Are we prepared? As we continue to see the images and hear the stories of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan we are reminded that the Pacific Northwest is not without risk.

Please join Senator Jackie Winters and me for a Town Hall discussion on:

Oregon's Earthquake and Tsunami Preparedness
Thursday, March 24, 2010, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Roth's West Salem- Doaks Ferry Room
1130 Wallace Road NW
Salem, OR 97304

Our Town Hall discussion will feature two guest speakers. Althea Rizzo, Geological Hazards Program Coordinator with Oregon Emergency Management and Yumei Wang, Geotechnical Engineer and Geo-hazards Team Leader with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries will present information on the Pacific Northwest seismic activity and earthquake preparedness.

Updates and information relating to Japan's earthquake affecting Oregon can be found with on line here.

Highway Safety

This session has been rolling along quickly. I'd like to highlight two bills I'm sponsoring to increase safety on Oregon's highways.

HB 3186 proposes a complete ban on texting while driving. The bill had a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee last week. There was a lively discussion on the issue, including testimony from Chief Bowman of the Gearhart Police Department. Chief Bowman shared his experiences while enforcing the hands-free cell phone law passed by the 2009 legislature which had a number of exceptions. Recent media coverage of the bill by Ken Ackerman with Comcast newsmakers is available here.

Another bill I am sponsoring, HB 3185, would require an evidence-based assessment for drivers who have impairments which might affect their driving abilities. Currently, doctors make recommendations but there is no standard evaluation that is specific to driving. New methods have been developed and Oregon can be a leader in getting impaired drivers off the road without punishing those who still have proper driving skills. The bill is currently in the Health Care Committee and a public hearing took place on Monday. Those who testified provided detailed information in support of the bill, including Officer Robert Hayes from the Albany Police Department, who has experience in accident reconstruction and analysis.

Next month my e-newsletter will be changing to a new format. I hope to have a more interactive process with live surveys and easier access to links. Thank you for staying in touch and for sharing your ideas as we move forward during this legislative session.

Sincerely,