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To contact me, please click here: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the cooler weather we've been having. It's been a busy two weeks since my last newsletter. I've been to Medford and Coos Bay on the Transportation Tour, to Eugene for a Summer and Afterschool Learning Summit, and done several online meetings and speeches, including a great transportation panel on Tuesday with volunteers from AARP.
I want to invite you all to my joint town hall with Representative Nathan Sosa next week on August 22nd. We'll be in the Shute Park Library Meeting Room at 5:30 pm and you can read more details and find the RSVP link in the next section of this newsletter.
I also want to highlight that starting September 6th, the “blackout period” begins, meaning Legislators running for office are prohibited from using state resources or official social media accounts for mass communications with their constituents 60 days prior to an election. This means that between 9/6-11/6, you will not receive newsletters from this email address.I will also not be on Facebook or Instagram during the blackout period. However, I will continue to send newsletters periodically via another listserv as I am allowed to use my own resources to communicate with you. You can always reach out to my office via email or phone. Email is the best way to reach us as we are not currently working from the Capitol and are unable to answer our phone directly.
This newsletter has important resources for back-to-school planning and on wildfire recovery. Keep reading and you'll find:
- information on my joint town hall next week
- a review of the Summer & Afterschool Learning Summit I just attended
- notes from the last Transportation Tour stops in Coos Bay and Medford
- an announcement on the next two Transportation Tour stops
- an explanation of the environmental review process for the I-5 Bridge project
- an update on the Lee Falls fire near our community
- back-to-school links and resources
- upcoming events in Western Washington County
BELOW: The Summer & Afterschool Learning Summit in Eugene
JOINT SUMMER TOWN HALL ON AUGUST 22ND
Join Representative Nathan Sosa (House District 30) and me for next week's joint town hall meeting. We will discuss some of the major issues you can expect to see the Legislature address in the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session: transportation funding for safety and maintenance, workforce development training, improving education funding, and consumer protection. Please come with questions and comments - we want to hear what issues matter most to you!
WHEN: August 22nd, 5:30-7:00 PM
WHERE: Shute Park Library in Hillsboro
RSVP: www.tinyurl.com/mclainsosa
ATTENDING THE SUMMER & AFTERSCHOOL SUMMIT
Yesterday, I was privileged to attend the Summer & Afterschool Summit for Oregon Student Success in Eugene with the Governor, the House and Senate Education Committee Chairs, members of our education system, non-profits that support students from all over the state, and national education experts. I was honored to introduce Governor Tina Kotek and to speak to the attendees about opportunities to improve educational outcomes.
The event was a collaborative effort, focusing on developing a long-term plan to provide Oregon students with high-quality afterschool and summer programming opportunities. As a former educator of over 42 years, I have long advocated for increasing outcomes in Oregon's schools. I recognize how critical summer and afterschool learning are to creating extra learning opportunities for our students. I was the chief sponsor of H.B. 4082 last session, which funded Summer Learning programs across the state.
I sponsored the Summer Learning Bill because the evidence is clear that summer and afterschool learning opportunities foster success by improving readiness to learn, promoting academic achievement, and supporting social and emotional health. The passing of H.B. 4082 was a significant step forward, and the bill requires us to identify barriers, elevate promising practices and lessons learned, review research, and develop recommendations for a sustainable funding approach to summer and after school learning. Yesterday's summit was an example of the work we are undertaking and demonstrated that all partners are committed to this process of establishing longterm summer and afterschool programming.
BELOW: Rep. McLain leading a small group conversation and Governor Kotek giving her remarks to Education leaders
TRANSPORTATION TOUR IN COOS BAY & MEDFORD
Last week, the Transportation Safety and Sustainability Outreach Tour made stops in Coos Bay and Medford! As part of the tour stops, we held public hearings and roundtables to hear from community members, local jurisdictions, and topic-area experts about local transportation needs and how the legislature should support the long-term safety and maintenance of Oregon's transportation systems. We also took a tour of local roads at each stop, which was guided by ODOT. Doing the local road tours allows us to personally see the challenges and needs of each individual community. Severe weather was a key focus of both stops for the difficulties it causes in local transportation. For example, on the Medford ODOT tour, we learned about the importance of having specially weighted trucks to push stuck semis up the Siskiyou Pass on I-5 during the winter. Nicknamed "The Bulldog", the truck is able to rescue semis that would otherwise have to pay for a tow and ensures that traffic continues to flow on I-5.
