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Greetings:
As many of us look forward to spending time with family and friends this weekend, let’s remember the importance of keeping the health and safety of others at the forefront of our decisions. While Multnomah County has been removed from the COVID-19 watch list for curbing the rates of community spread of COVID-19, and OHA has reported an overall decrease in infection rates, the work we have done can easily be disrupted. We are all in this together, and your decisions this weekend will be an essential part of Oregon’s recovery efforts.
COVID-19 Emergency Order and Foreclosure Moratorium Extended
Earlier this week Governor Kate Brown announced an extension of the COVID-19 Emergency Order for an additional 60 days and an extension of the foreclosure moratorium for homeowners and businesses through Dec. 31. The Governor is also continuing to have conversations with community leaders and stakeholders to look at options surrounding a moratorium for evictions for renters, which is currently set to expire on September 30. While we are doing all we can to protect Oregon families and ensure our state’s economy recovers, the federal government must provide additional financial support for state and local governments, who provide the critical service that desperate families need most. You can read the full press release here.
Senate Committee on Labor and Business Hearing
This Thursday, September 3 at 8:00 AM, The Senate Committee on Labor and Business will hear testimony from the public about their experience applying for unemployment insurance.If you are interested in testifying you can find instructions here.
Joint Committee On Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform
Also happening on Thursday, at 1:00 PM the Joint Committee on Policing and Use of Force Reform will hold a remote public hearing to discuss legislative concepts for the 2021 legislative session.Those legislative concepts address crowd management, police misconduct reports, identification and uniforms and use of force reports. You can tune in to watch the hearing and submit testimony here.
Adi’s Act Showing Up in Schools
During the 2019 session, I was honored to chief sponsor Adi’s Act, which requires school districts to implement and sustain solid, evidence based and racial equity centered suicide prevention policies and plans for all students. Earlier this week, the Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Education, Lines for Life, and local suicide prevention champions announced that thay are collaborating to launch the Suicide Prevention and Wellness Program for school districts, in support of the requirements outlined in Adi’s Act. The Oregon Department of Education is responsible for coordinating implementation of the legislation, and OHA and Lines for Life are working to support this critical piece of the statewide School Safety and Prevention System. For more information, click here.
Healthcare Coverage & Enrollment
Uninsured Oregonians who have lost private health coverage due to COVID-19 can enroll in HealthCare.gov, which has made it easier for uninsured consumers to enroll in coverage through its existing national emergency or major disaster exceptional circumstances special enrollment period. People who experienced a life change are eligible for a standard special enrollment period that allows them to sign up for a plan 60 days before or 60 days after their life change to enroll in a plan. Examples of a life change include:
- Loss of coverage due to loss of employment
- Marriage
- Addition of a new family member
- Gaining lawful immigration status
- Moving homes.
Oregonians who were eligible for a standard special enrollment period, but missed this window due to COVID-19, can still enroll in a plan. You would need to submit proof of your life change and you do not need to submit proof that you’ve been affected by COVID-19. Applications are being accepted at HealthCare.gov if the life change is a loss in coverage and at 800-318-2596 (toll-free) for all other life changes.
TriMet Public Safety Survey
TriMet wants your help to redirect $1.8 million in resources to community-based public safety approaches. By completing this survey, you’ll help TriMet determine how to spend these funds, and provide new insights into our community’s concerns about public safety.
Expect & Prepare for Busy Roads This Weekend
With warm, sunny days in the holiday forecast, travelers are expected to be out on the road in large numbers. The Oregon Department of Transportation provided some tips to consider before and during your trip:
- Plan your route in advance and stay socially distant whenever possible to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Make sure that you and your passengers have several face coverings. Businesses around the state require masks for entry to inhibit the spread of COVID-19.
- Carry plenty of hand sanitizer, toilet paper and other sanitation items.
- Motorists need to keep a special eye out for bicyclists, who are expected to be out in big numbers over the three-day weekend.
- Don’t use backroads or logging roads to get around traffic congestion; these roads are typically unimproved and present a number of potential hazards.
- There are many parking/illegal camping restrictions on beach highways and county roads; please obey the signs that are there for your safety; in addition, law enforcement can cite you for parking illegally.
- Protect our health and the environment by disposing of your garbage appropriately.
- Obey the speed limit; we are seeing a lot of excessive speeds and high speed crashes.
Upcoming Community Events
Parkrose Neighborhood Association will be hosting a food giveaway at Parkrose Hardware on Saturday afternoon, September 12, from 1-4 pm. They will be promoting social distancing and will also have free masks to distribute (while supplies last). Contact Terry Murphy at terrypdx1@gmail.com if you'd like to volunteer!
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REAP Inc. Elevate The Community
REAP Inc. is a year-round multicultural youth leadership program committed to empowering the next generation of leaders.
REAP Inc. will be hosting a food giveaway and clothing drive Friday, September 11, from 12- 6 PM. Social distancing guidelines will be in place. It will be hosted at the REAP headquarters located at 10808 NE Halsey Street Portland, Oregon 97220. If you are interested in attending please sign up using this link.
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Free COVID-19 Testing for BIPOC Community Members
Saturday, September 12, the Oregon Health Authority and Cascadia will provide free COVID-19 testing at the Garlington Health Center parking lot. Appointments will be available every 10 minutes from 12:00 – 4:00 PM, with the last hour reserved for walk-ups. Each time slot allows for one test, so you will need to register each member of your family.
Due to legislative rules, unsolicited mass mailing or mass communication is prohibited 90 days immediately before the date of any primary or general election in which a member is a candidate for public office. The only exception to this rule is sharing important COVID-19 related information. For this reason, all of my newsletters until November 4th will be limited to news about the coronavirus.
Please continue to reach out to my office if you have any additional questions, or if there’s anything you think I could help with.
Sincerely,
 Representative Barbara Smith Warner
House District 45
email: Rep.BarbaraSmithWarner@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1445
address: 900 Court St NE, H-295, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithwarner
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