Latest news with #OregonDOJ
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oregon DOJ reports $1.6B has been saved from Trump admin's federal funding threats
PORTLAND, Ore. () – Three months into President Donald Trump's second term, the Oregon Department of Justice says it has preserved more than $1.6 billion in federal funding for the state amid threats by the administration to cut funding. In the last three months, Oregon has joined 13 multi-state lawsuits, and submitted numerous court filings, challenging the conditioning, reduction or elimination of federal funds for organizations in the state. 'Through every wave of chaos and every legally dubious executive order, our office has stood firm to protect the rights of Oregonians,' Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a press release Wednesday. 'Our team at the Oregon Department of Justice is working overtime to make this happen. These victories in court have preserved more than a billion dollars in funding for critical services like food assistance, public safety, , education, and medical research.' DON'T MISS: Rayfield takes on Trump Administration: 'Constitution must be followed' According to the Oregon DOJ, the $1.6 billion in preserved funding for Oregon includes funds that were frozen, terminated, or threatened under the administration. Officials note that the estimated $1.6 billion is likely 'underinclusive,' and does not represent the full scope these funding threats have had on organizations in the state. 'The figures include impacts that were reported by state agencies and other state entities submitting information and declarations for various lawsuits,' the Oregon DOJ said. 'The nature of these lawsuits and the urgency that is required does not allow for the legal team to unearth and document every single possible effect, but to quickly apprise the courts of significant in-state impacts.' 'Ticking time bomb': Oregon lawmakers consider funds for Cascadia-ready Columbia Boulevard bridge These funding threats go back to the first few days of the Trump administration when a memo from the Office of Management and Budget directed a federal funding and grant freeze, leaving state agencies and community partners across the U.S. unable to access federal funding. This impacted several organizations in Oregon, according to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Attorney General Rayfield, who held a joint press conference as the freeze was rolled out in January. Kotek and Rayfield said the funding freeze led organizations from the Oregon Health Authority to Head Start unable to access federal funding. 'Within the first few days of the Trump administration, there was a funding freeze memo that jeopardized funding across the entire state,' Rayfield recalled Wednesday. 'I walked into work and heard our child support division couldn't even access the portal they need weekly. For our folks on the frontlines in these divisions, it is extremely stress-inducing and chaotic.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now So far, the Oregon DOJ says it has spent an estimated $267,000 on federal litigation against the administration. In some court rulings, Oregon's federal funding was only protected because the state joined multi-state lawsuits, Rayfield said, noting states that did not join those suits did not have their funding protected. This included a preliminary injunction Oregon received in its case to preserve research funding for medical institutions that provide care. These federal funding threats under the Trump administration come amid Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency's work to slash federal spending and the federal workforce. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kotek vies for new investments in behavioral health workforce, treatment access
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After releasing her 2025-2027 budget proposal, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek testified in the Oregon legislature on Tuesday in support of new investments meant to bolster behavioral health across the state. During testimony for Senate Bill 142, Governor Kotek said four key investments in the bill will increase the behavioral health workforce while also increasing access to care. 'Right now, depending on where you live or what help you need to address a mental health or addiction challenge, there are probably not enough people available to help you,' Kotek said. 'At the same time, people considering a career in mental health and addiction care struggle to enter and stay in the field. We need to keep working to fix these problems.' DON'T MISS: Kotek's 2025-27 budget proposal focuses on homelessness, housing, education The bill includes a $20 million investment for workforce development that the governor said would bring about 4,000 people into mental health and addiction care careers. That funding would also help expand education and workforce training by increasing instructor capacity and supporting clinical placement capacity. The bill allocates another $5 million for scholarships to support an additional 200 students pursuing careers in addiction or mental health care. Another $8.9 million would go towards loan repayment and forgiveness programs so an estimated 140 master-level clinicians can resolve their student loan debt if they work for publicly funded behavioral health systems for up to two years. Lastly, the bill would allocate a 'crucial' $13.8 million in grants for tribes and community health care providers to retain staff, Kotek said, noting the funding would support at least 1,000 employees for community-based providers and tribes. The funding would support retention strategies such as housing stipends, loan repayment and other wraparound supports. Oregon DOJ acknowledges Frank Gable is innocent The bill comes as Kotek's overall budget recommendation includes $90 million to add over 360 behavioral health treatment beds in Oregon. State Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland) also testified in support of the bill, saying even though the Ways and Means Committee is facing tight purse strings, the state should allocate the investments under the bill. 