www.ohca.com SPRING/SUMMER 2024 The Oregon Caregiver 21 Senator Suzanne Weber, (R-District 16) POLICY MAKER Senator Suzanne Weber currently represents Senate District 16, which encompasses all of Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook County. She serves on many committees including Senate Human Services, Senate Education, and the Joint Committee on Education. Senator Weber served on the Tillamook City Council and then as the Mayor of Tillamook, following her 30-year career as an elementary school teacher. Serving on the Senate Human Services Committee, what have you learned about Oregon’s long term care sector that you didn’t know before? I learned just how much human services are in control of and take care of our state, and also how our long term care services for our elderly and our disabled are just one small part of it. I didn’t recognize how our human services agency is so engrained in the care and help of those who need that long term We are all aging, and we need to make sure that we have the people within the legislature who can sustain us and take folks forward. We need to be aware of things that can help people legislatively. It might just be small tweaks here and there that could make someone’s life better, not only on an individual basis, and also improve the health of the whole state. care. Also, I didn’t realize how many issues can come up that can impact the services that people get, including the lack of facilities and places for people to go when they need that long term care. There are so many things that impact the services that we need, especially long term care. What policies and issues are you most passionate about? I’m really interested in what we can do to make sure that long term care is secure, but then there are other issues that I am also really concerned about. I am concerned with in-home care, as well as disability services, because Oregon has a sizeable population of people who need help within their homes and are disabled. I also care a lot about preventing child abuse and neglect. If we are not taking care of our children, we are failing as a society. They are our future. Oregon also has a high rate of youth suicide, so I am passionate about continuously working on those crisis lines and making sure that we are helping all people, young and old, through difficult times. Do you feel like your passion for education and children intersects with the senior population? If yes, how so? I feel there is a direct correlation between the needs of children and of the aging population. I think that they intersect, and they have some of the exact same needs. Shelter, food, security, and confidence. All of those needs are the same. If you are advocating for children, you must also be advocating for the elderly and folks that need special care and support. What is your favorite thing about Oregon? My favorite thing about Oregon is a 70-degree day on the coast, sun shining bright, a slight breeze, and clear beach CONTINUES » PROFILE
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