Fourth of July Safety Tips and Upcoming Local Events

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To contact me, please click here: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Next week is the 4th of July, and as we all get ready to celebrate with friends and family, I want to take a moment to wish everyone a safe holiday. The 4th is a day to celebrate the freedom and spirit of this country and to recognize the incredible system of government our Founding Fathers created all those years ago. As a legislator, I truly value our intricate system of checks and balances and our shared and separate federal, state, and local powers. I feel very lucky to have been born and raised in the U.S., and I am proud to be a public servant. 

In this week's newsletter, I reflect on our transportation system's funding challenges and share what I've learned on the Statewide Transportation Tour so far. I also share information on some of the upcoming events in our area that I'm looking forward to and provide details on available food resources during the summer months. Also included in this week's newsletter:

STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION TOUR REFLECTIONS

I've enjoyed updating you on the Statewide Transportation Safety and Sustainability Outreach Tour in my newsletter each week. As there are no new tour stops to report on until July 16, I want to take the opportunity to provide a more in-depth perspective on the challenges we currently face in funding transportation, the purpose of the tour, and what we've learned so far from our stops in Portland and Tillamook.

Transportation Funding

Transportation impacts Oregonians’ lives every day. We all share a common desire for safer streets, better public transportation, and the ability to pay for ongoing maintenance of our roads, bridges, railways, and more. This shared goal is why the Joint Committee on Transportation is working so hard on a Transportation Plan for the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session. ODOT, along with transportation agencies across the state, is facing structural funding challenges that impact the agency’s ability to deliver core services, such as road and bridge maintenance. We have to address this funding crisis in the next legislative session.

ABOVE: Legislators and staff on the ODOT'S Tillamook area tour.

ONGOING TRANSPORTATION OUTREACH

I was thrilled to hear yesterday that nearly $43 Million in RAISE Grant funding is coming to Portland, Warm Springs, and Salem for critical transportation Improvements. RAISE Grants, or the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program, are awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation with funding allocated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act. The USDOT’s RAISE grant program helps municipalities, Tribal governments, counties, and others complete critical freight and passenger transportation infrastructure projects. The three Oregon-based projects funded by the RAISE 2024 grant program are as follows:

• $25,000,000 for TriMet’s Columbia Operations Facility: Building a Regional Zero-Emissions Bus Base in Portland. This project will design and construct a facility to store, fuel, and maintain TriMet's hydrogen fuel cell electric bus fleet. As part of my work as Co-Chair of the Joint Transportation Committee, I wrote a letter supporting TriMet's RAISE grant application.  

• $15,000,000 for the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs’ Warm Springs Commercial Corridor Safety Project. This project will design and construct improvements to the U.S. Highway 26 corridor in Warm Springs. Improvements will include speed reduction treatments in downtown Warm Springs, a new roundabout at the intersection of Highway 26 and Paiute Avenue/BIA 3, a shared-use path on both sides of the highway, and access to existing transit stops.

• $2,704,800 for the City of Salem’s Front Street Redevelopment Transportation Corridor Plan. This project will conduct an alternatives analysis and a preliminary engineering study for an approximate 3,700-foot section of Front Street between South Street NE and the Front Street NE Bypass. The project will identify improvements to Front Street to encourage and support redevelopment in the corridor.

UPDATES ON NEWBORN SCREENING WORK

Newborn screening identifies over 12,000 infants each year in the U.S. with a condition that, if left undiagnosed and untreated, would cause severe disability or death. It is a critical service, and I have worked for 7 years to improve the newborn screening processes in Oregon. The last newborn screening bill I proposed in 2023 would have improved the makeup of the Newborn Screening Advisory Board, the process for adding or removing diseases from the screening panel, and ensured that all families in Oregon could receive important newborn screening services. While the bill ultimately did not pass, I have continued my fight because I believe strongly that Oregon families deserve the most up-to-date and comprehensive screening process possible - it is a matter of life or death. We need a process that keeps up-to-date as scientific reviews bring important breakthroughs. New diseases must be considered promptly when advancements are made in treatment and testing because states are often the leaders and innovators in newborn screening, and waiting for the federal committee to act means children with rare diseases will not always get the life-saving treatment they need. I also believe that newborn screening should be available to everyone, including families of infants who pay out-of-pocket for the birth of their child. In the 2024 Legislative Session, I championed a budget note that would have allocated $500,000 to the Oregon Newborn Screening Lab to ensure that all babies born in Oregon could be screened at birth.

