{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\" and state = \"OR\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-oregon-delegation-demand-end-trump-administrations-violations-due", "Bynum, Oregon Delegation Demand an End to Trump Administration's Violations of Due Process for Immigrants", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, and Maxine Dexter, along with U.S. senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, demanded the Trump administration end the practice of \u201cmega master\u201d immigration hearings that expedite the review of hundreds of immigrants\u2019 cases in a day, resulting in a fast-track to removing immigrants without due process.\n\n\u201cThis unwarranted blitzkrieg of assaults on justice and fair treatment raises serious constitutional concerns and is unworthy of the oaths you swore to uphold,\u201d the Oregon lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and David Venturella, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, your agencies have increased the number of immigrants who must appear on little-to-no notice for so-called \u2018mega master\u2019 hearings on overcrowded dockets in front of Trump\u2019s handpicked judges at courts across the country, all while stripping immigrants of their legal status, ramping up arrests and detention, and limiting their access to legal counsel for representation in court and fast-tracked asylum interviews,\u201dthey wrote.\n\n\u201cThese policy changes confuse and terrify law-abiding immigrants in our communities and prevent them from having a fair day in court.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote that the Portland Immigration Court in Oregon is now holding about two \u201cmega master\u201d hearings every week, in addition to maintaining its previously-scheduled docket hearings and individual merit hearings. That has forced immigrants anticipating court dates in 2027 or 2028 to suddenly show up on extremely short notice and scrambling both to figure out how to get to the court on time, and to find an attorney to represent them.\n\n\u201cAs if the changes at the Portland Immigration Court weren\u2019t bad enough, the neighboring Tacoma Immigration Court has now had judges deciding in mid-August to stop allowing immigration attorneys across Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska from appearing remotely on behalf of their clients detained at the regional detention center,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cPreviously, the Tacoma Immigration Court allowed out-of-state attorneys to represent their clients by making court appearances through video conferencing technology. Now attorneys\u2014and when applicable, expert witnesses\u2014 have to attend these hearings in person.\u201d\n\nThe new requirement for immigration attorneys to represent their clients in person comes as immigration judges allow Department of Homeland Security prosecutors to participate in hearings remotely. In other cases even the presiding judge is attending remotely as well, with attorneys sharing that remote appearances by judges happen in about half the cases that they must attend in-person at the Tacoma Immigration Court.\n\nThese new in-person requirements also come as attorneys share that the court is sending \u201cnotices to appear\u201d and setting hearings for that same morning giving the attorneys little time to prepare or make travel arrangements from out of state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been routinely denying immigration attorneys access to their clients at detention centers, and transferring clients thousands of miles away to detention centers across the country.\n\n\u201cImmigration court proceedings must uphold fairness and rule of law and not be politicized to satisfy Donald Trump\u2019s arbitrary detention quotas. We call on the Trump administration to discontinue policies and tactics that undermine constitutional due process. Our legal system relies on accountability; therefore, we demand that you establish fair and meaningful hearings that provide a genuine day in court and uphold the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe lawmakers ended their letter demanding a written response by October 15th, 2026 detailing the steps that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will take to achieve the following:\n\nTerminate \u201cmega master\u201d hearings.\n\nProvide immigrants with sufficient notice of their proceedings.\n\nReduce hardships on immigration attorneys.\n\nEnsure that immigration judges hear cases individually, free from political influence.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-applauds-democratic-womens-caucus-for-robust-economic-legislative-slate", "REP. HOYLE APPLAUDS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN\u2019S CAUCUS FOR ROBUST ECONOMIC LEGISLATIVE SLATE", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "EUGENE, OR \u2013 Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), released the following statement after joining her colleagues in the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus in launching their slate of economic priorities.\n\n\"Working families deserve financial security, a path to the middle class and economic opportunity,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThis administration is stripping Americans of these opportunities and turning back the clock on progress. We\u2019refighting back with a forward-thinking economic agenda that will close the gender pay gap, protect worker's rights and lower costs, helping Americans thrive for generations to come.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nThis legislative package includes a number of priorities championed by Rep. Hoyle including:\n\nH.R. 4966 \u2013 Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act, which would prohibit price gouging by grocery stores.\n\nH.R. 1700 \u2013 Social Security Expansion Act, which would expand Social Security benefits by $2,400 a year and ensure Social Security is fully funded for the next 75 years by applying the Social Security payroll tax on all income above $250,000.\n\nH.R. 17 \u2013 the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help working women challenge pay discrimination\n\nH.R. 2763 \u2013 the American Family Act, which would permanently expand the Child Tax Credit for middle-class and low-income families\n\nH.R. 5390 \u2013 The FAMILY Act, which would provide workers with up to 12 weeks of partial income when they take time for their own serious health conditions.\n\nH.R.7917 - Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act, which would ensure home care workers receive at least the minimum wage and access to overtime pay\n\nH.R. 3971 \u2013 Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act, extend workplace rights and protections to the 2.2 million domestic workers in the US, who are currently excluded from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).\n\nH.R. 1035 \u2013 Job Protection Act, which extend Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) protections to cover workers in businesses of all sizes", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-salinas-hoyle-dexter-bynum-oppose-trumps-undermining-of-due-process-and-politicizing-immigration-courts", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Hoyle, Dexter, Bynum Oppose Trump\u2019s Undermining of Due Process and Politicizing Immigration Courts", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Oregon lawmakers demand an end to expedited \u201cmega master\u201d hearings in Portland, Tacoma, and other immigration centers.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum, today demanded the Trump administration end the practice of \u201cmega master\u201d immigration hearings that expedite the review of hundreds of immigrants\u2019 cases in a day, resulting in a fast-track to removing immigrants without due process.\n\n\u201cThis unwarranted blitzkrieg of assaults on justice and fair treatment raises serious constitutional concerns and is unworthy of the oaths you swore to uphold,\u201d the Oregon lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and David Venturella, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, your agencies have increased the number of immigrants who must appear on little-to-no notice for so-called \u2018mega master\u2019 hearings on overcrowded dockets in front of Trump\u2019s handpicked judges at courts across the country, all while stripping immigrants of their legal status, ramping up arrests and detention, and limiting their access to legal counsel for representation in court and fast-tracked asylum interviews,\u201d they wrote.\n\n\u201cThese policy changes confuse and terrify law-abiding immigrants in our communities and prevent them from having a fair day in court.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote that the Portland Immigration Court in Oregon is now holding about two \u201cmega master\u201d hearings every week, in addition to maintaining its previously scheduled docket hearings and individual merit hearings. That has forced immigrants anticipating court dates in 2027 or 2028 to suddenly show up on extremely short notice and scrambling both to figure out how to get to the court on time, and to find an attorney to represent them.\n\n\u201cAs if the changes at the Portland Immigration Court weren\u2019t bad enough, the neighboring Tacoma Immigration Court has now had judges deciding in mid-August to stop allowing immigration attorneys across Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska from appearing remotely on behalf of their clients detained at the regional detention center,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cPreviously, the Tacoma Immigration Court allowed out-of-state attorneys to represent their clients by making court appearances through video conferencing technology. Now attorneys\u2014and when applicable, expert witnesses\u2014 have to attend these hearings in person.\u201d\n\nThe new requirement for immigration attorneys to represent their clients in person comes as immigration judges allow Department of Homeland Security prosecutors to participate in hearings remotely. In other cases even the presiding judge is attending remotely as well, with attorneys sharing that remote appearances by judges happen in about half the cases that they must attend in-person at the Tacoma Immigration Court.\n\nThese new in-person requirements also come as attorneys share that the court is sending \u201cnotices to appear\u201d and setting hearings for that same morning giving the attorneys little time to prepare or make travel arrangements from out of state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been routinely denying immigration attorneys access to their clients at detention centers, and transferring clients thousands of miles away to detention centers across the country.\n\n\u201cImmigration court proceedings must uphold fairness and rule of law and not be politicized to satisfy Donald Trump\u2019s arbitrary detention quotas. We call on the Trump administration to discontinue policies and tactics that undermine constitutional due process. Our legal system relies on accountability; therefore, we demand that you establish fair and meaningful hearings that provide a genuine day in court and uphold the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe lawmakers ended their letter demanding a written response by October 15th, 2026 detailing the steps that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will take to achieve the following:\n\nTerminate \u201cmega master\u201d hearings.\n\nProvide immigrants with sufficient notice of their proceedings.\n\nReduce hardships on immigration attorneys.\n\nEnsure that immigration judges hear cases individually, free from political influence.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here.\n\nA web version of the release is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-dexter-md-connects-wood-village-leaders-and-community", "Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. Connects with Wood Village Leaders and the Community", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WOOD VILLAGE, OR \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), joined Wood Village Mayor Jairo Rios-Campos for a walk through the city before holding a community listening session with Wood Village and Fairview residents.\n\nThe visit gave Congresswoman Dexter an opportunity to hear from local leaders and community members about the issues affecting their neighborhoods, including youth recreation, transportation and economic development.\n\n\u201cThe best way for me to represent our communities in Congress is to show up and listen,\u201d Congresswoman Dexter said. \u201cToday, I heard from local leaders and neighbors about what they need and where the federal government can be a better partner. I\u2019ll take those conversations with me back to Washington as I continue working for East Multnomah County.\u201d\n\nDuring the visit, Congresswoman Dexter and Mayor Rios-Campos toured Wood Village and discussed expanding recreational opportunities for young people. Wood Village currently does not have a community center or indoor youth recreation space. Mayor Rios-Campos, the city\u2019s first Hispanic mayor, also leads PlayEast!, a partnership between Wood Village and Fairview that provides recreational activities and programs for local children and families.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to welcome Congresswoman Dexter back to Wood Village,\u201d Mayor Rios-Campos said. \u201cWe are proud of the diversity of our community and the people, cultures, and experiences that make Wood Village such a special place. While we may be a small city, the diversity of our community also means we face a wide range of needs and challenges. Her willingness to spend time here, listen to our community members and local businesses, and better understand those challenges reflect the kind of partnership we value. Whether helping people navigate immigration and other federal issues, supporting our local economy, or advocating for resources that strengthen City services, we appreciate having a representative who takes the time to hear directly from the people she serves. We look forward to continuing that relationship.\u201d\n\nThe Congresswoman also visited Northeast Halsey Street to see improvements aimed at making crosswalks safer and supporting economic growth in the area. She later hosted a community listening session with more than 70 Wood Village and Fairview residents to hear about the issues affecting their families and communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-calls-on-fda-to-take-action-around-estrogen-patch-shortage", "REP. HOYLE CALLS ON FDA TO TAKE ACTION AROUND ESTROGEN PATCH SHORTAGE", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "EUGENE, OR \u2013 Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), released the following statement after joining her colleagues in the Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus in sending a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demanding they treat the ongoing Estradiol patch supply disruption with the urgency it deserves:\n\n\"Women across the country can't get their prescriptions filled and aren't given answers why,\" said Rep. Hoyle. \"This isn't just an inconvenience; it's a direct threat to their long-term health. This Administration cannot keep looking the other way while women's health is sidelined. The FDA must treat this crisis with the urgency it needs.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nEstradiol patches are used by millions of peri- and post-menopausal individuals to manage menopause symptoms and protect long-term health, including bone density.\n\nIn 2025, the removal of the black box warning on menopausal hormone therapy products contributed to a significant increase in prescriptions at a time when manufacturing capacity was already strained. This surge has outpaced the supply chain\u2019s ability to keep pace.\n\nPatients nationwide have been reporting significant difficulties filling estradiol patch prescriptions. Treatment interruptions can mean the return of debilitating symptoms and for some, real risk to their long-term bone and cardiovascular health.\n\n44 Cosigners: Ansari, Yassamin; Barrag\u00e1n, Nanette; Bonamici, Suzanne; Clarke, Yvette; Dexter, Maxine; Dingell, Debbie; Escobar, Veronica; Fletcher, Lizzie; Frankel, Lois; Friedman, Laura; Garcia, Sylvia; Gillen, Laura; Grijalva, Adelita; Hayes, Jahana; Houlahan, Chrissy; Hoyle, Val; Jayapal, Pramila; Johnson, Julie; Kamlager-Dove, Sydney; Leger Fernandez, Teresa; McClain Delaney, April; McIver, LaMonica; Morrison, Kelly; Pettersen, Brittany; Pingree, Chellie; Pou, Nellie; Pressley, Ayanna; Ramirez, Delia; Randall, Emily; Rivas, Luz; Ross, Deborah; Salinas, Andrea; Scholten, Hillary; Simon, Lateefah; Stansbury, Melanie; Stevens, Haley; Tlaib, Rashida; Tokuda, Jill; Trahan, Lori; Vel\u00e1zquez, Nydia; Waters, Maxine; Watson Coleman, Bonnie; Williams, Nikema; Wilson, Frederica.", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/big-beautiful-bill-provides-546-million-to-wallowa-memorial-hospital", "Big Beautiful Bill Provides $5.46 Million to Wallowa Memorial Hospital", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Cliff Bentz", "B000668", "bentz.house.gov", "bentz", "https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Wallowa, OR \u2013 Wallowa Memorial Hospital announced Tuesday that it will receive $5.46 million in federal grants to modernize technology and enhance healthcare access.\n\nThis $5.46 million comes from the Big Beautiful Bill\u2019s provision that created the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative intended to transform and improve rural hospitals.\n\nCongressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) was the only member of Oregon\u2019s congressional delegation to vote YES for the Big Beautiful Bill.\n\nSaid Congressman Bentz: \u201cI am very pleased that Wallowa Memorial Hospital was selected to receive this $5.46 million grant. This federal investment in Wallowa County means that county residents will be able to obtain high-quality medical assistance much more quickly and much more closely to home. This is exactly one of the many positive outcomes I hoped for when I voted for the Big Beautiful Bill.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-announces-october-town-hall-meetings", "Bonamici Announces October Town Hall Meetings", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [9/28/26] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced her fall town hall series with three meetings across the First Congressional District.\n\nBonamici will answer questions from attendees and provide an update about her work in Congress. The town hall meetings will be in Beaverton, St. Helens, and Astoria.\n\n\u201cHearing from the people of NW Oregon is essential to my work in Congress,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cI know many people are worried about the high cost of living, threats to our democracy, and more. I invite everyone to attend one of my town hall meetings to discuss their concerns and ask questions.\u201d\n\nMembers of Bonamici\u2019s staff will be at the town hall meetings to assist anyone who is experiencing problems with federal agencies, including the VA, Social Security Administration, immigration, and IRS.\n\nBeaverton Town Hall Meeting\n\nTuesday, October 6th \u2013 7 p.m.\n\nArts & Communication Magnet Academy\n\n11375 SW Center Street, Beaverton\n\nSt. Helens Town Hall Meeting\n\nWednesday, October 7th \u2013 6 p.m.\n\nSt. Helens Senior Center\n\n375 S 15th Street, St. Helens\n\nAstoria Town Hall Meeting\n\nSaturday, October 17th \u2013 1 p.m.\n\nTo be announced\n\nFor everyone\u2019s safety and security, large bags and backpacks are not allowed at the town hall meeting. Small purses no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches are permitted. Attendees will not be allowed inside if they do not comply with these safety regulations. Doors will open an hour before each event.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-calls-review-epas-microplastics-monitoring-and-research", "Bynum Calls for Review of EPA\u2019s Microplastics Monitoring and Research", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The lawmakers argue that to continue protecting Americans\u2019 health, they need to understand what the EPA has accomplished in its work on microplastics and what progress still needs to be made. They also emphasize the urgency of this review amid emerging research connecting microplastics to adverse health consequences and serious environmental risks.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers write:\n\n\u201cEven as the EPA's FY2023-FY2026 research plan approaches its conclusion, Congress lacks a clear assessment of what the EPA has accomplished in its work on microplastics and what work remains necessary to support reliable monitoring, risk assessment and potential regulatory action.\u201d\n\nLater in the letter, they write:\n\n\u201cAddressing microplastic pollution is critical for protecting the health of Americans and safeguarding our waterways and ecosystems. Our constituents deserve to know what microplastic exposure means for their families\u2019 health, and the requested information above will be critical in informing Congress\u2019s work in tackling this challenge.\"\n\nThe letter was also signed by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Jes\u00fas G. \"Chuy\" Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Dave Min (CA-47), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Judy Chu (CA-28), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Mike Levin (CA-49), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18).\n\nIn July, Rep. Bynum led a bicameral letter, urging the Environmental Protection Agency to add microplastics to the agency's recently published Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6). This letter urged the EPA to begin monitoring microplastics in America's drinking water, citing a growing body of research linking the emerging contaminant to serious adverse health effects.\n\nRep. Bynum also introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Microplastics Safety Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a study on the health impacts of microplastics in food, water, and other products. The new legislation is a critical step forward in better understanding the threat of microplastics to human health.\n\nBackground\n\nResearchers at the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) define microplastics as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters to one nanometer. Microplastics have been found in every ecosystem on the planet, as well as in food, beverages, and animal and human tissue. When Environment Oregon sampled 30 of Oregon\u2019s most iconic rivers, lakes, and urban waterways, they found microplastic fibers in 100% of the samples.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-dexter-md-meets-sandy-mayor-discuss-community-priorities", "Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. Meets with Sandy Mayor to Discuss Community Priorities and Infrastructure Investments", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SANDY, OR \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) met with Sandy Mayor Kathleen Walker and city officials to discuss the community's infrastructure needs, explore local parks and visit a small business serving Sandy residents.\n\nDuring the visit, Dexter learned more about Sandy's investments in public parks, efforts to support local businesses and ongoing challenges with the city's wastewater treatment system. She was joined by Mayor Walker, City Manager Tyler Deems and Deputy City Manager Jeff Aprati.\n\n\u201cStrong communities need reliable infrastructure, successful small businesses and public spaces where families can come together,\u201d Congresswoman Dexter said. \u201cSandy is investing in its future, and I want to make sure the federal government is doing its part. I\u2019m grateful to Mayor Walker and local leaders for sharing their priorities and showing me where federal investments can make a difference.\u201d\n\nThe visit included an opportunity to learn about improvements underway at Meinig Memorial Park and explore Cedar Park, Sandy's newest community park. Cedar Park features the Base Camp Action Sports Park, which offers year-round recreational opportunities, including skating, biking and other activities for residents of all ages.\n\n\u201cWe were excited to welcome Congresswoman Dexter to Sandy today to show her the work we\u2019re doing to keep our community a great place to live,\u201d Mayor Walker said. \u201cFrom improving our parks to modernizing critical wastewater infrastructure, these projects are investments in Sandy\u2019s future. We\u2019re especially grateful for the Congresswoman's partnership in securing federal funding for our wastewater system upgrades, which helps reduce future utility rates for our residents. She understands how important infrastructure investments like these are for growing communities like Sandy.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Dexter also visited AntFarm Caf\u00e9 & Bakery, a local business that serves as a community gathering space while supporting youth and family services, arts programming and educational opportunities.\n\nThe Congresswoman has secured more than $1.8 million in proposed federal funding to help Sandy improve its wastewater system, including $1.09 million to plan a pipeline connecting Sandy to Gresham and $746,868 to repair aging wastewater pipes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-hoyle-announce-1-million-for-lane-county-emergency-communications-infrastructure", "Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Announce $1 Million for Lane County Emergency Communications Infrastructure", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Eugene, OR \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), announced $1 million in federal funding for Lane County\u2019s Emergency Communications Resiliency and Interoperability Project. The funding will support a key portion of the project to replace aging radio communications infrastructure at Bear Mountain.\n\n\u201cWhen an emergency strikes, first responders need to know they can reach each other and coordinate a response,\u201d said Merkley, who helped secure funding for this project as a key member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \u201cCommunity-initiated projects like this one are rooted in the fact that no one knows the unique needs of communities across Oregon quite like the folks who are a part of them, and that\u2019s why I fight so hard to deliver them back to Oregon. These federal dollars will help Lane County replace aging infrastructure and build a more resilient communications network, strengthening the ability of firefighters and other emergency personnel to keep Oregonians safe when they need help most.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst responders being able to reliably communicate can be the difference between life and death when emergencies hit rural communities,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis federal investment will replace outdated radio equipment and deploy modern network technology so rural Oregon fire agencies can maintain uninterrupted contact during crises. I\u2019ll keep fighting to deliver the federal resources that Oregon\u2019s local emergency crews need to stay safe and protect our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupporting our rural communities means investing in resilient infrastructure and modernization projects so no one gets left behind,\u201d said Hoyle. \u201cThis $1M grant will invest in new radio systems to strengthen regional connectivity, limit service interruptions and advance emergency response capabilities across Lane County.\u201d\n\nThe project was developed by Lane County and supported by Merkley, Wyden, and Hoyle as part of the FY24 agriculture funding bill. The $1 million federal investment will help advance upgrades at the Bear Mountain communications site, which is an important component of the county\u2019s emergency communications infrastructure. Lane County has identified resilient communications as critical to coordinated emergency response and public safety.\n\n\u201cThese funds will help make sure our first responders can communicate as they patrol and respond to emergencies in South Lane County,\u201d said County Commissioner Heather Buch, whose district includes Bear Mountain. \u201cThe continued advocacy of our federal delegation is helping us make our communities safer and healthier for everyone.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/milton-freewater-one-step-closer-to-obtaining-13-million-water-system-grant", "Milton-Freewater One Step Closer to Obtaining $13 Million Water System Grant", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Cliff Bentz", "B000668", "bentz.house.gov", "bentz", "https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill last week that included a $13 million authorization, which if passed by the Senate and if appropriated by the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, would be given to the City of Milton-Freewater for the replacement and expansion of a portion of the City\u2019s outdated water supply system.\n\nThis biennial and bipartisan bill, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA), authorizes certain studies and projects presented by a congressman or congresswoman to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which, if approved by the Corp, becomes eligible for federal funding subject to appropriation by Congress.\n\nIn January of this year Congressman Bentz met with Milton-Freewater\u2019s Mayor, City Manager, and a city counselor to discuss the City\u2019s dire need for funding to replace one of the City\u2019s three reservoirs, which reservoir is 70 years old, failing, and not repairable. Water and sewer rates in the city are already close to $80.00 per month.\n\nBecause there are other additional and unavoidable City utility improvements on the near horizon, City leaders are trying to avoid borrowing the $13 million, which would, of course, necessitate a water/sewer rate increase. They asked if the Congressman would assist them by requesting a WRDA authorization. Congressman Bentz did so and this first step was successful. A provision for Milton-Freewater has been included in the WRDA bill and, if this $13 million authorization is passed by the Senate and later appropriated through the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, the City would receive the $13 million.\n\nSaid Mike Odman, Mayor of Milton-Freewater: \u201cThe Middle Reservoir is a critical component of our municipal water system, and its replacement will help ensure a safe, reliable water supply for our residents for decades to come. Congressman Bentz and his office's responsiveness throughout the application process\u2014from the initial project scoping conversations through submission\u2014made a meaningful difference for a small community with limited grant-writing capacity. We are grateful for the time Congressman Bentz\u2019s staff invested in understanding the project and advocating for it in Washington.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-salinas-dexter-bynum-support-kotek-demanding-emergency-federal-assistance-for-east-evans-fire", "Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas, Dexter, Bynum Support Kotek Demanding Emergency Federal Assistance for East Evans Fire", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Medford, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) to support Oregon Governor Tina Kotek\u2019s request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urgently reconsider the agency\u2019s denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the East Evans Creek Fire north of Rogue River, OR.\n\nAt the time of the initial application earlier this year, the fire had reached more than 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 \u201cGo Now\u201d Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure.\n\n\u201cThis fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry\u2019s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cTheir efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.\u201d\n\nThe State of Oregon requested financial assistance from FEMA through the FMAG program, which helps cover costs relating to emergencies and firefighting activities for fires that have the potential to become major disasters. FEMA\u2019s decision to deny this specific FMAG came as Oregon was facing a record-setting 2026 fire season, ultimately resulting in firefighters responding to 1,873 distinct fires that burned more than 2.5 million acres.\n\n\u201cOregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cWe thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. \u201c\n\nFull text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:\n\nDear Administrator Hamilton and Mr. Maykovich:\n\nWe write in support of the State of Oregon\u2019s appeal of the denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) application on July 22, 2026 for the East Evans Creek Fire, located 14 miles northeast of Rogue River, Oregon in Jackson County. The fire broke out on the afternoon of July 10, 2026, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and high temperatures.\n\nWe believe that Oregon\u2019s appeal demonstrates that the costs associated with the mitigation, management and control of the East Evans Creek Fire on public and private forest land threatened destruction to the degree that it constituted a major disaster. At the time of the state\u2019s request, the East Evans Creek fire demonstrated substantial and escalating threats under Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA\u2019s) criteria. In their appeal, the State provided further clarity and evidence supporting the need and criteria met under the FMAG program.