{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399063", "Jaime Herrera Beutler Presses Oregons DOT to Clarify Authority, Public Engagement of Tolling Advisory Committee Ahead of Nov. 20 Meeting", "2017-11-14", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Jaime Herrera Beutler", "H001056", "herrerabeutler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler formally requested Oregon\u2019s Department of Transportation to answer questions regarding the authority and public outreach of its tolling advisory committee. The committee\u2019s first meeting is scheduled for Monday 8:30 A.M., November 20 in Portland. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Today, U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler formally requested Oregon\u2019s Department of Transportation to answer questions regarding the authority and public outreach of its tolling advisory committee.\u00a0The committee\u2019s first meeting is scheduled for Monday 8:30 A.M., November 20 in Portland. \r\nThe text of Jaime\u2019s letter follows and a PDF version is available here.\r\nMatthew Garrett, Director\r\nOregon Department of Transportation\r\n355 Capitol St. NE, MS 11\r\nSalem, OR 97301-3871\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Director Garrett,\r\nAs an elected representative of the citizens of Washington who are among the heaviest users of Interstate 5 and Interstate 205, I write to seek clarification on the process by which Oregon will finalize the tolling plan called for in Oregon\u2019s House Bill 2017.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nIt is my understanding that Oregon Transportation Commission (OTC) will develop the final detailed proposal for the tolls on I-205 and I-5.\u00a0OTC has created the Portland Region\u00a0Value\u00a0Pricing\u00a0Policy Advisory Committee, and has allotted three slots of the 20 person committee for Washingtonians.\u00a0The Advisory Committee\u2019s first meeting is quickly approaching on Monday, November 20.\u00a0My questions are:\r\n-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What statutory authority does the Advisory Committee have, if any?\u00a0 \r\n-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is there any statutory requirement that the OTC must adhere to any of the advisory committee\u2019s conclusions?\u00a0 \r\n-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If OTC disagrees with those conclusions, does it have the authority to disregard them?\r\n-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Is there any statutory requirement for OTC to consider any minority/dissenting opinions from the committee?\r\n-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How did OTC determine that three representatives from the state from which a majority of the cross-bridge trips originate out of 20 members was an appropriate allotment?\r\n-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The advisory committee\u2019s first public meeting is at 8:30am on the Monday of Thanksgiving week in downtown Portland (November 20).\u00a0 What effort will be made to advertise this and future meetings to Washington residents?\u00a0\r\n-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Will any future meetings be held in a location more convenient to Washington residents?\r\n-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Will any consideration be given to holding future meetings at a time more convenient than the Monday morning of a holiday week when many interested stakeholders will be unable to participate?\r\n\u00a0\r\nThank you in advance for your responses to these questions.\r\nSincerely,\r\nJaime\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399063"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1335310991853476, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}