East PDX Today

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 18, 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Con.Res.40 to express support for law enforcement officers and condemn efforts to defund police departments. Following her vote in support of the bipartisan resolution, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) released the following statement:

“Our law enforcement officers put themselves in dangerous situations so we can feel safe in our own homes. They need, and deserve, our respect and support. When I served as mayor of Happy Valley, I always made sure we fully funded our police — and I will always work to do the same in Congress. Considering Portland had its deadliest year on record last year, police need our support now more than ever. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of Oregon’s men and women in blue who serve and protect our communities. Together, we’ll continue building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve to keep criminals off the streets and families safe in their homes,” Chavez-DeRemer said.

Earlier this week, Chavez-DeRemer cosponsored several bipartisan proposals to ensure law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders receive the benefits they deserve – including the Public Safety Retirees Healthcare Protection Act, the Law Enforcement Officer Fair Retirement Act, and the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. She is also a cosponsor of the bipartisan and bicameral Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, which would provide training to reduce first responders’ risk of secondary exposure to lethal substances. 

Portland police officer Jordan Zaitz, who has served with the Portland Police Bureau for 19 years, was Chavez-DeRemer’s guest for the State of the Union in February. She stressed the importance of working collaboratively to address the drug and crime crises facing Oregon communities.

Original source can be found here.