[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6463985,"mediaKeyId","5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff","parentId",5784697,"title","Council presses OGR on federal strategy and earmark prospects as Congress tightens spending","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",8325000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff&start=8325&end=8325","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff/thumbnail_8325000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6463985/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Council-presses-OGR-on-federal-strategy-and-earmark-prospects-as-Congress-tightens-spending","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463985-84180a9dab0876fbfc453218b4b10691/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953675&Signature=ZWTqyCw3K1XGVzPTxpB2fpYKQKGeIEeV4QDsLKW8h-I9q4rCq-A4W2mqkWAj-QjEwJzx9Q3t9PHlUNZrbhswqT8vkfs4R2LUOXN731DeIn1eeJXeAN7JP4Slp-u~MZXjjUKdnDQXh2YPJJi77EHDWZjBXY9Ll-k18CQTZ9GusK34TAZDRR3CLryT4n6UF-H8Myk7zzZt5WNYKDLoOMd1rUfatNdABrR6W5UnMr~~F2LHzm6Z0H9cjM0~haPNexGmyqUuREY65WNThSTrGdkR3iiR3j5FlhoGROqzgaZd7sUOtOWE0qY2NDFOiFy5cYD4X1ovpRFnuWVPzZmNsoofoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Portland, OR","date","2025-09-18T04:33:19.347Z","article","Council members used the work session to probe the city’s federal strategy, urging OGR to prioritize a small number of high‑probability funding requests and to defend existing federal formula funding as Congress faces spending constraints.

“Strategy,” several councilors said repeatedly — advocate for maintaining formula funding while pursuing a tightly targeted set of earmarks tied to the city’s highest priorities, such as infrastructure, workforce development and transportation. Councilors asked OGR to provide a clear list of member-sponsored earmark requests and to identify the delegation members most likely to champion those requests.

Jack Arriaga, Federal Program Manager, said the city initially submitted a dozen earmark requests and currently had eight pending requests with members of the Oregon delegation; he also noted that the prior fiscal cycle produced significant earmarks, while the most recent congressional action implemented a continuing resolution that included no new earmarks for fiscal year 2025.

Council members said political changes in Congress and the federal administration reduce the universe of available grants and appropriations and increase the value of focused advocacy. Several suggested the mayor and councilors personally champion particular projects with the delegation and that OGR coordinate those efforts so requests are consistent and limited in number.

OGR said it will return to the council with a prioritized federal strategy and a list of the city’s current earmark requests; the office also recommended steady communications with the delegation and monthly briefings through the fall, increasing the cadence as the congressional appropriations process advances.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portland City Council Work Session- Legislative Agenda 09/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors asked OGR and the city’s federal team to prioritize a short list of high‑probability earmark requests and emphasized preserving formula funding; federal relations staff said Congress had fewer opportunities and last year produced a continuing resolution with no new earmarks for FY25.","taxTitle","Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon","taxId",2765,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6463989,"Councilors push housing production, revolving loan fund capitalization and workforce training as linked state priorities",1130,3986000,5116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff&start=3986&end=5116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff/thumbnail_3986000.jpg","/articles/6463989/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Councilors-push-housing-production-revolving-loan-fund-capitalization-and-workforce-training-as-linked-state-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463989-ac5799899b7a388830c4ed11546061a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953675&Signature=j3JE2~ljPovlWTi-Fj~U4Pdl9SnmMAg5JLpZ~Gc41qxGuIluEX34eE9B-0tbTfFKiEDjFjInUrGcK8khsxM4u8o6R-YuNSFevGdSuwnkiTVU2vrY55bRKRsGtz5XRSG84Z8jraNbfP8b6~1Cu-PivAk9vaowCJwoqT4AXHPZN3hNwB7Kx2v8uVrOHFDeGDMxsuy77NTvLvozBPC~-fb~n3hRHmMCMOtJCQwGkr0BQvCollZBNgoMBsjZ6z9a0V-GSggObvpSh1YkCPc4pSHQpM5BLJaEEHuUXb1HJvU6ruTus7b08kE00lX2xxY-w8dOpwMeBxKrAME6fD39ovQEQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland councilors used the Sept. 17 legislative agenda work session to press staff to prioritize housing production, capitalization of a public revolving loan fund for housing construction, and workforce training tied to major infrastructure projects.

“Jobs and regional significance … apprenticeships are a priority for me,” Councilor Carmen Murillo said, describing workforce development as essential to the Interstate Bridge replacement and other large projects that will require trained trade workers. Murillo and others said federal reauthorization and state assistance could free up funds to support apprenticeships and training programs.

Councilor Alex Green emphasized both non‑budgetary and budgetary housing actions: “There was unfinished business in the last legislative session … the construction revolving loan finance fund … they didn't capitalize that fund.” He urged the city to advocate for state capital to capitalize the fund so the public program can spur housing production.

