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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Happy New Year and welcome to 2021! I am excited about the upcoming legislative session and I am so glad to get back on a regular schedule for town halls. I am offering two upcoming events to discuss my legislative priorities for 2021. Please join me in talking about the session, schools and business during COVID19, and any other concerns you may have.
Town Hall Meeting Registration Links
Saturday, 1/9 at 11:30am: REGISTER HERE
Monday, 1/11 at 5:30pm: REGISTER HERE
In addition to the standard policy and budget committees, the Oregon House of Representatives will have new committees in the upcoming session to address timely issues, including wildfire recovery, redistricting, institutional reform of the Legislature, as well as subcommittees focusing on COVID-19 response, equitable policing and the return of a policy committee dedicated to early childhood issues. For a full list of committee assignments, click here. Representative McLain will serve on the following committees:
Joint Transportation Committee - Co-chair
Bi-State Bridge Committee - Co-chair
ODOT Wildfire Contract Review Committee - member
Budget Subcommittee on Education - Co-chair
Ways and Means Committee - member
Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee - member
Oregon Winter Beauty
2020 was a challenging year. We faced a devastating pandemic that has touched every aspect of our lives. Planning for the future has felt difficult because the only thing that’s seemed certain is uncertainty.
But not everything is beyond our control, and the continued rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine gives hope that the virus will be eradicated. If you’d like to take that dose of optimism and set some goals, here are some ideas for healthy resolutions for 2021:
Quit smoking or vaping: If a person who smokes or used to smoke gets COVID-19, they are more likely to develop a serious case of the virus than someone who does not smoke. Free resources to help you quit smoking or vaping are available to everyone in Oregon. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit quitnow.net/Oregon for information in English. For Spanish speakers, call 1-800-DEJALO-YA or visit quitnow.net/mve/quitnow and select Español. SmokefreeUS also has information on smoking and COVID-19.
Sign up for health insurance: Get your new year off to a healthy start by signing up for health insurance. You can sign up for the Oregon Health Plan any time, and there are no premiums. The best way to find out if you qualify is to apply at ONE.Oregon.gov.
Support your mental health It’s OK if you’re not OK. If you need someone to talk to, you can call the Safe + Strong Helpline at 800-923-4357 (800-923-HELP). The line offers free, 24-7 emotional support and resource referral to anyone who needs it – not only those experiencing a mental health crisis. More resources are available on the Safe + Strong mental and emotional health page.
Get vaccinated: It’s not too late to get a flu shot. Since COVID-19 and flu could spread at the same time this winter, it’s important to get a flu vaccine to protect against flu illness and serious flu complications, such as lasting conditions getting worse or pneumonia. Find a flu vaccinator near you at vaccinefinder.org. And when it’s your turn, resolve to get a COVID-19 vaccine. As the rollout continues, we will keep you up to date.
Stay COVID-safe: While we wait for enough Oregonians to be vaccinated so we can achieve community immunity, keep doing what you’ve been doing to prevent the spread of the virus: Wear a face covering, keep gatherings small and wash hands frequently.
If you are one of the Oregonians who received a notification on your cell phone about COVID exposure tracking, please know that the Oregon Exposure Notification Application, also known as OR Notify, was released earlier than anticipated. Apple inadvertently turned the application on and has since turned it off.
The project is still under development. Oregon Health Authority partnered with Oregon State University, which led a pilot of the application that ended Thursday. OHA will assess the results to determine when to launch the application.
As the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine continues across the state and the nation, you are likely wondering when you will be able to get vaccinated.
We are now in Phase 1a of Oregon’s Vaccine Sequencing Plan. These are the current groups in Phase 1a of vaccine distribution:
- Group 1: hospitals; urgent care; skilled nursing and memory care facility health care personnel (HCP) and residents; tribal health programs; emergency medical service providers and other first responders
- Group 2: other long-term care facilities and congregate care sites including HCP and residents; hospice programs; mobile crisis care and related services; secure transport; individuals working in a correctional setting
- Group 3: outpatient settings serving specific high-risk groups; in-home care; day treatment services; non-emergency medical transport (NEMT)
- Group 4: HCP in other outpatient, public health and early learning settings; death care workers
OHA has released a frequently asked questions document with more details about the prioritization groups. OHA is working with Local Public Health Authorities (LPHAs), hospitals and other community partners on plans to ensure that every person included in Phase 1a and in future phases knows where and when they can get vaccinated. As these plans are finalized, they will be shared with the public. Keep up to date at covidvaccine.oregon.gov.
What happens after Phase 1a? The 27 members of Oregon’s Vaccine Advisory Committee were announced today, and this group will advise OHA on sequencing for Phases 1b and 1c and Phase 2, with the goal of prioritizing communities most affected by COVID-19. To see the list of members of the committee and learn more, read the press release.
