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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We have officially entered the Interim, or the period of time between two Sessions of the Legislative Assembly. Last weekend, my colleagues and I convened for two long Floor Sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, voting on the rest of our bill agenda before Sine Die, or the end of Session. Below, you can find a breakdown of the work we accomplished this Session. I am extremely proud of the progress we made in the final days of Session, delivering to Oregonians on issues that matter greatly to all of us. 

During the Interim, my team and I will be checking our office phone periodically. In order to maintain our connections with constituents in our district, we strongly recommend emailing as it is the best way to get a quick response from us. We are open for meetings in the district, on Zoom or in my Salem office with enough time to plan in advance. It is always our goal to maintain strong lines of communication with members of our community, even when we are not in Session, and we aim to respond to all of your questions and concerns in a timely manner. 

MY CONTACT INFORMAITON:

• rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov
• (503) 986-1429

Please never hesitate to reach out - we always encourage your input and enjoy hearing from you. Don't forget to follow me on social media as well. I hope you all have a safe and exciting long weekend and 4th of July celebration with all of your loved ones!

Voting on the House Floor

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

As we enter the long weekend and get ready to celebrate with fireworks and barbecue, I want to take a moment to thank and commemorate all those who have fought for our country. The 4th of July is a day to celebrate the freedom and spirit of the country I was lucky enough to be born and raised in. I am proud to serve as legislator in one of its many beautiful states, representing a diverse array of constituents in our district.

2023 SESSION: DELIVERING MAJOR VICTORIES FOR OREGONIANS

The Oregon Legislature has wrapped up the 82nd Legislative Session, marked by major victories for the state of Oregon. We delivered on every priority area in the Rebuilding for the Future agenda, which was created to respond to the issues Oregonians care about most, including housing and homelessness, public safety, behavioral health and addiction services, a fair economy with good paying jobs, access to reproductive health care, stronger schools, and more.

Despite some set-backs this Session, nearly 90% of the bills we passed had bipartisan support. Bipartisanship doesn’t mean we agree on everything, but it’s an important part of democracy. From child care to housing, semiconductors and tackling the opioid/fentanyl crisis, Democrats and Republicans did come together to deliver major victories for Oregonians.  

Of course, there is still work to be done. This session’s successes will help us achieve even more as we look to next year. As your legislator, I’m going to stay laser-focused on the issues we know Oregonians care about and continue to put in the work to pave the way for a better, stronger Oregon.

Please continue reading for highlights from the 2023 Session:

Outcomes of McLain Bills from 2023 Session

I was the primary Chief Sponsor of 15 bills this Session, 10 of which passed or received funding in one of the budget bills. Some of my bills, like the two on newborn screenings, are the culmination of years worth of work and advocacy. Other bills, like those relating to EV Rebates and the Mental Health Regulatory Board, came about because I saw a distinct need or gap that needed to be addressed through Legislative action. I also receive requests to sponsor bills by constituents, state agencies, jurisdictional partners, and stakeholders. If I believe the idea is a good one and that the Legislature can adequately address the problem or issue raised, I will have a Legislative Concept drafted and introduce the bill. This Session, I sponsored bills for Washington County (HB 3197), the City of Portland (HB 3458), and even one for a former intern in my office, Nick Juarez, to extend eligibility for the Oregon Promise Grant to Veterans.

Below is a list of my Chief Sponsored bills and their final outcomes. I've also included HB 5005, the bonding bill, because of my work on the I-5 Bridge project as Co-Chair of Joint Transportation:

Legislature Allocates Funding for I-5 Bridge Replacement

The current Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program is a legacy project – a once-in-a-generation opportunity to modernize the infrastructure that can significantly improve our region’s economic resiliency, support our climate goals, and ensure that the needs of future generations are met.

Through the recent passage of the historic Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), our region has a historic opportunity to receive an infusion of potentially billions of federal grant funds distributed through the construction of the IBR program. Oregon had to match Washington State's allocation of $1 billion in the 2023 Session to be competitive for $2.5 billion of the IIJA grants, with applications opening this summer. 

I am very pleased to say that Oregon was successful in allocating its share of the matching funds with the passage of H.B. 5005 on the last day of the Session. The bill passed with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate and now heads to the Governor for her signature.

I cannot overstate the importance of the Legislature's actions this Session to take the next steps on the IBR project. Replacing the I-5 bridge means an investment in the long-term viability of our region’s economy. In addition, tens of thousands of jobs across multiple industries will be created during construction, benefiting workers, local businesses, and families across the region. It is also an investment in the security of all multimodal travelers with the creation of safety shoulders, an emphasis on seismic resiliency for the vehicles and freight that currently use the bridge, and multimodal investments in public transit and bike/pedestrian pathways across the river. 