I am so happy to say that there have recently been some very meaningful changes with newborn screening here in Oregon after my long years of advocacy, as well as the advocacy of families of children with rare diseases. The first exciting news to report is that the Oregon Newborn Screening Lab has received $250,000 to subsidize screening kits for families who pay out-of-pocket for the birth of their child. You can learn more about this new opportunity for subsidized kits here. The second change is that the process for adding new diseases to the screening panel will now allow a special comment period for families and advocates of particular rare diseases. Finally, Krabbe, a disease I have long advocated should be included in Oregon's newborn screening panel, is now going to be reviewed for addition by the Newborn Screening Advisory Board. I look forward to sharing an update with you when it is officially added. I will continue to fight for the most pristine and equitable screening process possible in Oregon.

REVENUE DEPT TAX PROCESSING FIGURES FOR 2023

Last week, the Department of Revenue provided Legislators with new data in regards to how tax processing is going for the 2023 tax season. The bulk of tax filing season is nearing completion. See the graphic below for the key data highlights. 

If you still need assistance with your 2023 tax return, visit the Department of Revenue website here.

THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT PARKER

Forest Grove Superintendent Dave Parker announced his retirement back in November, and June 24th was his final day with the district. I always enjoyed connecting with Dave and working with him on issues that mattered to Forest Grove students and parents. As Superintendent, he always kept me up-to-date on important issues, and on the successes and challenges that FGSD faced. Dave had an incredible and long career in education and he impacted the lives of so many students for the better. I want to thank him for all the work he has done for the Forest Grove School District, and for his commitment to our students. Congratulations on your retirement, Dave!

SPARKELLY HOME BOUTIQUE CELEBRATES 1ST YEAR

The Hillsboro Downtown Partnership held a one-year anniversary ribbon cutting ceremony for the Sparkelly Home Boutique on June 15. The Boutique is one of the many amazing businesses that make Downtown Hillsboro a great place to visit. The celebration was attended by Mayor Steve Callaway, among many other community supporters, and provided an opportunity recognize the efforts and hard work that it takes to run a small business. The small businesses, like Sparkelly Home Boutique, are an important part of our community and have a significant and positive impact on our local economy.

Congratulations to the owner, Melvyn Martinez, and to everyone who is apart of Sparkelly Home Boutique's team. More information about the business can be found here.

Mayor Callaway, owner Melvyn Martinez, and community members celebrating the one-year anniversary of Sparkelly Home Boutique

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

There's so many amazing events in our community this summer and I encourage everyone to take advantage of all that Western Washington County has to offer. Here are a few great events that I want to highlight for you:

Bookmobile at the Cornelius Farmers Market: The Cornelius Library is on the move! Every Friday at 5 pm, the Cornelius Library has its Bookmobile at the Cornelius Farmers Market! Find the Bookmobile for free books, storytimes, games, and more! More information can be found on the Cornelius Library website.

The Forest Grove and Cornelius Chamber Rise & Shine: On the first Friday of every month, the Forest Grove and Cornelius Chamber hosts their Rise & Shine event from 8-9am. This is a great networking opportunity for local businesses! It's FREE to attend and refreshments will be served, and members and guests are welcome. Be sure to bring your business cards and be prepared to network and have fun! More information and to RSVP visit the Chamber's website here.

West Tuality Habitat for Humanity Women Build: West Tuality Habitat for Humanity is hosting its Women Build event on July 27th starting at 9 am. ANY woman who wants to learn how to make basic home repairs and other additional skills for future Habitat home-building projects is invited to attend. This year, they're hosting a series of tool clinics where participants can learn under the guidance of construction professionals alongside other volunteers and future Habitat homeowners. This is part of the group's efforts to establish an ongoing “Habitat University” to train more people to regularly volunteer with West Tuality on construction projects. West Tuality Habitat for Humanity is an incredible group that serves our community well and I enjoy connecting with them often. More information on their event can be found here

Forest Grove Concours D’Elegance: On July 21st from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, the Forest Grove Rotary Club is hosting its 50th Concours D'Elegance event! As a Rotary member, I always love attending Rotary's local meetings and events as often as possible. The Forest Grove Concours D'Elegance is the longest-running Concours d’Elegance in the Pacific Northwest. Make sure not to miss the more than 300 classic and modified cars displayed on the tree-shaded campus of Pacific University. There will also be live music, food, a beer garden, and a wine pavilion. All proceeds benefit Rotary Club Foundation Scholarships and Community Service projects. More information can be found on the event website here.

SUMMER IMMIGRATION CLINIC

A Summer Immigration Clinic is being hosted at the Beaverton Library this Saturday, June 29th. The event is brought to the community by The Immigrant Solidarity Collaborative formed by the following agencies: Adelante Mujeres, Bienestar, Community Action, Portland Community College - Dreamers Resource Center, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO), SOAR Immigration Legal Services, and Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center. There will be reliable information on the various immigration topics that are of interest to the community, as well as several immigration related resources. There will also be a conversation about President Biden's new Executive Order, and citizenship consultations will be offered as well.

