Article I: Tribal Sovereignty

Upholding Tribal Sovereignty

Preamble

This article upholds tribal sovereignty for well over forty-five thousand Indigenous people (also known as Alaska Natives and American Indians) in Multnomah County, according to  the 2011 study called,The Native American Community in Multnomah County: An Unsettling Profile.  This Profile also reports that approximately four hundred sovereign, tribal nations are represented in Multnomah County from which each of these Indigenous people descends. The 2020 U.S. Census indicates that 87 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives live off tribal lands and reservations. About sixty percent live in metropolitan areas, according to the U.S. Office of Minority Health. For 575 tribal nations currently recognized by the U.S., their inherent sovereignty is affirmed in treaties, the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court cases, state and federal legislation, and executive orders.

Because of their enduring strengths, Indigenous people since time immemorial have demonstrated their capacity to surmount extraordinary challenges and thrive. This is despite the Termination Era when Congress sought to end the federal government’s treaty obligations and forced Indigenous people to leave their traditional lands and waters and move to urban areas. To uphold sovereignty and improve the lives of Indigenous people throughout Multnomah County and beyond, this article focuses on these areas: Immigration and Customs Enforcement, publicly funded universal healthcare, Indian Child Welfare, veterans, housing, restoration of the Snake River, economic development, Indigenous peacemaking, climate change, public education, visitation during incarceration, renewable energy sources, and behavioral-health workers.

Planks

1. Inherent, Inalienable Sovereignty

We affirm the inalienable sovereignty of tribal nations–since time immemorial–whose people belong to the lands and waters of what is currently called the United States of America. The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) uses the phrase "since time immemorial" to define an unbroken continuum of existence, stewardship, and inherent rights that predates European contact and the founding of the United States.

2. Political, Not Racial, Relationships  

We affirm that the unique, political relationship–that each sovereign tribal nation maintains with the federal government–is based on treaties and not on race. As such, tribal nations and their Indigenous constituents are not a "special interest" group.

3. Honoring the Federal Trust Obligation

We affirm that the U.S. is responsible for honoring its trust obligation as well as the treaty rights, sovereignty, and self-determination of tribal nations. According to officials of the U.S. Department of the Interior, "The federal Indian trust responsibility is a legal obligation under which the [U.S.] 'has charged itself with moral obligations of the highest responsibility and trust' toward Indian tribes...." U.S. Supreme Court precedent upholds trust doctrine as one of the most important principles in federal Indian law.

4. Urbanization's Hidden Risks 

We affirm, "Urbanization provides opportunities, but may also entail poverty, racism, stigmatization, discrimination and marginalization," as reported by Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights.

5. Upholding International Indigenous Rights 

We recognize "the urgent need to respect and promote the rights of indigenous peoples affirmed in treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements with [the United] States," as stated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Legislative Action Items

1. Sanctuary Protections from ICE 

We advocate for establishing a legal defense fund to protect Indigenous people–who are members of tribal nations within the United States–from unlawful federal detentions and a localized, robust Sanctuary County framework that upholds tribal sovereignty and requires training federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to uphold tribal sovereignty.

2. Universal Health Care & the Indian Health Service 

We advocate for universal, publicly funded healthcare which upholds tribal sovereignty and protects tribal peoples’ self-determination. Furthermore, we advocate for universal healthcare to address the issues related to Congress's chronic underfunding of the Indian Health Service which leads to severe staffing shortages, outdated facilities, and higher rates of diabetes and heart disease and other chronic diseases.Indian Health Service is based on treaty rights and the trust responsibility of the federal government.

3. Upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act 

We call for upholding the federal and Oregon Indian Child Welfare Acts to maximize legally-defined active-efforts (which are affirmative, active, thorough, and timely efforts) intended primarily to maintain or reunite an Indian child with his or her family of origin.

4. Protecting Tribal Ties after Foster Care 

We call for increased accountability by Oregon agencies for guardianship-youth after permanency is established to ensure a safe transition to adulthood. We explicitly advocate for post-permanency protocols for Indigenous youth with respect to tribal jurisdiction and prioritizing cultural continuity, guaranteeing that state-defined permanency never terminates a youth's tribal connections, treaty-based services, or political status as a sovereign tribal citizen.

5. Urban Indian Economic Sovereignty Fund 

We urge state and local lawmakers to establish a formal Urban Indian Economic Sovereignty Fund that directly allocates public revenue to primarily Native-led community development organizations to combat poverty, generate wealth, and fund micro-grants for local Indigenous-owned businesses.

6. Indigenous Peacemaking within Joint Frameworks

We call for a task force to explore the possibility of implementing Indigenous peacemaking as an option within the tribal relations offices,affiliated offices of the Oregon Department of Human Services, and/or joint frameworks like the Tribal-State-Federal Judicial Forum. This form of peacemaking is currently offered as an option in family courts of participating tribal nations. These include: Coquille Indian Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The Native American Rights Fund describes its peacemaking initiative, "Historically, Native American communities had methods for dealing with disputes. The Indigenous Peacemaking Initiative is contributing to the continuation or revitalization of those traditional ways."

7. Home Loans for Native Veterans 

We call for optimal access by American Indian and Alaska Native veterans to the Native American Direct Loan Program, for example, by maintaining a low interest rate, helping veterans overcome barriers, and/or bolstering their readiness for these loans. We also call for strengthening collaborative partnerships for reaching out to potentially qualified Indigenous veterans.

8. Affordable Housing for Urban Indigenous Families 

We call for funding (for tribal nations and organizations serving primarily Indigenous people in urban areas) commensurate with the needs for inclusionary housing that is accessible and affordable for Indigenous people, for example, by providing incentives to developers such as the ability to build increased density and obtain other zoning variances.

9. Climate Resources for Urban Indian Communities 

We advocate for adequate resources including funding for Tribal Nations, Native non-profits, and organizations serving primarily urban-Indian communities (where fifty to seventy percent of Indigenous people live) to address the impacts of climate change and evaluate opportunities to intervene, participate, or otherwise engage in advocacy efforts related to issues such as healthy housing, air-quality improvements, and shifting transit burdens.

10. Accurate Native Student Data & Tribal Data Sovereignty 

We advocate for funding and execution of a comprehensive statewide audit by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to ensure absolute compliance with American Indian and Alaska Native student identification frameworks based on rigorous state tracking mechanisms and mandatory training for school districts and Education Service Districts (ESDs) while upholding the sovereignty of tribal data.

11. Urban Native Language-Revitalization 

We call for the innovation of curricula that respond to the hundreds of Native American cultures represented in Multnomah County, for example, to uplift and amplify tribal language revitalization efforts in urban areas without high concentrations of any one Native language.

12. Visitation Access & Tribal Reentry 

We advocate that barriers be removed and improve promotion for all forms of visitation (such as in-person, online, and telephonic) with people who are incarcerated to reduce recidivism and improve post-release outcomes such as employment and housing stability. Removing these barriers will bolster tribal reentry into their Indigenous communities and promote self-determination as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 (ISDEAA, P.L. 93-638).

13. Renewable Energy for Tribal & Urban Indian Communities 

We call for renewable energy resources, in combination with storage, reductions in peak demand, and increased energy efficiency, that can provide clean, adequate, reliable, affordable electricity and improve conditions for fish and wildlife and other related concerns of rural and urban Indian populations while upholding sovereignty and protecting tribal lands and water

14. Supporting Indigenous Behavioral-Health Workers 

We advocate for increased financial and advisory support for Indigenous behavioral-health workers and for their optimal access to incentives for increasing recruitment and retention of these workers according to House Bill 2086 as enrolled, with incentives that include career-pathway development, scholarships and stipends, loan repayments, and other retention activities.

15. Restoring a Free-Flowing Snake River  

We call for related governmental entities to uphold tribal sovereignty and food sovereignty through the removal of the four Snake River dams to restore salmon runs and habitat and to move toward fulfilling treaty obligations. The Snake River flows into the Columbia River which forms the northern boundary of Multnomah County. Furthermore, citizens from Columbia River’s four treaty-tribes reside in Multnomah County. Two of which are located in Oregon: the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Article II: Equity

Equal Rights & Protections

Preamble

Equality means treating everyone the same. Equity means something more: making sure everyone actually ends up with a fair outcome, even when that means different people need different kinds of support to get there. A wheelchair ramp is a simple example. It doesn't give everyone the same thing; it gives everyone the same ability to get through the door. That's equity.

We believe every person deserves dignity, safety, and equitable treatment under the law. We stand behind the basic human rights recognized around the world, and we're committed to dismantling the systems that deny people those rights.

We believe every generation, including those still arriving today, deserves the right to build a better life here. All immigrants are vital to a healthy country and deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else.

Everyone deserves a fair shot at a good life, not just fair treatment on paper.

Planks

1. Freedom from Abuse & Poverty 

We believe in the right of all people to live in dignity, free from abuse, neglect, poverty, violence and oppression.

2. Equal Rights for Women 

We believe in an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) supporting equal opportunity, equal pay and equal protection under the law for all women.

3. Marriage Equality 

We believe that all consenting adults should have an equal right to civil marriage and to have that marriage respected in every state in the country.

4. The Right to an Abortion 

We believe in and support every person's right to an abortion; and no person should face civil or criminal penalties for receiving, supporting, or delivering such services

5. The Right to Gender Affirming Care  

We believe in and support every person's right to receive gender affirming care; and no person should face civil or criminal penalties for receiving, supporting, or delivering such services

6. The Right to Self Expression  

We believe in and support every person's right to decorate, modify, or adorn their body in whatever way they wish; and no person should face civil or criminal penalties for receiving, supporting, or delivering such services

7. Dismantling Systemic Oppression 

We believe that all systems of oppression must be dismantled.

8. Right to Privacy 

We believe everyone has the right to be free from unwarranted and unwanted intrusion into their personal lives, information, and communications—including protection from both government mass surveillance and corporate data collection and monitoring.

8. Health Care for Every Person 

We believe in the right to quality health care for every person.

9. Disability Rights & Inclusion 

We believe that people with disabilities have the right to live independent, active, and full lives. This includes the right to the equipment, assistance, and support services necessary for full productivity, provided in a way that promotes dignity and independence.

