Health care is a fundamental right. No matter who you are or where you come from, you should have access to lifesaving medical care without fear of financial ruin.

You know who else believed that? My friend, Rep. Mitch Greenlick. When he passed away last year, a leading light for health care reform in Oregon went out.

I miss Mitch. He was a mentor throughout my career in Salem, and part of my commitment in serving is to honor his legacy -- by fighting for quality, affordable health care for Oregonians.

With his memory close to my heart, I am thrilled to report a massive victory: his HOPE Amendment has passed the Senate and the House, huge steps toward creating a constitutional right here in Oregon for access to health care.

Our opponents say that we can’t afford to provide health care to everyone. I say we can’t afford not to.

It’s our right and responsibility as a society to offer a hand up to our most vulnerable, and to ensure that no one falls through the cracks -- not during a pandemic, not ever.

The HOPE Amendment, a constitutional right to health care, will do just that. It must be approved by the voters during the 2022 general election, but I’m confident that we’ll surmount those hurdles -- because providing health care to everyone is simply the right thing to do.

Stay tuned. I’ll have more soon.

Rob