During the 2019 Oregon legislative session, you can count on OR Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice to keep you informed.  Our focus will be the achievement of policies and laws reflective of our principles

Our focus will be on 
*  Human Rights
*  Environmental Justice
*  Deepening Democracy
*  Income inequality

Our logo designer Jaimie Weeks-Seufert is featured third from the right in the front row. Thank you, Jaimie!
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2019 legislative action

Oregon UU Voices for Justice has four campaign areas -- Deepening Democracy, Human Rights, Economic Inequality, and Environmental Justice.  At our annual conference in October 2017, we identified specific action items within each of these campaigns and people who are taking the lead on each. 

​Some of these campaigns will stay in touch throughout the year and organize via Zoom to continue the work started during the Annual Conference. If you have an interest in these campaigns please contact the lead.


Deepening Democracy - 
          Lead:  David Delk (davidafd@ymail.com)

  • Reforms to the Political Process: The group will meet again to focus the group on a specific issue. Under consideration:  allow limits on campaign contributions, amend the US Constitution to end corporate personhood and money equals speech, limits on campaign contributions/expenditures, public funding of candidates, ranked choice voting, gerrymandering, full voting rights for felons, full disclosure of political ad funders. 
  • ​Support for Public Banking: The Portland Public Banking Alliance is active on this issue and meets at the First Unitarian Church in Portland, focused principally on creating a public bank in Portland.  That effort has the support of David Delk, Michael Wade and Harriet Cooke, all members of the Economic Justice Action Group of 1st Unitarian of Portland.  

Economic Inequality - 
          Lead:

  • Issues of Housing - such as home/houselessness, affordable housing.  This campaign will work with the Oregon Housing Alliance and Interfaith Alliance on Poverty. Lead: John Elizalde (john_elizalde@hotmail.com)
  • Worker Justice -- Lead: Connie Yost (cyost@uuma.org)
  • Living Wages -- John Raymonda (raymonda@zianet.com
  • Borrower protections, HB2588 - require loan servicers collecting on private and federal loans to be licensed by the state.  Creates office of Oregon Student Loan Ombudsman.  Read informative article in Salem Reporter on this issue here.

Environmental Justice - 
    Lead:  Rev. Katherine Jesch 

  • Clean Energy Jobs Bill, HB2020 - This carbon cap and invest bill is designed to reduce carbon emissions in Oregon.
  • Jordon Cove LNG Export Terminal - Track and support any action identified to oppose the project. Work with tribal leaders. Leads: Jean Townes and Sue Craig (sueacraig@gmail.com).
  • Single use straws - HB2800 - prohibits certain restaurants from offering single use straws
  • Prohibit fracking - HB2623 - prohibits use of fracking for oil, gas exploration and production
  • Single use checkout bags - HB2509/HB2653 - Prohibits use of single use checkout bags except in certain cases.
  • Polystyrene Containers - HB2883 - prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene containers in many cases
  • Small Nuclear Reactors - SB444 - Bill changes present approval requirements from vote by all Oregon voters to vote by voter of cities/counties in which Small Nuclear Reactors are being proposed for use in

Human RIghts -
           Lead: Rev Connie Yost. (cyost@uuma.org)

  • Corrections:  HB2631 - establishes pilot program to provide legal services for women who are incarcerated at Coffee Creet Correctional Facility
  • Immigrant Rights:
  • Health care:
    • Health Care for All: SB770 has been introduced to create a universal affordable health care system for all in Oregon
    • Importation of drugs: SB409/HB2682 - creates program to allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada
    • Funding of Medicaid: HB2010 - provides funding for Oregon's Medicaid program
2018 Annual Oregon UU
Voices for Justice Meeting

Our Children, Our Future

Event Timing: September 15, 2018, 9:30 AM - 4 PM
Door open at 9:30 AM for registration; Program starts at 10 AM

Event Address: UU Congregation at Willamette Falls 
710 6th St, Oregon City, Oregon 97317

​Attendance fee:  $30 adults; $20 teens; scholarships available.
Payment options here. 

Homestays are available.  Please indicate desire for such when registering.  We will be in contact. 
 ​
Registration here. 
​Agenda here. 
Print a flyer here. 
Includes panel discussion: ​
Youth have stepped forward in record numbers with amazing influence this year.  What can UUs learn from these “in the news” social justice campaigns? 

With synergy, we can each take action, multiplying impact and influence! 

Panelists will represent:

Climate Change – Our Children's Trust (Environmental Justice) 

Immigration (Economic Inequality, Human Rights) 

​Gun Safety/School Safety – March for our Lives 

2017 Annual OR UU  Voices for Justice Conference

Every year Oregon UU Voices for Justice evaluates and chooses issues at our annual meeting in the fall.  After they are chosen, we follow those issues closely and work together to create change and promote solutions.  They become our campaign issues.  For 2017-18, the campaigns will be 
  • Deepening Democracy
  • Economic Inequality
  • Environment/Environmental Justice
  • ​Human Rights