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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
After a very long week that included a COVID-positive case at the Capitol and an all-day session on Saturday, we were finally able to complete the constitutionally mandated task of redistricting on Monday night, with the Governor signing the bills in time to meet the midnight deadline.
You can find the new State Senate, State House, and Congressional maps here. To the right is the new map for House District 29. Because Washington County has the largest percentage of growth in the state, the Redistricting Committee did their best to keep communities of interest together and in HD 29, this includes keeping Forest Grove, Cornelius, and West Hillsboro together. The maps produced are fair, representative, meet the highest of legal standards, and incorporate the feedback we received from Oregonians. Despite the Census data being delayed and a short timeline, this year’s redistricting process has been the most inclusive and accessible process in Oregon history. It was an incredibly difficult job and I would like to commend my colleagues on the Redistricting Committees in the House and Senate, and especially Representative Andrea Salinas who chaired the House Redistricting Committee.
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Fall is officially here and I am so thankful for the rain, especially in areas where wildfires are still burning. Oregon meteorologists are predicting above-average rainfall through December, which should bring relief to the severe to extreme drought conditions that cover most of Oregon right now. They are also predicting near-to-average snowfall in the mountains and a mix of mild and cold temperatures in October and November. In the meantime, enjoy the greenery as it returns and stay cozy and dry!
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SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS
A very special congratulations to Representative Ricki Ruiz who became a father during Special Session! I can't wait to meet Baby Ruiz, who is very lucky to have such a kind and compassionate father.
COVID-19 UPDATES
The good news this week is that the number of Oregonians being treated in hospitals for COVID-19 is slowly declining and cases have dropped slightly for the third week in a row. However, while cases have dropped overall, The Oregonian reports that kids under age 9 are currently more likely than elderly people to get COVID. Of course, this is largely because children are not eligible to be vaccinated yet. The good news for parents though, is that Pfizer just submitted their data regarding children and the vaccine to the FDA and the results are very positive. In addition to a potential vaccine for kids under 12 by Halloween, a recent CDC review has found that schools with mask requirements are experiencing fewer outbreaks of COVID than those that have not imposed such a requirement.
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VACCINE INFORMATION
What is a COVID-19 booster and do I need it?
You may have heard that booster shots have been recommended for some people who received the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Booster shots are given when the protection from a vaccination begins to decrease. Getting a booster can help people continue their immunity for a longer period.
Booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine are to be given six months after the second shot. Here’s a list of groups who are eligible for the booster:
These groups should receive a booster dose of Pfizer:
Those vaccinated with Pfizer who are 18 through 64 years may get the booster if they:
- Have underlying medical conditions, and
- Are at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to occupational or institutional setting.
Where can I get a booster?
You can find booster shots at pharmacies, doctor’s offices and clinics, and anywhere else that COVID-19 vaccine is available. Find a vaccine provider near you on the vaccine locator map, or call 211 or (866) 698-6155 for information and assistance in any language. You can search by vaccine type.
You don’t need to prove that you need the booster. There is enough supply of vaccine, but health care workers are extremely busy. You may need to make an appointment, or wait a while to get in for the shot. But don’t worry – your current Pfizer vaccination still offers strong protection against serious COVID-19 illness.
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.
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: They have extended their program into October. Visit their website 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.
The Flu Shot
While we are focused on COVID-19 and getting people vaccinated, it's also important to remember that flu season is also upon us and flu shots are now available. Getting vaccinated is a safe, easy way to prevent seasonal flu, which can lead to severe health issues, missed workdays and even hospitalization in serious cases.
Anyone can get the flu and spread it to others, even if you feel healthy or have never had it before. Getting your seasonal flu vaccine every year does more than protect your own health. It also helps prevent the flu from spreading in your community and affecting young children, older people and people who already have chronic illnesses.
Preventing the flu is especially important now. COVID-19 continues to spread, and doctors and nurses need time and resources to care for COVID patients.