10. Right to Housing 

We believe everyone has the right to accessible, integrated, convenient, and affordable housing. This includes the right for disabled people to have access to a range of in-home, residential and other community support services, including personal assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community.

11. Right to Justice

We believe everyone has the right to timely access to justice, including competent legal counsel and a swift resolution of one's case.

12. A Humane Immigration Process 

We believe the immigration process should be humane, racially equitable, predictable, transparent, and provide due process, including provision of an attorney. Children of immigrants should not be separated from their parents; unaccompanied minors seeking asylum should be treated respectfully and receive humane care.

13. Services for All, Regardless of Immigration Status 

We believe all people residing in the United States should be provided education, social services, health care, and legal identification regardless of immigration status.

14. The Right to Define Your Own Identity 

We believe all people residing in the United States have the right to determine their identity, including gender, and to have that identity reflected on their legal documents.

15. Fighting Hate Speech & Misinformation 

We support mechanisms to address hate speech and factual inaccuracy.

16. Diplomacy First 

We advocate a diplomacy first policy. Military action should be limited to the least needed for defense of our nation and not used as preemptive aggression. Military support for other nations should be dependent on their upholding human rights in accord with international and U.S. law and should be subject to Congressional approval.

Legislative Action Items

1. Marriage Equality in the Oregon Constitution 

A Constitutional amendment measure enshrining legal marriage between consenting adults regardless of their gender or sexuality in the Oregon Constitution should be referred to the people of Oregon.

2. Reproductive Rights in the Oregon Constitution 

A Constitutional amendment measure that safeguards reproductive rights by codifying the individual's right to all reproductive healthcare and to eliminate barriers to abortion services should be referred to the people of Oregon.

3. Protecting Gender-Affirming Care 

A ballot measure to protect gender-affirming care should be referred to the people of Oregon. The ballot measure should include protections for parents of minor children and mandatory reporters.

4. Closing Gaps in Education, Health Care & Housing 

Policies and laws should be enacted to address systemic disparities, ensuring equitable access to education, healthcare (including behavioral health), employment, and housing. These policies and laws must be fully funded.

5. Universal Health Care Ballot Measure 

The Oregon legislature shall refer the Universal Health Care (i.e., Health Care for All) Governance Board Plan to the people of Oregon.

6. Funding the Courts 

The Oregon legislature must fully fund the court system to ease the backlog of cases and allow for individuals, including victims, to receive justice in a timely fashion.

7. Legal Aid

The Oregon legislature needs to fully fund the public defenders office. It is impossible to have a fair judicial process when one side of the system is overworked and underpaid.

8. Legal Aid for Immigrants & Refugees 

The Oregon legislature needs to allocate full funding for attorneys to assist immigrants and refugees with immigration proceedings.

9. Strengthening Our Sanctuary Promise 

The Oregon legislature needs to add teeth to our Sanctuary Promise so that any government or law enforcement individuals that violate our sanctuary status can be prosecuted for their actions.

10. Protecting Access to Reproductive Medications 

Legislation must be enacted that allows for medications and treatments that are used for reproductive healthcare, and other medical conditions, to remain accessible for those who need them.

11. A Policy for Civil Disobedience 

In partnership with the public, local and state governments need to develop policy for handling incidences of Civil Disobedience.

12. Preventing Over-Medication of Youth in Care 

Oregon Health Authority should develop policy around the medication of youth that provides equitable access to and prevents over-medication of youth of color, youth with disabilities, and youth in settings such as foster care.

13. A Fairer Tax Code 

Every level of government should thoroughly assess the tax code and ensure that those at the lower end of the economic system pay taxes at a lower rate and those at the higher end of the economic system pay a higher rate.

14. Ban on Dynamic Pricing 

We call on legislators to pass a ban on so-called “dynamic pricing”. This ban should prohibit pricing based on personal data or third-party data brokerage, mandate transparency and auditing, and enforce penalties for violations while allowing sales and coupons that aren’t based on invasive profiles.

Article III Education

Public Education for All

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Preamble

We believe all public schools should be supported with equitable, stable and sustainable public funding streams that provide all students with a high-quality education with a culturally inclusive curriculum from pre-kindergarten through high school and career training. It achieves this through developing thoughtful individuals who are collaborative problem-solvers and creative thinkers when given access to a quality education and the tools to drive our economy forward. We assert that quality public education for all students enriches personal lives, strengthens our economy and is critical to a well-functioning democracy.

Planks

1. Tuition-Free Education for All 

We believe in education as a public good. Therefore, we support education as the right for every person to have a quality, tuition-free education from preschool through the university level.

2. Ensuring Adequate and Equitable Education Funding in Oregon

We believe Oregon should adequately and equitably fund what students and schools need to achieve clear statewide education goals. The State should regularly evaluate and update its education funding models to reflect current research, actual costs, changing student needs, and evidence about the resources and practices that improve student outcomes 

3. Withdrawing from Smarter Balanced Testing 

We oppose high-stakes standardized tests that, according to quality research, unfairly label students of color, students with disabilities, students from low-income homes, and English Language Learners (ELL) as "failing". We oppose the marginalizing of social studies, civics, science and the humanities due to an overemphasis on tested subjects. We strongly urge the state of Oregon to withdraw from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and to adopt its own curriculum centered assessments that keep PK-12 education student-centered.

4. No Public Funds for Private Charter Schools 

We oppose any funding or resources being diverted from public schools and allocated to private for-profit charter school businesses. We support measures to increase accountability for private for-profit charter schools by requiring them to meet the same standards of transparency as public schools. We oppose the outsourcing of substitute teachers to third party for-profit businesses or to any type of agency outside of the public school system.

5. Play-Based Early Learning 

We support developmentally appropriate classroom instruction that fully incorporates structured play-based learning as part of the curriculum which emphasizes the pedagogical approach of "Active Playful Learning." Children learn best when they are actively engaged in personally meaningful, socially interactive, iterative and joyful activities.

6. AI & Media Literacy in Schools 

We believe that Artificial Intelligence is disrupting education, the workplace and many other aspects of our lives. To thrive in the future, schools will need to be AI and media literate to have mastered critical thinking. These skills require at least a decade of deliberate practice, so training must start during preK-12 education.

7. Computer Science for Every Student 

We believe access to basic computer science and computational thinking curriculum is a basic right for all K-12 students in today's economy and society.

8. STEAM Access for Underrepresented Students 

We believe in the prioritization of high-quality STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math) education, and the funding for underrepresented students, including students of color and low-income students, to help remove enrollment and achievement barriers in obtaining a STEAM education. Computer skills are essential for K-12.

9. Career & Technical Education Partnerships 

We believe that Multnomah County schools should strengthen their partnership with business, unions and industry to better prepare students through career technical classes and trade apprenticeship programs.

10. Protecting Student Data Privacy 

We oppose unregulated access to student information embedded in digital education products.

11. Safe, Healthy School Buildings 

We support safe schools where students are provided with safe learning environments free from lead paint, lead in water, asbestos, and other threats, such as poor ventilation and air quality.

12. Climate Justice Education 

We support climate justice education at all grade levels.

13. Developing and Retaining a Diverse Educator Workforce  

We support the development and retention of a school- and district-level educator workforce that represents the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of the student populations it serves 

14. Teacher Collective Bargaining & Smaller Classes 

We support the right of teachers' unions and staff to collective bargaining. We recommend the implementation of smaller class sizes based on quality research.

15. Native American Curriculum & Partnerships 

We support the forming and strengthening of relationships with indigenous people through development of a statewide curriculum about Native American experiences in Oregon.

16. Native Language & Dual-Immersion Programs 

We recognize that native language academic instruction for students identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP) provides equitable access to education. We support evidenced-based dual-immersion programs for elementary grade students identified as LEP.

17. Teaching a Full, Honest U.S. History 

We believe US history should be taught recognizing the contributions of all oppressed groups who have been discriminated against in the development of our country, as well as acknowledging the impact racism and oppression have had on our institutions.

Legislative Action Items

1. Modernizing Oregon's Education Funding Adequacy Model 

Modernize Oregon's approach to determining education funding adequacy. Direct the State to regularly identify and estimate the cost of the resources and practices students and schools need to achieve statewide goals, using current research, actual district costs, and student needs. Update the Quality Education Model to align with education finance best practices that integrate educator and community voice, Oregon data, and research to develop a successor model as necessary, and use the resulting analysis to inform State funding decisions. 

2. Funding Art, Music & Full-Range Programs 

We support adequate funding of a full range of programs including but not limited to art, music, band, choir, drama, dance, world language, AI and media literacy, bilingual programs, physical education, library services, civics, counseling, health and social services, personal development, career technical education (CTE), and alternative education opportunities. In addition, access to interpreters for all languages needs to be available.

3. Keeping Public Funds in Public Schools 

We recommend that Oregon direct education funding to strengthen our public schools and deny public funding for the expansion of private for-profit schools, vouchers of all types, social impact bonds, experimental Ed Tech programs, virtual schools (outside of public schools) and other mechanisms that weaken public schools while accelerating the privatization of public education.

4. Withdrawing from Smarter Balanced Testing 

We strongly encourage the State of Oregon to withdraw from the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), at every grade level, and return to high-quality standards and assessments developed by teachers that keep PreK-12 education student-centered.

5. Student-Centered Formative Assessment 

We believe that a system of Summative and Interim high stake assessments have dominated ODE thinking and budgeting and therefore recommend that the State of Oregon include the third type of testing: student centered formative assessment. Teacher-admin teams would develop formative/interim assessments with common scoring guides that are "standardized" to allow direct comparison across grades. It would include frontline educators who work closest with students and therefore understand that assessment must engage and motivate learners.

6. Reducing Class Sizes 

We call for legislation to reduce class sizes to numbers based on reliable age-based research studies. In addition, the state funding formula must be adjusted to promote more equitable class sizes across the state.

7. Teacher Training in AI & Media Literacy 

We recognize the importance of critical thinking skills, AI and media and literacy in a range of subjects, including civics, health history and the sciences, and support teacher professional development as an essential step toward developing these skills in our students.

