On Wednesday, September 26th, Representative Julie Fahey (D-14), Senator Dallas Heard (R-1), Representative Diego Hernandez (D-47), and Representative David Brock Smith (R-1) announced the creation of the bipartisan Oregon Future Caucus, a brand-new caucus comprised of Oregon state legislators ages 42 and under.

As the twenty-seventh caucus to join MAP’s State Future Caucus Network, the Oregon Future Caucus plans to build upon MAP’s national momentum of young legislators transcending party politics to coalesce around substantive solutions to issues facing young Oregonians. “It has been inspiring to see the State Future Caucus Network continue to grow. We’re seeing that young legislators are hungry to work together to make real change and address critical issues through innovative policy change,” said Steven Olikara, Founder and President of Millennial Action Project. “Thank you to Reps. Fahey, Hernandez, and Brock Smith and Sen. Heard for their leadership in this movement.”

The Oregon future caucus is currently working to undertake issues of housing, early childhood education, continuing education credits, student loan debt, and the criminal justice system. “We have a responsibility to focus on long-term solutions to our state’s challenges, not just short-term fixes,” remarks Representative Julie Fahey.

The issues facing this new caucus will be difficult but Senator Heard believes, “You need that fresh perspective to really see how the problems of today can have unique new solutions.” The legislators of this caucus are leading Oregon into the future as they plan to tackle the state’s most pressing and challenging issues together.