You can read our previous newsletters here.

Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

On Monday, I was sworn into my 6th term as the representative for House District 29. it is an honor to represent you and Western Washington County in the legislature, and I will continue to work hard for our communities and all Oregonians. The ceremony was an opportunity to see old colleagues, meet new ones, and come together with a shared purpose to represent the people of Oregon. There was strong bipartisan respect and a mutual understanding that we all have the same task and the same goal - to serve Oregonians in ways that improve their lives in meaningful and impactful ways. I am steadfast in my commitment to this goal, especially concerning my work on Transportation and Education in this upcoming session. 

Yesterday, our pre-session work on the Transportation plan concluded with the final meetings of the Transportation Workgroups. Thank you to everyone who participated in the workgroups or came to talk to the Transportation Committee on our statewide tour. You have all been an essential part of the process, and your advocacy has positively impacted the development of the 2025 Transportation plan.

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and it's a meaningful opportunity to take action that will impact our communities positively through a day of service. However, the spirit of MLK's service and activism should not be limited to one day a year. We should consider every day as a day to celebrate his legacy by serving others the best we can, participating in respectful and peaceful dialogue, honoring the diversity of our communities, and providing more support and opportunities for all. We must continue the march and push through setbacks, just as MLK showed us through his convictions and actions.

Here's what you'll find in this week's newsletter:

• Announcements for upcoming Town Halls
• Sentiments on the 2025 Legislative Session
• An overview of the House Democratic Caucus agenda
• Highlights from your government at work
• An update on federal funding for the I-5 Bridge
• Transportation news on our committee work
• A review of my recent community outreach
• Events happening in Western Washington County

MCLAIN TOWN HALL ON JANUARY 25TH

Join me at my next town hall on Saturday, January 25 to talk about the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session. Bring your questions and comments for an in-depth conversation on Transportation, Education funding, Land Use, and more! We'll be meeting in the Rogers Room of the Forest Grove City Library at 10:00 am.

JOINT TOWN HALL ON JANUARY 29TH

In a long-standing tradition, Senator Janeen Sollman, Representative Nathan Sosa, and I will be hosting a joint town hall to preview the upcoming legislative session. This is a great opportunity to hear from your Western Washington County legislators and ask questions and provide comments as we begin the 2025 Session. Senator Sollman is a co-chair of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education, Rep. Sosa is a co-chair of the new Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, and I am a co-chair of the Joint Transportation Committee. All three committees will be doing critical work this legislative session and we'll give you a preview of the types of policies these committees will consider.  

WHEN: Wednesday, January 29th at 6:00 PM

WHERE: Hillsboro Civic Center at 150 E. Main Street 

RSVP: Scan the QR code below or click on the flyer to reach the registration form. You can also use this direct link: www.tinyurl.com/mclainsosasollman

Share the flyer to help spread the word!

THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

On January 13th, I was honored to be sworn in for my sixth term in the Oregon State House of Representatives. As I noted in the introduction, I am proud to reaffirm my commitment to bipartisan problem-solving and effective governance and am eager to work with all of my peers.

This session, I am also committing my time to work with our newer members of the Legislature to provide support as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of their first long session. I have served in 10 regular legislative sessions and an additional 7 special sessions since my first term in 2015, making me one of the longer-tenured members of the House. I recognize that this status comes with a responsibility to share institutional knowledge with new members, just as I received support in my first term. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of new legislators entering their first session. In 2023, we had over 20 freshman lawmakers join the Legislature, and in 2025 we have 10 new members of the House (with one seat still unfilled) and 8 new Senate members. I note this to emphasize that all returning and longer-serving legislators will be called upon to be an important resource. I look forward to building these new relationships and to sharing what I have learned in my time as a House member. 

