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Friends and Neighbors,
Celebrating Women's History Month
March is Women’s History Month. This month, let us reflect on contributions women have made to our society. Throughout the history of our country, whenever there has been a movement for change, women have been at the forefront. Too often though, their contributions have been reduced by history, for example, remembering people like Susan B. Anthony for sewing a flag and not as the civil rights activist and suffragette she was.
Abagail Adams, Harriet Tubman, Alice Paul, Rosa Parks, and many others have fought throughout our history to expand the expand civil liberties and civil rights, pushing for a more equal country. These pioneers paved the way to get us to where we are now, where Kamala Harris, who is not only a woman but also a BIPOC leader, is the Vice President of our country. We also have great leadership in Dr. Jill Biden, a teacher, serving our country as the First Lady of the United States.
Join me in celebrating and uplifting the stories of women throughout this month.
Women in the News
Oregon Commission for Women Announces Honorees for Annual Women of Achievement Awards
The Oregon Commission for Women has honored 105 outstanding women since the awards began. Press release for Women of Achievement honorees for 2020, ceremony to be held virtually on March 19, 2021.
Oregon history: 31 Women Who Blazed Trails in the State
The Statesman Journal. (from March 2020) "The Statesman Journal will tell Oregon's herstory by profiling notable women from the state's past. Profiles will continue each day through March, which is National Women's History Month."
2.5 Million Women Left the Work Force During the Pandemic. Harris Sees a ‘National Emergency.’
New York Times. "The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately pushed women out of the workplace, a problem Vice President Harris says, 'has put decades of the progress we have collectively made for women workers at risk.'"
Other Women's History Month Resources
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Women's History Month-The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
- City of Hillsboro Celebrates Women's History Month
International Women's Day
I work with amazing, glass-ceiling-crushing women in your Oregon State Capitol! They inspire me. They teach me. I celebrated with them on International Women's Day this week, but I celebrate with them every day. Here are a few pictures from this week of some of the many amazing women in the Capitol.
 Upcoming Events
- How Women Lead: Addressing Health Inequities for Oregon Indigenous Communities: Portland State University is hosting a webinar on March 18th at 4:00 PM where Oregon Women Leaders will discuss their work addressing health inequalities in Oregon’s Indigenous Communities. How Women Lead Zoom Registration
- WonderWomen Diversity Discussion: Expanding the Diversity of Women in Policy, Politics, and Government: Put on by DePaul University, this webinar features women leaders from around the country examining the present and future role women play in government and policy making. March 18th at 1:00pm. Zoom Registration Link
- Get to Know the WIH Oregon Chapter-Virtual Happy Hour: Women in Health Oregon Chapter hosts monthly happy hours for new members and those that just want to learn more. This month’s topic is Boundaries, an important, healthy, and normal component of self-care. March 31st from 5:00pm-6:00pm. Event registration
Federal Updates
Bonamici, House Send American Rescue Plan to President’s Desk
From U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici
March 10, 2021 Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC [03/10/21] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) joined the House in passing the final version of the American Rescue Plan. The bill will now go to President Joe Biden’s desk, where it will be signed into law.
Over the past year, Bonamici has been speaking with constituents across NW Oregon, and her office has been assisting those who are struggling.
“The American Rescue Plan will help the people of NW Oregon, including many who have reached out to me during this past year,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “It will help the senior citizen in Seaside who needs a vaccine but doesn't have access to the internet. It will help the new mom and her husband, both paramedics, who don’t have access to paid family leave and can’t afford child care. It will help restaurants like a beloved Portland eatery that has been shut down for months but could finally reopen thanks to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. It will help school leaders in districts big and small who want to bring students back to classrooms but don't have the funding to do so safely. It will help the arts industry worker in Portland who has relied on unemployment benefits since last June and can't afford to lose them now. I’ve fought hard for this aid based on these and so many other compelling stories, and am grateful the American Rescue Plan will now become law.”
A breakdown of funding Oregon counties, cities, and Tribes are expected to receive through the American Rescue Plan can be found here.
More details about the American Rescue Plan can be found here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Updates
Thank you to Oregon Health Authority for the following updates and resources.
Vaccinations in Oregon
Yesterday, OHA reported that 15,945 new doses of COVID-19 vaccinations were added to the state immunization registry. Of this total, 8,760 doses were administered on March 8 and 7,185 were administered on previous days but were entered into the vaccine registry on March 8.
Cumulative daily totals can take several days to finalize because providers have 72 hours to report doses administered and technical challenges have caused many providers to lag in their reporting. OHA has been providing technical support to vaccination sites to improve the timeliness of their data entry into the state’s ALERT Immunization Information System (IIS).
Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 1,179,510 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines. To date, 1,418,455 doses of vaccine have been delivered to sites across Oregon.
These data are preliminary and subject to change. OHA's dashboards provide regularly updated vaccination data, and Oregon’s dashboard has been updated today.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Progress for Adult Foster Homes
APD district offices and APD’s Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) district offices continue to survey adult foster homes in their communities to determine those homes still in need of a connection to a vaccine clinic opportunity.
- 768 APD-licensed adult foster homes statewide had received a vaccine opportunity for residents and staff, as of March 9.
ODHS and OHA recently expanded support for APD adult foster homes including:
- Secured AMR (American Medical Response) to support on-site vaccines for some adult foster homes in Washington County and allocated 3,100 vaccines for homes in the area.
- Allocated 4,800 additional Johnson & Johnson vaccines for adult foster homes in Baker, Clackamas, Douglas and Multnomah counties.
As additional vaccine becomes available, the expectation is that roughly 3,000 to 3,600 doses a week will be allocated for adult foster homes and a prioritized group of high risk ODHS in-home service consumers.