8. Funding Play-Based Learning Training (SB 1596) 

We recommend proper funding for the implementation of SB1596 that was passed during the 2026 Legislative Session. Professional Development is essential to effectively incorporate Play-Based Learning approach in the classroom. Bringing joy back into public education will help reduce the number of families who are choosing homeschool, private and corporate online learning option as well as alleviating the current attendance crisis.

9. Universal Preschool & Fair Early Educator Pay 

We support universal preschool across the state that is focused on providing early learning experiences for children of color, children living in poverty, children that speak languages other than English, and children experiencing developmental delays and disabilities. Programs should ensure that early learning professionals receive wages similar to kindergarten teachers and elementary school paraprofessionals.

10. Wraparound Services for Students in Poverty 

We recognize that poverty is a systemic problem embedded in society at large and believe that schools can be responsive in addressing poverty-related traumas, including the effects on highly mobile students. Therefore, we recommend that funding be invested in PreK-12 wraparound services including mentoring, after-school programs, counselors, social workers, culturally relevant curriculum and instruction, and other programs that have been proven effective in assuring student success.

11. Protecting Data in the Statewide Longitudinal Database 

We recommend that limits be set on the types of personal student data collected and stored in the Statewide Longitudinal Database (SLD) and other state databases, that data be adequately protected, and that an audit be performed to establish a baseline and monitor the rising cost of maintaining the SLD in future years.

12. Tuition-Free Public College 

We call for legislation that funds public colleges and universities to accomplish their essential role to create responsible, informed, thoughtful, and engaged citizens. We therefore recommend that adequate funding be appropriated for every qualified Oregon student to be able to attend a public college, university, or other post-secondary training tuition-free.

13. Environmental & Digital Health & Safety in Schools 

We recommend legislation requiring school districts to protect children from lead paint, lead in water, excessive screen time on computer devices, exposure of personal information through computer use, poor ventilation, air quality and other threats that may endanger their physical, mental, and emotional health.

14. Funding Native American Experience Curriculum (SB 13) 

We support the provision of ongoing funding and other resources to implement SB 13 (2017), which calls upon the Oregon Department of Education to develop a statewide curriculum relating to the Native American experience in Oregon (e.g. tribal history, tribal sovereignty, culture, treaty rights, socio-economic experience and current events).

15. Teaching Oregon's History of Racial Discrimination 

We call for legislation to require public education instruction for K-16 specific to the history of racial discrimination and marginalization in Oregon. We demand the honest portrayal of history and facts that accurately depicts the experience of marginalized and colonized peoples including but not limited to Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other people of color.

16. Enforcing the Minority Teacher Educator Act 

We recognize the importance of an ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse workforce, therefore, we demand that the Oregon Department of Education be held accountable to implement the Minority Teacher Educator Act of 1991.

17. Removing Barriers for Bilingual Teachers 

We recommend legislation that guides the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) to review current policies and procedures that are potential barriers to increasing bilingual teachers in schools. We call on the TSPC to analyze the testing and certification requirements as they compare to other states to review cultural and linguistic bias.

18. Keeping Substitute Teachers as District Employees 

We call for legislation to require public school districts to employ substitute teachers and not to outsource them from third-party for-profit staffing agencies. Substitute teachers need to be employees of the districts in which they work.

19. School Emergency Preparedness Planning 

We call for our school districts to proactively plan for emergencies (such as COVID or wildfires) with input from members of our diverse communities. Districts need to be prepared to support all our students and staff prior to the need for an emergency plan with alternative educational options. These plans need to include provisions for internet, physical safety, school supply, and meal access for all that need additional support. These plans should also include supporting teachers and staff, so that they have plenty of advance time to prepare.

Article IV: Anti-Blackness in Oregon

Racial Justice & Reparations

Preamble

From its inception in the 19th Century, first as a U.S. Territory and then a state, Oregon was designed to be a "white-only" state with expressed exclusion of Black people via its constitution, legislation and public policy. If our state truly hopes to heal from systemic racism and Black exclusion, we must confront Oregon's unique Anti-Black history and the legacy of disadvantage that affects Oregon's Black population today. The required remedies are multifaceted.

Planks

1. More Contracts for Black-Owned Businesses 

We urge the support of the City of Portland, Multnomah County Commission, and the State of Oregon to increase the percentage and number of government contracts that go to Black-owned businesses.

2. Making Redlined Families Whole 

We believe that Black families displaced from their homes or communities due to displacement policies, eminent domain, gentrification, or redlining must be made whole.

3. A Formal Apology for Black Exclusion 

We strongly believe there should be a formal apology from the Oregon legislature for its past complicity in the state's Black exclusion laws and other Anti-Black language in the state's constitution, dating back to 1844 and not formally removed until 2002.

4. Acknowledging the Roots of Racial Disparity 

We believe the Oregon state legislature must publicly acknowledge that multi-generational trauma, chronic poverty, underrepresentation of Black Oregonians, and other disparities between Black and white Oregonians are the direct result of racist laws and public policy.

5. Restorative Justice for Racial Harms 

We support creating a process of restorative and corrective justice for past racial harms inflicted by local, city, and state governments against American descendants of slavery (ADOS) in Oregon.

6. A Reparations Package for ADOS Oregonians 

We believe that the Democratic Party at the county and state level must support a reparations package for ADOS Oregonians at the federal level that includes, but is not limited to, cash payments, land allocations, protections from predatory schemes, education scholarships, lineage therapy, and homeownership assistance, with the end goal of closing the 10:1 wealth gap between ADOS Oregonians and white Oregonians.

7. Ending Black Overincarceration 

According to the most recent available data, Oregon state prisons hold Black people at a rate of 1,670 per 100,000 residents compared to 307 per 100,000 for white residents, meaning Black Oregonians are incarcerated at 5.4 times the rate of their white counterparts. That disparity has not meaningfully changed. This atrocity must be corrected through a multitude of societal and criminal justice reforms.

8. Ending Capital Exclusion for Black-Owned Businesses 

Oregon banks have consistently failed Black business owners seeking capital. The Portland Business Journal reported that SBA (Small Business Administration) loans to Black-owned businesses dropped to single digits by 2010, and as recently as 2020, only four Black-owned businesses in Oregon received SBA loans. Nationally, Black business owners receive the full amount of financing they apply for at less than half the rate of white business owners. This pattern of capital exclusion is structural and must be corrected.

9. Closing the Black Health Care Gap 

African Americans have been disproportionately impacted by inequitable access to healthcare. We believe Oregon must enact policies to rectify this disparity, including addressing Black maternal mortality, mandating implicit bias training in all healthcare institutions, and expanding culturally and linguistically specific healthcare services. (Per Oregon advocacy commission report/recommendations.)

10. Teaching Accurate Black History 

We support the inclusion of accurate Black history in all social studies and history classes, including slavery, Oregon's original Black exclusion, Jim Crow laws, discriminatory practices, 20th century civil rights actions, and the important contributions and achievements of Black Americans.

11. Supporting Affirmative Action 

We support affirmative action in the U.S. as one means to remedy the results of prior discrimination and ensure equitable higher education and employment opportunities for African Americans.

12. Funding Solutions, Not More Studies 

We believe Oregon must prioritize funding community-led solutions for Black Oregonians over continued research and study. The Oregon advocacy commissions office four-year cumulative report, built on input from more than 200 Oregonians of color, explicitly called for a shift away from additional research and toward sustained investment in the solutions that those most impacted are best positioned to lead. (Per Oregon advocacy commission report/recommendations.)

13. Diversifying Oregon's Teaching Workforce 

We believe Black students deserve educators who reflect their experience. Oregon must invest in diversifying its teaching workforce, recruiting and retaining Black educators in classrooms and school leadership, and ending the school-to-prison pipeline that disproportionately removes Black children from educational pathways.

14. Police Accountability & Black Community Safety 

We believe community safety must include Black lives. We support robust, independent civilian oversight of all Oregon police departments with real disciplinary authority, mandatory body cameras with community-accountable access standards, and dedicated, fully funded unarmed mental health crisis response and behavioral health units operating around the clock.

15. Ending Environmental Racism 

We believe Black Oregonians have been disproportionately harmed by environmental racism including pollution siting, redlining-driven lack of tree canopy, heat exposure, poor air quality, inadequate access to parks, and climate vulnerability. Oregon must invest in equitable urban greening, climate-resilient housing, and clean air protections in historically Black communities, and must require measurable public reporting on progress.

16. Protecting DEI Programs 

We oppose any state or federal action that restricts, defunds, or eliminates programs addressing racial disparities under the guise of eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Structural racism is a public health crisis; Oregon declared it so in 2021, and dismantling the tools designed to address it causes measurable harm.

17. Opposing Anti-Blackness in Progressive Spaces

We are committed to building a party that is truly inclusive, and that means addressing anti-Black bias directly and constructively whenever it arises within our own spaces. We believe accountability strengthens our coalition rather than divides it, and we commit to handling these moments with honesty and care.

Legislative Action Items

1. 6% of Contracts to Black-Owned Businesses 

We call on local and state government to ensure that a minimum of 6% of government contracts be awarded to small Black-owned businesses.

2. SBA Loan Targets for Black Business Owners 

We call for local and state government to work in tandem with the federal government to ensure that a minimum of 6% of SBA loans are allocated to Black people in Portland and that a minimum of 3% go to Black Oregonians statewide.

3. A Redlining Recompense Office & Database 

The state of Oregon must create a special office, advised by a majority Black community advisory board, and a database to locate and track families who were redlined between the 1940s and 1960s and provide equitable recompense. Policy remedies must prioritize those directly impacted by redlining and/or their descendants.

4. Bank Audits for Lending Discrimination 

We call on the state of Oregon to authorize bank audits to expose patterns of racial discrimination in lending and to require banks to extend and increase loans to Black businesses including Black farmers, Black institutions, and prospective homebuyers.

5. A State Reparations Committee 

We call for forming a state committee to consider reparations, including financial redress and other supportive measures for eligible Black residents of Oregon.

6. Tracking Black Oregonians in the Legal System 

We call on the Oregon state government, the City of Portland, Multnomah County and the State of Oregon to publish a live database of statistics about Black populations impacted by the legal system.

