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To contact me, please click here: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
Community Conversation - Saturday, November 8th
Join me on Saturday, November 8th, from 10:00AM to 11:00AM at Uptown Coffee in Hillsboro, located at 2020 NE Cornell Rd. Come share your thoughts and talk about issues that are important to you. Meet fellow community members and enjoy delicious coffee and pastries. I look forward to seeing you there.
Legislative Updates
SENATE MAJORITY OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2025
Press Contact: Elizabeth Cronen, elizabeth.cronen@oregonlegislature.gov
Senate Democrats Applaud Governor’s Action, Community Responses to Federal Failure to Issue Food Assistance
President Trump and Republicans in Congress must act next, releasing SNAP benefits
SALEM, OR – A coordinated state response will give Oregonians some relief from the Trump administration’s blockage of nutrition assistance for needy families. Upon Governor Kotek’s Wednesday announcement of $5 million for foodbanks, a food-emergency declaration, and an appeal to Oregonians to help neighbors in need, Oregon Senate Democrats commended the progress while keeping pressure on the Republican-controlled federal government to fulfill its taxpayer-funded responsibilities.
“Community networks, individuals, and state government are doing all they can to weather the hardship that will come when 757,000 Oregonians lose SNAP benefits on November 1,” said Oregon Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D – East Portland, Boring & Damascus). “But the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress cannot dodge the fact that federal tax dollars from our state—nearly $42 billion a year—should be flowing back to Oregonians as essential services and benefits like food assistance.”
Throughout Oregon, residents and community organizations are showing more concern for needy families than our federal government, which was elected to serve the public.
“It’s stunning to realize that a federal administration that finds ample funds for militant pet projects during the shutdown won’t do anything to keep families from brink of catastrophic hunger,” said Senator Jeff Golden (D – Rogue Valley). “But that’s triggered a new wave of compassion in Southern Oregon; everyday people have the backs of their most vulnerable neighbors.”
“It is cruel to use food assistance funding as a political bargaining chip. I applaud Governor Kotek for allocating resources in response to federal inaction on the government shutdown. Beyond providing financial resources, our food banks urgently need volunteers,” said Senator Janeen Sollman (D – Forest Grove, Hillsboro & the Rock Creek area). “Here in Western Washington County, Centro Cultural Food Mercado has told me they are in need of volunteers to help out. I encourage everyone to reach out to their local food pantry, whether you can volunteer your time or donate, every contribution matters.”
“Serving on the Oregon Hunger Task Force, I have seen that the need for help in accessing food in Oregon has never been greater. I have long been convinced that we must do what we can to meet that need, and I crafted legislation earlier this year to help address this issue,” said Senator Deb Patterson (D – Salem). “I am grateful to the Governor for this action to reduce hunger among families in communities across Oregon worsened by the government shutdown, and I urge the federal administration to move quickly to end this needless suffering.”
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In The News
The Quality Education Model is a political football. Will Oregon lawmakers punt it?, The Oregonian, Julia Silverman, October 28, 2025.
“I don’t think we need aspirational goals,” said Sen. Janeen Sollman, a Washington County Democrat, during a recent meeting of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Education Appropriation. “I think we need measurable goals. I continue to have my doubts that the Quality Education Commission is where we need to be putting our energy in for students.”
Two Oregon Senate Democrats urge Kotek to sign transportation bill 'without further delay', KATU News, Vasili Varlamos, October 27, 2025.
Oregon Senators Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, and Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, wrote separate letters to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek last week, urging her to sign the transportation bill into law "without further delay."
"After months of work to bring House Bill 3991 to your desk, many Oregonians are seeking closure on this effort. I respectfully urge you to move forward with your signature without further delay," wrote Sollman on Oct. 22.
Listen. Learn. Act.
Washington County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Forum
This week I attended the Washington County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Forum. They invited legislators to come listen and learn from employers and small businesses and share a constructive, solutions-driven discussion on challenges they face and opportunities for the Legislature to help with meaningful solutions.
Economic development will be an area of focus for me in the upcoming 2026 legislature. Oregon's financial health is at risk if we cannot maintain existing business and attract new business to our state. We need reliable revenue funding, especially in light of federal funding cuts. I will be doing all I can to ensure that Oregon remains competitive and attractive for business to thrive here.
Intern Corner
Writing this newsletter was difficult, as I wanted to tell everyone about Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, and talk about all the celebrations and things we can learn from other cultures. It was going to be a beautiful piece about remembering those who passed and to spend time with our families.
Yet I couldn’t in good faith write about that, because those celebrations, being with our families? It’s a luxury this year.