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Additional Resources
NEW: Videos added to: https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19:
How to Spot a COVID-19 Vaccine Scam!
Visit the Oregon Department of Justice to learn more.
 Education Updates
Governor Kate Brown Announces Return to In-Person Instruction for Oregon Public Schools
School districts will return to full or hybrid in-person instruction on or before the weeks of March 29 for grades K-5, April 19 for grades 6-12.
Governor Kate Brown announced on Friday she will be issuing an executive order to return Oregon public school students to the classroom. In a letter to the Oregon Health Authority and the… , she directed all Oregon public schools to offer universal access to in-person instruction on or before the weeks of March 29 for K-5 students and April 19 for students in grades 6-12.
"Thanks to the smart choices Oregonians have made, our COVID-19 numbers have declined. All but six counties now meet or exceed Oregon’s advisory metrics for a return to in-person, hybrid learning for all K-12 grade levels,” said Governor Brown. "And, five of those counties meet the advisory metrics for a return to elementary school."
“The science is very, very clear: with proper safety measures in place, there is a low risk of COVID-19 transmission in school. Oregon parents can be confident about sending their children back to a classroom learning environment.”
After the weeks of March 29 and April 19, all public schools in Oregon will operate under either a fully on-site or a hybrid instructional model when counties meet or exceed Oregon’s advisory COVID-19 metrics. Individual students or parents who want to remain in comprehensive distance learning, or who have health needs, may do so. Comprehensive distance learning for all will be an option for school districts when community transmission rates of COVID-19 warrant a transition, as determined by state or local public health directives. No later than March 19, the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Education will issue updated guidance to match the directives set out by the Governor.
Continued Governor Brown: “Closing schools in Oregon is a decision I will never forget. Parents, educators, school staff, but especially students have come so far while navigating the challenges of this pandemic. Welcoming students back to every school across Oregon will be a milestone worth celebrating."
Oregon Leaders Announce $250 Million Summer Learning and Child Care Package for Kids
Oregon students and parents have sacrificed a lot this year to prevent the spread of COVID-19, helping our state achieve among the lowest infection rates in the country. Now, as more and more Oregonians are receiving the vaccine, legislative leaders and Governor Brown have released a $325 million Summer Learning and Child Care funding plan to help students and children learn, thrive, and enjoy this summer.
The funding proposal, which will have a public hearing the week of March 15, would fund a variety of summer education programs and child care services, including:
- Academic and enrichment programs for students of all ages;
- High school credit recovery for students who have fallen behind during distance learning;
- Wraparound child care support, including nutritional services, for K-8 students;
- Early learning programs;
- Enrichment programs, such as day camps and park programs.
More details on the funding program can be found here.
Oregon students deserve to have a well-rounded educational experience. After a year of distance learning, these programs will give students the opportunity to heal and reestablish connections with their peers that are critical to their development as emotionally healthy adults.
Additionally, these programs will serve to improve equity in the Oregon education system. These grants will prioritize low-income households and school districts will be asked to partner with culturally-specific community organizations to ensure students from all backgrounds are able to take advantage of these programs.
 Crystal Apple Awards
 Hosted by the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, the Crystal Apple Award program has been in place for sixteen years, and is like the “Oscars” of education! Nominations can be made of any regular Hillsboro School District staff member - licensed, classified, or administrator - who you feel goes above and beyond to support students and promote educational excellence. All nominated staff members receive a surprise reveal of their nomination and are honored along with their fellow nominees; a subset of those nominated are then selected to receive the Crystal Apple Award. 2021 Crystal Apple Award nominations are due Friday, Mar. 12, and at this time just a handful of nominations had been received.
This year's event will be virtual and the date is still to be determined. You can get more information and submit a nomination form at this link.
Community Outreach
Redistricting Roadshow
 The Oregon Legislature’s virtual redistricting “road shows” begin this week. It’s an opportunity for all Oregonians to make their voices heard about how our state’s political maps are drawn. Find out more about how to testify at this site: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/redistricting
The next hearing for District 1, which includes House District 30, will be Saturday, March 20th from 9:00am-11:00am. I hope to see you there!
Rise Above Plastic Pollution Rally
Join me, Monday, March 15th at 12:00pm, at the Rise Above Plastic Pollution Rally. I will be speaking and encourage you to attend as we rally to reduce plastic waste in our environment.
 This year we’re celebrating Rise Above Plastic Pollution Day on March 15th! Join us to celebrate and rally around solutions to the plastic crisis. Hear from key Oregon leaders like Senator Merkley on why we need to take action now.
In 2019, when Governor Kate Brown first proclaimed Rise Above Plastic Pollution Day, the Governor also pledged to “be a smart shopper” by purchasing fruits and veggies that are not wrapped in plastic.
What action will you take on Oregon's third Rise Above Plastic Pollution Day?
Join Surfrider Foundation, Environment Oregon, Oceana, and some very special guests to learn more about what we can do as a State to protect our environment and communities from plastic pollution.
Follow this link to register to attend.
House District 30 Virtual Office Hours
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This Friday, March 12, from 11:00am-12:00pm, I will be holding HD 30 Virtual Office Hours. This is an opportunity for fellow House District 30 constituents to join me and the HD 30 team and stop by to ask a question or share a thought. Stay as long, or as little, as you like. We will hold office hours every Friday from 11:00-12:00 to meet with you virtually by Zoom. Use the link below to join.
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Join Zoom Meeting
Virtual Community Conversation
Join me Thursday, March 18th, from 6:00pm-7:00pm for my 74th Community Conversation. Come and join in the discussion to share your thoughts or bring your questions. Register to attend here or by clicking on the graphic below.
 Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
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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