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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Last night I was proud to support a series of bills to invest about $300 million in response to Oregon’s most urgent needs, including funds for summer learning and childcare, low-barrier housing shelters, and wildfire recovery. This funding will provide urgently needed relief to communities across the state. I would also like to note that 90% of bills coming to the floor had bipartisan, unanimous support coming out of their committee - this is something all Oregonians can be proud of.
There’s much more work to be done to protect Oregonians struggling under the weight of multiple crises: COVID, the economic downturn, wildfires, the housing crisis, climate change, and generations of structural racism. Oregonians are counting on bold, transformational policies that will improve their lives. No matter what, I’ll continue to fight each day for your priorities. We are here each day to do improve the lives of every Oregonian.
Very busy week at the Capitol! Productive and filled with Committee dialog and work, and several budget bills and a few policy bills passed on the Floor.
2021 Session 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
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Instructions for how to testify:
English instructions here
Aquí están las instrucciones
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HB 2358, the Agriculture Worker Overtime bill, prohibits employers from permitting or requiring agricultural workers to work in excess of 40 hours in one work week unless workers are compensated for overtime hours worked. More specifically, it requires employers to pay agricultural workers overtime wages of one and one-half time regular pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. For those paid on a piece-rate basis, hours in excess of 40 in a workweek must be compensated at one and one-half times the regular price for all work done on a piece-rate basis during each overtime hour worked.
- This bill is up for a vote in the Committee on Business and Labor on 4/7 and the proceedings can be followed here.
HB 2362, the Mergers and Acquisitions bill, requires health care entities to obtain approval from Oregon Health Authority before any mergers, acquisitions or affiliations of entities that had $25 million or more in net patient revenue in preceding three fiscal years or before mergers, acquisitions or affiliations that will result in one entity having increase in net patient revenue of $1 million or more. It also specifies evaluation criteria, including impacts on costs, access, health equity, health outcomes, and competition. It creates and specifies a review process for entities to submit a request for a material change transaction from the OHA. And it authorizes the review board to request information from an entity seeking material change transaction; prohibits requesting entity from providing requested information if deemed privileged or confidential, and permits the OHA to conduct examinations and investigations to enforce provisions of the measure.
- This bill is up for a vote in the House Committee on Health Care on 4/6 and the proceedings can be followed here.
House Democrats Vote to Send Urgent Funds to Oregon Communities
HB 5042 funds summer learning, wildfire recovery, and shelters
In a late evening legislative floor session, Oregon’s House Democrats voted to approve a bill that will invest hundreds of millions of dollars in students and communities impacted by the multiple crises of the last year.
The bill includes $250 million in funding for Summer Learning and Child Care programs to aid students and families across the state.
“The Summer Learning and Childcare programs funded by this legislation will be a lifeline for both students and parents across Oregon,” says Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon (D-Woodburn), chair of the House Education Committee. “The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the school year for so many Oregon students, and we need to make sure that no student, particularly from our historically underserved communities, gets left behind.”
House Bill 5042, which passed unanimously after weeks of delay caused by Republican obstruction, will now be considered by the Oregon Senate.
“Getting these bills passed will help Oregon families tremendously, especially when we consider the impact the pandemic has had on students’ academic year,” says House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner. “But let’s be clear, there are other critically important bills that Republicans are still holding up, and their pointless obstruction is only delaying relief to hurting Oregonians.”
HB 5042 also includes $18 million in funds for emergency housing shelters (known as navigation centers) in impacted communities, and millions more in funding to communities harmed by last year’s wildfires. Funding will go to:
- Eugene - $5 million
- Salem - $5 million
- Bend - $2.5 million
- Medford - $2.5 million
- McMinnville - $1.5 million
- Roseburg - $1.5 million
“This funding for emergency shelter in Bend is going to bring desperately needed relief to people in our community experiencing houselessnesss.” says Rep. Jason Kropf (D-Bend). “This is a big step forward. As Bend and Oregon recovers from COVID and the wildfires there is a lot more that needs to get done this session to help our struggling families.”
