2019) Report: Concerns Regarding the Health Impacts of Wireless in Schools Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Recovery: Organic Food Production in Oregon Private Forest Accord 2021 Oregon Fire Season SB 762 (2021) Implementation Updates: Wildfire Oversight: Wildfire Programs Director and Council Fire-Adapted Communities Wildland-Urban Interface & Statewide Map of Wildfire Risk Emergency Planning Electric System Plans Health Systems for Smoke Defensible Space Building Codes Land Use Hazardous Fuel Reduction Fuel Reduction Activities Oregon Conservation Corps House Business and Labor: Recovery of Workers’ Compensation Benefit Overpayments Data Broker Registration Worker Classification Discussion of Potential Concepts for the 2022 Legislative Session House Human Services: Oregon Department of Human Services Updates Oregon State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) & Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Support Services for Afghan Arrivals Tuesday, November 16 8:00-10:30 Senate Energy and Environment: Oregon Clean Fuels Program Oregon Global Warming Commission Natural and Working Lands Report Biennial Zero Emissions Report Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub Risk Analysis and Recommendations House Agriculture and Land Use: Impact of Natural Disasters on Oregon Agriculture Risks to Agricultural Ownership and Land Use Patterns Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program House Health Care: Oregon’s HealthCare Workforce Crisis Transforming Care: Role of the Oregon Health Policy Board Update on the Coverage/Access Landscape Discussion of Member Legislative Concepts for the 2022 Legislative Sessions 8:00-9:30 Joint Legislative Audits: 2022-23 Audit Plan Risk Assessment: Committee Member Input and Requests - Secretary of State Audits Division State of Oregon Financial Condition and Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports - Secretary of State Audits Division Oregon Government Ethics Commission (Report 2021-14) - Secretary of State Audits Division ODOT Wildfire Debris Removal Advisory Report (Report 2021-30) - Secretary of State Audits Division 11-1:30 Senate Veterans & Emergency Preparedness: COVID-19 Testing – Veterans and the General Population Veterans’ Housing and the Impact of COVID-19 House Veterans & Emergency Preparedness: Veterans’ License Plates The New Department of Emergency Management – Implementation of HB 2927 Discussion of Grant for State Preparedness & Incident Response Equipment (SPIRE) Treatment of Military Members Assisting with COVID-Related Missions In-State Fire Season Update – Now and Future Veterans’ Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Landscape Grant Program Updates House Economic Recovery & Prosperity : Business Oregon Program Updates Economic Development Tools for Local Jurisdictions OLCC Updates and Cannabis Regulation Overview Update on Study of System Development Charges Required by HB 3040 (2021) 11:00-12:15 Joint Ways and Means, Natural Resources Subcommittee : Consent Grants Department of Agriculture - Pesticide Outreach and Training Department of Agriculture - Animal Disease Response Department of Geology and Mineral Industries - LIDAR Acquisition Department of Geology and Mineral Industries - 3D Elevation Program Department of State Lands - Wetland Program Development Individual Items Department of Agriculture - Seafood Processors Pandemic Assistance Department of Geology and Mineral Industries - State Map Program Department of Forestry - 2021 Fire Season Joint Ways and Means, Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee : Consent Grants Employment Department - Short Time Compensation Employment Department - Unemployment Insurance Accessibility Department of Transportation - Transportation Innovation Council Department of Transportation - Advanced Congestion Management Technologies Department of Transportation - Accelerated Innovation Deployment Individual Items Housing and Community Services Department - Housing Stability Counseling Oregon Business Development Department - Broadband Infrastructure Oregon Business Development Department - Pandemic Economic Recovery Planning Department of Veterans' Affairs - Provider Relief Fund Department of Transportation - Bus and Bus Facilities Program Department of Consumer and Business Services - Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Activities Department of Consumer and Business Services - Workers' Compensation Premium Assessment 12:45-2:00 Joint Information Management & Technology: Cybersecurity, Ransomware, and Cybersecurity Education & Workforce Development: Impacts on public and private sector organizations Joint Ways and Means, General Government Subcommittee : Individual Items Public Employees Retirement System - Changes to Actuarial Methods and Assumptions Department of Administrative Services - Lottery Bond Refunding Department of Administrative Services - Article XI-G Bond Refunding Department of Administrative Services - Compensation Plan Changes Judicial Department - Compensation Plan Changes 2:30-5:00 Senate Labor & Business : Farmworker Overtime Delta-8 Cannabis Regulation Administration of the Unemployment Insurance Benefits and Tax Rates Oregon Workplace Fairness Act Senate Health Care: OHA COVID Update Brain Injury Trust Legislative Concept In Vitro Fertilization Legislative Concept Health Equity Data Mapping Task Force on Universal Health Care House Education: K-12 Update College/University Reopening Update on HB 2835 (Benefits Navigators) State Financial Aid Programs Implementation of HB 2166 (2021): Diversifying the Educator Workforce, Limiting Suspensions/Expulsions House Judiciary : Ballot Measure 110 Update Public Defense Services Commission Update Update from the Department of Justice Labor Trafficking Task Force Discussion of Proposed 2022 Legislation Wednesday, November 17 8-10:30 Joint Ways and Means: Approval of Grants and Reports from Subcommittees Individual Items 1. Judicial Department - Compensation Plan Changes 2. Judicial Department - Elder Justice Innovation 7. Department of Education - Summer Learning Grant Programs 8. Department of Education - Department of Early Learning and Care and ERDC Transfer 9. Department of Education - Child Care Development Fund Cash Flow 11. Oregon Health Authority - Mobile Crisis Services 13. Oregon Health Authority - Provider Relief Fund 14. Oregon Health Authority - COVID-19 Federal Awards 17. Department of Corrections - Overtime Usage 19. Military Department - Ten-Year Capital Construction Plan 20. Department of Justice - Housing Stabilization for Survivors 22. Department of Justice - Child Support Payment Processing Services 25. Housing and Community Services Department - Housing Stability Counseling 26. Oregon Business Development Department - Broadband Infrastructure 27. Oregon Business Development Department - Pandemic Economic Recovery Planning 28. Department of Veterans' Affairs - Provider Relief Fund 31. Department of Agriculture - Seafood Processors Pandemic Assistance 34. Department of Geology and Mineral Industries - State Map Program 36. Department of Forestry - 2021 Fire Season 40. Department of Transportation - Bus and Bus Facilities Program 41. Department of Consumer and Business Services - Oregon OSHA COVID-19 Activities 42. Department of Consumer and Business Services - Workers' Compensation Premium Assessment 43. Public Employees Retirement System - Changes to Actuarial Methods and Assumptions 44. Department of Administrative Services - Lottery Bond Refunding 45. Department of Administrative Services - Article XI-G Bond Refunding 46. Department of Administrative Services - Compensation Plan Changes 11-1:30 House COVID-19: OHA Update K-12 School Update COVID-19 Variant and Outbreak Update Health System Update Vaccine & Testing Verification Processes House Water: 2021 Drought Update on Community Water Systems Affected by 2020 Wildfires Framework for Conversations about Oregon’s Water Future, 2021-2023 House Wildfire Recovery: 2021 Investments in Wildfire Impacted Communities Update: Housing Related to 2020 Wildfire Recovery 12:45-2:00 Senate Finance and Revenue with House Revenue: December Economic and Revenue Forecast 2:30-5:00 Senate Human Services, Mental Health & Recovery : Overview of Developmental Disabilities System and “Agency with Choice” Oregon LGBTQ+ Older Adult Survey Refugee Resettlement Youth Voices Senate Housing and Development : Current Eviction Landscape Rental Assistance and Wildfire Recovery Panel on Homeownership House Behavioral Health : Behavioral Health Package of Resources Update Update on Ballot Measure 110 Implementation 9-8-8 Workgroup Update Behavioral Health Systems Needs Oregon State Hospital Update Joint Transportation : ODOT Projects and Programs Update DMV Status Report Update Renewable Fuels Briefing Transportation Equity in Oregon Wildfire Cleanup and Recovery Update Thursday, November 18 11:00-1:00 Task Force on Underrepresented Students in Higher Education : Task Force Work Plan Orientation by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission on Current Conditions for Underrepresented Students Thanks to Senator Michael Dembrow, SD 23, 11/14/21

