Representative Farrah Chaichi

Yesterday I was honored to march with Basic Rights Oregon in the Portland Pride Parade. Seeing the LGBTQ+ community and allies in full force celebrating love and acceptance was inspiring and it is important that we have these celebrations to sustain us as we continue to fight for equal rights for ALL Oregonians.

🌟 This , let's highlight the invisible struggles many face. In a classroom of 26 students, more than 3 are dealing with significant trauma. We need to recognize and address these issues in our schools and communities. 💪

Today we celebrate Juneteenth, the end of slavery in the U.S. It's a time for reflection, education, and action towards true equality. Learn more and join local events!

More info here: https://www.koin.com/community/where-to-find-juneteenth-celebrations-throughout-portland/

🌈 Happy Pride Month! Celebrate love, diversity, and the ongoing fight for equality. Oregon stands with our LGBTQ+ community. Check out your local Pride events!

Show your solidarity at this unprecedented event with the over 2000 nurses going on strike, many of them who have been working under expired contracts.

“Our patients come first. Nurses overwhelmingly voted to strike to defend our rights to speak up to keep our patients and coworkers safe. Nurses’ top priority is improving patient safety by addressing Providence’s staffing crisis and raising standards to recruit and retain caregivers,” said ONA Executive Committee President at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center John Smeltzer, RN. “Providence is hemorrhaging nurses and staff. We can't wait and hope it gets better. We have to take action. We’re asking Providence to protect patients and nurses with basic care improvements, safe nurse staffing, better working conditions and a fair contract.”

More info here: https://www.oregonrn.org/page/2ProvStrikeVotes

Oregon Nurses Association

What a big day attending the Washington County’s Center for Addiction Triage and Treatment (CATT) project's important milestone: groundbreaking! This is truly a celebration of all the people who have made this important project come together. Thank you to the county leaders, legislators, funders and many individuals who contributed to the program design. When we come together with vision and folks working to find creative solutions to fight for our community, we can improve lives, here in my home county and across the state.

Historic Hospital Staffing Law Starts Today!

Oregon’s hospital safe staffing law is the result of unprecedented work by ONA, our members and colleagues from the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP), Service Employees International Union Local 49 (SEIU 49) and the Oregon American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) as well as legislators and hospitals and health systems.

This groundbreaking legislation puts us at the forefront of safe staffing laws in the nation and is a game changer for nurses and healthcare professionals throughout the state. While we passed our safe staffing bill in 2023, several key elements of the law take effect June 1 and others will soon follow. Re-familiarize yourself with how Oregon’s new hospital safe staffing law can help you and your patients at SafeStaffingSavesLives.com and start holding hospitals accountable by filing complaints when needed.

Learn more about filing a complaint here: https://ow.ly/uR3v50S31pz

Grateful that the "blackout period" is over, meaning elected officials like me may once again communicate with their constituents. We are also back in the building for "Legislative Days" this week, working on our legislative agenda for the 2025 session and attending committee meetings. More updates to come.

From March 22 until May 21, the Legislature enters the “blackout period.” During this time, legislators running for office are prohibited from using state resources for mass communications with their constituents 60 days prior to an election. You are welcome to reach out to my office during this time, but this will be my last post until after May 21.

Thank you to all the transit employees who make it possible for myself and thousands of others to get to work, avoiding rush hour congestion and reducing emissions.

🚍🎉 Mark your calendars, folks! Next Monday, March 18, we'll be celebrating Transit Driver Appreciation Day to recognize the hardworking people who keep our region moving. Let's show them some love and gratitude for their dedication, skill and commitment to serving our riders. ❤️

Learn how you can join the celebration and share a virtual thank-you note: trimet.org/thankyou

What do you think of Washington County’s proposed balance of development and natural resources? Attend one of our forums on the topic to learn more and share your thoughts. bit.ly/FocusedLookWeb

Well, we did it! The 2024 Legislative Short Session has officially adjourned. It’s been just under six weeks of meeting with constituents, hearing from advocates, navigating difficult conversations, making important investments, and snacks. In this coming interim, I look forward to the opportunity to be out and about at community events and engaging with constituents. Thank you to everyone who's engaged with the Senate District 18 office during this short session.

