Issue Position: Fighting Climate Change & Protecting Public Health

Issue Position

"We have already seen the devastation caused by global warming in various parts of our state. Protecting our climate is not only imperative to the sustainability of Oregon's abundant natural resources but also to our people and our way of life. As a former board member of Oregon League of Conservation Voters, I worked to pass a greenhouse gas reduction bill and to protect Oregon's legacy of clean air, water and healthy forests for my daughter and future generations.

Passing a Clean Energy jobs bill to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change will continue to be a top priority for me."

CLEAN ENERGY JOBS

Although I find it shameful that our country has backed out of the Paris Climate Accords, I am proud that Oregon has joined the US Climate Alliance, committing to meet the goals of the Accords despite the failure of leadership in Washington, D.C. Thirty-nine countries, including China, place a price on carbon pollution, and it is time for Oregon to take similar measures to protect our environment for future generations and to meet our state's climate goals.

The Clean Energy Jobs bill will cap carbon pollution by putting a price on it and reinvesting that money in green jobs, green infrastructure, and management of our natural resources to mitigate the damage caused by climate change.

I am eager to help pass the Clean Energy Jobs bill in the coming legislative session. I was pleased to read in an OPB article that Senate President Peter Courtney gave his commitment to championing the bill when he said, "I've told everybody, we're going to do this in "19 or don't bother coming."

CLEAN FUELS PROGRAM

In 2009, as the lead advocate for the Oregon Environmental Council for four years, I led the lobbying efforts on the first legislatively passed clean fuels program in the nation to fight climate change.

BPA IN BABY BOTTLES

In 2011, I worked to remove the toxic chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) from baby bottles. The bill passed the Senate, but a lack of a progressive majority in the House prevented the legislation from becoming state law. As disappointing as that defeat felt, I didn't give up. I turned my focus to Multnomah County where I helped to pass a similar ban to remove the harmful chemical from retail shelves in Multnomah County later that same year.

TOXICS IN CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS

Expanding on my work after the BPA fight, I took on the toy and chemical industry with a bill to remove harmful chemicals from children's products. Because of my continued advocacy, the Toxic Free Kids Act finally became law in 2015!

PUBLIC LANDS

I have led conservation coalitions in Salem for the past several years to acquire private lands and place them in the public stewardship along the Deschutes River. I also worked with coalitions under the America Wilderness Campaign to protect O&C lands and the Owyhee Canyonlands for permanent monument designation.

OREGON LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS

I served on the Board of Directors of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters for eight years, working to pass pro-environment legislation, fundraising for pro-environment candidates and holding elected officials accountable.

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