Dear Friend,  Despite the dysfunction of this divided Congress, I am committed to making progress on our priorities. This month, I will be sharing the work I am doing in Washington, D.C. to advance issues that are critical to Oregonians.  One of those issues is combatting the affordable housing crisis.  Abundant affordable housing is central to building communities that are safe, healthy, and economically secure. Indeed, many of our most daunting social problems—from addiction to mental health challenges—are rooted in a lack of accessible, affordable housing.  Last year, I released Locked Out 2.0, a comprehensive legislative report with clear steps to reignite federal investment in affordable housing.  Since releasing my legislative agenda, I introduced the First Time Homebuyer Act to provide a $15,000 tax credit for the purchase of a first home. This would provide housing stability and generational wealth-building opportunities for low- and middle-income Americans, particularly amongst historically marginalized communities. I am also advocating for: The Housing is a Human Right Act to provide more than $300 billion for crucial housing infrastructure while increasing affordable housing supply and reducing homelessness; The DEPOSIT Act to provide federal funding to low-income renters to assist with security deposit payments; $3.8 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants in the upcoming annual spending bill; Robust funding for homelessness programs including targeted vouchers for homeless veterans and families with children;The Pets Belong With Families Act to prohibit broad and sweeping restrictions on pets in public housing based on breed, helping families stay together with their pets; and The Fair Housing for Survivors Act to provide legal protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and sexual assault, as well as housing discrimination, harassment, and abuse. Each week, I talk with local leaders at home to ensure that we are coordinating as effectively as possible. I am heartened by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s commitment to removing roadblocks to affordable housing in communities across the state. Just last week, Governor Kotek approved four new bills to protect renters and streamline affordable housing construction. In this legislative session alone, more than $1.2 billion has been approved to combat the housing affordability crisis.  It is also critical we recognize that solving the housing crisis and helping people experiencing homelessness is not something that funding alone can solve. We need a strategic, coordinated response from state and local governments that addresses the entirety of this complex problem. This crisis wasn’t made overnight, and it won’t be solved quickly either. That simply means we need to work harder, smarter, and together to tackle the challenges. My pledge to you is to continue fighting on this and more—no matter how difficult it is, we must continue making progress.