NEWBERG, Ore. — On Thursday, August 6, U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., who represents Oregon’s 6th District, walked on stage in the Newberg High School Auditorium to hear from constituents and answer questions about happenings at the federal, state, and local levels.
Newberg-Dundee School Board Chair Aubrey Nichols welcomed the approximately 100-person crowd, followed by Newberg City Councilor Elise Yarnell Hollamon’s introduction of the congresswoman, then remarks from Wayne Mercado and Ruthann Couch, the president and vice president, respectively, of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
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After their remarks praising the congresswoman for her efforts in passing the Social Security Fairness Act in January, Salinas approached the podium and spoke for 7 minutes before inviting questions.
Salinas’s opening remarks focused on cost of living and affordability for Oregonians, as well as the impact of national politics on local pocketbooks.
“I talk to Oregonians every day,” Salinas said. “One thing that I do hear repeatedly is that costs are really high right now.”
She highlighted her work in Congress on affordability, including backing a new law to boost housing supply by cutting red tape, pushing bipartisan legislation to lower power bills through expanded geothermal energy, and supporting wind and solar development.
“Whatever challenges confront us, know this: I’m looking through pretty much one lens,” she said in closing her speech. “Does it lower your costs, and does it protect your rights here at home, or does it put you at greater risk? And that’s the test I apply every day in Washington D.C.”
Questioners were selected using a raffle system: Attendees received tickets, and Yarnell Hollamon drew them at random.
Audience questions ranged widely but clustered around economic security, public services, and democratic norms. Constituents pressed her on the federal administration’s moves to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and the strain of voucher programs on public school budgets.
Zane Silverly, who said he retired from the National Weather Service after a 30-year career, asked Salinas about the reduction in force of federal employees at agencies such as the National Weather Service, U.S. Postal Service, and U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“We all rely on these workers,” Salinas said. “While I am all for if there are efficiencies that can be gained, if there is waste and fraud, let’s get it out. We don’t need that in government either, but that’s not what this is.”
Others focused on direct family impacts: A local parent of kindergarten-age twins asked Salinas for stronger national action on gun safety, while Newberg councilor and military parent Robyn Wheatley asked about assurances that active-duty service members and TSA agents would be paid during government shutdowns.
“They should never go without pay, whether there’s a shutdown or not,” Salinas said. “I’d love to see a contingency fund and, frankly, to not see shutdowns at all, because there’s too much gamesmanship, and nobody benefits ultimately, nobody.”
Several questions addressed civil rights and the integrity of U.S. democracy. One constituent asked Salinas about the federal SAVE Act, saying it selectively disenfranchises certain American citizens and asking what could be done ahead of the November election.
A transgender youth asked how Salinas would protect transgender Oregonians from federal policy changes affecting the community.
Jessy Phares-Cunningham, a local mobility activist, described a gap between services “authorized” on paper and what is actually delivered — leaving them without basic daily support — and called for federal tracking and accountability so those failures cannot be hidden in the system.
Local land use, natural resources, and trust in government also featured prominently. Local bicycle advocate David Heddy raised concerns about the heritage park ballot effort reported on last week in Newsberg, which he said was being marketed under false pretenses, questioning how citizens can rely on elected officials who mislead voters.
Another speaker, representing Columbia River fishers and the Coastal Conservation Association, asked Salinas to intervene after the Bonneville Power Administration moved to cut $2.3 million from the SAFE hatchery program, a change he warned could shutter facilities and wipe out 7 million salmon and steelhead smolts.
The town hall closed with Newberg resident Leisha Adams, who requested that Salinas use her federal connections to help redevelop Newberg’s 120-acre former paper mill site into a jobs-rich, community-minded industrial project.
“That’s what we need right now,” Salinas said. “We need jobs. We need more businesses here in Oregon. So, yeah. Let me circle back with you and our city councilors, and we’ll figure it out. My wheels are already turning.”
The town hall concluded at 7 p.m. As attendees filed out, Salinas’s staffers filtered through the crowd to collect information for follow-up conversations.