Photo by Callum Shaw on Unsplash The annual UN Climate Conference, COP26, is underway in Glasgow, Scotland and 5 League representatives are attending this year as delegates for the League of Women Voters of the U.S. The team will be reporting daily for the duration of the conference. See the reports below. 11/10: Week 2, Day 4 of COP26 Submitted by the LWVUS COP26 Delegation Negotiations Some NGOs (Women, Young people, enviros) are demanding that if a market mechanism is put in place, strong safeguards must be included. This would include having an independent grievance process which would allow those impacted to have their concerns addressed. At this COP, there is a strong sentiment that the market mechanism will only benefit companies and rich countries. Small island states, indigenous peoples, and the people in developing nations will be harmed. Thus, there is a strong push from outside the ministerial meetings to include language that will address these issues. Furthermore, the delegates are reluctant to come to an agreement on how loss and damage, adaptation issues should be addressed. Most of the efforts in the negotiations have been spent on mitigation. At this point in the negotiations, the negotiating is being done, primarily, by blocks of nations, such as a group called the “Group of 77 + China”, “Alliance of Small Island States” (AOSIS), and “Like-Minded Developing Countries” (LMDC). These groups have enormous sway and seem to be driven by one country. For example, the LMDC seems to be directed by Saudi Arabia. There is a good article: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/nov/10/cop26-draft-text-annotated-what-it-says-and-what-it-means , which contains annotations to help explain the language of a draft of the COP outcome statement. There is a People’s Plenary on Friday to make the outcomes of this COP recognize the citizens of the world, especially those most impacted by climate change. At a UNICEF event, it was stated that only 29 countries have signed onto the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action ( https://www.unicef.org/environment-and-climate-change/climate-declaration ). The US has not. It is time that the US signed onto this very important declaration. Launch of the UN's Green Events Tool, 11 Nov Events have a significant carbon footprint. You can follow how the UN is doing with mitigating its environmental footprint from its facilities and operations in its annual Greening the Blue Report. For example, COP 26 is intended to be the first carbon neutral COP. The free Green Events Tool originally was developed to green UN events. It now will be made available to anyone wanting to make their events more sustainable, regardless of event size. It includes sustainability practices and a GHG footprint calculator to help event planners focus their GHG reductions and is integrated with building certifications. Event planners can take greening steps all the way up to certification. Release to organizational users and medium/large events will happen in the first quarter of next year. This launch follows the global events industry's 10 November announcement of a Net Zero Carbon Events pledge. Signatories commit to publish before the end of 2023 their organization’s pathway to achieve net zero by 2050, with an interim target in line with the Paris Agreement’s requirement to reduce global GHG emissions by 50% by 2030, and to report on progress at least every two years. This roadmap already has been adopted by 109 venues, organizers, suppliers, and associations. 11/10: Week 2, Day 3 of COP26 Submitted by the LWVUS COP26 Delegation Climate Change and its Threats to Takistan Climate Change and its Threats to Takistan was well attended. The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization had items displayed and elaborate posters. I was alarmed when I passed the Nuclear for Climate exhibit --- “Nuclear is a proven low carbon source of energy.” #NetZeroNeedsNuclear Qatar was presenting to a full house about “filling the enforcement gaps”. And there was a good crowd listening to the presentation by the representative of the Republic of Congo. China may not be attending COP26 but that country didn’t miss an opportunity to market itself in the China Corporate Pavilion – “Facing the Future, Daring to Initiate.” Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE and many others have elaborate displays and presentations for anyone they might lure into their spots. Green Climate Fund (GCF) Innovation Working Paper GCF has surveyed farmers all over the world starting with “What can you do on your farm?” to find out mitigation and adaptation methods that they could and would be willing to do. They hope to complete the survey by COP27 and will have a report then. Everything is about what’s in soils. Politics may differ but soil is always soil so there is a constant for communications around the world. There are actions that have direct benefits, but this always takes time. Working with existing problems is best because soil depletion is much harder to replenish. Unfortunately, this is a very common problem all over due to unsustainable farming practices. He quoted John Kerry as saying “The basis of sustainable of farming is the profit of farming.” It is important to diversify land use between food, textile and energy crops and converting from conventional to regenerative farming requires a special kind of loan. The Green Climate Fund works to provide gap funding for this process while making sure that the funds are used in the correct way. They believe that soil recovery and enrichment for agriculture does more about climate change in the shortest time when in partnership with farmers, financiers and policy makers. Reykjavik Green Deal Reykjavik Green Deal; Sustainability, Innovation & the Healthy City; Speaker Mayor of Reykjavik In 1932, this was a coal and wood-burning city with a dark cloud of smog hanging overhead. Since the Paris Agreement, they had been measuring their carbon footprint and studying transportation, land use, waste management and creating an Action Plan. Working with citizens and stakeholders, 100% of homes in the city now use geothermal for heating and they are now looking at alternatives to landfills as well. They are using CARBFIX for carbon capture, creating a type of stone, which is then used for municipal roadways and building projects. In addition, they now have programs to support wetlands and are planting ‘climate forests’. Iceland has a population of approximately 70,000 and 22% live in Reykjavik. Through careful study and planning, the city continues to reduce urban sprawl by building community spaces nearer to city offices, improving public transit, reducing the number of petrol stations and working to make Reykjavik a ‘Bicycle City’ with traffic patterns to create safe bike lanes. The mayor, a medical doctor, stated that one of the hardest things to do is change human behavior. Much progress was made while taking advantage of the break in routine caused by Covid. Every action taken makes the city more livable and healthier. The benefits to the population as well as the environment are clear. The best advice given to communities beginning this process is “measure, measure, measure”. One must have accurate tools to take appropriate action. Negotiations Still a hard road for the Ministers. British COP26 President Alok Sharma said on Tuesday negotiators at the United Nations' climate summit were making progress but there was still a mountain to climb to reach an agreement. The USA made the following announcement: The USA promoting gender equity and equality in responding to climate change as a priority of its National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality; investing at least $14 million of the Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund toward gender-responsive climate programming; and investing more than $20 million towards initiatives to increase women’s economic opportunities in the clean energy sector, strengthen action on gender-based violence and the environment, address barriers to women’s land rights, and support women farmers in East Africa to adapt to climate impacts. 11/9: Week 2, Day 2 of COP26 Submitted by the LWVUS COP26 Delegation Negotiations Parties word-smithed a statement on Climate Finance. Words seem to matter to some more than others. Time was spent on whether or not the “welcome” or “to take note of” an item. More importantly, there was a discussion on the definition of climate financing. Some parties appeared to be saying that fossil fuel (clean or not) should be included. Another made a rather sarcastic remark that the United States had a 10-page definition of what climate financing is (need to look up this definition!) At the High-Level Segment where heads of delegations or the head of state make grand statements, a couple stood out from the ones we observed (the speeches are still going on). Iran made the point that it was hard to be ambitious in addressing climate change since sanctions prohibited them to accesses technology or funds that would help them to achieve reductions in their ambitions. Russia (yes they are here in the negotiations, just were not at the World Leader Summit) stated it would reach net zero by relying heavily on natural carbon sinks such as their forests and on clean fuel. More to follow. 11/8: Week 2, Day 1 of COP26 Submitted by the LWVUS COP26 Delegation Former President Obama spoke in the afternoon to a capacity crowd. One of our delegates managed to get in the room partway through his speech. It was a powerful speech, especially the second half in which he spoke to the youth of the world. He emphasized that the UN process and getting to a climate agreement is political and it can’t be ignored. He urged the youth that the one most important step they could take is to vote and to vote their interests. Here’s the link to the speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbikEWq_5b4 . A Greenpeace event entitled "Net Zero Smoke and Mirrors, A Story of Betrayal" making the case against carbon market offsetting, had a panel discussing how companies and countries are using “net-zero” phrasing to hide behind efforts which seem to suggest emission reduction, but are not. One panelist suggested that individual targets to reduce emissions that a company says it is using should be examined closely, rather than any net-reduction target. The use of “net” is not a transparent way for a company to report its emission reduction. The Greenpeace panelist (a lawyer) suggested that the only way to hold companies and countries accountable is to sue. She listed several lawsuits that have been successful: Germany was successfully sued for not having a emission reduction plan, France also was found to have inadequate measures, and Shell (sued in the Netherlands) has been held liable for damaging the climate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QywPKXwesi0 "Loss and Damage" Day It was “Loss and Damage” day at Cop26. A recurrent theme today was the public/private partnership. It is critical for governments to support green economics in order to achieve maximum effectiveness. One cannot efficiently operate without the other. It is a topic in which many agree that a shift is needed, but there doesn't appear to be any political will where the power rests. Here’s a summary of one event: In Exploring Loss and Damage, the moderator tried to break silos and refresh a toxic stalemate. Barbados' PM said tropical nations already are on the front lines of Climate Change, which can be measured in % GDP loss. These countries have limited capacity and are burdened by cleaning up from the 70% of emissions caused by the Global North plus problems with paying insurance premiums for that damage. She seeks a 1% fossil-fuel consumption fee to produce more than $170B/year for a Loss and Damage fund for immediate liquidity and natural disaster clauses to suspend debt repayment for two years in the event of a natural disaster. Other speakers raised concerns about Climate Change's reducing protein sources, drinking water supplies, and destroying cultural heritage. More ambitious adaptation is needed. Migration already is occurring. At least the idea of involving corporate leaders to give back to damaged nation-states who really need it was raised in some fashion in the overlapping biennial High Level Ministerial Dialogue on