[Comm-Council] FW: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Kulongoski Signs Healthy Oregon Act and Toxin Pollutants Bill

[HOKLIN Lonn * DAS DO]

Lonn Hoklin

Public Affairs Manager

Oregon Department of Administrative Services

503.378.2627

503.428.2169 (cell)

________________________________

From: SHERWOOD Jodi L * Governor's Office 
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 11:39 AM
To: EXEC Net List
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: Governor Kulongoski Signs Healthy Oregon Act and
Toxin Pollutants Bill

 


 

 

 

Theodore R. Kulongoski

          Governor

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE___________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2007

 

Contact: 
Anna Richter Taylor: 503.378.6169

Jake Weigler: 503.378.6496

Kristina Edmunson: 503.378.5040

 

Governor Kulongoski Signs Healthy Oregon Act and Toxin Pollutants Bill

Both pieces of legislation will help create a healthier Oregon

 

Salem - Governor Ted Kulongoski today signed two important pieces of
legislation that will both help create a healthier Oregon.  The first
bill makes a commitment to develop an action plan to help the more than
600,000 Oregonians without health insurance, and the second continues
the Governor's commitment to cleaning up the Willamette River and other
waterways throughout the state.

 

The two pieces of legislation signed today include:

 

The Healthy Oregon Act (Senate Bill 329):

 

This legislation establishes the Oregon Health Fund Board, which will
help develop a comprehensive plan to reform Oregon's health care system
and move Oregon toward providing affordable health insurance for every
Oregonian.  The Governor engaged with legislative members early in the
session to ensure that the proposal includes a practical, step-by-step
action plan to achieve those goals.  The board will deliver its plans to
the Legislature for the February 2008 and January 2009 sessions. 

 

 "Today, we have new hope for a healthy Oregon," the Governor said.
"This bill offers a much-needed and long-overdue action plan to make
health care affordable, effective and accessible to all Oregonians - and
now we can move from debating the failures of our health care system -
to acting on solutions."

 

Reducing Toxic Pollutants in Oregon's Waterways (Senate Bill 737):

 

Senate Bill 737 complements the water quality programs outlined in the
Governor's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) budget to reduce
toxic pollutants in Oregon's rivers, including the Willamette River. It
directs the DEQ to conduct a study of persistent bioaccumulative and
toxic pollutants in the state that pose a threat to human health and the
environment. By June 1, 2009, the agency must present the Legislature
with a priority listing of worst threats, and complete the entire study
in 2010.

 

In addition, the 52 largest waste water treatment plants across the
state will be required under SB 737 to submit plans to the DEQ by July
1, 2011 for reducing the discharge of pollutants identified on the
priority listing.

 

 "Senate Bill 737 will give the DEQ the tools it needs to reduce the
threat of bio-accumulative toxins in our waterways - which are a real
threat to human health and our natural environment," the Governor said
at a bill signing ceremony today.  "Under this legislation, the DEQ will
identify where these pollutants persist and what we can do to reduce
these toxic emissions in the first place. It's a balanced approach that
complements the water pollution initiatives in my budget and will help
us clean up our most precious rivers, including the Willamette River."

 

-30-

 

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