I was very much looking forward to our Special Session and Legislative Days this week, but as you may have heard, an individual who was present at the Capitol on Monday tested positive for COVID-19. This has forced us to delay the Floor vote on Redistricting until Saturday and cancel Legislative Days hearings all together.
We will reconvene on Saturday at 9:00 am to vote on the maps that the Oregon Senate passed. You may view the maps here and watch Saturday's Floor session here.
I know that both sides are committed to fair and representative maps that will hold up to the highest of legal standards. The congressional and state maps passed by the Senate meet statutory obligations and constitutional requirements; they are contiguous, of equal population, utilize existing geographic or political boundaries, connected by transportation links, and reflect the diversity of communities of interest in our state.
This year’s redistricting process has been the most inclusive and accessible process in Oregon history, despite historic challenges caused by the pandemic. At the beginning of the year, we held 10 public hearings so communities around the state could make their voices heard before legislators began drafting maps. Recently, we finished an additional round of 12 hearings after the first proposed maps were made public. In total, we had nearly 2,000 pieces of public testimony from across the state submitted from a diverse group of voices and backgrounds that legislators considered. During the hearings, we provided translation, interpretation, subtitles, and comprehensive virtual options for people to testify, including written testimony by mail or online, over the phone, and video.
After all of the time and effort that the Legislature has put into redistricting this year, it is important that you know we are committed to finishing the process and we will work till the deadline if necessary. We need to finish this every ten year task and honor the trust that our constituents have placed in us. I appreciate all of my peers that have worked so diligently on the redistricting committees and on creating the maps. Thank you for your efforts
PROPOSED REDISTRICTING MAP - HD29
As mentioned above, you may view the maps passed by the Senate here and watch Saturday's Floor session here.
Below, for comparison, is the new proposed House District 29 map and the current House District 29 map. There are some changes, but the communities of Forest Grove, Cornelius, and West Hillsboro will remain together within one district if the Senate maps pass on the House Floor on Saturday.
Proposed House District 29:
Current House District 29 Map:
COVID-19 UPDATES
There is finally some good news to report regarding COVID-19 in Oregon! After a sharp increase in positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to the Delta variant, it appears that all three measures are beginning to decline. With continued testing, masking, and vaccinations, the trend downwards will likely continue.
The number of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across Oregon is 944, which is 24 fewer than yesterday. There are 264 COVID-19 patients in intensive care unit (ICU) beds, which is 14 fewer than yesterday.
There are 59 available adult ICU beds out of 655 total (9% availability) and 347 available adult non-ICU beds out of 4,280 (8% availability).
Note: Please do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing, unless you require emergency care for your symptoms.
Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain responding to the current surge in COVID-19. You can find a test here.
If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, contact your provider. An urgent care center may also help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain.
Many people in Oregon have lost someone to COVID-19. Those who have paid funeral costs may still be able to get assistance with those costs. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting applications for the COVID-19 Funeral Fund.
Apply by calling 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585), Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Multilingual services are available. Learn more here.
VACCINE INFORMATION
Booster Shots
Last week, a group of U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientific advisors recommended that only certain groups get a booster COVID-19 vaccine shot. That group includes people 65 and older and those who are at high risk for serious cases of COVID-19, when they got their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine more than 6 months ago.
This recommendation has to go through several more steps at the FDA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and locally before booster shots will be available in Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority has said that boosters may become available in Oregon next week. Oregonians who are eligible should call their local clinic or pharmacy.
**Please note that 'booster shots' are different than 'third dose shots'. People who are severely immunocompromised (cancer patients, organ donor recipients, etc) can receive a third dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna shots at least 28 days after their second dose.
PEBB-Eligible Employees Can Get Vaccinated and Earn $100!
Are you an active PEBB-eligible state, university or local government employee? You probably qualify for the chance to add an extra $100 to your gross pay.
All you need to seal the deal is get your COVID-19 shot(s) by October 18.
State and university employees will receive the incentive in their paycheck in October or November. It depends on when you submit your request and payroll cutoffs. If you are a local government employee, contact your HR department for details.
For more information check out the FAQ attached to this email. You can also find it on their website.
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.
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.
NEW! Washington County's Mobile Vaccination Van: Our van is traveling the county to make it easier for people to get the vaccine close to where they live or shop. Find the schedule here.
Beaverton Resource Center: Most Fridays from July 16 through September 24. See the flier for exact dates and times. Pfizer for ages 12 and older. Located at 13565 SW Walker Road.
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.
AROUND WASHINGTON COUNTY
I enjoyed a great Town Hall last Saturday where I was able to hear from constituents about small business issues and more! After the Town Hall, I ventured out in the rain, which was absolutely lovely, to enjoy the Corn Roast and the Chalk Art Competition in downtown Forest Grove. It was nice to see so many familiar faces, and of course admire the many talented artists that brightened up the sidewalks. Thank you to Valley Art Gallery for putting on the Chalk Art Competition and to the Forest Grove-Cornelius Chamber of Commerce and all the businesses and service organizations that came together for the Corn Roast!
Such beautiful designs by the participants - I wish the art would last all year!
The Washington County Civic Leaders Program, led by Adelante Mujeres in collaboration with Washington County, invites participants from communities of color and other underrepresented communities to complete a virtual leadership training, equipping them to actively participate in the civic life of the county and engage in county decision makings.
Training Topics Include: County Government Services; Advocacy; Organizing; Volunteering; Public Speaking and more.
To participate community members should:
* Have an interest and/or experience in civic leadership * Must be living in Washington County * Must identify as a person of color or other underrepresented community * Commit to 6 sessions of training
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness.
There has never been a more important time to have honest conversations about mental health conditions and suicide, because just one conversation can change a life. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention.
f you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States and provides free and confidential advice. Visit their website or call the Lifeline number:
The rain has brought good news to crews fighting fires across the state. In Southern Oregon, a combination of widespread rain and a steady drop in temperatures has made it possible to ease off on some public and industrial fire prevention regulations on lands protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry. For more detailed information on each of the large fires burning in Oregon right now, please click on the image below.
Wildfire Recovery Resources
OEM has put together this list of contacts to help speed up the process of replacing these documents:
Green cards: Phone (800)-375-5283; Website: www.uscis.gov
Insurance documents - Check with your insurance agent.
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 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.
The US Small Business Administration offers disaster assistance in the form of SBA loans to designated states. Information about these loans is available at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Information/Index
