Dear Friends,   By all accounts, the last two years have been unprecedented. With a global pandemic, wildfires, economic uncertainty, egregious racial injustice, and an unfolding conflict abroad I know how unsettling these times are for Oregonians. And yet, I never doubted the resilience and determination of our communities in the face of such adversity.   The Biden-Harris Administration and our majority in Congress worked tirelessly with Congress to pass the 2021 American Rescue Plan and funnel historic sums of federal funds to support state and local governments during this challenging time. These programs generated jobs and economic resources to help jumpstart Oregon’s recovery. Earlier this month, the Oregon Legislature used these resources to invest an unprecedented $2.7 billion to address some of the state’s most pressing issues, including:  $450 million to respond to and prevent homelessness, including $400 million for homeless services and building affordable housing, and an additional $50 million to increase shelter capacity.  $600 million to support working families and small businesses, including $200 million to bolster job training programs, $100 million to rebuild critical infrastructure in rural Oregon, and $250 million to expand broadband access.  $280 million to drive down the cost of living with a $100 million investment in expanding access to affordable childcare and $180 million to send $600, one-time stimulus checks to more than a quarter-million low-income Oregonians.  $300 million to strengthen schools through summer learning programs, addressing the workforce shortage, and supporting school districts impacted by wildfires.  $58 million investment in community safety and violence prevention through community, hospital, and local government grant programs.    $100 million investment in supporting rural communities by funding more than 60 community projects in rural districts.  These programs will have an immediate and enduring impact on the economic opportunities, health, and livability of our communities. I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for making these investments possible and getting the federal government back in the game of supporting our communities.  I am energized watching these funds be put to work and will continue working in Congress to make the federal government a strong partner to our state and local governments.