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Friends and neighbors,
I hope you’re well and staying safe. As the seasons change, I wanted to offer an update and share some information so we can all do our part to stay healthy and protect our community.
Earlier today Sen. Kathleen Taylor (D-Portland), Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee, and Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Lake Oswego), Co-chair of the House Redistricting Committee, issued the below statement following the release of legislative and congressional maps:
“As legislators we are public servants. Our commitment is to Oregonians and our job is to produce fair and representative maps that reflect Oregon’s population growth, align with statutory and constitutional criteria, and ensure public participation.
“The maps drawn meet these requirements and the highest of legal standards. The maps are contiguous, of equal population, utilize existing geographic or political boundaries, are connected by transportation links, and reflect the diversity of communities of interest in our state.
“Despite the delayed Census data and the COVID-19 pandemic, we have prioritized an inclusive and accessible process, open to all Oregonians. As a result, we saw nearly 2,000 pieces of testimony submitted from across the state during 22 public hearings held this year. Oregonians showed up and made their voices heard.
“We look forward to sending these maps to the Legislature for consideration during next week’s Special Session.”
The current draft of the maps can be found here.
With schools starting up all across the state last week, Governor Kate Brown, Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) leadership are urging Oregon families to take five important steps to make the 2021-2022 school year a safe one.
- Make a plan to vaccinate all eligible household members.
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Wear a face covering in public and in carpools.
- Limit gatherings with other households.
- Move any social activities outside.
- Make a plan in case your child needs to miss school.”
 It's also crucial to recognize that breakthrough infections for vaccinated people are rare. The New York Times published an excellent explanation of the relative risks to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. A recent update from the Oregon Health Authority re-affirmed that COVID-19 vaccines are our best defense against the known variants of the virus. Please get vaccinated if you haven't already done so. Comprehensive information is available on this website. Please also continue to wear a mask for your safety and the safety of others.
 
Located in the heart of Portland's Mississippi neighborhood, the future Social Justice Center will house local nonprofits and provide a space for collaboration and community building. I was thrilled to join my colleagues Senator Lew Frederick, Senator Kayse Jama, and Representative Tawna Sanchez on this exciting tour. Seeding Justice is leading a group of philanthropies to provide this crucial space for local organizations tackling some of the most difficult issues in our state. I look forward to sharing more about the project in the future.
 
Last week, Governor Kate Brown proclaimed September 7th to be a day of remembrance for the historic 2020 Labor Day Wildfires in Oregon.
In her statement Governor Brown said, “I want to acknowledge that this anniversary is traumatizing for so many Oregonians, especially as we continue to rebuild while facing even more wildfires this season. Wildfire survivors have experienced exceptional stresses and trauma over the last year, including the added challenges brought on by COVID-19.”
Remembering the difficulties of last year's wildfires underscores the importance of National Preparedness Month. This month, take some time to make sure you’re prepared for any future emergencies. Being two weeks ready for a variety of disasters can make a huge difference when an emergency arrives.
This #NationalPreparednessMonth, consider the unique needs of everyone in your family as you build or update your emergency kit.
 
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Oregon’s Kid Governor program is a statewide civics program for 5th graders supported through Oregon Secretary of State’s office. Every school and home school in Oregon is eligible to enter one 5th grader to run in a statewide election that other 5th graders will vote in. Classrooms can vote in the election, nominate a classmate to run for office or do both. Click here to register!
The deadline for nominating a candidate and submitting their campaign video is 11:59 p.m., October 21st, 2021. If a 5th grade class only wants to vote in the Kid Governor election, they have until 11:59 p.m., October 29th, 2021 to register.
Learn more about the program and check out this year’s Kid Governor, Taneesh Garg’s blog if you're curious about the experience.
Good luck to all the candidates!
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Earlier this week, the Oregon Department of Energy announced that the Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program is re-launching later this month. The program offers rebates for the installation of solar or solar and battery storage systems.
Homeowners are eligible for rebates up to $5,000 for solar and an additional $2,500 for paired energy storage installed together. Low-income service providers are eligible for up to $30,000 for solar plus $15,000 for paired storage. Rebates are issued to ODOE-approved contractors, who pass the full amount of the rebate on as savings to their customers. ODOE will resume accepting rebate reservations from eligible contractors on September 27.
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With my son set to begin his studies at Oregon State University later this month, I was grateful to hit the trail with him and our dog Bodhi for a beautiful backpacking trip in the Mt. Hood backcountry.
Oregon’s outdoors are the best in the world. Please remember to follow public health best practices and it’s always wise to check weather and fire conditions in advance of your trip.
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As schools across the state get back into the swing of things, I wish all of our students the very best in their studies and activities. Thank you to our amazing teachers, administrators, and classified staff who are working so hard to follow public health best practices and keep our communities healthy.
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Let's take care of ourselves and our community and continue moving forward with health and safety in mind.
As always, please let me know if you need any assistance. My office and I will work to connect you with resources and get your questions answered as quickly as possible.
 Senator Majority Leader Rob Wagner
Senate District 19
email: Sen.RobWagner@OregonLegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1719
address: 900 Court St NE, S-223, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/wagner
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