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Friends & Neighbors,
One election, five community events, and sixty days later, I am back and able to continue my regular correspondence via my newsletter. I hope that you enjoyed the end of summer, and now that fall is in full swing, it means that the 2019 legislative session is just around the corner.
The past sixty days have been a bit of a balancing act and I have a lot to share. The big news is that we’ve eclipsed last year’s total of listening sessions of seventeen and have held twenty-two so far, with more on the way! I pride myself on being accessible to my constituents and I hope that you will join me at a listening session in the future to lend your thoughts to the conversation.
During the most recent legislative days in September, I was able to meet with constituents and stakeholders about potential policy that will be introduced in 2019. I am looking forward to seeing all the hard work over the past two years come together in policy that will make Oregon a better place to live that continues to protect our most vulnerable and beautiful resources.
Recent Events
 Legislative Days Update: We had another set of legislative days where we were facing a deadline to get our “pre-session” bills filed. These are the pieces of legislation that will be eligible for their first reading on the first day of session. I am excited to be working on some legislation that, if passed, will help our state be more transparent, our citizens better prepared and safe and will help combat the big money we continue to see in our elections. I am working with some key legislators on veterans, health care, and gun violence prevention issues, as well as, some education and environmental bills of my own. I am really looking forward to my second long session and the work we will be able to accomplish.
 Intel Matching Grants Celebration: I joined Intel at their annual volunteer matching grants celebration luncheon. I was honored to be asked to speak and talk about Hillsboro happenings, thanks to the tireless work of Intel employees. Last year, employees donated 300,000 hours to our local community, and generated over $2 million in matching grants from Intel. In Hillsboro, we have a STEM trailer that travels across HSD schools highlighting STEM Projects and we had one employee identified for his work with veterans. I appreciate everything that Intel and their employees do for our community and state, it is truly something wonderful.
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OEA Disrupted Learning: I had the opportunity to join numerous Hillsboro & Beaverton School District teachers for an evening to discuss the impacts that disrupted learning is having in their classrooms. We’ve seen an increase in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and if we want to address them at the state level, we must speak with those who are working with students on a daily basis. I appreciate these opportunities to speak with educators firsthand, and I look forward to working with them over the next legislative session to address these real concerns.
 Vocational Rehab Site Visit: As a member of the House Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee, I appreciate opportunities to visit our state organizations that are geared to help Oregonians be work-ready. Last week I was able to tour the Central Portland Vocational Rehabilitation Center with State Representative Jeff Reardon. Oregonians that have a disability can utilize the service at these centers (there are four centers in our region) to obtain/gain skills and support for a job, maintain the skills they have and receive work supports, or advance their skills for a different job. For more information visit: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/employment/VR/Pages/index.aspx
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 GED Summit: In late October, I joined Congresswoman Bonamici and other state leaders at the GED Summit. This event is an annual event put on by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to bring GED educators, administrators, and lawmakers together for a two-day period to discuss all things related to our General Education Diploma. It was something that our office has attended two years in a row, and we always find new and exciting pieces of information that we are then able to bring back to the district.
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 Listening Sessions: Over the course of the sixty-day blackout, I held five different community meetings. One small business roundtable, three listening sessions, and one town hall focused on CTE/STEM education. All of these presented unique opportunities to discuss the main issues facing our community, and the ways we can address them locally, and at the state level. I have prided myself on being accessible to my constituents, and we are on pace to hold twenty four community listening sessions across the district this year. I appreciate that I meet someone new at almost every event.
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 Outdoor School Visit w/ Jackson & Eastwood Elementary Schools: Outdoor school was such a wonderful way to round out my October. I visited Cedar Ridge Camp in Vernonia, where Hillsboro students were enjoying the outdoors. They will learn about animals, earth, plants, and the water cycle during their time at camp. Personally, I have enjoyed four stages of Outdoor School throughout my life: As a sixth grader from Gales Creek Elementary, we attended Camp Westwind for a week; As a high school student, I was a camp counselor; As a parent, I was a chaperone the year that our school had to fundraise to go and we took the kids to a two night OMSI camp at Camp Magruder; As a school board member, I got to visit outdoor school for a full day with students. I was a strong advocate for this program in the legislature, and I will continue to be. These camp experiences are not only crucial for the campers, but also the high school counselors gain valuable leadership skills that will translate to many other facets of their life. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for the outdoor school program in Oregon, in growing their camp capacity, to expanding accessibility for all students and lengthening their camp experience. Outdoor School is a winning experience for all involved.
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 Upcoming Events:
11/8 - CPO 8 Meeting 7pm at Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue Station 17, 31370 NW Commercial St., North Plains.
11/18 - I will judge at the Fiesta De Tamales at M&M Marketplace (346 SW Walnut St) from 12pm-3pm. The event benefits Hillsboro Schools Foundation and the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. Come on down!
12/15 - Listening Session & Small Business Saturday - Ava Roasteria 9am-11am. We will hold a listening session from 9-10am and then go shop at local small businesses from 10am-11am! See you there!
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Thanks for being patient while the blackout was in place. I will now be able to continue with my regular, monthly newsletter outreach and I hope to see you soon at one of my upcoming listening sessions.
Onward & Upward,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-487, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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