|
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Today I attended four standing committees with remote formats; Joint Transportation, two Education Budget meetings, and Agriculture and Natural Resources. There are many interesting bills and public testimony. New information on vaccines is here. It is not a perfect system, and we do not have enough supply but it is getting better.
Representative Williams and Representative McLain at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Committee Assignments
Joint Committee On Ways and Means
Joint Committee On Transportation - Co-Chair
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources
Joint Committee On the Interstate 5 Bridge - Co-Chair
Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Education - Co-Chair
2019-2020 Joint Emergency Board
Watch all Oregon State Legislature Live-Streams and Meetings HERE
Track all 2021 Session Bills HERE
Forest Grove Rotarians and local businesses support victims of last fall’s wildfires:
Thank you to Rotarian Dexter Danielson and the Forest Grove Daybreak Rotary Club for gathering necessary supplies to deliver to Santiam Canyon. And thank you to local businesses like Ace Hardware and Wilco for offering donations and discounts. Danielson estimates they have raised between $4,000 and $5,000 from donations and are using the money to purchase necessity items like deodorant. Anyone interested in helping Rotary's efforts can email mitchtaylor4@gmail.com or visit the Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund's website at santiamcanyonwildfirerelieffund.org. Read more about this story here.
|
New options are available to help ages 80 and older find vaccine information
*This information comes from the Oregon Health Authority and can be found here.
Approximately 168,000 adults age 80 and older are now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination. While this is a welcome increase in vaccine eligibility for one of our most vulnerable communities, it is important to note that there is still not enough vaccine supply for everyone.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Director Patrick Allen said, “My promise to older Oregonians is this: If you want a vaccination, you will get one. But it may not be tomorrow, this week or even two weeks from now. But you will get one. And every Oregonian will get a vaccine sooner and more easily if we are patient, wait our turn and make sure others who go before us get their chance.”
Today, OHA piloted and launched a new tool to provide older adults information about COVID-19 vaccinations. The “Get Vaccinated Oregon” tool is in addition to other methods that are already available to help people in Oregon get connected to vaccines. With the new tool, older adults in Oregon have four primary ways to get linked to local vaccine information:
-
Get Vaccinated Oregon is an eligibility and notification tool developed by Google, in partnership with the state of Oregon. You can find it at covidvaccine.oregon.gov or getvaccinated.oregon.gov. Users can answer basic questions to learn if they are eligible and get linked to information about vaccinations in their counties. Users can sign up for alerts to get notified about vaccination events or find out when they may become eligible.
-
Vaccine Information chat bot on the covidvaccine.oregon.gov website allows anyone to find out if they’re eligible for a vaccine in Oregon or get answers to other questions about vaccines. The Vaccine Information chat bot also enables vaccine-eligible users who live in Clackamas, Columbia, Marion, Multnomah or Washington counties to schedule vaccine appointments through scheduling tools hosted by local health care providers. OHA developed and offered this scheduling feature in direct response to requests from health care providers in the region. The friendly Vaccine Information chat bot tool is an orange box that appears whenever a user accesses the covidvaccine.oregon.gov website.
-
211: You can also text ORCOVID to 898211 to get text/SMS updates about vaccination clinics (this option is available in English and Spanish only) or email ORCOVID@211info.org. If you can’t get your COVID-19 vaccine question answered on the website, by text or by email, you can call 211 or 1-866-698-6155, which is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including holidays. Please be aware that wait times may be long due to high call volumes. As Governor Brown announced on Friday, the Oregon National Guard will help 211 answer phone calls, starting by the end of today.
-
Licensed senior facilities: Residents and staff at most licensed facilities for older adults and people with disabilities are receiving on-site vaccinations through pharmacies enrolled in federal vaccination programs. Residents (or family members) can ask their facility operator when their residence is scheduled for a vaccination clinic.
 |
 |
 |
My Mother Got Vaccinated. Is It Now Safe To Visit?
