Spring News & Updates

You can read our previous newsletters here

Hello friends and neighbors,

It’s been a while! My spring has been packed with legislative meetings, community events, and volunteerism. I have enjoyed time with my family, friends, and community.  I even found some time to get away and recharge in Hawaii, my first vacation since I became a State Representative. 

We are heading into a Special Session on Monday. Governor Brown called us back to Salem to look into tax breaks for small businesses. I am eager to dive into the Governor’s proposal and hear from stakeholders on how to improve our tax system to support small businesses across the state. Please let me know your thoughts as the bill is on OLIS. 


Around the District

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It was great to answer questions and hear from the community at the Post-Session Town Hall I hosted with Senator Chuck Riley and Representative Janeen Sollman!


Hillsboro Youth Advisory Council: I had a great time addressing Hillsboro’s YAC on how to craft effective public testimony. As a Speech and Debate participant and coach, I know that these communication skills will serve these young people their entire lives. From my time at Metro to my time in the State Legislature, I learned what makes compelling public testimony and I am confident that our YAC students will be able to deliver. I am so proud of these future leaders!

Education Constituent Gathering: We had a great conversation on education and college saving option at my constituent gathering. A representative with the Oregon College Savings Plan was there to share the plans and benefits. We also discussed methods to better support our teachers.

DACA Tele-Town Hall: I co-hosted a Telephone Town Hall with Representative Teresa Alonso Leon. We discussed the supports and resources available for immigrant families and those with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. I was grateful that we had informed and compassionate experts to join us. Thank you to Andrea Williams of Causa, immigration attorney John Marandas, Maria Caballero Rubio of Centro Cultural of Washington County, and Bridget Cooke of Adelante Mujeres for sharing your resources and knowledge. If you or someone you love has questions about these issues or are in need of resources, my office is happy to help. Please reach out by email - rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov - or by phone - (503) 986-1429.

 

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Church Pie Social: Every year my church, the United Methodist Church in Cornelius, bakes and sells pies to support our volunteerism. We participate in Family Promise, a program to house and support families struggling with homelessness, and we support programs to feed migrant workers and others in need. I am proud of the work we do. Thank you to all that came to support our efforts.

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It was great to attend Community Action’s Kaleidoscope Dinner.


1 Year Anniversary for Centro de Prosperidad: I was excited to join Centro Cultural to celebrate the one year anniversary of their Centro de Prosperidad. The Prosperity Center was created in partnership with the City of Hillsboro to address economic disparity in the Latino community. It is a workforce development center that removes barriers to economic prosperity and to create self sufficiency. They offer services to help people find living wage jobs and launch into careers, and they help local entrepreneurs launch their dreams into reality.

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I spoke on a panel at the Oregon State Conference of the American Association of University Women with Representatives Janeen Sollman, Janelle Bynum, and Sheri Malstrom (pictured left to right).

Spotlight on..

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Supporting the Inukai Boys and Girls Club: The Inukai Boys and Girls Club serves a large number of students in District 29. Our Community Outreach Intern, Riley (pictured in the pink top), decided that it would be nice to try and give to them for a change. At their Plant Sale and Resource Fair last Saturday, we were able to surprise the Boys and Girls Club with the donation of a mini community library full of child and teen books. The books were collected through our book drive, which was successful thanks to the support that we received from the Hillsboro and Forest Grove/Cornelius Chambers of Commerce, and all of the wonderful donations we received from community members. Stop by the Inukai Boys and Girls Club and feel free to leave a book, and take a book!

I want to thank Riley for all her hard work! She has ended her internship and will be enjoying her summer in Sherwood with her family before returning to Pacific University in the fall. If you see her in Forest Grove in the fall, be sure to pass on your gratitude!

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Outdoor School: In Oregon, we provide an opportunity for students in fifth or sixth grade to move from their school classrooms into the outdoors to learn, immersed in nature. Students are housed in residential camps with students staying onsite for up to five nights. While there, students learn about soil, water, plants and animals, as well as natural sciences specific to the local community and economy. It was great to join W. L. Henry Elementary School at the Cedar Ridge Camp last week.

For many children, Outdoor School is their very first experience hiking in a forest, getting their feet wet in a stream or exploring sea life along a sandy beach. For others, Outdoor School gives them new understandings and perspectives about the natural world through inquiry-based learning and STEM-focused curriculum.

In November 2016, Oregonians overwhelmingly voted in favor of Measure 99, directing the state to allocate Oregon Lottery dollars toward ensuring that every 5th or 6th grader in Oregon is able to attend Outdoor School if their district chooses to participate. In the 2017 session, the Legislature successfully allocated $24 million in support of these programs for this biennium.