The Oregon Health Authority announces committee members for COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee
The Oregon Health Authority has completed recruitment for its Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC) that will determine the sequence in which new COVID-19 vaccines are distributed around the state.
The 27-member committee will advise OHA on vaccine sequencing for phases 1b, 1c and 2 of the state’s vaccine distribution plan, with the goal of prioritizing communities most affected by COVID-19. The COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee will be grounded in OHA’s definition of health equity, which—as cited in this excerpt—is a health system where “all people can reach their full health potential and well-being and are not disadvantaged by their race, ethnicity, language, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social class, intersections among these communities or identities, or other socially determined circumstances.”
To advance health equity, and counter unjust COVID-19 inequities, the COVID-19 VAC will:
- Advise OHA on the ethical principles that should guide decisions on sequencing of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Review data on COVID-19 and immunization inequities.
- Advise OHA on which workers, high-risk groups or critical populations should be sequenced at what time, taking into consideration where they are located across the state.
The committee roster is as follows:
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Aileen Duldulao
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Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition
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Cherity Bloom-Miller
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Siletz Community Health Clinic
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Christine Sanders
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Rockwood Community Development Corp.
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Daysi Bedolla Sotelo
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Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste
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DeLeesa Meashintubby
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Volunteers in Medicine
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Debra Whitefoot
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Nch'i Wana Housing
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Derick Du Vivier
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Oregon Health & Science University
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Dolores Martinez
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Euvalcree
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George Conway
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Deschutes County Health Services
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Kalani Raphael
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Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition
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Kelly Gonzales
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Portland State University
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Kristin Milligan
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Community Volunteer Network
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Laurie Skokan
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Providence Health & Services
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Leslie Sutton
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Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities
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Maleka Taylor
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The Miracles Club
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Maria Loredo
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Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center
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Marin Arreola
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Interface Network
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Muriel DeLaVergne-Brown
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Crook County Health Department
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Musse Olol
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Somali American Council of Oregon
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Nannette Carter-Jafri
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SEIU Local 503 Indigenous People's Caucus
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Ruth Gulyas
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LeadingAge Oregon
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Safina Koreishi
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Columbia Pacific CCO
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Sandra McDonough
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Oregon Business & Industry
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Shawn Baird
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Metro West Ambulance Service
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Sue Steward
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Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
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Tsering Sherpa
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The Rosewood Initiative
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Zhenya Abbruzzese
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Adventist Health
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The committee’s first public meeting is Thursday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon. The meeting can be accessed via conference line at 669-254-5252; meeting ID: 160 583 9896.
For more information about the committee, visit the Vaccine Advisory Committee information page. Comments or questions can be emailed to covid.vaccineadvisory@dhsoha.state.or.us.
- Confirmed Cases: 19,055,869 (up 145,959 from yesterday)
- Deaths: 332,246 (up 1,345 from yesterday)
- These national numbers come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can view their national and state by state data here.
- Oregon Status Report: Oregon now has 118,453 total cases (confirmed and presumptive) of COVID-19.
- Today we have 4,567 new confirmed and presumptive cases, and 29 new deaths.
- A total of 1,506 Oregonians have died from COVID-19.
(previous daily case updates from OHA here)
- Washington County still has one of the highest case counts at 16,735 confirmed cases, including 147 deaths. You can review on-going updates from OHA by clicking on the table below.
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The Oregon Health Authority recently provided a Public Health Indicators Dashboard to enable communities across Oregon to monitor COVID-19 in the state.The dashboard, which will be updated weekly on Thursdays, provides a transparent report that presents complex epidemiological data in an interactive, easy-to-understand way on a state and county level.
More free community testing events added in January: If you need to get a COVID-19 test, you have some options.
- If you have insurance, contact your healthcare provider or use the map on OHA’s testing webpage to find a clinic near you. Most insurance providers cover the costs of COVID-19 testing and associated care.
- If you need a free community testing event, you can find a list of upcoming events on the Do I Need a COVID-19? Test website. Sixteen free community testing events have been added for January, and more are planned. You’ll need to register and create a new user account that will ask for contact information. This will let you schedule an appointment for your selected event and get your test results. Because of the high demand for COVID-19 tests, an appointment and voucher are required for testing, one person per appointment. If there are no appointments available, please select another location and date. Only those with appointments are guaranteed a test.
- Need help? You can also call 211 for help finding a testing site.
Facebook Live to address questions about COVID-19 data: Many of you have been following Oregon’s COVID-19 data closely and are asking great questions about it. On Wednesday, Jan. 6, you can have your questions answered by our data experts directly. Join us at 12:30 p.m. on our Facebook page for a live Q&A on COVID-19 data. Watch in English or Spanish.
Hillsboro School District announces access to school playgrounds and open fields
According to the Hillsboro School District, playgrounds and open fields are now available for community use. Families are welcome to use playgrounds and open fields during* and after school hours and do so at their own risk. (*Once schools resume in-person learning for students, playgrounds and open fields will be off-limits to the community during school hours.)
