Issue Position: Building Healthy Communities

Issue Position

The state's ability to thrive depends on the health and wellness of all Oregonians. I led the fight to expand health insurance to all children, provide coverage for more adults, and lower the cost of health care. I fought to provide health care to youth aging out of foster care and to control the prescribing of psychotropic drugs to children in foster care.

But promoting health is more than just health care. I also sponsored farm-to-school and school garden legislation to connect children with local agriculture. I passed statewide laws to protect children from unhealthy foods in school vending machines and to require fast food restaurants to post calories on their menus. I continue to promote the connection between health and learning, which is why I created a pilot project to provide vision screenings in schools so all children can succeed.

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