Greetings friends, family, and my fellow constituents! Thank you again for tuning into our office's newsletter, and hope you are enjoying the final days of summer.
While the legislature may be on break following the end of session in June, our office's work continues as we carry on the task of addressing the most pressing issues facing our state.
In spite of the historic drama at the state capital last session, the legislature completed its task of passing policy that will benefit Oregonians from all walks of life. Nearly 95% of bills passed last session received bipartisan support, showing that despite all the adversity our top priority as state lawmakers remains focused on tackling the problems most important to our constituents.
The historic investments our state made last session are beginning to bear fruit. Oregon semiconductor companies are announcing major expansions, the federal government is awarding Oregon nearly $700 million to expand broadband and internet access, and the City of Happy Valley broke ground on a major library expansion project.
Children are returning to Oregon public schools that received a record $15.3 billion budget last session. And as the leaves change we can enjoy a new season of college football with the Ducks opening their 2023 campaign against Portland State on September 2, and Oregon State kicking their season off the following day against San Jose State.
Thank you again for your support and connecting with our office. I promise to continue to give you my best and please send your thoughts to me at: Rep.JanelleBynum@oregonlegislature.gov.
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Banner Month for Oregon Semiconductors
The legislature in 2023 made historic investments to expand Oregon's semiconductor industry and attract substantial federal funding being offered through the $52 billion CHIPS and and Science Act. After allocating over $200 million dollars for business development investments, and creating new economic incentives such as a targeted research and development (R&D) tax credit, the investments made by the Oregon legislature last session are beginning to show results:
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(From Left to Right): State Representative Janelle Bynum, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Senator Ron Wyden, and PCC President Adrien Bennings. Special thanks to OMSI President Erin Graham, OMSI Treasurer Scott Clark, and Analog Devices VP of Manufacturing Fred Bailey. | |
Happy Valley Library Expansion Project Groundbreaking
Representative Bynum joined in the groundbreaking of the new Happy Valley library expansion project, financed in part through a $2 million funding allocation from the state legislature. The Happy Valley library serves over 60,000 residents from Happy Valley and unincorporated Clackamas County.
The planned 7,000 square foot expansion will provide a new 300-person community room, community kitchen, and study rooms. Offering this welcoming space will provide an educational forum for families of all backgrounds and help the state as we rededicate ourselves to expanding early childhood literacy and education opportunities.
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Behavioral Health Bill Signing Celebrates Historic Investments
Access to behavioral health and addiction services was a top priority for state legislators in the 2023 session. On August 8, our office alongside a dedicated group of behavioral health advocates joined in a ceremonial signing of several bills that will directly address Oregon's mental health and substance abuse crisis.
House Bill 2395 & Senate Bill 1043 – Expanding access to naloxone and other lifesaving treatments that can reverse an opioid overdose.
House Bill 2757 – Providing funding for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
House Bill 3610 – Creating a task force to study alcohol pricing and its impact on substance abuse.
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Reflecting on the special occasion, Dr. Rosemary Hemmings, Ph.D., LCSW, CCTP-ll said that, "The bills signed today places Oregon at the forefront of behavioral health services in the midst of increasing mental health and substance use disorder needs and as access to care issues rise across the country."
These new policies build upon previous behavioral healthcare investments the legislature made in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is important that all Oregonians have access to a behavioral healthcare system that meets their unique needs. Our work in 2021 with House Bill 2949 laid a strong foundation through workforce investments, and now with these bills focused on substance use and crisis services, we continue to build a brighter future for all Oregonians. As we celebrate today, let us do so not just in reflection, but in recommitment,” said Dr. Anjabeen Ashraf, PhD, LPC, LMHC to commemorate the special occasion.
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Startup Day Portland
Representative Bynum, alongside Senator Ron Wyden and State Treasurer Tobias Read, joined a group of entrepreneurs at "startup day" Portland. The event was hosted at the Upstart Collective where we heard from local entrepreneurs about what makes Portland a great place to do business and potential areas for growth.
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Oregon's Paid Leave Program Opens Applications
Paid Leave Oregon Open for Applications
Oregon employees who need to take time off work to care for important life events can begin applying for paid leave benefits through the state’s new paid family and medical leave program: Paid Leave Oregon.
Employees can apply for benefits online through the Oregon Employment Department’s Frances Online system at OregonFrancesOnline.
Employees can apply for the following reasons:
- To care for themselves or members of their family during the birth of a child, or to bond with a child after birth, adoption, or placement of a child in their home through foster care
- To care for themselves during a serious health condition
- To care for a family member when they have a serious health condition
- If they or their child experience sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment, or stalking
Most workers will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave annually through the program, although those who are pregnant, have given birth or have health issues related to childbirth, may be eligible for up to 14 weeks of paid leave. Employees will only be eligible to receive benefits for leave taken on or after September 3, and payments will begin going out in mid-September. The minimum weekly benefit an Oregon worker will receive through the program in fiscal year 2024 is $63.48 while the maximum is $1,523.63.
Oregon Democrats passed Paid Leave Oregon in 2019 (HB 2005), making Oregon one of just 11 states, along with Washington D.C., to offer paid family and medical leave. Oregon’s unique program also covers safe leave in addition to family and medical leave. Safe leave supports survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment, or stalking so they can take time to seek safety.
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State's Mandatory Retirement Savings Plan Comes Online
OregonSaves Opens for Employees and Employers
In 2017 Oregon became the first state to pass legislation mandating that employers who do not offer a retirement savings plan to their employees enroll into a state retirement program. OregonSaves is now online and employers were required by July 31 to enroll or certify that they offer a retirement plan to their employees.
Employers who missed the deadline are still eligible to enroll, and companies are provided a 24 month grace period before they may eventually face fines of up to $100 per employee.
Enrollees of the OregonSaves program will have a portion of their wages withheld and placed into a portable Individual Retirement Account (IRA). As a default 5% of an employee's pay is withheld and allocated to the IRA account. Employees can visit the OregonSaves website to change their personal contribution or opt-out of the withholding entirely.
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OHA Data Breach, How to Protect Yourself
Oregon Health Plan Data Breach
It’s important to have all the facts about the reported data breach so you can take action and protect yourself. Here’s what we know:
- The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced that Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members were impacted by the global MOVEit Transfer data hack that impacted the Oregon DMV last month.
- OHA said they were informed of the breach by Performance Health Technology (PH TECH), a private-sector vendor that helps manage OHP member data.
- According to PH TECH, the breach allowed hackers to access personal information of about 1.7 million members due to a security vulnerability from the Progress MOVEit software.
- This hack is part of a global technology hack that affected more than 2,000 organizations worldwide who use the MOVEit transfer software tool, including the Oregon and Louisiana DMVs, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others.
What you can do to protect yourself: OHP members impacted by the data breach can expect a letter in the mail from PH TECH with information on how to access free credit monitoring. PH TECH will not contact you by phone or email. Report scams and fraud by calling the Oregon Department of Justice hotline at 1-877-877-9392.
Check your credit report: Federal law allows individuals to receive a free credit report every 12 months. You can request one online at www.annualcreditreport.com or by phone at 1-877-322-8228. Check the reports for any activity you do not recognize. For more information you can also visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website on identity theft at consumer.ftc.gov/features/identity-theft.
Be vigilant in monitoring your credit activity. If you wish to freeze your credit files, please contact all three monitoring agencies for assistance:
For additional information, please contact PH Tech at 888-498-1602 or by visiting https://response.idx.us/PHTECH/.
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