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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope that this email finds you well and you are enjoying the transition into the holiday season. This time of year reminds us of the importance of connecting with our community and those around us. I am writing today from Austin, Texas where I am attending a Legislative conference on transportation funding. I look forward to sharing about my trip in the next Newsletter.
In the past week, I attended many events that reminded me of the importance of civic engagement. Quality engagement in a deliberative democracy is a two way street that requires commitment from both elected officials and the public. I always enjoy any opportunity to connect with constituents at Town Halls or community events and celebrations.
This newsletter is one of the many ways that I enjoy connecting with HD 29. Thank you for your efforts to engage with the Legislature through reading my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to forward my newsletter to people who might find it useful or enjoyable. You can share this sign-up link with anyone who might like to be added to the mailing list.
If you have ideas about what you'd like to see in the newsletter, or events and opportunities that you think we should share, please reach out to my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.
IN THIS NEWSLETTER YOU WILL FIND:
- Updates on my outreach and engagement this week
- Congratulations to Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett on his retirement
- Upcoming local events
- Help for renewing DACA applications
- Updates on COVID tests
- Naloxone availability
- Safety tips during floods
Austin, Texas: Learning about other states and their transportation funding.
RECENT LEGISLATIVE OUTREACH
Westside Economic Alliance's "State of the Westside"
On Monday, I was invited to be on a panel with Mayor Lacey Beaty of Beaverton at the Westside Economic Alliance's "State of the Westside" event. The event was moderated by Espousal Strategies CEO Johnell Bell and used the organization's 25th anniversary to anchor the conversation. My panel primarily explored what our community will look like in 25 years and what our quality of life will be. I stressed the importance of infrastructure planning and execution to ensure we have a multimodal transportation system that works for commuters, businesses, and the community as a whole.
The program included (L to R) Mickey Caverly (Intel), Elizabeth Mazzara Myers (WEA), Representative Susan McLain (HD29), Johnell Bell (Espousal Strategies), Sam Briggs (PacTrust), Mayor Lacey Beaty (City of Beaverton) and Dan Dias (City of Hillsboro).
Oregon Transportation Forum Annual Meeting
On December 5th, I had the opportunity to attend the Oregon Transportation Forum's (OTF) annual meeting. This meeting was attended by a diverse range of transportation professionals around the state.
During the meeting, I spoke on a Legislative panel with my Joint Transportation Co-Chair, Senator Gorsek, and Vice Chair, Senator Boquist. We had the chance to discuss transportation projects throughout the state and provided insight into what we are working on in the Joint Transportation Committee during the 2024 and 2025 Legislative Sessions. We also answered the audience's questions about the 2025 Transportation Package, snow plows this winter, and tolling.
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Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers
Last Friday, I attended the Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers in Keizer. I joined several other Legislators for a coffee hour and also had the opportunity to sit down and talk with local educators about the issues they find important, including class sizes, teacher and specialist development needs, and overall funding concerns.
Civics Educators are shaping the future stewards of our democracy. As a former educator myself, I found the time we shared to be particularly insightful and important and appreciate all of their hard work.
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Left to Right: Kyle Yamada, Aaron Cooke, Alison Ortiz, Amy Fifth-Lince, and Courtney Wertz at the Annual Oregon Civics Conference for Teachers.
Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools' Annual Conference
Last Friday, I was invited to speak on a panel at the Oregon Coalition of Community Charter Schools' Annual Conference to discuss the legislative landscape for public charter schools and public education in Oregon.
A public charter school is a publicly funded school free to attend and run by independent contractors. People often confuse public charter schools with private schools, but they are quite different in funding, accessibility, and structure. Under Oregon law, a charter school is a separate legal entity operating under a binding agreement with a sponsor.
My panel included Iris Marie Chavez and the Oregon Department of Education's Charter School Specialist, Kate Pattison. We had a meaningful discussion on Oregon's public education budget. I appreciated the invitation to attend and everyone's commitment to the success of Oregon's students.
Dave Dotterrer (Logos Public Charter School in Medford), Representative McLain, and Jennifer Stackhouse (Portland Village School in Portland) at the conference.
Forest Grove Daybreak Rotary Club
The Forest Grove Rotary Club has weekly meetings that I attend when my schedule allows. I find these meetings to be meaningful and appreciate the support that the club provides for our community, and particularly our youth. At this week's meeting, we discussed how to support students locally in our area as well as worldwide. Rotary Clubs provide important opportunities for students through programs like Rotary Exchange, which funds and hosts exchange programs around the world.
A little more about Rotary: The objective of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular to encourage and foster:
1. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
2. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to service society;
3. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business and community life;
4. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
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Central Catholic's Democracy in Action Event
Last Friday, my Chief of Staff joined more than 35 local and statewide elected officials, representatives of political parties, and good government groups for the annual Democracy in Action event at Central Catholic High School. More than 250 Central Catholic seniors and juniors engaged with invitees with the goal of becoming better informed as they prepare to vote and become active members of the community. My office enjoys participating every year and having the chance to share with high school students about the State Legislature and the work we do that impacts important aspects of their lives. We received a lot of great questions on funding for public Education and were happy to share what the Legislature will be working on in 2024 and 2025 to support educators and students.
Representative Janelle Bynum at the Democracy in Action event.
WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF PAT GARRETT RETIRES
After 35 years of service, Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett retired earlier this week.