'I think we all know that our state is struggling to do a good job in the behavioral health space whether it's (getting) the outcomes we want, (having) enough appointments, (having) enough providers, and if we don't sort of invest in the workforce, we're going to continue to be 49th or 48th in the country in terms of access and support and things that we're trying to do,' Rep. Nosse said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In written testimony in support of the bill, Dr. Evaon Wong — the dean and professor for Portland State University's School of Social Work — urged lawmakers to pass the bill. 'There is a clear and urgent need for additional behavioral health providers with advanced training and diverse backgrounds to provide behavioral health care and coordination in Oregon,' Wong said. 'Every year, the School of Social Work prepares over 1,000 students to meet the state'sworkforce needs in behavioral health. PSU is committed to providing high quality and accessibleeducation to our students, who have mostly been people who reside in our state. The majority ofgraduates also remain in the state, including our rural communities, to work after graduation,' Wong added. 'The additional opportunity for upfront investments through SB 142 will help PSU sustain, strengthen, and expand capacity to admit, successfully retain and graduate more students in behavioral health-related fields, including support for student scholarships and funded placements. Such investment will continue to support strong pathways to the helping professions, from undergraduate to graduate degrees.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gresham's Stovall touts gains in State of the City
GRESHAM, Ore. (KOIN) — With unemployment at its lowest level in 20 years, a new Trader Joe's set to bring more jobs in, and crime rates falling over the last five years, Gresham appears to be in a good position. In his annual State of the City speech, Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall touted their accomplishments but said the focus is on the homeless issue and public safety. The first public safety levy the city passed in 30 years was one of Stovall's talking points. Before the levy was passed homeless services funding in the city was cut. But the mayor said thanks to some extra help from Multnomah County, they have been able to keep homeless services going seven days a week and are bringing down the number of people on the street. Oregon DOJ acknowledges Frank Gable is innocent 'In our recent we had less than 20 people living homeless in the city of Gresham,' Stovall said. 'We've seen our neighborhood engagement team come back with our police department,' the mayor said. 'We've hired six, seven firefighters, which is going to allow us to hire more. We've deployed a new rescue unit. So these are all the things that we've now been able to do.' The city also decreased overtime within the fire department and put more police officers on the streets. But Stovall acknowledged many people living and working in Gresham said they still have concerns about crime and drugs in the community. When it comes to solving the drug problem, Stovall said it is about more than just enforcement. 'It's also engagement,' he said. 'It's also ensuring that we can give people the resources and help they need on the front so that they don't fall into any types of addiction. And when they do, we make sure that we have things like our behavioral health unit within our police department.' He noted crime rates in Gresham have dropped in every category over the last few years. His message to residents who say it does not seem that way: reach out to the city so they can handle the problem. 'If we're not hearing from those individuals talking to our police department, talking to our community safety specialists, and then we don't have an ability to respond to specific situations that they've seen within their specific community,' he said. 'So please reach out to us, make sure that we know what's going on.' The mayor also took time to honor former mayor Shane Bemis with a lifetime achievement award. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rep. Bonamici puts future of Medicaid front and center at Beaverton event
PORTLAND, Ore. () — U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) joined representatives from federally qualified health centers across the Portland metro during an event in Beaverton on Tuesday. Democratic lawmakers say a sets the stage for cutting Medicaid, along with Medicare and Social Security. 'Right now, they are terrified,' said Iris Martin, co-interim director of Outside In. Oregon DOJ acknowledges Frank Gable is innocent Leaders say the bill would limit the ability of patients to receive care. 'Every day I hear from Oregonians about the fears and worries and, frankly, outrage, about the cuts that are happening at the federal level and what the administration is doing,' said Bonamici. According to Nehalem Bay Health Center. The CFO Carl Rasmussen, cuts to Medicaid could be devastating to facilities in rural communities. 'If we completely cut Medicaid, we'll last about five months,' Rasmussen said. 'There will be premature deaths. Oh, yeah. Across the board.' 'That makes it extremely hard for people. They have to drive to Portland or up to Seaside. But then if they're — what they're driving in Portland or Seaside and their funding that as well, we're just going to see a massive reduction,' said Bonamici. Cheryl Bickle gives homeless students 'school family' Republicans said they're doing their best not to reduce benefits from the program. Earlier this month and before the funding bill passed, KOIN 6 News spoke with Oregon's only Republican Congressperson, about those cuts. 'The White House has made it very, very clear they do not want to touch Social Security or Medicare, Medicaid. Likewise, we're doing our very, very best not to reduce the benefits under that program,' said Bentz. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