\n\nAt the time of the initial application, the fire had reached over 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 \u201cGo Now\u201d Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure.\n\nThis fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry\u2019s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident. Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.\n\nOregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident.\n\nWe thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-bynum-racial-slur-not-trash-talk-its-not-rivalry-its-straight", "Congresswoman Bynum: \u201cA racial slur is not trash talk. It\u2019s not a rivalry. It\u2019s straight up racist.\u201d", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) released the following statement following the alleged use of a racial slur during a recent Oregon high school football game.\n\n\u201cFootball is supposed to be about teamwork, healthy competition, and kids getting the chance to do something they love,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cA kid should be able to put on their jersey, take the field, and worry about the next play \u2013 not whether someone is going to attack them on their race, sex, religion, or any other distinguishing feature. A racial slur is not trash talk. It\u2019s not a rivalry. It\u2019s straight up racist. In the state legislature, I sponsored legislation to make sure incidents like this couldn\u2019t just be swept under the rug. We can\u2019t ask young people to speak up and then fail them when they do. We need to teach our kids that reporting incidents like these will be taken seriously, investigated, and appropriately addressed based on the findings.\n\n\u201cThe Oregon School Activities Association must step up and double down on eliminating these incidents. I have no tolerance for our kids being harmed in competition by racial slurs. And I have no patience for mealy-mouthed adults who throw their hands up and say there\u2019s nothing we can do. If OSAA does not act, the governor and legislature should consider taking up a stronger set of sanctions sooner, rather than later.\u201d\n\nAs a state legislator, Congresswoman Bynum introduced HB 3409, requiring a process for reporting and responding to harassment and hateful language during school sports and activities. The legislation was in response to a 2019 racial slur incident at Parkrose High School during a girls varsity basketball game, as well as other reports from students around the state.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-bynum-statement-knights-1-billion-donation-university-oregon", "Congresswoman Bynum Statement on Knight\u2019s $1 Billion Donation to University of Oregon", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) released a statement in response to Phil and Penny Knight\u2019s announcement of a $1 billion donation to the University of Oregon to help start an engineering school.\n\n\u201cThis is exactly what investing in the next generation looks like \u2013 and I\u2019m not just saying that because I\u2019m an engineer,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cThis generous and game-changing donation should be the standard for how we invest in getting our kids ready for the future and for how philanthropy can partner with local, state, and federal government to drive innovation. I\u2019m fighting everyday in Congress to make that a reality. Go Ducks!\u201d", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-human-centered-framework-provide-guardrails-ai-education", "Bonamici Introduces Human-Centered Framework to Provide Guardrails for AI in Education and Workforce", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [9/22/26] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced comprehensive legislation to establish guardrails against AI risks in education and the workforce and invest in protections for students, educators, and workers.\n\nThe Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act is a robust federal framework to protect students, educators, and workers and help them safely navigate the technology in their classrooms and careers. The bill establishes national workforce strategies and coordinates evidence-based programs across the Departments of Education and Labor, and it directs safety research at federal science agencies. It creates enforceable safeguards, protects workers and communities, invests in professional development, and more.\n\n\u201cAI is already shaping how students learn and how people earn a living, but federal rules and regulations to protect students, support workers, and enforce ethical standards do not exist,\u201d said Congresswoman Bonamici. \u201cThe companies building these tools don\u2019t get to regulate themselves; we need clear rules and accountability for how AI is used in classrooms and workplaces. My human-centered legislation will empower and protect students, families, educators and others in the workforce by investing in evidence-based research, reskilling, transparency, safety, and long-term strategies. Congress must act now so AI does not continue to threaten the development of critical thinking skills and the wellbeing of humanity.\u201d\n\nThe legislation has been endorsed by Alliance for Learning Innovation, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), American Council on Education, American Federation of Teachers, Center for American Progress, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and Workday.\n\n\u201cAs concerns about the risks of AI mount and industry leaders urge the federal government to act, Congresswoman Bonamici is answering the call with urgency,\u201d said Center for American Progress Senior Director of K-12 Education Policy Wead\u00e9 James, Ph.D. \u201cThis bill advances safeguards to promote responsible AI adoption in schools and the workforce, ensuring our nation\u2019s 49 million public school students continue to receive an education rooted in learning science and human interaction.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs educators, school systems, and parents confront the rapidly changing use of artificial intelligence applications throughout society, including with children in schools, education researchers applaud Congresswoman Bonamici\u2019s effort to establish a comprehensive federal framework for the responsible use of AI in our nation\u2019s schools including professional development and open-access evidence-based research,\u201d said Emily Tanner-Smith, Dean, University of Oregon College of Education and Thomson Professor in Counseling Psychology and Human Services. \u201cOur faculty are committed to generating the research and preparing the educators needed to ensure AI is used responsibly, ethically, and in ways that expand opportunity for all learners.\u201d\n\n\"We appreciate Rep. Bonamici's efforts to encourage students and assist our institutions in navigating the fast-changing AI frontier,\u201d said Sarah Spreitzer, Vice President and Chief of Staff for Government Relations, American Council on Education. \u201cThis much-needed legislation will create new programs and provide resources to ensure that postsecondary education is ready to respond to the array of questions and challenges posed by AI.\"\n\n\u201cWorkday is pleased to support Congresswoman Bonamici\u2019s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education and Workforce Readiness Act,\u201d said Chandler Morse, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Workday. \u201cAI will fundamentally reshape the world of work and Congress needs to take steps to help modernize labor market data, pinpoint the skills of the future, and empower employers to invest deeply in upskilling their talent. By bridging the gap between emerging technology and workforce development, this legislation creates a framework for driving responsible innovation while building an AI-ready workforce.\u201d\n\nAdditional statements of support can be found here.\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here, and a section-by-section breakdown can be found here. The bill will:\n\nRequire AI risk assessment standards for classroom technology, safeguards against harmful content, parental notice and opt-out rights, human review of automated decisions in federally funded workforce programs, and a secure student data breach reporting portal, enforced jointly by the Department of Education and the Federal Trade Commission;\n\nCreate strict safety compliance requirements, including prohibiting the use of student data to train AI models, open licensing and access of funded research and learning materials, independent evaluations and audits, human oversight and bias testing, robust data security protocols, and adoption of NIST's AI risk management framework;\n\nProhibit model developers from directing school instructional content or requiring exclusive use of their AI product;\n\nRequire data center operators to disclose pre-construction energy and water consumption projections and actual operational consumption, direct NIST to develop AI infrastructure energy and water measurement standards, and funds state, local, and community capacity for data center oversight, audits, and environmental research;\n\nEstablish an Interagency Council on Artificial Intelligence in Education and the Workforce to publish and update list of AI-disrupted jobs to guide program design;\n\nEstablish grants for regional career pathways and stackable micro-credential pilot programs to support interdisciplinary studies and project-based learning;\n\nSupport in-service training for school leaders that pairs AI literacy with humanities, critical thinking, and work-based learning, including on algorithmic bias, student data privacy, and preventing reliance on AI for critical educator roles;\n\nProvide resources for educator professional development on responsible and ethical AI use; facilitate open-access education research on evidence-based, voluntary materials for AI-related literacy, ethics, civics, and humanities;\n\nFund open-access research on AI effects in education, Regional Centers for Human-Centered AI in Education and Work, and updated federal practice guides for the responsible use of AI in the classroom;\n\nInvest in applied AI workforce research on employment disruption, regional training with wraparound supports, and evidence-based educator toolkits;\n\nDirect a National AI Workforce Strategy and State AI Workforce Implementation Plans, supported by a national workforce coordination council, to assess skills gaps, identify disrupted occupations, and align programs with regional labor needs;\n\nProvide grants for community colleges, small employers, and workforce programs to develop research and upskilling resources for individuals in non-traditional career pathways;\n\nCreate grants for apprenticeships, reskilling, and public service fellowships; require AI accessibility in vocational programs; provide a small business reskilling tax credit; and require reporting on AI-caused worker displacement;\n\nEstablish grants for equitable AI education access, capacity building at minority serving institutions, career scholarships, mentorship networks, and technical assistance; and\n\nRequire EEOC liability guidance on preventing discriminatory AI use in recruitment, training, and performance evaluation.\n\nThe package is cosponsored by Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA), Valerie P. Foushee (D-NC), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), and Greg Landsman (D-OH).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-announces-formation-bipartisan-geothermal-caucus", "Rep. Andrea Salinas Announces Formation of Bipartisan Geothermal Caucus", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Representatives Nick Begich (AK-AL), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), and Jeff Hurd (CO-03), announced the formation of the new, bipartisan Congressional Geothermal Caucus.\n\n\u201cGeothermal will help deliver the affordable, reliable, and clean energy that Oregonians need,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cOregon sits on some of the best geothermal resources in the country, and this energy can power our homes, cut costs for families, and create good jobs right here in our state. At a time when families are watching their utility bill, geothermal offers an energy source that's reliable and affordable. As Congress looks for ways to strengthen our grid and meet growing energy demand, geothermal deserves a seat at the table. I\u2019m excited to launch this caucus that will coalesce strong bipartisan support for geothermal energy and help chart the future of this critical American industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica is blessed with tremendous energy resources, and geothermal represents another opportunity to responsibly harness the resources we have to strengthen American energy leadership,\u201d said Congressman Nick Begich. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join Representatives Salinas, Hurd, and Auchincloss as a co-chair of the Congressional Geothermal Caucus, and I look forward to working together to elevate geothermal in our national energy conversation and advance bipartisan solutions that continue to strengthen America\u2019s energy future.\u201d\n\n\u201cGeothermal is firm, clean & affordable power,\u201d said Rep. Auchincloss. \u201cIt sustains good jobs and provides the United States with greater energy sovereignty. It's also a potential export industry that could give America more leverage in energy diplomacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to serve as a co-chair of the Geothermal Caucus alongside Representatives Salinas, Auchincloss, and Begich and to help bring together members from both parties who recognize the enormous potential of this resource. Geothermal can provide reliable, around-the-clock American energy, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen communities across the West and around the country. I look forward to working with my fellow co-chairs and caucus members to build on the bipartisan progress we\u2019ve already made and advance practical policies that make it easier to develop geothermal resources here at home,\u201d said Rep. Hurd.\n\nThe caucus will serve as a forum to build awareness of emerging geothermal technologies and the opportunities they create for economic growth, job creation, and grid reliability. The caucus will facilitate discussions on the role geothermal energy can play in meeting our nation's energy needs and work to identify legislative solutions to support geothermal development.", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-announces-oregon-tech-officially-receiving-over-1-million-quantum", "Rep. Salinas Announces Oregon Tech Officially Receiving Over $1 Million for Quantum Devices and Computing Initiative", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the Oregon Institute of Technology is officially receiving $1,031,000 in federal funding she secured for the university\u2019s Quantum Devices and Computing Initiative.\n\nThe funding is being distributed through the National Institute of Standards and Technology\u2019s Scientific and Technical Research and Services Community Project Funding program. Rep. Salinas secured the funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package.\n\n\u201cQuantum technology is moving quickly, and schools like Oregon Tech are helping lead the way,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cThis $1 million investment will give Oregon Tech students and researchers access to the equipment and hands-on training they need to build careers in a growing industry. I\u2019m glad I was able to secure this federal funding because investing in Oregon\u2019s students, research, and innovation creates opportunities for working people and strengthens our economy.\u201d\n\nThe $1,031,000 will help Oregon Tech expand its quantum research capacity, upgrade specialized laboratory equipment, and provide hands-on education and workforce development in quantum science and engineering. The initiative will support work in areas including quantum computing, sensing, networking, and advanced quantum devices.\n\n\u201cOregon Tech is deeply grateful to Congresswoman Salinas for securing over $1 million to support our Quantum Devices and Computing Initiative,\u201d said Dr. Nagi Naganathan, President of Oregon Institute of Technology. \u201cThis investment will help prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technicians for careers in Oregon in one of the most transformative emerging fields of the 21st century. Quantum technologies have the potential to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, energy, transportation, and environmental sustainability, creating innovative solutions that improve lives and strengthen Oregon communities. We are proud to partner in advancing research and education that will deliver such meaningful benefits for society and we thank the Congresswoman for her leadership in this critical area.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Salinas visited Oregon Tech to celebrate the funding\u2019s inclusion in the FY26 appropriations package with university leaders.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-unveils-legislative-plan-transform-k-12-education", "Bonamici Unveils Legislative Plan to Transform K-12 Education", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [9/17/26] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the Transforming Education for the Future Act, comprehensive legislation to modernize the K-12 education system and create a better future for students and families.\n\nThe American education system has experienced significant turbulence during the past decade, including the mismanagement and dismantling of the Department of Education, devastating effects of COVID-19, increased use of devices and social media, the rise of generative AI, and undermining of federal support for public schools. The Transforming Education for the Future Act provides the framework to address these critical issues and more. The legislation is the result of months of stakeholder outreach and member engagement.\n\nBonamici outlined her plan on the House floor. The video can be found here.\n\n\u201cFor decades, public schools have been asked to do more with less. Add to that the fact that we have seen many new and complicated challenges over the past ten years,\u201d Bonamici said on the House floor. \u201c...Circumstances have changed, but the American system of public education has not yet adapted. We need a public education system that meets the moment for today\u2019s students and tomorrow\u2019s. We need an education system that prepares students not to pass a test, but to think critically and build a future. We need to support the educators who make that possible. And we need to remove those barriers that stand between children and opportunity. The Transforming Education for the Future Act is a blueprint for doing just that.\"\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here. The Transforming Education for the Future Act will:\n\nEmphasize a Well-Rounded Education for All Students\n\nFully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) so children with disabilities get the free and appropriate education and services they need and deserve.\n\nPromote hands-on project-based learning and inspire creativity and critical thinking by expanding access to career and technical education, arts, civics, humanities, and more.\n\nReduce state and federal reliance on standardized test scores and expand the use of multiple high-quality measures to capture a more accurate picture of student achievement.\n\nSupport Educators and Learning\n\nEnact policies to address discrimination and bias in K-12 schools, uphold civil rights, and address racial segregation.\n\nStrengthen the educator pipeline through historic investments in educator pay, improved working conditions, and ample resources for educators and staff.\n\nFund high-quality education research and promote transformational, evidence-based practices for student success and wellbeing.\n\nAddress Socioeconomic Barriers to Learning\n\nTriple funding for Title I to better serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the schools that educate them.\n\nEstablish free, universal preschool for all three- and four-year-old children through a federal-state partnership.\n\nEliminate stigma and reduce bureaucracy by making school breakfasts and lunches free for all children, provide summer meals and summer EBT, and streamline and expand the Child and Adult Care Food Program.\n\nRepeal the federal school voucher program, and restore funding and staff to the Department of Education so the federal government can effectively serve all students in all public schools.\n\nThe Transforming Education for the Future Act is endorsed by: American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Psychological Association (APA), Glisten, National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Principals Association, National PTA, and the School Social Work Association of America.\n\n\u201cPTA firmly believes every child has a right to a high-quality, fair, equitable and well-rounded education as well as the tools and support to learn, succeed and thrive. Our association has long advocated for quality federal investments in our public education system, particularly for Title I, IDEA, Title IV-A, the Statewide Family Engagement Centers program and universal free school meals,\u201d said Dr. Bill Datema, president of National PTA. \u201cWe applaud Representative Bonamici for introducing the Transforming Education for the Future Act and leading the charge to ensure investments are prioritized in critical education programs and that every child has the support, programs, resources and services they need to reach their full potential.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the new policy objectives, this legislation also includes the following bills (alphabetically by legislation):\n\nAmerican Teacher Act (Rep. Frederica Wilson)\n\nArts Education for All Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nBlack History is American History Act (Rep. Beatty)\n\nChampioning Honest and Responsible Transparency in Education Reform (CHARTER) Act (Rep. DeLauro)\n\nExpanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act (Rep. DeLauro)\n\nFentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nFull-Service Community Schools Expansion Act (Rep. Susie Lee)\n\nHolocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act (Rep. Gottheimer)\n\nIDEA Full Funding Act (Rep. Huffman)\n\nKeep Public Funds in Public Schools Act (Rep. Moore)\n\nKeeping All Students Safe Act (Rep. Beyer)\n\nMitigating Electronic Access Losses for Students (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nNew Essential Education Discoveries Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nPreparing and Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act (Rep. McBath)\n\nProtecting Our Students in Schools Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nReading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act (Rep. McBath)\n\nRight to Read Act (Rep. Grijalva)\n\nSafe Schools Improvement Act (Rep. Sanchez)\n\nSchool Violence Prevention Act (Rep. Hayes)\n\nSupporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nTeaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act (Rep. Meng)\n\nUniversal School Meals Program Act (Rep. Omar)\n\nThe Transforming Education for the Future Act is cosponsored by Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Nikki Budzinkski (D-IL), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Angie Craig (D-MN), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Adeltia Grijalva (D-AZ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and, Andrea Salinas (D-OR), and Linda Sanchez (D-CA).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-salinas-oregon-lawmakers-introduce-grand-ronde-land-transfer-act", "Merkley, Salinas, Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led their Oregon Congressional Delegation colleagues\u2014including Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)\u2014to introduce the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act. The bicameral bill would transfer 18,626 acres of federal land from the U.S. Forest Service into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. The Tribe will maintain all public and recreational access to the area.\n\n\u201cWith the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act, we will enable the Grand Ronde to enhance their self-determination and ability to sustainably steward ancestral lands, while boosting economic opportunity across the region,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis is long-overdue, and I\u2019ll keep pushing to ensure the federal government upholds its commitment to Tribal communities across Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has faced historic injustices that stripped them of their ancestral lands,\u201d said Salinas. \u201cThis legislation is a meaningful step towards righting those wrongs. By transferring these 18,626 acres to the Tribe\u2019s stewardship, we honor their deep connection to this land and their leadership in strengthening forest health, wildfire resilience, and community safety for all Oregonians.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill takes a big step toward helping the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde to support services and provide opportunities that will enhance quality of life in the surrounding community,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m proud to support this legislation and will keep battling for all Tribes in Oregon to have the federal government working with them every step of the way as they exercise their sovereignty.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregonians know that responsible conservation and resource stewardship improve ecosystem health, reduce wildfire risks, and preserve healthy forests for future generations,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cThis land transfer will enhance long-term forest health, expand public access to outdoor recreation, and enhance reconciliation among the tribal, state, and federal governments. I'm grateful for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde\u2019s commitment to sustainable land management and will continue to advocate for tribal rights and justice.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill rights a historic wrong for the Grand Ronde who have worked tirelessly to return a just fraction of its ancestral territory,\" said Hoyle. \u201cThe Grand Ronde Tribe are experts in sustainable forestry management and Indigenous ecology. They are the best stewards of these federal forest lands, and will continue to do so for all Oregonians, as they have done since time immemorial.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have cared for the lands within their ancestral territory,\" said Dexter. \"This legislation recognizes the Tribe\u2019s deep connection to these lands and its generations of experience protecting Oregon\u2019s forests and natural resources. Placing these lands in the Tribe\u2019s care will honor that connection and help keep Oregon\u2019s forests healthy for future generations. I will continue working to deliver on our commitments to Oregon\u2019s tribal communities.\"\n\n\"The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has shown that it is a responsible steward of Oregon's natural resources, and I'm proud to support this effort,\" said Bynum. \"This bill transfers over 18,000 acres of forest land in Tillamook and Yamhill Counties to the Tribe, strengthening tribal sovereignty and ensuring the land is managed for conservation, recreation, and sustainable harvest for generations to come. I'll keep working to honor our commitments to Oregon's tribal communities.\"\n\nThe Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act is supported by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Tillamook County, Yamhill County, Oregon Department of Forestry, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Northwest, The Stewardship Project, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Senator Merkley for introducing this bill and standing with Grand Ronde,\u201d said Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. \u201cThe transfer of these lands helps us rebuild the reservation, community and economy we lost as a result of termination. We will care for these forests with the knowledge our people have carried for generations, the same way we care for the nearly 16,000 acres we manage today. Under our care, this land will stay healthy for generations to come.\u201d\n\nFull text of the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act can be found by clicking here.\n\nA map detailing the land transfer can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-leads-bipartisan-bicameral-comprehensive-legislation-protect-wildland", "Dexter Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Comprehensive Legislation to Protect Wildland Firefighters\u2019 Health", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act establishes first-of-its-kind respiratory protections, strengthens health monitoring and improves care for federal wildland firefighters.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (D-OR), Reps. Huffman (D-CA) and Gallagher (R-CA), and Sens. Merkley (D-OR), Padilla (D-CA), Curtis (R-UT), Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to protect wildland firefighters from the serious health risks associated with smoke, toxic substances and other hazards they encounter on the job.\n\nFor nearly 30 years, federal agencies have had data documenting the serious health risks wildland firefighters face. Structural firefighters began using respiratory protection in the 1970s, yet wildland firefighters are still routinely sent into dangerous conditions without adequate respiratory protection.\n\nDeveloped in partnership with firefighters, unions and health experts, Dexter\u2019s legislation would establish federal respiratory protection standards, strengthen long-term health monitoring, improve decontamination practices and ensure firefighters have better support when seeking federal workers\u2019 compensation for job-related illnesses.\n\n\u201cAs a pulmonologist and critical care physician, I\u2019ve cared for firefighters with acute smoke and burn injuries, as well as chronic lung disease and cancer caused by repeated smoke exposure,\u201d Congresswoman Dexter said. \u201cIt is devastating, and it is preventable. Our wildland firefighters deserve more than our gratitude\u2014they deserve a government that protects them as fiercely as they protect all of us. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is legislation that will finally close critical gaps in protecting wildland firefighter health. It is built upon a simple principle: protecting firefighters\u2019 health must be an operational priority, not an afterthought.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, wildland firefighters face tremendous health risks at work, where they protect our communities, defend the environment, and save lives,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cAs California faces an increasing threat from devastating wildfires, we have a responsibility to make sure the heroes fighting these fires have the resources, safety equipment, and support needed to do their jobs safely. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act takes an important step toward closing longstanding gaps in health and safety protections, giving our wildland firefighters the equipment, resources, and support they need to stay healthy while they brave dangerous conditions to save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs climate chaos fuels an even more ferocious fire season, our wildland firefighters are on the front lines, battling deadly blazes to protect our communities,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThese heroes deserve adequate resources and strong protections from the dangers posed by smoke exposure and other contaminants. Our bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is critical to ensuring these firefighters get the support they need because they put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and it\u2019s our job to step up to keep them safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur wildland firefighters are facing one of the worst fire seasons on record. Rep. Dexter and I have heard directly from these first responders on the dangers they face on the fire line and the health risks they take on every day as they fight these increasingly catastrophic fires. Young, healthy firefighters are developing cancer and lung disease at alarming rates, and some are paying with their lives,\u201d said Ranking Member Huffman, House Natural Resources Committee - Democrats. \u201cThese folks keep our communities standing and our forests healthy. The least we owe them is the pay, the protective gear, and the health care to live long, healthy lives, and I am going to make sure Congress delivers.\u201d\n\n\u201cWildland firefighters run toward danger battling some of the biggest blazes we have ever seen,\u201d said Congressman Gallagher. \u201cWe must take the health risks that come with that job seriously. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act ensures that our firefighters have the right protocols, equipment, and working conditions to better protect them during and after a wildland fire.