climate finance under the CMA. From the U.S.Center’s, a panel on Adaptation: From planning to action where a representative from Canada spoke of their efforts to support NAP (National Adaptation Plan) to help developing countries advance their processes to work with accelerating climate change. Some of the places Canada has doubled its financial resources sent to Figi, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands and Cote d’Ivoir, all of whom are at grave risk from rising seas. Canada is also working to help scale up efforts regarding climate action and to allow mainstreaming of gender (equality) in order to be more effective in dealing with dire circumstances. There were a number of funding resource representatives in the audience. Also speaking was a UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development official, who explained their adaptation and climate resilience must be met with an ‘all governments/all society’ approach and vowed to integrate consciousness of women, girls, indigenous people and others when purchasing. The goal is to reach adaptation resilience by 2030 and have included a ‘water tracker’ that evaluates risks and sets policies for NAP water issues due to climate change. NAP is looking for funding commitments for the coming year. A presentative from Granada is making funding requests and feel that the adaptation implementation should be centralized in public social services because ease of communication and identification of the most vulnerable starts there and adds that there should be a cabinet-level position created in order to oversee the work because of the need for rigorous fiduciary standards to ensure correct use of funds. A ground-up approach with front-line communications and a local approach is favored. The proof is in implementation or sitting merely as a good idea. (An audience member called out Canada as guilty of hypocrisy due to its ill treatment of indigenous people.) In the Resilience Lab, a panel discussed some of the emotional aspects of climate science and global community. Human capacity for solidarity and the difference between psychology and ideology (religion, race, gender, etc) being all imagined communities as well as concepts of time and technology. We don’t experience that we are one with others, but we all have the common experience of crisis. Politically created problems must have politically worked answers and the common thread through many speeches is to express a threat with all its psychological possibilities. The speaker from Save the Children said we were all children once and can look back for solutions. A ‘green’ transition will likely have a high level of positive impact, whereas 8% have serious risk from extreme events and this rises to 18% if they are geographically vulnerable. We can build on things we share in common, such as children’s educations. There is a great emphasis on collaboration rather than competition and that exacerbates the issues and this is apparent in social media. Other ideas discussed by the panel were: We need a mechanism to work with differences Finding common values Funding positive intervention Regional security (or not)- the need for protection ‘I protect you” Questions regarding values, then drawing interest based on common values A holistic approach to community without borders or boundaries Finding common values and drawing interest based on those values Women’s solidarity and respect for other cultures as a foundation for sharing. Sharing of educational resources throughout the world. Language is important, using we rather than I or me. In the Denmark pavilion – a panel on Climate Finance (Institutional Investors) The panel discussed climate finance and the need for public/private partnerships. Private must be willing to invest and should have government support for needed programs. For instance, Denmark’s ambition is to mobilize $1b investments in solar by 2030. Why? Solar is not a practical energy source for these northern countries. Wind power is the order of the day there. However, Denmark and their Nordic partners realize the value of supporting action that may not support them directly but will support them indirectly by ameliorating climate crises in other areas, thus reducing the deleterious effects of climate change. They also feel a moral imperative to use their wealth to enhance the lives of others. It is important to create a roadmap of international solar needs and get it done within a year and continue working until the work is complete. 800 million have no access to solar or wind power and many are in developing economies—they included China in this assessment. Shipping and aviation are two specific areas to focus on and the actions must be changeable if necessary with reasonable targets for the short term. 11/5: Day 5 of COP26 Submitted by the LWVUS COP26 Delegation Today in Brief Al Gore gave an inspiring presentation: "The Danger We're In and the Case for Hope". You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAJ_Vx3XUdw . Here are our takeaways: "The Danger We're In and the Case for Hope" presented hundreds of images and videos from current weather disasters that are attributable to climate change. He said that he used to have to search for images for these presentations, but these events are happening so frequently now that he had several images that had just occurred in the past week. Atmospheric rivers result in rain bombs and flash flooding (NYC this summer), heat waves lead to uninhabitable temperatures (Pacific NW this summer, town in Iran had a temperature of 165 degrees, not compatible with life - leading to climate migration), high temperatures lead to drought (Madagascar climate, famine), and heating oceans results in toxic algae blooms (fish shortage for consumption) and coral reef bleaching (loss of biodiversity). He did speak of reasons to have hope at the end of the talk. Solar and wind energy is approaching similar pricing to fossil fuels and should be cheaper within the next three years. Several countries are destroying their coal plants as they are no longer cost-effective. Green hydrogen is getting new investments and becoming more reasonable as an alternative solution to fossil fuels. Once the world reaches true net-zero, the earth's temperature will stop increasing in as soon as 3-5 years, and half of human-made CO2 would be absorbed into the ocean/trees in about 25-30 years. Following that presentation, there was an event called "Destination 2030", where several panels gave hope that we can reduce our carbon emissions by 2030. We have the technology, we just need to act (as Gina McCarthy says). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgTxzTbwMWQ Negotiations Slow progress to create text that the climate ministers can work to finalize next week. Lots of people pushing to get the work done to finalize the Paris Agreement rule book, but several parties are putting up roadblocks for one reason or another. Disability-Inclusive Climate Action: Rights and Obligations LWVUS was the co-sponsor of an event entitled: Disability-Inclusive Climate Action: Rights and Obligations. LWVUS moderated the event. The panel included His Excellency Jan Walberg, Ambassador for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland; Katherine Lofts, McGill Univ; Susie Fitton, Inclusion Scotland; Pratima Gurung, Indigenous Persons with Disabilities Global Network; Cara Schulte, Human Rights Watch; Jose Viera, International Disability Alliance; and Sue Swenson, Inclusion International. Watch the LWVUS hosted event here: 11/4: Day 4 of COP26 Submitted by the LWVUS COP26 Delegation Today's events featured a presentation of the IPCC's recent report that was released in August 2021: "Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis". The trailer for the report can be viewed here and was played at the beginning of the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Vx_a6F57Q . The co-chair of the committee covered the following topics: current state of the climate, possible climate futures, climate information for risk and adaptation, and limiting climate change. All of the panel members highly recommended use of their website ( https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-i/ ) and the resources available, including FAQ and their Interactive Atlas. USAID and EPA held an event in the US pavilion with several groups (Clean Cooking Alliance, Power Africa, and the WHO) to discuss "Advancing Clean Energy Access to Households for Climate and Health Equity". USAID and the EPA have promised to support these groups that work to reduce emissions from home cooking as well as to electrify homes and health systems throughout the US and developing world, ideally with renewable energy sources. Several of the panelists spoke of feminist climate justice in this discussion as women and children face most of the consequences of household air pollution (cooking with fire/rudimentary stoves) and health impacts from health clinics without electricity (pregnancy, childbirth; by providing electricity to a primary health clinic, infant mortality rates drop by 40%). Energy Day An historic day as the first day in all of the COPS to be dedicated to renewable energy and no more fossil fuels. Saw presentations for offshore wind, green hydrogen, and small modular nuclear reactor energy. At the US Center Interior Secretary Deb Haaland kicked off the presentation of the US goal (from March 2021) of building 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind farms by 2030. Already have plans for 19 GW off of MA. Partnering with Denmark for their expertise. Denmark minister discussed that they have started transitioning from oil/gas production in the North Sea to wind energy. They are on target to reduce emissions 70% by 2030, and will become net negative and energy exporter in the future. Italian minister claimed that 1.25 million jobs are supported by the wind energy sector, with 10,000-15,000 jobs/GW wind power created. Delegates saw the Green Hydrogen Show. Green hydrogen is created by electrolysis of water. I believe hydrogen can then be stored to power electrical generation later. Australian companies are developing green hydrogen and green ammonia to power mining and heavy industry. It needs big capital investment upfront. Something to watch. US Center hosted a joint agreement with Romania to build a small modular nuclear reactor. Small modular nuclear reactors have different cooling mechanisms to make them much, much safer than our present nuclear reactors. This is a continuation of the agreement since the Reagan administration for help in bringing their nuclear reactors up to US safety codes. Attending negotiations was tougher today. The Article 6 negotiations were full (no chairs left) and only a few seats for observers. In one negotiation related to science and research, the group was attempting to agree to a statement that accepted documents from various UN organizations such as WMO and IPCC. The statement also was drafted to thank the organizations for their work. However, after 1 hour, only 4 of the 16 short paragraphs had been spoken to, and the group of member states could not agree to the text. Saudi Arabia is being particularly troublesome as they thought the statement “It [the SBSTA] encouraged Parties to use the information to inform their actions under the Convention and the Paris Agreement" went a bit too far! If the member states are having difficulty agreeing to such a statement – how are they ever going to agree on how to create a market for trading carbon credits! Want help with monitoring and understanding your local area’s carbon emissions? Go to this website http://ig3is.wmo.int to check out the Integrated Global Greenhouse Gas Information System. 