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To contact me, please click here: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I am looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday this week and the opportunity it presents to gather with loved ones and to consider the ways in which we are blessed. November is also a month when I think about our Native American communities and remember that we are on Native lands and that we are truly blessed with having the Nine Tribes and other diverse communities as part of our Oregon story and landscape. Whether you are with family or friends, or supporting others in our community, I hope you have a meaningful holiday this week.
Monday, November 11th was Veterans Day and I was able to attend the Cornelius Veterans Day Celebration. Since I did not send a newsletter that week, I want to take this opportunity to thank all Veterans for their service to our country. Their commitment and sacrifices do not go unnoticed, and our nation is eternally grateful to all of them. I honor my husband (Cliff McLain), my Dad (Bud Butcher), my Father-in-law (Jack Hines), and my nephew (Shaman Butcher), who is currently serving in the Navy. I strongly believe we must do all we can to support our Veterans and provide them with every opportunity to succeed during and after their military service.
I also want to take a moment to recognize that last Friday the Oregon Vietnam Memorial Fund hosted a Phase One dedication event for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Oregon State Capitol. Many dedicated veterans, including my colleague Senator James Manning, have worked tirelessly over the years for the creation of a Vietnam Memorial on the Oregon State Capitol grounds. This recognition is something that I have also been proud to support and that I believe is long overdue. Between 1955 and 1975, 2.7 million Americans served during the Vietnam War, including over 500,000 on the ground by 1969. The war claimed 58,318 American lives, including 790 Oregonians. You can learn more about the Vietnam Memorial here. Thank you to everyone who helped make this shared vision a reality.
Highlights from this week's newsletter include:
- Recognizing Transgender Awareness Week and Day of Remembrance
- What the December Economic and Revenue Forecast means for Oregon
- Updates from the Transportation Workgroups
- How to follow the upcoming December Legislative Days hearings
- Celebrating the new year-round shelter in Washington County
- Addressing I-5 Bridge Replacement Project myths & important Drafty SEIS links
- Recent Community Outreach Highlights
- Announcing Oregon's 2025 Kid Governor
- Information on the 4-H Mariachi and STEAM Camp
- Upcoming events in Washington County
TRANSGENDER AWARENESS & DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Each year between November 13 – 19, people and organizations around the country participate in Transgender Awareness Week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the trans community by educating the public about who transgender people are, sharing stories and experiences, and advancing advocacy around issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that affect the transgender community.
For more about how GLAAD has observed Transgender Awareness Week this year and through the years, check out: https://glaad.org/tag/trans-awareness-week
What is Transgender Day of Remembrance?
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was founded in 1999 by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated the one year anniversary of Hester’s death and all the transgender people lost to violence that year. That initial event began the world-wide observance that is the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance. You can participate in TDOR by attending or organizing a vigil on November 20 to honor all those whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence that year. Vigils are typically hosted by local transgender advocates or LGBTQ organizations, and held at community centers, parks, places of worship and other venues. The vigil often involves reading a list of the names of those who have been killed.
What can I do to become a better ally?
Learn about trans people by educating yourself with credible resources about community, language, issues, stories, and actions.
The GLAAD Media Reference Guide: Focus on Transgender People
For more resources to learn about transgender people, check out: https://glaad.org/transgender/
POSITIVE DECEMBER REVENUE FORECAST RELEASED
Oregonians heard positive news when the December State Revenue Forecast was released this week. Oregon's economy continues to do well and this allows Legislators more opportunities to support the programs that we all agree Oregonians need, like stronger schools, transportation investments, and continued progress on housing availability and increased behavioral health support. If you want to read more about December's Revenue Forecast, I recommend the following:
TRANSPORTATION WORKGROUPS CONTINUE MEETING
As mentioned in my last newsletter, the Joint Committee on Transportation is currently holding a series of topic-specific workgroups to continue the more nuanced conversations and consider ideas we heard at our statewide tour roundtables and public hearings. There are three workgroups that are discussing specific topic areas, with some overlap on core issues like funding, safety, and equity. Each workgroup has met twice in October and twice in November, and will meet once in December, and potentially twice in January if more time is needed for thorough discussions. View the upcoming meeting dates here.