\u201d\n\n\u201cNFFE-IAM strongly supports the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act and its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of federal wildland firefighters who put themselves in harm\u2019s way to protect our communities and public lands,\u201d said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). \u201cWildland firefighters face extraordinary occupational hazards, including toxic smoke, extreme heat, injuries, fatigue, and mental health challenges. They deserve the best available prevention, treatment, and protective technologies. Investing in their long-term health will save lives, retain experienced firefighters, strengthen workforce readiness, and help ensure these dedicated public servants can enjoy long, healthy lives after their service.\u201d\n\n\u201cWildland firefighters and fire support personnel are exposed to a variety of hazards, including wildfire smoke, on the job. Understanding the significant impacts of these hazards, the Commission called for investments in the physical and mental health of fire personnel as well as improved mitigation techniques for wildfire smoke exposure,\u201d said Annie Schmidt, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Partnerships for Alliance for Wildfire Resilience. \u201cThe Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act\u2019s creation of a Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program makes an important and necessary investment in the health and safety of those who serve us all by responding to wildfires. We applaud Reps. Dexter and Gallagher as well as Senators Padilla, Merkley, Sheehy, and Curtis on their efforts to protect wildland fire personnel.\u201d\n\n\"There is a huge gap between the safety risks and health hazards that wildland firefighters face, including risk of severe musculoskeletal damage and rare cancers, and the inadequate level of medical care they are provided. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act will go a long way towards narrowing this gap in their health care, providing support for crews whose work-related injuries and illnesses sometimes appear long after they've disengaged from the firelines,\" said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.\n\n\u201cOur firefighters put everything on the line to protect us, and they deserve the same commitment in return. This bill takes an important step toward ensuring firefighters get the healthcare, benefits, and long-term support they\u2019ve earned,\u201d said Matt Weiner, founder and CEO of Megafire Action. \u201cCongresswoman Dexter is a leader on this issue and Megafire Action looks forward to advancing this long-overdue commitment to those who protect our communities.\u201d\n\nThe Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act would:\n\nEstablish a Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and Program\n\nCreate an interagency Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and an advisory panel of outside stakeholders to coordinate efforts to reduce harmful exposures, pilot respiratory technologies and develop an updated Wildland Firefighter Health Strategy every three years.\n\nCodify and fund the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program to support firefighters\u2019 long-term health and safety.\n\nEstablish Respiratory Protection Standards\n\nPermanently establish a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Office of Firefighter Health and Safety to develop criteria for new Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and support long-term health surveillance.\n\nEstablish a two-year pilot program to test respiratory protection technologies under real-world wildland firefighting conditions.\n\nRequire OSHA to issue an interim final standard for wildland firefighter health protection, followed by a final standard within five years of the pilot program\u2019s report.\n\nProtect Firefighters During and After the Job\n\nRequire paid duty time during operations for firefighters to shower, decontaminate gear and clean vehicles following exposure to smoke or PFAS.\n\nRequire fire facilities to provide commercial-grade washing machines for contaminated gear, designated decontamination areas and access to showers.\n\nCreate a dedicated Office of Workers\u2019 Compensation Programs claims unit with specialized training on firefighting exposures to reduce processing delays and improve coordination for firefighters seeking benefits.\n\nThe Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is endorsed by the National Federation of Federal Employees, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fire Protection Association, Megafire, Firefighters United for Safety,\n\nRead bill text here.\n\nWatch Rep. Dexter\u2019s remarks here.\n\nWatch full Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act press conference here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-hoyle-dexter-announce-12-million-to-oregon-for-habitat-restoration-projects", "Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Dexter Announce $12 Million to Oregon for Habitat Restoration Projects", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PORTLAND, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today to announce $12 million in federal funds for Oregon habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects through the Community-based Restoration Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).\n\nNOAA\u2019s Community-based Restoration Program provides technical assistance and funding to partners implementing habitat restoration projects in coastal communities around the country. These projects will recover and sustain our nation\u2019s fisheries by ensuring fish have access to high-quality habitat.\n\n\u201cThanks to the Community-based Restoration Program, $12 million in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help protect and improve critical habitat for native Oregon fish, including the iconic coho salmon,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cOregon\u2019s native fish are the lifeblood of our state, supporting the health and vitality of our communities, local economies, and Tribes who have been here since time immemorial. I\u2019ll keep pushing for necessary federal investments to protect Oregon\u2019s ecosystems for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cSalmon and steelhead are a huge part of what makes Oregon recreation and our state\u2019s natural wonders renowned around the world,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis $12 million federal investment will help ensure those native fish keep flourishing along the coast and in the Sandy River Basin. I\u2019ll always keep battling for resources just like these that are so vital for economic well-being and Tribal traditions.\u201d\n\n\"Salmon sustain fishing jobs, support Tribes and help our local economies thrive,\" said Hoyle. \"NOAA's Community-based Restoration Program supports habitat preservation up and down the Oregon coast. This funding will support habitat restoration for Coho Salmon right here in the 4th Congressional district.\"\n\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful our community is receiving $6.1 million in NOAA funding to support habitat restoration for salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin,\u201d said Dexter. \"At a time when these threatened species face constant threats from climate change, I will continue advocating for funding that helps protect this irreplaceable part of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.\u201d\n\nThe $12 million in federal funds will be distributed in Oregon as follows:\n\nThe Freshwater Trust \u2013 Restoring habitat to support salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin: $6.1 million\n\nWild Salmon Center \u2013 Restoring habitat for coho salmon across four Oregon Coast watersheds: $5.9 million\n\n\"When we helped secure Endangered Species Act protection for these fish decades ago, the goal wasn\u2019t to put them on some sacred list and mourn\u2014it was to recover them. The Sandy program shows what can happen when you work at the scale of the whole basin, put effort into projects that matter most, and measure success by outcomes: spring Chinook and winter steelhead returns are now consistently surpassing ESA delisting abundance targets. This basin is one of the only spots in America where that\u2019s actually happening. This NOAA investment lets us keep doing what works until the job is done,\u201d said Joe Whitworth, President & CEO, The Freshwater Trust.\n\n\"This investment in a unique Oregon partnership with a winning formula will help to further recover threatened Oregon Coast coho. By following science, building consensus across agencies and communities, and deploying local knowledge and workers, the Coast Coho Partnership is reconnecting the most important streams, wetlands, and estuaries for coho up and down the coast. Coho abundance is trending upward once again. Thanks to this funding and the leadership of the NOAA Restoration Center, we continue to recover a fish that is central to life on the Oregon Coast,\" said Mark Trenholm, Vice President for Conservation, Wild Salmon Center.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-hoyle-salinas-announce-91-million-for-affordable-housing-and-water-infrastructure-upgrades", "Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas Announce $9.1 Million for Affordable Housing and Water Infrastructure Upgrades", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties to benefit.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, today announced $9.1 million in federal awards and loans for water infrastructure and affordable housing projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties.\n\n\u201cEvery Oregonian deserves access to clean, reliable drinking water and an affordable place to call home,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis federal investment will directly support rural communities across our state by upgrading critical water infrastructure in Brookings, and preserving affordable housing for working families and seniors in Newberg and La Grande. This is good news, and I\u2019ll keep fighting to secure similar federal resources that improve everyday life for all Oregonians.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal investment will help support both housing and water infrastructure \u2013 two critical needs that I\u2019ve heard about time and time again from Oregon\u2019s rural communities,\u201d said Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds USDA. \u201cThese funds from USDA will help ensure seniors and families in rural Oregon have access to affordable housing and clean, safe drinking water.\u201d\n\n\"It's a great day when we see strong investments on the ground in our communities,\" said Rep. Hoyle. \"This funding directly invests in our water infrastructure and expands affordable housing. In Congress, I'll continue fighting for funding that reinvests in our communities and brings taxpayer dollars back to Oregon.\"\n\n\u201cOregon is already about 140,000 homes short of what we need. That shortage is driving up costs and making it harder for families to find a home they can afford,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cWe need to build more housing while preserving the affordable homes we already have. I\u2019m proud to have helped secure this funding to renovate these homes in Newberg that will improve living conditions for families and make sure rural Oregonians can continue to live with dignity in the communities they call home.\u201d\n\nThe $9.1 million in federal awards from the USDA\u2019s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and will be distributed as follows:\n\n$1 million grant to the City of Brookings to support the replacement of a portion of its water distribution system along Easy Street that contains asbestos concrete and cast iron pipe. Fire hydrants along the route will also be replaced with new water services to the existing water meters and will include new touch read water meter boxes.\n\n$5.6 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in Newberg to renovate and maintain an affordable multifamily housing complex that supports 10 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units.\n\n$2.5 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in La Grande to renovate and maintain an affordable senior housing complex that supports 39 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units.\n\n\"The preservation of these properties is really focused on the households. Not only are we extending the federal rent assistance long term, the scope of the rehab will bring the projects up to a \u2018like new\u2019 condition, and of course, we hope that this will be a home they will be proud to bring their friends and family to,\u201d said Shelly Cullin, Director of Development for Chrisman Development, Inc.\n\nA web version of the release is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-sen-jeff-merkley-oregon-lawmakers-introduce-grand-ronde", "Rep. Andrea Salinas, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led their Oregon Congressional Delegation colleagues\u2014including Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)\u2014to introduce the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act. The bicameral bill would transfer 18,626 acres of federal land from the U.S. Forest Service into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. The Tribe will maintain all public and recreational access to the area.\n\n\u201cFor too long, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has faced historic injustices that stripped them of their ancestral lands,\u201d said Salinas. \u201cThis legislation is a meaningful step towards righting those wrongs. By transferring these 18,626 acres to the Tribe\u2019s stewardship, we honor their deep connection to this land and their leadership in strengthening forest health, wildfire resilience, and community safety for all Oregonians.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act, we will enable the Grand Ronde to enhance their self-determination and ability to sustainably steward ancestral lands, while boosting economic opportunity across the region,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis is long-overdue, and I\u2019ll keep pushing to ensure the federal government upholds its commitment to Tribal communities across Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregonians know that responsible conservation and resource stewardship improve ecosystem health, reduce wildfire risks, and preserve healthy forests for future generations,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cThis land transfer will enhance long-term forest health, expand public access to outdoor recreation, and enhance reconciliation among the tribal, state, and federal governments. I\u2019m grateful for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde\u2019s commitment to sustainable land management and will continue to advocate for tribal rights and justice.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill rights a historic wrong for the Grand Ronde who have worked tirelessly to return a just fraction of its ancestral territory,\u201d said Hoyle. \u201cThe Grand Ronde Tribe are experts in sustainable forestry management and Indigenous ecology. They are the best stewards of these federal forest lands, and will continue to do so for all Oregonians, as they have done since time immemorial.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have cared for the lands within their ancestral territory,\u201d said Dexter. \u201cThis legislation recognizes the Tribe\u2019s deep connection to these lands and its generations of experience protecting Oregon\u2019s forests and natural resources. Placing these lands in the Tribe\u2019s care will honor that connection and help keep Oregon\u2019s forests healthy for future generations. I will continue working to deliver on our commitments to Oregon\u2019s tribal communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has shown that it is a responsible steward of Oregon\u2019s natural resources, and I\u2019m proud to support this effort,\u201d said Bynum. \u201cThis bill transfers over 18,000 acres of forest land in Tillamook and Yamhill Counties to the Tribe, strengthening tribal sovereignty and ensuring the land is managed for conservation, recreation, and sustainable harvest for generations to come. I\u2019ll keep working to honor our commitments to Oregon\u2019s tribal communities.\u201d\n\nThe Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act is supported by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Tillamook County, Yamhill County, Oregon Department of Forestry, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Northwest, The Stewardship Project, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Senator Merkley for introducing this bill and standing with Grand Ronde,\u201d said Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. \u201cThe transfer of these lands helps us rebuild the reservation, community and economy we lost as a result of termination. We will care for these forests with the knowledge our people have carried for generations, the same way we care for the nearly 16,000 acres we manage today. Under our care, this land will stay healthy for generations to come.\u201d\n\nFull text of the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act can be found by clicking here.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-dexter-nearly-8-million-coming-portland-area-airports", "Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Dexter: Nearly $8 Million Coming to Portland-Area Airports for Infrastructure Improvements", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Portland, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), announced that the Port of Portland has been awarded $7,657,874 in federal funding for Hillsboro Airport and Portland International Airport (PDX).\n\n\u201cPortland\u2019s airports connect our communities, businesses, and travelers to the rest of the world,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cAs Hillsboro Airport and PDX continue to grow, we must invest in critical airport improvements\u2014such as runways, taxiways, and innovative groundwater management\u2014to allow these hubs to keep driving our economy forward and growing local tourism.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese two metro-area airports play an essential role in building an even stronger quality of life for Oregonians and for economic development statewide,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cVital infrastructure such as Portland International Airport and Hillsboro Airport requires investments just like these that keep them safe for travelers and modern for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm grateful for the federal funding going to the Portland and Hillsboro airports,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cThese investments will help maintain and update critical infrastructure and keep the runways safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cPDX is the best airport in the country,\u201d said Dexter. \u201cI am grateful to have fought for this funding to improve airport infrastructure and secure a transformative groundwater management system to keep our travelers, workers, and communities safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom the terminal to the taxiways, we work to keep every inch of our airports safe and efficient,\u201d said Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland. \u201cThese federal investments will fund essential runway and taxiway maintenance at Hillsboro Airport and support a pilot program for an innovative groundwater management system for construction projects at PDX. Projects like these are core to maintaining smooth airport operations, and I\u2019m grateful for the Oregon delegation's continued commitment to keeping our critical infrastructure first-class.\u201d\n\nThe awards\u2014totaling nearly $8 million from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)\u2014for the Port of Portland are as follows:\n\n$7,057,474 for Hillsboro Airport to reconstruct 550 feet of existing paved Runway 13R/31L that has reached the end of its useful life. This project reconstructs 1,500 feet of existing paved Taxiway A, A8, A9, and B pavement that have reached the end of their useful lives.\n\n$600,400 for Portland International Airport (PDX) to help construct a portable groundwater PFAS treatment system for on-airport water quality mitigation as part of the Federal Aviation Administration environmental mitigation pilot program.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/seec-members-highlight-strategies-build-thriving-economy", "SEEC Members Highlight Strategies to Build a Thriving Economy", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Vice Chairs Reps. Sean Casten (IL-06) and Mike Levin (CA-49), as well as Members Reps. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), and George Whitesides (CA-27), participated in a press conference to highlight the more than 800 policy ideas in the newly released Thriving Economy Project report that will address the unique set of challenges facing American families and businesses today and help usher in a cleaner, safer, and thriving American economy.\n\n\u201cMy district is one of the most productive farmland areas in the country. And while the reality is that while our farmers are producing more than ever, too many are struggling to stay in business. The time is now for a federal policy framework that reflects the realities of modern agriculture,\u201d said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. \u201cThat's what the Thriving Economy Project is all about -- making sure the next generation has a real opportunity to farm, own land, and build a successful business. This is just one glimpse into the policy proposals we\u2019ve put out in this project. I\u2019m excited that once Democrats take back the House, we can begin to take real action. And this project gives us the tools we need to make that happen.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe chapter on Thriving, Affordable, and Resilient Communities is deeply personal to me as Tampa Bay\u2019s Congresswoman. Since 2020, Tampa has had 136 record-high temperatures and one record-low. That means higher electric bills for families running their AC, more dangerous conditions for our farm workers, and more people in the hospital,\u201d said Congresswoman Kathy Castor. \u201cThe Thriving, Affordable, Resilient Communities chapter offers a practical agenda to meet those challenges head-on. It focuses on aligning federal tools with local leadership \u2013 supporting safer housing, smarter infrastructure, lower energy costs, and stronger main streets. Thriving communities are the foundation of a strong American economy \u2013 and we\u2019re providing a roadmap to help every family, in every zip code, share in a healthier and more secure future.\"\n\n\u201cThe scale of capital that we need to address the climate crisis \u2013 from wildfires, to flooding, to the spread of tropical diseases, crop failures, and on and on down the list \u2013 that amount of money vastly exceeds the capacity of the federal government,\u201d said Congressman Sean Casten. \u201cWhat we really tried to address is, number one, to recognize that 25% of the U.S. economy is federal spending and 75% is not. We asked all our contributors to not limit your solution space to simply tax and spending policy for the federal government. How do we make sure that we unlock the capital in all of those climate change mitigating strategies, so that we can lever the private sector and bring that capital into all the other needs that we have.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have just come through the worst wildfire season ever on record in Oregon, with over two and a half million acres burned. And what I have learned in the last month is that every time we have these events, we are not just under-prepared for them, but we are under-acknowledging the impacts on our communities, the impact of smoke on children, on our elders, on our infrastructure, and our agriculture,\u201d said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter. \u201cThis chapter is especially dear to my heart because of the benchmarks that we are centering on. Number one, that public health is strengthened through guaranteed access to clean air and clean water. As a mother, as a pulmonary and critical care doctor who has been practicing for 20 years, I can tell you that clean air is not just a human right; it is something that is foundational to our thriving economies.\u201d\n\n\u201cRight now, energy bills are rising faster than households can manage as America suffers through an energy affordability crisis that is forcing families to choose between paying for their electric bill or paying for other essentials like rent or groceries. Nationwide, roughly 17 percent of Americans are struggling to keep up with their electric bills, and energy costs are rising faster than inflation. It is clear from these skyrocketing costs that our current approach to energy policy simply is not working. The American people deserve better,\u201d said Congressman Mike Levin. \u201cThis chapter, Chapter Five, provides solutions to our energy affordability crisis and lays out how we can modernize our electric sector to ensure that families can afford their bills and we can energize the industries of the future. Our proposed solutions and policy recommendations are all rooted in one central premise: Working families must be the focus of any plan for a thriving economy and that begins by addressing energy affordability.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn my home state of North Carolina, we know just how urgent the work is. We\u2019ve seen the devastating impact of extreme weather across our state, from homes falling into the ocean as sea levels rise along the Outer Banks, to record-breaking heat scorching rural farmland, to widespread devastation from Hurricane Helene and the landslides that follow,\u201d said Congresswoman Deborah Ross. \u201cIn light of these tragedies, it makes what this project achieves remarkable. It addresses the environmental and infrastructure problems facing us today, while also building a roadmap for the future. Our country\u2019s energy industry is at an inflection point. That is why it\u2019s so important for the Thriving Economy Project\u2019s chapter on next generation energy technology to make sure that it is researched, developed, and built in the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cRight now, New Mexico is experiencing the most sustained drought that we have experienced in modern recorded history. And when you think about the long history of communities like those that I represent, not only is water life, water is sustaining, water is culture, water is necessary for thriving economies,\u201d said Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury. \u201cAnd that is really at the heart of this effort, which is how do we put together a policy proposal for the future of the United States that revitalizes our commitment as a nation to our rural and tribal communities and all of our diverse communities that each of us represent across the United States. I believe that we are on the precipice of a new New Deal for America.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must confront a fundamental and important reality: that is an energy policy that\u2019s reliant on fossil fuels, even those produced in the United States, places Americans at risk of wild price swings. Transitioning to domestic, clean energy reduces our and our allies\u2019 dependence on global geopolitical choke points. It is also a critical step in reducing the risk my and many other districts face from severe wildfires and other disasters associated with climate change,\u201d said Congressman George Whitesides. \u201cWe are reminded daily of our vulnerability to global energy stocks and shocks. If we make the right investments and policy choices, we can build an energy system that is more resilient to wildfires and other disasters, more affordable, and less dependent on adversarial nations.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/200-days-and-40-billion-later", "200 DAYS AND $40 BILLION LATER", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Rep. Val Hoyle (OR-04) released the following statement in response to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) finding that the war in Iran has directly cost the United States roughly $40 billion.\n\n\u201cToday is the 200th day of the President\u2019s illegal and immoral war with Iran. It isn\u2019t just unpopular, it\u2019s expensive,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cAs costs continue to rise the American people are footing the $40 billion bill. Despite this, House Republicans are calling it quits and sending us home today. It\u2019s unconscionable that we are being sent home as the American people continue to pay the price.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe war with Iran is increasing what families pay for gas, utilities, transportation and other goods and services. The CBO expects the war to add roughly 0.5 percentage points to inflation in the first quarter of 2027. Inflation has already spiked by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2026 .", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/warren-hoyle-wyden-merkley-ocasio-cortez-subramanyam-introduce-bill-to-ban-the-corporate-practice-of-medicine", "Warren, Hoyle, Wyden, Merkley, Ocasio-Cortez, Subramanyam Introduce Bill to Ban the Corporate Practice of Medicine", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act would ban corporations and private equity from owning physicians.\n\nThe bill is modeled on the landmark Oregon law that physicians have already used to successfully challenge corporate takeovers.\n\nText of Bill (PDF)|One-Pager (PDF)\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), introduced the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to ban the corporate practice of medicine.\n\nOver 80 percent of doctors in the United States are employed by corporate entities\u2014including private equity firms and insurers\u2014up from 62 percent in 2019. Despite prohibitions on the corporate practice of medicine in over thirty states, private equity firms, insurers, and other corporate entities have exploited legal loopholes that allow them to circumvent these restrictions to the detriment of clinicians and patients.\n\nManagement services organizations (MSOs) have become vehicles for exercising corporate control over physicians. MSOs contract with physician practices to handle ostensibly purely administrative tasks, but these actors often challenge the autonomy of acquired physicians once in control. For example, corporate entities often assume control over clinical operations, management and staffing decisions, and billing and coding practices\u2014all of which can exert pressure on physicians to change care delivery.\n\nThe Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act ensures health care decisions are made by physicians\u2014not private equity firms, insurance companies, or other corporate actors. The legislation:\n\nBans the corporate practice of medicine by making it illegal for private equity funds, insurance companies, and other for-profit corporations to own or control medical practices;\n\nCloses the \u201cfriendly physician\u201d loophole that has allowed investor-backed corporations to evade state-level bans on the corporate practice of medicine and control medical practices through MSOs;\n\nProhibits an MSO from controlling a medical practice through a \u201cfriendly\u201d or \u201ccaptive\u201d physician, or by taking over business, administrative, and clinical functions such as hiring and firing, work schedules, compensation, disbursement of revenue or setting of revenue targets, billing practices, contracting, and other services;\n\nEnsures that physicians retain ultimate control of medical practices by requiring that physician owners are meaningfully engaged in providing medical care in the state in which their practice is located; and\n\nProtects physician independence by prohibiting corporate interference with clinical decisions and banning restrictive contract terms, such as non-compete agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and non-disparagement agreements.\n\n\u201cPatients want to know that decisions about their health are being made by their doctors, not by Wall Street investors,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to lower costs and un-rig the health care system, we need to stop the corporate takeover of medicine.\u201d\n\n\u201cBillionaire corporations are using sick patients to turn healthy profits, and Americans are fed up,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cIn Oregon, we passed one of the most comprehensive corporate practice of medicine laws in the country, standing up for patients and health care providers. It\u2019s time we take on corporate greed in health care at the federal level by passing our Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, cracking down on these takeovers that are destroying our health care system.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctor, not dictated by corporate actors and private equity firms focused on maximizing profits,\u201dsaid Senator Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m proud of Oregon\u2019s pioneering state law that has been used by doctors to protect their independence, and it\u2019s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians.\u201d\n\n\u201c80% of doctors in the U.S. are employed by corporate entities, up from 62% in 2019,\u201d said Representative Hoyle. \u201cHealthcare should not be a line item in a spreadsheet. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will ensure proper protections are in place, so our healthcare systems serve the best interests of our patients, not corporations.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctors, not dictated solely by the pursuit of maximizing profits. States have passed laws to protect the independence of physicians, and it\u2019s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians,\u201d?said Representative Subramanyam.