The first official day of the 2025 Legislative Session begins on Tuesday, January 21st and I am ready to hit the ground running. In the coming weeks, I will share more specifics about my bills and priorities for this session, but my focus is consistent with my long-held values—Oregonians deserve good policies that improve their everyday lives and increase access to opportunities. As I have written in my newsletters often, ensuring Oregon can maintain and improve our multimodal transportation system will be at the center of my work this session. We must have stable, sufficient, and diversified funding tools to be able to improve the safety and resiliency of our transportation system and modernize it for the future. My other top priority is Education. As a teacher of over 42 years, I came to the Oregon Legislature in 2015 to be an advocate for education funding and to create desperately needed support programs for student and educators. That commitment will never waiver and in 2025 I will continue to fight for our schools and for increased funding. 

Since the Legislative Session begins on Tuesday, I've included two important resources to help you navigate the session. First, get to know Team McLain and how to reach out to us. Second, learn about the House Democratic Caucus agenda and our priorities this session.

What to Know About Team McLain

My office is here to support you and be your personal guide to the 2025 Legislative Session. We will keep you updated on all the latest session happenings each week in this newsletter. Additionally, you can reach out to us for assistance in using OLIS, tracking bills, testifying in committees, and much more!  Please use us as a resource and let us know what you're thinking about the bills you're following - I want to know what policies you do and do not support.

My 2025 Legislative Team consists of my Chief of Staff, Carolyn Lee, and my Legislative Assistant Grace Didway. We will also be bringing on several college interns in the coming weeks. Many of my newsletter readers already know Carolyn since she has been my Chief of Staff for just over four years now. This year is our fifth legislative session working together. Grace has just recently joined our office and is already settling into her job. She is a sixth-generation Oregonian who cares deeply about strengthening public education and addressing systemic inequalities. She spent the past two years teaching English in Spain. As a student, she interned with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and former Oregon Congressman Kurt Schrader. Grace holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University. 

Both Carolyn and Grace are happy to assist you this legislative session so please reach out. The best way to contact us is by email: rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.

House Democratic Caucus Agenda for the 2025 Session

House Democratic Caucus members have just released our caucus agenda for the 2025 Legislative Session.  My colleagues and I are focusing on the most pressing issues facing Oregonians: making Oregon more affordable, ensuring our government is delivering for people, and keeping our communities safe while protecting basic rights and freedoms. You can learn more about what we’re working on this session here and read the press release below.

OREGON'S GOVERNMENT AT WORK

Every legislative session, we pass critically important budgets, write new laws, update existing laws, and tackle a wide range of issues that matter to Oregonians. I don't often see immediate results from my legislative work, even though I know that the votes I take and the policies I champion matter. Implementation of policies can often take extended time and that there is no such thing as a simple fix in complex government systems. When good policies or budget investments, or agency decisions result in important government action that benefit Oregonians, it reminds me of why I entered public service and I like to take a moment to reflect on and appreciate it. This is why I often include updates in my newsletters about the work agencies do to implement the laws we pass, or to highlight particular successes. It's important to recognize and remember that that the effort we put into each legislative session results in meaningful action. Having said that, below are some recent highlights of your government at work.

Oregon State Fire Marshal Sends Help to Southern California

As Oregon still recovers from our worst wildfire season on record, firefighters from across the state stepped up yet again to answer the call for help from California. The Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized 15 structural strike teams to the Los Angeles area. The most recent strike teams sent are from Benton/Columbia, Douglas, and Polk counties. In total, the Oregon State Fire Marshal has sent 15 strike teams, 300 firefighters, and 75 engines to the Los Angeles area.   

BELOW: Oregon firefighters on the ground in Southern California

Oregon Extends Medicaid Coverage to More Young Adults

In Oregon, one in five children under age 18 has a special health care need – ranging from physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities to complex mental or medical conditions. However, when these young people turn 19, they lose their Oregon Health Plan (OHP) coverage. More than 80 percent of young adults with special health care needs don’t have adequate access to care or social services, even though they report needing more services than their peers.

