Welcome
It has been an honor to serve in the Oregon Legislature since 2001, first in the House of Representatives and now in the Senate. As a family physician in Southern Oregon for over thirty years, reforming our health system so that all Oregonians can access the health services they need is a passion of mine. That is why I authored SB 329, the Healthy Oregon Act during the 2007 Legislative Session. The Healthy Oregon Act is a roadmap to increase access, curb healthcare costs, and improve quality of care across the state. I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to expand access and make healthcare more affordable for all Oregonians in the upcoming ‘09 Legislative Session.
As the Chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources, and a member of the Governor’s Global Warming Commission, I am privileged to have the opportunity to work on the critical environmental issues facing our state. Governor Kulongoski and I have been working together to present important legislation during the 2009 Legislative Session to address energy concerns, clean water, pesticide use, and climate change. There are so many interesting and exciting environmental developments afoot. There is no question that we have our work cut out for us, but my colleagues and I are up to the challenge to make Oregon cleaner, more sustainable, and healthier for us and for future generations. Oregon has long been a leader in the environmental movement. I look forward to working with the Legislature to continue that proud tradition.
Healthy Oregon Act
During the 2007 Legislative Session, Senator Ben Westlund, Representative Mitch Greenlick and I sponsored SB 329, the Healthy Oregon Act, creating a roadmap to lower costs, improve quality, and increase access to health care for Oregonians. As co-chair of the Senate Special Committee on Health Care Reform this session and Chair of the Senate Interim Commission on Health Care Access and Affordability in the interim, I worked with fellow legislators, advocates, consumers, and other stakeholder groups to address the complexity, affordability, and inefficiency of Oregon’s health care system. In December 2006, the interim commission finished their work, and in January 2007 Senate Bill 329 was introduced to the Legislature. Throughout March and April, Senator Westlund and I held dozens of town halls across Oregon as part of the Hope for a Healthy Oregon Tour. Over 12,000 Oregonians and 22 legislators participated, sharing ideas, concerns, and experiences about our health care system.
On Thursday, June 28, the Healthy Oregon Act was signed into law
by the Governor, having passed the legislature with broad, bipartisan
support.
I’m optimistic about the progress being made, but your help is needed.
Please visit the Healthy Oregon Act website (www.HopeForaHealthyOregon.com)
for more information about the steps we are taking to make health
care more affordable and accessible to all Oregonians, and please
take just a moment to share any feedback you may have about our approach.
It is only with your input that I can continue to advocate for the needs of our communities. Please, do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions, comments, or requests for assistance. As always, my staff and I are eager to help in any way we can.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alan Bates