Robert Smith: “this coming weekend the President of the United States will travel to my home State of Oregon to deliver the…”

“this coming weekend the President of the United States will travel to my home State of Oregon to deliver the commencement speech at Portland State University. As Oregon's junior Senator, I welcome President Clinton. I look forward to seeing his remarks and want him to know he is welcome in my State. While in Portland, he will find a vital, vibrant community, like much of the Nation, which has enjoyed very good economic times. Because of this, the President might leave Portland thinking his administration's policies, even those regarding natural resources and the environment, have been good for Oregon. And if he does that, if he has that impression, he will be sadly mistaken. During the last recess, I traveled through the rest of Oregon. I returned from Washington last weekend having spent 5 days in eastern Oregon. I went to the communities of Condon, Boardman, Hermiston, Pendleton, LaGrande, Baker City, Ontario, Nyssa, Burns, John Day, Enterprise, Milton-Freewater, and Ione. This region is the home to honest, hard-working people. It is a region that is also home to some of the most breathtaking scenery on the Earth. It is a region of forests and rivers, mountains and valleys. It is a region where people earn their living from the land. But it is a region in dire economic straits. It is a region which is fighting for its survival. Many States have what I term country-city divides, conflicts between rural and urban areas.”