Multiple council members advocated regulatory changes to increase housing supply, including “upzoning” near transit nodes and changes to building code rules that limit accessible housing for older adults and people with disabilities. Councilors said some changes would not require immediate state funding but could unlock private development and future revenue.

OGR said it will vet those requests, seek sponsors in Salem, and incorporate prioritized housing and workforce items into its December agenda materials. No formal vote was taken at the work session.","Council members urged the OGR to prioritize housing production reforms, capitalizing a construction revolving loan fund, and workforce training (apprenticeships) to support major infrastructure projects; several said state action on zoning and loan funds could unlock private development.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6463994,"Councillors press state to ease Medicaid billing for street-based care",1142,5211000,6353000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff&start=5211&end=6353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff/thumbnail_5211000.jpg","/articles/6463994/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Councillors-press-state-to-ease-Medicaid-billing-for-street-based-care","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463994-5b639c8eb89969dd3c6a4d192c2dc666/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953675&Signature=n-YGPf2oYJDpbK8~Tznius2l0KWwNz93qN4VfVOjHkg-geFs9SyebBgac3VwAZWqk9pGF4v0KF52EwXu4mjp5M7ylwSt2AndQSbAgB801uCbwYcIZNGkLRTh9~pJyWia71jy-argthZBdCJi1Hgq1wv4tKXH9RR-XR-L3j6Rhq8j2sAySkWY1QRzi64OkqkNzqRMuAG-jPQhHJQHZsU9KKnXLp87yf7PgbhDrfEvBKVAcrdzqAhmK9RZDkxa1VYGJim6rVnWnZmwvSWuXra1dA9Ql9tmXCErg36EojYCRRhFprauWsNIEFw-Nn3X6ucjdl0o3w5B-LiLyNz7Q~i3uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A number of councilors at the Sept. 17 work session urged the city to prioritize state actions that would make it easier for street-based providers to bill Medicaid for services, potentially shifting costs away from city general fund and improving sustainability for outreach programs.

“Getting OHA to take the steps necessary to make it easy for street medicine providers like PSR … to get Medicaid reimbursement” was proposed as a narrowly targeted priority that could produce immediate budget and service delivery benefits, Councilor Don Novick said. He added that technical fixes at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) should not be politically controversial and could have immediate local impact.

Several councilors affirmed the point. Councilor Carmen Smith said that Medicaid billing and reimbursement for street medicine will be increasingly important as federal and state funding pressures grow: “If we can't get reimbursed for the services that we provide to people who do still have insurance, I don't know how we are going to be able to help the people who don't.”

OGR staff said they would capture the request and vet whether a state-level directive or statutory change would be required, and they noted the need to engage subject-matter experts at the state agency and service providers to specify the needed billing codes, program design and statutes.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; councilors asked OGR to include Medicaid reimbursement fixes among items OGR will evaluate for the December agenda and to coordinate with county and provider partners during the vetting process.","Council members urged the state to simplify Medicaid billing codes so street-medicine providers such as Portland Street Response (PSR) can obtain reimbursement; members said clearer rules could transfer costs from city general fund to Medicaid without large state appropriations.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6463998,"Councilors push state action on behavioral health capacity; some urge an Oregon State Hospital North",351,4441000,4792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff&start=4441&end=4792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff/thumbnail_4441000.jpg","/articles/6463998/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Councilors-push-state-action-on-behavioral-health-capacity-some-urge-an-Oregon-State-Hospital-North","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6463998-daea5af858ce8ca58880ef78294a7724/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953675&Signature=W~RSg912shfsvj~lVQ2ELC-nfIBMDwv~BHR5BEutmuBYq-hNXp6bDrVsEp~Gqj3F2XC2wN2ZOgTG4PP~CwFibMs4deWoTAyphlrlqH9QVrJ5JfRZvELZensOq30xVK7pBpYWPKpl8qqve7IRKEtWh4eDvHNtePrq1a9U4r1k0mzHUkLsMTCsQomCGPbWJTyJ9uiZJOD~w0B5ym1uLfW1wzNYtdHA42lahlU3bRZdHL6MzrFXXjjPNqre1oUaJgKdEdVnuNiTMIxd47ufIYtaaypOpsgGduWm70Q8jxRKkKnHm1RDKEa755AZpYxatUPKZcSP9RguR9sbVxhHMaH5SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Portland councilors used the Sept. 17 work session on the legislative agenda to press for major increases in behavioral health capacity, including a proposal for an “Oregon State Hospital North” campus to serve the Portland metro area and increased community services and beds.

“There's an Oregon State Hospital North title,” Councilor Michael Zimmerman told colleagues, urging a regional campaign with Multnomah County to prioritize a north‑side hospital campus. Zimmerman argued the current system “is so broken” that incremental additions of beds would be insufficient and that a transformative, regional effort was needed to serve people with severe mental illness who are not in the criminal justice system.

