Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The first week of Session has come to an end! I am happy to be back in Salem with my colleagues and the week has been full of productive days and late nights. When I am not in committee, I have back-to-back meetings with my colleagues, constituents, or advocacy members.
The highlight of my week was that my priority bill, HB 4082 - Summer Learning, had a hearing and passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Education. This bill now goes to the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. You can read more about the public hearing for my bill, as well as the upcoming hearing for my Foster Youth bill, in the "Legislative Updates" section of this newsletter.
Please also consider coming to one of my 2024 Session Town Halls on February 17th! This is a great opportunity to share about what you want to see happen in the Legislature and ask questions for give comments on the issues most important to you. I will also be sharing my priorities for the Session and providing more details on the bills that I am sponsoring. Below is the flyer, which you are welcome to share with your networks.
 
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
In 2024, more than ever, it is important to recognize contributions that African American communities have made to our shared history and society, despite discrimination and violence. Shirley Chisholm expanded what was possible for women in leadership as the first Black woman to run for the Democratic presidential nomination, despite being underfunded and underestimated. Ruby Bridges, at just 6 years old, showed bravery beyond her years by walking up the steps of William Frantz Elementary School, despite mountains of verbal abuse. Rosa Parks held her head high in resistance while police shackled her for simply sitting on a bus. Martin Luther King, Jr. literally changed the world and inspired future leaders like Nelson Mandela. These stories must acknowledge the cruelty and discrimination that is a part of our history.
History
Visit the federal African American History Month website for exhibits and collections, teacher resources, events, and more.
Learn about the origins of Black History month on the History Channel website.
All Month Long: Black History Month Virtual Festival
Author talks, panel discussions, and more, hosted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Most events are free.
View the Festival Schedule.
African Americans and the Arts
The official theme of Black History Month 2024 is African Americans and the Arts
Visit the Association for the Study of African American Life and History website to learn more about what African Americans and the Arts means and discover the many avenues that black communities have used throughout history to resist oppression and reclaim identities of their own.
Support Black-Owned Businesses and Organizations
Make a pledge to support local Black-owned businesses and organizations during Black History Month and beyond when you are eating, shopping, and doing business online or in person.
Washington County Chamber's Black Advisory Business Council is a culturally specific council working to inspire, empower, and promote the economic growth and sustainability of Black businesses and professionals within Washington County.
Community Organizations
Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas Counties are home to many organizations that exist to support, serve, and celebrate Black residents and people of color.
Community Organizing and Policy
Health and Housing
 
SUMMER LEARNING (H.B. 4082) PASSES OUT OF COMMITTEE
It's hard to believe that it's only Week One and my priority bill on Summer Learning has already had a hearing in House Education and passed out unanimously. That's the nature of the Short Session though - things move very quickly and you have to be ready to go on Day One. Below is the updated information sheet for Summer Learning. In addition, you can view two short clips from the hearing by clicking on the images after the informational sheet. I highly recommend viewing the impassioned testimony from Carl Thomas, who truly captures why Summer Learning is important - it's an opportunity to continue to reach the kids who need extra opportunities to learn and grow.
TESTIMONY CLIPS FOR H.B. 4082 - SUMMER LEARNING:
Click on the image above to watch testimony from Representative McLain and Pooja Bhatt from the Governor's Office. They testified in support of H.B. 4082 to fund and plan for Summer Learning in Oregon.
Click on the image below to watch the passionate testimony from Carl Thomas's from Project Youth + in Grants Pass. He also testified in support of H.B. 4082.
HEARING ON H.B. 4084 - EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR FOSTER YOUTH
Monday, my second priority bill to support Foster Youth has a hearing in House Education. I'm looking forward to sharing with the Committee the importance of this bill and what we as a state can do to improve educational outcomes for our foster system kids.
Watch the hearing live or recorded here. Below is an updated informational sheet about the bill:
WELCOMING OUR INTERN TO THE CAPITOL
On Tuesday, we welcomed our 2024 Session intern to the Capitol! Juan David is a student at Willamette University and is originally from House District 29! We are excited to have Juan David in the office with us this Session. Juan David will be helping us with a variety of projects, including constituent correspondence, bill tracking, and more!
Read more about Juan David in his introduction below!
My name is Juan David Alonso-Garcia, I am an undergraduate student at Willamette University studying Economics focusing on Pre-law. Born and raised in Oregon I have found my passion for outdoor experience, including cycling, running, hiking, and casually walking by the coast. Throughout my high school education I have had multiple local government experiences like Hillsboro’s Youth Advisory Council, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and National Youth Advisory Council. Working with local representatives and local business partners, I found a great need for better representation within the state and locally. There are voices to be heard, whether that’s within the session or simply in our cities. I hope to happily bridge the gap.
During the 2023 long session, I interned with Senator Sollman and her team. I absolutely loved how her team managed to work through multiple committees, including the success of the CHIPs Act Funding SB 4. I decided to join the Representative McLain team to further expand my
knowledge on the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. Education is crucial for the well being of many including lifetime opportunities. I hope to assist Representative McLain with email responses, bill tracking, note taking for the representative, committee hearings, research, and so much more!
I would like to thank Representative McLain for the unique opportunity of having me and I am looking forward to working with her this legislative short session.
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PNWER AND CANADIAN LEGISLATORS
The leadership of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) stopped by Salem on February 6th and 7th. I was able to meet with them on Tuesday and learn more about their organization. PNWER shared with me a variety of the work they are doing in their programs. PNWER is a statutory, public-private partnership chartered by the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska; and the western Canadian provinces of Alberta, British, Columbia, and Saskatchewan; and Yukon and Northwest Territories. PNWER is recognized by both the United States and Canada as the model for regional and bi-national cooperation. In this meeting, I also had the opportunity to meet some Canadian legislators!
Left to right : Justin Wright, MLA from Alberta - MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, Alberta, Rep. McLain. MLA Garth Rowswell from Alberta - MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster-Wainwright, Alberta, MLA Brittny Anderson from BC - MLA for Nelson-Creston, BC
OREGON FARM BUREAU WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP
The OFB Women’s Advisory Council (WAC) is dedicated to supporting leadership development for women in the Farm Bureau and promoting the importance of Oregon agriculture to the general public. Their meeting with me concluded their legislative workshop at the State Capitol for Farm Bureau members, lawmakers, legislative staffers, and the general public. Besides organizing numerous activities at OFB’s Annual Meeting, WAC also offers skill development, leadership training, and travel opportunities for women in the Farm Bureau throughout the year. I was happy to meet with the group, who were led by my friend Jacque of Duyck Family Farms in Hillsboro.
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Myself and the Oregon Farm Bureau Women's Advisory Council
EASTERN OREGON UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY LOBBY DAY
On Thursday, Oregon's public universities held a University Lobby Day. In the morning, I was able to meet with students from Eastern Oregon University. They shared with me their experiences of being students at a rural university. In the afternoon, I was able to meet with a mixed group of advocates and students to talk about their priorities for the 2024 session. The Oregon Duck even stopped by to take a photo with my staff! Students bring an important voice to the Capitol and I always look forward to connecting with them on Lobby Days and I am in full support of their efforts this Session to fund Open Source materials and address the issue of Hunger on college campuses. |
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President and Students from Eastern Oregon University
 
THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL SCHOOL COUNSELORS
National School Counseling Week 2024, "School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused," is celebrated February 5-9, 2024, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Thank you to our local School Counselors for all their hard work!
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) MONTH!
February is Nation Career and Technical Education Month! CTEs are an important part of our education system. Specifically this month, we recognize the contributions of our CTE teachers and their pivotal role in the development of CTE programming in HSD. These dedicated educators are instrumental in shaping the future of our students. They provide hands-on training, real-world skills, and valuable insights into a variety of career paths, ensuring our students are well-prepared for success in today's job market. CTE teachers not only bridge the skills gap but also inspire innovation and creativity in our classrooms. Their commitment to excellence empowers students to discover their passions and chart a course toward a prosperous future.
Thank you to all of our CTE teachers in Hillsboro, Cornelius, and Forest Grove, as well as all CTE Teachers around Oregon.
CENTRO CULTURAL MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY UNIT
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Breast cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer in the Latino community. In an effort to address this health disparity, the Rotary Club of Hillsboro teamed up with the Hillsboro Police Department’s Community Engagement Team, M&M Market and OHSU to bring the Mobile Mammography Unit to our Latino community.
This mobile unit is fully equipped and will be parked outside of M&M Market on March 23. It will provide breast exams for up to 20 women throughout the day. Rotary Club of Hillsboro will cover the cost of any evaluation for women without health insurance.
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VENDOR APPLICATIONS FOR ADELANTE MUJERES FARMERS MARKET
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Applications are open for Adelante Mujeres' Forest Grove and Cornelius Farmers Markets! Applications opened on February 1st. Before applying, read Adelante Mujeres' Vendor Handbook. You can find the Handbook in English and Spanish.
Full information on applying for the Farmers Markets can be found on Adelante Mujeres' website, here.
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CLAIM THE OREGON KIDS' CREDIT
Tax filing season is upon us. And if you are a parent raising a young child, and your family is struggling to get by on low wages, you may have an extra incentive to file an Oregon tax return. That’s because eligible families can now claim the brand new Oregon Kids’ Credit, a refundable tax credit worth up to $1,000 per child.
The Oregon Kids’ Credit is a fully refundable tax credit worth $1,000 per child aged 0 to 5. Families making between $0 and $25,000 can claim the full credit, before eligibility begins to phase out. A partial credit is available to families making up to $30,000.
Across Oregon, nearly 55,000 Oregon kids are eligible for the new tax credit. If every eligible child in Oregon is claimed, some 5,000 kids could be lifted out of poverty.
If you think you are eligible, you can claim the Oregon Kids' Credit by filing a federal and state tax return. More information about the Oregon Kids Credit can be found in the video that is linked below. You can also scan the QR code and it will take you to the Oregon Center for Public Policy's informational page.
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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!
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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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I loved meeting with college students at the Capitol this week!
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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