7. Reviewing Racially Disparate Sentencing 

We call for significant criminal justice reform for Oregon's over-incarcerated Black population, including a review of punishments levied disproportionately on Black Oregonians such as charges resulting in mandatory long sentences and extended pre-parole time, and annual publication of results of that review. Based on the results of the review we will call for specific reform recommendations.

8. Permanent Funding for Reparative Housing Work 

We call on the Oregon legislature to permanently fund community-based organizations doing reparative housing work, including the North and Northeast Portland preference policy, the 1803 Fund, SEI, the Urban League of Portland, and Albina Vision Trust, replacing inconsistent annual budget fights with sustained, predictable investment.

9. Race-Disaggregated Health Data & Maternal Mortality Funding 

We call on the Oregon legislature to mandate the annual collection and public reporting of race-disaggregated health data across all Oregon health systems, and to require dedicated state funding for Black maternal mortality prevention and culturally specific healthcare services. (Per Oregon advocacy report/recommendations.)

10. Environmental Impact Assessments in Black Neighborhoods 

We call on Oregon state agencies to conduct cumulative environmental impact assessments in historically Black neighborhoods and to require public reporting on disparities in tree canopy, heat exposure, air quality, pollution burden, park access, and climate resilience with enforceable timelines for remediation.

11. Independent Civilian Police Oversight 

We call on the Oregon legislature to establish independent civilian oversight bodies for all Oregon police departments with genuine disciplinary authority, mandate body cameras with community-accountable access standards, and dedicate funding for unarmed behavioral health crisis response units operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

12. Reentry Services & Violence Prevention Funding 

We call on the Oregon legislature to expand the law enforcement liability account program, increase investment in violence prevention programming, and fund robust reentry services and court advocacy for Black Oregonians exiting the criminal legal system. (Per Oregon advocacy Commission report/recommendations.)

Article V Governance

Fair Elections & Accountable Government

Preamble

A Representative Democracy is meant to be the result of the fair contention between ideas and not money or power. We are dedicated to election integrity, ensuring all eligible voters can vote without hardship and that all votes are counted. We address governance and election issues, promoting public understanding, equality and equity. We believe integrity requires both strong advocacy for ideas and the energy for their implementation.

Planks

1. Full Transparency in Government 

We support full transparency of all actions, officials, campaigns and candidates.

2. Holding Officials Accountable 

We believe in holding our elected officials to a higher standard of public scrutiny, rebuking any who denigrate the public or engage in activities with even a potential appearance of impropriety or corruption.

3. Ending Vote Splitting 

We support government adoption of voting methods that eliminate vote splitting and assure winners are elected by the majority.

4. Corporations Are Not People 

We believe no corporate entity should be assigned the right of natural persons and that money should not be regarded as constitutionally protected free speech.

5. Campaign Finance Reform 

We support campaign finance reform, demanding strict limits on contributions, donor disclosure and small donor public financing.

6. Protecting Open Democratic Debate 

We believe democracy requires open debate, representation of all people, respect for minority participation, minimized obstruction and final decision by the majority.

7. Upholding the Constitution 

We believe in strict adherence to the Constitution, including separation of powers, checks and balances among the branches of government, and upholding the protections of the Bill of Rights.

8. Opening the Door to New Candidates 

We believe the Democratic Party should practice policies which promote impartiality and opportunity for the development of new ideas and candidates.

Legislative Action Items

1. Limiting Money in Politics 

We support the enactment of legislation or constitutional amendment(s): a. limiting the influence of donations and lobbying by private or corporate wealth on elections. b. limiting campaign spending. c. supporting public financing of elections. d. making the electoral process transparent, including full disclosure of contributions with close monitoring of the entire process.

2. Voting Rights for Incarcerated Citizens 

We support legislation providing voting rights for all incarcerated citizens.

3.Establishing a Non-Partisan Redistricting Commission

We support an Oregon Constitutional Amendment to create a non-partisan commission for redistricting.

4. Voting Rights for D.C. & U.S. Territories 

We support granting voting rights to US Citizens residing in Washington D.C. and US territories.

5. Boosting Voter Participation 

We support government policies and practices that promote voter participation and education such as: a. National Election Day, b. automatic voter registration at the age of 18 and when adults become citizens, c. Vote-by-Mail through the US Postal Service, d. prohibiting voter roll purges without adequate notification and time for response.

6. A Party That Reflects Its Voters 

We will actively pursue representation that reflects the diversity of registered voters throughout the development process of Party platforms.

7. Ranked Choice & STAR Voting 

We support the implementation of alternative voting methods such as ranked choice voting (RCV) or STAR which minimize the common pitfalls of traditional first-past-the-post systems like vote-splitting, spoiler-effect, partisanship and plurality voting. We advocate for the further study of proportional representation.  And address centralized tabulation

8. Judicial Recusal & Court Reform

We support requiring that all judges must recuse themselves from cases involving conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof. Consider structural reforms to the federal judiciary (e.g., term limits for Supreme Court justices, adjustments to court size) to reduce partisan imbalance and restore legitimacy with a binding code of conduct.

9.  Banning Stock Trading and Personal Enrichment Across Government Branches

We oppose stock trading throughout all 3 branches and other forms of personal enrichment (including family-members/close-relationship)

10. Ensuring Accessible Polling Locations and Fair Pay for Election Workers

We support ensuring adequate, accessible, well‑staffed polling locations (including on campuses, rural areas, and Native reservations) and higher pay for election workers.

11. Opposing the SAVE Act

We oppose The Save Act

12. Supporting a National Popular Vote for President

We support moving toward electing the president by national popular vote rather than the Electoral College, or adopt compacts that effectively achieve this.

13. Combating Voting Disinformation and Voter Intimidation 

We support increasing transparency and penalties against disinformation about voting procedures, voter intimidation, and deceptive voter registration schemes

14. Expanding the House of Representatives for Better Representation

We support increasing the size of the House of Representatives to better match population growth and improve representation

15. Protecting Justice and Law Enforcement Agencies from Political Interference

We support strengthening norms and laws that insulate the Department of Justice, FBI, and other enforcement agencies from partisan manipulation, ensuring equal application of the law. / Reinforce protections for civil service independence and whistleblowers, limiting politicization of federal agencies

Article VI Criminal Justice

Fair, Humane Criminal Justice

Preamble

The criminal justice systems within the United States of America, at the federal, state, and local levels, demonstrably fall well short of the minimum standards of fairness and equity, making these so-called justice systems patently unjust. The criminal justice system should be reformed so that it operates fairly and equitably, while respecting the dignity and humanity of those interacting with the system. We oppose a criminal justice system that discriminates against people of color and poor people, fails to adequately provide for public defense, fails to recognize addiction as a public health issue rather than a criminal issue, promotes mass incarceration and punishment instead of rehabilitation and restorative justice, fails to hold police accountable for abuses of power, doesn't meet the needs of individuals returning from incarceration, and fails to adequately fund services that help prevent crime and services that assist people in crisis. We call upon our government at the local, state, and federal levels to examine the system's failings and provide laws and funding to identify and remedy its problems and prevent future inequity.

Planks

1. Restorative Justice, Not Just Punishment 

We acknowledge that punishment and incarceration have failed to eliminate violence or to provide the community safety and security that everyone deserves. Our criminal justice system must protect the right of all residents to fair and equitable treatment. It should shift to a rehabilitative system, including more access to education and other programs. We support Restorative Justice encounters between victim and harm-doer as an alternative to imprisonment, while providing accountability, repairing harm, and responding to the needs of those affected.

2. Investing in Crime Prevention 

We believe in preventing violence and other criminal behavior by greatly expanding and funding needed services and opportunities in our communities, especially those that have been most harmed and least helped by the public safety and criminal justice systems, including communities of color, rural residents, and Native Americans.

3. Community-Based Policing Alternatives 

We support alternatives to traditional policing, such as community policing, replacing police with other first-responders when appropriate to the situation, police officers being residents in the jurisdictions in which they work, and law enforcement accountability for their treatment of individuals.

4. Ending Discriminatory Policing

 We oppose any policing that discriminates against poor people, people of color, or any protected category of residents. We oppose selective targeting, illegal or unethical interrogations, unscientific eyewitness identifications, ubiquitous surveillance, such as Flock cameras, and unreliable facial recognition software.

5. Ending Unfair Prosecution & Bail Practices 

We oppose any unfair and biased legal system practices such as prosecutorial overcharging, coercive plea bargains, money bail, excessive penalties and fees for inability to pay fines, and any practices that result in a disproportionate number of people of color and economically disadvantaged people being charged, convicted, and incarcerated.

6. Fair, Individualized Sentencing

We believe the unique circumstances of each defendant, crime and victim should always be considered in applying sentences. We support earned reductions in sentence, benefiting both prison staff and incarcerated individuals. We recognize that mandatory sentencing has disproportionately impacted poor people and people of color in our communities.

7. Expanding Public Defense 

We support expansion of public defense in Oregon, including incentives, equitable compensation of attorneys and staff, and manageable caseloads.

8. Ending Profit from Incarceration

We believe no one should profit from the incarceration of others and decisions about prisoner conditions should not depend on anybody's profit, including from underpaying for prisoner jobs, and from prisoner phone calls, video visits, and money transfers, or inflated commissary prices, all of which also impacts prisoners’ loved ones.

9. Humane Treatment for Prisoners 

We oppose all inhumane treatment of prisoners, such as solitary confinement; harmful or humiliating physical restraints; neglect of medical conditions, the elderly, people with disabilities, the terminally ill, those unable to function independently, and special needs of women and of cultural groups. Humane treatment includes healthy food and outdoor exercise and many hours a day outside of the cell on a regular basis. If in both jails and prisons there is not equitable review of and action on prisoner grievances, with a prohibition against retaliation, this must be provided.

10. Treating Addiction as a Health Issue 

We believe drug addiction should be treated as a public health issue rather than a criminal issue, that treatment should be readily available for all who want it, and that all drug use and possession for personal use should be fully decriminalized.

11. Preventing Gun Violence

We support evidenced-based and other measures that can prevent gun violence, including homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings.

12. Ending the Death Penalty & Life Without Parole

We oppose both the death penalty and life without parole sentences, for several reasons including wrongful convictions, discriminatory application, and failure to acknowledge the possibility of redemption.