This is a summary of a news story that appeared on NPR.
First things first: The vaccines available in the U.S. are extremely effective, but the protection is not perfect. And given that the virus is still circulating widely around the country, and that more infectious new variants are starting to spread, it's still better to be cautious.
A visit may depend on where your loved one lives: "Everybody got excited when the vaccines came out," says McKoy, a geriatrician who works with nursing homes in Chicago. "Families were hoping this would liberate their parents, but unfortunately, we are telling them, not yet."
- For nursing homes and assisted living facilities, extra caution is warranted. That's because people who live there can be frail and have underlying conditions that make them even more vulnerable to severe illness and death. And in a communal living situation, one infection can put everyone at risk.
If your relative lives independently, visit carefully: Before the visit, double-check to make sure the person you are visiting has had two shots and that it has been two weeks since the second dose. In that case, it's OK to visit, agrees McKoy. "You should still wear your mask, make sure your hands are sanitized and you should still socially distance," she says.
- And be cautious about hugging and kissing, says Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "Wear that mask, give them a quick hug around the waist, then back off. Don't kiss them extensively, and maintain your distance," Schaffner advises.
Take precautions so you don't get infected: Even if your loved one has been vaccinated, they could still become mildly infected. Remember, the clinical trials only looked at whether the vaccines prevent severe disease, not infection, so a vaccinated person could unknowingly pass the virus on to you and others. That's why it's so important for people who've been vaccinated to keep wearing their masks, avoid crowded indoor places and socially distance.
Don't travel too far: One thing to consider before deciding to visit is how far you have to travel. If your relative lives close by, or is reachable by car, a visit is more reasonable, Omer says. You can pack food, eat in the car, limit stops along the way to reduce your chances of infection. "But if you are flying there that's a different risk," says Omer. Activities like getting to and from the airport and waiting in check-in lines put you at risk for infection. "I just don't think it's safe quite yet," says Dr. Ravina Kullar, an epidemiologist and spokesperson for the Infectious Disease Society of America.
- Confirmed Cases: 26,939,515 (up 86,706 from yesterday)
- Deaths: 463,659 (up 1,622 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 147,419 total cases (confirmed and presumptive) of COVID-19.
- Today we have 1,317 new confirmed and presumptive cases, and 22 new deaths.
- A total of 2,024 Oregonians have died from COVID-19.
(previous daily case updates from OHA here)
- Washington County still has one of the highest case counts at 19,895 confirmed cases, including 195 deaths. You can review on-going updates from OHA by clicking on the table below.
-
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.
New COVID-19 cases drop to four month low
*Summary of article in the Forest Grove News-Times. Click here for the full story.
- Reported new daily cases of COVID-19 fell to their lowest level in nearly four months on Monday.
- State health officials also reported that a cumulative total of 572,400 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. That is 78% of the 734,950 doses of that have been delivered to sites across Oregon.
Governor Kate Brown Announces 10 Counties Improve from Extreme Risk
*This is a summary of a press release from Governor Kate Brown’s office on 12/9/21.
- Governor Kate Brown today announced that 12 counties improved in risk level, with 10 improving from Extreme Risk for the first time since November, effective February 12. County risk levels under the state's public health framework aim to reduce transmission and protect Oregonians from COVID-19. The framework uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk—and assigns health and safety measures for each level.
- Effective February 12 through February 25, there will be 14 counties in the Extreme Risk level, 11 at High Risk, three at Moderate Risk, and eight at Lower Risk. A complete list of counties and their associated risk levels is available here.
- The Oregon Health Authority will examine and publish county data weekly. County risk levels will be reassigned every two weeks. The first week's data will provide a "warning week" to prepare counties for potential risk level changes. The next assignment of risk levels will be announced February 23 and take effect February 26.
COVID-19 nurse hotline to help Oregon child care providers with COVID questions
Starting today, child care providers and staff at early learning centers can call a toll-free hotline to get assistance with:
- Symptoms or health issues that are concerning to them or staff
- Questions about when to exclude children from care or staff from work
- Steps to take if someone is positive for COVID-19
The hotline is a partnership between the Early Learning Division of the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).
