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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I am very proud that the House has passed dozens of bills since last week that will prioritize Oregonian families, workers, BIPOC communities, people experiencing houselessness and small businesses.
I am also proud to announce that two of my bills, House Bill 2985 and House Bill 2953, both passed the House Floor this week and are heading to the Senate. HB 2985, which passed unanimously, addresses the issue of transportation accessibility for people with limited mobility, and HB2953 promotes the oversight of community-based structured housing programs. I also have two more bills coming to the House Floor for a vote this week: HB3254, which provides funds for the educational costs of students in qualified treatment programs, and HB2954 which allows public charter schools to implement a weighted lottery that favors historically underserved students when the number of applicants for enrollment exceeds the capacity of the program, class, grade level, or building.
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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These bills just passed the House and are headed to the Senate!
HB 3016: Requires hospitals to prioritize nurse safety and staffing needs during national and state emergencies. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland) and passed 32-17. See original press release here.
HB 2006: Helps local communities provide critical assistance to struggling Oregonians experiencing houselessness, streamlining the path for emergency shelters. The bill was sponsored by Speaker Tina Kotek (D-Portland). See original press release here.
HB 3178: Provides more support for part-time workers receiving unemployment benefits at a time when they need it most. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Paul Holvey (D-Eugene).
HB 2009: Reestablishes a residential foreclosure moratorium and provides protections for homeowners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Paul Holvey (D-Eugene). See original press release here.
HB 2341, HB 2607, HB 3218: Led by Reps. Pam Marsh (D-Southern Jackson County) and David Gomberg (D-Central Coast), these bills are part of a series of legislation that will provide economic relief to those most affected by the wildfires and future natural disasters. See original press release here.
HB 2360: Breaks down barriers to health care for vulnerable and undocumented Oregonians. The bill was sponsored by Reps. Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego) and Ricki Ruiz (D- Gresham), and carried on the House Floor by Rep. Wlnsvey Campos (D-Aloha). See original press release here.
HB 2168: Makes Juneteenth an official state holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved peoples in the U.S., while also celebrating the dignity, freedom and contributions made by Black Americans. The bill was sponsored by Majority Leader Smith Warner. See original press release here.
ODE Releases Summer Learning Best Practice Guide
The Summer Learning Best Practice Guide is designed to help districts as they develop a variety of summer programming to support the mental health and well-being of students and provide learning opportunities grounded in student interests that foster learning and spark engagement and in-person connection.
(Salem, Ore.) – The Oregon Department of Education today released the Summer Learning Best Practice Guide to help school districts build on the skills, resources, lived experiences and innate gifts that students possess before the next school year starts.
This guide draws upon research and best practices for how to design and implement summer learning programs. Summer learning programming envisions a range of offerings including tutoring programs, peer-to-peer support, learning and enrichment camps, bridge and transition programs, college courses, community service and apprenticeships, credit recovery opportunities, work-based learning, and more traditional summer school.
In addition, this guide recognizes the heightened need for summer learning programs to provide a strong foundation of care, connection, and healing for students and their families as our communities continue to grapple with the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial injustice.
The Summer Learning Best Practice Guide sits within a series of releases to support summer learning. These include:
“With resources and creativity, we can support Oregon’s students in the summer months with a focus on fostering health and wellness, cultivating relationships, accelerating learning, and providing enriching activities,” said ODE Director Colt Gill. “Summer programs provide a unique opportunity to deepen learning and restore social connections that promote growth, resiliency and success for every student. This approach marks a significantly different mindset from a paradigm where “summer school” is seen as remedial and punitive. Student learning may be unfinished due to the disrupted school year, and as such, schools can reframe summer learning programs as significant opportunities to foster health and well-being, and accelerate learning. Summer learning can provide an opportunity to shift from recovery to renewal for every student.”
House Democrats Continue to Pass Bills for Wildfire Relief and Natural Disaster Recovery
HB 2607 will exempt homeowners from construction taxes when rebuilding after wildfires or other natural disasters
SALEM, OR—House Democrats continue to pass bills to provide wildfire relief to struggling Oregonians across the state. Today the House passed House Bill 2607, which exempts residential housing being constructed to replace housing that was destroyed or damaged by wildfire or by another event that is the basis for a statewide, county, or city declaration of emergency from construction taxes.
The passage of HB 2607 follows yesterday’s House Bill 2341, a bill that will bring critically needed tax relief to Oregonians whose property was destroyed in last year’s devastating fires.
Leading these wildfire recovery efforts in the House are Rep. David Gomberg (D-Central Coast) and Rep. Pam Marsh (D-Southern Jackson County), both of whom have seen first-hand the impacts of natural disasters in their home districts.
“My own neighborhood was burned over and a third of our neighbors are among the affected survivors. We’re doing all we can to help them get back on their feet,” said Gomberg, a chief sponsor on both bills. “This is critical work on a problem we never contemplated: the tax consequences of losing your home to a wildfire. The solutions here are a combination of compassion and common sense. People are anxious to rebuild, and we must provide them with the tools they need to get back on their feet.”
In 2020 alone, wildfires devastated over 3,000 Oregonian families. These bills look to provide a safety net for past and future natural disasters. “As a coastal legislator, I worry about the day we face a major earthquake and we lose tens of thousands of homes. These bills are written to help in any declared emergency,” said Gomberg. Next week, Rep. Marsh will carry HB 3272, which will require that insurers allow adequate time and resources for property owners to rebuild. “Families who lost their homes are trying to literally rebuild their lives,” said Rep. Marsh. “They need to know that their insurer is going to come through and support them during this difficult time.”
Oregon House Democrats Prioritize Housing, Unemployment Support, Wildfire Relief and BIPOC Communities
SALEM, OR—Last week, House Democrats passed bills prioritizing Oregon families, workers, BIPOC communities, wildfire relief, support for people experiencing houselessness, and small businesses.
“Despite delaying tactics by Republicans, House Democrats are maintaining our commitment to support Oregonians impacted by the multiple crises of 2020,” said House Majority Leader Barbara Smith Warner (D-Portland). “Oregonians are counting on us to deliver—and we are fulfilling that commitment, day by day and bill by bill.”
House Democrats will continue fighting to support Oregonians impacted by COVID, the recession, wildfires, and generations of structural racism. More critical bills will come to the House floor over the next several weeks, in addition to urgently needed state and federal recovery funds.
Oregon pauses the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Out of an abundance of caution, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has asked all of the state’s vaccine providers to immediately pause administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, in accordance with the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this morning.
Six women ages 18 to 48 experienced a rare and severe blood clot known as Cerebral Venous Sinus Thombosis within one to three weeks of getting a Johnson & Johnson vaccination.
This appears to be extremely rare, with just six cases reported out of 6.8 million Johnson & Johnson vaccinations administered. This is the type of rare event that the national Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) can identify so that they can be investigated further.
If you’ve received a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, you should know that the symptoms in all these cases appeared within six to 13 days. OHA recommends that anyone who has already been vaccinated should keep an eye out for symptoms 21 days after vaccination.
Symptoms to look for include severe headache, leg pain, shortness of breath and abdominal pain. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see their healthcare provider or seek emergency care.
We continue to believe the existing COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.
See the FAQ on the Johnson & Johnson vaccination pause for more information, or you can watch a video in Spanish or English.
One week from today people who are 16 and over are eligible for vaccination in Oregon
On Monday, April 19, everyone who is 16 and older will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. While it’s exciting that so many folks will be able to start getting vaccinated, a disruption in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine supply means it may take us a few more weeks to get enough doses for everyone 16 and older to get vaccinated. The state continues to get vaccine supply from both Pfizer and Moderna.