13. Supporting Successful Reentry

We support helping previously incarcerated individuals, whether they have completed their sentence or are under probation or post-prison supervision, to successfully reintegrate into society by removing barriers to housing, education, training programs, jobs and by providing other assistance.

14. Voting Rights for Incarcerated People

We believe that no incarcerated citizens should lose the right to vote

15. Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline 

We oppose the school-to-prison pipeline that funnels children out of their public schools into the criminal justice system, as a means of disciplining students in school, and at the same time disproportionately impacts students of color.

16.  Due Process for Asylum Seekers 

We support due process for all asylum seekers at the US border. We oppose inhumane treatment and living conditions for all people detained for possible deportation, especially the abhorrent practice of separation of family members. We oppose criminalization of efforts to help immigrants and undocumented residents.

17. Community Policing Strategies

We believe in the following community policing strategies: police officers and community working together as partners, use of de-escalation policies and practices rather than physical restraint and threats, and police training for effectively addressing cross-cultural situations.

18. Supporting Victim Services 

We support comprehensive services that provide trauma-informed therapeutic assistance to victims of crime and their family members.

19. Ending Qualified Immunity for Police Misconduct 

We oppose qualified immunity when used by law enforcement to avoid personal accountability for violence and misconduct.

20. Abolishing ICE 

We support abolishing ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) due to their civil rights violations, due process failures, non-compliance with judicial orders. violation of the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, Indiscriminate detentions and racial profiling, inhumane detention conditions, and blocking Congressional oversight.

Legislative Action Items

1. Repealing Mandatory Minimum Sentences

We support legislation, policies, and funding to provide alternatives to incarceration where appropriate. With the goal of repealing mandatory minimum sentencing, we support all legislation that offers alternatives and exceptions, allows for earned time off sentences, or removes any crime from the mandatory sentencing list, substituting guidelines in its place.

2. 24/7 Non-Police Crisis Response Teams 

We support organizing and funding well-trained and fully staffed non-police teams to intervene in mental and behavioral health crisis situations in our communities on a 24-hour basis.

3. Equitable Public Defense Attorney Funding 

We support legislation to ensure that all public defense attorneys, regardless of their employment status as direct state employees, employees of nonprofit public defender organizations, or members of independent consortiums or private practices, are fully and equitably funded and have manageable caseloads, to guarantee that all clients of court-appointed defense attorneys have equal access and ability to exercise their Oregon State and US Constitutional rights to counsel, without regard to the public or private employment status of the attorney appointed.

4. Incentives Lawyers to be Public Defenders

We will support legislation that incentivizes lawyers to be public defenders, such as partial school loan payment forgiveness. 

5.  Universal Background Checks & Gun Safety 

We support evidence-based and other legislation to prevent gun violence, including homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings, such as universal background checks, gun owner licensing, accessible safe storage, and mandatory safety and handling classes. We oppose ownership and use, whether by civilians or police or domestically-deployed military, of weaponry and ammunition that are inappropriate for personal self-defense, hunting, or sport.

A Statewide Public Defenders Office 

We support a uniform department of public defenders within the Oregon Department of Justice staffed with fully funded attorneys that are trained and qualified and have manageable caseloads, whose job is to provide criminal defense when a court appointed attorney is required.

6. Expanding Access to Gun Permits

We support making Measure 114’s permit to purchase program more accessible, so that the permit can be obtained through other government offices besides police, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles.

7. Protecting Incarcerated Women 

We support legislation protecting the rights and safety of incarcerated women and addressing the particular needs relevant to their gender.

8. Expanding Compassionate Release 

We support Compassionate Release legislation that will expand and expedite the early release program for incarcerated people close to death or unable to function independently.

9. Voting Rights While Incarcerated 

All citizens should be allowed to register and vote while incarcerated.

10. Fair Pay for Prisoner Labor

We support creation of a fair system of prisoner work and compensation. Oregon Constitution, Section 41, Article 1 should be removed. It should be replaced with a new work, education, and skill-training system designed by a state board of community members.

11.  Removing Police from Schools

To cut the “school-to-prison pipeline” and protect students and educators’ civil liberties, we support a statewide ban on the stationing of law enforcement officers in Oregon primary and secondary schools. 

12.  Ending Juvenile Prosecution as Adult 

We oppose charging juvenile defendants as adults.

13. Funding Gun Violence Prevention Programs 

We support evidence-based legislation that funds communities heavily impacted by gun violence, focusing on addressing the root causes of behavioral violence, including structural violence, racism, and other forms of oppression. Priorities include place-based environmental design, crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), and long-term sustainability for community-based organizations tackling homicides and violence.

14. Education & Licensure Access After Release

We support improvements to the reentry process for the formerly incarcerated, including access to more education and training while inside and access to licensure after release.

15. Ending the Criminalization of Homelessness 

We oppose efforts to criminalize homelessness, including de facto criminalization through sweeps.

16.  Ending Prison Privatization & Profiteering

We oppose the privatization of all aspects of the carceral system. We support legislation and policies to eliminate profiteering from prisoner services and products.

17. Free Phone Calls for Incarcerated People

We call for eliminating charges for phone calls and other telecommunications with incarcerated individuals.

18. Tracking & Reducing Over-Prosecution 

We oppose over-prosecution by DAs of less serious crimes that could be addressed in other ways that do not waste use of public defenders and court time, including use of civil compromise. We support legislation to require reporting DA prosecution rates by county and then basing county budgets on these rates.

19. Simplifying the Expungement Process

We support simplification of the expungement process, including an automatic process when DAs lose a case.

20. Due-Process Protections from ICE

We call for further protections of immigrants from ICE to prevent no-due-process detentions & deportations. 

21. Divesting from Private Detention Companies

We call for a ban on investments in GEO Group & Core Civic, and any other for-profit companies that run immigrant detention facilities.

22. Ending Solitary Confinement

We oppose solitary confinement in Oregon.

23. Domestic Violence & Sentencing Reform

We support legislation to require sentencing decisions by judges to include consideration of the impact of domestic violence on a person convicted of a crime, if that abuse contributed to their crime. We also support allowing domestic violence survivors already serving time to petition for a lighter sentence on the same basis.

24. Ban on Electric Shock Gloves in Law Enforcement and Schools 

We oppose the use of electric shock gloves by any law enforcement or school resource officers.

25. Requiring Cameras and Accountability in Policing and Corrections 

We support legislation to require the use of cameras by police officers and for prisoner transport and during disciplinary encounters between guards and prisoners in both prisons and jails, in order to record factual information. We support legislation to hold law enforcement and corrections staff accountable for misconduct, including dismissal where appropriate.

Article VII- Environment

Climate & Clean Energy

Preamble

We recognize the current climate emergency requires immediate action to avoid catastrophic warming, triggering irreversible impacts that threaten to make our planet uninhabitable. We support an aggressive and robust timeline for implementing controls on greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors of the economy. We support legislation that improves Oregon’s resilience to climate threats, eliminating forever chemicals and plastics, and transitioning land management practices towards those that are sustainable, regenerative and sequester the greatest amount of carbon possible. We advocate for environmental justice, equity, and inclusion. We call for centering and protecting historically marginalized populations, particularly indigenous nations, in discussions and policies that affect the environment, and demand that legislation include Free Prior and Informed Consent of tribal nations. Efforts to protect the planet and save humanity from climate disasters must be focused and measurable.

Planks

1. Healthy Environment is a Human Right

We believe that all people and lifeforms have the inalienable right to a habitable planet, healthy local environments and accessible natural spaces. We recognize the necessity of adequate clean air, water, and healthy soils. We consider thriving oceans, estuaries, freshwater ecosystems, rangelands, and forests as indispensable, and management of these resources should reflect their societal values.  

2. Environmental Justice

We believe policies related to the environment and our climate must be framed within our justice and equity goals, including the just transition of displaced workers, low-income communities and other historically marginalized populations. These policies must act against the intentional placement of pollution generating activities near marginalized communities.

3. Climate Emissions Reductions and Enforcement 

We believe rapidly reducing greenhouse gases across all sectors and systems (building, transportation, energy, agriculture, etc.) is paramount, including aggressively enforcing and monitoring greenhouse gases and all other environmental hazards. We believe enforcement means violators are held accountable to address impacts to affected communities. Reducing greenhouse gases also demands immediate divestment from fossil fuels and a rapid transition away from fossil fuel infrastructure.

4. Natural Climate Solutions

We advocate for policies that prioritize capturing and sequestering carbon in Oregon’s natural and working lands, in balance with the needs of those who live on and work the land.  We oppose using Oregon’s natural carbon storage as justification for allowing further unaddressed carbon emissions.

5.  Species Protection

We believe we must act to protect native, keystone, endangered and threatened species through applied scientific, evidence and equity-based efforts.

6. Public Lands and Water

We believe public land, resources, and waterways are inviolable and should be held and managed for the common good. We encourage collaborative partnerships committed to acquiring, preserving and utilizing land for the common good. Regulating land use is essential for preserving farmlands, rangelands, and forests and managing transportation.

7. Valuing Ecosystems

We believe that Oregon’s ecosystems should be valued, not by the raw goods they offer, but by the ecosystem services they provide, including, but not limited to, habitat, biodiversity, oxygen production, and air and water purification. Failing to protect natural systems that all life depends on, through inadequate regulation and enforcement, is an abuse of power.

8. Regenerative Land and Water Management

We support policies that support sustainable management of Oregon’s land and water resources through regenerative practices. Further, we advocate for immediate management of Oregon’s water crisis by reconstituting wetlands, protecting all waters, watersheds and aquifers; enacting water conservation, reclamation, and retention policies that do the least harm; and ensuring policies are enacted and practices fostered to prepare for periods of water scarcity.

9. Waste Management

We support statewide waste reduction, expanding recycling and reuse programs, and the right to repair. We strongly support legislation to eliminate fossil-fuel based plastics and other non-degradable products, beginning with non-recyclable and single-use plastics, and stringent policies to regulate pollution.