\n\n\u201cAcross the country, private equity firms and corporate conglomerates are buying up American physician offices. To increase shareholder profits, these entities often cut corners, leading to patients paying more for significantly worse care,\u201d said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to get Wall Street out of Americans\u2019 doctors\u2019 offices and ban predatory noncompete agreements for healthcare workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith big bipartisan majorities, Oregon passed the strongest ban on the corporate practice of medicine in the country,\u201d Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman said, the author and chief sponsor of Oregon Senate Bill 951 (2025). \u201cOregon has shown that it\u2019s possible to stand up to corporate profiteering in healthcare and win. Now it\u2019s time to take that fight nationwide.\u201d\n\nThe bill is modeled on a landmark law in Oregon that physicians have already used to successfully challenge corporate takeovers in the state. Most recently, Eugene Emergency Physicians beat back efforts by Peace Health to replace local physicians with a private equity-backed staffing company.\n\nThis legislation is also supported by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Az.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fl.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and has been endorsed by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Coalition for Patient Centered Care, Bull Moose Project, OrthoForum, Alliance of Independent Dentists, Private Equity Stakeholder Project, Center for Health and Democracy, Association for Independent Medicine, OnCARE Alliance, Families USA, Committee to Protect Health Care, and Social Security Works.\n\n\"The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) believes that local physician ownership of their practice is the best arrangement for the physicians, the medical staff, the hospital and, most importantly, for the patient,\u201d said Vicki Norton, MD, FAAEM, President of the AAEM. \u201cThat\u2019s why the AAEM strongly supports The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026. The bill would prohibit the corporate practice of medicine and allow physicians to work unencumbered, focusing on patients. There is no greater policy imperative for AAEM than protecting patient safety and quality of care in emergency departments through efforts such as this bill.\u201d\n\n\"The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will strengthen long-standing bans on the corporate practice of medicine, ensuring clinical decisions are made by licensed professionals sworn to care for patients, not corporations beholden to shareholders,\" said Emma Freer, Senior Fellow for Health Care at the American Economic Liberties Project. \"It's an essential step toward breaking up Big Medicine, which drives costs up, quality down, and independent practitioners out of business.\"\n\n\"States established prohibitions against the corporate practice of medicine a century ago for a simple reason: when corporations start making medical decisions instead of doctors, everyone loses. Care gets worse and more expensive for patients, working conditions get worse for doctors and their staff, and communities lose the unique benefits of high-quality, independent care,\"?said Joe Van Wye, Policy Director at Coalition for Patient-Centered Care.?\"We commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing today\u2019s legislation, which will enshrine our nation\u2019s strongest and most effective protections against the corporate practice of medicine into federal law for the benefit of all Americans, and hope it is enacted quickly.\"\n\n\"Across America, physician's private practices have been bought up by shadowy corporations and private equity groups with the sole goal of profit. Putting patients first is out \u2014 monopolizing local physician services, driving up fees, and shortening hours is in. This has made life worse for Americans across the country. The Bull Moose Project has long sounded the alarm about these shady practices, such as in cancer care. The \u2018\u2018Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026\" can halt these appalling practices once and for all by making it illegal for big corporations to vacuum up private clinics,\"said Aiden Buzzetti, President, Bull Moose Project.\n\n\"The Association for Independent Medicine strongly supports the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, and we're grateful to Senators Warren, Wyden, and Merkley and Representatives Hoyle, Subramanyam, and Ocasio-Cortez for championing it. A prohibition is only as strong as its enforcement, and this bill backs its corporate practice of medicine prohibition with three enforcement paths: the FTC, state attorneys general suing on behalf of residents, and physicians themselves through a private right of action with treble damages. That layered enforcement, paired with mandatory divestment, is what gives this bill teeth that earlier CPOM laws have often lacked,\" said Dr. Marco Fernandez, President and Co-Founder, Association for Independent Medicine.\n\n\u201cPatients are best served when clinical decisions and practice operations remain under the control of licensed healthcare professionals, not private equity firms or management companies whose primary obligation may be to investors,\u201d says Dr. Jill Tanzi, President of the Alliance of Independent Dentists. \"The threats posed by corporate consolidation are not unique to medicine; dentists and their patients deserve these same protections. This bill\u2019s protections against corporate control and interference are critical safeguards for both clinicians and patients, and we commend its sponsors for working to protect independent medicine.\"\n\n\u201cPrivate equity firms and other corporate investors should not get to decide how doctors practice medicine. When investors dictate staffing levels or how much time doctors can spend with patients, they are directing patient care. Doctors need the authority to make those decisions based on what their patients need. We support the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act and urge Congress to put enforceable limits on corporate control of medical practices,\u201d said Michael Fenne, Senior Policy Coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project.\n\n\u201cFor too long, private corporations have overridden physicians' clinical judgment, prioritizing shareholder returns and profits over patient care. This legislation would end that practice. Patients deserve care decisions made by clinicians, not by investors managing a portfolio. We thank Senators Warren, Wyden, and Merkley and Representatives Hoyle, Subramanyam, and Ocasio-Cortez for introducing this vital legislation and urge Congress to pass it without delay,\u201d said Rachel Madley, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Health and Democracy\n\n\"Our health care system is perfectly designed to concentrate wealth and power into corporate entities and increasingly badly designed to actually care for patients. The Oncology Practices of ONCare Alliance are dedicated to helping oncologists remain independent of private equity and other corporate structures that pull needed resources away from patient care into their profit margins,\" said Barbara McAneny, Co-Chair of the OnCARE Alliance. \"We strongly oppose the corporate practice of medicine and commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing this important bill that will help doctors design our practices to make the best treatment plans with our patients.\"\n\n\"As doctors, we have a duty to put the needs of our patients first,\" said Hugh Bassewitz, M.D., the OrthoForum. \"That's much harder when a practice is run by corporate executives focused on increasing returns for their shareholders, not by physicians focused on helping people who need us. We're glad to see Congress acting to help doctors provide patient-centric care, and thank the sponsors for their work on this important legislation.\"\n\n\u201cThis groundbreaking legislation is absolutely needed to give health providers and patients a fighting chance against corporate greed. Congress must stop private equity from ripping the copper wires out of American healthcare and put patients first. Social Security Works is proud to endorse this legislation,\u201d said Alex Lawson, Executive Director, Social Security Works.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-statement-following-war-powers-vote-1", "Rep. Andrea Salinas\u2019 Statement Following the War Powers Vote", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) issued the following statement following her vote in favor of the bipartisan war powers resolution.\n\n\u201cWe are more than six months into Trump\u2019s war of choice with Iran, and over that time, Oregonians have been shouldering the economic hardship. The cost of this war drove up the price of a gallon of gas from $3.90 to $5.10 and has exacerbated Trump\u2019s affordability crisis.\n\n\u201cToday, I voted in favor of ending U.S. involvement in the war in Iran for the sixth time.\n\n\u201cRepublicans have made major cuts to programs that help families afford food and healthcare, including SNAP and Medicaid. Despite their handwringing over fiscal responsibility, they have no problem spending billions of dollars on military operations overseas. Those choices have painful consequences for Oregon families.\n\n\u201cAfter more than six months of conflict, Americans have borne both human and economic costs. Republicans must join Democrats to end this war and ensure federal resources reflect the needs of the people we represent.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-applauds-supreme-court-decision-blocking-trumps-voter-suppression", "Rep. Salinas Applauds Supreme Court Decision Blocking Trump\u2019s Voter Suppression Plan", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump Administration\u2019s request to allow new U.S. Postal Service restrictions on mail-in ballots to take effect ahead of the November midterm elections. The Court\u2019s action leaves in place a lower court order blocking the new requirements while the case continues.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s Supreme Court decision is a major win for Oregonians and every American who wants to make their voice heard at the ballot box. The court blocked the Trump Administration\u2019s vote-by-mail voter suppression plan, ensuring that every American who is eligible to vote can do so with confidence that the U.S. Postal Service won\u2019t be the arbiter of their voter eligibility and their vote will count in this year\u2019s midterm election.\n\n\u201cWhile this ruling is a major victory, it is not a reason to be complacent. This will likely not be Trump\u2019s final attempt to cast doubt on the results of this year\u2019s midterm elections. No matter what Trump tries to do, voters still need to register and cast their ballot. Our democracy works when people participate, and every eligible voter deserves a fair and accessible opportunity to do exactly that.\n\n\u201cOregon has safely and securely voted by mail for decades. I will keep fighting to protect Oregonians\u2019 right to vote and make sure every eligible voter can participate in our elections. If candidates are concerned that voters will reject their candidacy at the ballot box, the answer is not to make it harder for people to vote. The answer is to earn their votes.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-secures-extension-public-comment-period-trump-administrations", "Rep. Salinas Secures Extension of Public Comment Period on Trump Administration\u2019s Roadless Rule Repeal", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SALEM, OR \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture, celebrated the U.S. Forest Service\u2019s decision to extend the public comment period on the Trump Administration\u2019s proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule.\n\nThe Forest Service announced that it will extend the comment deadline by 15 days, from September 21 to October 6, giving Americans additional time to weigh in on a proposal that would eliminate longstanding protections for 44 million acres of National Forest System lands.\n\nThe extension comes just days after Rep. Salinas led a bipartisan coalition of 164 Members of Congress in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service to provide the public with more time to comment on the proposed rollback. In their September 3 letter, Salinas and her colleagues urged the Forest Service to extend the comment period from 30 days to 120 days, hold in-person public meetings, and conduct full Tribal consultation to allow Americans to have their voices heard.\n\n\u201cWhen the Roadless Rule was first adopted 25 years ago, more than 1.6 million comments were submitted in favor of the rule. That\u2019s more than any other rule in our nation\u2019s history at the time it was adopted,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cOregonians deserve a real opportunity to make their voices heard before the Trump Administration makes a decision that could fundamentally change 44 million acres of our public lands. I\u2019m glad the agency listened to our demands to extend the comment period, and I urge them to listen to every American who demands that we protect our wilderness.\n\n\u201cWhile 15 additional days still falls well short of the 120-day comment period we requested, this extension gives Oregonians and communities across the country more time to speak up for our forests, clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation economy. I will continue pushing the Administration to provide the robust and transparent public process that a decision of this magnitude demands.\u201d\n\nThe Roadless Rule has protected undeveloped areas of the National Forest System from most road construction and logging for more than 25 years. The original rule was developed following an extensive public process that included more than 600 public meetings and approximately 1.6 million public comments.\n\nBy contrast, the Trump Administration initially provided only 30 days for the public to comment on its proposed rescission of the Roadless Rule and associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Rep. Salinas and her colleagues argued that such a short window was inadequate given the scope of the proposal and the significant consequences it could have for communities, drinking water, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and forest management across the country.\n\nThe new deadline for public comments is October 6, 2026.", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-ruiz-condemn-lack-due-process-imprisoned-palestinian-pediatrician-dr", "Dexter, Ruiz Condemn Lack of Due Process for Imprisoned Palestinian Pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and Demand His Release by Netanyahu\u2019s Government", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lawmakers: \u201cWe write with urgent concern about the life-threatening conditions facing Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a Palestinian pediatrician being badly mistreated in Israeli custody.\u201d\n\nNetanyahu\u2019s government has filed no formal charges against Dr. Abu Safiya, nor has he received a trial.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), and Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), led 69 of their colleagues in calling on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to engage his counterparts in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government to secure the release of imprisoned Palestinian pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. The lawmakers emphasized the lack of due process afforded to Dr. Abu Safiya, who has yet to receive formal charges, and highlighted his worsening physical condition.\n\n\u201cWe write with urgent concern about the life-threatening conditions facing Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a Palestinian pediatrician being badly mistreated in Israeli custody,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cAs recently as last month, Dr. Abu Safiya\u2019s lawyer warned that his physical condition had deteriorated to the point of near-death.\u201d\n\nDr. Abu Safiya is the longtime director of Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza City. During the war in Gaza, he played a critical role in providing wounded civilians with vital medical care. Among his most notable contributions was the construction of a malnutrition unit that treated hundreds of children.\n\nOn December 27, 2024, Dr. Abu Safiya was arrested while on duty at his hospital and remains in Israeli custody. No formal charges were ever presented against him, and to this day, he has yet to receive a trial.\n\n\u201cFor over 18 months, Dr. Abu Safiya has languished in Israeli jails, including an underground facility previously shut down due to the poor conditions its detainees faced,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cAccording to his lawyer, authorities have repeatedly denied him adequate access to medical care, food and toiletries, causing him to lose significant weight.\u201d\n\nOn July 2, 2026, Dr. Abu Safiya\u2019s lawyer visited him in jail and found that the severity of his injuries had rendered him nearly unrecognizable. His body bore fresh bruises, and he struggled to remain conscious. The lawmakers urged Secretary Rubio to do everything in the Trump Administration\u2019s power to free Dr. Abu Safiya before he dies in custody.\n\nThe letter is cosigned in the House by 66 Members.\n\nThe letter is cosigned in the Senate by 3 Senators.", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-calls-out-inaction-in-congress", "REP. HOYLE CALLS OUT INACTION IN CONGRESS", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "EUGENE, OR \u2013 Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), released the following statement as House Republicans gather for their televised political circus in Texas:\n\n\u201cRepublican leadership has canceled nearly 25% of voting days. Instead of coming to the table to deliver for working families, they\u2019d rather go home.\n\nInflation is at a three-year high, and American households are spending over $3,800 extra on goods and services since the President took office. Meanwhile, my Republican colleagues are more focused on hosting a televised political circus in Texas than delivering for working families.\n\nLet\u2019s get serious.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-joins-amicus-brief-to-protect-vote-by-mail", "REP. HOYLE JOINS AMICUS BRIEF TO PROTECT VOTE-BY-MAIL", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), released the following statement after joining a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of over 250 lawmakers in a court filing challenging the legality of the President\u2019s Executive Order attempting to control mail-in ballots ahead of the election.\n\n\u201cThe Constitution is clear: States have the authority over time, place and manner of our elections. Not the President,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThis Administration must stop their unconstitutional attempts to limit vote-by-mail, create a 'citizenship verification list\u2019 and attempt to take over our elections.\u201d\n\nMore information on the Amicus brief can be found here. This action comes just days after Rep. Hoyle joined nearly one hundred Members of Congress in calling on the U.S. Postal Service to not implement its rule restricting mail-in voting.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-expresses-concern-around-proposed-rail-merger", "REP. HOYLE EXPRESSES CONCERN AROUND PROPOSED RAIL MERGER", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), alongside over 100 Members of Congress and partners in labor, wrote to federal regulators demanding they consider the consequences of the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Rail merger for workers:\n\n\u201cThe proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger would create the largest rail network in this country\u2019s history. Railroad workers are the backbone of our supply chain, and their rights and security must come first. When workers do well, our economy thrives,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cI\u2019m leading 100 of my colleagues in demanding that the Surface Transportation Board fully evaluate what this merger could mean for jobs, safety and accountability.\u201d\n\n\"This merger could cost thousands of jobs and deny our members their livelihoods, \" said TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz. \"Norfolk Southern is leaving its workers and everyone else in the dark. We appreciate the members of Congress who have our backs by demanding answers to basic questions about whether this merger will benefit all of us.\"\n\n\u201cBRS members are on the ground every day maintaining the signal systems and critical infrastructure that keep America\u2019s rail network operating safely. We know firsthand that bigger does not automatically mean better or safer. The proposed Union Pacific\u2013Norfolk Southern merger would create an unprecedented level of consolidation in the freight rail industry, and we have serious concerns about what that could mean for safety, network reliability, competition, and the railroad workforce. Before a transaction of this magnitude is allowed to move forward, the railroads should be required to demonstrate that it will strengthen\u2014not weaken\u2014the safety and reliability of our nation\u2019s rail system. BRS does not believe they have made that case,\u201d said International President, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Michael Baldwin\n\n\u201cThe proposed $85 billion Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger is the largest railroad merger in history and one of the largest recent corporate consolidations in memory. This merger will have profound impacts on every railroad worker across the railroad industry, including the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED-IBT) members that construction, maintain, repair, and inspect our nation\u2019s railroad tracks, bridges, catenary and other railroad structures. The letter sent to the Surface Transportation Board today by more than 100 Members of Congress highlights important labor considerations and concerns that must be carefully contemplated and satisfied by the Surface Transportation Board when it analyzes the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. To date, Union Pacific has not made the labor commitments necessary to protect our membership and we will ask the STB to ensure that our members are protected. We want to thank Congresswoman Val Hoyle for leading this letter and her continued steadfast support for rail labor and our union and all the House members that signed this letter,\u201d said Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED-IBT) President Tony Cardwell\n\n\u201cWe have seen what railroad mergers and consolidation have done to workers, customers, and communities. The proposed Union Pacific acquisition of Norfolk Southern would create the largest railroad in the country, but bigger does not mean better. These two railroads do not need to merge, and Union Pacific has not shown that this deal is in the public interest.\n\nBLET and BMWED did not rush to judgment. We were the first two rail unions to meet with UP CEO Jim Vena after the announcement, and we listened with an open mind. What we heard did not answer our concerns about jobs, service, safety, or the communities that depend on these railroads.\n\nUP calls its offer \u2018Jobs for Life,\u2019 but a slogan is not job protection. Their promise does not protect the jobs that exist today. It allows jobs to disappear through attrition, and it can force workers to move hundreds of miles or accept whatever work the company makes available. That may protect a person from the word \u2018furlough,\u2019 but it does not protect that worker\u2019s job, home, or family.\n\nWe have already seen the results of doing more with fewer people: limited personal leave, tighter attendance policies, fewer vacation opportunities, and increased discipline aimed at removing employees. If this merger is paid for by eliminating jobs and placing even more work on those who remain, the jobs left will not be the kind of jobs anyone would embrace for a lifetime.\n\nThe Surface Transportation Board must look past the slogans and examine what this acquisition would actually mean for farmers, businesses, workers, rail service, safety, and the communities this massive railroad could choose to serve\u2014or abandon.\n\nWe thank Representative Val Hoyle for leading this letter and for standing with railroad workers and the customers who depend on reliable rail service. We also thank every member of Congress who signed it and called on the STB to closely examine the real consequences of the proposed UP-NS acquisition,\u201d said Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET-IBT) National President and Teamsters Rail Conference President Mark Wallace\n\nFull text of the letter can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/kaine-bonamici-and-colleagues-demand-education-department-abandon-effort", "Kaine, Bonamici, and Colleagues Demand Education Department Abandon Effort to Rescind Guidelines That Prevent Discrimination in Career and Technical Education", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and former civil rights attorney, and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) led 29 of their Democratic colleagues in both chambers of Congress in issuing a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon opposing the decision from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to end-run federal law and rescind federal guidelines in place for nearly half a century that are designed to proactively root out discrimination based on race, national origin, sex, and disability in career and technical education (CTE) programs.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Education\u2019s \u2026 decision on July 23, 2026, to rescind guidelines from 1979 that worked to eliminate discrimination and denied services based on race, color, national origin, sex, and disability for career and technical education (CTE) programs, and urge you to reinstate the guidelines,\u201d wrote the members. \u201cAs proponents of CTE, we know that fair and equitable access is critical to our students and the strength of our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe 1979 Guidelines \u2026 established the Methods of Administration between states and the federal government to provide a framework for CTE programs to proactively root out discrimination. To date, this is the only mechanism within ED that actively works to prevent discrimination, as the Department\u2019s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) responds retroactively to filed complaints,\u201d the members continued. \u201cThe Guidelines were issued with a clear purpose, in the government's own words: to end unlawful discrimination against people seeking the skills necessary for gainful and meaningful employment.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cDespite the rescission of the Guidelines, the underlying nondiscrimination statutes remain in force, and we are hopeful that states will continue to fulfill their duty to prioritize practices adopted under the Guidelines. We believe the Guidelines remain critical, and we urge you to rescind your final rule.\u201d\n\n\u201cFurthermore, the Department rescinded the Guidelines without following the law. While the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) includes an exception for notice-and-comment rulemaking before issuing or rescinding a final rule when the matter relates to \u2018public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts,\u2019 this exception does not apply in this case,\u201d the group wrote. \u201cTherefore, ED is required to go through notice-and-comment rulemaking before rescinding the Guidelines. This is all taking place while ED is being dismantled illegally without congressional input or oversight.\u201d\n\nThe bicameral group of Democratic members requested responses to the following questions by Secretary McMahon:\n\nWhat analysis led the Department to the decision to rescind the 1979 Guidelines?\n\nWhat legal authority did the Department rely on to rescind the Guidelines?\n\nDid the Department consult with any state CTE directors or civil rights organizations before rescinding the Guidelines, and if so, who?\n\nWhat alternative mechanism will replace the Guidelines framework for proactive monitoring?\n\nWas any equity or impact analysis conducted on how rescission would affect students of color, students with disabilities, and girls and women in CTE programs?\n\nWill the Department commit to a public comment period before any permanent replacement policy is issued?\n\nIn addition to Kaine and Bonamici, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN-07), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda (D-IL-04), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nWe write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Education\u2019s (Department, or ED) decision on July 23, 2026, to rescind guidelines from 1979 that worked to eliminate discrimination and denied services based on race, color, national origin, sex, and disability for career and technical education (CTE) programs, and urge you to reinstate the guidelines. As proponents of CTE, we know that fair and equitable access is critical to our students and the strength of our economy.\n\nBefore 1979, the provisions of Title VI (34 C.F.R. Part 100, Appendix B), Section 504 (34 C.F.R. Part 104, Appendix B), and Title IX (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Appendix A) were not adequately enforced in CTE programs. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare was sued in 1973 for failing to enforce Title VI. As a result of injunctive orders from the U.S. District Court of D.C., the 1979 Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial of Services on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex and Handicap in Vocational Education Programs (Guidelines) established the Methods of Administration between states and the federal government to provide a framework for CTE programs to proactively root out discrimination. To date, this is the only mechanism within ED that actively works to prevent discrimination, as the Department\u2019s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) responds retroactively to filed complaints.\n\nThe Guidelines require each state CTE agency to run a compliance program that collects and analyzes civil rights data, conducts periodic reviews of local programs, provides technical assistance, and reports findings to OCR. While Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 prohibit discrimination, the Guidelines turn those prohibitions into a working system of prevention, monitoring, and remedy, so that no student is steered into or shut out of a career path because of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. The Guidelines were issued with a clear purpose, in the government's own words: to end unlawful discrimination against people \u201cseeking the skills necessary for gainful and meaningful employment.\u201d\n\nCareer and technical education continues to grow nationwide, currently serving nearly 12 million students in K-12 and higher education. Congress annually recognizes the significant benefit CTE provides students in academic rigor, high school completion, employability skills, and college readiness. Despite the overall benefits, it is vital that the enforcement of nondiscrimination protections remains in place to end occupational segregation. Although Black students enroll in CTE programs at rates that roughly match their share of the overall student population, they tend to cluster in service-focused fields that often have lower earning potential. Research shows that students with disabilities who take at least four CTE courses in high school have better academic and employment outcomes, yet there are significant gaps in enrollment. Women continue to be significantly underrepresented in male-dominated, higher-paying fields6 , and middle and high school girls make up one in three students in STEM CTE programs, one in four in manufacturing and construction-related programs, and one in four in transportation, distribution, and logistics programs.\n\nThe Guidelines are also valuable to students who do not participate in CTE, as these programs are offered at 86% of public schools nationwide. For example, ensuring that facilities are accessible to CTE students with disabilities consequently ensures accessibility for all students with disabilities, regardless of their course enrollment. The Department\u2019s argument is that it will continue to enforce federal civil rights laws. Yet ED announced, through an Interagency Agreement (IAA) in June 2026, that OCR would move to the Department of Justice. DOJ\u2019s enforcement approach to civil rights differs significantly from ED\u2019s, which raises concerns even if the Guidelines were still in effect. Prior to the announcement, OCR at ED had already been a target of this administration, with nearly half of its staff placed on administrative leave and seven of its 12 regional offices closing in March 2025. Meanwhile, the agency dismissed about 90 percent of the complaints it received over a seven-month period and reached zero resolution agreements involving seclusion and restraint, sexual harassment or violence, racial harassment, or discriminatory school discipline in all of 2025.