To learn how to schedule a vaccine appointment visit OHA’s webpage, How to Find a COVID-19 Vaccine in Oregon.
Washington Co. Vaccine Information:
There is still less vaccine supply than necessary to meet the needs of everyone who is eligible and wants the vaccine. We ask for your continued patience until we get more vaccine (coming soon!).
Please do not double-book or no-show for your appointment.
Oregon Convention Center: Sign up here and you will be sent an invitation when a vaccine is available to you. Names are selected at random from eligible pool.
OHSU drive-thru clinics at Hillsboro Stadium and PDX Airport Red Economy Lot: Schedule online via OHSU's tool. New appointments are released at 9 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays at the very least. Other days are often added at the last minute, so you might want to visit OHSU's page weekdays at 9 a.m. if you are looking for an appointment.
Local pharmacies:
Washington County is following advice from the FDA and CDC to pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine while the agencies investigate rare cases of blood clots. Nearly 7 million doses of the J & J vaccine have been given in the U.S., and 6 women developed this rare, but serious blood clot disorder within 13 days of receiving the vaccine. If you received the J&J vaccine and develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination contact your health care provider. Read the FDA's statement.
Viral vectors teach your body how to fight off COVID-19
Have you been wondering how viral vector vaccines work? The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is sometimes called a viral vector vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a great infographic that explains how these vaccines work. You can click on the image below to open the image in your browser.
National Numbers:
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Confirmed Cases: 31,076,891
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Deaths: 559,741
- 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 has169,338 total cases (confirmed and presumptive) of COVID-19.
- Today we have 1,530 new confirmed and presumptive cases, and 1 new deaths.
- A total of 2,440 Oregonians have died from COVID-19 (previous daily case updates from OHA here)
- Washington County has 22,966 confirmed cases, including 230 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
Back to school – parents giving it their all and adapting to change
There’s no doubt about it, parents and caregivers in Oregon have had a long year with most children attending school online. You scrambled to find care for children while leaving home to do critical frontline jobs or struggled to find time and space to work from home while still supporting children’s learning. Many of you lost jobs or lost homes. Sadly, some lost loved ones.
Amidst a time when change is the only certainty, you are doing your best to provide stability for your children. Many of you are putting all your effort into getting through each day.
As we begin to open more schools to both in-person and hybrid education it’s helpful to remember that change can be difficult and may provoke anxiety. Small things can go a long way towards taking care of yourself and making best decisions for children and family.
- Take 60 seconds to focus on breathing.
- Give yourself three minutes dancing to a favorite song.
- Find five minutes to reflect.
- Seven minutes to say a poem, prayer, mantra.
- Ten minutes to walk around the block.
Each of these can reduce stress and help you collect your thoughts.
Giving yourself the time and space to ask yourself what you need is a first step. Here are some questions to think about:
- Are there ways that I can slow down?
- What am I really feeling? What worries me, what gives me hope?
- What do I need? What do I need to prioritize and what do I need to defer?
- Who are the people and organizations that support me?
- Am I living into my values and priorities?
- What can I do to lower my and my children’s risk for COVID-19?
- Am I ready for this change? It’s okay to take some time to decide this.
Thinking of concrete methods of how to get support and lower risk can help to manage anxiety. Slowing down can give you a break from stress and build resilience. It also is helpful to remember that you or your children might not be ready to change your school routine. It’s okay to wait until you are.
You are not alone. The Safe + Strong Helpline at 1-800-923-HELP (4357) can help you find the resources you need. Help is free and available 24/7.
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Youth Access Library Accounts (YALAs)
As of Monday April 12, HSD students in grades K-12* will be issued Youth Access Library Accounts (YALAs)! (*Students who already have a library card or who have opted out of sharing Directory Information will not be issued a YALA.)
YALAs are intended to connect HSD students to their public library and are made possible by a joint partnership of the Hillsboro Public Library, the Hillsboro School District, and Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS).
