House District 30 News - December 2019

Rep. Sollman

Friends and Neighbors,

November has truly been a month to be thankful for. I am thankful for all that was accomplished during legislative days in the Capitol. I appreciate that I have a fabulous team that helps me move the work for the district in the right direction. I am grateful for the opportunities I had to visit with people in my district over this last month, and I loved being able to relax and spend the Thanksgiving holiday weekend with my family at home. I hope that you have found many things to be thankful for as well. As we move into December and the holiday season, I look forward to more special times spent in House District 30.

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Legislative Days Wrap Up

November legislative days were busy with meetings, committees and deadlines.

In the House Energy and Environment Committee, we heard information on the following topics:

  • Overview of Environmental Equity, Funding, Challenges and Opportunities
  • Update on Community Solar Program
  • Differential Energy Burden
  • Utility Wildfire Risk Mitigation Planning

In the House Education Committee, we also had informational hearings, and one that I was proud to be a part of involving STEM Education.

  • Expanding High-Quality Early Care and Education
  • STEM Hubs and Coalition Building Across the State
  • Multiple Measure for Placement in Community Colleges
  • Legislative Update on House Bill 3409 (2019): Interscholastic Activities

STEM Hubs and Coalition Building Across the State

During legislative days in the Capitol, I was honored to facilitate a panel in the House Education Committee discussing STEM Hubs and Coalitions around the State. This panel included the Oregon STEM Investment Council, the Portland Metro STEM Partnership, the Umpqua Valley STEAM Hub, and the Oregon Department of Education. As the Oregon STEM fellow, I know that STEM education not only prepares students for future careers, but also teaches students valuable life skills or power skills, such as collaboration and critical thinking. Skills they will utilize in other areas of their lives, in any career they navigate to. Kids can’t be what they can’t see. This panel gave us an exciting glimpse into the work of STEM hubs across the state. We have thirteen STEM hubs across Oregon that work hard to support educators and schools in their STEM education and development. A link to the committee hearing can be found here.

BBooks

I was also thrilled to have Brigette Harrington visiting the Capitol on Monday and Tuesday for a book signing of her book, My Oregon. Brigette was the winner of last year’s essay contest to visit Washington D.C. for the annual tree lighting ceremony and she has turned her winning essay into a book. Many legislators and visitors to the Capitol were able to stop by and say hello and see her beautifully illustrated book in person. I am delighted to see the successes of her endeavors this past year and so glad that her book is now on sale at the Capitol store and on-line on the Amazon website.

QPR

Also during legislative days, I was happy to have the opportunity to bring a QPR training class to the Capitol for employees to participate in free of charge. QPR is a suicide prevention training and stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. In many of our roles interacting with the public, it is helpful to know how to recognize signs of a person that may be in a heightened state and contemplating suicide. Three training opportunities were made available and a number of staff were able to attend and learn.

For information on how to get QPR training in Washington County for your group or organization, free of charge, see the flyer below.

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Leaders in House District 30

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Hilary Uhlig is an active and engaged member of the Hillsboro Community. She is the Oregon Chapter Leader for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a founding member of Indivisible Hillsboro and lends her support to other groups around the City whenever the call for help comes. Hilary enjoys living in Hillsboro with the small-town charm and big-city amenities available in our area.

I have lived in Hillsboro for 20 years, though have become active in community organizations just within the last few years. As one of the founding members of Indivisible Hillsboro, I realized just how easy it is for people to become civically involved to have a positive impact on our community. My passion is to invite people to join in on the decision-making processes, which may start out by just showing up to listen and learn what issues our friends and neighbors are talking about, or meeting with a legislator for the very first time. We in Hillsboro are lucky that our elected officials, at all levels of government, are so accessible to their constituents and welcome discussions about issues that concern us.

One issue that I have focused on is firearm safety. As the Oregon Chapter Leader with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, I have been working with volunteers across Oregon to reduce the effects of gun violence in our communities, in all its forms- including suicide by gun, unintentional shootings, and domestic violence incidents, so that we may all live our lives with a freedom from fear. Did you know that in Oregon, 82% of gun deaths are by suicide, compared to 61% nationwide? I am dedicated to supporting legislation that helps keep guns out of the hands of those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis and from those who should not have access to firearms, like children. You can learn more about Oregon's statewide facts on gun violence here. Learn more about Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense here.

