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Friends and Neighbors,
Governor Updates
Governor Kate Brown Calls Special Session to Consider $800 Million in Relief for Oregonians
Governor calls on legislature to help Oregon communities impacted by COVID-19 and wildfires
Governor Kate Brown will convene a Special Session of the Oregon Legislature at 8:00 a.m. Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, to address Oregonians’ most pressing needs given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which have only been compounded by Oregon’s horrific wildfires. The Governor is asking the legislature to consider both critical policies and $800 million in relief to support Oregonians during a one-day special session on COVID-19 and wildfires.
Included in the Governor’s budget priorities is aid for tenants and landlords, funding for vaccine distribution and contact tracing, wildfire prevention and community preparedness, and support for reopening schools. (See below for more details).
To help ensure a healthy and safe environment for conducting session, legislative officials are consulting the state epidemiologist, Dr. Dean Sidelinger.
Read the full press release here.
- Evictions moratorium and landlord assistance fund: This will extend and revise the current eviction moratorium for tenants through June 30, 2021 and also provide relief for landlords through a landlord-compensation fund.
- School liability protection: This will grant limited liability protection to charters, school districts, ESDs and community colleges for civil damages related to COVID-19 infection, only if the school is operating in compliance with COVID-19 emergency rules.
- COVID, wildfire, and other emergency response ($600 million) - $100 million dedicated to wildfire response and recovery and $400 dedicated to COVID response. The remaining $100 million will be placed in the general emergency fund.
- Restaurant relief package: This will place a temporary cap on fees from third-party food delivery services or sites to restaurants. This will also allow changes for alcohol sales in restaurants with certain restrictions in place.
Governor Kate Brown Issues Video Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Arrival in Oregon
Governor Kate Brown issued a video statement yesterday as the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine began arriving at Oregon hospitals.
“In recent weeks, as COVID-19 vaccines reached the final stages of approval, I have said time and again that hope is on the way. Today, I can tell you that help is here,” said Governor Brown. “The first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Oregon, the first of many that will be distributed across the state. Starting with the frontline health care workers who have been our first line of defense against COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, and the long-term care facility residents who are among the most vulnerable, each day, more and more Oregonians will be vaccinated against this disease.
“Throughout the process, we will work to ensure that the Oregonians that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, including those from Black, Indigenous, Latino/Latina/Latinx, Pacific Islander, and Tribal communities, have equitable access to vaccination. We are in the middle of some of the hardest days of this pandemic. Our hospitals are stretched to capacity, and too many families are losing loved ones just as we enter the holiday season. So many Oregonians have suffered and sacrificed in the last ten months.
“But starting this week, and each week following––as vaccines become more widely available––we will begin gaining ground again in our fight against this disease.”
A link to the full video with captions is available here .
Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup Finds that the Pfizer Vaccine is Safe for Public Use
Endorses the transparency and objectivity of the FDA and CDC review processes and the rigor, validity and reliability of their analyses, Recommends that our states avoid any undue delay in providing access to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
This past weekend, The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup completed their concurrent and thorough review of the federal process and has confirmed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is safe and efficacious. The Workgroup provided their confirmation to the Governors of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington on Sunday.
Washington, Oregon and Nevada joined California’s COVID-19 Scientific Safety Review Workgroup in October , which has worked concurrently and independently to review the FDA’s actions related to COVID-19 vaccinations. They will continue to evaluate other COVID-19 vaccines after they are routed through FDA authorization. The panel is made up of nationally acclaimed scientists with expertise in immunization and public health.
“With recommendations from the FDA, CDC, and, now, the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, Oregonians can rest assured that some of the best doctors, scientists, and immunologists in the world have reviewed the data and affirmed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is safe and effective,” said Governor Kate Brown. “We will work as quickly as possible to deliver vaccines to the public, starting with frontline health care workers and those who have been hardest hit by COVID-19. Please keep doing your part to keep your family and loved ones safe—wear a mask, stay home when you are sick, and avoid gatherings. Together, we can do this. Hope is on the way.”
Read the full press release here.
Link to Scientific Safety Review Workgroup
Health and Well-Being Updates
Planning for Vaccine Distribution in Oregon
From the Oregon Health Authority
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has asked all states to share how they plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccine once a safe and effective vaccine is ready. OHA has submitted a draft plan to CDC. This plan is only a first step. OHA is reaching out to public health, health care and community organizations to work with us as we continue to develop this plan. We want to understand how our current systems for getting people vaccinated may need to be rebuilt to meet the needs of communities who are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Oregon will follow federal guidance and use a phased approach to provide COVID-19 vaccinations.
