Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

As we welcome President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to the White House, we can celebrate a new chapter for our country. It is a historic moment for our nation with the swearing-in of our first female, Black and Asian Vice President, and the incredibly diverse Cabinet that President Biden has nominated. Like you, I believe our government should be reflective of the people it represents, and now Americans across the country will see themselves in the people holding leadership positions. I am hopeful of this new federal partnership and what it means for us here in Oregon; especially as we continue to endure the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Our businesses are struggling, and our students want to get back into the classrooms. Dealing with the pandemic and pandemic-induced recession along with the upcoming bills and the budget will take up a lot of time. I remain optimistic that Oregon Democrats and Republicans can work together. 

The 81st Oregon Legislative Assembly officially began on January 19 and I was sworn in last week. I will chair the House Special Committee on Redistricting, serve as Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Health Care, and serve on the House Health Care Subcommittee on COVID-19, the House Committee on Behavioral Health, and the House Committee on Rules. I will also serve as the House Majority Whip.

Above: Image of Representative Salinas with other members of the BIPOC Caucus on the first day of the 2021 Legislative Session.

My work will continue to focus on providing access to affordable health care for all Oregonians; increasing culturally responsive mental and behavioral health support--especially for our BIPOC communities; and finally, extending voting rights for incarcerated Oregonians and pushing for campaign contribution limits to expand and diversify participation in our democracy. While these issues are critically important to moving Oregon forward, my top priority will be the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and the redistricting process.

Above: Image of Representative Salinas giving a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on the first day of the 2021 Legislative Session.

I hope you will continue to share your views as the legislature considers measures important to you and our community. You can continue to do this by sending me notes through email or participating in town halls. You can go to my legislative webpage to find out about upcoming events and you can track bills on the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS).

Sincerely,

Andrea Salinas, State Representative 

Vaccine Distribution

While the introduction of a vaccine is good news, it does not end the pandemic. It is going to take time for the vaccine to be widely available and widely distributed here in Oregon. On January 14, the federal government notified OHA that we would not be receiving the additional supply of vaccines that OHA was planning for earlier in the week. That supply was intended to expand eligibility for vaccinations to teachers and those over the age of 65 by January 23. That will not happen now.

OHA is updating Oregon’s vaccination plan considering this new information. The new plan depends on Oregon receiving a reliable supply of doses from the federal government, and as we have witnessed, this could change at a moment’s notice.

The state and the federal government have determined the order of vaccine eligibility. The state is responsible for the distribution to all 36 counties; and the counties are responsible for the phased implementation.

The current plan is:

• Starting the week of Jan. 25: begin vaccinating teachers and childcare providers.
• Starting Feb. 8: begin vaccinating the first of four “waves” of seniors. 
  • Wave 1: Seniors age 80 and older.
  • Wave 2: Seniors are age 75 and older.
  • Wave 3: Seniors are age 70 and older.
  • Wave 4: All Oregonians age 65 and older.

It's not just important to offer more options to get vaccinated, you need to know when, where and how you can get immunized. OHA has new information on its website, where you will find a new personalized, interactive guide that tells you:

• If you are eligible to get a vaccine, based on your age and occupation.
• Where you can find information about a vaccine, based on your local county resources.
• Where you can get the facts about vaccines and answers to your vaccination questions.

We all want to return to normal life as soon as possible. Safe and effective vaccines are the key. Right now, we do not have enough vaccine, which makes the timing uncertain of when the general population will be able to receive it. I plan on getting the vaccine when it is my turn and I hope you will have confidence in the vaccine’s safety when it is your turn.

Updated Guidance for In-Person School Instruction

The Oregon Department of Education has released new information this week with latest guidance on schools returning to in-person classroom instruction. 

The key changes in the updated guidance include:

• School district decision-making. Governor Brown returned the decisions for operating schools in-person to the local level on January 1, 2021. This guidance provides local leaders with guidance, information, and resources they need to make informed decisions. With this announcement, the Lake Oswego School District (LOSD) announced their plan to begin bringing students back to the classroom by February 4. For more information about their reopening plans, click here. Similarly, Portland Public Schools said they plan to open 16 elementary schools and two high schools by January 25. 
• Updated advisory metrics. The new guidance aligns Oregon with the Harvard Global Health Institute recommendations. These metrics allow for a return to in-person instruction for elementary students at higher levels of community case rates than previously recommended. The below table is currently being utilized by LOSD to help them make reopening decisions. For more FAQs on LOSD reopening click here.

Above: Image of the table being used by the Lake Oswego School District to help make reopening decisions.

• On-site testing. A new requirement that when students and staff return to in-person instruction out of alignment with the metrics, schools must offer access to on-site COVID-19 testing for symptomatic students and staff identified on campus as well as those with known exposure to individuals with COVID-19. 
• Multiple new resources. A collection of resources to support learning outside, field trips, equitable grading practices, attendance best practices, contact tracing partnerships, COVID-19 testing, and more.

As school districts make decisions about returning to in-person instruction, they must focus on two factors:

• It remains important that the community case counts (or case rates) are low enough that the community is not regularly introducing new COVID-19 cases into schools. The county metrics remain the best tool for determining when cases are down enough to return to in-person instruction.
  • For case rate information by county click here.
  • LOSD is also keeping a page detailing the number of COVID-19 cases in their schools. Find it here. 
• The ability to implement public health and safety protocols in schools remains important. Oregon’s guidance is comprehensive and includes diligent entry screening, universal use of face coverings, physical distancing, cohorts, frequent handwashing, and over 160 other requirements for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in schools.
  • You can find the list of health and safety protocols required for Lake Oswego schools here.

I would also like to acknowledge the difficulties that our students, their families and teachers have been experiencing during distance learning. Many educators and their family members are immuno-compromised and they fear for their lives. Parents are also concerned about the impact this has on their children. I know how desperately some students want to return to the classroom.

 As we work to make vaccines widely available, the fastest way to get our schools, businesses and communities back open is to keep working together. We’re going to have to continue to use the tried-and-true methods we know stop the spread of this disease: wear a face covering, limit group size, keep distance, wash hands and stay home when sick.

email: Rep.AndreaSalinas@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1438
address: 900 Court St NE, H-485, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/salinas