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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Legislative Days last week was an important opportunity to meet with colleagues and advocates and to consider reports, to review the budgets and agency requests, and to preview bill topics for the 2024 Short Session. I've provided more highlights in my "Legislative Updates" section below and I look forward to the next round of Legislative Days in November.
IN THIS NEWSLETTER YOU WILL FIND:
♦Review of Ways and Means and Joint Transportation Committee hearings
♦Announcement of new Joint Interim Committee on the Addiction and Community Safety Response
♦Upcoming Constituent Coffee events
♦Information on Community Events
♦College Fair this Weekend
Representative McLain and Superintendent Travis Reiman of Hillsboro School District. We support all of our schools and our students!
REVIEW OF WAYS AND MEANS WORK DURING LEGISLATIVE DAYS
Last Friday, the members of the full Ways and Means Committee met for the second time during Legislative Days to approve important grant applications and to receive several Legislative Reports. The Committee, of which I am a member, considers interim challenges and budget review items from agencies on specific programs. We also acknowledge receipt of reports that have been requested by the Legislative and review grants that agencies and programs have applied for that have deadlines during the Interim. If awarded, these grants will positively impact a wide variety of policy areas. Below are just two of the highlights from Friday's meeting. As you can see, we did important work to improve our infrastructure system and address our housing crises, to name just a few agenda items.
♦Interstate 5 Bridge Replacement Project Grant:
The full Ways and Means Committee approved the submission of a federal grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation in the amount of $600 million to fund a portion of costs related to the Interstate Bridge Replacement program. The application is one of three federal revenue sources that comprise $2.6 billion of estimated resources in the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program’s financial plan. Receipt of these funds will ensure Oregon and Washington can successfully replace the I-5 Bridge without a significant burden to taxpayers in our respective states. The project is currently working through a federal environmental review. Bridge designs will be modified after public comment and review of the draft supplemental environmental impact statement on the locally preferred alternative bridge design. Once the final environmental impact statement is approved, the program can apply for permits, update cost estimates, and establish contracts in anticipation of construction beginning in 2026.
Watch my remarks on the I-5 Bridge Replacement Grant below:
Watch Bipartisan comments of support from Senator Steiner and Representative Greg Smith on the I-5 Bridge Replacement Grant below:
♦Grant to support Increased Housing Development:
The full Ways and Means Committee approved the submission of a federal grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $3 million to support increased housing production through development and zoning code updates, and policy guidance resources created for local governments. If awarded, the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) will use the grant to support communities working to remove barriers to affordable housing production. A total of $2 million would be distributed to local governments to update development and zoning codes to reduce regulatory barriers related to housing production. The remaining $1 million would be used to create policy guidance documents that local governments can use to increase housing production and affordability. Click on the image above on the right to view my comments on the DLCD grant.
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JOINT TRANSPORTATION MEETS DURING LEGISLATIVE DAYS
The very last meeting of Legislative Days was the Joint Transportation Committee meeting, which I chaired. We had a very important discussion about how we pay for transportation projects in Oregon and how we can ensure that all users are paying their fair share for use of the roads.
Highlights included:
Click the image below for the meeting slides on the Oregon Highway Cost Allocation Study:
Committee to Provide Oversight, Seek Solutions to the Addiction Crisis
Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and House Speaker Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis) just announced the creation of a new Joint Committee to seek comprehensive solutions to the drug and addiction crisis. We have to clean up Measure 110 and provide addiction services as quickly as possible. The Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response will pursue urgent public health and public safety solutions and provide oversight during the 2024 session and beyond.
The committee will be Co-Chaired by Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber (D-Beaverton) and Representative Jason Kropf (D-Bend). The Joint Interim Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response will have its first meeting in the coming weeks. The committee will hold regular public meetings leading up to the 2024 legislative session to transparently and thoroughly evaluate proposals and hear testimony from experts, law enforcement, agency staff, advocates, providers, community groups, and people struggling with addiction.