\n\nThis is occurring while the administration systematically strips away other sweeping civil rights protections. When the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, which oversees CTE programs, was transferred by IAA to the Department of Labor (DOL) last summer, the transfer was not officially announced by ED or DOL officials; it was only disclosed in court documents. The Department has now compounded that disruption to federal CTE oversight by rescinding the Guidelines that established the proactive civil rights compliance framework specifically applicable to CTE programs.\n\nFurthermore, the Department rescinded the Guidelines without following the law. While the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) includes an exception for notice-and-comment rulemaking before issuing or rescinding a final rule when the matter relates to \u201cpublic property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts\u201d, this exception does not apply in this case. Section 437 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), which governs ED programs, explicitly overrides this APA exception for ED programs and states that the exception only applies in two limited circumstances. The first circumstance is for regulations that \u201cgovern the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised program authority,\u201d which is not at issue here because no authority has been revised. The second circumstance is where the Secretary determines that following the APA procedures would \u201ccause extreme hardship to the intended beneficiaries of the program affected by such regulations\u201d.\n\nED\u2019s final rule does not make that claim under GEPA, includes no finding that grantees would be under \u201cextreme hardship,\u201d and, in fact, has no mention of GEPA at all. Therefore, ED is required to go through notice-and-comment rulemaking before rescinding the Guidelines. This is all taking place while ED is being dismantled illegally without congressional input or oversight.\n\nAt the same time, the Department has implemented other measures that weaken civil rights protections for CTE students. These include eliminating longstanding disparate impact provisions from Title VI regulations and proposing to rescind the rules governing Equity Assistance Centers. These centers provide technical assistance to state and local educational agencies to address discrimination and desegregation challenges. Together, these actions weaken established systems of CTE oversight, civil rights enforcement, and technical assistance that have historically prevented discrimination that otherwise might have denied CTE students educational and career opportunities.\n\nDespite the rescission of the Guidelines, the underlying nondiscrimination statutes remain in force, and we are hopeful that states will continue to fulfill their duty to prioritize practices adopted under the Guidelines. We believe the Guidelines remain critical, and we urge you to rescind your final rule.\n\nWe also respectfully request responses to the following questions by October 5, 2026.\n\nWhat analysis led the Department to the decision to rescind the 1979 Guidelines?\n\nWhat legal authority did the Department rely on to rescind the Guidelines?\n\nDid the Department consult with any state CTE directors or civil rights organizations before rescinding the Guidelines, and if so, who?\n\nWhat alternative mechanism will replace the Guidelines framework for proactive monitoring?\n\nWas any equity or impact analysis conducted on how rescission would affect students of color, students with disabilities, and girls and women in CTE programs?\n\nWill the Department commit to a public comment period before any permanent replacement policy is issued?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-introduces-bill-expand-healthcare-coverage-young-americans-0", "Bynum Introduces Bill to Expand Healthcare Coverage For Young Americans", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) introduced theLaunching with Healthcare Act to allow young adults to remain on a parent\u2019s health insurance plan through age 30. Under the Affordable Care Act, the current age cut-off is set at 26, assuming that most young adults would have settled into careers offering employer-sponsored insurance by 26. However, 15 percent of 26-year-old Americans are uninsured \u2013 the highest uninsured rate at any age.\n\nJust last year, Republicans cut roughly $1 billion in federal healthcare spending in their One Big Ugly Bill, which Rep. Bynum voted against. Nearly 7.5 million Americans will lose their health insurance because of these cuts, including roughly 200,000 Oregonians. They also refused to extend the ACA enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which has left Oregon marketplace enrollment down by 18%, while average premiums after financial assistance jumped from $272 to $426 per month.\n\nThe Launching with Healthcare Act would amend the Public Health Service Act by increasing the maximum age for required dependent coverage from 26 to 31, meaning coverage would remain available for young adults through age 30, giving young people a more realistic path to transition to health insurance of their own.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s be serious: In this economy, young people aren\u2019t magically financially secure the day they turn 26,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cIn Oregon, they\u2019re getting crushed by rent, groceries, student loans, and healthcare costs. Young people are trying to build a stable future in an outdated system that no longer works. This bill gives the next generation a little more breathing room to build their careers, save money, and actually get ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cEverything is more expensive right now\u2014rent, groceries, healthcare, all of it\u2014and young people are trying to find stable jobs while figuring out how to build a life,\u201d said Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost. \u201cAt 26, most people are still getting their lives in order. We shouldn\u2019t make them take on another burden by taking away their health insurance. The Launching with Healthcare Act gives young adults more time to get established and one less thing to worry about.\u201d\n\nThe bill is also cosponsored by Reps. Clarke (D-NY), Norton (D-DC), Wilson (D-FL), Dingell (D-MI), Johnson (D-GA), Dexter (D-OR), Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Carson (D-IN), Simon (D-CA), Latimer (D-NY), Deluzio (D-PA), Tokuda (D-HI), Green (D-TX), Grijalva (D-AZ), and Carter (D-LA).\n\nThis legislation is supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Young Invincibles, Mental Health America, Disability Rights Oregon, NAMI Oregon, and the Oregon Public Health Association.\n\n\u201cSimply turning 26 should not mean losing access to mental health care,\u201d said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).\u201cFor young adults, this gap in insurance coverage can mean a gap in care, creating unnecessary barriers to mental health care at a time when many are already navigating major life transitions. The Launching with Healthcare Act would give young adults additional time to secure stable coverage and maintain access to the mental health care they need at a critical point in their life. NAMI thanks Rep. Bynum and Rep. Frost for their efforts to ensure that young people can prioritize their health without facing unnecessary barriers to coverage.\u201d\n\n\"For young adults with disabilities, aging out of a parent's health plan at 26 can mean losing the providers and medications they depend on \u2014 and falling into medical debt just as they're trying to launch their careers. The Launching with Healthcare Act closes that gap and protects continuity of care. Disability Rights Oregon is proud to support it, and we thank Representative Bynum for her leadership,\" said Jake Cornett, Executive Director & CEO, Disability Rights Oregon.\n\n\u201cAt a time when young people are navigating an affordability crisis, it is cruel to also saddle them with the growing cost of health care. This important legislation gives young adults a way to keep their health insurance without robbing them of their financial futures. Young Invincibles was founded during the push to expand coverage for young adults, and we will never give up the fight for affordable health care. We are proud to support this legislation from Rep. Bynum, and look forward to working with her to keep young people covered for longer,\u201d said Marilyn Cabrera, Young Invincibles Federal Policy & Advocacy Manager for Health Care.\n\n\"Access to mental health services is dependent on maintaining health insurance coverage. This legislation would ensure that young people in Oregon stay insured during a stage in life filled with transitions that put them at risk of losing coverage entirely,\u201d said Chris Bouneff, Executive Director, NAMI Oregon.\n\n\"Young adults face the highest rates of mental health and substance use conditions of any age group, and are also facing record levels of unemployment. Mental Health America is happy to support the Launching With Healthcare Act, which would bridge lifesaving insurance coverage for young people during this critical period,\" said Caren Howard, senior director of policy and advocacy at Mental Health America. \"In addition, recent data indicates that many people on Medicaid work for large employers that do not offer health insurance. Allowing young people to remain on their parents' private insurance through age 30 could address this important gap, supporting their ability to work, build their career, or access higher education.\"\n\nThe Launching with Healthcare Act would:\n\nAllow young adults to remain covered under a parent\u2019s health insurance plan through age 30.\n\nHelp prevent disruptions in care and preserve access to existing doctors, specialists, medications, and mental health providers.\n\nGive young adults additional time to obtain stable employment and employer-sponsored insurance without facing a sudden gap in coverage.\n\nReduce the risk that young adults will become uninsured, enroll in inadequate plans, delay necessary care, or incur unaffordable medical debt.\n\nApply to health plan years beginning after December 31, 2026.\n\nEarlier this year, Congresswoman Bynum announced her K-30 agenda \u2013 a platform focused on supporting young Americans by strengthening our education system, ensuring a strong job market, and lowering the cost of housing. This legislation supports her K-30 agenda by giving the next generation more stable opportunities to get on their feet.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-introduces-bill-lower-cost-school-supplies", "Bynum Introduces Bill to Lower the Cost of School Supplies", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) introduced the Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act to lower the cost of school supplies for students and teachers. The legislation would exempt school supplies and educational materials from President Trump\u2019s tariff taxes, which have raised prices for families across the country.\n\n\u201cBetween gas, groceries, and rent, our families are already struggling with rising costs,\u201d said Congresswoman Bynum. \u201cSchool supplies are the latest example of how Trump\u2019s tariffs are pricing people out of the essentials. With costs up and school supply lists out, families are having to make hard financial decisions. This bill is about giving parents and teachers a break, while still setting our children up for success in the classroom.\u201d\n\n\u201cLike families across the country, my wife and I felt the sticker shock when we went back-to-school shopping this year,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cFamilies are already stretching every dollar, and they shouldn\u2019t be forced to pay even more for basic school supplies because of President Trump\u2019s reckless tariff taxes. I\u2019m proud to help lead this bill to eliminate tariffs on back-to-school essentials and give parents, teachers, and students some much-needed relief.\u201d\n\nAccording to Groundwork Collaborative and the Century Foundation, the cost of school supplies has increased 8 percent this year, with many essential items facing even larger cost increases. Lunchbox prices have increased 27 percent, while notebooks have become 23 percent more expensive.\n\nThe Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act would:\n\nDirect the Secretaries of Commerce and Education to work together to create a list of tariff-free school supplies, and specifically exempts:\n\nOffice and school supplies\n\nBackpacks\n\nNotebooks, memorandum pads, and similar paper products\n\nChildren\u2019s picture, drawing, and coloring books\n\nCalendars\n\nComputer keyboards\n\nHairbrushes\n\nPencils, crayons, chalk, and other drawing materials\n\nPens, markers, and related writing instruments\n\nThe bill preserves congressional oversight by allowing Congress to disapprove the designation of specific items for tariff exemptions through a Joint Resolution of Disapproval.\n\nIn the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Angie Craig (MN-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Sarah McBride (DE), Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08). This legislation is led in the Senate by Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD). The bill is cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (MD), Chris Coons (DE), Andy Kim (NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Jacky Rosen (NV), and John Hickenlooper (CO).\n\nThis year, to confront rising economic pressures on young Americans, Rep. Bynum launched her signature \u201cK-30\u201d agenda. This platform is focused on supporting young Americans by improving education, strengthening the job market, and lowering housing and everyday costs. The Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act is part of Rep. Bynum\u2019s ongoing efforts to support Oregon\u2019s children and young families.\n\nThe text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-dexter-md-takes-big-oil-three-bill-package-protect", "Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. Takes on Big Oil with Three-Bill Package to Protect Taxpayers", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) introduced a three-bill package to hold Big Oil accountable and stop these companies from passing their costs onto American taxpayers.\n\nWhile Americans struggle with rising costs for gas, groceries, and utility bills, major oil companies reported more than $40 billion in combined profits in the second quarter of 2026. For decades, Big Oil has taken advantage of outdated rules, weak penalties and careless oversight to shortchange taxpayers while they rake in record profits. Congresswoman Dexter\u2019s legislation would close these loopholes, strengthen enforcement and require Big Oil, not hardworking taxpayers, to pay for the damage it leaves behind.\n\n\u201cBig Oil has had a free pass for far too long, raking in billions in profits while taxpayers are left to foot the bill,\u201d Congresswoman Dexter said. \u201cWe need a course correction; it\u2019s time for oil and gas companies to play by the rules and pay their fair share. When they break the rules and leave our communities at risk, they should be held accountable. Taxpayers should not be stuck paying for Big Oil\u2019s mess.\u201d\n\nTaxpayer Relief from Big Oil Act\n\nThe Taxpayer Relief from Big Oil Act would close outdated loopholes that allow oil and gas companies to reduce what they pay the American people for drilling on public lands and waters. The bill would:\n\nEnd outdated loopholes that allow oil and gas companies to pay less than they owe;\n\nCreate clear and consistent rules for transportation costs companies deduct from their payments for drilling on federal lands; and\n\nRequire annual public reports showing which companies request relief and how much those breaks cost taxpayers.\n\nRead bill text here.\n\nPenalties for Polluters Act\n\nThe Penalties for Polluters Act would strengthen penalties for oil and gas companies that break the rules and make sure affected communities see the benefits. The bill would:\n\nDouble outdated penalties so companies cannot simply write off fines as the cost of doing business; and\n\nCreate a Penalty Revenue Reinvestment Fund to direct money from penalties toward communities impacted by violations.\n\nRead bill text here.\n\nPlug Offshore Wells Act\n\nThe Plug Offshore Wells Act would increase oversight of offshore oil and gas wells and help prevent taxpayers from being stuck with cleanup costs. The bill would:\n\nRequire annual reporting on offshore oil and gas well cleanup to track whether companies are meeting their responsibilities and identify potential costs to taxpayers.\n\nThe three bills are backed by taxpayer watchdog, conservation and environmental organizations, including Taxpayers for Common Sense, Alaska Wilderness League, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, Earthjustice, Surfrider Foundation and the Center for Biological Diversity.\n\n\u201cCurrently, oil and gas interests have free rein to drill and exploit public lands, damaging ecosystems and ripping off taxpayers to extract public resources,\u201d said Miranda Badgett, Senior Government Relations Representative at The Wilderness Society. \u201cThe Taxpayer Relief from Big Oil and Penalties for Polluters Acts take important steps to hold oil and gas companies accountable to the public and create a more transparent system that fossil fuel interests have taken advantage of for far too long. Thank you Congresswoman Dexter for these important bills to keep the lands we rely on safe and open for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cOil and gas companies profiting from public resources should pay what they owe, follow the rules, and clean up after themselves,\u201d said Bobby McEnaney, Senior Policy Strategist at Natural Resources Defense Council. \u201cThis package brings some much-needed common sense and accountability to outdated policies that have too often left taxpayers with the short end of the stick.\u201d\n\nRead bill text here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-statement-unidos-press-conference-newberg-resident-detained", "Rep. Andrea Salinas\u2019 Statement from Unidos Press Conference on Newberg Resident Detained by ICE", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWBERG, OR \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) issued the following statement at a press conference hosted by Unidos Bridging Community. The press conference featured the family of Juan Miguel Aldape-Palacios, a father of three and longtime Newberg resident, who was detained by ICE last week in McMinnville.\n\nIn her statement, Rep. Salinas condemned the treatment of Aldape-Palacios and the toll his detention has taken on his family. After initially being held in Tacoma, Washington, Aldape-Palacios was transferred more than 2,000 miles away to Louisiana, creating new barriers to legal representation and communication with his wife and children. Salinas said her office is working with Unidos, ACLU Louisiana, and members of Louisiana\u2019s congressional delegation to help connect him with legal support.\n\nBrandon Jordan, a representative for Congresswoman Salinas, read the statement on her behalf. See below for the statement:\n\nFor the past twenty-two years, Juan Miguel Aldape has lived in Oregon, worked hard, and has had no trouble with the law \u2014 all to provide a better life for his family.\n\nJuan Miguel is a loving husband and father. He is a role model for his children, and he has shown them what it looks like to work hard every day to provide for the people you love. He is also a caregiver for one of his children, who has special needs.\n\nWithout him, the Aldape family is not only coping with the absence of a father and husband. They have lost a caregiver and source of financial support. I\u2019m furious that the Trump Administration arrested Juan Miguel, and my heart breaks for the Aldape family.\n\nLast week, ICE agents arrested Juan Miguel in McMinnville and took him to the detention center in Tacoma, Washington. According to Juan Miguel, in the middle of the night, detention staff corralled roughly 200 detainees, separated them from the rest of the people in the facility, and told them they would be placed on a flight to Louisiana. Juan Miguel told his family that he and others were intimidated and pressured into signing a document. The document was written in English, and he was not told the purpose of it. Nobody seems to know exactly what Juan Miguel signed.\n\nThen Juan Miguel disappeared from the ICE detainee locator that his family and attorney was using to track him.\n\nFor hours, they did not know his location. He was no longer listed in the online detainee locator system, and his family and attorney received no clear information about where he had been taken. Eventually, they learned that Juan Miguel had been transferred more than two thousand miles away to Louisiana.\n\nThat transfer created one barrier after another.\n\nThe attorney who had been representing Juan Miguel could no longer represent him after he was transferred to Louisiana. His family was forced to begin searching for new legal representation in another state.\n\nJuan Miguel has repeatedly tried to call his wife and children, but according to his family, with every attempt, he is instructed that he has already reached his limit on calls, even though he has not successfully completed a single one.\n\nHis family put money into his account so he could call home and purchase food and other basic necessities. He has been unable to access those funds. Money his family had already deposited while he was detained in Tacoma did not follow him when he was transferred.\n\nHis sister had to travel across several states simply to see him in person. When she finally did, she said Juan Miguel\u2019s mental health was declining. She reported that he appeared to be in shock and initially did not recognize her.\n\nThink about what we are asking this family to endure.\n\nOver the past year, I have conducted oversight visits of the ICE processing facility in Portland and the detention facility in Tacoma, Washington. From these visits, it\u2019s clear that ICE is intentionally creating chaos and sowing confusion around immigration enforcement to carry out President Trump\u2019s cruel and inhumane immigration agenda.\n\nJuan Miguel\u2019s story is not unique. Despite promising on the campaign trail to only go after the worst of the worst, the Trump Administration has arrested more than 2,500 individuals across Oregon, many of whom have no criminal history. Every one of those 2,500 individuals represents a family and a community ripped apart. Across the country, Human Rights Watch reports that 52 people have died in ICE detention at the hands of the Trump Administration.\n\nI\u2019m grateful to Juan Miguel\u2019s family for coming forward to share their story. Every Oregonian deserves to understand exactly who is hurt by Trump\u2019s cruel and inhumane immigration policies. Across our state, people are afraid to leave their homes. They are hesitant to buy groceries, and they are questioning whether to go to work and send their children to school.\n\nNo one deserves to live in fear. My team and I will continue doing everything we can to support Juan Miguel and his family. We have been working with Unidos, ACLU Louisiana, and my Democratic colleagues from Louisiana to contact Juan Miguel and get him the legal support he deserves. We will continue doing everything we can to support Juan Miguel and his family.\n\nIn Congress, I will keep demanding transparency from ICE, fighting to protect access to legal counsel and due process, and pushing for reforms that bring real accountability to ICE, CBP, and our immigration system.\n\nJuan Miguel\u2019s family deserves answers, and Oregonians deserve a government that respects everyone\u2019s rights and basic dignity.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-leads-164-lawmakers", "Rep. Salinas Leads 164 Lawmakers Demanding the Trump Administration Halt Its Roadless Rule Rollback", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Reuben Gallego (D-AZ) led a bipartisan coalition of 164 Members of Congress in urging the Trump Administration to abandon its proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule, a longstanding and successful conservation guardrail protecting 44 million acres of iconic landscapes and National Forest System lands. The letter underscores the Rule\u2019s broad, bipartisan support, as well as its critical role in safeguarding clean drinking water, wildlife habitats, carbon storage, and outdoor recreation economies across 37 states.\n\nIn a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service, the lawmakers criticize their lack of meaningful public engagement, calling for the Department to extend the comment period, hold in-person public meetings, and conduct full Tribal consultation. The lawmakers also demanded the Trump Administration halt its rescission effort and instead focus on successful implementation of this bedrock policy.\n\nClick here or see below for the full letter.\n\nDear Secretary Rollins and Chief Schultz,\n\nAs Members of Congress representing a broad range of communities, stakeholders, and outdoor interests, we write in strong support of the U.S. Forest Service\u2019s Roadless Area Conservation Rule (\u201cRoadless Rule\u201d) and in firm opposition to the Department of Agriculture\u2019s proposal for rescission. We urge the Department to halt this effort and instead focus on effective implementation of this longstanding and successful policy.\n\nSince its adoption in 2001, the Roadless Rule has served as a cornerstone of public lands conservation, now protecting approximately 44 million acres of National Forest System lands across 37 states. These areas provide clean drinking water, critical wildlife habitat, carbon storage, and world-class recreation opportunities. Iconic landscapes such as the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the Gila National Forest in New Mexico, and the George Washington National Forest in Virginia exemplify the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of these lands.\n\nThe Roadless Rule was developed through one of the most robust public processes in federal rulemaking history. The Forest Service received 1.6 million public comments - approximately 95 percent in support - and held over 600 public meetings nationwide. In contrast, the current rescission effort has lacked meaningful public engagement. The Department provided just 21 days for public comment on the Notice of Intent in 2025 and has yet to hold any public meetings. Despite these limitations, more than 600,000 comments were submitted, with over 99 percent opposing rescission. This overwhelming and bipartisan public support underscores the continued popularity and importance of the Roadless Rule. Unsurprisingly, at just 30 days, the ongoing comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and proposed rule is equally insufficient, and we encourage the USFS to extend the comment period to 120 days for a fair and transparent process.\n\nGiven the extraordinary public interest in the Roadless Rule and the significant consequences that its repeal would have for communities across the country, the Forest Service should also conduct a robust series of in-person public meetings before finalizing any rescission. Additionally, Tribes are entitled to the opportunity to engage in robust consultation, as the repeal of the Rule will have dramatic consequences on their way of life. When the Roadless Rule was originally developed, the aforementioned 600 public meetings ensured that affected communities, Tribes, local governments, industry, recreation interests, and conservation organizations had the opportunity to engage directly with the agency. The proposal to repeal the Rule warrants the same level of public engagement. Public meetings should be held in regions where National Forest System roadless areas are most affected, providing local communities with a meaningful opportunity to ask questions, provide testimony, and ensure the administrative record reflects the perspectives of those who will experience the greatest impacts. A transparent, accessible, and geographically representative public engagement process is essential to maintaining public confidence in the rulemaking process and ensuring the agency fully considers the consequences of such a consequential policy change.\n\nThe enduring support for the Roadless Rule is rooted in its clear and measurable benefits. Over the past 25 years, the rule has helped protect watersheds, biodiversity, and ecosystem integrity by limiting road construction and large-scale logging in undeveloped areas. Forest Service data show that watersheds within roadless areas are far more likely to be in \u201cproperly functioning\u201d condition compared to those outside of them, which are more often classified as \u201cat risk\u201d or \u201cimpaired.\u201d\n\nThese healthy ecosystems support a wide array of wildlife. Roadless areas provide habitat for hundreds of species listed or proposed for protection under the Endangered Species Act, including grizzly bears, lynx, and other sensitive species, and disproportionately support species of conservation concern. In addition, these areas play a vital role in climate resilience and carbon storage. For example, the Tongass National Forest alone stores over 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon and sequesters millions more annually.\n\nClaims that the Roadless Rule impedes wildfire management are not supported by the evidence. The rule explicitly allows for wildfire prevention, suppression, and hazardous fuels reduction. In fact, nearly 2 million acres of roadless areas have undergone fuel treatments in recent years. Forest Service data also show that roadless areas account for a significant share of fuel treatment activities relative to their forest coverage. Research further indicates that wildfire risk is comparable inside and outside of roadless areas and that roads are not necessary to maintain forest health.\n\nMoreover, scientific studies demonstrate that wildfire ignitions occur far more frequently in roaded areas due to human activity. By limiting road construction, the Roadless Rule helps reduce ignition risks from sources such as vehicles, campfires, and other human causes.\n\nFinally, the economic benefits of the Roadless Rule are substantial. By avoiding the construction and maintenance of new roads, the rule saves taxpayers billions of dollars. The Forest Service already faces a road maintenance backlog of nearly $6 billion across its existing system. Expanding road networks into remote and often economically unviable areas would only increase these costs. At the same time, protected roadless areas support recreation, tourism, and outdoor economies, while safeguarding clean water and subsistence resources that communities rely on. When it comes to outdoor recreation, roadless areas encompass more than 25,000 miles of trails, 8,500 climbing routes, 1,000 miles of whitewater, and more than 10,000 miles of mountain biking trails across the country, all of which support a $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy. Additionally, hunters and anglers across the nation access these public lands where backcountry provides ample fishing and hunting. The Roadless Rule protects drinking water in 354 municipal watersheds, saving downstream communities millions of dollars in water filtration costs.\n\nAfter 25 years of successful implementation, the conclusion is clear: the Roadless Rule is effective, widely supported, and essential to responsible forest management. Rescinding it would undermine decades of progress and impose unnecessary environmental and fiscal costs.\n\nWe respectfully urge the Department to end its unjustified rescission of the Roadless Rule.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-legislation-prevent-student-loan-default", "Bonamici Introduces Legislation to Prevent Student Loan Default", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [9/2/26] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation to help student loan borrowers avoid default.\n\nThe Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act would help student loan borrowers avoid delinquency by automatically enrolling struggling borrowers in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans to make repayment more affordable. This process will remove unnecessary paperwork requirements and use existing taxpayer information to automatically connect borrowers with protections.\n\n\u201cBureaucratic hurdles should not keep student loan borrowers from more affordable repayment plans,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cThe SIMPLE Act is commonsense legislation to use existing taxpayer information to automatically place people in plans that better meet their financial needs and provide protection from harmful default.\"\n\nStudent loan default can lead to wage garnishment and the withholding of tax refunds and Social Security benefits. It also can harm credit ratings, making it difficult for borrowers to purchase a car or a home. These consequences disproportionately affect low-income borrowers and borrowers with up to $10,000 in debt and no degree, who are most vulnerable to default.\n\n\u201cProblems arise for many student loan borrowers not due to an inability or unwillingness to pay, but rather due to needless complexity within the system. Many are simply unaware of generous income-driven repayment plans that can lower their monthly payments. The SIMPLE Act would expand access to affordable income-driven repayment options by automatically enrolling struggling borrowers in those plans before they experience the punitive consequences of default. The financial aid community stands in support of this bill,\u201d said Karen McCarthy, Vice President of Public Policy & Federal Relations, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).