The tours have truly highlighted that we need to improve our transportation systems -- from roads and bridges to buses and bike paths -- by stabilizing the way we fund and maintain them. We’ve had tremendous public participation thus far and I want to thank the public for telling us about the transportation needs and solutions they want the legislature to consider in the future.
BELOW: Highlights from Coos Bay and Medford
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NEXT TOUR STOPS ARE IN ONTARIO AND HERMISTON
On Thursday, my Co-Chair, Senator Chris Gorsek, and I announced the venues and agendas for the seventh and eighth stops on the Transportation Safety and Sustainability Outreach Tour in Ontario (8/28) and Hermiston (8/29). Here are the details for the public hearings:
Ontario Public Hearing
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Date: August 28, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Location: Treasure Valley Community College Performing Arts Center in the Meyer McLean Theater - 650 College Blvd., Ontario
Hermiston Public Hearing
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Date: August 29, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Location: Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in the Great Room - 1705 E. Airport Road, Hermiston
CELEBRATING IBR'S $1.499 BILLION GRANT AWARD
Last Thursday, local, state, and federal officials gathered to celebrate the Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program's award of a $1.499 billion federal grant to replace the I-5 Bridge. I was on the Transportation Tour in Medford that day and was unable to make it. However, I want to reiterate what I said in last week's newsletter. As an Oregon Co-Chair of the I-5 Bridge Bi-State Legislative Committee, I have seen how tirelessly the IBR team worked to secure this grant and I am so thankful to the team for the countless hours they put into the grant application. I am truly excited about what this grant means for both Oregon and Washington.
Over 76,000 bridges across the country require replacement, but the I-5 bridge stands out for its significant importance. More than 143,000 vehicles and $132 million in goods cross daily. It's a vital connection for the regional economy, but it's rated as one of the worst truck bottlenecks on the West Coast. The bridge's consequence and condition earned it the largest award from the federal Bridge Investment Program.
BELOW: IBR Program Administrator Greg Johnson
WHAT'S NEXT IN BUILDING THE NEW I-5 BRIDGE?
The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program has been in a review process and working to complete required environmental studies (namely the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement), which will determine how we move forward, and the necessary work to avoid, minimize or mitigate negative effects to our environment. This process will include opportunities for review and public comment and will inform the design refinements and decisions on the new I-5 Bridge.
What is the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement?
This Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is the comprehensive documentation of the program’s potential benefits and impacts on transportation within the study area, the community and the environment. It is a federal requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which is an opportunity and responsibility for the program to analyze how the proposed investments in our region’s transportation infrastructure might affect things like air and water quality, parks and historic sites, ecosystems, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and vibration, travel times for vehicles and public transit within the study area, hours of congestion, economics, land use, property acquisitions, and neighborhoods. It also analyzes the program’s impact on things that are less tangible, such as environmental justice, equity and climate change.
Learn More About the Draft SEIS
The Interstate Bridge Replacement (IBR) program will host two public briefings on Tuesday, Aug. 20, and Saturday, Aug. 24, to provide the community with information regarding the upcoming publication of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and the Findings of Effect within the Section 106 process. All community members interested in receiving information to help their understanding of these processes and how to provide public comment are invited to attend. You can register for either of these virtual events by visiting their calendar pages in the links above, or you can watch the briefing on the program’s YouTube channel.
Public Comment Period Expected this Fall
The IBR program wants to hear your specific comments during the public comment period — the more detailed, the better! Specific comments offer constructive feedback that helps IBR refine design options and inform future design to be included in the Final SEIS analysis and documentation. That means it is specific to information you learned or read in the Draft SEIS and could even include a request for more information or clarification about something you read. When sharing an opinion, it is best to provide information on what you learned in the analysis that informed that opinion.
For a comment to be included as part of the formal record, it must be submitted in one of the official ways. Comments submitted through social media, informal conversations, or outside of a public hearing will not be recorded as formal comments. Written comments should not include any hyperlinks to outside materials or information. Any materials or information the commenter wishes to have considered should be included within the comment.
