JULIE FAHEY
For State Representative
Welcome to my website! It is an honor to serve our community in the Oregon Legislature. Please contact me anytime - I’d love to hear from you!
-Julie
Meet Julie
Julie Fahey currently serves as the Speaker of the Oregon House and State Representative for Oregon's House District 14 (West Eugene, Veneta). Prior to being elected Speaker, she served as House Majority Leader for two years.
In her time in the legislature, Julie has focused on housing affordability, serving as the Chair of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness; elections and democracy reforms as Chair of the Committee on Rules; and on making the Capitol an inclusive and respectful workplace as co-Chair of the Conduct Committee.
Julie has worked on major pieces of legislation over the last 7 years, including 2024’s historic campaign finance reform bill, 2023's Affordable Housing and Emergency Homelessness Response Package, 2017's Reproductive Health Equity Act which protected access to abortion, and 2019's Student Success Act which made a major investment in our students and our schools.
Julie has twenty years of experience in the private sector as a business consultant and co-founder of a human resources consulting firm for businesses and non-profits. Through her work, she helps employers pay their employees fairly, build skilled workforces, and make their organizations great places to work. In her free time, she likes to hike, foster rescue dogs, and do the Sunday crossword puzzle.
Successes
from the past 7 years
Working Families
In 2017, Oregon passed the strongest Equal Pay law in the country, ensuring equal pay for equal work. In 2019, we passed a bill that will created a comprehensive paid family leave program, so Oregonians can take time off to bond with a new child or care for a seriously ill family member. In 2023, we created the first ever child tax credit in Oregon, which will help reduce child poverty in our state. Julie sponsored and championed these bills and will continue this work as Speaker of the House.
Student Success Act
In 2019, Julie helped make history with her work on the Student Success Act, a $1 billion/year investment in early childhood education and our K-12 public schools. The SSA will help lower class sizes, expand career & technical education courses, and increase access to early childhood education programs. Julie served on the legislative committee that developed the Student Success Act and was a strong advocate for increasing investments in early learning.
Reproductive Health Equity
Julie believes that access to reproductive health care is a fundamental right. She was a chief sponsor of 2017's Reproductive Health Equity Act, which helped make the full range of reproductive health services affordable for all Oregonians.
After Roe v. Wade was overturned, the fight for expanding rights and access has continued. Julie sponsored 2023's Reproductive Health and Access to Care Act, which will expand access to reproductive health care in Oregon.
Priorities
moving forward
Housing Affordability
Oregon is experiencing a housing crisis in both urban and rural areas of the state. Rising rents threaten the economic security of families, and available rental units are few and far between. Finding ways to keep rent down, increase the supply of housing, and protect residents of manufactured home parks are top priorities for Julie.
Career & Technical Education
Julie is a strong advocate for career and technical education programs in our schools. Students in these programs are more likely to graduate from high school, have a job once they graduate, and earn higher wages. By bringing back shop classes and offering more STEM courses in schools, Julie knows we can help the next generation of Oregon workers meet the demands of a high-tech economy by teaching marketable skills.
Health Care for All
Health care is a human right. In the legislature, Julie has supported policies such as Cover All Kids, the Reproductive Health Equity Act, and the Health Care for All Oregon Act, which ensure more Oregonians have access to health coverage. She strongly opposes attempts to roll back Medicaid coverage for those low-income families and people with disabilities who rely on it.
Environment & Climate Change
Protecting Oregon’s public lands and farmland, preserving our clean air and water, and addressing the challenge of climate change all require strong leadership from Oregon’s elected officials. Julie believes the legislature should act by promoting energy-efficient building, investing in clean and efficient transportation, adopting sensible land use policies, and partnering with other states to limit carbon emissions.
Higher Education
For many students, pursuing an associate, bachelor's, or advanced degree is an important step towards their career and personal goals. In a time when far too many young people are burdened with crushing student debt from skyrocketing tuition rates, Julie supports increased state investment in higher education for community colleges and universities.
Homelessness
Julie supports a comprehensive, coordinated response to homelessness, through improved access to supportive housing, mental health care, substance abuse programs, and social services. In 2022 she led the development of a $400 million homelessness and housing package, which will help connect unhoused people with shelter and critical services, keep Oregonians in their homes, and build more affordable homes.
Endorsements
These organizations have endorsed Julie in her 2024 campaign. Check back for more endorsements soon!
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Oregon Nurses Association
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Oregon Education Association
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Oregon School Employees Association
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Oregon State Fire Fighters Council
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Western States Carpenters
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Oregon AFSCME Council 75
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Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon
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Oregon League of Conservation Voters
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Oregon & Southern Idaho District Council of Laborers (LiUNA)