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2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION REVIEWS FOR CITY COUNCILS
UPCOMING CONSTITUENT COFFEES
Visit the Hillsboro or Forest Grove Farmers' markets before they close for the season and then come join me for coffee and conversation! These constituent coffees are a great opportunity to dialogue about the issues that matter to you in an informal setting. I hope to see you in either Forest Grove on 10/18 or in Hillsboro on 10/21.
WASHCO SIDEWALK REPAIR GRANT PROGRAM
Have you heard? Washington County can help pay to repair that cracked sidewalk in front of your property! The Sidewalk Repair Grant Program is open for property owners in the URMD to apply for up to $2,000 in reimbursement. Learn if you’re eligible to apply by clicking on the image below or here: bit.ly/WaCoSRGP
CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH WITH "COCO"
Cozy up with friends and family to watch "Coco" the movie at 4 pm on Saturday, October 7 at Hillsboro Futsal to celebrate Latino & Hispanic Heritage Month!
This special free showing will be in Spanish with English subtitles. Bring a chair and blanket for this indoor flick.
 Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
 Time: 4:00 pm
 Location: Hillsboro Futsal & Soccer Academy, 330 SW Walnut St, Hillsboro
About "Coco": Despite his family's generations-old ban on music, young Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead. After meeting a charming trickster named Héctor, the two new friends embark on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.
PLASTICS AND ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT
The Westside Planet Alliance and Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling are hosting a free community recycling event during the Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7. See the flyer for details and volunteer opportunities: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ch2m8.
Evento de reciclaje de plásticos y dispositivos electrónicos
Westside Planet Alliance y Washington County Solid Waste & Recycling están organizando un evento comunitario gratuito de reciclaje en el Mercado Agrícola, el sábado, 7 de octubre de 10:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. Favor de consultar el volante para obtener información adicional y para aprender sobre las oportunidades de voluntariado: https://tinyurl.com/2tyu48xx.
THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING CUSTODIANS!
National Custodian Day, celebrated on Oct. 2, shows appreciation for the employees who keep schools and workplaces clean and uncluttered. As a teacher of over 42 years, I know how vital our custodians and all classified workers are in ensuring our students have a successful educational experience. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
LIFEWORKS' STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM
LifeWorks NW is now accepting registrations for the Strengthening Families program. This free, virtual class for youth ages 10-14 and their caregivers will be offered from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m on Wednesday evenings, Oct. 4 through Nov. 15, in English and Spanish.
NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR IN PORTLAND THIS WEEKEND
Free and open to the public! This fair draws representatives from over 600 colleges. The schools are located throughout the US, and from around the globe. Ask representatives the questions that are important to you. What’s college life like? What majors are popular on campus? Chatting, whether in-person or virtually, with representatives from a variety of colleges can help you cement your own preferences.
NEW FGHS HOMECOMING PARADE ROUTE
There will be a new parade route for this year's Homecoming Parade on October 12th. The parade starts at 4:30pm and starts at Forest Grove High School.
National Voter Education Week (NVEW) is an open-source and nonpartisan campaign to help voters bridge the gap between registering to vote and actually casting a ballot. During this week of interactive education, voters have the opportunity to find their polling location, understand their ballot, make a plan to vote in person or remotely, and inspire others to get involved. NVEW strives to help voters overcome common barriers to become confident voters and ambassadors of voting in their own communities for every election. Read more about voting here!
Voter Registration is the first step!
Most states require you to sign up to vote in elections, a process called voter registration. The voter registration rules vary by state. In some states, you can pre-register, meaning you register to vote at 16 or 17 years old, but you cannot vote until you turn 18. If you will turn 18 by Election Day, you should register to vote ASAP.
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How to register to vote in Oregon
Start your online registration on Oregon’s election website.
You can also register to vote by mail or in person on Oregon’s election website.
Voter registration deadlines
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Online registration deadline: 21 days before Election Day
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Register by mail deadline: Must be postmarked 21 days before Election Day
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In person registration deadline: 21 days before Election Day
How to check your voter registration
You can confirm your voter registration status on Oregon’s election website .
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 you need, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.
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!
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.
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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.
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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.
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LATE BLOOMERS THIS YEAR!
Yours truly,
 Representative Susan McLain
House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-493, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
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