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Supporters say new Office of Resilience and Emergency Management would strengthen food-security response
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Summary
Testimony at the Feb. 5 hearing on HB 4,044 emphasized that statutory authority for a resilience office inside DHS would enable pre‑positioning of supplies and better coordination with food assistance groups; the committee heard supportive testimony from the Oregon Hunger Task Force.
State Representative Thuy Tran told the House Committee on Emergency Management and Veterans that House Bill 4,044 would formally create the Office of Resilience and Emergency Management inside the Department of Human Services and give it statutory authority to plan, enter contracts, and execute recovery activities before an emergency is declared.
"Without statutory authority, OREM cannot enter into contracts prior to the declaration of an emergency," Tran said, arguing that lack of authority prevents prepositioning supplies and delays aid to Oregonians in need. She told the committee the bill would establish an account separate from the general fund and authorize the governor, on OEM recommendation, to activate individual assistance programs when a disaster warrants state public assistance.
Chris Baker, Administrator for the Oregon Hunger Task Force, testified in support and linked the bill to food security. Baker said Oregon’s food assistance network is fragmented and underresourced and that OREM’s authority to coordinate resilience hubs and assess non‑affiliated providers would help reach rural and remote communities. "That work reflects what OREM does best, building trust, coordinating across systems, and ensuring that no community is invisible," Baker said.
Vice Chair Watanabe closed the public hearing after Baker’s testimony; no final committee vote is recorded in the transcript. Committee members asked questions about coordination between OREM and OEM; Tran said the offices are already working together and the bill adds statutory authority for planning and recovery actions prior to declarations.
Next steps: the committee closed the public hearing and returned the gavel to the Chair; the transcript records follow‑up questions but no committee action advancing HB 4,044.
