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

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

After a statewide tour, over 50 hours of workgroup meetings, and ongoing discussions in the Joint Transportation Committee, the framework for a beginning conversation on a critical Transportation funding bill has been released. This is a starting point for urgent action this session to keep our roads paved, our bridges safe, and our economy strong. Oregonians agree—we need safe, reliable, multi-modal transportation in every corner of our state. 

The first Chamber Deadline is approaching on April 9th, and I am pleased to share that several of my priority bills have passed out of committee. I will continue advocating for policies that support working families, strengthen public education and infrastructure, and protect Oregonians from uncertainty at the federal level. 

As a reminder, I want to hear from you about your priorities for the session. My team and I are happy to be a resource, answer bill questions, and communicate with you about our work. Please do not hesitate to reach out at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov. 

Keep reading this week's newsletter for information on:

• The Transportation framework and conversations to come
• Updates on my personal bills ahead of the First Chamber deadline
• Recent Floor votes in the House
• Celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility
• My meetings at the Capitol this week
• Community Shout Outs
• Around Western Washington County

BELOW: Meeting with AARP members in my office at the Capitol. They were advocating for HB 3187, a bill to prevent age discrimination in employment. I am a proud sponsor of this bill, and I look forward to voting for it on the House Floor if it passes out of committee on Monday. 

TRANSPORTATION FRAMEWORK RELEASED

My Joint Committee on Transportation co-chair, Senator Chris Gorsek, and I have been working hard over the last several years to hear about the Transportation needs of Oregonians in rural and urban areas, our jurisdictional partners, businesses, and environmental and safety advocates. We led a 12-stop tour across the state and also held over 50 hours of workgroup meetings with a diverse group of stakeholders. Those conversations became the foundation of a Transportation funding proposal, called the Oregon Transportation ReInvestment Program (Oregon TRIP), that was just released on Thursday.

I am excited about the release of the framework investment plan because it is focused on ensuring a balanced, measured, modernized, and stable Transportation system. Safety, a variety of multimodal modes, preservation, and maintenance are our top goals with this framework and I look forward to the conversations to come.

It is key to remember that this is a beginning framework that will serve as a guide for our in-depth conversations in the Legislature over the next several months as we take urgent action to keep our roads paved, our bridges safe, and our economy strong. Oregon's transportation system is essential for a strong economy, our emergency preparedness and responses, and to our connectivity. It deeply impacts the daily lives of all Oregonians and inaction is not an option — Oregon's multimodal transportation system is at risk due to unstable and insufficient funding and if we do not fund it sufficiently this session, we risk:

• Losing 1,000 ODOT employees who keep our roads and bridges safe
• Unfixed potholes
• Crumbling bridges
• Unplowed roads in the wintertime
• Longer wait times to clear traffic accidents

At a time when things are already too expensive, we cannot afford to allow crumbling infrastructure to undermine Oregon's economy and impact our businesses, our free movement and travel throughout the state, our employment opportunities, or our ability to get our kids to school safely.

The framework is focused on the safety and maintenance of our roads, bridges and transit systems now and for years to come. It ensures everyone is paying their fair share and that there is accountability in place to monitor the use of tax dollars and require that they are spent effectively.

The framework stabilizes current revenue streams, modernizes transportation funding, and invests in transit and rail options. It will require that:

• Electric vehicles and delivery fleets pay their fair share
• The fuels tax is indexed to inflation
• Fees to support the system are tied to use

Of the $1.9 billion per biennium the framework would raise, nearly 90% will be dedicated to maintenance, operations, and preservation. $250 million would go toward finishing promised projects.

In addition, a team of external transportation experts are currently reviewing ODOT’s project delivery and accounting practices with the oversight of a bipartisan committee. We are also actively looking for ways to bring down costs within the agency to help support the key initiatives in the framework.

To learn more, you can read OPB's article about the Transportation framework by clicking on the image below or here. 

UPDATE ON MY BILLS AT THE DEADLINE

March 21st was the First Chamber Work Session Posting Deadline, which required that all bills in policy committees either be posted on an agenda for a work session (a committee vote) by this date or they officially die in committee. The First Chamber Work Session Deadline is fast approaching on April 9, which is the last day for policy committees to hold work sessions and move bills introduced in their chamber (i.e. Senate bills in the Senate, House bills in the House) out of committee. With a record number of bills this year, the reality is that the majority of them have either already died or will die on April 9th. I am happy to report that many of my priority bills are still alive and are moving through the legislative process. Several bills have been sent to Ways and Means, where the committee decides whether to fund the bill or not. Here is where things stand as of today:

MY PERSONAL BILLS:

BILLS I AM A SECOND CHIEF SPONSOR ON:

ESTABLISHING HOMEOWNERSHIP GOALS

One of our top legislative priorities this session is expanding pathways to homeownership. Right now, buying a home feels out of reach for far too many Oregonians. We working hard to find solutions and make housing more accessible and affordable. 

HB 2698 A  establishes a statewide goal for homeownership in Oregon and directs the Housing and Community Services Department to track our progress. The bill passed off the House Floor and is now in the Senate Committee on Housing and Homelessness.

BELOW: My Floor neighbor, Rep. Ruiz, carried the bill and I was proud to vote yes.

CELEBRATING TRANSGENDER VISIBILITY

In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility last Monday, I want to celebrate and lift up our transgender neighbors and friends. Here in Oregon, we will continue to stand up for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Everyone deserves the freedom to be who they are and no government should legislate or promote discrimination against any group of citizens.

Suggested reading: The Trevor Project Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People

MEETINGS AT THE CAPITOL

This week, I appreciated the opportunity to speak with community members about the issues that matter most to them.

It was wonderful to see Forest Grove High School students in the Capitol with the Oregon Thespians. These talented performers were invited to take part in a statewide theater conference in Salem, and they visited my office to share about the importance of youth arts education. I am so proud of the students in our community!

I connected with several organizations in the agricultural sector about their priorities this session, including the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers, the Oregon Seed Council, PCUN, and the Oregon Dairy Farmers. Listening to the growers, farmers, and agricultural workers who sustain our food system is one of my top priorities. 

ADELANTE MUJERES BUSINESS INCUBATOR ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Adelante Mujeres' retail business incubator, Casa Qui, is accepting applications for new vendors! If you have a product to sell, you may be eligible to join their entrepreneur community. CLICK HERE to apply.

FGHS SPRING MUSICAL SHOWS From April 18th - 27th, Forest Grove High School will offer five performances of "Anything Goes," the classic musical about a group of passengers on the S.S. American.  CLICK HERE to learn more.

FREE HOMEWORK HELP IN CORNELIUS Drop by the library Wednesdays from 5 to 7pm to get in-person homework help for students and families. CLICK HERE for details.

BRIAN BURKE NAMED NEW FGHS PRINCIPAL

The current Vice Principal of Forest Grove High School, Brian Burke, has been named the new Forest Grove High School principal. Congratulations to Brian and best wishes to Karen O’Neill as she retires after 14 years as principal! Thank you for all the work you do to support students and families in our community. 

FUNDING FOR DOWNTOWN HILLSBORO

The Hillsboro City Council approved a $50,000 increase in funding for the Hillsboro Downtown Partnership. This funding will be used to improve the pedestrian experience and create jobs in the area. Congratulations to the new Executive Director Harrison Gordon Butler and our nonprofit community partners working hard to revitalize Downtown 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! 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.

One of my favorite places in the entire world.

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