One of my favorite things about the Interim period is the opportunities I have to get out into the community and see old friends and familiar faces, and to meet new people! Last weekend I enjoyed attending the SEIU Local 99 Caregivers picnic at Shute Park. I am grateful for the service that these incredible individuals provide in our community and appreciated the invitation to visit with them and learn more about the issues affecting the caregiving field. I also stopped by the La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art festival in downtown Hillsboro to observe the amazing artists at work!
On Wednesday morning, I spoke to Washington Thrives about the 2023 Legislative Session, and will be giving several more Legislative updates next week to groups ranging from the newly-formed Community Participation Organization (CPO) 12F to an update on the Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement program for the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. If you belong to a community group and are interested in having me provide a Legislative update, please reach out to my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov and my staff will work with you to get one scheduled.
I had a great visit with SEIU Local 99 Caregivers and some House colleagues at Shute Park last Saturday!
La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival last weekend in Downtown Hillsboro! Great music, food, and art!
Disability Pride Month celebrates disabled persons embracing their disabilities as integral parts of who they are, reclaiming visibility in public and interacting fully with their disabilities out in the open, and rejecting shame and internalized ableism. It is a time for the disability community to come together, uplift, and amplify one another’s voices and be heard. Disability pride has been described as “accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.”
Disability Pride Month is celebrated each year in July. Disability Pride initially started as a day of celebration in 1990—the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. That same year, Boston held the first Disability Pride Day. The first official celebration of Disability Pride Month occurred in July 2015, which also marked the 25th anniversary of the ADA. Since then, cities across the country have celebrated disability pride month with parades and other festivities.
Become a Disability A.L.L.Y. in Your Community and Promote Inclusion for All
Disability affects nearly 1 in 4 (26%) adults in the United States. Including people with disabilities in everyday activities and creating accessible environments and equitable opportunities that support them in holding roles similar to their peers who do not have a disability is disability inclusion. This involves more than simply encouraging people to participate in activities; it requires making sure that adequate policies, accessible programs, and inclusive practices are in effect in a community or organization.
Disability inclusion means understanding the relationship between the way people function, how they can participate in society, and making sure everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires. Disability inclusion entails identifying barriers that potentially impact people with disabilities to independently live and be fully engaged in their communities. Every community member can make a difference and play a part in addressing those barriers. For example, healthcare professionals and administrators can create more inclusive health care for patients with disabilities. Take steps to learn how you can increase disability inclusion and accessibility for all to improve the health, well-being, and participation of people with disabilities in your community.
Legislative Review Continued: Economic Development and Community Safety:
As I continue to update you on 2023 Legislative Session achievements, I am highlighting two important topics this week: Economic development and Community Safety. Both issues are complex and required a diverse approach this Legislative Session. While the progress we made is significant, these issues are always ongoing and require a constant and thoughtful approach each and every Session. To read more about each of the bills referenced below, click on the bill number underlined in blue.
*Economic Development
Early Childhood Investment: A $172 million investment that addresses the cost-of-living crisis, helps reduce child poverty and supports systemic investments in happy, healthy families. Another $1.2 billion was invested in the Department of Early Learning and Childcare (DELC) to give the newly independent agency a stable foundation for its vital work.
HB 3235: Oregon Kids’ Credit - Helps struggling parents make ends meet and lifts families out of poverty with a child tax credit that will provide $1,000 a year, per child.
SB 4: Oregon CHIPS Act - Invests $260 million to secure Oregon as a global leader in the semiconductor industry, create good paying jobs, and boost our economy for generations to come.
HB 2009: Economic Incentives Modernization Package - Aligns Oregon’s tax incentive structure with Oregon values and bolsters our economy by creating a Research and Development tax credit, extending the Enterprise Zone Program, and updating the Strategic Investment Program.
HB: 3410Rural Infrastructure and Economic Development Package - Revitalizes rural communities by investing $32.2 million in building critical infrastructure, bolstering key rural industries and sectors, and addressing workforce housing shortage.
*Community Safety
Public Safety & Accountability Investment: A $4 billion investment to fund law enforcement, hold bad actors accountable, and give communities the safety and security they need. It includes an unprecedented $1.3 billion to fully fund the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.
SB 337: Addresses Oregon’s public defense crisis by ensuring an accountable, transparent, and efficient system so that Oregonians are afforded their right to representation.
HB 2005: The Gun Violence Prevention Bill makes communities safer, helps law enforcement do their jobs, and respects responsible gun owners.
HB 3443: Further protects victims of bias crimes, including prohibiting landlords from terminating a lease or taking other specified actions due to status of a tenant as victim of bias crime.
HB 2316:Keeps Oregon’s roads safe by expanding our Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) laws.
New Ride Service for Rural Survivors
Ride Connection and The Family Justice Center of Washington County are launching a new partnership that provides free, non-emergency door-to-door transportation for rural survivors to the Family Justice Center (FJC)! Survivors in Washington County cities, and in all of Washington County's unincorporated areas, can schedule a non-emergency ride to the FJC with Ride Connection.
Are you a Forest Grove teen between the ages of 13-18? Do you want to meet new people, eat snacks, and help the Teen Librarian decide what books to buy and programs to plan, all while building your resume and earning volunteer credit? Then you should apply to join the TLC!
Meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month, 4-5 p.m. in the Rogers Room. After the general meeting, TLC Leadership meets from 5-5:30.
The 2023 Regional Transportation Plan and High Capacity Transit Strategy are open for public comment from July 10 to Aug. 25, 2023. These documents include regional policies and planned projects recommended by transportation agencies to address the region’s significant and growing transportation needs.
Public input will help guide decision-makers as they work together to finalize the policies, strategies and projects that will shape greater Portland’s transportation system through 2045.
The PACT Act is a new law that expands VA health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
The PACT Act adds to the list of health conditions that we assume (or “presume”) are caused by exposure to these substances. This law helps us provide generations of Veterans—and their survivors—with the care and benefits they’ve earned and deserve.
File your PACT Act claim by August 9 to be eligible for backdated benefits
There’s no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits. But if you file your PACT Act claim—or quickly submit your intent to file—by August 9, 2023, you may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022. So don’t wait, apply today.
There are 22 active fires with an estimated 14,508 acres burned so far this Season. There is also a current "Red Flag" warning in effect for the Western Siskiyou National Forest. For live updates on fires around Oregon, click on the image below to visit the official "Fire and Hotspots" Dashboard:
Stay safe, stay informed and stay connected. Access resources before, during and after wildfires by signing up for Emergency Alerts below:
For more information on wildfire prevention and recovery, view my resource link in the "Important Resources" section below.
My office has compiled a list of resources for our community. You can click on the images below to open a document with the relevant links. If you know of a resource that should be included here, or you need a resource and are having trouble finding the information, please reach out to my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.
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.
Beautiful Black Butte - one of my favorite Oregon spots!