11/3: Day 3 of COP26 Submitted by the LWVUS COP26 Delegation Here’s some of what we learned today: Heard from John Kerry about the US’s part of the pledge to reduce deforestation by 2030. Treasury Dept’s pledge to use resources to fight environmental crime. USAID’s pledge to aid foreign countries to save forests and respect indigenous people’s lands. Additionally, financial institutions, part of the Forest Investment Club and the LEAF foundation as well as others that represent 9 trillion in portfolios, pledged to divest of projects that cut forests for agricultural use by 2025. "We have the new currency that the world needs: biodiversity." Another take on the same event: The US pavilion had a press conference this morning to announce that five developing countries (Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nepal, Ghana, Vietnam) have signed letters of intent to join the LEAF Coalition for tropical forest conservation. These countries are agreeing to limit deforestation and help with reforestation in their own countries, which will offset private companies' carbon usage with carbon trading (Amazon, AirBnB, Walmart.com). I thought Ecuador's representative had a particularly meaningful quote, "We have the new currency that the world needs: biodiversity." Heard from another discussion regarding global governance for global forestry, noted the need for adequate payment for environmental services. There are many issues, such as equity in price on carbon, reciprocity of what developed countries have done in past and what less developed countries are doing today, avoiding corruption, and allowing sustainable logging while considering action to save forests without creating unintended consequences. The EU and UK appear to think of the Congo River Basin as the US thinks of the Amazon. They are very concerned about deforestation. An example is that the Paris Olympic committee is using wood to avoid C from cement in building venues and Olympic village. And they are banning tropical timber to make a statement of avoiding tropical deforestation. In doing this, they are harming the well being of the villages of the rainforests that are the best group to conserve. Gabon and Democratic Republic of Congo are perhaps #1 and 2 in the world in being either lowest carbon emissions or negative due to their extensive forests. Reciprocity needs to be considered as the UK has the lowest forest cover of just about anywhere. They have already done their deforestation, but nobody is banning timber exports. Other issue is that C is priced at $5/ton C for Congo area GHG reduction projects vs $50-60/ton in EU. The lower price is created not by Gabon or Congo, but as a sort of currency of carbon markets. This cheapens the environmental services of the Congo Basin Forests. Sustainable logging can be a viable industry in the tropical rainforests of the Congo River Basin. There was a question about corruption in Congo and other African nations and forestry. What they have done to address this in 2006, 2009 is to have traceability stamps on products, and to split proceeds between local villages, companies and 30-40% to governments so as to reduce corruption and profit taking. Countries have followed these international agreements, yet are still being tartgeted. These countries need additional revenue to continue maintenance of forests and environmental services. Everyone agrees forests store carbon, provide water, support biodiversity, support villages, renewable resource. Today was Finance Day at COP and the United Nations Development Programme hosted a talk on "Socially Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Budgeting and Planning Solutions for Climate Resilience" - several countries are adding gender terms and language to their climate promises in an effort to reach gender equality, but most speakers mentioned that "plans need to be implemented, they cannot stay plans". Also – The Women and Gender Constituency announced an action as delegates left the hall for the day. They lifted up the names of the women from the global south who could not attend COP – due to cost, visa issues, covid and other reasons. They need to be at the table. Another event, led by young people, spoke about how the youth of the world needed to also be at the negotiation table because they will inherit the earth. One speaker from Africa made the point that the youth need also to help find solutions, not just protest. And finally – negotiations are plodding along. The issue of how often Nationally Determined Contributions need to be updated was finally in a form to send (in week 2) to the heads of delegations to make the decisions on the final text. But the negotiations for Article 6, which deals with carbon markets are not. Not only is there disagreement in whether or not language related to human rights should be included, there is disagreement in how non-GHG credits should be treated. There is a concern from some developed countries that “nature-based” credits can be misused, while other countries want to be able to use such credits. 11/2: Day 2 of COP26 Report submitted by Robin Tokmakian, LWVUS UN Observer for Climate Attended the Plenary Session on Forests and Land Use ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiKn-qKfO34 ). This event was a set of panel discussions to address the need to stop deforestation. In the session that we observed, it started off with a speech from His Royal Highness Prince Charles. (We missed the first part which PM Boris Johnson and President Biden addressed the group because of the long time it took to get through security! And then we had to get a special ticket to attend!) Prince Charles spoke about his “Natural Capital Investment Alliance” (NCIA). The NCIA looks to the finance community to create natural capital investing to help communities to reduce deforestation. Addresses were also heard from the PMs of Finland and Norway, and the President of the EU, each offered up money to help improve the health in forests, mainly in the Congo and Amazon regions. Other speakers were the heads of the WTO, World Economic Forum, Ford Foundation, and several indigenous groups. One indigenous person (Tuntiak Katan - Indigenous Org of Amazon River Basin) was very passionate about how we all needed to work together to restore our global forests (“All get into the canoe together”). With a sober nod to reality, the head of the Nature Conservancy shed a light on all the proposed funding and ambition. She reminded us that a similar effort was made in 2014, and yet not one dollar had yet to be spent from this 2014 effort on reducing deforestation. Let’s hope the proposed efforts made today at COP26, do see results. The major outcome of the World Leaders Summit resulted in several agreements – one of saving forests (110 leaders signed on) and one to address methane (20 leaders signed on). The US signed onto both. See this link for a full in-depth look at the formal UN negotiations: Earth Negotiations Bulletin: https://enb.iisd.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/enb12784e.pdf and https://enb.iisd.org/Glasgow-Climate-Change-Conference-COP26 for previous/future days. 11/1: Day 1 of COP26 Report submitted by Robin Tokmakian, LWVUS UN Observer for Climate 5 LWV local members are here this week. 1 from CT, 2 from CA (1 recently moved from WA), 1 from DC, and 1 from OR. Biden gave his speech at the World Leaders Summit. You can find a UK press summary of it here: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/01/biden-cop26-speech-climate-change-action-us-lead-example . (We did not see it live or in-person). Besides that, some of us attend heard Sec. Blinken, John Kerry, and Gina McCarthey speak at the US Pavillion. It was difficult to hear Blinken and Kerry because the organizers did not want to use microphones to keep the crowd around the pavilion small (didn't work). McCarthey, however, used her powerful voice to make strong statements about the US's Climate Goals and Actions. A couple of us were able to hear some of the negotiations on several topics. On Article 6, both Canada and Australia strongly support added language to address how carbon markets need to consider human rights (US did not mention human rights in their statement). The other topic we covered was for Article 4 of the Paris Agreement on Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs. Delegates learned how to track progress of how individual countries are living up to their NDCs. Last - A couple of members attended the “Feminist Action for Climate Justice” sponsored by the Women & Gender Constituency. Here's her summary: Today’s event featured nine female speakers from around the world who talked about the role of women and indigenous people within the context of climate change. I was most impacted by the speaker from Madagascar - the first country to experience a famine due to climate change, which is having severe impacts on women and their families. The country is experiencing limited fishing resources due to coral reef bleaching as well as heavy winds and droughts that have limited crop growth. The speaker told of her recent conversation with Veronique, a 43 year old mother of twelve children who has experienced severe loss over the last year. Two of her children have died of hunger as well as about half of the children in her village. Veronique married off two of her daughters (11 and 14 years old) as she did not have enough food for them. Despite this, she is working with a grassroots organization of other women to explore efforts to repair their food sources and find potential solutions for climate change. (This story was just published today by ABC News about the crisis: https://abcnews.go.com/International/madagascar-verge-climate-change-induced-famine/story?id=80857410 ) Stay tuned for more updates coming later this week.

