[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TOP ISSUES IMPACTING OREGON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Oregon (Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CHAVEZ-DeREMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the top issues 
impacting Oregon and the Fifth District that we have to address in the 
118th Congress.
  We need to get our economy back on track, secure the border, support 
safe immigration, and reduce homelessness and drug overdoses.
  A report from the National Drug Helpline ranked Oregon worst in the 
Nation for drug problems. Oregon is number one in drug use, but number 
50 in drug treatment.
  This crisis in Oregon starts at our southern border and is 
exacerbated by the lack of leadership, including the lack of 
commonsense security measures that have allowed dangerous drugs like 
fentanyl to enter our communities.
  I frequently hear from moms and families who are begging their 
leaders to please pay attention to this fentanyl crisis. The drug 
cartels have insisted on taking our children from us.
  We have also seen an increase in violent crime. Mr. Speaker, 2022 was 
the deadliest year in Portland metro history with over 100 homicides. 
We are already on track to break that record this year, a record that 
we should never want to break.

  Rising crime rates have forced businesses to close their doors, 
further weakening our economy. We have seen businesses leave the metro 
area for suburbia or leave the State altogether.
  Tackling the drug crisis will, in turn, begin to help Oregon's 
homelessness crisis. Oregon had at least 18,000 homeless people living 
on the streets every day in 2022.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues across the 
aisle to address these issues in the 118th Congress.


                   Honoring the Life of Lowell Miles

  Mrs. CHAVEZ-DeREMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to say the name of a 
gentleman I heard passed from Happy Valley, Oregon. He was a pillar of 
the community, and I want the families back home to know that we will 
miss Lowell Miles from Miles Fiberglass.
  He was a pillar of the community, not only in Happy Valley, Oregon, 
where I reside, but in Clackamas County.
  Mr. Speaker, the family has my support here in Washington, D.C., and 
I look forward to coming home this weekend and paying my respects.

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