The YALA will allow students to check out WCCLS eBooks and audiobooks through the Sora app, and will provide them with access to homework help, online tutoring, academic databases, and print books.
Check out this podcast featuring HSD District Librarian Vanessa Ceccarelli, Hillsboro Public Library Manager Linda Osuna, and WCCLS Library Project Coordinator Crystal Trice, which provides additional information, and see the Library Services webpage for more details.
Special Shoutout!
Proposed affordable housing in Forest Grove clears site review
This is a summary of an article in the Forest Grove News-Times.
A proposed 36-unit affordable apartment complex located on Main Street in Forest Grove has cleared an early planning stage.
The Forest Grove Planning Commission on Monday, April 5, approved a site plan for the six-building development, dubbed "Forest Grove Family Housing," at 2524 Main St. The 1.62-acre site will include three two-story and two three-story apartment buildings and one community building, according to planning documents. It will also include a play structure, a community garden and a recreational turf area.
Once completed, the development would be managed by the Housing Authority of Washington County, serving low-income residents and families. DCM Communities LLC is the developer.
Forest Grove's need for additional affordable housing has been a top priority for city officials. The city has been identified by the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services as severely rent-burdened, with nearly 35% of households paying more than half their income on rent. Development costs are estimated at about $12.9 million, according to a February letter to DCM from a state agency. The project would receive about $4.5 million from Metro's 2018 regional housing bond, the letter showed.
The site, which is across from Pacific University's Hanson Stadium and a block away from Harvey Clarke Elementary School, is abutted by 26th Avenue to the north and A Street to the west. Multiple residents of a nearby apartment building voiced concerns about how traffic and parking along A Street, which they said was narrow, would be impacted. With nearby parking available on 26th Avenue and Main Street and 48 parking spaces on-site, the development would meet the state's required number of spaces.
Commissioners agreed to require the developer to make an exit onto A Street from the site's parking lot a right-turn-only exit, limiting traffic onto A Street by requiring cars to drive north toward 26th Avenue.
Oregon lawmakers send money to communities ravaged by wildfires
*This information was taken from this OPB article.
- Oregon House lawmakers managed to unanimously pass a bill Thursday that would help those whose property was destroyed in last year’s historic wildfires.
- Thousands of those homes were in small Oregon communities. Hundreds of businesses were also scorched. And while people’s homes and businesses were destroyed, their property tax bills remained intact.
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House Bill 2341 would directly reduce a person’s property taxes proportional to the loss, Marsh said.
- The bill is part of a series that lawmakers are considering this session to help those hit by the wildfires. Lawmakers also are expected to consider a bill this week to create a construction tax exemption for people who are rebuilding their homes if they were destroyed in the fires.
- In the Senate on Thursday, lawmakers also approved several bills that make up the state’s budget rebalance package, and will funnel $5.2 million to communities devastated by the fires.
- The budget package also includes the summer learning and child care package, which is $250 million to help students socialize and catch up on missed learning from the COVID-19 pandemic. And it carves out $18 million to create emergency, low-barrier shelters for unhoused families in Salem, Eugene, Medford, Bend, Roseburg and McMinnville.
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.
Some SNAP recipients may see an increase in benefits this month
In April, some folks who receive help with food from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a change to their benefit amount for emergency allotments (EA). Since March 2020, some SNAP households have received EA for additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. But some households that are at or near the maximum SNAP benefit were receiving little or no additional support. The April 2021 changes provide an increase in benefits to those who were previously receiving little or no EA.
EA benefits will be dispersed on April 13 for current SNAP households and April 30 for SNAP households who did not receive the first EA payment or who are now eligible for a minimum $95 EA payment.
SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these supplemental benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards. Total benefits will be different based on each household's regular monthly allotment for the month of March.
Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to your local office or by calling the ONE customer service center at 1-800-699-9075.
Learn more about SNAP benefits at https://govstatus.egov.com/or-dhs-benefits. For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.
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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
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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