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Hello Friends and Neighbors,
Here are some updates and helpful information for you to know this month!
Why is reading important?
- A 2013 study has shown that reading can reduce mental decline in the elderly by 32%.
- Just six minutes of reading per day means a lot for the development of young children.
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67% of ALL 4th grade children in Oregon are NOT reading proficiently.
- Throughout the United States, 68% of fourth-grade students in 2013 could read with proficiency, a 6% boost since 2003.
Cross River Therapy
A way to tackle these issues and reap the benefits of reading is through our community Little Free Libraries!
Little Free Libraries are small, cabinet-sized libraries. Everyone is welcome to take or leave a book.
Find a Little Free Library:
- Open the Little Free Library map.
- Enter your search criteria.
Little libraries are located near schools, multi-family housing developments, preschool programs, churches, in offices that provide services to families, and even in a managed micro-shelter site for homeless adults and children. They are all supporting children who live in high-need areas of the city, and who do not have a public library branch in their part of town
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 In honor of Women's History month, meet the great women on my team!
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Chief of Staff: Michelle Mhoon.
Michelle is assisting Representative Mannix move the 93 bills he has sponsored or co-sponsored through the legislative process.
What can Michelle help with?:
If you have questions about legislation that Representative Mannix is working on for Keizer, Salem, and Oregon or other policy related questions.
Contact: Michelle.Mhoon@oregonlegislature.gov.
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Legislative Assistant: Hayley Guptill
Hayley is a great resource for all your general questions as she manages the Representative’s schedule and is involved in all aspects of the day-to day-operations of HD 21!
What can Hayley help with?:
If you have general questions, scheduling a meeting with Representative Mannix.
Contact: Hayley.Guptill@oregonlegislature.gov.
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Community Outreach Coordinator: Kimberly Castro
Kimberly is spending much of her time out in the field listening to the needs and concerns of the citizens in Keizer and Salem. She loves helping constituents! Kimberly is fluent in Spanish to help reach our Spanish speaking friends.
What can Kimberly help with?:
If you have questions or concerns that Representative Mannix and the HD 21 team can help with.
Contact: Kimberly@mannixlawfirm.com
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Lunch with Governor Kotek. On March 8th, new legislators attended a lunch and got the opportunity to ask Governor Kotek questions.
House and Senate Joint Committee on Transportation Updates
There are four transportation projects which I am currently supporting. These fit within the larger picture of many other projects throughout the state.
The first project is the establishment of a task force to carry on further evaluation as to the potential construction of a third bridge across the Willamette River, north of the Salem-Keizer urban growth boundary. A public hearing was held on the bill on February 2, and I hope to have a work session to put the final touches on this piece of legislation. This task force is not designed to be a city project, but instead a state project involving Marion and Polk Counties. We will, of course, want to hear the input from the Cities of Salem and Keizer. This legislation is designed to allow the state and counties to determine how to best serve the needs of all Oregonians in terms of transportation development across the Willamette River.
The second project relates to the interchange for Brooklake Road and I-5 in Brooks. I am strongly supporting the effort to move forward with a modernization of that interchange to improve traffic flow and safety. This may need to be done in stages, but I plan to move the various stages forward as quickly as possible.
The third project of significance to my district is the development of a commuter rail line (on an existing track run by Portland and Western Railroad “PNWR”) which would connect Keizer to Wilsonville, and might extend south into Salem. The new commuter rail line would connect with the existing rail line run by PNWR which runs from Wilsonville to Beaverton, allowing rail commuters the opportunity to travel from Keizer to the Portland Metro Area. This would be in addition to the existing commuter rail service on the Union Pacific line, to the east of I-5. Legislation, which I am supporting, is pending to push forward the development of such a commuter rail line.
The fourth legislative initiative which I am involved in is the replacement of the I-5 Bridge across the Columbia River. While this is not close to Salem and Keizer in terms of distance, it is close to our communities in terms of the ongoing traffic challenges for those of us who need to travel north and south along I-5. The replacement bridge project would involve construction of a new bridge while the old bridge continues in operation. I do not support simply remodeling the old bridge because the supports for that bridge are old, and that bridge does not have the necessary height to allow ships to pass under without having it raised as a draw bridge. As a member of the Legislature’s Interstate 5 Bridge Joint Committee, I am at the center of the action as we engage in heavy discussions to develop federal funding and a partnership with the State of Washington to get this project moving.
SB 241 – Maximizing State Recourses
I am working with Senator Kim Thatcher on a bill that would connect those seeking help from assistance programs to apply to or enroll in federal programs first. Federal aid is already allocated and available to many of the same people who reach out to state agencies, but not enough people utilize these resources. As a result, state agencies are facing tight budgets that limit their ability to help more people. In some instances, federal resources are more beneficial than Oregon’s. This common-sense bill would direct people to resources that are as good or better than what Oregon would provide while freeing up more local funds for the next person in need.
A public hearing was held on March 8, 2023, in front of the Senate Committee on Human Services. During this hearing, Senator Thatcher and I testified in favor of this bill and seven people submitted written testimony in favor of this bill.
English as a Second Language Beginner Class
Free English as a Second Language Class taught by Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette.
Clase gratuita de inglés como segundo idioma impartida por Goodwill Industries de Columbia Willamette.
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Collaboration Studio at Salem Public Library
585 Liberty St. SE
Salem, Oregon 97301
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Neighborhood partnerships bring businesses and residents together to create a more livable community with activities and projects designed to meet the unique character of the neighborhood. Neighborhood Associations provide a voice for you to participate in government decisions by bringing Salem residents, City Officials and representatives to the table.
Find your neighborhood association here.
Community Outreach Coordinator, Kimberly, attends local neighborhood meetings within District 21, come say hi and let us know how we can help!
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Change follows improvements in people hospitalized for respiratory infections, test positivity
Workers, patients and visitors in health care settings will no longer be required to wear masks starting April 3, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced today.
OHA is rescinding provisions in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 333-019-1011 that require workers in health care settings – such as hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulances, outpatient facilities, dental offices, urgent care centers, counseling offices, school-based health centers, complementary and alternative medicine locations – to wear masks. The requirement has been in effect since August 2021.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDHS/bulletins/34c69c1
Our most recent economic and revenue forecast released last week now projects that Oregon’s unique kicker law will kick by a record amount at the end of the current 2021-23 biennium. For the personal kicker — remember this is actually all non-corporate revenues in the General Fund — the forecast now expects the kicker to be $3.9 billion. The exact kicker amount will be finalized and certified this fall.
https://oregoneconomicanalysis.com/2023/03/01/oregon-kicker-whats-your-cut/
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Legislative Intern: Keven Oliveira
Keven, an international student from Brazil, is attending Chemeketa Community College. Kevin is interested in learning more about politics in the United States and assists the HD 21 Team with office organization, online research, and constituent outreach.
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Legislative Intern: Hannah Purdy
Hannah is finishing her last semester at Willamette University and will be starting her first year of law school at Willamette next fall. Hannah assists the HD 21 Team with office organization, online research, and constituent outreach.
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Would you like to make me aware of your position on an issue? Do you have an idea to improve our state?
I want to hear from you. Contact my team as noted above. You can reach me via email, below.
I look forward to connecting with you.
Thank you,
Representative Kevin Mannix
House District 21
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1421
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-384, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.KevinMannix@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mannix
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