10. Fossil Fuels Threats 

We oppose unsafe rail transport through and storage of fossil fuels in our state. We believe our state’s railways, rivers, and communities should not be threatened by the possibility of explosive derailment of frequent oil trains and seismically vulnerable storage facilities . We believe our leaders and regulatory bodies should do more to reduce and withdraw from such oil transport.

11. Manage Data Center Expansion

We view unregulated data center development to be a threat to Oregon’s land, air, and water, electricity system, climate goals and affordability for Oregonians. We believe in principles of tribal consultation, full transparency of resource use, jobs, economic impact, air/noise pollution; accountability to protect residents, land use, and resources. We call for prioritizing communities and shared community action in engaging regulation and siting with intent to preserve and protect Oregon’s resources.  

Legislative Action Items 

1. Protect the Portland Clean Energy Fund

Protect the Portland Clean Energy Fund from reallocation of funds to other uses and advance similar initiatives in other cities, counties and the state.

2. Clean Up the CEI Fuel Hub

Implement effective measures to remediate, retire disused facilities  and restore the land and promote public safety in regard to the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub. Establish a dispersed and safer system of fuel storage for Oregon.

3. Increase Disbursed, Clean Energy for Resilience

Facilitate residential, multi-family, community solar, agrivoltaics, geothermal resources, electric storage and other distributed energy resources (i.e. Virtual Power Plants). Advocate for direct payment and other market mechanisms for incentives with funding from data centers.

4. Statewide Transmission Authority 

Pass a transmission authority for Oregon to manage major roadblocks in getting solar, wind and geothermal onto the electricity grid, build new transmission and coordinate markets.

5. Prioritize Climate & Equity by Funding Public Transit 

Develop new state revenue for transit such as a privilege or luxury tax. Prioritize repair and maintenance of our existing transportation system rather than highway expansion.

6. Regulate and Tax Data Centers

Develop policies regarding data centers to require transparency (e.g. Jobs, energy & water use, owners), accountability with enforcement to protect water resources, climate goals, new permitting for land use and wastewater management, stricter air pollution controls, and public community-centered benefits plan. Require clean energy resourcing. Remove tax exemptions and tax energy use, servers, and require payment for infrastructure land development and consider fees for artificial intelligence to fund grid improvements and other measures for the public good. Enact a moratorium until these regulations are enacted and enforced.

7. Pass a Climate Superfund bill 

Requiring large fossil fuel companies to pay for retroactive damage caused by their carbon pollution.

8. Protect Wetlands

In Oregon, all levels of government must protect and restore wetlands to ensure habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife as well as providing crucial benefits, from flood reduction to water filtration and carbon sequestration.

9. Manage Forests Sustainably

Create an Early Timber Harvest fee to incentivize longer logging rotations which protects drinking watersheds, increases carbon storage and funds counties, water infrastructure and firefighting. Advocate for Forest Stewardship Council Certification or other measures to improve practices such as patch harvesting, single-tree selection, and shelterwood systems.

10. Require Net Zero Carbon Building Codes by 2030

Develop mechanisms to avoid gas hookups in new buildings to reduce further fossil fuel infrastructure build-out and allow state REACH codes to be adopted by local jurisdictions including REACH level appliances.

11. Divest State Pension from Fossil Fuels

Divest PERS from fossil fuel companies and their supporting industries.

12. Pass an Environmental Rights Amendment

Incorporate an environmental rights amendment into the Oregon Constitution that establishes an affirmative mandate to protect our natural resources and require state agencies to modify practices accordingly.

13. Reduce Factory Farm Pollution

Existing concentrated industrial animal feeding operations must comply with current DEQ air and water pollution standards, nuisance odor, and other external pollution that harms any neighbor, and ultimately should be banned. Don’t allow Confined Animal Feeding Operations to have the unlimited stock watering rights offered to other ranch and farmland operations.

Article VIII Science & Technology

Ethical Science & Technology

Preamble

Multnomah Democrats believe evidence-based science should form the basis for many of the decisions the government makes, particularly regarding health and the environment. Basic research in science and technology are cornerstones for the future. We welcome innovation in all scientific arenas; however, the scientific community, both alone and in cooperation with the government, has the responsibility to protect the public from harm caused by incomplete understanding or misapplication of new technologies. We embrace the new frontiers of discovery and development in science, medicine, information, artificial intelligence, robotics, energy, transportation, space sciences, ocean sciences, and new fields as they emerge, with the expectation that the fruits of these endeavors benefit all humankind equally and equitably. We recognize that our global integration requires attention to the broad societal impacts of these developments.

Planks

1. An Open, Private & Neutral Internet 

We believe an open and democratic internet is critical to technological progress. In particular, we support universal access through public broadband and net neutrality; strong privacy protections, particularly for medical and financial information, for all data sharing applications; and robust data encryption protection uninhibited by back doors or key escrow.

2. Restore Public Funding for Science Research

We support government funding of both practical and theoretical science research at academic institutions and public-private partnerships, with provisions for transparency, accountability, and equitable protection of public interests. We affirm that Republican funding cuts, particularly for climate science, academic research, and mRNA vaccines, must be restored as soon as possible to restore American contributions and leadership in science. We believe all publicly funded research should be openly shared for the benefit of humanity.

3. Bias-Free Medical Research 

We support medical research for the purpose of eliminating disease, preventing pandemics, aiding recovery, and improving quality of life. Researchers must take care to address racial, gender and cultural bias in research, in order to improve outcomes for all patients.

4. Ethical Guardrails for AI Development 

We believe artificial intelligence research and development must be conducted within strict ethical and moral regulations. Developers and law must respect intellectual property rights; enhance, not replace, the value of human labor; prevent and prosecute invasions of privacy; minimize carbon impact and technological waste; prevent racial, gender or cultural bias; and benefit all humankind equally and equitably. AI industry infrastructure-related costs shall be the sole burden of the AI industry.

5. Accountability for AI Output 

We support holding the creators and users of AI responsible for the output they generate and share.

6. Opposing Weapons of Mass Destruction 

We oppose the research, development, manufacturing and use of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, including for military and law enforcement purposes.

7. Space Is Everybody’s Future 

We believe the United States should actively participate in space exploration. Our space program should cooperate with all humanity, for the public good and the betterment of all humankind, and that space exploration programs should also represent all humanity. NASA should be adequately funded for this purpose. We believe that space belongs to all of humanity, not corporations or private individuals.

8. Responsible Ocean Exploration 

We resolve to ensure that the exploration of our planet's oceans has value to society, mankind, and the sustainability of our planet. We believe ocean exploration must not harm wildlife or human life, and the safety of explorers must be of the utmost importance in all stages of exploration.

9. Ethical Limits on Human Cloning 

We oppose whole human cloning until ethical and legal questions are resolved. We support curing diseases via in vivo genetic editing and the cloning of individual organs.

10. Clean Transportation, Industry & Energy Tech 

We believe in requiring transportation, industrial, and energy technologies and policies that reduce climate change and improve impacts on human health.

11. Better Disaster Prediction Technology 

We support more deployment of advanced sensing technologies to predict weather, earthquakes, and tsunamis, and help protect lives and property from their destructive effects. We support continued improvement in climate modeling.

12. Right to Repair 

We support right-to-repair policies, especially (but not limited to) those relating to electronics, and farming, transportation, household, and disability access equipment. The lack of defined rights to practical lay access to shop manuals and affordable parts disproportionately impacts rural communities, low-income people, and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.

13. Right to Operate

We support right-to-operate laws that ban requiring subscription fees or internet connections to use appliances, vehicles, electronics, software, and other products, unless there is a bona fide and justifiable reason to do so. We oppose the use of hardware, software and firmware systems that interfere with the right of operation, including by keeping customers locked into a corporate "ecosystem."

14. Right to Own

We believe that when customers buy products, they should have the right to buy, store and use those products indefinitely and as they see fit. We believe that when a customer buys digital products, they have the right to store them on their own devices and use them. Purchases should be non-revokable.

15. State-Sponsored Research Facilities 

We believe Oregon needs to create additional, state-sponsored research facilities outside the university system so that scientists trained in Oregon can work in Oregon and to promote the development of capacity in the Oregon economy.

16. Funding Free & Open-Source Software 

We believe that free and open-source software (FOSS), as defined by the Open Source Initiative, is critical, transparent, cost-effective public infrastructure. We support reliable public and private funding of FOSS to deliver services and create opportunities for individuals and for organizations of all sizes.

17. Regulating Cryptocurrency 

We believe society and culture has a vested interest in governments regulating cryptocurrencies to address environmental impact, societal harm, intellectual property rights, criminal use, and privacy concerns, and must provide algorithm transparency.

18. Regulating Social Media 

We believe society and culture has a vested interest in governments regulating social media to address environmental impact, societal harm, intellectual property rights, criminal use, and privacy concerns, and must provide algorithm transparency. We support holding social media companies accountable for their algorithmic choices.

19. Protecting Sensitive Health Data 

We believe using surveillance, digital and manual, when it violates people's civil rights is an abuse of power. In particular, we believe laws must safeguard recording, storage, and distribution of all healthcare data against disclosure not in the interests of the patient. This includes reproductive, gender affirming and mental health information.

20. Strong Consumer Data Privacy 

We believe privacy is a human right. Therefore, consumer protection laws must include strict privacy safeguards, including end-to-end encryption in transit and at rest. This is especially critical for reproductive, gender-affirming, and mental health data.

21. Opposing Mass Surveillance 

The use of surveillance, whether electronic or manual, violates civil rights and civil liberties, and is an abuse of power, regardless of whether it is done by government or corporations. This includes but is not limited to: cell phone data, Wide Area Motion Imagery, Automated License Plate Readers (such as FLOCK cameras), and smart doorbell cameras.

22. Evidence-Based Climate Policy 

Follow the scientific consensus on the climate crisis, and ensure that future legislation and policies are evidence-based as opposed to greenwashing suggested by polluting industries.

23. Nature-Based Climate Solutions 

Climate policy must give serious consideration to science-based natural solutions, such as preserving mature and old-growth forests, wetlands, and the oceans; indigenous and innovative agricultural practices; and other ecologically sound solutions.