What's Happening

  • Have you been on Medicare or could be newly eligible for it? Medicare open enrollment ends December 7, 2019. Medicare beneficiaries have only a limited amount of time remaining to evaluate multiple coverage options to determine which plan works best for their integrated health care. Learn more at shiba.oregon.gov.
  • Are you a member of the Oregon Health Plan? Open enrollment is underway! You have until December 15, 2019 to sign up. Learn more about the plans available in your area and get your questions answered here

 

Making a List and Checking It Twice
-Tips For Shopping, Travel, and When You're Out and About...

  • First and foremost, be aware of your surroundings. It will give you extra time to react to potential danger.
  • Lock your vehicle and remove items of value, especially those in plain sight. When you're shopping, put bags in the trunk prior to arriving at your next destination.
  • Resist getting into confrontations with other drivers over parking spaces. If you have to shop at night, try to park in a well-lit area.
  • Have your keys out, ready to enter your vehicle before exiting the store. If you feel uneasy, ask for an escort to your vehicle by mall security.

-Using an ATM

  • Withdraw funds during daytime hours, if possible. Otherwise, be sure there's good lighting.
  • Choose ATMs that are free from overgrown shrubbery that could provide areas of concealment.
  • If anyone is hanging around the ATM, but does not appear to be using it or they are acting suspiciously, go to another ATM.
  • Have your debit card out and ready for use when approaching a machine.
  • Once you've received your money, do not stop to count it. Put it in your pocket, purse or backpack, and leave the area immediately.

-Shopping online

  • Shop on websites you know and have had positive transactions with.
  • Avoid public Wi-Fi, as your credit/debit card information can be compromised. Only use a secure network.
  • Look for the lock. Never buy anything online from a site that doesn’t have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed. The URL will start with https:// (instead of http://) and an icon of a locked padlock.
  • Avoid purchasing gift cards on auction sites, as they sometimes arrive with little or no funds on them. Scammers love these sites.
  • Be wary of "too good to be true" offers.
  • Track your package delivery date. If you know you won't be home, have it delivered to your work or a trusted neighbor, or have it held for pick-up at the store or package handling center.
  • Check your credit/debit card statements at least every few days for fraudulent charges.

-Traveling

  • Let a trusted neighbor know, and ask them to keep an eye out for suspicious activity.
  • Invite that trusted neighbor to park in your driveway to make it look like someone is home.
  • Set timers for lights inside and outside your home. Photocell lights are also a great outdoor option.

 

Get Involved

There are many ways to stay involved in our local community. Here are a few ideas if you are looking to volunteer and help out.

  • Volunteer with Westside Master Recyclers at the upcoming Planet Con on January 11th! There are a variety of jobs to sign up for here.
  • Help build a home for a family in need with Willamette West Habitat for Humanity! Details and available volunteer dates can be found here.
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Out and About-Working Hard for House District 30

  • UPS Hillsboro Hub Grand Opening
  • Visit with American Council of Young Political Leaders delegation from China
  • Tour of Oregon State Public Health Laboratory
  • Portland Business Alliance Leadership Dinner
  • DHS Ride Along
  • Retirement Dinner for Representative Greenlick
  • Veteran's Day emcee at the Washington County Fairgrounds
  • Tour of St. Vincent de Paul Center in Hillsboro
  • Washington County Green Symposium
  • WCCCA 911 Center Groundbreaking
  • Tour of Vanashe Farms in Cornelius with 1000 Friends of Oregon
  • HEA Community Project Team Meeting
  • Legislative Days in Salem
  • STEAM Open House at Quatama Elementary
  • Oregon Lions Vision Screening at Ladd Acres Elementary
  • Prison Education Workgroup at Oregon State Correctional Institution, Salem
  • Washington County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
  • Community Conversation (#58)
  • Tamale Tasting Judge at Fiesta De Tamales at M&M Marketplace with Hillsboro Schools Foundation
  • Hillsboro Hops Fund Banquet

Upcoming Events

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House District 30 Links

As a way to keep everyone connected to the cities I represent, here are links to their most recent newsletters.

Thank you, as always, for continuing with me on this journey. Please don't hesitate to reach out to myself, or Nickole in my office, with any questions or concerns. I wish you all a Happy Holiday season.

Onward and Upward,

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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