Dear LWVOR members, Welcome to November 2021! This is election week for some districts; Check your County Clerk listing on the SoS page to be sure, if you haven’t gotten a ballot. October’s virtual Fall Workshop and local League Pesticides consensus meetings are complete. Member agreement committees now need to convene to develop positions for both the Hard Rock Mining and the Pesticides studies. Holidays are approaching and the League is working hard to improve prospects to make the future brighter for all of us. Local Leagues are resuming some in-person activity. LWVOR Voter Education / Service is gearing up for 2022, watching as two lawsuits filed against last month’s Oregon redistricting map adoption may affect our 2022 election calendars. Action coalitions are working on pre-session filings for the short legislative session. Nationally, we’re pushing for passage of federal social safety nets and voting rights legislation. We’re proud of our members attending COP26; watch our social media! Please thank the members in your leagues working on each of these and choose ways to help! I encourage everyone to take a deep breath, take care of yourselves and each other. The last few years have been so stressful. We may be able to see each other again soon and we’ll want to work with renewed vigor. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Becky Gladstone, President, LWVOR Please keep reading for more information on: Action Communications, Fall Workshop Voter Education (Service) Studies Updates Fundraising Recommended Reading (and watching) LWVOR Action News COP 26 CLIMATE. LWVOR members are attending and reporting on COP26 from Glasgow. See their news forwarded in LWVOR social media, linked in this newsletter. REDISTRICTING. Oregon’s new congressional district maps have been challenged by two lawsuits. One suit asks the Supreme Court to get rid of the Legislature’s plan entirely, while the other alleges Democrats punished one of their own. A member forwarded this from The Washington Post: Democrats backed a commission to draw fair House lines in Colorado. Now they worry they gave up their power . ACTION RETREAT. The Action Committee will hold an annual retreat meeting soon and convene two member agreement meetings for two studies, scheduled to fit in time for board position adoption before the 2022 short session. This is as pre-session work is underway for the upcoming 2022 short legislative session. To learn more, see the LWVOR website, Take Action ! Communications Committee Survey Watch your email in the next few days for an All-Member survey from this committee. Your responses will help to set LWVOR communications’ strategy going forward. Local League leaders have stepped up to facilitate providing surveys for members who do not have emails. Voter Education / Service LWVOR will need Voter Education / Service volunteers for the May 2022 Primary Election! Please prepare now and reserve time in your schedules so you can help! Collect local candidate and ballot measure information for Vote411 Reps will need volunteers to help present civil and informative candidate and measure forums, coordinating with LWVOR and each other to share event news and tips. Distribute printed Voters’ Guides and share more complete Vote411 information digitally Register voters GOTV! (Get Out The VOTE!) Volunteer for the Election Protection Hotline , for which LWV is a coalition member. Oregon’s 2022 elections will be as busy as any for the League, with candidates already declaring for major races. Compare the coming 2022 Oregon elections to this, from last year’s newsletter. Remember that Oregon did not have to stand in line to vote and Oregon’s popular Vote By Mail had enviable voter turnout. Election drama is high as I write this. The League will work steadfastly to defend our democratic principles, especially our elections. Please follow us on social media for daily updates, read your email, and reinforce to all that WE MUST COUNT EVERY VOTE . CANDIDATES : To see the 69 candidates already filed, go to ORESTAR and click the fine print, middle of the page, “Candidates for 2022 Primary Election”. These are the major 2022 races: US Senate, (currently held by Sen Merkley) All federal House seats, now increased to 6 for Oregon The Oregon Governor. Kate Brown is term-limited and 14 candidates have already filed BoLI, Commissioner of Labor & Industries Judges, including a seat for state Supreme Court Justice. BALLOT MEASURES Campaigns, some repeatedly filed, like redistricting, are working hard. To see the list, go to the SoS’s IRR page (Initiatives, Referrals, and Referenda) for a full list. Click the small button “Summary Results” for the full list. Filings aren’t automatically withdrawn so some of the 43 currently listed may be redundant. Vote411.org LWVOR growth is REALLY IMPRESSIVE! 129,481 Oregonians used Vote411.org in 2020! We will repeat the local Voter Education publicity grants. This growth reflects your efforts. Thank You for making them work! Vote411.org works because we “deliver the GOODS” and voters find what they’re looking for. We count on local members to collect candidate filing and ballot measure info. Contact your local League to volunteer in advance so we can know we’re in good stead! Voters’ Guides LWVOR hopes that usual distribution channels (local leaders’ suggestions below) will be fully functional, post-COVID, by the 2022 primary. Printed Voters’ Guides are valued as outreach and an introduction to the League, including in Spanish. We still need to emphasize that print versions include only about 7% of what we cover online. We encourage Vote411.org online use whenever possible. Our aim is to provide full individual ballot information. We continue to invite all candidates (who provide campaign filing emails). We have the capacity to cover all local ballot measures, with local Leagues’ help. Where does your League share printed Voters’ Guides? Here are some examples: Local elections Offices “Congregate care” places, great for older people Meals On Wheels, libraries, and food pantries Grocery stores, places of worship, to other nonprofits Civics Education Events Please share your League and civics education events with LWVOR staff, lwvor@lwvor.org , and we can help with publicity! Send links to your recordings to share, too! Harvard Case Studies Oregon Leagues have participated in the Harvard Case Studies for a few years, invited by Dr. Deirdre Kamlani, LWV CT, who coordinates Leagues’ participation. LWVOR members are invited to attend and invite high school teachers to this event, offering a unique chance to learn by experiencing a case discussion first hand. The case reading will be sent automatically upon registration (make time to review the materials in advance). The Case: a pivotal debate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 Wed, November 10th, 7pm (Eastern), REGISTER . Harvard Business School Professor, David Moss, will moderate a live demonstration of the Madison case at a special Community Case Discussion on Zoom. This case centers on a key debate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787: Should the federal government have veto power over state laws? How much power-and what kind of power-should the federal government have over states? Upcoming Tigard Public Library Civic Education Programs Thank you to League member Donna Cohen, a featured speaker at the LWVOR 2017 Fall Workshop, for sending these, sponsored by Tigard Public Library, Free and Virtual. Beyond Voting: Elections and Campaign Financing ( REGISTER ) Friday, Nov 5, 2021, 6:30-8:00pm Election security, fraud, and voter suppression Redistricting / gerrymandering Electoral College Alternative voting systems Campaign finance issues / tracking The Constitution: Fulfilling Democracy’s Promise? Democracy, the Constitution and Representation in Congress Friday, December 3rd.,6:30-8:00pm Status of democracy Structural issues / representation Interpreting and changing the Constitution Registration link posted at Tigard Public Library two weeks prior. Studies Update To learn more about our studies and to volunteer, please head to our Current Programs page. Child Care The Child Care Update Study Committee is requesting local League volunteers to interview some of their local child care providers. If you are interested or want more information contact Kathleen Hersh. Election Systems Update The committee is currently in the expert interview stage, on schedule. If you are interested or want more information contact Peggy Bengry. Pesticides and Biocides Thank you to all who participated in the member consensus process! The Member Agreement Committee will be meeting to consolidate input and craft a position for board approval. For information, contact Action Chair, Alice Bartelt. Fundraising, Holiday wish lists? As the weather cools, we want to be warm and housed, want to celebrate fall colors and harvests, and think of sharing our bounty with others. League leaders compared fundraising notes. Here’s a partial list: LWV Curry will observe GivingTuesday and put a note in their newsletter. They will run a gift-wrapping booth in their community holiday bazaar, counting on it for great League visibility. LWVPDX has been producing holiday cards since 2012-2013, in appreciation of their members. They use members’ images and public testimonials taken throughout the year, and include an envelope and coupon for return donations. 