Historic Funding for Education This Session

As Co-Chair of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education, I am so proud of the work that the Legislature did this Session to fund Education, with a total of $15.3 billion allocated to K-12 programs. Here are the three most significant Education bills passed this Session:

HB 5015: Invests a historic $10.2 billion in the State School Fund, supporting Oregon’s K-12 students and educators.

HB 3198: The Early Literacy Success Initiative invests $144.3 million to support evidence-based, culturally responsive literacy strategies in and outside of the classroom, setting up
Oregon students for future academic success

HB 5025: The Higher Ed Opportunity Package invests $3.7 billion to ensure Oregonians
seeking postsecondary education obtain high quality education. Includes $1 billion for the
Public University Support Fund, $800 million for the Community College Support Fund,
$308.4 million to the Oregon Opportunity Grant, and $24.2 million to the Tribal Student
Grant program.

Session Bill Highlights:

AROUND WASHINGTON COUNTY

Emergency Alerts in WashCo

Emergency alerts help us remain aware and proactive of emergencies in our area. Please be sure to sign up for public alerts to receive alerts in the form of text messages.

There are many ways emergency personnel can send you an emergency alert. It’s important to know the different methods and where to go to find more information.

Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) – Sends a text message to any cell phone in a particular area. Makes a loud noise and specific vibration. It will show up in your phone's notification center, not in message apps. Limited to 90 or 360 characters depending on your phone.

Public Alerts – Must sign up at PublicAlerts.org/signup and provide contact information to receive messages. Will show up as a normal text message. Can also send emails or phone calls.

Emergency Alert System (EAS) – Sends over the radio and TV. Will interrupt whatever is playing and start with a loud tone.

Learn more: PublicAlerts.org/About-Alerts

BENEFITS AND SUPPORT

Oregon Health Plan Update

Protect your medical plans by updating your information and checking your mail regularly.

If you are a member of the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), you need to take action to protect your medical benefits. You should get a renewal letter in the mail sometime between now and mid-2024.

Here is what you need to do:

• Make sure your address is up to date. You can update on your own or get free help. You can do this online, by phone or in person.

• Check your mail for renewal letters. When they come, do what they ask right away. For more information visit: Keepcovered.oregon.gov

#keepcoveredoregon

PUBLIC HEALTH

Beat the Heat!

Summer is a time for rest and fun time spent with family, but it is also the season of heat waves. I encourage you all to sign up for emergency alerts for heat advisory warnings and review the cooling centers available in our district below. Taking precautions such as these can protect you and your loved ones from dangerous conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. 

With hot temperatures in the forecast, it’s important to stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay informed! Sign up for emergency alerts to receive heat advisories and warnings at oralert.gov. 

Watch for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Please check on your neighbors, especially older adults and anyone who might have a health condition that could put them at higher risk for heat-related illness. If you are worried about a friend, family member or neighbor you can't get in touch with, you can call non-emergency dispatch at [include local non-emergency dispatch number] to request a welfare check.

More information, including cooling center information can be found at oregon.gov/heat.

Pet Safety Tips Below - 4th of July & Summer Heat

In light of the 4th of July nearing and the temperatures rising, I encourage all pet owners to review the resources below to keep our furry babies safe, comfortable and secure.

IMPORTANT RESOURCES & INFORMATION

WILDFIRE-RELATED RESOURCES Click here, or on the image to the right, for important resources related to wildfire prevention and recovery. This list includes links to current fire restrictions and recreation site status maps, the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire prevention tip page, and important resources for wildfire victims.

RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS Click here, or on the image to the right, for a list of important resources for Veterans, including links and phone numbers to the various divisions of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, local Washington County assistance, supportive and community-based groups like the American Legion, and mental health resources.

EDUCATION RESOURCES Click here, or on the image to the right, for a list of Education-related resources. This includes links to the Forest Grove and Hillsboro School Districts, the Oregon and US Departments of Education, information on how to pay for college, student lunch programs, and much more!

STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT  Click here, or on the image to the right, for links to important local and state government pages, including the Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Cornelius city government pages. You can also access the Oregon Legislature's page, and other important state agency sites, like the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Unemployment Department, and the Oregon Health Authority.

TEAM MCLAIN CELEBRATING THE END OF SESSION!

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