Read Oregon's Draft Plan
Federal COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plans
From the Oregon Health Authority
The federal government has shared its distribution plans. Those plans indicate it will take time to produce enough vaccine for everyone who wants to be vaccinated. This means that vaccine will be distributed in phases. Early vaccine is scheduled for people at highest risk of exposure or severe COVID-19 illness. As vaccine supply increases, more people will be able to get the vaccine. Early vaccine is likely to be tightly controlled, with states having increasing flexibility to determine access to vaccine in later phases.
 Oregon Prescription Drug Price Transparency Public Hearing
From the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
On Wednesday, December 16, from 10:00 a.m. to noon, the Department of Consumer and Business Services will host its second annual public hearing on prescription drug prices. Join the public hearing on Zoom by visiting http://dcbspage.org/RXDRUGPRICEHEARING2020.
The hearing will cover several topics, such as an overview of the Drug Price Transparency Program, results from data collected, panels on drug pricing, and time for the public to provide comments on prescription drug prices. Oregonians can submit questions about prescription drug prices and share stories on how these costs have affected themselves and their families at http://dcbspage.org/Rxstories.
Information provided by the public will be used to help analyze the data reported by health insurers and prescription drug manufacturers for the annual report to the Oregon State Legislature on prescription drug prices.
For more information about the public hearing or the Drug Price Transparency Program:
The survey can be provided upon request in an alternate format for people with disabilities or in another language. For questions about accessibility or to request an accommodation, call 503-947-7200 or 833-210-4560 (toll-free), or Email Rx.prices@oregon.gov.
 House District 30 - 2021 Legislative Session Concepts
In order to provide information and updates on the policies that I am working on for the 2021 Session, this is a continuation of that series.
One of the bills I am co-sponsoring with Representative Hernandez for the 2021 Legislative Session would lay the foundation to improve computer science education in Oregon. A 2018 report showed that there were 4,027 open computing jobs in Oregon (3.3 times the national average). However only 54% of Oregon high schools have a foundational computer science course and there were only 953 bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science in 2018 (only 17% of which were female). Only 18% of Oregon schools with Advanced Placement programs offer AP Computer Science.
The pandemic has highlighted the need for digital literacy and exposed a substantial gap in the resources and access to technology that Oregon students have. We have also seen an acceleration of the “work from anywhere” trend. If we prepare our students well, it’s easy to envision someone living in Coos Bay and working for Intel in Hillsboro.
The proposal would develop a statewide, long-term strategic plan to integrate computer science education into the curriculum by guiding students from computer users to computer-literate creators who are proficient in the concepts and practices of computer science. The bill will require us to create a statewide plan and establish goals for implementation.
 Purple=Clarity Teal=Capacity Orange=Leadership Blue=Sustainability
Insurance Updates
Oregonians Can Get 2021 Health Insurance Through Dec. 15
From the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services
If you don’t qualify for the Oregon Health Plan and don’t get health insurance through your job, today is an important date. It’s the only time of year most people can sign up for an individual or family plan to have coverage in 2021.
Use the Marketplace’s new window shopping feature at OregonHealthCare.gov/WindowShop to get answers to these questions:
- How can I save money on health insurance?
- What would my health plan cover?
- Once I know what I can afford, what’s next?
OregonHealthCare.gov is the online home of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, a part of state government. It is the state-level partner of HealthCare.gov, the national website where people enroll in Marketplace plans and access subsidies.
Health insurance sold through the Marketplace is individual and family coverage offered by private companies, such as Bridgespan, Kaiser Permanente, Moda, PacificSource, Providence, and Regence. Not every company is available in every part the state, but at least three insurance companies and at least nine plan choices are available everywhere in Oregon.
More than 70 percent of Oregonians enrolled through the Marketplace last year qualified for a subsidy. An insurance expert can help you, at no cost, apply for the subsidy and enroll in coverage. They are listed at OregonHealthCare.gov/GetHelp.
For information, visit OregonHealthCare.gov or call 855-268-3767 (toll-free).