2021 will be their second Giving Tuesday, with a goal of $2000, starting with an internal match of $500. They ask members to repost and retweet. Lane sends soft fundraising outreach, asking members to round up their membership renewal figures in July, also a nonmember letter in March. Their “fruit loops” annual fruit order sales are underway, with the option to buy and donate as a support for Food for Lane County. LWVLC wants someone to gift them a building to manage and rent out to other nonprofits. Umpqua Valley has slots for donating directly on their website, advertises with a membership drive, and sends letters to past donors. Be sure to take a look at the Abigail Scott Duniway suffrage musical, A Musical For the Ages, A Frontier Family Feud ! They’re looking for in-person engagements, also ZOOM. #GivingTuesday is just after Thanksgiving, great timing for year-end IRA distributions, tax write-offs, etc. Several Leagues will participate, including LWVOR, via social media. Investments Leagues absolutely value and need our donors' time, talents, and treasures, all important and all needed! Ted Kaye, LWVOR Investments Committee, spoke to leaders and used an Apple Orchard analogy for legacy investments. Having apples and cutting down the trees if you need the wood can both be beneficial. A few donors might like to give perpetual proceeds (the apples) while protecting capital, and some might want to give you what you need right now (the trees). For the apples, think “25”: give $25 so that $1 annually (a long-term, 4% average) can keep giving you apples. *LWVOR gets $5,000 in proceeds annually from funds at OCF, Oregon Community Foundation. We discussed SRI (socially responsible investing, e.g. barring alcohol, gun, fossil fuel stocks) and ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance ratings, see wiki ). Recommended Reading – LWVOR FALL WORKSHOP! This month’s recommended reading boosts our Fall Workshop presentations. A number of presenters sent materials for follow-up reading. Enjoy! This year’s Fall Workshop presented four virtual sessions, all recorded and posted. Thank you to the Events Committee, Chair Robin Tokmakian, Program Chair Sheila McGinnis, Membership & DEI Chair Kathleen Hersh, our staff, the Amazing A&A, Amanda and Allison, for meeting tech support, video editing, and website posting, and our publicity contractor, Sarah Andrews, for social media. These sessions are all worthy of review, please take a look! Defusing Contentious Conversations We can all be thankful for diversity. If this sounds challenging for your Thanksgiving table, or perhaps the upcoming candidate forums, this workshop is for you! Dr. Busch outlines four clear steps to help find common ground. The goal is understanding, not persuasion. Read More Here. LWV Oakland’s Volunteer Development Experience Learn how LWV Oakland’s one-year-old Volunteer Development Committee is building capacity to recruit, engage, train, and retain volunteers, with practical tips, resources, and ideas you can implement! Read More Here. Garrett Epps, Keynote: Can SCOTUS bring US Together? As we begin a new Supreme Court Term, Americans have every right to ask, “What are the prospects for the survival of our democracy? What will happen to the right to vote, the right to choose, the right to peaceable assembly for redress of grievance? Are there any guardrails left?” See Professor Epp’s new release: The New Supreme Court—A Brief Inimicus Curiae, the forward to the ACS 20-21 Supreme Court Review . Read More Here. Constructive Conversations in a Diverse World, Cheryl Graeve Concerned about rancor and polarization threatening our democracy? Want our public life to be more grounded in understanding and respect? This session covers constructive conversations to find common ground and bridge our differences. Learn how empathy, listening to understand, and humility can overcome divisions and open doors to meaningful connection. Read More Here. Thank you for reading! I am thankful for our League Teamwork, and for what each of you is doing. Yours In League, Becky Gladstone, President, LWVOR

LWVUS Voting Rights Push This week! A majority of Americans support the major voting rights bills in action in Congress. Wednesday’s Senate vote shows that we need to increase pressure to pass meaningful voting rights. It is time to reform or eliminate the filibuster rule . The Senate cannot do what Americans elected them to do until they release the filibuster gridlock, the one procedural hurdle standing in the way of saving our freedom to vote. Join this week’s events to protect the Freedom to VOTE! Watch the LWVUS Women Power Democracy panel with female members of Congress, recorded Wednesday, Oct. 20. (forward 10 minutes in to start) Support this week’s Freedom To Vote Relay , particularly Thursday, Oct. 21, when LWV of Maryland leads the baton handoff at Point of Rocks . Follow instructions on the LWVUS Action page to contact our Senators, Representatives, and the White House and urge them to support the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. “We need the President to step up with the full power of his office and get the Freedom to Vote Act across the finish line. The American voters are counting on this legislation to protect our democracy.” - Virginia Kase Solomón, LWVUS CEO. As over 400 anti-voter bills advance across the nation, our democracy is in crisis and we must defend the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act Congress passed in 1965 outlawed the worst of the Jim Crow laws, those literacy tests and other barriers that kept Black Americans and other POC out of the voting booth. Now, we refuse to sit back and let politicians silence the votes of millions of Americans. It's up to us to defend our democracy. Join us! Rebecca Gladstone LWVOR President

By Terry Styner, Member of the Study Committee and the Washington County Unit Building on the 1988 LWV study on child care in Oregon, the Washington County Chapter is considering how to support the needs of working parents with children from birth to high school graduation. We spoke with Beth Unverzagt, Executive Director of Oregon ASK (After School Kids). She gave us her thoughts on access, affordability, and economic impact on society. Oregon ASK’s various studies conclude that those who benefit most from after-school programs are those with the least access. Communities with limited availability of programs often are those with limited economic opportunity. Oregon does not have a systemic approach to funding and regulating child care programs. Different agencies are responsible for supporting different age groups. For example, programs supporting pre-school age children are overseen by the Early Learning Division of the Department of Education. Programs for school-age children are overseen by Department of Human Service’s Employment Related Day Care (EDRC) agency. The result is a fragmented approach to availability to support families. When asked how LWVOR could help address the challenge of access and affordability, Ms. Unverzagt suggested that anything leading to a systemic approach for funding, credentialing, and regulation of child care programs would provide significant improvement in the lives of our state’s working families. From a policy standpoint, there is tremendous opportunity to impact the lives of Oregon children and their families. While studies on the economic impact of childcare are scarce, one of ASK’s reports quoted “The Boys and Girls Clubs in Ventura County: Serving the Economic Interests of the Region while Providing a Positive Place for Kids.” by Jamshid Damooei, (2014). It looked at just one program in one county, concluding that, for every $1.00 spent on child care, $9.93 was earned by parents who could continue working. As our lawmakers work toward creating an inclusive, sustainable society, this suggests an area where further study might reveal similar impact potential for Oregon. The study committee is currently meeting and doing literature reviews and interviews.

by Amelia Nestler Contact your local league for ways to participate in member consensus! https://www.lwvor.org/local-leagues End of October: Local Leagues should plan to complete their consensus. Mid-November: Local Pesticides/Biocides consensus reports are due to LWVOR November: the study committee will tabulate consensus results December: the LWVOR Member Agreement Committee drafts a position statement January ’22: LWVOR Board approves the position The use of pesticides is a balancing act between advantages and disadvantages. To understand both beneficial and adverse impacts requires a broad overview of prevailing policy and the effects that policy has had. This study reviews the environmental and health costs and benefits of pesticide use, the current state of regulation at federal, state and local levels, and the practices and precautions presently in place for their use. It reviews potential improvements to regulations and changes to practices that could improve outcomes and protect the environment and human health while maintaining a stable, safe and reliable supply of foods and other farmed products. Five key areas of pesticide development, use and policy were identified for review and potential improvements: • Education, training and labeling • Transparency and information gathering • Funding, research, and evaluation • Adaptive management and Integrated Pest Management • Burden of proof and the precautionary principle.

By Becky Gladstone, LWVOR President Dear members, We are pleased to welcome a new VOTER editor and we will be asking you about a fresh look at communications. I recommend preparing in advance by enjoying the 14th Amendment video with our Garrett Epps, the Fall workshop Keynote speaker. Professor Epps has a dry sense of humor; check out his aside about US Constitution authors referring to “Congreff” in his talk, The 14th Amendment: The Framing of America’s Second Constitution , from Duke University’s School of Law, Program in Public Law. Please read the President’s letter for monthly updates, set to arrive on the first of the month, for recommendations like this every month! These are in our LWVOR Newsroom pages, https://www.lwvor.org/newsroom. For those who worked on National Voter Registration Day, Sept 28th, Thank You! October 4-8 is Voter Education Week, https://votereducationweek.org/! A huge thank you to our board, our members, and our hard-working staff for the accomplishments you can read about in this newsletter! Here’s an overview. Oregon’s virtual redistricting process felt compressed, now awaiting possible legal recourse and Independent Redistricting Commissions, in one form or another, on November 2022 ballots. The federal census, complicated by COVID and partisan tensions, is complete. Now we can dig into the data! Our Pesticides consensus should be fully collected by November for analysis. Election Systems and Child Care studies are on schedule. We are working with LWVUS to chart a successful path to concurrence for Privacy and Cybersecurity. Our Action Team continues to grow with strong successes in 2021, both challenged and helped by virtual access. It is fitting that our reporting on fire and water issues reflects the contentious 2021 legislative session. “May you live in interesting times!” is apparently not ancient nor Chinese in origin, but is traceable to a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Sir Austen Chamberlain, in 1939. Here’s to maintaining our energy and perspective, in good health and good humor. Please take care of yourselves and each other. Becky Gladstone, LWVOR President

Wildfires have increasingly become part of our lives. As of early Sept, there are 23 active fires with more than 200,000 acres burned thus far. Oregonians are affected either directly by being in an evacuation area or indirectly by poor air quality. Oregon also has many resources available at Oregon Wildfire Response and Recovery with links for assistance, wildfire cleanup, drinking water supply and more. This site also has up to date information on active fires, evacuations, sheltering and air quality. Oregon recently instituted an emergency alert system, OR-ALERT , designed to ensure the most timely alerts, warnings, and notifications statewide, tailored to geographic location. OR-ALERT is administered locally, requires only a name and phone number, and alerts are customizable for your interest. In addition, the Oregon Health Authority has resources pertinent to Covid 19 and evacuations/smoke exposure, as well as the short information sheets " Hazy, smoky air: Do you know what to do " and available in multiple languages.