“Our collaboration with OHSU will allow providers to have a more personalized response in their efforts to adapt and ensure child care remains safe for children and families during this emergency,” said Oregon Early Learning System Director Miriam Calderon.
Child care providers can call 1-833-647-8222 seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The hotline is a resource reserved for child care providers and staff at no cost. Language assistance is available.
 |
Forest Grove Superintendent Parker asks parents to complete important survey
*From Superintendent Parker’s message here.
“Forest Grove School District staff have been planning for students to return to school in some type of capacity. For the district to do the best for each option we first need to know how many students want to come back and how many will remain in CDL. Please take a few minutes to provide us with this important information by filling out this survey for your student(s). At this point, we are not asking you to make a final decision on whether or not you will be sending your students back to school. We are trying to understand what the ratios look like and what the demographics of those families are that are making a particular decision. I will report out the initial results at the board meeting on Monday night. In the coming weeks, we will provide a detailed description on what the instructional model will look like, including schedules and classroom environment. We will conduct engagement sessions through your students’ school. We will then send follow-up communication where families will be asked to officially choose if they want their student(s) to stay in CDL or attend our hybrid model.”
Here is the link to complete the survey. The survey will be open through Friday, February 12th.
|
Return to Schools Q&A with Hillsboro Superintendent Scott
Superintendent Scott and members of his executive team will host two Return-to-School Q&A sessions this week: Wednesday, Feb. 10, at noon; and Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. (this session is for Spanish speakers).
Each session will begin with a brief presentation and continue with open Q&A. Please submit your questions in advance, if possible, using this Google form.
Wednesday’s session will be shown live at www.hsd.k12.or.us/livestream, and will be posted to our website afterward, along with the Q&A.
Thursday’s session in Spanish is accessible through Google Meet.
Evento destacado: Preguntas y respuestas sobre el regreso a la escuela con el superintendente Scott
Esta semana el superintendente Scott y los miembros de su equipo ejecutivo ofrecerán dos sesiones de preguntas y respuestas sobre el regreso a la escuela: el miércoles, 10 de febrero al mediodía y el jueves, 11 de febrero a las 6:30 p.m. (esta sesión es para hispanohablantes).
Cada sesión comenzará con una breve presentación y continuará con preguntas y respuestas abiertas. Por favor, envíe sus preguntas con anticipación, si es posible, utilizando este formulario de Google.
La sesión del miércoles se transmitirá en vivo en www.hsd.k12.or.us/livestream, y posteriormente se publicará en nuestro sitio web, junto con las preguntas y respuestas.
Se puede acceder a la sesión en español del jueves a través de Google Meet.
|
Wildfire Recovery Resources:
OEM has put together this list of contacts to help speed up the process of replacing these documents:
-
Green cards: Phone (800)-375-5283; Website: www.uscis.gov
-
Medicare cards: Phone: (800)-772-1213; (TTY) (800)-325-0778 Website: www.medicare.gov
-
Military records Phone: 866-272-6272 Website: www.archives.gov/contact/
-
Passport Phone: 877-487-2778; (TTY) 888-874-7793 Website: travel.state.gov
-
Social Security card Phone: 800-772-1213; (TTY) 800-325-0778 Website: www.ssa.gov
-
U.S. Savings Bonds Phone: 844-284-2676 Website: www.treasurydirect.gov
-
U.S. tax returns Phone: 800-829-1040 Website: www.irs.gov
-
Birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership, divorce certificates Phone: 888-896-4988 Website: www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/Birthdeathcertificates
-
Driver’s license, auto titles and registration, ID cards Phone: 503-945-5000 Website: www.oregon.gov/odot
-
SNAP (Oregon Trail Card) Website: www.oregon.gov/DHS/Assistance/Food-Benefits
-
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
-
Real estate and property - Contact your county government.