 Washington County Updates
Grant Process Now Open for Hotel Industry
From Washington County Business Recovery
Washington County has opened a grant process for Washington County hotels that will remain open until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. The grant funds are derived from the State of Oregon COVID 19 business assistance fund that the state of Oregon provided to Washington County. The set aside is $300,000 just for hotels.
Definition of Hotel: A hotel is defined as a commercial establishment, that provides transient, overnight lodging to the general public in a furnished, private room; with ten or more private, sleeping rooms that include a bed and bathroom; and on-site management including daily or bi-daily maid/linen services and a front desk. Transient means rental for periods of less than 30 consecutive days.
Other requirements:
- The current tourist establishment owner must hold a valid 2020 Washington County license issued by the Environmental Health Program.
- The current hotel must be up-to-date in remittance of all collected Transient Lodging Taxes.
- The hotel must be owned and operated by a business headquartered in Oregon. Headquartered is defined to the ownership is physically located within Oregon or the business is incorporated within Oregon.
- Applicants will also need to fill out a W-9 and have information from their Tourist Facility License to complete the application.
Click here to apply: www.co.washington.or.us/TouristFacilityAssistance
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Community Outreach
From the Hillsboro School District
 December 14, 2020 - Nine of our 2020 Crystal Apple nominees were recently surprised with news that they had been selected to receive one of the coveted awards during virtual meetings with their colleagues:
- Mike Futter, 6th Grade Teacher, Orenco Elementary School
- Cindy Honma, 4th/5th Grade Teacher, Eastwood Elementary School
- Una Maher, Kinder/1st Grade Teacher, Hillsboro Online Academy
- Teresa Portinga, 2nd Grade Teacher, Patterson Elementary School
- Dana Riley, Science Teacher, Evergreen Middle School
- LauraLee Sheller, Instructional Coach, Free Orchards Elementary School
- Katy Shelton, Academic Options and AVID Teacher, Liberty High School
- Amy Torres, Assistant Principal, Liberty High School
- Dan Waterman, 5th Grade Teacher, Free Orchards Elementary School
Click here to see the virtual program with additional information about each recipient.
Congratulations to everyone who was nominated for the outstanding work you do and for your tireless dedication to HSD students and families! We truly appreciate ALL of you!
Miembros destacados del personal: Ganadores del premio Crystal Apple 2020 Nueve de nuestros nominados al premio Crystal Apple 2020 fueron sorprendidos recientemente con la noticia de que habían sido seleccionados para recibir uno de los codiciados premios durante una de las reuniones virtuales con sus colegas:
- Mike Futter, maestro de 6to grado, Escuela Primaria Orenco
- Cindy Honma, maestra de 4to/5to grado, Escuela Primaria Eastwood
- Una Maher, maestra de kinder/1er grado, Hillsboro Online School
- Teresa Portinga, maestra de 2do grado, Escuela Primaria Patterson
- Dana Riley, maestra de Ciencias, Escuela Secundaria Evergreen
- LauraLee Sheller, capacitadora de instrucción, Escuela Primaria Free Orchards
- Katy Shelton, maestra de Opciones Académicas y AVID, Escuela Preparatoria Liberty
- Amy Torres, subdirectora, Escuela Preparatoria Liberty
- Dan Waterman, maestro de 5to grado, Escuela Primaria Free Orchards
Pulse aquí para ver el programa virtual con información adicional sobre cada ganador.
¡Felicidades a todos los que fueron nominados por el excelente trabajo que hacen y por su incansable dedicación a los estudiantes y a las familias de HSD! ¡Realmente los apreciamos a TODOS ustedes!
City of Hillsboro COVID Utility Bill Relief
From the City of Hillsboro
Today, Dec 15 is the last day for Hillsboro residential customers affected by COVID to apply for free funding to pay all charges accrued on your City utility bill from Mar 1 – Dec 30, 2020. Don’t wait - request an application at https://caowash.org/Programs/Energy-Assistance/Energy_Request.html or 503-615-0771
Virtual Community Conversation
Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
A HUGE thank you to all the wonderful friends and neighbors that brought by a toy, or two, or 20+ for the Hillsboro Firefighters Random Acts and Hillsboro Elks Lodge #1862 toy drive to my house and (over)filled the barrel. Your generous hearts will be bringing smiles for miles to local kids. Thank you and happiest of holidays to you and yours. 🎄🎅
 Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
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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