Sen. Lisa Reynolds to Chair Newly-Formed Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health

This week, Oregon State Senator Lisa Reynolds, MD (D-Portland), was appointed as Chair of the newly-formed Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health. This committee will focus on upstream solutions to some of Oregon’s toughest challenges with substance use disorder, behavioral health treatment, childcare, early learning, and more. Senator Reynolds is also a practicing pediatrician and the only physician in the state legislature.

“I am incredibly honored to lead this committee and to ensure that Oregon’s youngest residents aren’t forgotten about in our policymaking process,” said Reynolds. “Focusing on kids, especially our youngest kids, is the right thing to do – and it’s also the right investment to make. These upstream solutions have an enormous positive effect throughout the lifespan.”

Senator Reynolds will also serve as a member of the Senate Committee on Healthcare and the Senate Committee on Human Services. She previously chaired the House Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services during her service in the Oregon House of Representatives. These policy portfolios pair well with Reynolds’ stated priority for the 2025 legislative session of passing “Momnibus” – a package of policies focused on social determinants of health for families in pregnancy and the first year of life. The package includes proposals on housing stability, financial support, doula and traditional health worker coverage, substance use, and behavioral health treatment access for mothers, parents, and babies.

“This session, this committee, and this package of policies is our chance to really make a difference. It’s not enough to say we support kids and we support behavioral health – we need to make these areas a real priority,” said Reynolds. “As the saying goes, it’s far cheaper to put a fence at the top of the cliff than to keep sending an ambulance to the bottom of the cliff. This committee will help us do just that.”