You can read our previous newsletters here.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Tours are part of the Interim work. They can be very educational and eye-opening on topics of discussion for partnering and policy. The Water Settlement Tour was important in so many ways for the Umatilla Tribes, users of the water from the Columbia River, Umatilla River, fish and environment, and future water needs and shared resources across Oregon as a model of negotiation. My trip to Eastern Oregon for a Legislative Tour of the Umatilla River Basin was guided by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR).  The goal was to learn about the water rights settlement that more than 30 representatives from CTUIR, the State of Oregon, Irrigation Districts, family farms, federal agencies and others have been working on.

ABOVE: Kat Brigham (Chair, Board of Trustees of the Umatilla Tribes) and Lisa Ganuelas (Board Of Trustees Member).  They were excellent hosts for our tour.  They and the rest of the Board and staff gave us great information and background.  Water Rights are very important to all users as water is a very precious resource. 

UPCOMING TOWN HALL - AUGUST 20TH 

There will be an interim update and time for questions on subject matters or issues that you care about. 

STAY IN TOUCH Get more information about my Legislative efforts, community events, and important news updates on my Facebook and Instagram pages.  I love hearing from you and besides posting on Social Media, the fastest way to reach my office during the Interim is via email:  rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov     Click on the icons to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

INTERIM POLICY WORK

As we get closer to the 2023 Legislative Session, interim work is picking up speed.  It may be a marathon, but at times it can feel like a race.  Over the next several weeks of newsletters, I am going to provide updates on the interim policy work that I have been focused on.  *I have been drafting committee plans for Legislative Days in September, meeting on bills for the Session, and participating in these important work groups on Education-related issues: *Teacher Recruitment and Pipeline *Retention and Working Conditions *Compensation  *The Current Service Level *The Quality Education Model  *I have been striving to find the best ways to support our students, current teachers, and to ensure that we can recruit a diverse and well-qualified group of potential new applicants.  The four Education Chairs, myself included, are reviewing subcommittee work and diligently working on short, mid, and long term goals for how to improve support for students and teachers alike.

*Newborn Screening protocols is the focus of my top personal bill in the 2023 Session. It focuses on improving newborn screening protocols in the state of Oregon to ensure that we are providing the latest in testing for genetic diseases and saving as many lives as possible in the process by having early detection and early treatment. 

I have been meeting with the Newborn Screening Lab and the Oregon Health Authority throughout the summer, and my team and I have been attending briefings on scientific breakthroughs in the newborn testing field.  This interim work will allow me to draft an effective bill that will make adjustments to the Northwest Regional Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program Advisory Board’s membership, meeting, and reporting requirements and sets new sideboards outlining when the Advisory Board must consider the addition of new diseases to the screening program.  It is a bill that will improve the functionality of the Advisory Board and ensure that newborn testing in Oregon keeps up with scientific advancements.

*Family Video: Made by an Oregon family, The Monacos, about their son Emmett's journey with Krabbe.  He lived with the disease for five years because he did not get crucial testing at birth due to current testing protocols in Oregon.

It's National Farmers Market Week!

Along with being a Nationally celebrated week, Governor Kate Brown’s office has issued a statewide proclamation declaring August 7-13, 2022 Oregon’s “Farmers Market Week”.

The purpose of Farmers Market Week is to acknowledge the hard work and major impacts of the farmers market community here in our state. As the daughter of a farmer who lived on small farms growing up, I am proud our state recognizes that farmers markets are an integral part of our food systems!  They also serve as small business incubators and hubs for farm-direct marketing, and they provide vital connections between urban and rural communities.