Turf fields and stadiums remain closed for any community use. Tennis courts are open for use by Hillsboro Parks and Recreation and in accordance with existing agreements.
Playground equipment will not be sanitized by school staff, so visitors are encouraged to take health and safety precautions.
- Follow state guidelines on outdoor recreation activities and face coverings.
- Wash hands before and after visiting the playground.
- Maintain physical distancing of at least 6 feet from people outside your immediate household.
- Bring hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes for use on surfaces that you touch.
- Stay home if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Symptoms include cough, fever and shortness of breath.
Acceso a los patios de recreo y los campos de las escuelas
Los patios de recreo de las escuelas y los campos ahora están disponibles para la comunidad. Las familias pueden usar los patios de recreo y los campos durante* y después del horario escolar, lo harán bajo su propio riesgo. (*Una vez que las escuelas reanuden el aprendizaje en persona para los estudiantes, los patios de recreo y los campos estarán cerrados para la comunidad durante el horario escolar).
Los campos de césped y los estadios permanecerán cerrados para la comunidad. Las canchas de tenis están abiertas para el uso de Hillsboro Parks and Recreation y de acuerdo con los acuerdos existentes.
El personal de la escuela no desinfectará el equipo del patio de recreo, por lo que se recomienda a los visitantes que tomen precauciones de salud y seguridad.
- Siga las directrices estatales sobre actividades recreativas al aire libre y cubiertas faciales.
- Lávese las manos antes y después de visitar el patio de recreo.
- Mantenga un distanciamiento físico de al menos 6 pies con las personas que no pertenezcan a su hogar inmediato.
- Lleve desinfectante de manos o toallitas desinfectantes para usar en las superficies que toque.
- Quédese en casa si tiene algún síntoma de COVID-19 o ha estado en contacto con alguien con COVID-19 en los últimos 14 días. Los síntomas incluyen tos, fiebre y dificultad para respirar.
OEM has put together this list of contacts to help speed up the process of replacing these documents:
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Green cards: Phone (800)-375-5283; Website: www.uscis.gov
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Medicare cards: Phone: (800)-772-1213; (TTY) (800)-325-0778 Website: www.medicare.gov
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Military records Phone: 866-272-6272 Website: www.archives.gov/contact/
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Passport Phone: 877-487-2778; (TTY) 888-874-7793 Website: travel.state.gov
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Social Security card Phone: 800-772-1213; (TTY) 800-325-0778 Website: www.ssa.gov
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U.S. Savings Bonds Phone: 844-284-2676 Website: www.treasurydirect.gov
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U.S. tax returns Phone: 800-829-1040 Website: www.irs.gov
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Birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership, divorce certificates Phone: 888-896-4988 Website: www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/Birthdeathcertificates
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Driver’s license, auto titles and registration, ID cards Phone: 503-945-5000 Website: www.oregon.gov/odot
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SNAP (Oregon Trail Card) Website: www.oregon.gov/DHS/Assistance/Food-Benefits
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State taxes (Oregon Dept. of Revenue) Phone: 503-378-4988 or 800-356-4222 TTY: All relay calls are accepted. Website: www.oregon.gov/dor
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Real estate and property - Contact your county government.
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Credit cards - Contact your credit card company directly.
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Credit reports from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion Phone: 877-322-8228 Website: www.annualcreditreport.com
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Insurance documents - Check with your insurance agent.
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Medical records - Call your doctor or your medical insurance company; medical and prescription records are tracked electronically.
The Governor’s office has put together a Wildfire Resources page that you can access from the Governor’s home page. It has links to many of the most important updates about the status of fires and resources for evacuees. This website will be updated regularly.
Legal Resources: Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Program, Oregon lawyers, through the Oregon State Bar, are partnering with FEMA and the American Red Cross to provide legal assistance on FEMA claims, contract claims, insurance claims, landlord-tenant matters and more.
The Department of Forestry’s Wildfire Response and Recovery Overview has ongoing updates about firefighting efforts, damage reports, and more.
FEMA Updates: FEMA has provided several different Fact Sheets and resources for accessing benefits, determining eligibility and avoiding scams.
Employers and Employees
Education Links
Hillsboro School District (en inglés y español)
Forest Grove School District (en inglés y español)
Oregon Department of Education
COVID-19 Resources for Oregon Higher Education Partners
Local Government
City of Hillsboro (en inglés, español y más idiomas)
City of Cornelius (en inglés, español y más idiomas)
City of Forest Grove (Personal que habla español disponible en este número: (503) 992-3221)
Washington County
Utilities Assistance
Portland General Electric (en inglés y español)
NW Natural
City of Hillsboro Utility Billing
Comcast
CenturyLink
AT&T
City of Forest Grove
Food and Housing Assistance
Community Action.org
Oregon Food Bank
Meals on Wheels
Yours truly,
 Representative Susan McLain
House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-376, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
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