-
Credit cards - Contact your credit card company directly.
-
Credit reports from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion Phone: 877-322-8228 Website: www.annualcreditreport.com
-
Insurance documents - Check with your insurance agent.
-
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
* We are sharing again this week our top four bills. We will be featuring three or four other bills every week. They will be ones that are major bills in this session, ones I have voted on, and ones I think people should look into for the community.
Household hazardous waste (HHW) can pose risks to the environment and public health during use, storage, or disposal. Specific ways that this can occur, along with some remedies for prevention of these risks, include:
-
Improper use of hazardous products. Use contrary to label directions or applicable laws and regulations: improper quantities, improper application methods, use for the wrong purpose, etc.
-
Proper use of hazardous products. Use following all label precautions and applicable laws and regulations may also have an adverse impact on the environment or public health.
-
Storage. Storage in or around the home, in anticipation of future use or disposal at a later date.
-
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal. Disposal into residential garbage can or dumpster destined for MSW facility.
-
Improper disposal. Hazardous waste that is buried, abandoned, put into a Construction and Demolition (C&D) landfill, poured down the drain, etc. (note: disposal down the drain is proper for some products, most water-based or water-soluble cleaners, e.g.).
Risks can be to people, the environment, or property. The target can be:
- In the home – occupants, pets, structures, contents
-
MSW workers/customers – drivers; transfer station, MRF and landfill personnel, also customers using the facilities
-
MSW equipment/operations – damage to MSW vehicles & facilities, increased operating costs
-
Publicly owned treatment works (POTW) – damage to sewage treatment plants equipment/operations or increased operating costs
-
The environment – contaminants in the air, water or soil and resultant effects on plants, animals and the food supply
Solution
Proposes a product stewardship program that would address the risks of these household products, and ask manufacturers to be a part of the solution.
Status: Public Hearing Scheduled for 1pm on 2/10
The legislature passed HB2563 in 2019 to create the Northwest Regional Newborn Bloodspot Advisory Board. This board was created to use the best available science, treatment developments, and patient centered advocacy to decide on additions to the Oregon newborn disease screening. While working with OHA and the State Labs in 2019, they stated that a primary reason for not adding Krabbe and leukodystrophies to the panel, was the lack of treatment for these diseases. Despite advances in treatment for leukodystrophies including Krabbe and Adrenoleukodystrophy and despite more states choosing to screen for these diseases, the advisory board has not seriously considered adding these diseases.
Solution
The original, introduced version of HB2563 (2019), would have required that the lab add Krabbe and Adrenoleukodystrophy to the newborn blood screening. We would like to re-draft the introduced/unamended version of HB 2563 from 2019. Directs Oregon Health Authority to adopt rules requiring infants to be screened to detect certain diseases.
Status: Referred to House Committee on Healthcare
Part-time faculty at Oregon Universities and Community Colleges do not have access to healthcare benefits. Many part-time faculty in Oregon teach enough total hours that they should qualify for state health care coverage under current requirements, but the simple fact that they teach at multiple institutions disallows them from coverage even though their colleagues who teach the same amount at one institution receive coverage.
Solution
Provide access to health care coverage under OEBB for part-time faculty who qualify for PERS (600-1800hours of work in a year) and teach more than a half-time course load, whether at one institution or multiple
Redraft of HB 4146 (2020): I would like the program to establish a floor for benefits, where employees only (not spouses or dependents) are eligible for benefits at a cost share of 90% state, 10% employee.
This solution should not restrict employee bargaining power to negotiate for benefits greater than what is outlined in the legislation.
Status: Public Hearing Scheduled for 1pm on 2/11
I passed the original bill in 2019. This just gives a rollout Regional Process that will provide a streamlined, efficient system that will help the three Agencies, farmers and ranchers that will use the program and will make sure it carries out the high standards of protection of our water channels and cleaning opportunities to help management of the land and control of flooding.
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
|