This International Women's Day we celebrate the achievements & contributions of women around the world.

Here's to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!

Thank you for following the work of this office as my second legislative session will soon draw to a close. I am honored to represent your voice in the House along with colleagues from all across Oregon. Doing the work of the people here in Salem!

Thank you for the wonderful profile American Humanist Association!

Representation Matters: Representative Farrah Chaichi “Being open about myself and my experiences shows people that their secular government has secular members who will prioritize the needs of the people."

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Each component of the flag symbolizes something unique within the disability community. The black field represents the mourning for those with disabilities who have suffered or lost their lives due to violence, negligence, su***de and/ or eugenics. The parallel stripes represent solidarity within the disability community. The five colors represent the diversity of experiences within the disability community: red – physical disabilities, gold – cognitive and intellectual disabilities, white – invisible and undiagnosed disabilities, blue – psychiatric disabilities, and green – sensory disabilities. https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/devdis/developmental-disabilities-awareness-month

Tune in LIVE NOW to watch the Oregon House deliberate on HB 4002. I will be speaking to my concerns with this legislation.

Oregon Legislative Video

Are you following what is happening with HB 4002? Please tune in today at 11am to hear what happens as the votes on returning to the war on drugs era policy.

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/HB4002

Students from Clackamas High School visited the Capitol today, meeting with several legislators and staff throughout the building. During their visit to our office, these students talked about their dreams for their futures, including pursuing cosmetology school, small business development, environmental engineering, environmental protection, chemistry, and human services professions! Each of them took a turn imagining being a legislator someday.

My priority legislation for the Short Session centers around improving higher education. Please follow along with HB4125 here: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2024R1/Measures/Overview/HB4125

Addiction and recovery are top of mind for many this session and it is always great to meet with advocates to discuss the incredible work being done in my district and beyond! Thank you to Leaf, Tracy, and David from Orchard House for representing Oregon Recovers and making the trek to visit my office here in the !

Celebrating the trailblazing spirit of Susan B. Anthony & her fight for women's suffrage on the anniversary of her birth.

Celebrating the vibrant spirit, rich history, & progressive legacy of our state. Here's to many more years of growth, diversity, & community resilience!

Safe Rest Village in Aloha opening was inspirational! The new pallet shelter structures will offer immediate shelter to 30 individuals, with heating and cooling installed to protect shelter guests from the elements. Shelter guests will work with the shelter operator, Open Door HousingWorks , and housing case managers to reach long-term housing goals. Having needed services on-sight will be game changing for the residents. Big thanks to for all of your good work in helping to coordinate and make this project a reality.

Read more here:
https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/housing/news/2024/02/05/safe-rest-village-aloha-united-methodist-church-umc-opening-demonstrates-power-faith-partnerships?fbclid=IwAR00t5LZ8Dlb_4Z6eOd78qYxqrvG8QmrX3oagrgQhqCSCllnlc_3fDMktWI

It's Monday and we have a special visitor, Yukon, a sophomore high school student who is serving as an honorary legislative page today. It is fitting that she is in the building as many of my days are being spent focusing on my higher-education bill and meetings with those who provide high-quality education to our children. We are meeting with students, educators and leadership of Oregon's public universities, having terrific conversations and building a shared vision for a better Oregon.

Exciting things are happening at the Cascade Aids Project (CAP). At the tour we were able to see the new clinic where 3,000 additional patients will be served at full capacity!

The clinic will also provide sorely needed services for 250+ new mental health/substance-use disorder patients, with an additional 8 mental health and substance use disorder providers.

Happy Lunar New Year! Last week my team got the privilege of attending the Oregon 2024 Lunar New Year Celebration at Keller Auditorium. The performances were spectacular, with performers of all ages. Thank you to the Chinese Friendship Association of Portland for the invitation.