More Help Is On The Way: the American Rescue Plan + Summer Learning Package

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Representative Smith Warner

Greetings:

I hope you all are taking some time to go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather we’re having. This week, there is much to be thankful for: the American Rescue Plan was signed into law, This wide-ranging, progressive policy package will touch on almost every aspect of our lives and make meaningful change, from decreasing child poverty to making health care more affordable and so much more. It will also bring more than $6 billion dollars in federal relief directly to Oregon. 

These much-needed funds will aid coronavirus response efforts, support essential workers, preserve unemployment insurance programs, provide resources to safely reopen our schools and much more. For more information about the American Rescue Plan, visit Senator Jeff Merkley’s COVID-19 response webpage.  Below, you’ll find information about my upcoming joint town hall with Rep. Pham and Sen. Dembrow, plus other important updates.

Town Hall


Please join me on Wednesday, March 17, at 5:30 PM for a joint Zoom town hall with Sen. Michael Dembrow and Rep. Khanh Pham. We will be sharing legislative updates, discussing our policy priorities and providing an overview of what we’re working on. We are also excited to have Multnomah County REACH Program Manager, Charlene McGee join us to give an update about COVID-19 outreach and response efforts in Multnomah County and outreach efforts to BIPOC community members. As always, please contact my office with any questions you might have, or if you need assistance registering. I hope you are able to join me in this informative discussion. Please register in advance using the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvdO6gpj8oE9Sk3-x4ms-u58k-qVaCMBX6


Oregon Health Authority Update

The Oregon Health authority reports up-to-date information regarding testing and vaccine statistics that can be found on their website. You can review the daily update and read the weekly report that details the overall picture of the COVID-19 response in Oregon. Here are some recent developments from OHA:

  • Multnomah County moves to Moderate Risk.This move allows further expansion of indoor and outdoor capacities at home, as well as at restaurants and bars, shopping centers, entertainment venues, gyms, faith institutions, and other indoor and outdoor services and activities.

  • Oregon has now administered a cumulative total of 1,269,595 first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccines.You can find additional information about how to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine here.

  • The Oregon Health Authority released its latest COVID-19 forecast, which estimated that transmission of the virus increased in December but declined in recent weeks. 
  • The forecast also provided an update on the effective reproduction rate, which calculates the expected number of secondary cases that a single case generates. The effective reproduction rate for early February through Feb. 24 was 0.83.At that level of transmission, the projected average of new daily cases would be 170 between March 17 and March 30, and daily hospitalizations would increase by six. 

As access to vaccines gradually expands throughout the state, the projections on the spread of the virus show the importance of wearing a face covering, washing your hands and avoiding large gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19.


Summer Learning & Childcare Package

Earlier this week, Governor Kate Brown, Speaker Tina Kotek, and Senate President Peter Courtney announced a $250 million Summer Learning and Child Care Package that will support educational resources and opportunities for students and children impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As someone who’s been working on summer learning since I joined the legislature, I am thrilled at this investment, and hope it will be the impetus for broadening summer learning as a key element of our educational system. In addition to the federal resources from the American Rescue Plan, this state-funded package includes support for early learning programs, summer academic enrichment programs and wraparound childcare services. 

Package

Redistricting Roadshow

Input from the public is critical to the redistricting process, which determines how the boundaries are drawn for Oregon’s legislative and congressional districts. There will be many opportunities over the coming weeks for Oregonians to provide feedback to the Oregon Legislature’s Redistricting Committee. You can find instructions on how to testify by video, phone, or written testimony at the Legislature’s Redistricting Webpage.  Here’s a look at some of the upcoming virtual hearings:

Road Show

Please reach out to my office if you have any additional questions, or if there’s anything you think I could help with. 

Sincerely, 

Sig

Representative Barbara Smith Warner
House District 45

email: Rep.BarbaraSmithWarner@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1445
address: 900 Court St NE, H-295, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithwarner