Hello and Welcome to House District 48!

Xin chào và Chào mừng đến với House District 48!

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In this Newsletter:

1. Season's Greetings
2. Legislative Updates
3. Community News and Upcoming Events
4. Resources
5. Stay Connected

*There are several Return to the Top of Page so you can navigate back here.

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Hello friends and neighbors,

In case you missed it, I was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I am undergoing treatment and am optimistic. Since my announcement (read the full press release here) I have heard an amazing outpouring of support from my constituents and colleagues alike. I am overwhelmed by, and grateful for, the incredible positivity and love I have received. Serving you is an honor, and, while I am primarily working remotely, my staff and I are committed to being here for House District 48.

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Season's Greetings! 

Happy Lunar New Year, Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Valentine's and Presidents' day. The first month of session has really flown by between all of the meetings, constituent visits, and hearings on our bills. 

The deadline to submit new bills was last Tuesday. We have had hearings on our bills HB 3200, HB 3199, HB 3218, and SB 953, and are looking forward to having our other legislative priorities heard in the coming weeks. For a full list of the bills I'm supporting, you can review our legislative website. 

In the last month I have been hearing a lot from my constituents about the issues that are important to you, from the economy and workers' rights to school funding and access to public school librarians. I appreciate every message I get from all of my constituents in House District 48 and make sure to take these perspectives into consideration in my own decision-making.

If you have any issues you would like to share with me, or alert me to any bills that you are watching, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at rep.hoanguyen@oregonlegislature.gov or fill out our Constituent Priorities Survey.

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới! -- Happy Lunar New Year! 

Lunar New Year is a festival celebrated across East and Southeast Asia, which recognizes the arrival of spring. In Vietnamese culture, we celebrate this joyful occasion by wearing traditional attire called áo dài, exchanging gifts of real and chocolate money in red envelopes among family members, and traditional lion dances, accompanied by loud music and lucky foods. To commemorate the occasion, Representative Daniel Nguyen invited dancers from the White Lotus Dancers to perform a traditional Lion Dance on the House Floor. I greatly appreciated their wonderful performance, as well as the opportunity to share this aspect of Vietnamese culture with my fellow house members.

	Representatives Hai Pham, myself, Thuy Tran, and Daniel Nguyen in our áo dài.		Representative Daniel Nguyen and myself with performers from the White Lotus Dancers.

Our President's Day Visitors

Did you enjoy your Presidents’ Day? Visit the beach, host a barbeque, or spend the extra day recuperating from the week prior? Our team spent this year’s Presidents’ Day meeting with some of our amazing constituents, talking about the issues and bills affecting them.

	Constituents with Oregon AFSCME visiting our office for their 2/17 lobby day advocating for worker power and sharing their personal stories.		Constituents with Participatory Budgeting Oregon (PBO) visiting our office to discuss SB 749, the School Participatory Budgeting Act.		Students and parents from the North Clackamas School District visiting our office to tell their personal stories.

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2025 Legislative Session Updates

Upcoming Public Hearings for Our Bills:

Our Bill HB 3201, Child and Adult Care Food Program, is scheduled for a public hearing March 6th at 8:00 am in Hearing Room E. You can submit written testimony or register to testify at this hearing here. 

	Map of Child and Adult Care Food Program facilities in Oregon.

Past Public Hearings for Our Bills:

SB 953 to create a Pre-K taskforce, which we are cosponsoring with Senator Gelser-Blouin, was heard in a hearing in the Senate Education committee Wednesday, February 19th, at 8 am in Hearing Room B. You can watch the recorded public hearing at this link.

HB 3200, funding for Oregon Teacher Scholars Program was heard publicly on February 12th at 3:00 pm in Hearing Room B. We encourage you to check out the public hearing or review written testimony.

Our Bill HB 3199 addressing chronic absenteeism is scheduled for a public hearing on February 26th from 3:00-4:30 pm in the House Education Committee. You will be able to view the hearing online on OLIS and are invited to view the hearing and or review written testimony here.

Eastside Timbers Sports Complex

As a vital hub in the heart of underserved East Multnomah County, our 43,000 square ft. facility has received permitting from the City of Gresham and is poised to make a transformative impact on the lives of over 85,000 school-aged youth within a 15-mile radius.

We are seeking $3 million in capital funding support, to be included with secured donations and financing totaling $6 million, to bring this project to fruition. We firmly believe that your support will play a crucial role in contributing significantly to the development of a vibrant and inclusive community space. The Eastside Timbers Sports and Community Event Center will not only serve as a state-of-the-art facility for sports such as futsal, basketball, and volleyball but also as a versatile venue for business conferences, community events, and local youth services.

Read more about the project here.

Happy Valley Community Center

Over the last two years, the City of Happy Valley has been conducting a feasibility study and developing plans to build a community center in Happy Valley, in consultation with residents. The project is being primarily funded through a community levy, and is requesting $5 million in capitol funding to complete the project.

The Happy Valley Community Recreation Center and Park Site would feature an aquatics center, a double court gymnasium, an indoor walking and jogging track, a large community room and kitchen, a reservable gathering space, spaces for weights and cardio, and a group exercise room, in addition to a community park which would sit next to the recreation center building.

In preparation for the project, the City of Happy Valley has bought 40 acres east of 172nd Avenue as a site for the Happy Valley Community Center. Read more about the project here.

Child Care Caucus Top Priorities

HB 2452: Childcare Resource and Referral Grants

HB 3011: Childcare Workforce Development Bill

HB 3201: Child and Adult Care Food Program

HB 3560: Easing Zoning Restrictions on Childcare Facilities 

HB 3496: Childcare Siting Best Practices Guide

Child Care Alliance Additional Priorities

HB 3162 – Funding for Schools to Provide Afterschool Childcare

HB 3008 – Child Care Workforce Investment:

HB 3224 – Study Regarding Redundancies in Required Background Checks 

HB 3229 –  Ease regulatory burdens regarding credentialing and paneling

HB 3239 – Funding for ODHS Background Checks and Implementation of the Rap Back Program

HB 2593 – Employment Related Day Care Study:

 

For more information on the Child Care Caucus legislative priorities, check out the PRESS RELEASE.

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Community News and Upcoming Events!

Sandy Oregon DMV

Good news! Beginning Tuesday, February 18th, the Sandy DMV Office will be returning to normal business hours. The office has been operating three days a week for the past year due to staffing shortages.

Effective Tuesday, February 18th, the Sandy DMV will be open five days a week, and the new hours will be:

• 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
• 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Folks are also encouraged to continue to complete transactions online through DMV2U or visit one of the recently launched self-serve kiosks in nine select Fred Meyer stores for vehicle registration renewals.

Upcoming and Ongoing Community Events!

Portland Mardi Gras Parade

Tuesday March 4, 7 PM @ N Mississippi Avenue

Info: Each year the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus hosts a free, family-friendly  Mardi Gras parade for everyone. The parade steps off at 7:00 pm starting near Humboldt St and proceeds down Mississippi Avenue to Cook St.,  just past Fremont. Local businesses have Mardi Gras specials throughout the day. Look for local venues showcasing musical acts.

APANO Small Business Resource Fair

Tuesday March 4, 3:30 to 6:30 PM @ PCC SE Campus 

Info: Calling all small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs! Join us for the APANO Small Business Resource Fair on Tuesday, March 4, from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM, at the PCC SE Campus Mt. Tabor Building, 2305 Southeast 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97216.

Free Tax Help in Vietnamese, Cantonese, and English

(volunteers in partnership w/ Vietnamese Community of Oregon)

Saturdays, 11 AM to 4 PM @ Midland Library

Info: VNCO serves Seniors, Veterans and Low-Income Taxpayers with Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $67,000 or less. Please bring photo ID or passport, Social Security card (or work permit document), spouse and children documents (if any), ITIN letter, last year's W2/1099/1098 and any other tax-related forms, last year's tax return, last year's medical, daycare and educational receipts, as well as any current tax documents. For direct deposit, bring bank account and routing number for your bank account. If filing jointly, both spouses must be present to sign required forms.

Bridge City Networks

Thursdays, 1 to 5 PM @ Midland Library

Info: Bridge City Networks provides free mobile devices and low or no-cost wireless internet access for low-income individuals (via Lifeline program). ID and Proof of Benefits are required. Staff will be at Midland to assist community members with receiving devices.

Citizenship Classes

Tuesdays, 10:15 to 11:15 AM @ Happy Valley Library

Info: Drop in to this weekly class that will prepare you for the civics and American history portion of the citizenship interview, taught by an instructor from Goodwill. Every student receives a free citizenship test prep textbook.

Community Engagement:

Make sure to check out our Interactive District Map!

Have you taken our Constituents' Priorities survey yet?

Have you taken our Public School Librarians Survey Yet?

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Resources

Immigration and refugee hotlines:

To find a love one who is detained, search the Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search) using the person’s Alien Registration Number and country of origin or biographical information. If you cannot find a person using the online locator, call your local ICE office. For a directory of local ICE offices, visit www.ice.gov/contact/ero.

National Immigration Detention Hotline: 1-209-757-3733 (open Monday through Friday 12 p.m. to 8pm PST) or for more information on the hotline you can also go to: https://www.freedomforimmigrants.org/hotline 

United We Dream: To report a raid call 1-844-363-1423. Or send a text message to 877877. If possible, take photos and videos, and notes.

National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) hotline: 1-844-500-3222

Tahirih’s Afghan Asylum Line: 1-888-991-0852 Open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST.

Immigration Equality – National LGBTQ Immigrant Rights Legal Emergency Help: 1-212-714-2904 (hotline open weekdays during daytime hours EST) or go to their website to fill out a contact form: www.immigrationequality.org/get-legal-help/#.WphaiRPwYWo 

For state and local hotlines for raids, detentions & deportations, visit https://nnirr.org/education-resources/community-resources-legal-assistance-recursoscomunitarios-asistencia-legal/immigration-hotlines-lineas-directas-de-inmigracion/   

Mental Health Resources

With winter approaching, reduced daylight hours can have a negative impact on our individual and collective mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling and needs help, there are several resources available. Oregon’s 988 crisis hotline is available for 24/7 crisis support via phone or online chat. You can also contact your local Community Mental Health Program to find behavioral health, mental health, and addiction support.

Higher Education Scholarship Opportunities

I highly encourage all current and future students pursuing a postsecondary education in 2025-26 to apply for grants and scholarships through the state website OregonStudentAid.gov. This month, the HECC Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) officially opened the OSAC Scholarship Application for the next academic year. The State of Oregon has made accessing scholarships easy for Oregon students with its central site for more than 600 scholarships. Through the application, students can apply for several awards at one time. Those who submit their scholarship application by the early bird deadline of February 18, 2025, will have the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship, and the final deadline is March 3, 2025.

Health Insurance Enrollment Assistance

The Oregon Health Authority recently announced that it will offer free enrollment help to Oregonians who qualify for Medicare or buy insurance through the federal marketplace. Open enrollment for Medicare lasts through December 7, and if you’re one of over a million Oregonians who needs health insurance, the state has trained specialists that can help you navigate the enrollment process. Whether you’re renewing your coverage or applying for the first time, you can learn more about this support here or call 800-699-9075.

Benefits Assistance

While inflation is falling, basic goods are still too expensive for many working families. If you need bill assistance, the Oregon Law Center’s Public Benefits Hotline can help you identify the state and federal resources you might qualify for. If you would like to learn more about benefits like Unemployment Insurance, TANF, SNAP (formerly food stamps), Social Security, and other programs, you can call 1-800-520-5292 Monday through Thursday.

For urgent needs like rent assistance, finding food, or getting help with utility payments, you can contact 211info by calling 211, texting your zip to 898211, emailing help@211info.org, or visiting 211info.org.

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Stay Connected! 

Thank you for reading and please stay in touch. We want to hear from you! If you have ideas for future legislation or how we can uplift our community, please fill out this google form.

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

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

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

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Trong cộng đồng,

In Community,

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1448

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

Email: Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov

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

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