Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

In the summer of 2021, Oregon experienced a record heat wave in which at least 96 Oregonians died and countless others suffered due to lack of access to life-saving cooling devices. Over the past few years, Oregonians have faced months of unhealthy air quality from wildfire smoke, along with dangerous ice storms and other extreme weather events worsened by climate change.

As the Oregon legislature engages in a short session, Oregon PSR is once again weighing in on bills that affect the health of Oregonians. One silver lining of another session of remote testimony is that it’s easier to testify from the comfort of home rather than driving to Salem to be heard. Continue reading to see what bills we have been supporting during this legislative session and how you can make an impact.

Oregon PSR recently received the following request for training medical professionals in asylum evaluations from Aryan Sarparast, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University:

"There are currently approximately 60+ Afghans resettled in Oregon, and that number is expected to rise in the coming months. We estimate 300 by September 2022, and 1,200 or more by the end of 2022.

Racism is a public health crisis. Last year, the Oregon legislature declared it to be so by passing House Resolution 6. But we need more than declarations in a crisis – we need action. That’s why during this legislative session Oregon PSR is supporting House Bill 4052, the Racism is a Public Health Crisis Bill, which takes steps to address the health disparities in our state that stem from the long history and current realities of systemic racism. The bill is moving through the Joint Ways and Means committee this week and expected to reach the House and Senate floors for a vote soon.

Over the last few years, one of the many injustices that the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted is how prisons fail to protect the health of adults in custody. Crowded prisons with insufficient access to masks and hygiene infrastructure have caused Oregonians in prison to become sick and die from COVID-19 at rates that would have been lower had Governor Brown released more prisoners who were deemed safe to leave prison and shelter in homes to avoid the virus.

Major policy change is being voted on by the Portland City Council during the waning days of 2021, when so many people are not paying close attention. Last week, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler introduced an agenda item at a City Council meeting that would once again allow the City of Portland to invest in corporate securities with very few restrictions.

I am devastated to share the news that Oregon PSR Board Member, David Chatfield, has passed away. David was a mentor and a friend for nearly my whole adult life. He joined the Oregon PSR board when he moved to Portland in 2016 and brought an impressive lifetime of activism for justice and career in nonprofit management to strengthen our organization.

For the fourteenth consecutive year, the Greenfield Peace Scholarship served as an opportunity to hear from young Oregonians on some of the most pressing issues of our time. We sponsor this annual scholarship in order to encourage Oregon’s youth to consider their leadership role in promoting a more healthy, just, and peaceful world.

We did it! On December 1st, we learned that Pembina, the Canadian company behind Jordan Cove LNG and the Pacific Connector fracked gas pipeline, have requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) vacate the authorizations issued to them in their proceedings. This comes in response to the DC Circuit asking FERC last month to reconsider whether to issue a stay, and FERC asking for a briefing on whether a stay is warranted.

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in Oregon PSR's 40th Anniversary Celebration on November 18th. It was really wonderful to share in an evening of joyous celebration with members and partners old and new.

In case you missed the celebration, or you want to watch it again, the video of our 40th Anniversary Celebration and the 36-minute 40th Anniversary video are both available on our YouTube channel. You can also learn more about our history by exploring this interactive timeline on our website.