AROUND WASHINGTON COUNTY
Governor Brown and Commissioner Harrington Visit Forest Grove
Governor Kate Brown and Washington County Commission Chair Kathryn Harrington visited the Forest Grove Farmers Market last week, which is run by the non-profit Adelante Mujeres, and is where Washington County operates a weekly mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic. The mobile vaccine clinic is an example of the efforts Washington County has made to reach Latino, Latina, and Latinx communities, as well as other communities of color, with information and access to COVID-19 vaccines. Because of these efforts, the county has vaccinated more than 81% of adults and closed vaccination equity gaps. A big thank you to Adelante Mujeres for all they are doing to support our whole community!
Hillsboro School District Information on Transition to E-Learning During Quarantine
September 27, 2021 - As the school district continue managing the impacts of the pandemic, they are ramping up their ability to provide remote learning options to individual students and/or entire classrooms while in quarantine.
If your child has either tested positive for COVID-19 or has been asked to quarantine at home because of a potential close contact with someone who has a confirmed or presumptive case of COVID-19, they will be able to access the lessons they miss through Google Classroom. The lessons could be in the form of a live broadcast or video recording of their teacher delivering the instruction; or could be in the form of supplemental videos, digital curriculum, posted assignments and other instructional resources. As a general rule, live broadcasts or videos will be available for core content areas like Language Arts and Math. These differ from the simulcast model used last spring in that students will not be interacting with the teacher or other classmates during the instruction.
In the event an entire classroom has been asked to quarantine at home, there will be one day of no school provided for teacher preparation before the class reverts to a remote learning format for the remainder of the quarantine period. Because the whole classroom will be learning remotely, there will be scheduled times for live instruction in which the teacher is interacting with students and the students are interacting with each other, as well as times for small group and individual work. There will also be time for asynchronous learning.
Forest Grove School District - Update from Superintendent Parker
Dear FGSD Families,
This week, I have been out visiting schools and have loved seeing students back in the classroom. I have enjoyed seeing teachers getting their students back into the mode of learning, exploring and being with their classmates. After two weeks of school you can still feel the excitement from our students and staff.
With school back in person and having been virtual for so many months, we are taking the opportunity to reacquaint our students with classroom and school rules. As parents, your influence has a great impact on your students. Please continue to reinforce the importance of being respectful to each other and to school staff. Together we can create a school environment that is welcoming and conducive to learning.
COVID continues to be a challenge for us. Here is the link to our data dashboard. The number of positive COVID cases in the district is currently holding fairly steady. Predicting where this pandemic is going is fruitless, but we believe that our layered health protocols are currently working. Thank you to you and your students for your continued efforts to keep our schools safe. Our goal continues to be keeping our schools open. As a reminder, please be sure to follow current protocols by wearing a mask when you visit school campuses for activities and sporting events.
Dave
Forest Grove High School Food Pantry
I am excited to hear that the Forest Grove High School Food Pantry is reopening! Please note the new time and location. It will reopen beginning Monday, September 27, 2021 from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. by the Basinski Center.
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WILDFIRE RECOVERY AND RESOURCES
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.
RENTAL ASSISTANCE
DMV REMINDER
Grace Period Ends in December
The Department of Transportation has partnered with Oregon law enforcement agencies to exercise discretion in their enforcement of driver licenses, vehicle registrations and trip permits that expire during the COVID-19 emergency.
On May 6, 2021, Governor Kate Brown signed into law House Bill 2137, which creates a moratorium on citations for expired driver licenses, permits, vehicle registration and disabled parking placards. The new law only applies to expiration dates of less than six months from the date of the violation. Read a public notice about the grace period. This grace period expires on December 31, 2021.
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UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS REMINDERS
Please be advised that all pandemic-related, federal programs ended on Sept. 4, 2021. This includes Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), and Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation (MEUC).
You are encouraged to reach out to your local WorkSource center for job search assistance and other free resources, or visit the resources web page to find help with rent, food, healthcare, and more.
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Need assistance or have questions about your unemployment claim? Fill out the Contact Us form or visit unemployment.oregon.gov.
- Sign-up for their email list to get important benefit information and announcements.
- Keep claiming your weekly benefits or file an initial claim if you are unsure if you are eligible for benefits.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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
Stunning David Hill Winery Area!
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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