A lifelong resident of Portland, Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) has devoted his entire career to public service. While still a student at Lewis and Clark College, he spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age both in Oregon and at the national level. He was elected to the Oregon Legislature in 1972. In 1978, he began serving on the Multnomah County Commission, and was elected to the Portland City Council in 1986. There, his 10-year tenure as the Commissioner of Public Works demonstrated his leadership on the innovative accomplishments in transportation, planning, environmental programs, and public participation that have helped Portland earn an international reputation as one of America’s most livable cities.
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, Rep. Blumenauer is a strong advocate for federal policies to create livable communities, rebuild and renew infrastructure, provide housing choices, support sustainable economies, and improve the environment. He is a recognized leader in Congress for reforming federal drug laws and promoting animal welfare. Blumenauer sits on the Ways and Means Committee, giving him a unique platform from which to initiate legislation that addresses and mitigates the effects of global warming while also advancing his priorities of honest trade, financing critical infrastructure, and ensuring economic security for working families.
