August 24, 2021 4:10 a.m.  

In response to growing hospitalization rates across the state due to the Delta variant of COVID-19, Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek announced on Monday that the upcoming public hearings of the Senate and House Redistricting committees will be moved to a virtual format.

A joint release said while the committees had hoped to visit communities across Oregon in person, the recent surge of COVID-19 cases has made this “…increasingly risky to public health”. The lawmakers said the Delta variant has changed everything.

The release said the change in formats was made after consulting with infectious disease doctors, public health experts and the leaders of the committees. The virtual hearings will be organized to hear from residents of each current congressional district. Oregonians can participate by signing up for phone or video testimony, uploading written testimony or by submitting a map for consideration by September 7th.

For those in the 4th Congressional District, hearings will be held September 9th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and September 10th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Statewide hearings for residents of any congressional district will be conducted on September 13th from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

For more information about how to participate, go to: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/redistricting