by Chris Cobey and Norman Turrill Proving Oregon residents’ abiding interest in Oregon’s redistricting process, Norman Turrill, Dan Vicuna, and Chris Cobey attracted hundreds to their August 25 one-hour review; how the legislature has and will be attempting to accomplish this once-a-decade task. You can view the recording at: https://www.lwvor.org/redistricting-in-oregon. At press time, the legislature had just released seven sets of draft maps for public review, in 12 virtual hearings over five days. The expectation was that the legislature would be given its opportunity to pass redistricting bills by the state Supreme Court’s mandated September 27 deadline. If it could not do so, the redistricting task for state legislative districts would fall to the Secretary of State, and congressional districting would be tackled by a quintet of state court judges. The work of both groups would be reviewed and approved by the state supreme court. If the legislature met the deadline and passed maps, court action could still ensure in the fall. Check the LWVOR redistricting website for the latest information on this fast-moving subject: https://www.lwvor.org/redistricting-in-oregon.

By Peggy Bengry Since our 2017 position on election methods , new ideas have surfaced that, as our position states, could “affect how voters participate in our democracy, who can run for office, and who can get elected”. A committee of nine Leaguers, with help from LWVOR President Becky Gladstone and LWVOR staff, has begun work on an informational update to the 2016 Election Methods Study Update that resulted in the 2017 position. The current update is for informational purposes only. It will evaluate new STAR (Score then Automatic Runoff) and RCIPE (Ranked Choice Voting with Pairwise Elimination) voting methods against the criteria established by League positions and the 2016 study; provide a recent history of the use of ranked choice voting; examine new information on Top 2 primaries, including Final Four/Final Five; provide more input on proportional representation systems for multi-member districts; and expand the 2016 study’s bibliography. Members expect to have a final report to the Board by May of 2022. Committee members have held four meetings, have formed sub-committees, have approved question sets for interviewees, have begun selecting interviewees and are researching media and academic literature. If you would like to join this effort, contact any of the co-chairs, Barbara Klein, Kristin Eberhard, or Peggy Bengry, through our staff at lwvor@lwvor.org.

by Toni Lampkin The census has been completed and information is being tabulated for redistricting purposes. There are many recorded webinars at Census.gov. Some recent offerings are the Exploring Census Data series (includes topics such as How Americans Spend Leisure Time, Using Census Data to Buy a House and Small and Minority Owned Business), Bracing for the 2021 Hurricane Season , Recent Cross Country Commuting Patterns and Elevating Our Culture Using Census Data. There is something for everyone! Take a look when you have some time.

by Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator for the State Action Team 2021 legislative session was remarkable in many ways. For water enthusiasts, it was historic. The 2021 session’s access to federal funding, a surprising positive state revenue forecast, and all the work we and others had done the past 10 years to address water issues meant legislators had a guide to funding a complete water package , with $538.1 million in staffing and projects for agencies, cities and towns across the state. The League of Women Voters of Oregon has studied and developed positions on water quality and quantity since the 1960s and 1970s. In 2007, under the leadership of Liz Frenkel, our convention authorized a new water study, intending to update and combine our water quality and quantity positions. Under the leadership of Marnie Lonsdale and Robin Wisdom, League members spent almost 2 years compiling the responsibilities and laws of all the state water agencies, federal laws and court rulings, interviewing water users and engaging members in a conversation around water. Part 1: Regulating Water in Oregon is a concise review of current Oregon laws and regulations for water resources and water quality. The committee took another year to focus on issues around water in Oregon and members adopted our new position in 2011. Part 2: Issues and Perspectives covers the current issues facing water quality and quantity from the perspectives of stakeholder groups throughout the state. As a result of local leagues’ engagement and education efforts, a member was selected to serve on the first state Integrated Water Resources Strategy in 2012 and again in 2017. Over the years, our Action Team worked with state water agencies to fund their staffing needs and a variety of projects as well. The Dept. of Agriculture received money for another water staffer, for work with small watersheds in Oregon and to work on groundwater management areas in the state. Coastal groups received money to study ocean acidification. The Dept. of Environmental Quality received staffing to improve water quality data and to work with the Oregon Health Authority on harmful algal blooms. They also received money for grants or loans to repair or replace on-site septic systems. The Dept. of Fish and Wildlife received funding to create a new Habitat Division and permanent funding for fish biologists who work with stream flows. The Water Resources Dept. received a major infusion of staff to work on place-based planning and regional planning discussions. They were also given authorization to create a new well repair and replacement fund. And then there were the projects: money for repair or replacement of drinking water and sewer systems, especially for small towns across Oregon. Some of this money will also help the communities who suffered from the 2020 Labor Day fires to protect Oregon’s water sources. Lastly, money was allocated to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to continue work on a 100-year water vision. As the entire state is suffering from drought , we hope this is the beginning of investments in water. League members should know that our studies with their subsequent adopted positions and our Action volunteers who help educate and advocate with legislators to address these important issues make Oregon a wonderful place to live. $538.1 million! What a victory! (To volunteer to work on water or other natural resource issues, contact Peggy at peggylynchor@gmail.com. Training provided.)

Was anybody really surprised that Oregon legislators couldn’t agree on redistricting? We’re guessing you weren’t. It’s too political. There’s too much at stake — control of the Legislature and the majority of Oregon’s seats in Congress. Democrats have that clinched for now and perhaps for the future. Read More...

Immigration - Claudia Keith Immigration: This recent 9/26 ‘Effort could create a path to citizenship for undocumented Oregon farmworkers’, Statesman Journal news article highlights congressional possible path to citizenship status for Oregon undocumented farmworkers ‘ “…Because of these failed efforts, advocates and congressional Democrats are trying to create paths to citizenship through reconciliation , a budgetary process that makes it easier for legislation to pass in the Senate…” Refugee: Oregon is one of 35 states proactively welcoming Afghan refugees. The Governor was very clear in August. ’Governor Kate Brown Issues Statement on Welcoming Afghan Refugees ‘ ’Oregon stands ready to help the federal government resettle Afghan refugee families ’. “ Oregon lawmakers call for the US to allow more Afghan refugees into the state, Sen. Kayse Jama and Rep. Khanh Pham say Oregon is well-poised to help those fleeing Afghanistan as the Taliban takes over.’ Hate Crimes: ‘Reports of hate crimes to Oregon police shot up 59% last year ’ “ Reports of hate crimes in Oregon rose from 170 incidents in 2019 to 271 incidents in 2020. Law enforcement agencies in Oregon documented a 59% increase in reported hate crimes last year, according to data the FBI collected from law enforcement agencies across the state. The number of victims climbed to roughly 360 last year, from approximately 242 in 2019. Because of the way the FBI collects the data, a small number of victims can be counted more than once if the perpetrator committed the crime because they perceived the victim to be part of multiple protected classes. Nationally, hate crimes reports rose to their highest levels in more than a decade . “They reflect likely both an increase in reporting as well as an increase incidents,” said Kiran Ramsey, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Portland field office….” Youth at Risk: This Brookings report highlights Oregon and 2 other states choosing not to report on a Youth Risk Behavior Survey. DATA ON TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FROM THE YRBS “We explored data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The CDC, in partnership with states and school districts, has administered the YRBS and related surveys since the early 1990s to monitor the health and well-being of U.S. high school students in most states.” (Minnesota, Oregon , and Washington did not participate in 2019.) Gun Safety - Marge Easley Gun safety supporters breathed a sigh of relief when petitioners for IP 301, a referendum to repeal SB 554, failed to gather sufficient signatures by the deadline of September 24, thus allowing the law to go into effect on September 25. The law requires firearms to be securely stored when not in use, prohibits firearms at the State Capitol and PDX, and allows schools and universities to prohibit firearms. Housing - Nancy Donovan The most pressing problem facing Oregon renters is the potential for mass evictions. These will leave many families and individuals without a safe and stable place to live and exacerbate Oregon’s homelessness problem. Up until recently, tenants were protected by eviction moratoria but those have expired. The statewide moratorium ended on June 30. The Oregon legislature provided a safe harbor under SB 278 . Tenants who submit an application for rent assistance to an agency serving their community are protected from receiving a termination notice for non-payment of rent or eviction proceedings for 90 days in Multnomah County or 60 days in the rest of the state. The federal government allocated $204 million to Oregon for the rent assistance program. Unfortunately, social service agencies throughout the state have been slow to process assistance applications due to complicated requirements, lack of staff, and software issues. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) recently contracted with a new vendor, Public Partnerships LLC, to help process rental assistance applications. OHCS Director Margaret Salazar is encouraging community agencies to focus on outreach to renters so they are aware the assistance is available while the new vendor handles the processing. Other states are experiencing similar challenges. Beginning on Sept. 30, the U.S. Department of Treasury can start to reclaim unused funds from states unable to distribute the resources. The OHCS Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the status of applications in process. Oregonians facing eviction can find out if they’re eligible for emergency rent assistance by visiting the state’s website or dialing 211 to speak with someone about what options are available . Homeowners will benefit from the foreclosure moratorium extension ordered by Governor Brown, giving homeowners until December 31, 2021 to work with their lenders to evaluate viable reinstatement and loss mitigation options, outlined in HB 2009 .