\n\n\u201cWe applaud Rep. Bonamici for leading the SIMPLE Act, which makes common-sense improvements to help student loan borrowers access more affordable repayment options and avoid the devastating consequences of loan default,\u201d said Michele Zampini, Associate Vice President of Federal Policy & Advocacy, for The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS).\n\nYou can read the full text of the SIMPLE Act here. A summary of the legislation can be found here.\n\nThe legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Lucy McBath, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark Takano, and Frederica Wilson.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-veterans-affairs-committee-unanimously-passes-rep-maxine-dexters-motion", "House Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee Unanimously Passes Rep. Maxine Dexter\u2019s Motion to Subpoena Oracle Leaders Over $27 Billion VA Contract", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs unanimously passed Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D.\u2019s (OR-03) motion to subpoena Oracle Executive Chairman Larry Ellison and Oracle CEO Mike Sicillia to testify before the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs about the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) electronic health record modernization contract. The committee Chairman, Mike Bost, had previously invited Oracle to appear in today\u2019s hearing and after initially accepting the invitation, Oracle then declined to participate.\n\nLast month, the VA raised the ceiling on Oracle\u2019s electronic health record modernization contract from $10 billion to over $27 billion through a no-bid extension. Congresswoman Dexter called on Oracle executives to testify under oath about the $17 billion increase, the company\u2019s performance, and whether veterans and taxpayers are getting what they were promised.\n\n\u201cWhen the company responsible for a taxpayer-funded contract that could grow from $10 billion to roughly $27 billion refuses to sit before Congress and answer questions, this committee cannot fully do its job,\u201d Rep. Dexter said. \u201cVeterans deserve a health records system that works, and taxpayers deserve to know their money is being spent responsibly. A private, closed-door roundtable cannot replace public congressional oversight. Oracle\u2019s leaders must appear before this committee and answer for this contract.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the Ranking Member of the Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, I demand accountability from Big Tech profiting off of VA contracts,\u201d said House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano. \u201cOur veterans deserve nothing less than full transparency and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I commend Dr. Dexter for fighting for this subpoena\u2014an essential step to ensure Congress is holding accountable those responsible for the ballooning Electronic Health Record Modernization budget. I am pleased our Republican colleagues joined us in voting to issue subpoenas. I look forward to hearing from Mr. Ellison and Mr. Sicilia to understand where this money will go and whether veterans are actually getting a good deal.\u201d\n\nThe Congresswoman also raised questions about potential conflicts of interest. President Trump\u2019s 2026 financial disclosures included transactions involving Oracle securities, and The Wall Street Journal reported that Ellison gave roughly $45 million to a political nonprofit supporting Trump\u2019s 2024 election effort.\n\n\u201cI am not saying this is a corrupt contract, but the red flags demand serious scrutiny,\u201d Rep. Dexter said. \u201cThis is a $17 billion no-bid increase for a company with a troubled performance record, whose founder spent heavily to support the president and whose stock appears in the president\u2019s financial disclosures. Congress has a responsibility to investigate.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nCongresswoman Dexter, a former VA doctor, has heard concerns from VA doctors about Oracles\u2019 system. She also cited Oregon\u2019s troubled experience with Oracle\u2019s work on the state\u2019s health insurance marketplace. Oregon sued Oracle in 2014, and the dispute was resolved through a 2016 settlement of over $100 million.\n\nThe Government Accountability Office (GAO) has repeatedly raised concerns about the VA\u2019s electronic health record modernization effort. As of August 2026, VA had not fully implemented 14 of GAO\u2019s 18 recommendations related to cost estimates, scheduling, program management, user adoption, satisfaction and operational testing.\n\nThe committee\u2019s unanimous passage of Congresswoman Dexter\u2019s motion advances subpoenas calling for Ellison and Sicilia to testify at a public hearing. Their testimony would allow committee members to question Oracle\u2019s leaders directly about the company\u2019s work and demand answers for veterans and taxpayers.\n\nWatch Rep. Dexter\u2019s Remarks and Subpoena Motion: Here\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-val-hoyle-votes-for-continuing-resolution", "REP. HOYLE VOTES FOR CONTINUING RESOLUTION", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) released the following statement after voting for a continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded through December 11th.\n\n\u201cAs costs continue to rise, it's the American people that are paying the price for the political circus in Washington. Instead of voting on a full budget, House Republicans have decided to kick the can down the road and vote on a short-term continuing resolution through December 11th.\n\nWhile this bill isn\u2019t perfect, we cannot afford another government shutdown that will disrupt vital services the American people rely on, deny federal employees their incomes and further damage the American economy.\n\nThese are real problems that deserve real solutions. While I am here ready to work, my Republican colleagues are leaving working families behind. That's shameful.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-randall-send-letter-demanding-answers-over-inhumane-condition-ice", "Dexter, Randall Send Letter Demanding Answers Over Inhumane Condition at ICE Detention Center", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Members call attention to reports of inedible food, lack of medical care and alleged sexual assault occurring inside the facility\n\nVIDEO: Dexter and Randall made an unannounced oversight visit at NWDC to meet with hunger strikers earlier this month\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Reps. Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) and Emily Randall (WA-06), sent a letter to ICE Acting Director, David Venturella, DHS Inspector General, Dr. Joseph Cuffari and CEO of The GEO Group, George Zoley, calling out the inhumane conditions inside the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington.\n\nIn their letter, Reps, Dexter and Randall call out ICE, GEO and DHS for failing to meet their obligation to provide access to timely medical services, adequate food, visitation and other basic services.\n\nThe Members wrote in the letter:\n\n\u201cWe remain deeply concerned about reports of inadequate and delayed access to medical care. Since our first visits in early 2025, numerous constituents have reported having medical issues dismissed and access to care delayed or denied, and this was echoed again during our visit,\u201d wrote Congresswomen Dexter and Randall. \u201cAdditionally, we were alarmed to hear about alleged sexual assault occurring within the facility. We were also unable to exercise our congressional oversight authority to inspect the medical area of the facility because no Public Health Service staff were available. In addition, we were informed that access continues to be denied to state health inspectors of Washington\u2019s Department of Health.\u201d\n\nCongresswomen Dexter and Randall are demanding answers from ICE, DHS, and The GEO Group on clarifying standards for mealtimes, medical care and visiting procedures. In response to reports of 140+ individuals participating in a hunger strike at the NWDC, Reps. Dexter and Randall made an unannounced oversight visit on August 15. While inside, the Congresswomen met with a hunger striker and heard about the delayed mealtimes, inedible food and lack of medical care being provided to detainees.\n\nFollowing the Members\u2019 visit, the hunger strike ended on August 20 and ICE and The GEO Group agreed to make changes to improve conditions inside the facility.\n\nRep. Randall recently returned to the NWDC to follow up on cases her office is handling.\n\nDuring the unannounced visit, Rep. Dexter, who practiced as a critical care and lung physician for more than 20 years, raised serious concerns about reports that people detained at the facility have gone on a hunger strike over food and poor living conditions, Rep. Dexter explained that inadequate nutrition and prolonged hunger can cause serious health risks, particularly for people with underlying medical conditions.\n\nRead the full letter, here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-statement-following-supreme-court-ruling-allowing-trump", "Rep. Andrea Salinas\u2019 Statement Following Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Trump to Advance Voter Suppression Plan", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "SALEM, OR \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court\u2019s decision that clears the way for President Trump to move forward with parts of his executive order restricting mail-in voting.\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court just cleared the way for President Trump to move forward with his plan to restrict mail-in voting, a thinly veiled attempt at voter suppression.\n\n\u201cFor decades, Oregonians have voted entirely by mail, and our elections have been safe, secure, and accurate. Today\u2019s ruling is an attack on every Oregonian\u2019s right to vote, but it\u2019s not the end of the fight. Every Oregonian has a right to cast their ballot and have it counted. I will keep supporting the legal battle against Trump\u2019s unlawful executive order, and I will keep fighting to protect our vote-by-mail system.\n\n\u201cThe more Trump tries to silence Oregonians, the more we will make our voices heard. Come November, Oregonians will vote overwhelmingly to hold Trump, Congress, and every other institution that has enabled his corruption, accountable.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-salinas-and-ansari-react-white-house-repeal-roadless-rule", "Reps. Salinas and Ansari React to White House Repeal of the Roadless Rule", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) responded to the Trump Administration\u2019s decision to move forward with its repeal of the Roadless Rule. For a quarter century, the Roadless Rule has protected 58.5 million acres of treasured forestland within the National Forest System. The lawmakers previously introduced the Roadless Area Conservation Act to codify these protections into law.\n\nRep. Salinas issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am deeply disappointed that the Trump Administration is moving forward with repealing the Roadless Rule. I have consistently advocated for the protection of our nation's most pristine lands. Together with my colleagues, I have introduced the Roadless Area Conservation Act to codify the rule into law, I have led letters to the Administration at each step of this process urging them to reverse course before it is too late, and I have questioned senior leaders at USDA during committee hearings about the flawed assumptions underlying this misguided repeal.\n\n\u201cThe Administration claims this is about wildfire management. The Forest Service\u2019s own analysis shows that roads increase the risk of fire by increasing human-caused ignitions. In fact, the rule poses no threat to responsible wildfire management. Nearly 2 million acres of roadless areas have undergone fuel treatments in recent years.\n\n\u201cBefore the Roadless Rule, these forests and the surrounding communities were at risk of encroaching industrial logging, which threatened habitat loss and degraded clean water. Logging roads are not designed to create access for firefighters. They are designed to reach timber that had never before been accessible, and in the process, they fragment ecosystems and threaten communities.\n\n\u201cNew roads are not a magic bullet to fix the wildfire crisis. We need federal lands management agencies to focus on responsible forest management, but instead, the Trump Administration has cut 16 percent of the Forest Service\u2019s staff, prioritized disruptive reorganization plans at critical wildfire agencies without congressional approval, and treated 25 percent fewer acres for hazardous fuels in 2025 compared to 2024.\n\n\u201cInstead of wiping out critical environmental protections, the Administration should refocus on what works and reinvest in the workforce that gets it done. I will continue to use every tool at my disposal to fight this reckless and dangerous decision.\u201d\n\nRep. Ansari responded to the announcement:\n\n\u201cThis move by the Trump Administration is another sellout of our public lands to corporate interests. Our national forests are among Arizona's greatest treasures. They provide clean air and water and give families a recreational escape to enjoy the outdoors. This decision is catastrophic and should be immediately undone.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/physician-lawmaker-maxine-dexter-celebrates-125-million-investment-university", "Physician-Lawmaker Maxine Dexter Celebrates $125 Million Investment in University of Oregon to Expand Children\u2019s Mental Health Workforce", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PORTLAND, OR. \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), celebrated a $125 million private investment to expand the University of Oregon\u2019s Ballmer Institute for Children\u2019s Behavioral Health, the nation\u2019s first undergraduate program focused on child behavioral health. After graduating its first cohort of 17 students in June 2026, the institute will use the gift to expand its innovative program to three additional universities and train more behavioral health professionals to serve young people nationwide.\n\nThe $125 million grant from Ballmer Group, a private philanthropic organization co-founded by Connie and Steve Ballmer, will build on the Ballmer Institute\u2019s work in Oregon\u2019s 3rd Congressional District. The initiative aims to launch 18 programs nationwide over the next 10 years, training the next generation of behavioral health professionals and expanding access to early, evidence-based mental health support for children.\n\n\u201cToo many children are facing mental health challenges without the support they need, and as a mother, I understand how deeply that impacts families,\u201d Rep. Dexter said. \u201cI was proud to support the University of Oregon\u2019s mission when I served in the state legislature, and now I\u2019m proud to continue that support in Congress as they work to bolster our behavioral health workforce and expand critical support for children across the country.\u201d\n\nThe institute\u2019s model is designed to create a new pipeline of behavioral health professionals trained in prevention and early intervention, while connecting more children with support before they reach a crisis point.\n\n\u201cThe University of Oregon is leading an innovative approach to growing the youth behavioral health workforce through the nation\u2019s first undergraduate program in child behavioral health. The launch of the Catalyst Center will support expansion of that model to other states, accelerating the growth of a workforce to ensure that all children have access to the support they need to thrive,\u201d said Katie McLaughlin, executive director of the Ballmer Institute for Children\u2019s Behavioral Health and the Catalyst Center. \u201cWe are grateful to Ballmer Group for this investment and to Congresswoman Dexter and Oregon\u2019s congressional delegation for their leadership and support of the Ballmer Institute\u2019s work in Congress.\u201d\n\nThe Ballmer Institute for Children\u2019s Behavioral Health is based at the University of Oregon\u2019s Portland campus and is developing a national model for expanding the youth behavioral health workforce.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-introduces-bipartisan-bill-fund-mental-health-support-first", "Rep. Salinas Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Fund Mental Health Support for First Responders", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Lake Oswego, OR \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Lifeline for First Responders Act at a press conference hosted by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) at Station 39. The bipartisan bill, which is co-led by Reps. Gabe Evans (CO-08), Sharice Davids (KS-03), and Thomas Kean Jr. (NJ-07), would create the first federal grant program dedicated to mental health care for firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers, addressing a gap in support that first responders have faced for years.\n\n\"This has been Oregon's most devastating wildfire season on record. Our firefighters and paramedics have felt every bit of it. Just as we ask our first responders to be there for us, we need to be there for them,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cUp to a quarter of firefighters suffer from PTSD, and 37 percent of fire and EMS professionals have contemplated suicide, yet there is no federal program to address it, the way there is for law enforcement. My bill changes that. I'm proud to introduce the Lifeline for First Responders Act with the support of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue and NAMI Oregon to ensure our emergency personnel get the support they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former law enforcement officer, I know firsthand the toll that serving on the front lines can take on our first responders and emergency personnel. For too long, stigma has kept too many of our nation\u2019s heroes from seeking the support they need. I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Lifeline for First Responders Act to help break down those barriers and ensure the men and women who answer the call for us every day have access to the mental health resources, peer support, and confidential care they deserve,\u201d said Rep. Evans.\n\n\u201cFirefighters and EMS professionals in Kansas and across the country can face more accidents, injuries, and tragedy in a single shift than most of us will experience in a lifetime. But too often, we treat their mental health as an afterthought. This bipartisan effort would make long-overdue investments in mental health services for first responders and make sure they know they don\u2019t have to struggle in silence,\u201d said Rep. Davids.\n\n\"Emergency medical professionals sacrifice so much to serve our communities. This bill would provide critical access to mental health support for those on the front lines who are at risk of higher rates of trauma and mental health struggles than the general population. Ensuring they have the resources they need will strengthen the safety and well-being of both those in EMS agencies and the communities they serve,\" said Rep. Kean.\n\nEvery day, first responders witness accidents, injuries, and devastation. That exposure can lead to burnout, PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Up to a quarter of firefighters suffer from PTSD, and 37 percent of fire and EMS professionals have contemplated suicide. In 2018, Congress recognized this need for law enforcement, authorizing the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act to fund mental health prevention and treatment programs for police. No comparable program currently exists for fire and EMS personnel. The Lifeline for First Responders Act would close that gap.\n\nSpecifically, this bill would:\n\nEstablish a new EMS and First Responder Wellness Grant Program at the Department of Transportation\u2019s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, through its Office of Emergency Medical Services;\n\nAuthorize $7.5 million a year, through fiscal year 2032, to fund evidence-based mental health and wellness services for fire, EMS, and dispatch personnel;\n\nFund suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention services, along with confidential counseling, peer support, and behavioral health care;\n\nFund family support services for the spouses and children of first responders; and\n\nFund outreach, stigma reduction, education, training, and technical assistance for fire departments, EMS agencies, and 911 dispatch centers building their own wellness programs.\n\n\"This is about the people who show up on your worst day and take care of your loved ones; it's time we show up for them and do the same. Talking about the struggles we all face is important; it's time to go beyond talking and make this a priority,\" said Deputy Chief Patrick Fale.\n\n\"First responders experience repeated exposure to trauma, yet too often face barriers to accessing the mental health care and support they need,\" said Michael Linskey, Director of Congressional Affairs at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). \"NAMI is grateful to Representatives Salinas, Evans, Kean and Davids for introducing the Lifeline for First Responders Act, which invests in evidence-based mental health services, suicide prevention, peer support, and family resources. Supporting the mental health of those who protect our communities is critical to ensuring they can continue serving safely and effectively.\"\n\n\u201cFirst responders face significant occupational stressors, including repeated exposure to trauma, demanding shift schedules, and high-pressure work environments, all of which can increase suicide risk,\u201d said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). \u201cAFSP is proud to support the bipartisan Lifeline for First Responders Act, which would establish a dedicated grant program to expand access to evidence-based mental health and suicide prevention services for emergency personnel. By investing in workforce wellness, strengthening access to care, and reducing barriers to seeking support, this legislation would ensure first responders have the resources they need to protect their mental health. We thank Representatives Salinas, Evans, Kean and Davids for their bipartisan leadership in introducing this important legislation.\u201d\n\nRep. Salinas introduced the bill in the House alongside Representatives Gabe Evans (CO-08), Thomas Kean Jr. (NJ-07), and Sharice Davids (KS-03). Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) are leading companion legislation in the Senate.\n\nThe Lifeline for First Responders Act is endorsed by Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, Western Fire Chiefs Association, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Rhode Island State Association of Fire Fighters.\n\nClick here to view the full text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-randall-make-unannounced-oversight-visit-northwest-detention-center", "Dexter, Randall Make Unannounced Oversight Visit to Northwest Detention Center After Reports of Hunger Strike and Unsafe Conditions", "2026-08-15", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "This visit comes after mounting concerns of repeated reports of inadequate medical and sanitary conditions including bugs in food and rat droppings at the facility and the White House continuous efforts to limit congressional oversight of detention facilities.\n\nFollowing the visit, Reps. Dexter and Randall met with local advocates protesting conditions at the ICE detention center and the treatment of the people detained.", 1, "2026-08-16T05:26:31Z", "2026-08-16T05:27:49Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-introduces-bill-tax-data-centers-reinvest-housing-conservation-and", "Rep. Salinas Introduces Bill to Tax Data Centers, Reinvest in Housing, Conservation, and Infrastructure", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Data Center Community Reinvestment Act, a bill that would tax the electricity data centers use and send that money to programs that build affordable housing, protect public lands and waterways, clean up hazardous waste sites, fund clean energy projects, and repair roads and bridges.\n\n\u201cAs AI use expands and the demand for data centers grows, we need to ensure our communities aren\u2019t left footing the bill,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cThis bill taxes the energy used by data centers and reinvests that money in the programs our communities rely on, from affordable housing to conservation to cleaning up hazardous waste sites. Every community deserves to drive a hard bargain with data center developers, and at the end of the day, every community deserves to share in the benefits from data center growth.\u201d\n\nAs data center demand grows, so will the strain on local infrastructure. Rep. Salinas\u2019 bill would place a 1-cent-per-kilowatt-hour excise tax on electricity used by any data center with more than 1 megawatt of power capacity, whether that power comes from the grid or is generated on-site. Based on current data center electricity use nationwide, the tax is projected to raise about $1.76 billion a year.\n\nThe bill would split that revenue equally five ways among the following federal programs and funds:\n\nThe Land and Water Conservation Fund, which protects public lands and waterways. It would receive about $352 million more a year, an increase of nearly 40 percent.\n\nThe Housing Trust Fund, which builds and preserves affordable housing for the lowest-income households. It would receive about $352 million more a year, more than doubling its current funding.\n\nThe Hazardous Substance Superfund, which pays for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites when no responsible party can be identified.\n\nThe Highway Trust Fund, which funds road, bridge, and transit projects nationwide.\n\nThe Energy Technology Trust Fund, which would fund federal loan guarantees for clean energy, advanced nuclear, and grid infrastructure projects. Last year, Republicans rescinded funding for this loan guarantee program. Rep. Salinas' bill would restore a dedicated funding source for it.\n\nClick here to view the full text of the legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/sec-read-join-bonamici-town-hall-meeting-election-security", "Sec. Read to Join Bonamici Town Hall Meeting on Election Security", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [8/13/26] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced that Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read will join her upcoming telephone town hall meeting on election security.\n\nBonamici and Read will provide opening remarks before answering questions from constituents. The telephone town hall meeting will be held on August 26 at 6 p.m. PT.\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s vote by mail elections are safe and secure, and they allow people across the state to vote from home at a time that works best for them,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cIt\u2019s unacceptable that Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans continue to demand changes to our election system that would make it harder for millions of eligible voters to make their voices heard. I\u2019m grateful that Sec. Read will join me to answer questions and set the record straight on election security.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere are a lot of people in power who think it\u2019s okay to throw evidence-free doubt on any election results they don\u2019t like, but the truth is Oregon\u2019s elections are secure, accurate, and fair, and we\u2019re prepared to keep it that way. Transparency and information are the best antidotes to questions and conspiracy theories, so I look forward to talking to Oregonians about everything on their minds ahead of this year\u2019s election,\u201d said Secretary of State Tobias Read.\n\nConstituents can sign up to receive a call at Bonamici.house.gov/live. Audio of the telephone town hall meeting will also be available via livestream at Bonamici.house.gov/live.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-introduces-bipartisan-bill-support-credit-union-members", "Bynum Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Support Credit Union Members", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), and Congresswoman Young Kim (R-CA) introduced the bipartisan Credit Union Investment Authorities Act to provide federal credit unions more flexibility in how they invest their funds, enabling them to provide more competitive products and services for their members.\n\nFederal credit unions have narrow restrictions on where they can invest member deposits, largely confined to government securities and a limited range of other investment categories. A broader range of investment options, will enable credit unions to offer more competitive savings and loan products to their members.\n\nThere are more than 144 million Americans who are members of credit unions.\n\n\u201cHard-working families and business owners need more ways to make their money go further so that they can build a stronger financial future,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cThat starts with making sure that people have access to services that allow them to get more from the money they put in their accounts. Giving credit unions better investment options will help expand loan opportunities, make payments more manageable, and put more financial opportunity on the table for Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cCredit unions serve over 250,000 people right here in California\u2019s 40th District. Yet outdated federal restrictions limit their ability to invest and deliver the competitive rates their members deserve,\u201d said Rep. Kim (CA-40). \u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Credit Union Investment Authorities Act to modernize these rules so credit unions can diversify their portfolios and offer more affordable loans. This common-sense reform puts more money back in the pockets of hardworking Californians.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo continue operating safely and soundly while offering affordable financial products to their members, federal credit unions need laws that reflect the modern financial services landscape. Antiquated laws currently limit the investment options for credit unions. America\u2019s Credit Unions thanks Representatives Janelle Bynum and Young Kim for recognizing this disparity and introducing the Credit Union Investment Authority Act. Modernizing the Federal Credit Union Act will give credit unions much needed flexibility to diversify their investments, helping them manage their balance sheets, to maintain safety and soundness, and continue providing the most affordable financial services in the country. We will continue to advocate for modernized regulatory practices and hope Congress moves quickly to pass this legislation.\u201d said Kathleen Coulombe, America\u2019s Credit Unions Chief Advocacy Officer.\n\n\u201cExpanding investment opportunities for federally-chartered credit unions will produce lasting financial benefits for millions of members across Oregon and the entire six-state GoWest region,\u201d said GoWest Credit Union Association in a statement. \u201cBecause credit union members are also owners, stronger investment options directly support the financial well-being of the institutions they rely on. Allowing the sorts of investment opportunities available to other financial institutions, including state-chartered and corporate credit unions, will strengthen federal credit unions and increase the financial stability of their members and the communities they serve. On behalf of these members, we thank Rep. Bynum for her leadership in advancing this much-needed change to support the financial strength and security of credit union members, in Oregon and across the six-state GoWest region.\u201d\n\nThe Credit Union Investment Authorities Act would:\n\nAmend the Federal Credit Union Act to allow federally chartered credit unions. To purchase corporate bonds and invest in asset-backed securities.\n\nAllow Oregon credit unions to offer their members more affordable interest rates and better loan options.\n\nEnsure responsible investments by authorizing that no more than 10% of a credit union's capital may be invested in a single issuer.\n\nDirects National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) authority to develop rules governing investment decisions and provide key safeguards.", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-hoyle-and-doggett-reintroduce-legislation-to-lower-prescription-drug-pricing", "REPS. HOYLE AND DOGGETT REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICING", "2026-08-13", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington DC \u2013 Today, Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) reintroduced the Affordable Pricing for Taxpayer-Funded Prescription Drugs Act to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Americans. Building on the progress made in the Inflation Reduction Act, this bill would ensure Americans can finally afford lifesaving medicines by requiring affordable pricing agreements for any drug developed using federal funds.\n\n\u201cAmericans are struggling to afford essentials like gas, groceries and prescription drugs. In fact, drug prices in this country are 2.78 times higher than other developed countries,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cIt\u2019s unacceptable that American taxpayers have to pay the price for Big Pharma\u2019s greed. The Affordable Pricing for Taxpayer-Funded Prescription Drugs Act will help working families by establishing affordable pricing agreements and improve transparency from manufacturers.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Trump\u2019s secret deals with Big Pharma do nothing to lower drug prices for most consumers, this legislation delivers meaningful protections to ensure all Americans are charged fair and reasonable prices when taxpayers contribute research and development funding. Families struggling to afford gas, groceries, and most everything else under Trump tariff taxes shouldn\u2019t also be forced to ration or skip necessary medications because of his failure to restrain Big Pharma\u2019s monopoly power,\u201d said Rep. Doggett.\n\nEndorsements\n\nPublic Citizen\u2019s Access to Medicines Program \u2013 Peter Maybarduk, Director\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Government is the largest supporter of biomedical research and development in the world, yet U.S. patients and taxpayers are routinely charged 3-4 times the prices people in other large, wealthy countries pay for prescription drugs. Drug corporation profiteering off Americans for drugs we paid to invent is unjust and leads to preventable suffering and death. Public Citizen is grateful for Reps. Hoyle and Doggett introducing the Affordable Pricing for Taxpayer-Funded Prescription Drugs Act, which would expand access to affordable medicines and bring fairness through requiring federal agencies to include reasonable pricing requirements in licenses, contracts, and other agreements through which Americans support biomedical R&D.\u201d\n\nKnowledge Ecology International \u2013 James Love, Director\n\n\u201cThis is a very thoughtful and reasonable proposal. The requirement that US residents would not have to pay more than other high-income countries, when their tax dollars supported the research to develop a product, should not be controversial. The other provisions in the bill provide balance and nuance. The waiver provision provides even more flexibility, and is appropriately tied to transparency and public comment obligation, when used.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nIn August 2022, Congressional Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, giving Medicare the power to negotiate prices for the most expensive prescription drugs. While the Department of Health & Human Services has used this authority to save Americans billions, Big Pharma continues to raise prices and pad its bottom line. The Affordable Pricing for Taxpayer-Funded Prescription Drugs Act builds on this reform by ensuring the federal government can use its leverage earlier in the drug development process. The bill:", 1, "2026-08-14T06:13:05Z", "2026-08-14T06:14:08Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-lawmakers-noaa-must-keep-its-fleet-newport", "Oregon Lawmakers: NOAA Must Keep Its Fleet in Newport", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led Oregon Congressional Delegation members\u2014including Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)\u2014to urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and General Services Administration (GSA) to renew the NOAA Marine Operations Center \u2013 Pacific (MOC-P)\u2019s fleet lease in Newport, Oregon.\n\n\u201cNewport is the ideal location for MOC-P. Situated on Yaquina Bay, Newport provides direct and quick access to the Pacific Ocean. Newport\u2019s location provides low operational costs for the MOC-P compared to more inland ports and ensures that the fleet sits in the middle of the West Coast \u2013 providing efficient access to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. It is also home to Oregon State University\u2019s Hatfield Marine Science Center, which has facilitated a collaborative partnership between the agency and university,\u201d wrote the Oregon lawmakers to NOAA and GSA. \u201cFurther, Newport is committed to investment in the infrastructure needed to support MOC-P and its workers to ensure the community remains an affordable and accessible place for NOAA employees.\u201d\n\nSince NOAA selected Newport to house MOC-P in 2011, the operations center has provided critical administrative, maintenance, engineering, and logistical support for the agency, supporting training and ship operations too. The lawmakers also highlighted the Port of Newport\u2019s potential to house additional ships and the Port\u2019s role as a hub of maritime activity, both key factors for the continued success of the MOC-P and bolstering NOAA\u2019s maritime capacity along the West Coast.\n\nThey emphasized, \u201cRather than continuing to survey additional waterfront sites along the West Coast that meet the extensive requirements for rebasing this fleet, we encourage you to further capitalize on the initial investment and keep MOC-P in Newport. Keeping the fleet in Newport will be the most efficient, lowest cost option for maintaining NOAA\u2019s fleet directly on the Pacific Coast.\u201d", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-oregon-lawmakers-noaa-must-keep-its-fleet-in-newport", "Merkley, Oregon Lawmakers: NOAA Must Keep Its Fleet in Newport", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led Oregon Congressional Delegation members\u2014including Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)\u2014to urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and General Services Administration (GSA) to renew the NOAA Marine Operations Center \u2013 Pacific (MOC-P)\u2019s fleet lease in Newport, Oregon.\n\n\u201cNewport is the ideal location for MOC-P. Situated on Yaquina Bay, Newport provides direct and quick access to the Pacific Ocean. Newport\u2019s location provides low operational costs for the MOC-P compared to more inland ports and ensures that the fleet sits in the middle of the West Coast \u2013 providing efficient access to Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. It is also home to Oregon State University\u2019s Hatfield Marine Science Center, which has facilitated a collaborative partnership between the agency and university,\u201d wrote the Oregon lawmakers to NOAA and GSA. \u201cFurther, Newport is committed to investment in the infrastructure needed to support MOC-P and its workers to ensure the community remains an affordable and accessible place for NOAA employees.\u201d\n\nSince NOAA selected Newport to house MOC-P in 2011, the operations center has provided critical administrative, maintenance, engineering, and logistical support for the agency, supporting training and ship operations too. The lawmakers also highlighted the Port of Newport\u2019s potential to house additional ships and the Port\u2019s role as a hub of maritime activity, both key factors for the continued success of the MOC-P and bolstering NOAA\u2019s maritime capacity along the West Coast.\n\nThey emphasized, \u201cRather than continuing to survey additional waterfront sites along the West Coast that meet the extensive requirements for rebasing this fleet, we encourage you to further capitalize on the initial investment and keep MOC-P in Newport. Keeping the fleet in Newport will be the most efficient, lowest cost option for maintaining NOAA\u2019s fleet directly on the Pacific Coast.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-urges-odoj-approve-deal-protect-oregonians-access-healthcare", "Bynum Urges ODOJ to Approve Deal to Protect Oregonians\u2019 Access to Healthcare", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) urged Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield to urgently approve the proposed affiliation between Salem Health and Santiam Hospital. Without action, Santiam Hospital is facing financial challenges that could disrupt care and leave tens of thousands of Oregonians without access to reliable healthcare.\n\nSalem Health proposed an affiliation with Santiam to maintain high quality care and preserve local employment and services. Now, Oregonians are waiting on the Oregon Department of Justice to issue their final decision to approve the affiliation.\n\n\u201cThis is people\u2019s healthcare we\u2019re talking about,\u201d said Rep. Janelle Bynum. \u201cWe can\u2019t afford to wait around for the government to wrap this deal in red tape \u2013 our communities need quality care. I\u2019m calling on our state government to step up to do the right thing, now: get all hands on deck, work through the night if you have to, and approve the proposal.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, Rep. Bynum emphasized the potential impact of a lapse in care on Oregonians, writing:\n\nAt its core, this matter is about ensuring that Oregon families continue to receive reliable healthcare close to home\u2026 Residents throughout the Santiam Canyon and surrounding communities depend on local emergency care, surgical services, primary and specialty care, women\u2019s health and maternity services, and coordinated community-based programs\u2026 If Santiam\u2019s condition deteriorates or services are disrupted, patients and families \u2013 not institutions \u2013 will bear the consequences.\u201d\n\nHospital employees, patients, and local leaders alike are also calling for the affiliation to be approved.\n\n\u201cAs both a patient and the Mayor of Stayton, I support Santiam Hospital because I know firsthand the quality of care it provides,\u201d said Stayton Mayor Brian Quigley. \u201cSantiam Hospital helped save my life, and I will always be grateful for the skilled, compassionate professionals who were there when I needed them most. As mayor, I also recognize the hospital\u2019s vital role in the health and strength of our community. Supporting Santiam Hospital means supporting the people and families who depend on local high-quality healthcare every day.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a Santiam Hospital employee for the past 12 years, I have had the privilege of caring for the women and families in our community and seeing firsthand the difference compassionate, local healthcare makes,\u201d said Jenna Styoles, Santiam Women's Clinic Manager. \u201cMy connection to Santiam runs deep\u2014my grandmother helped open the doors of this hospital as a member of the very first nursing staff in 1953, and my family, friends, and neighbors have relied on the care provided here for generations. The families in Stayton and our surrounding canyon communities deserve the same access to skilled, timely healthcare as anyone else, because where you live should never determine the care you receive\u2014and when emergencies happen, the minutes truly matter- I have witnessed this firsthand, over and over again. I respectfully ask that this partnership move forward quickly so we can continue protecting access to care for the people who depend on Santiam Hospital.\n\nBackground\n\nSantiam\u2019s current situation:\n\nSantiam experienced a $7.5 million operating loss in 2023 and was unable to stabilize long-term sustainability in 2024 and 2025.\n\nIn the second quarter of 2026, Santiam reported more than $1 million in losses, with projections showing continued unsustainable losses.\n\nIn addition, Santiam faces a major challenge in securing or replacing their electronic health record agreement which expires in June 2027.\n\nThe merger:\n\nThe proposed affiliation with Salem Health includes a $35 million capital investment, assumption of $22 million in debt, access to a replacement Epic electronic health record platform before Santiam's current agreement expires in June 2027, and preservation of local employment and services.\n\nSalem Health has made a commitment to retain employees and continue investing in services.\n\nSantiam leadership believes the affiliation is essential to prevent future insolvency and maintain local access to healthcare in rural Oregon.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available HERE.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/top-democrats-house-natural-resources-and-agriculture-committees-introduce", "Top Democrats on the House Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees Introduce the Wildfire Response and Readiness Act", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Assistant Democratic Leader and Federal Lands Subcommittee Ranking Member Joe Neguse (CO-02), Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-02), Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), Forestry and Horticulture Subcommittee Ranking Member Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Congressman George Whitesides (CA-27) introduced the Wildfire Response and Readiness Act, a comprehensive package of wildland fire policy that meets the moment for Americans facing increasingly active, destructive, and life-threatening wildfires.\n\nSo far this year, wildfires have burned more than 5.5 million acres across the United States. Coupled with extreme weather conditions, including record-breaking drought across the West, and communities across the country are continuing to face increasingly dangerous wildfire conditions.\n\nPresident Donald Trump and his administration have responded by gutting the public land management agencies and institutions responsible for keeping our lands resilient and accessible and our communities safe from catastrophic wildfire. This reckless approach places the United States in an untenable position, where the threat of wildfire has never been greater and federal land management agencies are less prepared than ever before.\n\nThe Wildfire Response and Readiness Act is House Democrats\u2019 affirmative response to the growing threat of catastrophic wildfires. It includes practical, collaborative solutions that aim to better protect the people and places we love while ultimately saving lives.\n\n\u201cColorado has experienced some of the most devastating wildfires in the country\u2014and as we\u2019ve worked together to recover and rebuild, we\u2019ve also drawn from hard-earned lessons in the wake of these disasters to introduce this comprehensive package of policy proposals,\u201d said Assistant Leader Joe Neguse. \u201cThe Wildfire Response and Readiness Act advances critical prevention, mitigation, and response strategies while delivering long-overdue support for our brave and heroic wildland firefighters, who risk life and limb to protect our communities and deserve fair compensation and benefits.\u201d\n\n\u201cHotter summers and drier forests mean wildfires are burning more intensely and reaching towns that never used to worry about them. President Trump watched some of the worst fire seasons this country has seen. His response? Fire the people who run toward the flames for the rest of us. He hollowed out the agencies, ignored the warnings, and left towns across the West more exposed than they've been in decades. Democrats see what families in fire country are up against, and we refuse to leave them on their own. The Wildfire Response and Readiness Act delivers what Americans need: fair pay and job security for wildland firefighters, real help for families fire-proofing their homes, and healthier forests that stop small fires from becoming catastrophes. This is the fight of our time, and we will not let up until every community has the protection they need,\u201d said Ranking Member Huffman.\n\n\u201cMinnesotans are tired of waking up to smoky skies and of witnessing their beloved public lands, like the Boundary Waters, quite literally go up in flames. This critical legislation will help protect rural communities, restore healthy forests and fairly compensate the firefighters serving on the frontlines,\u201d said Ranking Member Craig.\n\n\u201cOregon is already experiencing one of our worst wildfire seasons on record. Families are living with smoke, farmers and small businesses are facing disruptions, and rural communities are shouldering the burden of increasingly costly fires. We owe Oregon\u2019s firefighters the tools they need to respond safely, and we owe our communities a government that prepares before disaster strikes. The Wildfire Response and Readiness Act brings together a comprehensive plan to strengthen prevention, improve coordination, protect homes and working lands, and help communities recover. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this effort to make Oregon and communities across the country safer and more resilient,\u201d said Congresswoman Salinas.\n\n\u201cWildfires are a large and growing threat that will only get worse if we do not take decisive action at the federal level,\u201d said Congressman Whitesides. \u201cFrom making our homes safer to better managing our forests to bolstering firefighter resources and pay, this package would make us more resilient and significantly improve our ability to manage the national wildfire crisis.\u201d\n\nThe Wildfire Response and Readiness Act has three main pillars. They are outlined below.\n\nResilient Lands: The bill invests in wildfire prevention and post-fire restoration and recovery so that the forests and public lands around our homes and communities stay healthy and resilient to catastrophic fires. It also requires federal agencies to develop a 10-year wildfire plan so that the federal government coordinates with the people most impacted.\n\nFire-Safe Communities: The bill helps families make their homes more resistant to fires and gives communities the tools to plan ahead so they are ready before a fire breaks out. It also encourages the development of new tools to spot fires faster and takes steps to address the harmful impacts of wildfire smoke, making sure we have clean air.\n\nWildland Firefighter Safety and Workforce Security: Wildland firefighters put their lives on the line to keep the rest of us safe. This bill honors that work with better pay, leave, and retirement benefits. It also trains the next generation of wildland firefighters and expands the workforce. And after more than a quarter of land management agency staff were fired or left their jobs since January 2025, this bill prevents any more firings and keeps key wildfire and forestry research facilities open and running.\n\nTo learn more, click HERE.\n\nFull bill text can be found HERE, and a section-by-section HERE.\n\nThe package is endorsed by American Forests, Defenders of Wildlife, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, Megafire Action, National Federation of Federal Employees, Sierra Club, and Trust for Public Land.\n\nTo view their statements of support, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-introduces-legislation-stop-trump-selling-insider-access-his", "Rep. Salinas Introduces Legislation to Stop Trump from Selling Insider Access to His Presidential Posts", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Reps. Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Kweisi Mfume (MD-07) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.), introduced the Stop Corrupt Trading Act, companion legislation to a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), to ban the President and Vice President from selling early or exclusive access to their official social media posts for profit.\n\nOn August 1, Trump Media Group began selling early access to President Trump\u2019s Truth Social feed, charging trading firms up to $100,000 a month for the privilege. Those posts can move markets within seconds, especially as Trump weighs in on the ongoing Iran war. The Truth Social API gives these firms an advantage. It hands them information before anyone else, giving them a chance to act ahead of people who can\u2019t afford the $100,000-a-month subscription. Getting information even a few milliseconds before anyone else can be worth tens of millions of dollars to a trading firm.\n\n\"No President should allow Wall Street firms to pay for privileged access to the Oval Office,\" said Rep. Salinas. \"Trump is letting firms pay up to $100,000 a month to receive his Truth Social posts faster, including announcements that can affect financial markets. This pay-to-play scheme reeks of Tony Soprano-style corruption. Wealthy traders should not get a head start while working people and small investors play by a different set of rules. The Stop Corrupt Trading Act will close that door and make clear that public office must serve the American people, not anyone's mob-style profiteering.\"\n\nSpecifically, Rep. Salinas\u2019 legislation would:\n\nBan the President, Vice President, and related entities, including businesses or partnerships controlled by them or their immediate family, from selling nonpublic information for financial benefit, including exclusive data feeds of the President's official or personal statements. Violations carry a fine of up to double the value of the transaction and up to five years in prison.\n\nBan any person or firm from buying that nonpublic information, with penalties of up to double the value of the transaction.\n\nToll the statute of limitations for conduct that occurs while a person holds the office of President or Vice President, so the clock does not run out while they are still in office.\n\nGive the Attorney General authority to bring civil action for disgorgement of profits, civil penalties, and other equitable relief, and direct the Office of Government Ethics to refer credible evidence of violations to the Justice Department and Congress.\n\n\"Americans are tired of a system where powerful politicians can profit from public office while families pay the price,\u201d said Brian Lemek, Defend the Vote Action Fund Executive Director. \u201cWe applaud Senator Padilla and Congresswoman Salinas for leading the fight against corruption by introducing the Stop Corrupt Trading Act and taking an important step toward restoring trust in government. Public service should be about serving the American people\u2014not personal financial gain.\"\n\n\"Hardworking Americans deserve public officials who work in the public interest, not for private gain to line their own pockets. Donald Trump has abused the presidency by profiting off cryptocurrency schemes, controversial settlements, and now, selling early access to market-moving non-public information through Truth Social,\" said Virginia Canter, Anticorruption and Ethics Chief Counsel and Director at Democracy Defenders Action. \"This new pay-to-play scheme is just another reminder that Trump is willing to sell access to government policy to the highest bidder. We thank Congresswoman Salinas for introducing the Stop Corrupt Trading Act to help curb Trump's lawlessness, and we urge Congress to pass this and related anti-corruption legislation to rein in an out-of-control Administration.\"\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and Defend the Vote Action Fund.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-salinas-lawler-hoyle-champion-bipartisan-bill-to-expand-summer-meal-access-for-rural-kids", "Merkley, Salinas, Lawler, Hoyle Champion Bipartisan Bill to Expand Summer Meal Access for Rural Kids", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and Val Hoyle (D-OR-04) led the reintroduction of the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act, which would help summer meal program sponsors purchase, retrofit, or repair vehicles that expand access to summer meals for children in rural communities.\n\nIn addition to Merkley, Salinas, Lawler, and Hoyle, the bipartisan, bicameral FORK Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\n\u201cEvery child\u2014everywhere\u2014deserves delicious and nutritious meals all year long,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cCommunities in Oregon and across the United States are finding innovative ways to make sure students do not go hungry during the summer months. The bipartisan FORK Act builds on those efforts by helping rural communities expand meal delivery and meal pick-up at sites closer to where families live, so geography is never a barrier to feeding kids nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cSummer should not mean losing access to a healthy meal. But for too many children in rural Oregon, long distances and limited transportation make it harder to reach summer meal sites when school is out. The FORK Act offers a practical solution by helping schools bring meals directly to the children who need them. Every child deserves reliable access to nutritious food all year long, no matter their ZIP code,\u201d said Salinas.\n\n\u201cEvery child deserves access to a healthy meal, regardless of where they live, and many of our rural communities face transportation challenges that can make it harder for children to access summer meal programs. This pilot program gives schools and community organizations the tools they need to bring meals directly to kids, helping ensure that no child goes hungry simply because they live too far from a meal distribution site,\u201d said Lawler.\n\n\u201cNo child should go hungry because school is out for the summer,\u201d said Hoyle. \u201cThe FORK Act is an important step toward making sure every child can access the meals they need to grow, learn and thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThousands of Oregonians are being denied food assistance under Trump\u2019s draconian cuts to SNAP and other federal programs,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis bill would help restore critical food assistance to kids, helping meet them exactly where they are to end the ongoing hunger crisis in Oregon\u2019s schools.\u201d\n\n\u201cVermont has the highest percentage of rural students in the nation\u2013that means food-insecure students in our state have a harder time participating in summer meal programs. Investing in food delivery programs that transport students to and from summer meal sites has to be part of the solution,\u201d said Welch. \u201cOur bill works to close the summer meal gap and ensure rural students in Vermont, Oregon, and across the country can access nutritious meals all year long.\u201d\n\nThe FORK Act is inspired by Oregon ingenuity. To ensure students could access healthy, nutritious meals during the summer, Umatilla School District Superintendent Heidi Sipe and Child Nutrition Director Rikkilynn Starliper purchased a van and retrofitted it into a food truck that is used to bring meals to parks throughout their community, reducing travel time and transportation barriers for children and families in rural areas.\n\nThe FORK Act would help replicate that model across the nation. Especially because vehicle purchases are not otherwise allowed under the Summer Food Service Program, the bipartisan, bicameral legislation would establish a three-year pilot grant program to help summer meal program sponsors reduce transportation barriers and bring nutritious meals closer to children and families during the summer. The bill would also build on existing rural non-congregate summer meal flexibilities by helping sponsors acquire transportation infrastructure to fully utilize those options.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alliance to End Hunger, FoodCorps, Marion Polk Food Share, Oregon Food Bank, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, Save the Children, School Nutrition Association, Share Our Strength, Umatilla School District, Woodburn School District, and AASA, the School Superintendents Association.\n\n\u201cSummer meal programs do more than feed students; they offer vital spaces for nutrition, connection, and growth during the break. Our district's food truck has allowed us to replace basic sack lunches with a variety of hot, complete meals. This opportunity has also allowed us to partner with other organizations to team up for activities and community building while also providing such services in multiple locations due to the flexibility of the mobile truck option. Fueling learners across the Nation with the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act is a strong investment in all students,\u201d said Heidi Sipe, Umatilla School District Superintendent.\n\n\u201cFor too many children, summer break means losing access to the healthy school meals they count on all year. The Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act would provide critical funding to deliver nutritious summer meals to children in need, removing transportation barriers for families across rural America and ensuring students return to school nourished and ready to learn,\u201d said Ashley Powell, PhD, RD, FAND, SNS, School Nutrition Association President.\n\n\u201cThe Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics strongly supports the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act. This legislation will help ensure that children in rural and underserved communities have greater access to nutritious meals during the summer months by providing meal sponsors with the tools needed to reach families facing travel and access barriers. We applaud the bill\u2019s sponsors for advancing solutions that help children thrive by keeping them connected to nutritious food when school is out,\u201d said Tamara Randall, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics President.\n\n\u201cWe need to help the children in our care, no matter where they live, in cities or rural areas, be able to access enough food every day, in every season, for a healthy life so they can learn to their fullest potential. Let\u2019s invest in making sure that children in rural areas have opportunities for meals to get to them,\u201d said Eric Mitchell, Alliance to End Hunger President.\n\n\u201cRural non-congregate meals have been a lifeline for families during the summer. Before this expansion, far too many kids missed out on nutritious meals because of barriers that made it difficult to access summer meals programs. Now this bill will unlock new opportunities so resources reach farther, rural communities are more connected, and more kids can be fed,\u201d said Claire Borzner, director of federal government relations for Share Our Strength and its No Kid Hungry campaign.\n\n\u201cSummer meal programs are an essential part of supporting the health, well-being, and continued success of children in Woodburn and other communities. When the school year ends, a child\u2019s need for nutritious food does not. For many families, summer meal programs provide an important source of stability and help ensure that children remain healthy, active, and ready to learn when they return to school. Delivering summer meals to rural communities would allow more children to be reached and reduce barriers for families. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of where they live,\u201d said Juan Larios, Woodburn School District Superintendent.\n\nFull text of the FORK Act can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-presses-trump-administration-updates-gaza-ceasefire-and-peace-plan", "Rep. Salinas Presses Trump Administration for Updates on Gaza Ceasefire and Peace Plan", "2026-08-03", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), led 63 colleagues in a letter to President Trump requesting updates from the Administration on its 20-point peace plan in Gaza and urging the President to ensure that lasting peace for the Palestinian people in Gaza remains a priority.\n\nFollowing deadly Israeli strikes in Gaza over the weekend, which threaten to derail the recently announced Hamas disarmament agreement, Rep. Salinas' letter underscores the need for the Administration to remain focused on advancing core elements of the 20-point plan. The letter highlights key obstacles to implementation, including Israel's expanding control of nearly 70% of Gaza, humanitarian aid restrictions, and the stalled deployment of security and political alternatives to Hamas.\n\nSigners include: Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ro Khanna, Sylvia R. Garcia, Becca Balint, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Pocan, Jamie Raskin, Val Hoyle, Henry C. \"Hank\" Johnson, Jr., Joaquin Castro, Jonathan L. Jackson, Stephen F. Lynch, James P. McGovern, Betty McCollum, Emily Randall, Steve Cohen, Chris Deluzio, Mike Quigley, Gwen S. Moore, Jill Tokuda, Lateefah Simon, Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez, Julia Brownley, Kim Schrier, M.D., Jasmine Crockett, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Maxine Waters, Jared Huffman, Sam T. Liccardo, Mark DeSaulnier, Jennifer L. McClellan, Derek T. Tran, Rosa L. DeLauro, Gabe Amo, Grace Meng, Adelita S. Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, J. Luis Correa, Paul D. Tonko, Donald S. Beyer Jr., Bill Foster, John Garamendi, Judy Chu, Madeleine Dean, Jan Schakowsky, Raul Ruiz, M.D., Chellie Pingree, Jimmy Panetta, Lizzie Fletcher, Lori Trahan, Yvette D. Clarke, Brittany Pettersen, Sean Casten, Mark Takano, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez, Veronica Escobar, Seth Magaziner, Joe Courtney, Danny K. Davis, Johnny Olszewski, Jr., Robin L. Kelly, Sara Jacobs\n\nThe letter is endorsed by: J Street, New Jewish Narrative, Foreign Policy for America, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and Refugees International.\n\nClick here or see below for the full letter:\n\nDear Mr. President:\n\nWe write to raise urgent concerns about the status of key pillars of the Gaza ceasefire and your 20-point peace plan, and to urge the Administration not to deprioritize Gaza amidst months of focus on other conflicts in the Middle East. We were relieved by the hostage release, initial surge in aid, and end of full-scale military operations last October. But progress on the rest of the 20-point plan has stalled, and we are alarmed to see reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu aims for Israel to control 70% of the Gaza Strip. The 20-point plan called for battle lines to remain frozen in the immediate term, and one of its stated long-term goals is to establish the conditions for Palestinian self-determination and eventual statehood alongside the state of Israel. After ten months of the initiated peace plan, we now request updates from your Administration on the 20-point plan in order to better identify the steps needed to make progress.