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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As an educator of over 40 years, I came to Salem with the hopes of making a difference in the lives of our students, teachers, and families. I am proud of the work the Legislature has done this Session to increase funding in education and to advance equity in our system. This week we get to add two very big accomplishments to the list of achievements this Session; passage out of the House of House Bill 2835 and passage out of Ways and Means - Education of Senate Bill 551.
I am a proud sponsor of House Bill 2835, the Benefits Navigator Bill, which passed on the House Floor yesterday. It establishes a support staffer at each of Oregon's public colleges and universities to help students navigate the benefits available to them. With 63% of community college students reporting some basic needs insecurity in the last year, a full-time Benefits Navigator will ensure students know about the resources and benefits available to them along with being able to destigmatize and address the complex needs students are facing.
Senate Bill 551 (identical to House Bill 3007) has been one of my top priority bills this Session. I have worked long hours with Senator Michael Dembrow, and stakeholders like the Oregon Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and Oregon's community colleges and universities to ensure that we can provide healthcare for our hardworking part-time faculty members. These dedicated educators work hard, travelling hours between jobs, trying to cobble together enough for full time work. They often make very low wages, despite often working 50+ hours a week. These individuals are doing essential work, and they deserve affordable health insurance, which is why I am so pleased to report that Senate Bill 551 passed out of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education yesterday and is now headed back to the full Ways and Means Committee for a vote. I will keep you posted on this bill as we near the end of Session. For more on other bills passed this week, please read my "Bill Highlights and Updates" section below.
Our traditional end of Session picture outside. Fully vaccinated and feels good!
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
Instructions for how to testify:
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Instructions for how to testify:
English instructions here
Aquí están las instrucciones
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House Bill 3265 - Sanctuary Promise Act
I was proud to join colleagues in the House to pass House Bill 3265, the Sanctuary Promise Act, which will protect Oregonian immigrant and refugee communities by prioritizing community safety, human rights, and dignity.
HB 3265 would update current laws and set clear guidelines, prohibiting local law enforcement and government agencies from working and engaging with federal immigration authorities for the purposes of enforcing federal immigration law. It also works to reestablish the trust in government and local systems that has been lost in past years with the unlawful detainment of community members, growing doubt of government intentions, and creation of policies like public charge.
The bill passed 36-21 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
*The picture is of the 4 sponsors of the Sanctuary Bill; Reps. Campos, Valderrama, Alonso Leon, and Pham!
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House Bill 2434 - Airport Fuel Tax
I was proud to carry House Bill 2434 on the Floor yesterday. For background, one source of revenue that funds airport operations and maintenance is the aviation fuel tax. The Legislature passed HB 2075 in 2015 which increased the fuel tax by 2 cents to increase resources for airports. After reserving 5% of that revenue for administrative costs, the resources were allocated in three ways: 50% to help fund local matching shares on federal funded airport capital projects, 25% to fund repairs at the 28 state owned airports, and 25% to fund grants to local communities to assist with commercial air service development at rural Oregon airports.
HB 2434 remove the sunset clause on the fuel tax increase established in past legislation and makes the tax permanent, which ensures that airports have a stable resource to draw from to help with capital maintenance or operations and it increases the ability for airports to apply for federal matching funds .
*Please click HERE to watch my Floor speech on HB 2434.
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House Bill 2738 - CASA Volunteer Program
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), also known as a Guardian ad Litem, is a specially trained volunteer
appointed by a judge to represent and advocate for the best interests of an abused or neglected child in court.
The Oregon CASA Network, an affiliate of the National CASA Association, is the statewide organization that supports Oregon’s 22 local CASA Volunteer Programs. The local programs recruit, screen, train, and support CASA
volunteers.
House Bill 2738 distributes funds to the CASA Volunteer Programs contingent on the submission of an annual diversity, equity, inclusion, and accountability plan to the statewide coordinating entity. It appropriates $5,670,000 to the Court Appointed Special Advocate Fund for the CASA Volunteer Program, and appropriates $250,000 to the Court Appointed Special Advocate Fund for the Oregon CASA Network for a statewide distance training and
learning program.
*Please click HERE to watch my comments on House Bill 2738.
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Senate Bill 278 - Eviction Safe Harbor
The House passed Senate Bill 278 to protect renters who are awaiting federal rent relief from evictions due to non- payment.
Under Senate Bill 278, if a tenant has submitted documentation to their landlord that they have applied for rent assistance, a landlord may not give a nonpayment termination notice or move forward with a nonpayment eviction case for 60 days.
SB 278 passed with unanimous support and is now returns to the Senate for concurrence.
Senate Bill 233 - Common Course Numbering
On Wednesday, with bipartisan support, the Senate approved Senate Bill 233, a bill to create a system of common course numbering for introductory and lower level courses at public institutions of higher education.
Senate Bill 233 will establish a Transfer Council to develop recommendations for a common course numbering system among Oregon's public universities and community colleges.
