First of all – to the Sandy High School Class of 2023 – CONGRATULATIONS! You endured the entirety of the pandemic during your high school years and overcame a lot to make it to graduation. Your hard work and determination have paid off. I wish you nothing but success as you take the next steps in life.

Now, down to business. Since January, I have spent my time working in Salem, voting on bills, testifying before committees and taking meetings in the Capitol. As I write this, we are in the final days of the legislative session. Things are moving quickly in the Capitol right now. My schedule changes hour by hour and often even minute by minute. By the time you read this, the 2023 session will be over and I will be back in the district full-time.

In these last few weeks, the atmosphere in the Capitol has been frenzied. With many pieces of legislation in limbo because of the natural challenges of balancing a nearly $100 billion budget, this column is especially difficult to write. It’s hard to predict which bills will make it across all the hurdles needed to become law. I look forward to giving you a positive update next month, sharing wins for our district and our state.

I recently had the privilege of giving the commencement address at the graduation of Basic Police Class #BP425 at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) in Salem. Law enforcement applicants from around the state come to DPSST to earn their certification to wear a badge.

I sat in those seats in 1992 and never thought I would return one day to give an address as a state representative. These officers are dedicated public servants who chose “We will when others won’t” as their class motto. Communities around Oregon will be safer because of these men and women. I am proud of these graduates and honored they invited me to speak at graduation.

As a member of the Public Safety budget committee, we passed the Department of Public Safety Standards & Training’s budget, which will provide resources to increase academy class sizes to help more quickly work through the backlog of police officers waiting for training and certification. This will help get more officers on our streets quicker. Current class sizes are capped at 40 students. With this budget, those class sizes will be increased to 60.

I also supported the budget for the Oregon State Police (OSP). The funding will help increase staff and put more troopers on the road. Over the last 30 years, Oregon’s population has far outpaced the rate at which we are hiring staff for OSP. This budget won’t solve the troubling long-term trend but it is a step in the right direction.

Now that session is over, my goal is to spend as much time in the district learning about the unique needs of our diverse communities. I would love to make it to community events that you are having in the Mt. Hood area. Please email me invitations and details at Rep.JeffHelfrich@oregonlegislature.gov! For the most up-to-date details about public events I’m attending, please follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jeffhelfrichfororegon.

As always, you can reach my office at Rep.JeffHelfrich@oregonlegislature.gov and at 503-986-1452 with questions and concerns. I am honored to serve you.