Other councilors echoed the urgency. “Funding for behavioral health … has to be at the top of our list if we actually want to make a change here,” Councilor Carmen Smith said, adding that the city should advocate for state investment in the systems run by the state and county rather than asking the city to operate those services.

During the discussion, members emphasized multiple forms of response: short-term legislative fixes, longer-term capital projects and regional coalition-building. Councilors noted that some items may not be achievable in a short legislative session but said the city should “pound on it” across sessions while also pursuing achievable actions — for example, better billing and reimbursement for street-based service providers and state funding for crisis and inpatient capacity.

No formal motion was made at the work session. OGR staff said they would capture the feedback and work with Multnomah County and bureau subject-matter experts as they develop the draft agenda for December. Several councilors asked OGR to prioritize both non-monetary regulatory work and larger capital asks in coordination with county and regional partners.","Several council members urged a sweeping state response to behavioral health capacity, including proposals for an Oregon State Hospital North campus and increased institutional and community-based services; members said the issue transcends short-session constraints and requires regional coordination.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6464003,"Portland council, OGR begin multi-month process to set 2026 legislative agenda",1197,443000,1640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff&start=443&end=1640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784697-78ab87e5fcaf68104325a810ba22dcff/thumbnail_443000.jpg","/articles/6464003/Portland/Multnomah-County/Oregon/Portland-council-OGR-begin-multi-month-process-to-set-2026-legislative-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464003-b66760dd48e5c49e77976dd73df49573/orig.mp4?Expires=1770953675&Signature=gdbeOL6P7QB-PNZ97F2G-PrHTa6WwNS-DxGUjSubTa3y4Bu-pPeB3BTZKyV-OwWnwZfW6jKkArHe3I5oJzyjOak8QEsqMD2Jza8AmMQg-AlpridC4KzBaJvt7u43B5~L57iDPE8Uz~jsLaNoV6TdgvS3LrsR3yi3m0sKyDZBT6qy~fnDC4LyHBsHa~Gg8KQV3yRD7gddDjKNipfBO60oAFbcRVFJBqIbQeKEgBNeQmFXbYRlBdXOE32zhjTbAy8nIuIUtK1fOW4Lq5pFP--nNBR~U3ZWQqImNq4NhOgcZhLJrQdpi-Y7W1UQtHNJWS-Q9jyEXK62YJTVsul2vjcCRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portland City Council began a work session Sept. 17 to lay the groundwork for the city’s 2026 legislative agenda, with staff recommending a multi-month vetting process and a final council vote before the winter holidays.

“This is the first of 2 meetings about our legislative agenda that we will be having in a work session format so that we can talk through some of our priorities,” Council President said at the opening of the session. The Office of Government Relations (OGR) explained it will gather input from bureaus, council members and community partners, do additional vetting and return in December with a proposed agenda.

“Given limitations of the short session, we'd like to get to a point where we're focused on what is achievable in the short session,” Sam Chase, Director, Office of Government Relations, told the council. Chase and OGR staff outlined an issue-evaluation framework they use to judge items for the legislative agenda and asked council members to weigh in on values such as political viability, city impact, equity and feasibility. Chase said OGR had collected raw ideas from bureaus and individual council offices and had not yet vetted or prioritized that list.

Chase told councilors that the short legislative session imposes strict time constraints for moving bills and that some proposals may be better prepared over multiple sessions: “Short sessions are very challenging things to get anything big done in. ... Ideas can be matured over multiple sessions sometimes.” Council members pressed staff on how to balance short-term, achievable asks with longer-term “maturation” of major reforms.

OGR staff described a continuing engagement plan: regular briefings through the fall, a December work session to finalize a draft agenda and a council vote before the holidays, followed by active outreach to state and federal lawmakers. Chase said OGR would maintain weekly communications leading into session and more frequent updates once session begins.

Councilors asked for clarity about how items are collected and labeled in OGR materials, and several urged clearer connections between council-approved resolutions and OGR’s priorities list. OGR encouraged council offices to submit issue sheets early and to engage bureau experts to improve the “political viability” and technical readiness of proposals.

The work session produced no formal votes or directives beyond scheduling the next steps: OGR will continue vetting items, return in December with a recommended agenda, and prepare materials for a council vote before the winter holidays.","City Council members and the Office of Government Relations (OGR) opened a work session to begin setting a shared state and federal legislative agenda; staff said they will vet hundreds of proposals, return in December with a draft agenda, and seek a council vote before the winter holidays.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council presses OGR on federal strategy and earmark prospects as Congress tightens spending

Councilors push housing production, revolving loan fund capitalization and workforce training as linked state priorities

Councillors press state to ease Medicaid billing for street-based care

Councilors push state action on behavioral health capacity; some urge an Oregon State Hospital North

Portland council, OGR begin multi-month process to set 2026 legislative agenda