“Salem-area families are in crisis. This funding will help provide real hope to so many in our community,” says Rep. Paul Evans (D-Monmouth). “There’s light at the end of this long tunnel if we stick together and look after the needs of those hurting the most.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created the most unequal recession in modern U.S. history, and every day I see the effect that’s having in our community,” says Rep. Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene, Junction City). “Far too many people have nowhere to turn, and our safety net has been stretched to its limits. The navigation center in Lane County will provide a place to stay as well as services to get folks some stability when they need it most.”
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- On Monday, April 5, several new groups will become eligible statewide for the COVID-19 vaccine. One of these is frontline workers.
- A frontline worker is someone who has a job that puts them at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 because of:
- Regular close contact with others outside of their household (less than 6 feet); and
- Routine – more than 15 minutes per person(s) – close contact with others outside of their household; and
- They cannot perform their job duties from home or another setting that limits the close or routine contact with others outside of their household.
- This includes many different jobs and industries. Refer to Page 2 of this infographic to see whether your job qualifies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a more exhaustive list of definitions.
- People will need to determine for themselves whether they are a frontline worker. The state is not requiring verification that a person falls within a specific category, though you may be asked at a vaccination site what category you fall into.
- To learn more, check out OHA’s How to Find a COVID-19 Vaccine pages in English or Spanish.
- Since Feb. 3, OHA has been reporting a cumulative count of each variant of concern on its Tableau dashboard. These counts have been based on information reported directly to public health by laboratory partners.
- On March 16, CDC reclassified the B.1.427 and B.1.429 variants as “variants of concern”. These variants have been circulating in Oregon since late 2020 and had not been previously reportable. OHA has reviewed historical data in the open-source sequencing data platform GISAID and has identified more than 190 B.1.427 and B.1.429 variants to date in Oregon.
- In order to provide a comprehensive picture of variant circulation in Oregon, OHA will begin updating its variant of concern counts using GISAID data. This will allow OHA to rapidly report historical data whenever CDC definitions of variants of concern are updated. The OHA variant of concern dashboard will be updated with GISAID data on April 2, 2021, and will be updated every Wednesday moving forward.
- Oregon will continue to ask all laboratory partners to promptly report all variants of concern (B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, B.1.427 and B.1.429) and variants of interest (B.1.525, B.1.526, P.2) to public health in order to inform case investigation and contact tracing.
211info to call landlines for vaccine appointments
*This announcement is from the Oregon Health Authority Press Release. Click the link above to read more.
- People who entered their primary or preferred contact as a landline in the Get Vaccinated Oregon tool could receive a call as early as today from staff at 211info.
- Approximately 500 people registered with GVO with a landline as their primary or preferred contact. Some of these individuals also listed a cell or email contact and may have already been contacted for vaccine appointments. 211info staff will prioritize contacting the 260 people who have not yet had any contact from OHA.
- For more details, see this past Wednesday’s press release.
National Numbers:
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Confirmed Cases: 30,357,579
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Deaths: 550,169
- 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 166,000 total cases (confirmed and presumptive) of COVID-19.
- Today we have 521 new confirmed and presumptive cases, and 2 new deaths.
- A total of 2,398 Oregonians have died from COVID-19 (previous daily case updates from OHA here)
- Washington County has 22,382 confirmed cases, including 223 deaths.
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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
Celebrating spring holidays safely
*This announcement is from the Oregon Health Authority Press Release. Click the link above to read more.
- It’s spring, which means the days are getting lighter, flowers are starting to bloom, and people in Oregon are heading outside. This year, also, hope is in the air with more people in Oregon getting vaccinated. This is also a time when many celebrate springtime holidays.
- If you are fully vaccinated and plan on gathering, remember many in our communities are still vulnerable to COVID-19. The safest choice is to continue practicing preventive measures like wearing a face covering and gathering outdoors. If you are fully vaccinated, you may consider gathering inside in a private setting like a home without wearing a face covering if you gather with:
- Others who are fully vaccinated.