We’re at a point where people are scared to leave their homes for any reason because of the threat of being kidnapped by our Federal Government for no moral or excusable reason. Students don’t go to school, and parents only leave the home for work to make ends meet. With these abhorrent acts, not a single person is safe. With the government shutdown and a lack of funds, SNAP benefits for many will become a thing of the past starting November 1st, meaning many families, children, and elderly people will not be able to access food. Many government employees are not being paid and won’t be able to provide food and warmth for their families.
We cannot talk about things that are meant to be joyous occasions like these heartfelt holidays or even trivial things like Homecoming without acknowledging that so many people in our communities are scared. They’re scared that they’ll get taken off the street, never to see their mom, dad, children, again. They’re scared that there won’t be enough food for their families, and that it’ll be too cold in the house to even sleep.
Use your voice, and that doesn’t just mean yelling that these things aren’t okay. Talk to people about why these things are bad, express empathy to those going through hard times, be kind to one another, donate or volunteer at shelters, write to your politicians. I hope by next year, things will be better and we can properly talk about these traditions. But I think we all know that the next few years will be a long few years.
~Audrey P.
Out and About in Senate District 15
Washington County Chamber of Commerce - 2025 Manufacturers Symposium
Yesterday I attended and participated as a speaker at the 2025 Washington County Chamber of Commerce Manufacturers Symposium. The theme of this years event was Hard Truths, Bold Futures and the keynote speaker, John Topogna gave a presentation on "Oregon’s Choice: Grow Modestly or Not at All." After the presentation, he and I had a discussion about economic development and Oregon's future outlook.
Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce Monthly Lunch with Chief Economist Carl Riccadonna
On Monday, I enjoyed attending the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce for a Leaders Lunch with Carl Riccadonna, Oregon’s Chief Economist. He discussed trends, forecasts, and what that means for businesses in our region. Economic development is vital to our state, and it remains an area of continued support and focus for me.
Forest Grove Community Open House
Earlier this week, I attended the Forest Grove Community Open House. This was an opportunity to connect directly with City staff, local leaders, and community organizations to learn about projects, programs, and services that are shaping the future of Forest Grove. It was great to see so many community members and partner organizations in attendance.
Washington County Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment
Last Friday, we celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Washington County Center for Addictions Triage and Treatment (CATT). Congratulations to Washington County Health and Human Services on completing the 86-bed Beaverton Recovery Center! The facility, which will be operated by CODA Inc., will open in just a few weeks. Substance Use Disorder is a disease that creates negative ripple effects throughout our communities and families, and centers like Washington County's CATT are critical for healing and health. I look forward to the doors opening soon and hope being restored for Oregonians.
Community Outreach
Centro Mercado Volunteer
Shared from Centro Cultural Food Mercado
We need your support as we adjust our food distribution efforts to meet complex and evolving public health needs for our Community.
We continue to have a very high demand in the community requesting food and without your volunteering support; we could very well have our community families going without food.
Visit here for more information and sign up links.
Fill a Food Box - November Community Food Drive
Shared from Just Create Community
 Can you help?
This November, Just Create Community is hosting a “Fill a Food Box” community food drive to help fill the food pantry at Community Action here in Hillsboro. Community Action is Washington County’s largest poverty-fighting social service agency which has been offering a comprehensive social safety net to low-income families for the past 60 years through housing stability, food security, utility assistance, economic empowerment, parenting support, and early children care & education. The Community Action food pantry runs 7 days a week in the evenings weekdays and during the day on weekends for scheduled pickups and provides food boxes filled with 3-days worth of pantry staples and shelf stable foods for families of different sizes.
Just Create Community is inviting community members to help “Fill a Food Box” with these most-needed items. If you are available to participate, please email ccosenzo@justcreatecommunity.com to arrange pickup/dropoff to Just Create Community.
Breakfasts
- Box of cereal or oatmeal
- Shelf stable milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- Can of fruit
Lunches
- Canned meat or fish
- Canned soup or Ramen
- Jar of peanut butter
Dinners
- Pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Canned meat or soup
- Canned beans or chili
- Bag of rice
- Canned vegetables
Just Create Community will deliver a first batch of food donations to Community Action in mid-November and a second batch end of November. Volunteers are needed to help JCC sort the donations received and to deliver them. At each delivery, volunteers will receive a tour of Community Action and an opportunity to learn more about the organization. Let me know if you are available to help. Thank you! ❤️
Food is a high year-round need for everyone. Let’s do what we can to support our community members who may be hungry and experiencing food insecurity at this time.
Thank you! ❤️
Additional Resources
Senate District 15 – Event Calendars
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
Immigration Resources
Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon's past and we must honor them well into our future.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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