To improve and increase access to care, Oregon has created the Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs (YSHCN) benefit that extends OHP coverage, enhances vision and dental services, and offers new health-related social needs climate and housing benefits to this population. Young adults with certain health care needs now qualify for health coverage and benefits through OHP.

Oregon received permission from the federal government through a waiver to test whether increasing access to affordable care for young adults with complex health care needs will improve health outcomes and reduce inequities. The benefits are the first of their kind in the country. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) estimates that:

• 4,000 young adults will newly qualify for coverage through OHP
• 15,000 current OHP members will qualify for enhanced benefits

Individuals can connect with their coordinated care organization (CCO) or apply online for the Oregon Health Plan to determine their eligibility.

OHCS to Add and Preserve 400+ Affordable Homes

Oregon Housing and Community Services is funding the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of more than 400 affordable homes across the state. These homes will help fill the need for housing for Oregonians with low incomes, including seniors, youth, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

The Housing Stability Council approved $72.8 million to fund 421 homes through the agency’s Oregon Centralized Application (ORCA) process. Part of this funding will be used to rehabilitate the Rosemont Court in Portland, which will serve seniors. Another housing development funded is Blossom Gardens in Salem, which is under construction, will focus on serving refugee families. The funding will also preserve two manufactured home parks for homeowners who live at the Rimrock Court Cooperative in Madras and Surfside Mobile Village in Newport.

The Council approved the following housing development projects for funding:

• Blossom Garden Apartments, Salem, 90 homes 
• Cesar Apartments, Portland, 47 homes  
• Columbia View Apartments, Cascade Locks, 12 homes 
• Rimrock Court Cooperative, Madras, 38 homes 
• Rosemont Court, Portland, 100 homes 
• Sierra West Apartments, Hillsboro, 56 homes 
• Surfside Mobile Village, Newport, 33 homes  
• Willow Park Apartments, Forest Grove, 45 homes

The Housing Stability Council also granted the Homeownership Division approval to update two programs to help spur development and purchase of homes for Oregonians with low incomes.

The Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Homeownership changes include:

• A shift from determining loan amounts based on appraised land value to per-home subsidies 
• A shorter application for small projects  
• Soft set-asides to spur development by small, culturally specific, and emerging developers, and projects in underserved counties

The Oregon Affordable Housing Tax Credit (OAHTC) Homeownership was expanded to support limited equity cooperatives, an innovative homeownership model with growing interest in Oregon. By offering tax credits to the developer’s permanent lender, OAHTC Homeownership reduces financing costs, and the savings are passed on to residents to ensure housing affordability for those earning 80% or less of the area median income.

OHA Awards $23 Million to Support Home Repairs

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has awarded $23 million to repair and rehabilitate homes of low-income residents to eliminate risks to residents’ health to the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon and 34 local organizations. The funds are from the Healthy Homes Grant Program (HHGP), established to improve health by rehabilitating living environments in Oregon.

The organizations—nonprofits, local housing authorities, community action agencies and local governments serving communities in all areas of the state—are each receiving between $199,980 to $750,000 to use over a three-year period. The grants are intended to help homeowners and landlords repair and rehabilitate homes inhabited by low-income residents, including renters, to improve their environmental health and safety.

In addition, OHA has set aside $3 million in HHGP funds for the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon, honoring government-to-government relationships. OHA is working with each Tribe to award this funding.

The Oregon Legislature established the HHGP in 2021. It directs OHA to provide grants to local organizations serving low-income residents to repair and rehabilitate homes, including rental properties, throughout the state.

For a video highlighting this work and to hear from recipients themselves, visit this link.

IBR PROGRAM AWARDED $30 MILLION

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced this month that the City of Vancouver and Washington State Department of Transportation will receive their full funding request of $30 million from the Reconnecting Community Pilot (RCP) Program. The construction grant will be used to help fund the construction of the “Community Connector” lid over I-5 as part of the investments included with the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBR). 

This RCP Program offers funding for projects focused on advancing and supporting the reconnection of communities divided by transportation infrastructure, with a priority on helping disadvantaged communities improve access to daily needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, groceries and recreation. 

The Community Connector will be constructed over I-5 just south of Evergreen Boulevard in downtown Vancouver. The primary intent is to reconnect the two sides of the freeway with an enhanced active transportation crossing. The lid will be located adjacent to the proposed light rail station near Evergreen Boulevard, which will be served by C-TRAN local and bus rapid transit lines. The Community Connector will improve access to this new transit hub, as well as Downtown businesses, Fort Vancouver, parks, schools and other cultural amenities. The lid is a component of the IBR Program investments and was included in our Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.  

This is the fourth federal grant awarded to the IBR Program and its partners. It is the largest grant the Cit of Vancouver has ever received and was the fifth largest construction grant announced in this round of USDOT funding.

SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG GOES VIRAL FOR IBR

If you follow U.S. Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg on social media, whether Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you may have seen that on Tuesday he gave a shout-out to the Interstate Bridge Replacement program work and the critical need to replace the I-5 Bridge. 

Click here to view the video on Facebook

Click here to view the video on Instagram

Click here to view the video on X (Twitter)

TRANSPORTATION ARTICLES TO READ

There are two transportation-related articles that recently came out, and for which I gave interviews. I am sharing them in this week's newsletter because they both do an excellent job of breaking down how we got to this crisis point with our transportation system and what pathways we have to get out of it. I have created PDF files for each one so that you do not encounter a paywall when trying to read them.

From The Oregonian: Repairing Oregon’s roads and bridges could cost billions. Will lawmakers come up with a fix?

From Pew: More EVs, Less Gas Tax Revenue Create State Transportation Budget Issues

COMMUNITY OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTS

With the Legislative Session beginning on Tuesday, the next six months will be spent primarily in Salem, leaving less time to connect with organizations and community members in our area. I took advantage of one last week before the session to attend as many events or informational meetings as I could. Below are a few highlights from my outreach work recently. 

WEA Legislative Reception

The Westside Economic Alliance, a non-profit that advocates for a healthy economy on the Westside of the Metro Region, held a Legislative Reception last Tuesdays. Several of my colleagues and I made the trip from Salem, where we'd had trainings all day, to the event in Tualatin. We participated in a moderated conversation with attendees. It was a great opportunity to hear about the priorities that matter to WEA members and to share about my work on the Transportation plan and how a safe and resilient multimodal system is essential for a healthy economy.. 

The State of Washington County Business Event

I was invited by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce to attend their "State of Washington County Business" event last week. I appreciated the insight they provided into the current state of business in Washington County. We also heard the Chamber’s legislative agenda for 2025 and the organization shared their general vision and priorities while also creating a space for valuable conversations with local business leaders whose contributions drive our economy. Legislators had the opportunity to ask members questions and we had a great dialogue on the Transportation plan. 

Washington County Legislators Education Summit

The Northwest Regional Education Service District hosted a dinner and conversation for Washington County legislators and local school district superintendents and school board members. I attend this event every year when I'm able to, and I always come away reinvigorated to do the hard work in the legislature to support our students and educators. I shared about my education-related  legislative priorities and we discussed Special Education Caps and the impact of PERS increases. I was also able to meet in a break-out group with school board members and administrators in House District 29. 

Forest Grove High School/PCC CTE Program Visit

Last Friday, Senator Sollman and I visited Forest Grove High School to learn more about their Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in partnership with Portland Community College. I have always advocated for this program and others like it because they create pathways to well-paying careers. CTE programs allow students to acquire skills that prepare them for successful career entry, achievement, and/or continuing their education.  CTE gives students the specific skills needed for job-entry positions and broad, transferable skills that offer flexibility and choice in employment and education. CTE helps students gain awareness of possible futures in high-skill, high-wage industries and expands their options for career paths. It is also a great introduction to post-secondary learning and school- and work-based learning experiences. As a teacher of 42 years, I have seen the benefits of CTE programs firsthand and will continue to advocate for student CTE opportunities across the state. 

TV Highway Legislators Breakfast

On Wednesday, I attended a working breakfast meeting hosted by Metro Councilor Juan Carlos Gonzalez to hear updates on the TV Highway Transit Project and to discuss potential opportunities and next steps for the project. This is an important project for Western Washington County and I will continue to follow the process.

EVENTS AROUND WESTERN WASHCO.

In Western Washington County, we are fortunate to have engaging community events for residents of all ages. I would like to highlight a few upcoming opportunities:

JANUARY 17TH - LUNAR NEW YEAR AT CORNELIUS LIBRARY: From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Cornelius Library will host a Lunar New Year event, where participants are invited to create traditional decorations and learn about the 2025 zodiac animal, the snake.

JANUARY 20TH - MLK DAY ART MARCH IN FOREST GROVE: To celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy, Western WashCo for Racial Justice will hold an Art March from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Forest Grove Community Auditorium. Attendees will be asked to collaborate on a public art piece honoring Dr. King’s work and the Civil Rights Movement.

JANUARY 23RD - SCREENING OF "TRANSLATORS" AND PANEL CONVERSATION: The Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Bank will be screening the documentary film, Translators, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m at Pacific University's Taylor-Meade Performing Arts Center. This film shares the story of bilingual children who serve as a voice for their families. A panel discussion on community resilience will follow the film.

FEBRUARY 10TH - OMSI SCIENCE PUB IN DOWNTOWN HILLSBORO: From 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., OMSI Science Pub will return to Hillsboro Downtown Station for a casual and informative lecture from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service biologist Chelsea Waddell. All are welcome to enjoy food and beverages from the food carts while learning about one of Oregon's native turtle species, the Northwestern pond turtle.

OREGON KID GOVERNOR ROSIE SWORN IN

The 2025 Oregon Kid Governor Rosie Lanenga was sworn in this week in a ceremony at the Oregon State Capitol in the Senate Chambers. Oregon Kid Governor Lanenga is a fifth grader at Riverdale Grade School in Portland. She is the 8^th Oregon Kid Governor. Her platform is addressing climate change and her campaign video can be viewed here.

“In my one year term I will try to raise awareness about how climate change is affecting our communities and how to help by learning how to compost, sharing knowledge about climate change with others, and trying to think of big or small things that would help protect our communities from many of the effects of climate changes,” said Kid Governor Lanenga in her inauguration speech.

Fifth graders from across Oregon participated in the 2025 Oregon Kid Governor election and elected Kid Governor Lanenga in November for a one-year term. Governor Lanenga will be joined by an impressive cabinet, who were also sworn in today:

• Desmond Bennett, Bullying, Springville Elementary School in Portland.
• Jordyn Mouton, Raising Awareness Against Discrimination and Racism, John Wetten Elementary in Gladstone.
• Ryker Yun, Helping Families in Poverty, Bonny Slope Elementary in Beaverton.
• Saanvi Shah, Reducing Homelessness and Providing Basic Amenities to the Unhoused, Paul L. Patterson Elementary School in Hillsboro.
• Syon Bhendigeri, Preventing Mental Illness, Jacob Wismer Elementary School in Portland.
• Teegan Wright, Inclusion in Team Sports Helps Traumatized Children, Rosland Elementary School in LaPine.

The Kid Governor program was started by the Connecticut Democracy Center in 2015 as a way of introducing Civics Education to fifth graders. The Late-Secretary of State Dennis Richardson brought the program to Oregon in 2018. Kid Governor continues to be administered by the Oregon Secretary of State’s office. Over 3,500 Oregon fifth graders in more than 130 classrooms participate in the program this year.

Watch a replay of the 2025 Oregon Kid Governor inauguration: http://or.kidgovernor.org/inauguration. 

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.

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