- Unvaccinated people from one household only. In other words, if you live with people who are unvaccinated, they will need to stay home if you visit another household with unvaccinated people.
Q&A: Hillsboro School Board candidates
*This announcement is from the Hillsboro NewsTimes. Click the link above to read more.
- Read what eight candidates running in four races for the Hillsboro School District board of directors have to say about their qualifications, closing the graduation gap, the impact of the pandemic on students and other topics.
- The candidates include three incumbents: board chair Erika Lopez, serving in Position 1; Mark Watson, Position 2; and Jaci Spross, Position 6.
- Martin Granum, who represents Position 3, is not seeking a new term.
- Lopez, Watson and Spross were first elected to the School Board in 2017. Each is seeking a new four-year term.
- Also running are Joe Everton, challenging Lopez for Position 1; Ben Wolfe, challenging Watson for Position 2; Mary Phelps and Nancy Thomas, who have filed for the open Position 3; and Monique Ward, challenging Spross for Position 6.
Q&A: Forest Grove School Board candidates
*This announcement is from the Forest Grove NewsTimes. Click the link above to read more.
- Three seats on the Forest Grove School Board are up in the May 18 election.
- Two of the races, for Position 1 and Position 2, are uncontested. Incumbents Brad Bafaro and Valyrie Ingram were the only candidates to file for those two seats respectively.
- Position 3 incumbent Mark Everett drew a challenger, Mary Whitmore.
- The News-Times reached out to all candidates with a short list of questions and received responses from Everett and Whitmore, running for the contested seat.
Q&A: Banks School Board candidates
*This announcement is from the Forest Grove NewsTimes. Click the link above to read more.
- Ballots go out later this month for the May 18 election, and Banks-area voters will choose three school board members for the Banks School District.
- The News-Times reached out to all six candidates with a short list of questions and received responses from five (four before our print deadline). Those responses are printed below in full, with only light editing for grammar and clarity.
- Chad Mueller has filed for Position 1, but he is asking voters to write him in for Position 2, where Corissa Mazurkiewicz is otherwise running unopposed. Mueller will appear on the ballot alongside two other candidates for Position 1.
- Mazurkiewicz responded to this questionnaire after our print deadline had passed. Her full responses appear here alongside those of the other candidates, but they were not published in the April 1 issue of the News-Times.
Actions we can take to keep recovery moving forward
Oregon's wildfire recovery efforts have been a team effort. Federal agencies, state agencies, counties and individual
Oregonians have been working together since September to strengthen affected communities.
Debris removal is a great example of these partnerships providing real outcomes for impacted Oregonians. With Step One - removal of hazardous waste from properties - nearly completed, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is continuing this work on remaining properties.
→ How can you help? If you still need help removing hazardous waste from your property as a result of the September wildfires, all you need to do is fill out a Right of Entry form -- located on the Oregon Wildfire Cleanup page; just follow the link to your county to get started. This step must be completed before the state can allow crews onto your property to clean up ash and debris.
Lincoln County property owners have a deadline of April 15 to submit their Right of Entry forms to have the EPA remove hazardous material. Once Lincoln County is complete, EPA crews will move on to other wildfire impacted counties.
Once step one is complete for your property, be sure to fill out the Private Property Debris Removal Questionnaire to begin step two. Letters were mailed to property owners in December with an access number specific to your property. If you have the letter, fill out the online questionnaire to give crews additional information about your property. If you no longer have the letter, or never received one, call 503-934-1700 for help.
Wildfires not only leave ash and debris, they may also affect the drinking water wells on properties. If your property was affected, you may be eligible for free private well testing. There is a quick damage assessment to help if you determine if a well test is needed on your property. If you feel you qualify for a well test, apply online. Vouchers expire June 7, 2021 - so apply soon. For more information, including information in Spanish, visit the Oregon Health Authority page on well safety.
Wildfire Recovery Resources
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.
Oregon Employment Department hopes to fix phone mess by year’s end
*This announcement is from The Oregonian. Click the link above to read more.