The Higher Education Coordinating Commission will establish the common course numbering system based on recommendations of the Transfer Council. Public institutions of higher education in Oregon will be required to adopt this system by the 2025-2026 academic year.
Senate Bill 233 now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
House Bill 2359 B - Translation Services for Patients
The Oregon House voted in support of House Bill 2359 B, which will expand access to adequate and comprehensive interpretation and translation services for limited-English Proficiency (LEP) patients and patients with hearing loss.
Under this bill, health care providers would need to work with registered health care interpreters and translators. The bill would also require the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to provide educational training for interpretation and translation service workers.
HB 2359 B, which passed 50-9, is now headed to the Senate for consideration.
Today we commemorate the emancipation of enslaved peoples in the U.S. and celebrate the dignity, humanity, and contributions made by Black Americans.
Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved peoples in the U.S., while also celebrating the dignity, freedom and contributions made by Black Americans. This Legislative Session we passed HB 2168, which formally establishes Juneteenth as a state holiday on June 19.
The first Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas in 1866 where Black communities gathered for parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, as well as musical performances. In 1980 Texas officially made Juneteenth an official holiday.
In 1945, Clara Peoples helped introduced Juneteenth to Oregon during her work break, celebrating the day at the Vanport shipyards. Peoples and Black Oregonians have made long-lasting contributions to Oregon’s history and cultural legacy that have led us to this moment.
Find out how you can get involved and celebrate this day. Below you'll find some good reads, social content, and events happening near you.
Education is power:
From the Magazine: ‘It Is Time for Reparations’ (NYT Magazine, Nikole Hannah-Jones)
Oregon Mother Of Juneteenth Leaves Lasting Legacy (OPB)
10 Books Celebrating the Rich History of Black Cuisine to Honor Juneteenth (The Root)
Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth 2021 in Portland (EverOut Portland)
How to Celebrate Juneteenth in Oregon (Juneteenth OR)
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth (National Museum of African American History & Culture)
Here are some events happening this Saturday, June 19.
Juneteenth Oregon 49th Annual Juneteenth Celebration. Livestream includes music , presentations, elected officials (Sen. Merkley & Gov. Brown) Juneteenthor.com; pdxjazz.com
Juneteenth 4 The Culture Block Party and Pop Up Market. 12- 5 pm; Billy Webb Elks Lodge - 6 N Tillamook St, Portland
Albina Vision Trust Juneteenth Teach In and Film Fest. 10 am - 1 pm; 9 pm Albinavision.org
Still We Rise Juneteenth Celebration.11am - 5 pm; Pear Blossom Park, Medford industry.traveloregon.com/opportunities/event/juneteenth-celebration/
Beyond Black Juneteenth Festival.10am - 6pm; Vance Park - 1400 SE 182nd Ave, Gresham
All Black Effect Juneteenth Freedom Jubilee. 5 pm; Alberta Park 1905 NE Killingsworth, Portland
Juneteenth Makers Market. 11am- 4pm; Honey Latte Cafe -1033 SE Main St, Portland Music, raffles, food, clothing, jewelry
Big Yard Foundation Juneteenth Celebration of Black Lives. 1pm-6 pm; King School Park 4906 NE 6th Ave, Portland. Includes a COVID -19 Vaccine Clinic
Milwaukie’s 1st Juneteenth Celebration. 3- 6 pm; Milwaukie Riverfront Park -11211 SE McGloughlin Blvd, Milwaukie
Oregon Shakespeare Festival Juneteenth Celebration. 5:30 pm - Virtual event www.osfashland.org/juneteenth
Washington Co. Vaccine Information:
Every Oregonian age 12 and up is eligible for a vaccine. Twelve to 14 year-olds must be accompanied by either a parent, guardian or someone designated by the parent. If someone other than a parent or guardian accompanies the 12 to 14-year-old, they will need to provide proof of parental/guardian consent.
Proof of consent is either:
- A signed consent form (available in English and Spanish on the All4OR.org site)
- A written or typed note that includes the parent/guardians name, relationship to the young adult, their date of birth, a statement saying they consent to young adult being vaccinated and the parent/guardian signature.
Fifteen-year-olds do not need to be accompanied, and do not require parental consent in the state of Oregon.
You can now WALK IN to the Oregon Convention Center for a vaccination, or you can schedule your own first-dose COVID-19 vaccination appointment there via this new website. It works best using Chrome, Edge or Safari. From June 1-19, the OCC will offer the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Get Vaccinated Oregon Sign up here and you will be sent an invitation when a vaccine appointment is available to you. Appointments are for the Oregon Convention Center as well as other locations, including some in Washington County.
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.
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PDX Airport: First doses ended on May 30. Second doses will be given at PDX through June 19.
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Hillsboro Stadium: First and second doses will be given through June 25, then the site will close. Those who get first doses at the site in June will be scheduled for a second dose at a Hillsboro Medical Center location.
