Special Session Sine Die Remarks

Thank you for being here today. It has been a long summer of hard work to be able to stand here with this broad coalition today. The individuals behind me do not agree on everything, but they united because we faced a critical problem that demanded our action. 

Maintaining safe, accessible roads is the most core function of government. Whether it's July or January, Oregonians need to be able to travel safely on our state highways. Oregon families from Burns to Astoria rely on us to get to school, to work, or to the grocery store safely. Emergency responders rely on the state to act so they can safely reach the people who need them in their scariest moments. 

Before today, there was a serious concern that clearing and fire prevention work will be scaled back in places like The Dalles. In Redmond, Detroit and across the Cascade Mountain Range, roads would have been left icy and dangerous for longer periods of time, closing off safe passage over the mountain this winter. 

After today, the Oregonians – your neighbors – who fill potholes or clear safe passage through the pass when a storm hits will have job security. After today, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families will not have to worry about the reliability of our public transit system to safely get to where they need to go. 

Our transportation system – and how we use and need it – will continue to change as our technology and workforce needs continue to evolve.  

For years, we knew about the variety of factors negatively impacting our state transportation budget. And as we now enter uncertain economic times due to reckless decision-making at the federal level, my office and I have been diligent in supporting the work of our partners in the legislature to keep Oregon moving with a functional, safe transportation system. 

Legislators hold a close pulse on the needs of their local communities – and they have been key partners in generating a solution to make sure we can pay for safe, clean roads. Thank you for getting this over the finish line - Oregonians on the road will be safer due to the work you completed today.

The solution to our budget hole was not simple: we could not solve this problem by disinvesting in our safety or our ports, airports, and essential transit. Today, we are celebrating the passage of a bill that addresses the problem at our doorstep. And, we have more work to do. 

Oregon still has long-term transportation needs that must be met. We must continue the conversation on what kind of transportation system we want to build, from improving outdated roads and bridges across the state, multimodal options, creating more safe routes to school, and how we support our transit system that so many Oregonians rely on.

And, to do that, the public must have trust in the Oregon Department of Transportation. My office will continue our ongoing accountability work directly with agency leadership. And, with the passage of House Bill 3991, we have more accountability measures in place to build that trust. 

So, with that, I want to thank everyone who testified, advocated, called their neighbors and friends, and showed up today. Thank you.