Legislative Action Items

1. A Moratorium on New Data Centers 

Enact a temporary moratorium on new data centers, until we pass regulations to control heat pollution, noise pollution, water consumption and pollution, utility rate impacts, and other ways that data centers could negatively impact local communities.

2. Ban Undisclosed AI-Generated Evidence 

Ban the use of AI-fabricated documents, audio and video in administrative and legal proceedings, unless clearly disclosed, with criminal and civil penalties for violations. Hold users accountable for misleading or disparaging use of AI, through criminal and civil penalties for violations.

3. Enforce Data Privacy

Prohibit surveillance, identification, tracking, analysis, synthesis and storage of location, activity and other data, whether that data is from personal or work devices, cameras, vehicles, or any other source, without a judicial warrant.

4. Prohibit Warrantless Mass Surveillance.

Ban the government use and funding of mass surveillance technologies for criminal investigations, including but not limited to: obtaining cell phone data, Wide Area Motion Imagery, Automated License Plate Readers (such as FLOCK cameras), and doorbell cameras.

5. Restore Science Research Funding

Restore science and technology funding to 2024 levels and 2024 formulas. Include additional funding to help repair the damage caused by Republican science and technology research funding cuts.

6. A Federal Right-to-Repair Law 

Pass a federal Right To Repair law that mirrors Oregon 2024 SB 542. Support and fund free or low-cost public repair spaces and tool libraries to help the public repair their own possessions.

7. Require Plain-Language Data Disclosure 

Enact legislation and policies requiring companies to clearly disclose, in plain language and to all customers, what information they gather, how it is used, and all third parties to which it is shared. Ban the use of non-public domain information to train AI models unless the source of that information explicitly opts in and the purpose of those models is clearly disclosed.

8. Curb Hate Speech and Disinformation Online 

Enact laws to hold social media companies accountable for how their policies and algorithms encourage hate speech and disinformation.

9. Regulate Cryptocurrency & AI Development 

Pass laws proactively regulating research, development, and deployment of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI), with the goals of: protecting consumer rights, privacy, and intellectual property rights; preventing criminal use; preventing gross wealth inequity; fighting misinformation; protecting human labor; eliminating racial, gender, or cultural bias; and limiting carbon and electronic component pollution.

10. Long-Term Funding for Free and Open-Source Software 

Provide reliable long-term funding for free and open source (FOSS) projects; identify critical gaps in FOSS support; provide additional funding to close those gaps; encourage adoption of FOSS by governments at all levels.

11. Mandate Encryption for Healthcare Data 

Enact state and federal mandates that healthcare data, including reproductive, gender affirming, and mental health information, is encrypted to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) or better standards in transit and at rest, such that app maintainers and third parties cannot access that information, with criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized access.

12. Restore Clean Energy Incentives 

Restore subsidies and incentives for research and deployment of carbon-free electricity, electric vehicles, solar and wind power, and battery storage. Support expansion of electric vehicle charging networks powered by carbon-free sources. Ban government purchase of fossil fuel vehicles and other systems unless there is no reasonable alternative.

13. Safety Standards for Autonomous Vehicles 

Mandate rigorous public safety standards and practices, including human-operable failsafe systems, prior to the deployment of any autonomous vehicles, including but not limited to self-driving passenger and cargo vehicles, ships, boats, and aircraft.

14. Hold Tech Platforms Accountable 

Enact and enforce legislation that holds technical producers, including, but not limited to social media platforms accountable for safeguards in their products. This should include enactment and enforcement of consumer protection, tort liability, and anti-trust laws.

15. A Social Media Users' Bill of Rights 

Enact a Social Media Users' Bill Of Rights, including transparency into social media company algorithms, and limits on disclosure of social media communications outside of the scope intended by the user without a judicial warrant.

16. The Right to Encrypt Your Data 

Enact legislation and policies protecting the right to privacy and the right to encrypt personal information, including from government surveillance, both in transit and at rest.

17. Carbon-Free Energy for New Data Centers 

Enact legislation and policies requiring carbon-free energy for all new data center development.

18. Limit How Long Companies Keep Your Data 

Enact legislation and policies limiting how long a corporation or government can hold personal data, with exceptions for government maintenance of criminal records and for self-maintained records, and civil and criminal penalties for violations.

19. Ban Forced Subscriptions on Everyday Products 

Ban the requirement for internet connections or subscriptions to operate vehicles, electronic devices, appliances, printers, and other personal possessions, unless there is a bona fide need for an internet connection or subscription.

Article IX: Economy

Building a Fair Economy

Preamble

The economy is the living mechanics of society. It is the production, distribution, and consumption of materials, goods, and services. It is the interaction of people, groups, neighborhoods, schools, universities, corporations, and small businesses. It is the flow of money between people, governments, and businesses.

"The economy must be just to be strong, sustainable, and to serve everyone. The government can influence the economy to promote the common welfare of all, to protect basic rights, and to prevent suffering. The government can help ensure that everyone has a fair shake and plays by the same rules. Done right, the government can catalyze the economy to do good for every person and the planet.

"We call for the governments of Multnomah County, its cities and jurisdictions, the State of Oregon, and the United States to create a just economy. Start with budgets that reflect our values by prioritizing environmental stewardship, equity, science, racial justice, education, poverty mitigation, healthy built environments, arts, active transportation, healthcare access, affordable housing, and sustainable food systems. Focus on outcomes, not bureaucracy. Engage affected communities. Be accountable and transparent to sustain trust in democratic, by-the-people government.

Planks

1. Budget Transparency and Efficiency

We believe public budgets must be transparent, outcome-based, and subject to independent oversight. The public has a right to know how tax dollars are spent and whether that spending achieves its stated goals.

2. Investing in Public Infrastructure 

We support capital improvements to public works and infrastructure that sustain health, happiness, and human progress. We support reducing barriers and costs to infrastructure development through projects that are scalable, low-cost, timely, and fiscally disciplined, awarded through open, competitive bidding processes with specific consideration given to contracting with Black- and Indigenous-owned businesses. We call for regular public reporting on project costs, timelines, and outcomes, with independent oversight to catch mismanagement early.

3. Justice-Centered Infrastructure Planning 

We affirm that all construction and uses of infrastructure be directed through the framework of social justice, environmental impact, and public good for all actions, and through consultation with Tribal Nations when affected by these projects.

4. Support for Small & Disadvantaged Businesses 

We support targeted investments in projects that use local companies and materials and include disadvantaged businesses and workers in all phases of the projects. 25% of contracts should go to Black and Indigenous businesses.

5. Protecting Social Security and Ensuring Its Solvency

We support legislation to maintain Social Security and ensure that it remains solvent for the foreseeable future, so as to safeguard American retirement.

6. Public Education as Economic Investment 

We support investment in high-quality K-12   and higher education. A well-educated workforce is critical for a thriving economy.

7. Healthcare & Public Health 

We support publicly funded healthcare for all as the most efficient and equitable means to ensure affordable access to high-quality care. We further support a robust public health infrastructure to educate the public, surveille disease, mitigate threats to health, and respond to epidemics.

8. Protecting the U.S. Postal Service 

We support the continuation of publicly owned and operated, six days per week, door-to-door postal service for all businesses and residences. The USPS must be regarded as a public good, not a tool wielded by politicians.

9. Expanding Freight & Passenger Rail 

We support investment in modern freight and high-speed passenger rail to reduce greenhouse gasses and improve transportation.

10. Affordable Child Care for All 

We support free and/or affordable, high-quality childcare programs for all children age zero to five. Affordable, high-quality childcare supports kindergarten readiness and literacy, reduces child hunger and poverty, and allows working parents to participate fully in the workforce, improving worker retention, stability, and productivity.

11. Penalties for Exploiting Undocumented Workers 

Every working person deserves a decent standard of living. Employers who exploit undocumented workers with low wages and poor working conditions and housing must face serious penalties. Strictly enforcing these consequences levels the playing field for law-abiding businesses, protects legal wages from deflation, and increases public tax revenue.

13. Universal Basic Income 

We support a universal basic income as essential for maintaining a healthy economy and workforce, and for spurring innovation and creativity, even through changing environmental, social, and technological circumstances.

14. Protecting Forests, Land, and Water 

We support wielding the full powers of federal and state laws and agencies to prioritize stewardship of our natural resources, including forests, lands, and water. We recognize that protecting and restoring biodiverse forests is critical for reducing atmospheric carbon and mitigating global climate change.

15. Separating Wall Street from Main Street Banking 

Because the economy's productive powers need the maximum concentration of useful resources to feed, educate, house, and preserve our people, institutions trading in financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, and derivatives need to be separated from productive-assets banking and regulated outside the protections and subsidies afforded the latter banking sector.

16. Protecting Public Services from Privatization 

Because marketplace incentives to cut costs and maximize profits can be at odds with some services critical to the general welfare of our people, such services as the public education and prison systems, postal and firefighting services, food safety and regulation need to be safeguarded from the forces of a market economy.

17. Measuring Well-Being, Not Just GDP 

Human health, wellness, vitality, happiness, and productivity, as well as environmental preservation, are the true measures of economic value. We support evaluating economic success by the totality of these measures, not just by Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

18. Housing as a Right 

For the sake of Oregonians' well being, dignity, and prosperity, we support the development of affordable and safe housing as a right for all people. Investments in housing and rental assistance (6 month minimum), and eviction and foreclosure prevention save social safety net costs overall.

19. Cutting Red Tape for Multnomah Businesses 

We support state, county, and local reforms to reduce barriers to starting, maintaining, and growing business and enterprise in our county. These reforms must not reduce protections for the environment or vulnerable populations, and they must sustain a strong tax base.

20. Accessible, Affordable Public Transit 

We support a well-funded public transit system that is high quality, safe, affordable, reliable, and accessible, especially for the elderly and disabled.

21. Invest in Multnomah’s Black Community  

We support the vision of restorative redevelopment and the repair of Multnomah County’s and Portland’s Black community through various organizations and community trusts anchored in the black community.

22. Commercial Lease Fairness & Small Business Resilience

We believe small business vitality depends on fair commercial lease terms, not one-time incentives. We oppose lease structures (such as unlimited personal guarantees)  that place catastrophic personal financial risk on small business owners and discourage entrepreneurship, and we support economic development strategies that prioritize the survival of existing, proven small businesses over subsidizing unproven new tenants into unsustainable leases.