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A year into the pandemic, and the steepest economic fall in Oregon history, placing a phone call to the Oregon Employment Department remains an onerous chore.
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Jobless workers spend an average of 70 minutes on hold when calling the agency. Its obsolete computers keep spitting out automated letters instructing laid-off Oregonians to call for help even though they would likely get a much quicker response online.
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“We recognize that we need to make it easier for people to get in touch with us,” acting director David Gerstenfeld said on his weekly media call Wednesday. For the first time, Gerstenfeld set a target date for resolving the phone mess.
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By the end of June, Gerstenfeld said the department aims to answer 80% of calls within 15 minutes. And it aims to resolve 90% of online inquiries, made through its “Contact Us” form, within a week. Currently, it resolves no more than 21% of those online contacts within seven days.
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By year’s end, Gerstenfeld said Oregon wants to return to its pre-pandemic standard, answering 90% of calls within 5 minutes. Currently, only 15% of calls are answered that quickly.
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The department hopes new hires, thorough training and a gradual easing of the economic crisis will enable it to get on top of the situation – albeit not for another nine months.
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The department has hired hundreds of personnel over the past year to process claims and deal with questions and comments. On Wednesday, Gerstenfeld said the department now processes 99.9% of new claims within three weeks.
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Oregon to offer online driver’s license renewals
*This announcement is from OPB News. Click the link above to read more.
- Usually a drivers license or ID card renewal in Oregon requires a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Starting as soon as May 5, the agency says, most Oregonians will be able to renew these documents online.
- The DMV will use the photo that’s on file and mail out the physical card in about two weeks.
- People who want to upgrade to a so-called “Real ID” license will still need to make an in-person visit, as will drivers who want to add a motorcycle or farm endorsement.
Oregon Real ID: What you'll need to fly domestically come October 1st
*This announcement is from KATU News. Click the link above to read more.
- A regular passport book or passport card will work just as well as the Oregon Real ID.
- They recommend anyone who needs to have their regular driver’s license renewed before Oct. 1, apply for the Real ID instead.
- “Go to Oregon. gov/real ID and find out what you’ll need to bring and then set an appointment at DMV,” he said. “And when you renew, make it a Real ID and use that to fly domestically.”
- If your driver’s license is still good for another three or four years, House said look at the passport book and/or the passport card option to fulfill the Real ID requirement.
- Be aware that a passport card is only good for domestic flights, not international travel.
- In addition to domestic travel, the Real ID can also be used to enter secure federal facilities.
- Children under 18 do not need to have a Real ID or other documents for domestic flights, but are required to have a passport for international flights.
New SNAP eligibility means more college students can benefit
*This announcement is from the University of Oregon. Click the link above to read more.
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The federal stimulus act passed in December made big changes to the grocery and food benefit program formerly known as food stamps that will allow more students to qualify.
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The changes relate to students who are eligible for federal work-study awards and those who reported an expected family contribution of zero on their federal financial aid form, known as FAFSFA. If a student meets either of the conditions and also meets the income requirement, as most students do, they are now likely eligible for the benefit.
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That means that thousands of students at the UO are now eligible to receive monthly benefits to help them buy fresh, nutritious food through the federal program, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Those students were recently notified via email by the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
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What’s more, because of the pandemic, the maximum amount awarded to participants has also increased, up to $234 a month for qualifying individuals, and more if there are additional members of the household.
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Additional factors may affect eligibility, and the Oregon Department of Human Services ultimately determines eligibility and the benefit amount after meeting with the applicant. However, students have a number of resources they can use to get help applying for SNAP benefits, including:
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In conjunction with the Governor’s State Employees Food Drive last month, the task force recently completed a guide for faculty and staff to help students access resources. It also offers some guidance on how to have conversations with students.
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Individuals or departments that would like to receive training on SNAP applications to better assist students can email foodsecurity@uoregon.edu. For more information, check out the UO Basic Needs Resource Guide and the Feed the Flock website.
Employers and Employees
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Looking forward to a weekend break at the beach soon!
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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