Hello and Welcome to House District 48!

Xin chào và Chào mừng đến với House District 48!

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2024 Legislative Session 

I have been working diligently as a Vice Chair on the Early Childhood and Human Services Committee, as a member of the House Education Committee, and as a member of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. 

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Honoring Women’s History Month

March marks Women's History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the achievements and contributions of women throughout history and in contemporary society.

This month serves as a reminder of the countless trailblazers who have shattered barriers and championed equality and justice for all. From the pioneers of the women's suffrage movement to today's activists, scientists, artists, educators, and leaders, women have left an indelible mark on every facet of human endeavor.

Women’s History Month encourages us to reflect on the invaluable contributions of women from diverse backgrounds and experiences. It is a time to honor the unsung heroes and amplify the voices of those whose stories may have been overlooked.

As we celebrate Women's History Month, let's reaffirm our commitment to advancing gender equality and creating a more inclusive, equitable world. Together, let us stand in solidarity with women everywhere, advocating for their rights and empowering them to fulfill their potential.

Happy Women's History Month!

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Ramadan Mubarak

As we embrace the arrival of the sacred month of Ramadan, we extend heartfelt greetings of Ramadan Mubarak to you and your loved ones. Ramadan holds profound significance for Muslims around the world, marking a period of reflection, devotion, and spiritual renewal.

This year, Ramadan begins on March 10th and will last until April 8th. During this time, Muslims observe fasting from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs as an act of worship and self-discipline. It is a time for increased prayer, Quranic recitation, acts of charity, and deepening connections with family and community.

The dates of Ramadan are determined by the lunar calendar, which means they shift slightly each year. This month holds immense spiritual importance as it commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and provides an opportunity for believers to draw closer to Allah through worship and reflection.

As we embark on this blessed journey, let us remember to embody the values of compassion, empathy, and generosity that lie at the heart of Ramadan. Let us extend a hand of kindness to those in need and foster bonds of friendship and understanding within our communities.

Looking forward, as Ramadan draws to a close, we anticipate the joyous occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which happens this April 10th, marks the end of fasting and the beginning of festivities and celebrations. Eid al-Fitr is a time of gratitude, forgiveness, and communal unity, where families come together to share meals, exchange gifts, and express gratitude for the blessings of Ramadan.

May this Ramadan be a source of blessing, peace, and spiritual growth for all. Ramadan Mubarak!

Here is a Non-Muslim’s Guide to Ramadan to read and learn about how you can support your Muslim friends and community members!

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That’s a Wrap! Happy Sine Die!

What Does "Sine Die" Mean?

“Sine Die” is a term used in the lawmaking world. It's a Latin phrase that means "without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing." Essentially, when lawmakers use "Sine Die," it means they're ending their meeting or session without scheduling another one.

So, next time you hear "Sine Die," you'll know that it's the official end of the legislative session, and lawmakers won't be meeting again until the next session begins. Talk about an interesting tidbit from the world of politics!

Our office is thrilled to report that through collaborative efforts, dedication, and bipartisan cooperation, our legislative office achieved significant milestones that directly address the needs and concerns of our constituents. To see my office’s wins this session, take a look at our end of session press release here!

In addition to our victories, I was able to re-ignite the legislative childcare alliance this session. Take a look at our victories for childcare in Oregon here!

 

 

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The Oregonian Publication

Did you see The Sunday Oregonian over the weekend of March 2-3rd? If you did, you might have noticed that Rep. Hoa Nguyen’s bill HB 4159 made the front page! If you didn’t get a copy you can read about it here!

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Phở Gabo

Over the past week, a local restaurant, Phở Gabo, was trending on the news due to their Portland location closing. Check out some of the articles below for more information. 

KGW  Willamette Week KATU

Below was the statement issued by the Vietnamese legislators:

Vietnamese-American State Legislators Issue Statement Following Closure of Phở Gabo Restaurant 

SALEM, OR - “We are concerned about the city of Portland’s “odor code” that led to the recent closure of the renowned Phở Gabo restaurant. As elected leaders within the Vietnamese community, we believe the closure of Phở Gabo sets a dangerous precedent and sends a troubling message about the value placed on cultural diversity within Portland. We applaud Commissioner Carmen Rubio’s directive to pause action on odor related complaints of food establishments until the code can be reviewed and amended to ensure fair, equitable and objective up enforcement. 