Our community is fortunate to have an organization like Adelante Mujeres, who created and run our local farmers markets in both Cornelius and Forest Grove.  For more information on the markets, including the history in the community, dates, and locations, please read on:

Forest Grove Farmers Market In 2005, Adelante Mujeres launched the Forest Grove Farmers Market, fostering cross-cultural exchange during this family-focused community event. We strive to provide an outlet for small farmers and food producers so that they may connect with the community by offering fresh, local goods. One of the most diverse events in the area, the outdoor Forest Grove Farmers Market attracts a weekly average of more than 2,500 visitors of all ages and demographic groups to share good food and listen to local musicians. Market vendors offer a wide selection of local goods ranging from fresh produce, eggs, meat, honey, baked goods and prepared foods to flowers, plant starts, hand-crafted soaps, wine, and more. The market also serves as a small-business incubator for businesses participating in the Regenerative Agriculture Program and the Empresas Small Business Development Program at Adelante Mujeres. Every Wednesday, May 4 - October 26 from 4 PM - 8 PM (September 21 - October 26 from 4 PM - 7 PM) Main Street between 21st and Pacific Avenue in downtown Forest Grove, Oregon

Cornelius Farmers Market Adelante Mujeres, in partnership with the City of Cornelius, launched the Cornelius Farmers Market (CFM) in the summer of 2020. The mission of CFM is to strengthen our local food system, economic vitality, and community identity. We do this by providing access to fresh, local, and artisan food products sold directly from the farmers and producers themselves. As a program of Adelante Mujeres, and just like the Forest Grove Farmers Market, the Cornelius Farmers Market also serves as a small-business incubator for businesses participating in the Regenerative Agriculture Program and the Empresas Small Business Development Program at Adelante Mujeres. The Cornelius Farmers Market cultivates a space for sharing and celebrating cultural and community traditions through food, music, and artisan goods. Market vendors offer a wide selection of local products ranging from fresh produce, eggs, meat, honey, baked goods and prepared foods to clothing, cocktails, candles, and more. The mission of the Cornelius City Council is to promote community involvement in building a safe, livable, and sustainable community by providing fair, efficient and effective public services. The Cornelius Farmers Market furthers the City vision for a vibrant and prosperous town center where we gather to eat, shop, and celebrate and exchange culture and ideas. As such, the City of Cornelius supports the Cornelius Farmers Market through provision of space, equipment, and supplies, as well as annual financial support. Every Friday, June through Mid September 4 PM - 8 PM (Mid September through the end of September 4 PM - 7 PM) Behind the Cornelius Public Library at 1370 N. Adair Street in Cornelius, Oregon

AROUND WESTERN WASHINGTON COUNTY

Virginia Garcia Community Health Fair

This week is National Health Center Week, which is an opportunity to raise awareness about the critical services community health centers have provided for more than five decades.  

Join Virginia Garcia this Friday, August 12, from 10am - 1pm at the Cornelius Wellness Center for the 2022 National Health Center Week Community Health Fair. There will be music and games for the kids and resources, information, and free COVID-19 vaccines available for everyone. For more information go to virginiagarcia.org/nhcw2022

Dance Workshops in Cornelius 

Downtown resident artist, Karina, will deliver dance workshops to interested community members on August 13!.

Children's Workshop 12-2pm: An inclusive space for ages 5-12.. Kids will learn basic steps and a Sinaloa State song.

Adult Workshop 5-7pm: An inclusive space for queer latino/latinx adults who have always wanted to learn folk ballet, but have not found a space that is gender/queer inclusive. We will focus on folk history, queer folk history, and dance basic steps..

Register Today: bit.ly/3zSls21

BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION 

Forest Grove Kindergarten Jumpstart Kindergarten Jumpstart allows incoming kindergarten students the chance to meet teachers, learn routines and have fun. Lunch, breakfast and transportation (similar to regular school day transportation requirements one mile radius from your school) will be provided. Bus information will be sent out the week before the start of the program. This opportunity is open to those students who will be kindergarteners in the fall. Please register by completing this registration form.  8/22/22 - 8/26/22, 9 am - 3 pm ________________ Kindergarten Jumpstart les permite a los estudiantes que ingresan a kindergarten la oportunidad de conocer a los maestros, aprender rutinas y divertirse. Se proporcionará almuerzo, desayuno y transporte (similar a los requisitos de transporte de un día escolar regular a una milla a la redonda de su escuela). La información del autobús se enviará la semana anterior al inicio del programa. Esta oportunidad está abierta a aquellos estudiantes que estarán en kindergarten en el otoño. Por favor regístrese completando este formulario de registro. 22/8/22 - 26/8/22, 9 am - 3 pm

Fall Care Fair - August 17

The Washington County Virtual Fall Care Fair, where parents/guardians can hear about fall after-school care programs for school-age kids, will take place on Wednesday, August 17th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Please click here to register on Eventbrite. 