Once the public comment period closes, the program will begin reviewing all formally submitted comments and compiling a summary, which could take several months to complete. All public comments will be recorded, and responses will be documented in the Final SEIS. Responses will include any changes, updates and new information added based on those comments.
LEE FALLS FIRE CONTAINMENT AT 61 PERCENT
The Oregon Department of Forestry issued its final update for the Lee Falls Fire on August 14th. Firefighters have worked diligently over the last several days to increase containment on the 240-acre Lee Falls Fire outside of Cherry Grove. The fire’s containment is at 61 percent.
The Oregon Department Forestry’s Type 3 incident management team returned command of the fire back to the local district at 7 a.m. on August 15.
Thank you to the Department of Forestry, the firefighters, structural fire districts, local landowners, contractors, and the Washington County Sherriff’s Office, who all worked around the clock over the last week to protect the communities of Cherry Grove and Gaston. Swift containment was critical as the Tualatin River Valley is a watershed for our local drinking water and a significant fire could have put this important natural resource at risk for contamination.
Evacuation levels have been lowered to Level 1 (Be Ready) according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Washington County has reopened Hagg Lake for recreational use.
If you have been impacted by this fire, or any fire, here is a list of resources that my office has collected to help you navigate the recovery process.
 
Back-to-School time is here again and as a teacher of over 42 years, I still get a little nostalgic this time of year. With school starting soon, I encourage parents and students to look at this "Back-to-School" section for useful links to information on the free lunch program, school calendars, transportation options, and more. I want to wish all the educators, school support staff, and students a joyful last few weeks of summer. May your preparation for the new school year be exciting and productive.
Important Back-to-School Links
ACT Test Dates for 2024-25
SAT Test Dates for 2024-25
Mental Health Resources
Child Nutrition Programs
Early Literacy Success Initiative
Graduation Requirements and College Preparation
BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES & ASSISTANCE
Summer is winding down, and 211info can help you find resources for school supplies, clothes, transportation, fee assistance, readiness programs, after-school programs, and more in your area. Keep in mind that back-to-school programs can come and go quickly, so if you don’t find what you need at first, be sure to try again later.
For resources in your area, call 211, text your zip to 898211, email help@211info.org, or visit 211info.org.
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE IN FOREST GROVE
It's hard to believe it's already August, but that means that back-to-school planning is starting to take place in households across Washington County. Please consider supporting families who need assistance with school supplies this year by dropping off donations like notebooks and pencils to the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce office by August 28th. Details can be found on the flyer below:
OPPORTUNITIES TO BE A PART OF EL GRITO EVENT
One of the premier events of the fall is Centro Cultural's El Grito celebration in Cornelius. We are a month away from Centro’s largest annual community event, and there are still some opportunities for the community to participate.
♦NOT A FOOD VENDOR BUT SELL MERCH? If so, Centro is accepting applications for merchandise vendors for El Grito. Spaces are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Please review the guidelines and submit your interest form by Friday, August 30th.
♦ARE YOU A CAR ENTHUSIAST? Participate in Centro's spectacular car show! If you have a car that you want to showcase, please review the guidelines and submit your interest form by Friday, September 13th.
♦CALLING ALL SINGERS! Centro's event committee is also accepting interest forms for their official El Grito national anthem singer. They ask all interested performers to submit an interest form, including a video or audio rendition of the national anthem of your choice (United States and/or Mexican) by Friday, August 23rd.
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CORN ROAST
Established in 1964, Forest Grove’s Corn Roast is a highlight of the fall and started as a way to introduce incoming educators and celebrate the beginning of Fall! This year is the 60th Anniversary so make sure to mark your calendars and come out to celebrate the bounty of Forest Grove. There will be food, vendors, games, crafts, music, children's events, and an Educator awards ceremony.
Location: College Way and 21st Ave Forest Grove
SUMMER BASH AT THE ROCK & MINERAL MUSEUM
Celebrate the end of summer with the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro! They will have a goat petting zoo, a dinosaur bounce castle, geode cracking, treats and more. Free entry for members. General admission for non-members. Geodes and treats sold separately.
Saturday, August 31st, 1:00-5:00 PM
26385 NW Groveland Dr, Hillsboro
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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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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