Washington County-sponsored community clinics open to public: Appointments are preferred at our clinics, but you can walk in up to an hour before the clinic closes. Further details for the following clinics are available at the scheduling link.
- June 19: Hillsboro Senior Center, 750 SE 8th Ave. Walk in from 10-11 a.m. Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (18+).
Tektronix/Beaverton: Virginia Garcia and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will host a 2-week, large scale vaccination clinic on the Tektronix campus. The clinic can administer up to 500 vaccinations a day. It will start on Friday, June 18 and run through Friday, July 2. Pfizer and J & J will be available. Stay tuned for hours and more details.
Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Centers: All vaccination events are open to the community, do not require an appointment, and do not require you to be a Virginia Garcia patient. You do not have to have insurance in order to receive a vaccine. If you have insurance, please bring your card with you. Remember, vaccines are free!
Local pharmacies: As of April 27, 2021, pharmacies are required to offer second/boost doses to people who received their first dose somewhere else.
How much does the vaccine cost? Vaccines are provided free of charge to the recipient. If you have health insurance, you may be asked to provide that information so the vaccinator can bill your insurance an administration fee.
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National Status Report:
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Confirmed Cases: 33,327,096
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Deaths: 598,301
- 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 206,000 total cases (confirmed and presumptive) of COVID-19.
- Today we have 300 new confirmed and presumptive cases, and 1 new death.
- A total of 2,776 Oregonians have died from COVID-19 (previous daily case updates from OHA here)
- Washington County has 26,714 confirmed cases, including 247 deaths.
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The Oregon Health Authority provides 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
- We've heard some of you asking how often COVID-19 breakthrough cases occur, particularly with COVID-19 variants on the rise. We know the increase in variants is concerning, and it's natural to wonder if we're seeing a change in how effective vaccines are against them.
- The good news is that authorized COVID-19 vaccines work exceptionally well to prevent infection from all currently identified variants. By June 11, 70 breakthrough cases had been associated with variants of concern and 11 with a single variant of interest. These numbers remain small when compared to the more than 1.85 million who had completed their COVID-19 vaccination series in Oregon by that date.
- For more information on breakthrough cases in Oregon: http://ow.ly/VPCj50F8t8G
Wildfire Recovery Updates
Resilient Futures: A Virtual Forum on Disaster Preparedness and Community Resilience
From pandemics to wildfires, disasters and emergencies are challenging for everyone, but for older adults the impact can be greater. Join AARP Oregon and community partners on June 29 and 30 for a free virtual event on disaster preparedness and community resilience. Over two days, participants will hear from subject matter experts and emergency management leaders. Join us to get the information, tools and resources to plan and prepare best for the next emergency. https://aarp.cvent.com/resilientfutures
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.
The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) helps eligible low-income households with their past due rent and utilities. This program uses funds from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which allocated a collective total of $280 million to Oregon, the City of Portland, and multiple counties in the state. In most cases, approved applications will result in payments made directly to landlords and utility providers.
LANDLORD COMPENSATION FUND PROGRAM
Deadline Extended to June 23rd
The last round of the of the LCF Program is now open! In order to allow landlords more time to submit their final application for these resources, we are extending the final deadline for accepting applications through next Wednesday June 23rd at 11:59 pm.
Round Three offers $60 million in assistance available to cover rent nonpayment for tenants with a signed Declaration of Financial Hardship. This third application round includes some important updates:
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Applications submitted can cover rent period from April 2020 – June 2021!
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Rent rolls no longer need to include data for all tenants; instead the rent roll can be limited to just those households with past-due rents!
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We are expanding coverage in the LCF program to include former tenants with past-due rent and signed Declarations of Financial Hardship as well as to cover pet-rent for eligible households.
For those Landlords with former tenants with past-due rent owed, if you have signed Declarations of Financial Hardship and the tenant’s current, or last-known, address along with email you will be able to include them in your application.
Any format of Declaration for these tenants is acceptable, however OHCS has updated our Declaration of Financial Hardship form on our webpage to include information applicable to former tenants. We encourage Landlords to use this in requesting this form from former tenants as it provides documentation for the tenants’ current address. This form is available in multiple languages on our program webpage.
We have updated our published FAQ document to reflect the changes implemented for Round Three applications. If you have submitted applications in previous rounds of LCF applications, be sure to only apply for months not covered in your other applications in your Round Three funding requests!
Those seeking to apply in Round Three should please review the Application Checklist to see what information you’ll want to have available when completing your application.
Employers and Employees
The following list of resources is from Oregon’s Secretary of State’s Office. The fastest way to get in touch with the SOS team is by emailing business.sos@oregon.gov, using the “Need Help?” button found on most state agency websites or visiting www.oregon.gov/smallbusiness.
Education Links
Local Government
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
Forest Grove beauty!
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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