MONKEYPOX UPDATE 

Monkeypox (also known as hMPXV) is an illness caused by a virus related to, but different from, smallpox. The current worldwide outbreak includes thousands of cases in the U.S., including some in Oregon and Washington County. 

Prior to this outbreak, nearly all outbreaks were associated with international travel or exposure to imported animals. During this outbreak many people are not travelers, but are exposed in their local community primarily by having close, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Most people recover in 2-4 weeks without treatment. For some people, the sores can be very painful.

Children, pregnant people and people who are immunocompromised are at greater risk of complications and severe disease from hMPXV. This includes people living with HIV whose disease is not fully treated (virally suppressed). 

Questions about monkeypox? Read answers in English and Spanish. 

Read the CDC page in English and Spanish. 

COVID-19 UPDATES AND INFORMATION

Where can I get a vaccine or booster in Washington County?

All of the major health systems are providing COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.  You can use this CDC tool to figure out when to get your booster. 

Washington County Vaccine Team: The team is in the community five days a week providing vaccinations at schools, shelters, and other locations. These are walk-in clinics. No appointment, ID, or insurance is required. This schedule lists public clinics only. We are now giving additional boosters at these clinics. 

In-home vaccinations: Are you or a loved one unable to get to a vaccine clinic because of a disability or other physical or mental health barrier? See if you qualify for a free in-home vaccination by calling 503-846-8123, emailing us or filling out this form.

Tektronix: This is a walk-up clinic operated by Oregon Health Authority. It is located at 2540 SW Alan Blumlein Way (inside Building 58) in Beaverton. The clinic is open Thursday through Saturday from 12-7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Beaverton Resource Center: This clinic takes place every Friday inside the Beaverton Resource Center, 13565 SW Walker Road. Make an appointment at Project Access Now's website. 

La Mixteca Oaxaca: This clinic is open every Sunday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. It is operated by Oregon Health Authority and Vive NW. It is located at 1050 SE Walnut Street in Hillsboro. No appointments, ID, or health insurance required. Testing is also available at this site. Questions? Call the Vive NW hotline at 844-291-4970. 

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center: Vaccination and testing at the new Hillsboro 7th Avenue clinic (226 SE 7th Ave) is open to all community members. You don't have to be a Virginia Garcia patient. Testing is drive-thru and vaccination is walk-up. Hours are M-F, 9a.m. to 4 p.m. You will need an appointment. Find more information at VG's website.

Centro Cultural: This clinic is located at 1110 N Adair Street in Cornelius. It is open on the last Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. No appointment, ID, or health insurance is required. Find more information at Centro's website. 

COVID-19/MONKEYPOX INFO FOR BUSINESSES

Oregon mask guidelines:

Masks are not required for most indoor settings, but you still need to wear a mask in health care settings to keep everyone safe. Some businesses and schools may still choose to require masks. People may also choose to continue to wear well-fitting masks to protect themselves and others. Oregon’s full rule on masking, including a list of health care settings where masks are still required, is located here.

**To download mask signs for your business, visit the Oregon Health Authority's mask information page.

Quarantine requirements are lifted for most populations:

This means most people do not need to quarantine when exposed to someone with COVID-19. You still must stay away from others if you test positive for COVID-19 or have COVID-19 symptoms after exposure.

Monkeypox Information For Businesses 

WILDFIRE UPDATES AND RESOURCES

Information on wildfire prevention and preparedness may be accessed at:

• ORAlert.gov
• Keep Oregon Green
• Oregon Wildfire Response & Recovery
• Office of Emergency Management

Current Fire Activity

Fire activity has picked up significantly across the state over the past week. This is mostly due to thunderstorms and dry lightning but came on the heels of a week-long heat dome that produced triple digit temperatures across much of Oregon. This weather event has made fuels extremely receptive to fire, especially in southwest Oregon and east of the Cascades. Even with these challenging weather conditions, plus moderate to heavy initial attack, firefighters have been very successful at catching fires at a small size and are doing so with an excellent safety record across the fire front.

That said, there are still a few fires of concern which remain on the landscape, none of which are on Oregon Department of Forestry protected land, yet they continue to assist as needed:

• McKinney (CAL Fire) – recent rain provided some relief but given the proximity to Oregon, ODF continues to monitor.
• Beech Creek (USFS) – 248 ac with 15% containment.
• Miller Road (OSFM) – currently at 10,500 acres with 0% containment and active fire behavior. OSFM Blue Team in-briefed  and an interagency Type 2 team will join them in unified command. ODF continues to monitor and provide assistance as requested.
• Windigo - 1,093 ac / Potter - 125 ac (USFS) – both fires experiencing moderate fire behavior with 0% containment. Fire currently managed by a Type 2 interagency team. ODF continues to monitor. The team experienced significant initial attack activity within the fire area and responded to 17 additional fire starts.
• Cedar Creek (USFS) – 300 acres with 0% containment. A PNW interagency Type 1 team will be assuming command of this fire today.

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
• Medicare cards: Phone: (800)-772-1213; (TTY) (800)-325-0778 Website: www.medicare.gov
• Military records Phone: 866-272-6272 Website: www.archives.gov/contact/
• Passport Phone: 877-487-2778; (TTY) 888-874-7793 Website: travel.state.gov
• Social Security card Phone: 800-772-1213; (TTY) 800-325-0778 Website: www.ssa.gov
• U.S. Savings Bonds Phone: 844-284-2676 Website: www.treasurydirect.gov
• U.S. tax returns Phone: 800-829-1040 Website: www.irs.gov
• Birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership, divorce certificates Phone: 888-896-4988 Website: www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/Birthdeathcertificates
• Driver’s license, auto titles and registration, ID cards Phone: 503-945-5000 Website: www.oregon.gov/odot
• SNAP (Oregon Trail Card) Website: www.oregon.gov/DHS/Assistance/Food-Benefits
• 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
• Real estate and property - Contact your county government.
• Credit cards - Contact your credit card company directly.
• Credit reports from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion Phone: 877-322-8228 Website: www.annualcreditreport.com
• 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 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.

• How to Appeal a FEMA Disaster Assistance Decision
• Oregonians Affected by Wildfires: Flood Risk and Insurance; Fraud Awareness
• FEMA Rental Assistance May Be A Valuable Housing Solution for Oregon Wildfire Survivors
• Citizenship and Immigration Status Requirements for FEMA Disaster Assistance
• What to Expect When Applying with FEMA
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for Oregon Wildfire Survivors
• Look Out for Disaster Fraud, Scams
• Understanding a FEMA Determination Letter, How to Appeal
• FEMA Approves Direct Housing Mission
• Apply with FEMA Even if You Have Insurance

VETERANS RESOURCES

Mental Health Services:

• Washington County Crisis Line | 503-291-9111
• Crisis Text Line | Text “Connect” to 741741
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255
• Trevor Lifeline | 1-866-488-7386

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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.

• Unemployment options (including the Workshare program)
• Phone lines are busy and it has been difficult to get through.  Work is being done to ease this bottle neck, but for now, keep calling (multiple times per day) until you can get through.  
• Information about employer obligations and responsibilities from Oregon Labor and Industries
• Business Oregon's list of financial resources (including non-bank lenders) 
• Information about US Small Business Administration disaster assistance loans 
• The latest COVID-19/Coronavirus information on resources for workers and business owners  

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
• Washington County

Utilities Assistance

• Portland General Electric (en inglés y español) 
• NW Natural
• City of Hillsboro Utility Billing 
• Comcast 
• CenturyLink
• AT&T 

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