Speech and Debate: During the even years, when the Legislature only meets for less than 35 days, I am able to volunteer more with the Glencoe Speech and Debate Team. They did great this season! I attend a few National Qualifiers with the team - and two students are going to Nationals in June! I am excited that I will be able to join them and continue supporting this activity I have been involved with since I was 14 years old.

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I was honored to receive the Oregon High School Speech League Coaches Association’s 2018 Communicator of the Year designation at the last National Qualifiers. Thank you to my fellow coaches for the honor!

Washington County Family Justice Center (FJC): I was honored to attend the Grand Opening of the Family Justice Center of Washington County. Before this Center opened in April, victims had to travel around Washington County for support and services. Now, they come to the FJC for a welcoming community that guides survivors through collaborative, comprehensive and holistic healing services with a compassionate approach, within a safe atmosphere, allowing people impacted by domestic violence to create pathways of hope. They even have a remote court to help facilitate legal proceedings in a safe environment for survivors and their family. It is located on SW 185th near the intersection of Walker Rd.


Legislative Work

Autonomous Vehicle Task Force (AVTF): The Governor signed House Bill 4063 on April 10th, officially beginning the work of the AVTF. We’ve met once and will meet as a task force and in sub-groups throughout the spring, summer, and fall to develop recommendations for the Legislature. I am grateful to continue working on this issue as a task force member. We have a lot of work ahead of us to prepare Oregon for the future of transportation technology, but I am confident in the members of the task force to work together. I am especially proud that Washington County’s own Sergeant Tim Tannenbaum is the Chair of the AVTF. If you would like to learn more about our work, please visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Get-Involved/Pages/Task-Force-on-Autonomous-Vehicles.aspx.

Qualification-Based Selection (QBS): I worked on this concept in 2018 through House Bill 4127 after becoming familiar with the issue in 2017. QBS mandates who government agencies can procure certain technical services (land surveying, engineering, architecture) and it was passed to local governments in 2011 by the State Legislature. Many of our localities (including Hillsboro, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Washington County, and more) have used this process and noticed that it is ineffective. I will continue to work on improvements, and I have brought together a group of stakeholders to discuss legislation for 2019. The group includes industry and local government partners and will meet four times in the coming months. I am eager that we will find a solution that works for all.

Oregon Safe and Effective Schools for All Advisory Committee: I am honored to serve on this committee with educators, experts, and policy makers to ensure Oregon's children, students and young people are provided the full benefit of programs as intended and consistent with the Oregon Equity Lens for education. We’ve met three times and will continue to meet through the summer to work on Oregon Department of Education policy and recommendations. You can read about our work at this link: http://www.oregon.gov/ode/about-us/Pages/SafeEffectiveSchoolsforALL.aspx. I am grateful for the opportunity to use my decades of classroom experience to impact positive change for our students, teachers, families, and schools.

Educator Advancement Council (EAC): I was appointed to continue serving on the EAC (formerly the Council on Educator Advancement). We are working
to ensure Oregon achieves high-quality, well-supported and culturally-responsive public educators in every classroom. We have four specific goals: to establish local educator networks to support teachers, to create an Oregon Teacher Scholars Program to support mentoring and more, to align early learning efforts with our K-12 system, and to address issues related to Oregon’s educator workforce. You can read about our work hear: http://education.oregon.gov/eac/. I invite any interested parties to follow this group and share your thoughts.


Upcoming Events

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Constituent Gathering:  Join me for my next gathering on TUESDAY, MAY 29TH FROM 5:30 - 7:00 PM. We’ll be at Primrose & Tumbleweed (248 E Main St, Hillsboro, OR 97123) to discuss the environment, transportation, the Special Session,  and other topics of community concern. I hope to see you there!


Take Care of Cornelius, Clean-Up Day: THIS SATURDAY join the City of Cornelius in cleaning and beautifying public spaces. Volunteer shifts begin at 8:30 AM and there will be lunch provided to volunteers. You can sign up for a shift and learn more here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f4caca72baaf94-take.

Forest Grove High School’s Viking House: The Viking House program has been a staple in Forest Grove for a long time. Visit the open house of the 2018 Viking House, located at 1230 35th Ave. in Forest Grove, on Saturday or Sunday from 12 - 5 PM. Congratulations on the hard work to all the students and industry partners! You can read more about the Viking House here: http://pamplinmedia.com/fgnt/36-news/395405-288922-fghs-students-host-annual-viking-house-open-house

Hillsboro Latino Cultural Festival: This event is put on by the Hillsboro Chamber to celebrate the diversity in our community. It will take place THIS SUNDAY from 12:00 - 5:00 PM outside of the Hillsboro Civic Center. Visit the Facebook event to learn more - https://www.facebook.com/events/212780022818948/.

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Save the date!

I hope to see you around House District 29 soon!

Yours Truly,

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Representative Susan McLain

email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-376, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain