Representative Maxine Dexter visits Troutdale, stresses schools, Medicaid, infrastructure and forest oversight

Representative Maxine Dexter visited Troutdale for a meet-and-greet with city leaders and residents and outlined federal-level issues she says are affecting the region, including school funding, Medicaid, infrastructure and oversight of national forest logging.

Dexter said she is “really honored to represent the people” of the district and described herself as a physician who has practiced primary and critical care at Sunnyside Medical Center for nearly two decades. “My job title as well as my job description are one and the same. It's representative,” she said, asking residents to define local priorities rather than imposing her own vision.

Dexter told the meeting that uncertainty about federal dollars threatens education funding that East County districts depend on. She warned that Title I and special education funding distribution could be disrupted by reductions in federal Department of Education staff and said such funding represents about “a 10% chunk of the budget” for many districts. She also said cuts to Medicaid would destabilize families and local budgets: “My district has the second highest Medicaid population in the state. 59% of the district is, children are on Medicaid,” she said.

On infrastructure, Dexter said previously promised federal investments are at risk and that bipartisan momentum for large infrastructure packages is limited in Washington. She cited a Columbia River bridge project and other local priorities as examples of funding that may be uncertain. She also said she serves on a House Natural Resources subcommittee and expressed concern about recent federal changes that she said opened large swaths of national forest to timber harvesting while reducing staffing for oversight, raising wildfire and habitat risks.

Residents asked about keeping East County distinct from Portland, support for Mount Hood Community College’s local bond, and fire and police capacity tied to new housing. Dexter said she cannot guarantee out-of-cycle federal funding for a community college bond but offered to support the campaign and to help connect constituents with federal constituent services. She directed residents to her district office staff, naming Morgan Kelling as district director, and asked people to send casework on social security, immigration, veterans benefits and similar issues to her office: “Please make sure to send people our way when there's challenges that you think we can help with.”

The meet-and-greet was conversational and intended to establish a point of contact; Dexter encouraged ongoing engagement with her staff and said her office could advise on federal benefits and casework.