I want to thank Rep. Bobby Levy, R-Echo, for standing up for Oregon’s Bottle Bill. Rep. Levy signed a bipartisan letter to the House Revenue Committee making it clear that a new surcharge or using any portion of the current redemption value to fund wildfire efforts is the wrong approach.

Wildfire funding is critica l— there’s no question that Oregon must act to better prepare for and respond to increasingly severe fire seasons. But that action should not come at the expense of the Bottle Bill, a program that has worked for more than 50 years without taxpayer dollars. It keeps billions of containers out of landfills, reduces litter, and supports community programs across the state.

Rep. Levy’s leadership sends a clear message: Protect what works. I join her in urging the Legislature to adopt the -2 Amendment to HB 3940 and keep the Bottle Bill focused on what it does best — delivering results for Oregon.

Thank you,

Steve Gibbs, 

Pendleton

Vice president of Government Affairs

Columbia Distributing