The event will also provide food and music. You can register at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/JGfuCr2gHC

I have also included the event flyers in Spanish and English down below.

SUMMER FOOD BENEFITS AVAILABLE

Summer is a time when childhood hunger often spikes, as families have to provide up to ten additional meals per week. This can be a hard time and food assistance during the summer months is increasingly important. Below, I have included some resources to help families during the summer break.

Summer EBT

Summer EBT is coming soon for the first time in Oregon! Summer EBT is a proven program to address child hunger. Eligible families will receive $120 in food benefits that can be used at your favorite grocery store or farm stand. Families who already receive SNAP, TANF, or OHP are directly qualified and don’t need to apply - you will receive your benefits near the end of the month! Additional families will be able to submit an application to see if you qualify. Click here to sign up for notifications of when applications are available.

First distributions will happen at the end of June. If you haven’t received your benefits in the first days of July and believe you qualify, call the Summer EBT call center at 1-833-673-7328 or visit this site: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/food/Pages/sebt.aspx.

Summer Meals

School Districts offer free summer meals for children throughout the summer. While the schedules vary, both Forest Grove and Hillsboro have several locations where they provide free lunches during the week.

Information on HSD Summer Lunches

Information on FGSD Summer Lunches

Free Food Market

Hillsboro also offers a Free Food Market every second Tuesday of the month! The Market is from 1:30 to 3:30 pm at 5300 NE Elam Young Pkwy. More information can be found here.

GRANT APPROVED TO SUPPORT FOSTER YOUTH

One of my priority bills during the 2024 Legislative Session was House Bill 4084. The bill creates a pilot program to support Foster Youth in educational spaces and provide needed wrap-around services. As I reported last week, the State Board of Education recently adopted temporary rules ​to ​​approve the "Foster Care Student Success Pilot Grant" pursuant to House Bill 4084 (2024). This means that the money the bill allocated for the pilot program has been approved for the participating schools to use in the upcoming 2024-25 school year. I can't wait to see this program implemented and foster students begin receiving the support they need and deserve.

HSD SUMMER INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

This year, the Hillsboro School District published a 2024 Spring & Summer Internship Guide. There are a variety of education and community based internship opportunities available, like an Early Summer Literacy Summer Internship and a HSD Transportation Internship. These opportunities are a great way for students 14 and older to get summer work experience. Students can fill in the opt-in form here to get timely notifications about new internships, application deadlines, and career resources.

CENTRO'S SUMMER STEAM PROGRAM

Centro Cultural has provided educational after-school and summer programs for Latino youth in our community for decades. Their programs aim to supplement and reinforce what our youth learn in schools, while providing opportunities to explore new and exciting subjects. In their Summer STEAM program, high school students will have the opportunity to visit fun and educational places like Bullwinkle's, OMSI, and Tree to Tree Adventures.

Centro Cultural is teaming up with Harvey Clarke Elementary School in Forest Grove for this years program, which will run for 4 weeks; Monday thru Thursday from 9 am to 2 pm beginning July 15th and ending August 8th. There are limited spaces available so act quickly! You can register by calling Centro's front office at (503) 359-0446.  More information in English and Spanish is included in the graphics below:

FOURTH OF JULY SAFETY TIPS

Fourth of July is always a fun holiday and provides an opportunity to celebrate our nation's birthday with family and friends. While barbecues and fireworks are a fun way to celebrate, it is important that we stay safe and celebrate legally. Recklessness and the use of illegal fireworks can lead to man-caused wildfires, especially during these hot and dry summer months. It is our responsibility to keep our families, communities, and natural areas safe from wildfires.

Legal fireworks in the State of Oregon include but are not limited to; novelty devices, wheels, flitter sparklers, fountains, smoke devices, and ground spinners. The legal sale of retail fireworks in Oregon is from June 23rd to July 6th. There is no regulation pertaining to when consumer legal fireworks may be used.

If you are purchasing legal fireworks, it is important to remember the following:

• Be prepared before lighting fireworks: keep water available by using a garden hose or bucket. 

• Be safe when lighting fireworks: keep children and pets away from fireworks. Never use fireworks near or on dry grass or vegetation. 

• Be responsible after lighting fireworks: never relight a dud. Please wait 15 to 20 minutes, then soak spent fireworks in a bucket of water before disposal. 

• Be aware: use only legal fireworks in legal places. 

Oregon law prohibits the possession, use, or sale of any firework that flies into the air, explodes, or travels more than 12 feet horizontally on the ground without a permit issued by the state fire marshal. Fireworks commonly called bottle rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers are illegal in Oregon without a permit.

Celebrate Independence Day safely and enjoy the holiday week ahead!

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.

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.

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.

Crops growing locally in the Metro area!

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