“We believe that, as currently written and enforced, the city’s odor code is discriminatory and not objective by any known standards, leaving out certain, minority-owned small businesses. We stand ready to work with Commissioner Rubio and ensure that city code is fair and reasonable so the city of Portland retains the vibrant food culture celebrating our diverse community.  

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Town Hall 

After a rigorous short session, our office along with Senator Jama and Representative Valderrama, are hoping to host a joint town hall on Tuesday, March 19 at the Department of Human Services East County Branch!

Date: March 19 @ 6 PM.

Location: 11826 NE Glisan St. Portland, OR 97229

RSVP here.

We encourage our constituents to show up and let us know some concerns they’d like to address heading into 2025 as well as any thoughts regarding this past short session!

Note: For language accommodations, please fill out the RSVP form.

 

 

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 Emergency Housing Stability and Production Package

Every Oregonian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That’s why in 2024, House Democrats are taking action to address the homelessness and affordable housing crises by passing The Emergency Housing Stability and Production Package. This package (Senate Bill 1530 and Senate Bill 1537) addressesOregon’s immediate housing and homelessness needs by funding homeless shelters to get people off the streets and into shelter, supporting renters, and boosting housing production and infrastructure. 

This package leverages our limited state resources to make significant investments in our major homelessness relief and affordable housing goals. Funding highlights include: 

• $100 million in direct allocations for shovel-ready projects within the existing Urban Growth Boundary to invest in infrastructure and build more housing 
• $65 million for ongoing homeless shelter support 
• $40 million to Oregon Housing and Community Services for rental assistance, with a set aside for culturally specific organizations
• $18 million for Recovery Housing to house people recovering from drug addiction
• $10 million for land acquisition to convert buildings into affordable housing
• $3.5 million for air conditions and air filters provided on an emergency basis to at-risk individuals
• $4 million to the Residential Heat Pump Fund so Oregonians can warm and cool their homes
• $7.5 million to Healthy Homes, to support home repairs and improvements to lower energy usage and make homes safer 

 

Oregon Kids Credit and Tax Help

With tax season just around the corner, you may be eligible for the Oregon Kids Credit. 

During the 2023 legislative session, Oregon Democrats championed the effort to create Oregon’s first-ever state-based child tax credit through HB 3235, which is a fully refundable $1,000 tax credit per child between the ages of 0 and 5 for families earning $30,000 or less. 

Who Qualifies

The amount of credit is based on age and number of dependent children, and modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), but even people who don’t owe any tax can claim the refundable credits. For those with a MAGI of $25,000 or less, the full credit is $1,000 per child for up to five dependent children ages 0 to 5 at the end of the tax year. The credit is reduced when MAGI is more than $25,000 and is eliminated at $30,000. 

ITIN filers and individuals with qualifying dependents with ITINs may claim the Oregon Kids Credit. ​All filing statuses are eligible for the credit except for Married Filing Separate.

How to Get Credit

Oregon families can apply for this credit when they file their tax returns in 2024. Since the credit is refundable, the portion of credit that is more than what a person owes will be refunded to them. 55,000 children across Oregon are expected to benefit from this credit, with higher representation in rural communities and communities of color. 

More information about the Oregon Kids Credit and other tax benefits can be found on the Department of Revenue’s Tax Benefit for Families webpage. Free tax preparation assistance can be found on the Department of Revenue’s Free Tax Help webpage. 

Semiconductor Investments

Oregon Projected to Gain Thousands of New Jobs, Billions in New Investments in Semiconductor Industry

Governor Kotek announced the first 3 companies - Microchip Technology, HP, and Intel - to receive grants to grow their businesses in Oregon following a historic, bipartisan push from lawmakers to incentivize new investments and jobs. Based on initial projections, assuming all grants applied for are awarded, they are expected to generate $40 billion in new investments and more than 6,000 new jobs in the semiconductor, construction, and other industries in Oregon.

During the 2023 legislative session, I was proud to support the Oregon CHIPS legislation, which opened the door for Oregon to leverage once-in-a-generation federal dollars to solidify our place as a global leader in the semiconductor industry. 

With these investments, we are building a brighter future for Oregon’s working families and generations to come. We’re developing good-paying, long-term jobs in every corner of the state, keeping Oregon’s economy stable and competitive in the 21st Century, and helping Oregon bolster national security and protect the United States’s supply chain for everything from credit cards to cars by onshoring critical technology supply chains.

sites that distribute food to families across Oregon. Visit the Oregon Food Bank Finder at foodfinder.oregonfoodbank.org to find resources near you. 

Mental Health Resources

Don’t suffer in silence - resources are available to help 

The winter months can be hard to navigate. If you’re experiencing stress, grief, or loneliness, you are not alone. While it is normal to struggle this time of year, there are lots of resources out there that can help. Visit https://bit.ly/OHAMentalHealth for a comprehensive list of mental health resources, and keep reading for a highlight of resources available:

Oregon’s Behavioral Health Support Line offers 24/7 behavioral health screening, counseling services and referrals to available mental health and substance use providers for ongoing care. Callers do not need to be in a crisis to contact the line. Call 800-923-HELP (4357).

The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, or at 988Lifeline.org. Trained crisis counselors can help you or a loved one with any kind of mental health-related distress, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or substance use crisis. Spanish speakers can call 988 and press 2, or call 888-628-9454 directly to reach la Red Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio, text the word “AYUDA” to 988 or chat online at 988lineadevida.org.

Community Counseling Solutions offers free phone support from the David Romprey Oregon Warmline, for anyone. Call 800-698-2392 daily, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Oregon YouthLine is a teen-to-teen crisis and help line. Call 877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839-863. Trained teens are available to help daily, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. (adults are also available 24/7). 

The Senior Loneliness Line of Oregon is a free, statewide 24/7 call service for Oregonians 55 and older. Call 503-200-1633 or 800-282-7035 for support and resources. 

The Trevor Project offers 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Call 866-488-7386 or text 678-678. You can also call 988 and press 3 for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and young adults support. 

Veterans Crisis Line provides free and confidential 24/7 support for veterans and their loved ones, regardless of VA benefits enrollment. Call 988 and press 1, or text 838-255.

The Racial Equity Support Line is staffed by people with lived experience of racism and provides emotional support and resource referrals to those experiencing the impacts of racist violence, microaggressions, racial discrimination and cross-cultural issues. Call 503-575-3764, Mon. to Fri., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For a comprehensive list of mental health resources, please visit https://www.211info.org/get-help/mental-behavioral-health/. 

Photo available at this link

Find Work or Workers with WorkSource Oregon

Are you looking for work? Are you seeking people to hire for your business? WorkSource Oregon is a one-stop career center and resource for businesses. All services are free. 

For job seekers, WorkSource can help you: 

• Register in iMatchSkills, Oregon’s largest job database
• Apply for jobs, sign up for trainings, develop a career plan and WorkSource Portfolio, and message WorkSource staff in My WorkSource
• Get a one-on-one career coach
• Match your interests and abilities to jobs you’d be good at and enjoy doing
• Learn about free training to help you advance in your career or learn a new industry
• Explore paid internships, apprenticeships, on-the-job training, GED programs, and college classes
• Take part in workshops on resumes, interviewing, networking, soft skills, applying for state jobs, and more
• Use computers, internet, phones, fax, copiers, and printers in our Resource Rooms
• Get help with transportation, childcare, food, internet access, tuition, textbooks, school fees, identification, work clothes and tools, and more.

For employers, WorkSource can help you: 

• Craft job postings for improved results
• Convene job candidates through job fairs and hiring events
• Identify possible tax credits
• Provide customized workforce data analysis
• Establish market-competitive wage rates to attract and retain talent
• Grow skilled workers with apprenticeships, internships and training options

WorkSource is here to partner with you. Each year the Business Services representatives serve 9,700 businesses, post 250,000 jobs, and help with 34,000 hires. 

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Stay Connected! 

• Facebook @RepHoaNguyen
• Instagram @Rep.HoaNguyen
• Twitter @Rep_HoaNguyen
• TikTok @StateRepHoaNguyen

You can get in touch with me directly by visiting or connecting through: 

• My Legislative Website
• Email at Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov
• Call our office at 503-986-1448
• Visit my office in the House Chambers on the fourth floor, H-473

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Trong cộng đồng,

In Community,

 

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1448

Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-281, Salem, OR 97301

Email: Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov

Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nguyen

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