Sheriff Garrett has served at the Sheriff’s Office for over 30 years and has held every uniform rank. He began his third term as sheriff in January 2021. Pat also served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for 25 years and was mobilized twice after 9/11. In 2007, he served one year in Baghdad with the 4th Brigade, 1st Infantry Division on a Provincial Reconstruction Team.
Under Sheriff Garrett's leadership, the Washington County Sheriff's Office has achieved remarkable advancements in community policing and public safety and fostered positive relationships between law enforcement and the community. Sheriff Garrett's commitment to excellence and the well-being of our community has been unwavering.
Thank you, Sheriff Garrett for your service to our community, and may your retirement be filled with happiness, fulfillment, and countless new adventures.
RECRUITMENT OPEN FOR THE AMERICORPS MEMBER PROGRAM
Explore a career in education while serving the community as an AmeriCorps Member! Recruitment is currently underway for the 2023-2024 program year. Partnerships for Student Achievement (PSA) is an education-based AmeriCorps program serving K-12 school sites in Washington & Yamhill Counties. The PSA AmeriCorps team improves academic achievement through tutoring, mentoring, extended day school activities, specialized projects, and volunteer generation.
PSA AmeriCorps members serve full-time (40 hours/week) for 11 months. While member activities vary from school to school, all placements include:
- Tutoring and mentoring for low-achieving and at-risk students in math/and or reading
- Tutoring 50 to 80% of PSA AmeriCorps member’s time
- Provide one-on-one and small group intervention tutoring during the school day on a regular and consistent basis
- These efforts must be additional or supplemental services only and not replace other services
- Developing, implementing, and/or leading extended day activities
- Developing and implementing Specialized Projects & Initiatives
- Community, parent and student volunteer management
- Members participate in monthly community service projects and will create a student-based project at their school in April
Program start date is August 14, 2023. To apply, please complete both an AmeriCorps Member application (and submit it to Partnerships for Student Achievement) and a Program Application. Learn more on the FGSD Website.
BEAVERTON-HILLSBORO SCIENCE EXPO
The Beaverton-Hillsboro Science Expo is Washington County’s largest celebration of science and engineering. Held annually in the spring, BHSE brings together over 100 students from more than 10 schools in the Beaverton and Hillsboro School Districts to compete for scholarships, cash awards, and the grand prize: an all-expense-paid trip to the 2024 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
This year, BHSE will be a hybrid event, with students submitting a slide deck for review one week prior to the Expo, and presenting their poster boards in person to the judges on the day of the Expo - Saturday, Mar. 2 at Century High School. All projects must be pre-approved. Registration deadline is Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. More information and forms can be found here.
CITY OF HILLSBORO’S LIGHTOPIA - AN ILLUMINATED JOURNEY
Welcome to Lightopia! Drive through a glimmering landscape of dazzling lights. The half-mile loop features fun and festive displays.
From Tuesday, December 5 through Saturday, December 30, Hillsboro Parks & Recreation is hosting a half-mile loop of festive light displays at the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex. The event is completely free, however registration through Eventbrite is still required. Details about the event can be found here.
DO YOU NEED HELP WITH DACA RENEWAL?
Do you have DACA and need help renewing it?. Centro Cultural de Washington County, in partnership with Oregon Foundations, offers scholarships to renew your DACA. Get in touch with them today. Call Centro Cultural and an advisor will help you with the steps you need to follow for DACA renovation completely free.
GET FREE AT-HOME COVID-19 TESTS AT COVIDTESTS.GOV
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four additional free at-home COVID-19 tests, regardless of citizenship or health insurance status. If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests. Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping. Place an order for free tests here.
EXTENDED: EXPIRATION DATES FOR MANY AT-HOME COVID TESTS
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration extended the expiration dates on many COVID-19 tests beyond what is printed on the box. Many at-home Covid-19 tests were developed quickly during the pandemic and authorized for emergency use by the FDA. These tests have short expiration periods. If a test manufacturer can show that the tests continue to work well beyond the initial expiration period, expiration dates are extended.
Check and search for your test’s brand and lot number to see if the FDA extended the expiration date: https://ow.ly/IgyJ50Qfh1C If your tests have expired, throw them away with the regular trash. To order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government, visit COVIDtests.gov
NALOXONE IS NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
The life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone is now available to the public without a prescription. It is available under its brand name Narcan, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for over-the-counter distribution earlier this year. It is by far the most effective tool we have to reduce opioid overdose.
Today, because of the unprecedented and nationwide proliferation of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which is 50-100 times more potent than heroin, people are often dying from overdose before first responders can get to them. That’s why it’s incredibly important that the FDA approved the over-the-counter naloxone product, so that roommates, parents or friends can easily possess and administer it if they witness an overdose. Additionally, due partially to the increased potency of illegal street drugs, the rate of fatal opioid overdose is more than 10 times higher now than it was 20 years ago. In other words, calling 911 may not be fast enough to save lives. More information can be found on OHA’s Health News Blog.
BE READY FOR FLOODS
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the U.S. All floods are not alike. Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days. But flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud and other debris that can sweep away most things in its path. Overland flooding occurs outside a defined river or stream, such as when a levee is breached, but still can be destructive. Flooding can also occur when a dam breaks, producing effects similar to flash floods.
With heavy rain expected across parts of Oregon, do you know what to do if the power goes out? Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by planning ahead. The Oregon Health Authority has information on what to do before, during and after a flood so that we can continue to be safe during the wet, winter months.
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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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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