Welcome to Priorities for a Healthy Oregon

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Priorities for Healthy Oregon Common Agenda Oregon Conservation Network Global Warming Solutions Promote Water Conservation Preserve Oregon's Coastal Legacy Increase Transportation Options Ensure New Energy Supplies are Responsible Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

	Right now, OCN is focusing on three Priorities for the February session: 1. Protecting our children from Bisphenol A (BPA) More and more evidence shows that Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical found in plastics like baby bottles, is harmful to children's health. The Oregon Environmental Council is leading a large coalition to support Senate Bill 1032, from the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to ban BPA from baby bottles and children's food containers sold in Oregon. The federal government is concerned about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children. Recent studies have reported subtle effects of low doses of BPA. Passing this ban would make Oregon a national leader in protecting children from toxic chemicals. Download a BPA fact sheet. Contact: Andrea Salinas, Oregon Environmental Council, 971-221-2653 or Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, Oregon Environmental Council, 503-222-1963 x 110
	2. Creating healthy, climate-friendly communities A task force established by the 2009 Legislature has proposed Senate Bill 1059, which would assist Oregon's six major metro areas to develop plans to broaden transportation choices while also helping Oregon meet its greenhouse-gas reduction goals. 1000 Friends of Oregon and the Oregon Environmental Council represented the conservation community on the task force and will lead the effort to help pass this bill. Download a fact sheet. Contact: Eric Stachon, 1000 Friends of Oregon, 503-497-1000 x129

	3. Protecting Oregon's coast from oil and gas exploration Last year, OCN helped pass landmark legislation to create marine reserves in Oregon's territorial sea. Now there is more work to do the protect Oregon's special coastal areas: The moratorium on drilling for oil and gas in Oregon's coastal waters expired Jan. 2. Rep. Ben Cannon (D-Portland), Chair of the House Environment and Water Committee, will introduce House Bill 3613 to renew the ban and make it permanent. Several OCN members, including Environment Oregon and Our Ocean, are leading the way in building support for Cannon's proposal. Contact: Brock Howell, Environment Oregon, 503-231-1986

Moratorium on offshore drilling passes Oregon House

Bill to protect coastal communities, local jobs and pristine beaches now heads to Senate

SALEM, OR – The Oregon House of Representatives today voted TK-TK to preserve Oregon’s coastal legacy for the next generation. House Bill 3613, sponsored by Rep. Ben Cannon (D-Portland), protects Oregon’s coast from the threat of offshore oil and gas exploration for the next ten years, preserving coastal jobs and businesses which depend on more than $1 billion a year in fishing and recreation dollars and reinforcing Oregon’s commitment to renewable energy.

Special legislative session in session

February 1 was the first day of the 2010 Special Session of the Oregon Legislature. The session will lasts only four short weeks. The Oregon Conservation Network, a coalition of more than 40 environmental groups around the state, has already agreed on three priorities for the session. (Read more about OCN below.)

Read about the Priorities for a Healthy Oregon on the left side of this screen.

Download a PDF of the 2010 Priorities.

Read about the Priorities from the 2009 session.

What is the Oregon Conservation Network?

More than 40 of Oregon’s leading environmental groups have joined together to work on three priorities for the 2010 Oregon Legislature.

Our elected officials have the responsibility to protect those things that keep Oregon a special place for our families to call home − our forests, farmland, rivers, fish and wildlife.

Taking action on these Priorities for a Healthy Oregon, while resisting calls to weaken existing safeguards, will help us leave a strong legacy for our children and grandchildren.

Download the PDF of the 2009 Priorities.

View the list of OCN groups.

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Oregon Priorities

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1. Protecting our children from Bisphenol A (BPA)

2. Creating healthy, climate-friendly communities

3. Protecting Oregon's coast from oil and gas exploration

Moratorium on offshore drilling passes Oregon House

Special legislative session in session

What is the Oregon Conservation Network?