23. Labor

We support collective bargaining and the right to organize; support enforceable organizing agreements, oppose so called “Right to Work” laws, oppose attempts to roll back the payment of prevailing wage on publicly funded projects, support public spending that creates good, union jobs, raises standards for contracting out, reduces the misuse of temporary work status, and promotes timely hiring to ensure that workers can provide quality public services.

Legislative Action Items

1. Supporting Education

We support significant increases in pre-K, K-12, and higher education funding to reduce class size, pay teachers well, increase academic academic achievement, support arts education, expand vocational training, increase graduation rates, lift disadvantaged communities, and prepare Oregon’s future workforce.

2. Oregon Water Resources Report 

As part of securing sufficient water supply for consumption, irrigation, and waste management, we call for the legislature to issue a report on the implementation of Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy and the utilization of the committed funds.

3. Increasing the Housing Supply 

Given the current demand outpacing the supply of housing, we call on the government to increase the supply of housing, including increased affordable housing funding or reducing barriers to private construction.

4. Supporting Oregon Family Farms 

As part of securing adequate food production for our people, we support family farms in Oregon.

5. Protecting the Freedom to Unionize

We support the right of workers to unionize in the pursuit of fairer wages and establishing fairer and safer labor conditions.

6.Filling in Potholes  

We support establishing a system to fill in potholes within 24 hrs upon reporting in Multnomah County.

7. Preparing for Future Pandemics 

Given our recent experience with the COVID pandemic, we call on the government to ensure that we can protect public health and prepare for any future pandemic.

8. Critical Energy Security Strategy 

Given the need for sufficient safe electrical and fuel energy for industrial and residential uses, we seek enabling legislation and funding by Multnomah County and all cities within the county to implement the Critical Energy Security Strategy adopted by the Multnomah County Democratic Party.

9. Protecting Pension Fund Solvency 

We call on the government to ensure the solvency of the banking and insurance industries underwriting the pension systems.

10. Establishing a State Bank 

We support the establishment of a state bank.

11. Apprenticeships & Prevailing Wage Enforcement 

We support apprenticeship and internship programs; and we support enforcement of prevailing wage requirements for infrastructure projects.

12. Enacting Universal Health Care 

The Oregon legislature shall ensure that the Universal Health Care Governance Board Plan is enacted, and seek to establish healthcare for all Oregonians.  Universal healthcare removes a significant financial burden from employers and will spark entrepreneurship as well as boost the health of everyone in the state.

13. Addiction Prevention and Harm Reduction 

We support interventions to prevent addiction, as well as interventions to reduce the harm of addiction.

14. Protecting Immigrant and Minority Communities 

We support interventions to reduce the harassment of immigrant and minority communities, for they are a productive part of the American and Oregonian fabric of life, and a society free from fear is necessary for the well-being and development of the people at large.

15. Against Tyranny

We support the disinvestment of public funds from ICE and the private companies that support ICE’s infrastructure. ICE mass deportations have caused the emptying of schools and businesses and removed from our nation some of its most enterprising individuals.

16. Preventing Discrimination against the LGBT Community

We support the protection of the LGBT community's access to supportive housing, and the prevention of discrimination against trans men and trans women being able to access shelter according to their identity.

17. Support for Small Businesses

We call on the City of Portland and Multnomah County to prioritize small business support grants and low-interest loans for established small businesses renewing or extending leases.

18. Removal of Personal Guarantee Requirements

We call for state and local legislation limiting or eliminating personal guarantee requirements in commercial leases, so a small business owner's home and personal assets are not automatically at risk when a business fails.

19. On Trial Runs of Business and Enterprise

We support incentives for master-lease and cooperative commercial space models (e.g., flexible sub-tenancy with short notice periods) that let entrepreneurs test and scale a business without long-term lease liability.

20. On the Conversion of Existing Industrial Development

We call for the development and rezoning of small-format (1,000–5,000 sq. ft.) industrial and maker space in Multnomah County to support small manufacturers, fabricators, and startups currently underserved by the existing warehouse/legacy-building stock.

21. NDA Ban

We demand a ban on all legislators and public officials signing NDAs in their roles as public servants.

Article X Foreign Policy

Diplomacy First

Preamble

The Democratic Party of Multnomah County understands that while we are a county party, and as such are primarily focused on local and state level issues, we are also the largest voting bloc of Democratic voters in Oregon. As such, there are issues worldwide that demand our attention and voice.

We advocate a diplomacy first foreign policy, with the use of military force being viewed as a last resort when diplomacy has failed or clearly will fail. We support the recognition of human rights worldwide, and the use of diplomacy to encourage other nations to match our high standards in this regard, in particular the human rights of racial and ethnic minority groups, women, and LGBTQ populations. We share the goal of the Democratic Party of Oregon in this arena: Our ultimate foreign policy goal is a world free from war and oppression.

Planks

1. Diplomacy First 

We advocate a diplomacy first policy. Military action should be limited to the least needed for defense of our nation and not used as preemptive aggression. Military support for other nations should be dependent on their upholding human rights in accord with international and US Law, and should be subject to Congressional approval.

2. Promoting Peace & Human Rights Abroad 

The US must promote peace, democracy, human rights, diplomacy, and cooperation abroad.

3. Congressional Approval for Military Action 

We believe there should be clear evidence of danger to our own country or to our allies plus approval from Congress, before the US government takes any military action in another country. Actions "in our national interest" must always be clearly defined.

4. Accountability for Military Contractors 

The US government should prioritize involvement of civil service and military personnel in national security operations over private military contractors, and require that military contractors be held accountable for misconduct to at least military standards and US Law.

5. Cutting the Military Budget 

We support reducing the US military budget to fund only what is actually needed for the defense of our country and redirect funds to support social programs and our economy.

6. Funding the United Nations 

The US government should support and financially contribute to the United Nations and other international organizations that promote diplomacy, prevent violence and discrimination, and provide humanitarian aid and health care.

7. Reducing Overseas Military Bases 

We support reducing the amount of money used to fund US military bases in other countries.

8. Ending Occupation & Supporting the ICJ 

We believe that occupation and mistreatment of occupied people are untenable situations that will always lead to resistance and violence; our government should use its influence to bring about equitable solutions, respecting rulings by the International Court of Justice.

9. Supporting International Courts 

We believe the US government should support rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

10. Condemning Blocked Humanitarian Aid 

We believe the US should always publicly condemn the intentional denial or blocking of humanitarian aid, such as water, food, healthcare, and shelter, and take action to prevent such behavior.

11. Keeping the National Guard's Mission Domestic 

We support the domestic mission of the Oregon National Guard (such as firefighting, rescue missions, responding to disasters, and support during times of health crises) and oppose its members being deployed abroad or domestically for military purposes.

12. Foreign Policy Free from Foreign Influence 

We believe US foreign policy must never be determined by large contributions to our politicians by entities acting in the interests of foreign powers; nor should policy be based on false information about other countries.

13. Equitable trading over destabilizing Tariffs

US foreign policy should promote trade that is equitable and beneficial to the people of both countries, without imposing unfair or destabilizing tariffs. 

Legislative Action Items

1. A Just Peace for Israelis & Palestinians

The US government should exercise its considerable influence on Israel to bring about a negotiation with Palestinians to achieve a just, equitable and permanent peace of benefit to all parties.

2. Strengthening Congress's War Powers

We support legislation updating the War Powers Act to clarify and strengthen Congress' role in any military action. Congressional approval or disapproval of acts of war supersedes any decision of the Executive Branch. We oppose the blocking of humanitarian assistance or trade, an act of war, either as with our intensified embargo on Cuba or as our ally Israel is doing related to Gaza.

3. Restoring UNRWA Funding

The US government should reinstate funding for UNRWA (United Nations Relief & Works Agency), the program established in 1949 by the General Assembly which aids Palestinians.

4. Divesting from Human Rights Violators

Oregon's investments at the state and local level should respect international humanitarian law and we call for immediate divestment from entities that violate it.

5. Enforcing Limits on U.S. Weapons Sales

We call on the US government to enforce existing laws that prohibit the use of US-manufactured weapons to intentionally or indiscriminately target civilians in any country. We call for the suspension of arms sales or transfers to Israel.

6. Humanitarian Aid & Asylum for Latin America

We support US aid to humanitarian groups in Latin America to promote economic opportunities and public safety, which would lower the need to emigrate. We support US asylum for people fleeing unsafe conditions and ensuring there is adequate funding for timely consideration of all asylum cases. We oppose detention of asylum seekers, undocumented immigrants, and others. We oppose deportation of anyone without due process. We support increased pathways to citizenship for all immigrants who have been living and working in our country.

7. Foreign Aid Without Exploitation

We support a renewal of U.S. aid to under-developed nations for the health and social well-being of their people. We oppose any U.S. theft of other sovereign nations' assets, such as occurred related to Venezuela's oil industry.

8. Opposing the U.S.-Israel Military Merger

We oppose the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) attempts to integrate U.S. and Israeli military technology, intelligence systems, and research through shared databases and weapons coproduction. This robs voters of representation by shielding this U.S.-Israel military merger from all congressional oversight, creates security risks for the U.S., and ties U.S. defense to another country's foreign policy. We oppose joint development agreements that create security risks, make us dependent on another government for our security, lack accountability and congressional oversight, and violate our constitution and laws.

9. Keeping AI Out of the Military Kill Chain

We call for tech companies and states to halt the provision of AI systems for use in the military kill chain and to take all steps to ensure that other AI systems they provide do not cause or contribute to violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL). We demand that data centers located in Oregon not be used to aid and abet violations of human rights, international, and U.S. laws.

10. Ending the Cuba Blockade

We oppose the total blockade of Cuba, an undeclared act of war which is creating a humanitarian catastrophe for the people of Cuba.

11. Banning Extrajudicial Killings at Sea

We call for a ban on extrajudicial killing of people in vessels in international waters, including the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Extrajudicial killing of people suspected of criminal activity, whatever the criminal conduct alleged against them, violates international law. The intentional use of lethal force is lawful only as a last resort when individuals pose an imminent threat to life.