 Legislature Appoints Special
Joint Committee on Coronavirus Response
The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Special Committee on Coronavirus Response (JSCCR) was created specifically to expand the scope of our approach to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). It is in a unique position to aide in the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the coming days, we will work on gathering the latest information that can be helpful in coordinating legislative initiatives with existing efforts that are already underway.
Legislative Leadership Calls for Special Session to Address COVID-19
In a bipartisan effort, Democratic and Republican leaders released the following statement in response to the coronavirus pandemic:
“We recognize the urgent and wide-ranging needs facing Oregonians as the worldwide coronavirus pandemic continues to develop. The Legislature will return for a special session as soon as we have an emergency response package that will address the statewide impacts on families, workers and businesses. The Special Joint Committee on Coronavirus Response will hold its first meeting on Wednesday.
“This is an uneasy time. Democrats and Republicans here in Oregon are working together to keep all of our communities safe. We must take care of each other and we must do all we can to save lives, reduce the spread of the disease, and build greater supports for workers and families.”
Over the next several weeks the members of the JSCCR will be charged with the following tasks:
-
Identify actions that will support economic relief and household stability for low-income workers and small businesses who are at risk of being significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
-
Produce budget and policy recommendations for legislative action in a timely manner.
-
Monitor Oregon’s ongoing public health response and, if needed, make recommendations for further legislative action.
The Joint Special Committee on Coronavirus Response is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at 10:00 am. The committee has invited the following agencies and organizations to present testimony: the Governor’s Office, the AFL-CIO, representatives of Oregon Business & Industry, the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, SEIU - Locals 49 and 503 and the Oregon Health Authority. The JSCCR wants to get a better understanding of what is happening on the ground and explore the economic trends being observed by those hardest hit and facing the most uncertainty.
The Committee will follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to protect the legislators, staff, and public participating in the meeting. Committee members will receive online and remote public testimony. The committee will only hear invited testimony during the meeting. Members of the public can submit ideas, feedback and testimony via email to jscvr.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Written testimony will be posted on OLIS and the committee meeting will be livestreamed on OLIS.
Our goal is to create a plan that will ensure all Oregonians are economically secure and can comply with public health recommendations. The JSCCR also wants to ensure that the many low income workers and vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by the economic changes brought on by this pandemic do not have their lives up-ended by this national emergency. This includes the ability of Oregonians who are not covered by existing state benefits to get their immediate virus-related health care needs addressed.
If you have questions about the Oregon Legislature’s Special Joint Committee on Coronavirus Response and recommendations for new, or future legislative action please don’t hesitate to call my Capitol office. As the state works to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the committee, which will do most of its work virtually to protect public health, will convene on Wednesday.
####
Visit Oregon Health Authority's Website for Novel Caronavirus Updates in Oregon
- State announces 3 new presumptive positive COVID-19 cases
- 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19
- 1 death reported in Oregon
- 180 persons under investigation with pending test results
- 571 persons under investigation had negative test results
- 351 persons are currently under monitoring, an additional 365 have completed monitoring or were determined to have no risk
H.R. 6201, FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT: The legislation provides paid leave, establishes free testing, protects public health workers, and provides important benefits to children and families
The Oregon Health Authority has a variety of resources and updated information on the status of COVID 19 as well as FAQs, recommendations, etc. You can subscribe email updates or send in questions, as well.
The Oregon Department of Education has information in many languages about the current decision to keep schools open. The page also has notes on schools which have been affected, and links to information that has been provided to school superintendents. This page will be updates if any of the current recommendations change.
The Bureau of Labor and Industries has a basic FAQ for Employers and Employees around COVID 19.
Governor Brown announces school closures statewide from Monday March 16th-March 31st.
Governor Kate Brown Announces Agreement with Health Insurers on COVID-19 Testing
The Governor announced on social media that PGE, Pacific Power and NW Natural have all agreed to waive late fees during this time.
####
| 