By Claudia Keith Climate Emergency Coordinator and Climate Emergency portfolio team members: Julie Chapman, Shirley Weathers, Cathy Frischmann, Josie Koehne, Kathy Moyd, Robin Tokmakian and Greg Martin Climate Emergency Highlights Federal Both the Biden administration and bipartisan Congressional proposed Build Back Better : $1.2T and $3.5 T infrastructure bill and reconciliation package, if passed in any form, will significantly affect Climate Change mitigation and adaptation funding and policy in Oregon. Senator Merkley, Wyden and our House (D) Congressional team including Rep DeFazio (chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee) have been very supportive of these policies. Find details HERE . The Democratic caucus current version may include adding a price on carbon policy amendment. 2021 White House Deputy Director for Climate and Environment, OSU faculty and recent NOAA Director, Dr Jane Lubchenco, recommends this short 4-minute congressional public hearing presentation by Dr Leah Stokes. Recent national news: NPR: ‘ The Battle Over Biden's Infrastructure Bill Continues ‘. ‘Pelosi Vows to Pass $1T Bill, Move Ahead on Larger Measure House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has moved a vote on a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill to later in the week as Democratic leaders shore up support for the measure. ’ EENews: ‘Path on Infrastructure, Climate elusive after Biden meeting s.’ Brookings: ‘THE AVENUE ‘Five ways regional leaders can prepare future infrastructure workers now’ . “Federal policymakers are on the verge of advancing two historic pieces of legislation: a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. The infrastructure bill contains generational investments in transportation, water, energy, and other systems to improve the environment and boost the economy—at spending levels not seen since the New Deal . The reconciliation package goes a step further , aiming to address a variety of climate, education, health care, and other priorities….” Mark your calendars Attend as a League Observer, interested citizen, and/or view recorded agency and commission meetings, including new reports and studies. ​ ODF Climate Carbon Plan Updates DEQ Climate GHG Program Updates Oregon Global Warming Commission : Meetings ODOE , DLCD Land Use and Transportation planning Agency and Commissions ​ Find updates across many agencies at the State of Oregon “ Action on Climate Change ”. Find weekly 2021 updates at Oregon Greenhouse Emissions Program . DOE weekly blog updates HERE . New Oregon Dept of Energy (ODOE) Report HERE . ​ Clean Energy Kathy Moyd Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Rulemaking For up-to-date links for a program, check the list under “ Proposed Rules 2021 ” Climate Protection Program The League has been following the Climate Protection Program, which originated from the “cap and reduce” directive in the Governor’s Executive Order 20-04. Draft rules were issued for public comment on August 4. A DEQ public hearing on the Draft Rules was conducted on August 22 and one with the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) is scheduled for Sept. 30. The League plans to present verbal testimony at the September 30 hearing and written testimony by October 4. Cleaner Air Oregon Air Toxics Alignment The League was the only speaker at the July 22 public hearing.The approved verbal text was incorporated in a letter . It has not yet been scheduled for approval at the EQC. Clean Trucks Rule Two public hearings were conducted on September 16. The League opted not to testify because the California Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rules to be adopted by Oregon had not been completed. It has not yet been scheduled for approval at the EQC. Clean Fuels Program Expansion 2022 The expansion of the Clean Fuels program in response to the Governor’s Executive Order 20-04 will be kicking off with a listening session on Wednesday, October 13, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Landfill Methane Rules The rules are on the Environmental Quality Commission agenda for adoption on October 1. Although the League certainly supports the control of methane from landfills, we opted not to testify because it was not clear why the California rules were not accepted completely, leaving the possibility that some small rural landfills would unnecessarily be included. Oregon Regional Haze Plan 2018 – 2028 The proposed plan has been published, with one public hearing scheduled for Oct. 25. Forestry Josie Koehne (find a consolidated Forestry report in the NR LR) ​ Climate/Transportation Julie Chapman Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) The Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities ( CFEC ) rulemaking advisory committee ( RAC ) met on 9/15/21. The rules apply to the eight metropolitan regions of Oregon. The work session focused on equity, pedestrian, bicycle, and transit planning to reduce vehicle miles traveled ( VMT ). VMT refers to getting people out of personal vehicles by providing safe and convenient alternatives. In part, this transition relies on densification of housing and centering resources for those communities. A large packet of complex rules was distributed to the RAC, with a short lead time before the meeting. Several RAC members from small jurisdictions/organizations commented that they lack staff/expertise to expeditiously review the rules prior to the meeting. Draft rules are expected by the Oct 15 meeting; final RAC meeting and review Nov 16; anticipate revisions subsequent to that. Regional hearings will be held 10/25: Southern Oregon ( register here ), 10/26: Bend, Corvallis, Albany ( register here ), 10/27: Salem, Eugene, Keizer, Springfield ( register here ), and 10/28: Portland Metro ( register here ). Participants are welcome to attend the event most convenient for them. Implications for Portland Metro: no scenario planning (already done); Metro’s Climate Smart Program may be used for modeling elsewhere. The Department of Land Conservation and Development ( DLCD ) will clarify Climate Friendly Area draft rule applicability for Portland Metro’s cities and counties that have yet to adopt town and regional center boundaries. The Land Conservation and Development Commission ( LCDC ) received an update on the CFEC Rulemaking on 9/23/21. Discussion centered around the structure of the rules, with a tension between prescriptive and outcome-based models. Prescriptive rules detail the design and process of how to comply with regulations. Outcome-based rules allow for more flexibility in meeting clearly defined objectives and may be more acceptable and sensitive to local communities needs, but require more ongoing oversight (i.e., more staff time) by DLCD. The critical and measurable goal for the Climate Friendly Areas ( CFA ) is reduction in VMT. The rules require designation of CFAs by 2023 for larger cities, and by 2024 for smaller local governments. CFA’s promote mixed-use development, increased residential density, and designations for building heights and setbacks from property lines. There are special standards for parking, pedestrian, bike, transit and street infrastructure. The Oregon legislature provided $768,000 to support local planning and one additional DLCD staff to provide metropolitan planning guidance. A “pot” of $500 million for housing funding must be allocated in the next 22 months; additional federal money may also be appropriated. Associated actions: Community engagement/outreach and engagement of underserved populations; Analysis of housing capacity to meet requirement that at least 30% of needed housing is located within CFAs to justify Urban Growth Boundary expansion; Plan for fair & equitable housing outcomes, including consideration of and mitigation for displacement; Adoption of development standards (zoning requirements); Adoption of climate-friendly comprehensive plan. Excellent public testimony followed the DLCD presentation, lauded by Commissioner Jacobsen for its effective use of linked testimonies by planning advocates (Jonathan Harker, retired Gresham city planner, Ariel Nelson, League of Oregon Cities, and Mary Kyle McCurdy, One Thousand Friends). Commissioners endorsed additional support for RAC participants, to clarify “planningese”/technical jargon and to schedule additional meetings with deeper dives into complex rules sections. Our Children’s Trust - Claudia Keith Here is a recent Sept interview by UN and Max dos Santos, ‘ No Denying It episode 4: Kyne Introduces Mat dos Santos | | UN News ’. ‘In the fourth episode of the UN climate action podcast No Denying It , drag performer, social media star, and mathematics communicator Kyne introduces Managing Attorney at Our Children’s Trust, Mat dos Santos. Mx. dos Santos and their colleagues oversee a legal program that brings climate litigation on behalf of youth in federal and state courts in the United States, and tribunals across the globe.’ And a good article in Nature.com 08 September 2021 on the Climate Litigation topic: ‘ Climate science is supporting lawsuits that could help save the world ’ Governments have failed to slow climate change quickly enough, so activists are using courts to compel countries and companies to act — increasingly with help from forefront science.’ World Economic Forum: Preventing – ECOCIDE ‘With legal and environmental experts pushing to criminalize the destruction of the environment, “ecocide” could have major consequences for both government and business. How could a new legal definition transform climate action?’ Climate Emergency Team Volunteer Opportunities Please consider joining the CE portfolio team; we lack volunteers in these critical policy areas: 1) Natural and Working lands, specifically Agriculture/ODA, 2) Clean Buildings, 3) Public Health Climate adaptation, 4) Regional Solutions Infrastructure, 5) State Procurement Practices (Dept. of Admin. Services), 6) CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets, 7) Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment , 8) Join Julie, DOT/Transportation with a focus on DLCD/LCD Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities – a major program across multiple agencies. and a priority focus on a just transition , ie; 9) Climate and Environmental Justice. We all collaborate with Natural Resource Action members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics.