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Hello Friends and Neighbors,
This week was the first of many this Legislative Session! I've loved being back in the building with my staff, colleagues and organizational partners. This week, I attended my first series of committee meetings.
On Tuesday, I attended the Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water Committee Meeting and we received a Department of Forestry Update, an Education & Training for Pesticide Applicators from the Executive Director of Oregonians for Food & Shelter and the Rural Partnerships & Water Policy Director from Oregon Environmental Council, and a presentation on Water Use for Hydroelectric Purposes by the Water Director for the City of Hillsboro.
I chaired the first Joint Transportation Committee Meeting of the Session. At this meeting, we received an update on the Oregon Toll Program work from the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Yesterday, I attended another round of these committee meetings. At the Agriculture meeting, we held public hearings on four different bills that are being introduced this Session. At my second Transportation meeting, we received ODOT reports on revenue and expenditure, urban design implementation and low-income tolling.
Below, I've included my Committee Agenda, some information on my bills and summaries of the local organization tours I've recently went on.
Committee Agenda
Ways and Means Education Subcommittee (M, T, W, TH: 8-9:30am)
Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water (T, TH: 3-4:30pm)
Joint Transportation (T, TH: 5-6:30pm)
Joint Ways and Means (F: 9:30-11:30am)
Be sure to track my legislative agenda on OLIS, where you can watch meetings on real time or watch them later once they've been posted.
2023 SESSION BILL UPDATES
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We are in the first week of the 2023 Legislative Session and we already have over 2,000 bills submitted for consideration! Each week I will use this space to provide updates about both my personal bills, and bills related to important topics that I know you care about. Please reach out to my office if there are any bills you would like more information about and we will be happy to assist.
House Bill 2615 - Extending Oregon Promise Grant to Veterans
I am pleased to announce that one of my priority bills, House Bill 2615, is already scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans on January 26th at 1 PM (view the hearing live or recorded here).
HB 2615 will increase access to Community College for veterans separating to Oregon upon discharge from the military. Specifically, it expands eligibility for the Oregon Promise Grant (OPG) to allow veterans who were Oregon High School graduates to apply for the grant within 12 months of their discharge from military service and enrollment at an Oregon community college. It also gives veterans a choice as to whether they use their G.I. Bill while utilizing the OPG. If a veteran chooses to use their G.I. Bill in conjunction with the OPG, the G.I. Bill amount will not be calculated to determine their OPG award.
For more on HB 2615, please read this informational sheet.
House Bill 2617 - Improving Newborn Screening in Oregon
House Bill 2617 continues my 5-year effort to improve newborn screening processes in Oregon. Newborn screening identifies over 12,000 infants each year in the U.S. with a condition that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, would cause severe disability or death.
HB 2617 requires that the Newborn Screening Advisory Board consider and, to the greatest extent practicable, implement screening for a new disease no later than 18 months after the date on which the federal Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children recommends adding the disease to the federal list.
HB 2617 also requires the Advisory Board to develop standards, criteria, and processes for the medical community, members of the public, and parents of children with rare diseases to request that the Board consider adding diseases for evaluation.
For more on HB 2617, please read this information sheet.
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BACK IN-PERSON
Left: With my friend and longtime activist, Debby Garman, who is a Team Leader for the Washington County chapter of international 350.org Climate Action Group. Thanks for stopping by, Debby!
Right: With Team McLain! From left to right is Ishaan, our Legislative Intern, Carolyn, our Chief of Staff and Gabby, our Legislative Aide.
 New office is all set up!
AROUND WASHINGTON COUNTY
Adelante Mujeres
The tour of Adelante Mujeres was with Co-Founder and Executive Director, Bridget Cooke and Director of Education Programs, Patricia Alvarado
Last Friday, I had the exciting opportunity to tour the new Adelante Mujeres building in Forest Grove. Adelante Mujeres is a nonprofit organization that was created to advocate for the needs of Latina women from all walks of life in our community. I spoke to leaders Bridget and Patricia about their plans to expand the community services to include culturally specific and appropriate mental health services in Washington County. They've had a great team of folks working on the expansion, and they're seeking to launch Spring of this year, so they can continue supporting the Latine community in the County.
Adelante Mujeres offers a plethora of holistic programs that support Latina women and their families, including culturally-responsive trauma workshops, English language development classes, a regenerative agriculture program, a civic engagement training for youth and more.
One element of their organization that I really admire is their Empresas Small Business Development Program, which provides small business development services to new and beginning Latine entrepreneurs in rural and urban Washington County. Empresas works on helping starting or existing businesses with less than 5 employees and helps Latine business owners learn how to manage their endeavors through course programs and specialized trainings with experts. Some of these courses include food industry training, technical assistance and business coaching, and Casa Qui, a retail business incubator program. This incubator program provides a retail space for program participants to learn the process of managing a brick-and-mortar business.
Observing this type of important work is one of my favorite parts of my job, and I am so proud to represent such an innovative district. Our community is stronger when our local economy and small businesses are thriving.
Family Justice Center
The Family Justice Center team, my Legislative Intern, Ishaan Sinha and I at the Family Justice Center of Washing County Beaverton Facility
Last week, I also had the pleasure of touring the Family Justice Center of Washington County Beaverton Facility. The center hosts a collaboration of agencies in a single center dedicated to providing safety, healing and hope to people impacted by violence and abuse. The center opened in 2018 and has served over 11,550 survivors. The facility offers a range of services, including Drop-in Childcare, Pantry, Kitchen and Showers, Washington County Circuit Court (for Restraining Orders), advocacy and counseling, and many more.
I was very grateful for the opportunity to tour the facility alongside my Legislative Intern, Ishaan Sinha, and learn more about the essential work the FJC team engages in. I am proud that this resource has grown to serve wider audiences, and has a strong future. Everyone deserves a path of safety and recovery.
If you're interested in helping this Center, you can contact them to volunteer, give food and home goods, and donate to support the center. More information can be found here.
If you need help and the Family Justice Center can suit your needs, please connect with resources here.
Phone: 503-430-8300
Address: 735 SW 158th Ave suite 100, Beaverton, OR 97006
Hours: 8:30 AM to 4 PM Mon-Fri, Closed Sat-Sun
SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATES
Forest Grove School District Offers Food and Child Care Resources
The Forest Grove School District is offering food assistance resources. One can pick up lunches (plus breakfast and snacks) at these locations. Food boxes are also being distribbuted at Centro Cultural and local schools and churches. For more information on connecting with this resource, click here.
3rd Party Providers Champions and Little Monkeys are providing childcare options. Families can also State of Oregon’s Child Care Assistance webpage for assistance.
Century School Based Health Center Immunization Clinic
Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome. Please complete vaccination form and bring it to the clinic: https://bit.ly/3WpEuFj. All required vaccines are available. Flyer: https://bit.ly/3GZNR91
When:
January 17
January 24
January 31
February 7
8:30a.m. -12:00 p.m.
All students of the Hillsboro school district are welcome!
Location:
Century School-Based Health Center
1998 SE Century Blvd, Hillsboro, OR 97123.
Phone: 503-597-4580
Priority Window for In-District Transfer Requests
HSD students wishing to continue a current in-district transfer or request a new in-district transfer for the 2023-24 school year can apply between January 1 and 31 by using our online transfer request application at hsdtransfer.hsd.k12.or.us.
HSF Gala & Auction
The Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSF) hopes you’ll join them for their Annual Gala and Auction! This year’s event, the HSF M.E.T. Gala: Making Education Transformative, will be live and in-person on Saturday, Feb. 25 at NW Events & Environments.
HSF’s main fundraising event is a night of fine dining and wine with entertainment and a multitude of amazing auction items up for bid. Individual tickets and table sponsorships are available for purchase now at hsfonline.org. Proceeds from the auction fund innovative programs in HSD schools, including their “Imagine Your Adventure” kits filled with hands-on learning materials, bilingual and bicultural books, and other educational resources to bring career exploration to the elementary school level.
If you are unable to attend the gala but would still like to participate, please plan to browse through the virtual online silent auction (https://bit.ly/3kq50B6), which runs from 8 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 20 through 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25. The silent auction features family fun adventures, date nights, excursions, and many other exciting packages. There is no cost to participate in the silent auction.
BENEFITS
Childcare Program Expansion
If you are attending high school, college or a GED program and need childcare, you may now be eligible for childcare assistance, whether or not you are working. Oregon's affordable childcare program is expanding to offer added benefits.
• Students can now receive child care support for study time hours.
• Caretakers who work night shifts can now receive child care support to allow time to catch up on sleep.
Read this Oregon Department of Human Services news release to find out if you qualify.
https://www.oregon.gov/.../2023-01-05-erdc-expansion-en.pdf
Safe Rest Pods in Hillsboro- Now Open
The new Safe Rest Pods have recently opened in Hillsboro and temporarily serve 30 to 40 of the local houseless community. If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness and in need of housing resources, contact Community Connect at 503-640-3263 or visit washingtoncountyor.gov/housing
Free English Classes in Forest Grove
Goodwill Industries is offering free English classes at the Forest Grove Library starting on February 7th. The classes are every Tuesday from 1:00-3:00pm in the Rogers Room. Sign up at http://bit.ly/fgclenglishclass. All levels are welcome! For more information, email us at fgl-reference@wccls.org.
Immigration Legal Services at Local Library
Are you a lawful permanent resident? Would you like to become a citizen and exercise ALL your rights? Apply for citizenship. SOAR Immigration Legal Services is hosting a pre-screening for citizenship classes at Brookwood Library on Saturday, January 21, from 10 am to 5 pm. No appointment is needed.
PUBLIC HEALTH
Flu, RSV and COVID-19 rates dropping, but Oregon hospitals still struggling
Rates of the flu, RSV and COVID-19 in Oregon appear to have either peaked or are dropping.
“As we begin 2023, I am hopeful for the situation we are facing,” Oregon state epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger said Thursday.
COVID-19 hospitalizations increased in November, and remain high, but have also dropped in the last week.
Despite the improving situation, Sidelinger said hospitals are still operating under staffing crisis standards.
OHA is keeping an eye on the new variant, nicknamed kraken, as it spreads rapidly across the northeast of the country. But Sidelinger said Oregonians need not be unnecessarily concerned.
OHA is recommending people with reduced immunity take steps against infection like wearing masks and avoiding crowds.
WILDFIRE-RELATED 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.
RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS
Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs:
Washington County 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.
Education Links
Local Government
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
 Our view from the office at sunset hour!
Yours truly,
 Representative Susan McLain
House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-489, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
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