If you are interested in following the workgroups, I encourage you to visit this page on OLIS, where all meetings are live-streamed and remain posted and where you can view meeting materials and agendas. If you need assistance or have questions about the workgroups, please contact my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.
DECEMBER LEGISLATIVE DAYS FAST APPROACHING
It's hard to believe that the 2025 Legislative Session is almost here. The first day of the Long Session is on January 21st, 2025, but before we meet in Salem for six months, we have one final round of Legislative Days meetings at the Capitol December 10-12. Here's what you need to know about December Legislative Days:
What Are Legislative Days? In the Oregon Legislature, Legislative Days are a time when committees hold informational hearings on a variety of topics, but do not vote on policy or pass legislation. Topics can often be ones that may lead to legislation in upcoming sessions or committees may hear updates on previous bill implementations. Many committees will hear reports from state agencies and Task Forces or consider testimony regarding current subject areas affecting Oregonians. This particular Legislative Days will provide an opportunity for Committees to plan for the upcoming 2025 Session and consider the Committee bills that each Committee will introduce. It's also one final opportunity to hear about Session priorities from stakeholders before bills are officially introduced in 2025.
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My Legislative Days Committee Meetings Schedule: Below are my interim committees that will meet during December Legislative Days. As always, I will provide a thorough review of what I heard in my committees in my newsletter after Legislative Days. If you click on the hyperlinks below, you'll be taken to each Committee's OLIS page where you can view meeting agendas and recordings once they are posted.
House Interim Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water - meeting on Wednesday, December 11th from 2:30-5:00 PM
Joint Emergency Board - meeting on Thursday, December 12th from 8:30-11:00 AM
Joint Committee On Transportation - meeting on Thursday, December 12th from 2:30-5:00 PM
Looking forward to seeing my colleagues during Legislative Days!
YEAR-ROUND SHELTER OPENS IN WASHINGTON CO.
This last week, statewide and local leaders gathered in Washington County to celebrate the opening of a new year-round shelter in Beaverton that will be part of the Washington County Shelter Program. The Beaverton Shelter, which features space for 60 guests, will provide beds, meals, showers, and resources on a 24/7, 365-day basis. Housing navigation and supportive services will be provided by Open Door, as well as a dedicated coordinated care space to ensure greater stability to individuals experiencing homelessness and offer a critical link to housing.
The shelter is made possible thanks to $4.8 million from the voter-approved Metro Supportive Housing Services measure and approximately $9 million in state and federal funding, including American Rescue Plan Act funds. Ongoing operations will also be funded by the Washington County allocation of the Supportive Housing Services measure.
The 12,000-square-foot property located at 11380 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway is situated in an established business area, centrally located near transit, and within walking distance to groceries, social service agencies, and employment opportunities.
This is a significant milestone for our community in Washington County and demonstrates what can be accomplished when different levels of government work together to address the needs of our citizens. Prior to 2021, funding for emergency shelter in Washington County was extremely limited. Shelter was only available in Washington County for adults experiencing homelessness at rotating locations during the harsh winter months, with no year-round options available for individuals (and few options for families).
Thanks to increased funding from the voter-approved Supportive Housing Services measure and Governor Kotek's state of emergency related to unsheltered homelessness through Executive Order (EO) 23-02 new resources have come online to increase services for people experiencing homelessness.
Service expansion for unhoused people is rapidly growing as the County threads together existing resources with a significant increase in funding provided by the regional voter-approved Supportive Housing Services measure. With these new and existing resources, Washington County offers over 430 shelter beds/units.
Washington County funded shelters provide a low barrier steppingstone that can offer that initial stabilization, as our shelter guests move towards long-term housing solutions. From July 2022 to June 2023 alone, Washington County supported almost 1,400 individuals moving from homelessness into stable housing. Some of these individuals accessed shelter during that journey and others were able to transition directly into long-term housing.
We still have a long way to go to address our housing shortage and the houseless crisis, but I want to take a moment here to recognize the meaningful progress that has been made this week.
DRAFT SEIS COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW CLOSED
The 60-day public comment period for the Draft SEIS closed on Nov. 18 . Thank you to everyone who took the time to review the document and submit comments through one of the official channels (online, in-person, email, postal mail and voice message). Responses to the public comments received on the Draft SEIS and refinements to design and technical analysis will be documented in the Final SEIS, currently expected to be published in mid to late 2025. I will keep you updated on when exactly it will be released.
As a reminder, you can access the following Draft SEIS documents at the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project website:
Now that the Draft SEIS has been published and the public comment period has ended, I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone who engaged in this process to ensure we have the best replacement bridge possible to serve the needs of all Oregonians and Washingtonians.
I want to say a special thank you to the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program team for their tireless work to complete this incredibly difficult task. I have continually been impressed by Administrator Greg Johnson's leadership throughout these last several years and his deep knowledge of the complexities and intricacies that surround successfully completing large-scale transportation projects.
I also want to acknowledge all of my Oregon and Washington colleagues on the Bi-State Legislative Committee who have spent the last five years dedicated to promoting a safe, resilient, and transit-friendly replacement bridge that will accommodate the needs of our transportation system now and into the future. This was a major step forward in the process, but there is still much work left to be done.
BELOW: Photos from my appearance with Interstate Bridge Replacement Program Administrator Greg Johnson and Washington State Representative Paul Harris on Inside Olympia where we discussed replacing the Bridge. You can view the segment here.
MYTHS VERSUS FACTS ON REPLACING THE I-5 BRIDGE
There's a lot of information out there about building a new I-5 Bridge, but not all information is equal. Here's some examples of where we can separate myths from facts:
MYTH: A tunnel can solve the Interstate Bridge transportation problems just as easily as a bridge.
⇒FACT: A tunnel cannot be feasibly built within the footprint of I-5 without eliminating important connections to Hayden Island, downtown Vancouver and SR-14. It also comes with significantly more operational, environmental and historical resource impacts, and would cost more than a replacement bridge. For more information about the suitability of an immersed tube tunnel, view the Tunnel Concept Assessment.
MYTH: The IBR Program will do nothing to improve freight mobility.
⇒FACT: The recommended Modified LPA aims to improve freight mobility through interchange design improvements, integration of ramp-to-ramp connections (auxiliary lanes), extension of light rail across the river, and improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Interchange improvements and auxiliary lanes can help freight move through the corridor safely and more efficiently compared to current conditions. Extending light rail across the river and improving active transportation options will promote mode shift for travelers currently using single-occupancy vehicles. With fewer cars on the road, additional space to merge safely, and thoughtful design considerations, freight can experience improved travel times and reliability. The proposed improvements will be thoroughly analyzed through the upcoming environmental review process to ensure they meet freight mobility objectives.
MYTH: The new bridge will be dangerously steep and unsafe for users.
⇒FACT: While the previous planning effort identified a grade of just under 4% for a 116-foot clearance bridge design, the IBR program has not reached that level of design and final road grades have not been confirmed. It is not unusual to have highway grades at 4% or steeper. In both Oregon and Washington there are stretches of interstate highway that feature grades steeper than 5%. As designs progress, the program will ensure that any design accounts for the safety of all modes of travel and will meet or exceed all local, federal, and state safety and design standards.
RECENT OUTREACH AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Two of the best parts of my job as a Legislator are going to community events and being invited to speak with organizations about the issues we all care about. Just recently, I attended the Cornelius Veterans Day Ceremony, addressed the newest graduates of the Quick Start program, spoke to the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association, answered questions at the Westside Economic Alliance's Transportation Committee monthly meeting, went to the Oregon Transportation Forum's Annual meeting where I was on a panel with my fellow Transportation Committee Co-Chair, Senator Chris Gorsek, and participated in a bilingual community conversation on Housing that was hosted by Bienestar and the Welcome Home Coalition. I was incredibly honored to be recognized by Bienestar as a "Community Champion" at their housing event. Below are just a few highlights and pictures from the last two weeks:
Cornelius Annual Veterans Day Ceremony
I make it a priority to attend this yearly event whenever I am able to because I believe it is incredibly important to recognize the heroes in our community that have stepped up to serve our country and keep us safe. I also think it's essential to remember that honoring our veterans is not just something we do at events every November. We must be committed to honoring them every day through our actions, and as a Legislator, I believe strongly that we can and must do more to support our veterans. We truly honor them and take care of them as they took care of us through actions like ensuring access to quality health care and mental health care, helping to pay for higher education, apprenticeships, and other job training programs, and providing opportunities for affordable housing that ensures we end the systemic and unacceptable problem of veteran homelessness. This is the very least of what we should be doing at the federal, state, and local levels of government and I will continue to use my voice and position as a State Legislator to push for policies that improve the lives of veterans.
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Bilingual Housing Forum by Bienestar & Welcome Home Coalition
This month, Bienestar and the Welcome Home Coalition joined forces to host a bilingual housing forum aimed at empowering the Latinx immigrant community in Washington County. I was honored to join Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Senator Janeen Sollman, and Melissa Sonsalla from Washington County on a panel to answer questions and engage on policy work completed and look ahead at future actions needed. The forum created a space for Latinx community members to connect with local elected leaders, share powerful stories, and engage in meaningful discussions about housing policy and the housing crisis impacting our region.
I was truly honored to be recognized at the event by Bienestar as one of their Community Champions for the work I have done to support affordable housing in our community. I believe deeply that everyone should have stable and secure housing options, which is why I used part of my federal ARPA money in 2021 to help build Bienestar's Plaza Los Amigos Futsal Court. I look forward to continued partnerships with Bienestar and the other amazing non-profits in our community that are working to solve our housing crisis, and I know we have much work still to be done in the 2025 Legislative Session to address the lack of affordable housing in our state.
Quick Start Graduation Ceremony Address
On November 8th, I was the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony for the most recent cohort to complete the Quick Start to Semiconductor program. I was honored to support this excellent program, but especially proud to support the graduates and celebrate their achievement and provide support as they prepare to take the next step in their careers.
The Quick Start program allows people to learn the skills needed to get hired in one of Oregon’s fastest-growing industries – in just 10 days. It was intentionally designed to help close the diversity gap in the semiconductor industry, particularly for women. While women make up 47 percent of the nation’s overall workforce, they constitute only 29 percent of the workforce in advanced manufacturing (of which semiconductor fabrication is a sub-sector). Entry-level semiconductor fabricators in the Portland Metro area can expect to earn between $20 and $24 per hour.
I have been a vocal advocate of the Quick Start program, as I have for many apprenticeship and workforce training policies as a State Legislator. In 2023, I was proud to support Senate Bill 4, our state version of the federal CHIPS Act. I will continue to push for more workforce training opportunities for all Oregonians who want to grow their skills to gain secure employment and earn a livable wage.
Oregon Electric Vehicle Association Monthly Meeting
I was the guest speaker at this month's gathering of the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association. The meeting was held at a newly completed electric-vehicle friendly apartment building in Tigard called The Stewart. It's one of many newer buildings that offer Chargepoint charging systems into dedicated parking spaces so residents have their own Level 2 EV chargers available at all times. It was a great opportunity for EV Association members, and me, to learn about how new housing can be built to accommodate the growing popularity of EVs as we transition away from fossil fuels and become more electrified in our transportation options. I enjoyed speaking with members about the upcoming 2025 Transportation Plan, and about recent work at both the federal and state levels to provide more electric charging options within our transportation system.
The Oregon Electric Vehicle Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit all volunteer group of EV Enthusiasts, EV Evangelists, and EV Owners of all makes and models, and an independent chapter of the national Electric Vehicle Association. I appreciated hearing from members about their experiences as EV drivers and how Oregon can work to make owning an EV a more enticing option.
MEET THE 2025 OREGON KID GOVERNOR: ROSIE!
Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers recently announced the winner of the 2025 Oregon’s Kid Governor: Rosie. Deputy Secretary Myers traveled to Riverdale Grade School for the announcement and to congratulate Rosie in person. Watch the surprise announcement here.
Every candidate for Oregon Kid Governor chooses a platform. Rosie’s platform is Climate Change. To address her vision, Rosie outlines a 3-point plan of action:
- Act in your home
- Class meetings
- Taking time to share your knowledge
Rosie’s campaign video can be viewed here. Rosie was selected from numerous candidates across the state by Oregon fifth graders. This year, we had the most classrooms participate across Oregon.
Oregon Kid Governor is open to all fifth graders in Oregon; those interested in running create a 1 to 3 minute video explaining:
- Why they should be Kid Governor
- Their leadership skills
- A community issue that is important to them
- Their three-point plan to address a specific community issue
Twenty-two videos were submitted this year and narrowed down to seven by a panel of independent judges. Once the seven candidates were finalized, fifth graders from schools across the state voted and selected Rosie as Oregon’s next Kid Governor. Rosie is Oregon’s 8th Kid Governor.
The other candidates included:
- Desmond, Bullying
- Jordyn, Raising Awareness Against Discrimination and Racism
- Ryker, Helping Families in Poverty
- Saanvi, Reducing Homelessness and Providing Basic Amenities to the Unhoused
- Syon, Preventing Mental Illness
- Teegan, Inclusion in Team Sports Helps Traumatized Children
All the finalists for Oregon Kid Governor will now become Cabinet Members who will work to advance their platform and work alongside the Oregon Kid Governor to advance her platform. All cabinet members and the new Oregon Kid Governor will be sworn in at the Oregon State Capitol in January.
To learn more about the Kid Governor program and to view all the candidates’ videos go to: or.kidgovernor.org.
4-H MARIACHI STEAM CAMP FEATURED ON KGW
4-H was a very important part of my education and enrichment growing up and I loved being a part of such a wonderful organization and showing my animals every year. I want to give a big shout-out to 4-H for finding new ways to continually reach kids and provide them with rewarding experiences that will stay with them through life. One great example is 4-H's Mariachi STEAM Camp, which was recently featured on KGW News.
The 4-H Mariachi STEAM Camp is a week-long residential camp for middle and high school students that includes Mariachi and STEM workshops. This is a truly unique opportunity for students to learn and hone existing skills. Besides focusing on music theory & composition, campers explore emerging technologies through hands-on workshops led by STEM professionals. In addition to music rehearsals and academic workshops, evening activities are facilitated by undergraduate student mentors. The camp closes with a concert for families and community members.
If you know an interested student that has at least one year of experience with their instrument, reach out to Alice.Phillips@oregonstate.edu to learn more!
Watch the KGW story by clicking on the image below:
FOREST GROVE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
Kick off the holiday season with the Forest Grove community at the annual tree lighting on Friday, November 29, 2024, from 6-7:30 pm at the Forest Grove Senior & Community Center. There will be caroling, cookies, and Santa visits!
Forest Grove Senior & Community Center - 2037 Douglas St
CORNELIUS HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
The City of Cornelius will hold its Eleventh Annual Holiday Tree Lighting event on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Park beginning at 6PM. Veterans Memorial Park is located at 1251 Baseline Street between 12th and 13th Street.
Santa Claus and Mayor Jef Dalin will kick off the holiday season by lighting the Holiday Tree at 6:05PM. They will lead everyone to Cornelius Elementary School for singing performed by our local school Choirs. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies!
UNA NOCHE DE BIENESTAR!
Join Bienestar on December 5, 2024, at Holocene for the seventh annual Una Noche de Bienestar! This vibrant and inspiring evening will showcase Latinx music, art, culture, and community, all while supporting Bienestar’s mission.
Enjoy unforgettable performances by Latinx artists A Caro O Cruz and Gata Galáctica, celebrating Bienestar’s legacy of building hope and community for Latinxs, immigrants, and all families in need. Don’t miss this chance to experience exceptional entertainment and make a meaningful impact!
Event Details:
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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Enjoying the scenery on work trip to the Oregon Coast!
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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