\n\nDespite the agreement, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli operations since the ceasefire began, and Israel continues near-daily airstrikes in Gaza. While under the terms of the ceasefire, the Israeli military withdrew to the \"yellow line,\" the demarcation line that left Israel in control of roughly 53% of Gaza, however, the Israeli military now controls nearly 70%. This continued shifting of the yellow line to increase Israeli territory in Gaza, alongside the ongoing military operations, directly contradicts the terms of the ceasefire you negotiated and leaves Palestinian civilians vulnerable.\n\nOn the humanitarian front, while there has been improvement since the ceasefire, civilians in Gaza are facing rodent and pest infestations throughout displacement camps, a shortage of fuel and essential medicines, and there has been insufficient rebuilding of the infrastructure needed for sewage, water and electricity. Israeli policies, including overbroad dual-use restrictions and restrictive registration requirements for international NGOs, are making it more difficult for essential goods and services to enter the territory. This also undermines a key component of the 20-point plan, which states both that \"full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip,\" and \"Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties.\"\n\nWe are also concerned by the stalled process to establish security and political alternatives to Hamas in Gaza. Successful disarmament of a militant group takes time and requires the deployment of a governing entity to marginalize and replace it. Israel's decision not to allow any of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) committee members to enter Gaza has allowed Hamas to seize control of the part of Gaza where almost its entire population lives and provided the Israeli government with a reason to keep the IDF in Gaza and prevent significant reconstruction efforts. Our understanding is that the International Stabilization Force (ISF) has largely stalled, and even certain countries that have committed troops have placed their deployment on hold. While there is a potential opportunity with Hamas' recent announcement of the resignation of its governing arm to hand power over to the technocratic committee, there needs to be a concerted push to allow NCAG committee members to enter Gaza and begin laying the groundwork for transitional governance.\n\nThe terms of the 20-point plan provided a roadmap to advance the self-determination and security for both Israelis and Palestinians that are necessary to unlock a stable, integrated Middle East. However, these terms are not coming to fruition, and the lack of progress has the potential to further destabilize the region. Please provide answers to the following questions about key components of the 20-point plan by August 17, 2026 so we can better understand the challenges and weigh congressional action accordingly.\n\nWhat is your Administration doing to ensure that full-scale war does not resume in Gaza, particularly amidst continued ceasefire violations and reporting that Hamas is recruiting new fighters and Israel is considering another offensive?\n\nWhat is your Administration doing to address the near-daily, deadly Israeli airstrikes that have killed civilians in Gaza, and do you view these as undermining the ceasefire?\n\nWhat is being done to enforce the demarcation line and prevent Israeli expansion?\n\nDoes your Administration view the deepening Israeli control in Gaza as contradictory to the goal of the 20-point plan, which seeks to establish conditions \"for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood\"?\n\nWhat is the Administration doing to address aid shortfalls in Gaza?\n\nWhen do you expect the ISF will be operational? What is the current status of countries that have committed troops to the ISF, or that you expect to commit troops?\n\nOnce deployed, what mechanisms are in place to oversee the ISF and what is the chain of command?\n\nWhy has the NCAG not been allowed into Gaza? When does the Administration expect that to change? What is the plan for building support and legitimacy for the committee?\n\nWhat is the Administration's plan to advance the Hamas disarmament deal announced on July 30, 2026?\n\nWhat limits has the Administration set on Israeli actions during negotiations on Hamas' disarmament? What is the plan to ensure that progress on reconstruction and humanitarian issues is not contingent on disarmament?\n\nHow is the Administration working with Turkey and Qatar to continue applying pressure on Hamas to disarm?\n\nThank you for your prompt attention to these urgent matters. We look forward to your immediate response.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-04T07:35:49Z", "2026-08-04T07:37:27Z"], ["https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/the-federal-emergency-management-agency-partially-approves-oregon-s-requests-for-fire-aid-declaring-possible-major-disaster", "The Federal Emergency Management Agency Partially Approves Oregon\u2019s Requests for Fire Aid, Declaring Possible \u2018Major Disaster\u2019", "2026-07-28", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Cliff Bentz", "B000668", "bentz.house.gov", "bentz", "https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved three of five Oregon requests for Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG). These grants are meant to provide financial assistance to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to help mitigate, manage and control active wildfires on public or private forests or grasslands that threaten to become major. Three of the governor\u2019s applications for such designation were approved, the Lower Dry Creek Fire near Milton-Freewater, the Awaka Butte Fire near Sisters, and the Grasshopper fire near Pine Hollow.\n\nAccording to FEMA\u2019s office of external affairs, these fires, at time of designation, could have become \u201cmajor disasters\u201d without speedy intervention. It appears, sadly, that these have indeed become major fires.\n\nLower Dry Creek Fire\n\nFEMA approved, on July 16th, the State of Oregon\u2019s request for FMAG assistance for the Lower Dry Creek Fire burning in Umatilla County. Oregon requested FEMA assistance on July 15, the same day the fire started.\n\nBetween the time the fire began and the time of the request, the Lower Dry Creek Fire had already burned 5000 acres of federal, state, private, and tribal land, threatening 428 homes in addition to outbuildings, schools, fire stations, commercial buildings, radio and cell towers, natural gas and electrical utilities, and agricultural operations in the communities of Milton Freewater, Athena, Weston, Adams, and Tolgate.\n\nAdditionally, when Oregon made the request, the fire was 0 percent contained. FEMA determined that the Lower Dry Creek Fire threatened destruction that would constitute a major disaster without FEMA\u2019s assistance and approved the state\u2019s request.\n\nAwaka Butte Fire\n\nOregon submitted another FMAG request on July 22 for the Akawa Butte Fire burning in Jefferson and Deschutes Counties. By the time of the request, the fire had burned nearly 14,000 acres of federal, state, and private land.\n\nFEMA determined that if the fire continued without containment, it would constitute a major disaster, threatening nearly 700 primary homes, five fire stations, cellular towers, power lines, and power transmitters. FEMA approved Oregon\u2019s request on July 23.\n\nGrasshopper Fire\n\nFEMA approved an FMAG request for the Grasshopper Fire affecting Wasco County on July 25, the same day Oregon made the request. Between the time the fire began on July 23 and the FMAG request, the fire burned 3,500 acres of federal land, was 0 percent contained, and threatened nearly 700 homes. The fire also threatened commercial and residential buildings, electric utilities, campgrounds and trails, BLM roads, and radio and cellular facilities around the communities of Tygh Valley, Wamic, Pine Hollow, and Sportsman\u2019s Park.\n\nFEMA determined that the Grasshopper Fire has the potential to become a major disaster and swiftly approved the request.\n\nOnce a fire threatens to become a major disaster, FEMA\u2019s FMAG grants funds up to 75 percent of a state\u2019s eligible firefighting costs. These costs can include expenses for materials, equipment use, and mobilization activities that support firefighting efforts.\n\nWith FEMA\u2019s assistance, we are responding quickly to contain and control these fires. I will continue to work closely with FEMA and administration agencies as they support efforts to fight fires across Oregon.", 1, "2026-07-29T07:41:48Z", "2026-07-29T07:42:57Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-raskin-bacon-celebrate-house-passage-bipartisan-legislation-protecting", "Dexter, Raskin, Bacon Celebrate House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation Protecting Pension Payments for NOAA Corps, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps", "2026-07-24", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Don Bacon (NE-02) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) celebrated the House passage of their bipartisan legislation safeguarding pension payments for an estimated 8,000 retired uniformed servicemembers.\n\nThe Pensions for Retired Uniformed Servicemembers Act would secure parity between retired members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps and the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and all other federal retirees, ensuring they continue receiving pension payments during a government shutdown. The bill\u2019s passage was also supported by Representatives Don Davis (NC-01), Nick LaLota (NY-01) and August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cLegislating in a Republican-controlled House has not stopped me from getting things done,\u201d said Rep. Dexter. \u201cI\u2019m proud to secure this win for every retired public servant who has endured the struggle of going without a paycheck during a government shutdown and for the constituent who reached out to my office and made us aware of this egregious gap in our system. I am honored to have the opportunity to definitively address concerns my community elevates and help thousands of Americans in the process.\u201d\n\n\u201cA government shutdown shouldn\u2019t prevent retired NOAA and USPHS officers from paying rent or putting food on the table,\u201d said Rep. Raskin. \"Our bipartisan bill honors their years of public service defending the health and safety of our people. Once the Senate passes this legislation and it becomes law, these patriots will always receive the benefits they earned on time, even if government funding lapses.\u201d\n\n\u201cNOAA Corps and U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers serve our nation in moments of crisis, from hurricane response and environmental disasters to disease outbreaks at home and overseas,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cThese uniformed officers have answered the call in national emergencies and times of war, and they deserve a retirement structure that recognizes that service. I\u2019m pleased the House passed this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get it across the finish line and to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\n\"The Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service applauds the effort to place the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps in the Military Retirement Fund. This bipartisan achievement will ensure that retired officers of both uniformed services continue to receive the retirement benefits they have earned without interruption during a government shutdown,\" said CAPT. Jacqueline Rychnovsky, USPHS (Ret.), Executive Director of the Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service. \"The Association congratulates Representatives Jamie Raskin, Don Bacon, Maxine Dexter, Donald Davis, Nick LaLota, and August Pfluger for their bipartisan leadership in advancing this important amendment and helping safeguard the retirement security of those who have dedicated their careers to serving our nation.\"\n\n\u201cUSPHS and NOAA Corps retirees served and sacrificed during a career in uniform. They stepped up for our nation and its citizens in times of crisis. They earned the benefit of knowing their retirement checks will always arrive and always arrive on time,\u201d said Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), president and CEO of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). \u201cMOAA thanks Reps. Raskin, Bacon, and Dexter for their work on this issue, and we look forward to solidifying this important step toward retirement pay parity across all services.\u201d\n\nCurrently, USPHS Commissioned Officer Corps and NOAA Corps retirees are paid out of funds held in the Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center. This Center shuts down during shutdowns. As a result, retirees did not receive their pension payments for more than 43 days during the October shutdown. Rep. Raskin learned about this problem by listening to concerns from his constituents in Maryland\u2019s Eighth Congressional District who depend on their pension payments and feared for their ability to make ends meet during last year\u2019s government shutdown.\n\nThe U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps was established in 1889 to root out smallpox and yellow fever and is now the largest public health program in the world. Driven by a passion for public service, the Commissioned Corps officers respond to public health crises and national emergencies such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and terrorist attacks, both at home and overseas.\n\nThe lawmakers introduced their bipartisan legislation in May 2026. It was referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.\n\nThe Pensions for Retired Uniformed Servicemembers Act is endorsed by the Commissioned Officers Association of the United States Public Health Service, Military Officers Association of America, Navy League, National Military Family Association, AMVETS, Blinded Veterans Association, Blue Star Families, Fleet Reserve Association, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Jewish War Veterans, Military Chaplains Association, Military Family Advisory Network, National Defense Committee, Non-Commissioned Officers Association, Reserve Organization of America, Service Women\u2019s Action Network, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, United States Army Warrant Officers Association, USCG Chief Petty Officers Association, Vietnam Veterans of America and With Honor Action.", 1, "2026-07-25T07:13:44Z", "2026-07-25T07:15:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-legislation-redirect-70b-ice-cbp-child-care", "Bonamici Introduces Legislation to Redirect $70B from ICE, CBP to Child Care", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [7/23/26] \u2013 Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the Daycare Not Detentions Act to redirect $70 billion of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to federal child care programs.\n\nA year ago, Republicans passed H.R.1 and gave the Department of Homeland Security $170.7 billion for immigration enforcement. We have seen how that funding has been used to carry out mass deportations, terrorize communities, and incarcerate thousands of people, many with no criminal records, in detention centers. Earlier this year, instead of lowering costs or improving public safety or the lives of American families, Republicans gave an additional $70 billion of funding to ICE and CBP.\n\nThe terror from immigration enforcement actions will have lasting effects on children for generations to come. At the same time, Congress has continued to underinvest in programs that serve our nation\u2019s children.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s shameful that the Trump administration and their allies in Congress are spending billions of dollars on ICE and CBP to tear apart and terrorize families,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cCommunities will be much safer and stronger if we instead made a generational investment in children and redirect this funding to federal programs that provide care and education for our youngest learners. I will continue doing all I can to fight against funding for dangerous immigration enforcement and advocate for our nation\u2019s children and a brighter future.\u201d\n\nThe Daycare Not Detentions Act would provide needed funding to support access to the following early childhood programs:\n\n$25.5 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (nearly triple current funding);\n\n$20 billion for the Child Care Entitlement to States (double current funding);\n\n$24 billion for Head Start (double current funding); and\n\n$500 million for the Preschool Development Block Grant (nearly double current funding).\n\nThe text of the Daycare Not Detentions Act can be read here.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Dwight Evans (D-PA), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Emily Randall (D-WA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-bynum-calls-expanded-wildfire-response-after-first-home-cd5-lost", "Congresswoman Bynum Calls for Expanded Wildfire Response After First Home in CD5 is Lost", "2026-07-23", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) released a statement in response to multiple wildfires that are burning in Central Oregon and across the state. Specifically, the Akawa Butte Fire has grown to more than 26,000 acres, resulting in the loss of the first home in her district this season and continues to threaten lives, homes, and businesses.\n\nThe fire has also prompted thousands of families to either evacuate or prepare to do so throughout both Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. Recently, the State of Oregon received federal grant support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after the agency acknowledged that the destruction posed by this fire would \u201cconstitute a major disaster.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon is facing one of its worst wildfire seasons yet,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cToday marked the first home lost in my district. This is tragic. The simple truth is that our first responders don't have all of the resources they need to succeed when the worst happens. This administration has cut thousands of federal staff tasked with wildfire preparedness and response, and now we are seeing the impact. Without adequate personnel, prevention and mitigation efforts have declined and our firefighters are now forced to the frontlines to tackle this rapidly growing problem. More resources, more staff, and more support.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-24T07:30:11Z", "2026-07-24T07:31:13Z"], ["https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentz-thompson-merkley-hyde-smith-introduce-wildfire-reduction-market-expansion-act-of-2026", "Congressman Bentz, Thompson, Merkley, Hyde-Smith Introduce \"Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026\"", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Cliff Bentz", "B000668", "bentz.house.gov", "bentz", "https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) and Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) joined Senators Merkley (D-OR), and Hyde-Smith (R-MS) in introducing the \u201cWildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026\u201d. This bipartisan legislation intends to expand the definition of biomass as found in the Clean Air Act to include additional low value woody materials generated through active forest management, hazardous fuels reduction, ecological restoration, and residuals from forest products manufacturing. This legislation continues Congressman Bentz\u2019s efforts to better utilize the Renewable Fuel Standard so that it encourages conversion of forest biomass into usable fuel.\n\nSaid Congressman Bentz: \u201cHundreds of thousands of tons of new wood grow in Oregon\u2019s forests each and every day, increasing the chance and the danger of cataclysmic wildfire. This danger can be reduced by removing brush and excess trees from the forests. Technology has found a way to convert wood into biofuel, so this wood does have value. The challenge, resolved by this bill, is to properly focus existing financial support systems on the removal, transport, and processing of qualified wood from our forests to processing facilities. This bill would provide financial support for such removal by expanding the Renewable Fuel Standard to include woody biomass removed from federal forest land. Removal of this biomass will reduce costs of fire suppression, protect forest health, and improve and preserve watersheds.\"\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan legislation recognizes that healthy forests and strong rural economies go hand in hand. By creating new markets for woody biomass generated through responsible forest management, we can help reduce wildfire risk, support jobs in rural communities, and expand America's renewable fuel supply. This commonsense approach creates economic opportunity while helping protect our forests and natural resources for future generations.\u201d, Said Congressman Bennie Thompson.\n\n\u201cReducing wildfire risk demands innovative solutions and using all the tools at our disposal to invest in wildfire prevention efforts,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cWoody biomass that comes from responsible forest management activities\u2014like hazardous fuels reduction\u2014presents a huge opportunity for communities in Oregon and across the nation. By updating the definition for these materials to qualify as renewable fuels, we can harness their power to create new markets for these materials, reducing wildfire risk and supporting healthier public, private, and Tribal lands.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan bill creates avenues to help reduce the wildfire threats in the West but also clears the way for biomass produced from non-federal lands in heavily forested states like Mississippi to contribute to the nation\u2019s renewable fuels resources,\u201d said Senator Hyde-Smith. \u201cWith this bill, we will make it easier to develop a new revenue stream for the thinnings, logging residuals, and mill byproducts that Mississippi landowners and forest products manufacturers already generate, without requiring them to change how they manage their timberland.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Forest Resource Council strongly supports the bipartisan Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act. This legislation is a smart approach to help prevent catastrophic wildfires by creating new markets for low-value biomass fuels removed from at-risk national forests, protecting communities, increasing renewable energy supplies, and ultimately reducing wildfire suppression costs. Active forest management works. A recent large-scale study completed by UC Davis found that every dollar spent on forest fuel treatments saves about $3.75 in wildfire damages. We thank Congressman Cliff Bentz and Senator Jeff Merkley for being proactive and focusing on prevention to better protect our forests, communities, public health and safety, and the American taxpayer,\u201d said American Forest Resource Council President/CEO Travis Joseph.\n\n\u201cThe Forest Landowners Association applauds Congressmen Cliff Bentz and Bennie Thompson for introducing the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act of 2026. Family forestry businesses need an all-of-the-above approach to market opportunities, and low-value wood products, manufacturing residuals, and woody biomass should be part of that conversation. While no single policy will address every challenge facing working forests, expanding potential markets for these materials can help provide additional certainty and opportunity for private forest landowners, rural communities, and our nation's forest products supply chain,\u201d said Scott Jones, CEO, Forest Landowners Association.\n\n\u201cAssociated Oregon Loggers appreciates Representative Bentz, Bennie Thompson, and their cosponsors for leadership on the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act. Rural Oregon needs durable markets to sustain mills, contractors, and a skilled workforce required for active forest management. By creating economic value for low-value material, this bill would expand work for forest operators, allow rural Oregonians access to work in their local communities, and keep family-wage jobs where forest restoration needs are the greatest,\u201d said Joe Justice, Executive Vice President of Associated Oregon Loggers.\n\n\u201cRepresentative Bentz understands that reducing wildfire risk requires viable markets for the low-value wood, thinnings, slash, and other material removed from overstocked forests,\u201d said Dave Tenny, President and CEO of the National Alliance of Forest Owners. \u201cWhen mills close and markets disappear, that material becomes more expensive and harder to remove from the landscape. The Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act would connect sustainable forest management with growing demand for advanced biofuels, strengthening rural economies while making wildfire-resilience work more economically achievable. We thank Representative Bentz for his leadership.\u201d\n\nThe following members co-sponsored the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act: Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Rep. Westerman, Rep. Gallagher (CA-01), Rep. Ezell (MS-04), Rep. Bera (CA-06), Rep. Van Orden (WI-03), Rep. Max Miller (OH-07), Rep. Schrier (WA-08), and Latta (OH-05)\n\nThe Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act would:\n\nExpand the Renewable Fuel Standard's definition of \"renewable biomass\" to include additional forest products manufacturing and wood products manufacturing residuals, including wood residuals, paper residuals, sawdust, wood chips, bark, shavings, and other low-value byproducts.\n\nAllow slash, storm debris, pre-commercial thinning material, fuel reduction byproducts, and ecological restoration material from qualifying private, tribal, and federal lands to be used as eligible renewable biomass.\n\nInclude vegetation removed through defensible space projects and wildfire risk reduction activities in the wildland-urban interface.\n\nEstablish a straightforward certification process for qualifying materials sourced from private and federal lands.\n\nClarify that existing forest plans and resource management plans do not need to specifically identify renewable fuel production as an intended end use, provided the underlying forest management activity is otherwise authorized and consistent with applicable law.\n\nBy expanding the definition of woody biomass under the renewable fuel standard, this legislation will help build new markets, strengthen rural economies, and reduce wildfire risk. This commonsense solution has drawn the support of over 86 organizations nationwide.", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-hoyle-votes-no-on-the-2027-national-defense-authorization-act", "Congresswoman Hoyle Votes No on the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Hoyle voted against H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2027. This year's NDAA authorizes more than $1.15 trillion in spending for the Pentagon.\n\nRep. Hoyle released the following statement about today\u2019s vote:\n\n\"I voted no on the NDAA because the American taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability and this bill offers neither. This bill contains provisions I support that would keep Americans safe and ensures our troops are well supported and fairly paid. However, I will not support the Administration\u2019s plan to spend over $1 trillion on an agency that has failed eight consecutive audits and is fueling an illegal and immoral war.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe FY2027 NDAA:\n\nRep. Hoyle offered several amendments in an attempt to improve the bill, which were rejected by House Republicans:", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/ranking-member-andrea-salinas-grills-us-forest-service-chief-over", "Ranking Member Andrea Salinas Grills U.S. Forest Service Chief Over Reorganization as Wildfire Season Rages", "2026-07-22", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Click here to watch Rep. Salinas\u2019 full opening remarks.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Ranking Member Andrea Salinas (OR-06) of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture pressed U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. pressed Tom Schultz, U.S. Forest Service Chief. She questioned him about President Trump's plans to reorganize the Forest Service, which will take workers off the ground, threaten public lands, and make forests and communities more susceptible to deadly wildfires.\n\nA transcript of her opening remarks can be found below.\n\nRep. Salinas: Thank you, Chairman Newhouse, for convening us today, and thank you to Chief Tom Schultz for joining this Subcommittee hearing so we can better understand the work and capacity of the Forest Service and what it needs to successfully deliver for the American people.\n\nBefore we begin, I want to acknowledge the two Forest Service employees who were recently taken hostage while serving the public in California\u2019s Shasta-Trinity National Forest. We are grateful for their safe return, and our thoughts remain with them, their families and all public servants who face risks in the line of duty.\n\nScientists predicted that 2026 would be a difficult fire year, and they were right. More than 3.9 million acres have already burned nationwide, that\u2019s 900,000 more acres than the 10-year average! With these blazes, we saw the tragic loss of three firefighters on the Cottonwood Fire along the Colorado-Utah border, and a Canadian helicopter pilot on the Gold Mountain Fire. Our hearts go out to their families and their crewmembers, including the two additional firefighters who were injured. These statistics highlight how severe the wildfire danger has become and the need to ensure our public land management agencies are working at full capacity.\n\nUnfortunately, the Trump administration has been focused on topics other than wildfire preparedness: from its disruptive, and likely illegal reorganization plan and the consolidation of wildfire response under the Department of Interior, to a myopic focus on commercial timber harvest at the expense of hazardous fuels treatments \u2013 all of which are making our communities less safe.\n\nI frequently hear from Oregonians and stakeholders that this Administration is causing chaos on our public lands. Current employees of the Forest Service are demoralized and confused about what the future holds. The agency has lost 16 percent of its staff since 2024, and I have heard that some employees do not know who they report to anymore. The agency also sent 6,500 of the remaining employees a vague letter in March that their jobs would be affected by the reorganization, but four months later there are still no details, only anxiety and uncertainty for these workers and their families.\n\nIt\u2019s difficult to see the chaos as anything other than intentional. Despite overwhelming negative feedback from the public, employees and former senior Forest Service officials, the administration has carried on with its plan. And we know now, despite past statements by the administration, that they did have a goal to push out our Forest Service employees. They prepared their plan behind closed doors, with a goal to push out 15 percent of the Forest Service staff. And, no surprise, they hit that target. The public and Congress are now saddled with the consequences.\n\nIt continues to feel like the administration is hiding critical information about the reorganization at every turn. 500 employees originally received notices that they may have to relocate, specifically employees in Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, Atlanta and Portland. However, agency whistleblowers highlighted in a letter to the committee that this number is not consistent with the number of employees working in buildings identified for closure under the reorganization plan. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to enter that letter into the record.\n\nThis sweeping reorganization creates more questions than answers, and the fact that it\u2019s being implemented right as wildfire season is upon us is alarming. Doing so threatens the Forest Service overall \u2013 the loss of staff, and the institutional knowledge they have, should not be casualties in the Trump administration\u2019s reorganization of the Forest Service. Each is too valuable to be lost.\n\nThis brings me to another action by this administration that is causing serious concern \u2013 the attempt to consolidate wildfire management into the Wildland Fire Service under the Department of Interior. This consolidation of wildfire response would strip staff from the Forest Service to work for the new agency. But these employees not only fight wildfires at the Forest Service, they also engage in important forest management that mitigates future wildfire risk. This proposal would fracture the critical communications link between land management and fire management and it is yet another threat to the Forest Service\u2019s efficacy.\n\nGiven how much disruption the Forest Service has endured, it is no surprise that many of its key performance metrics have suffered. From 2024 to 2025, the Forest Service treated roughly 25 percent fewer acres for hazardous fuels, and it is on track to hit that same weak target again this year. It also published less research, issued fewer recreation permits, and completed fewer miles of trail maintenance. This is not efficiency. At some point, the fewer people on the ground to do the work, the less work gets done.\n\nChief, you have a lot of experience in forestry, and my guess is that you\u2019ve probably stopped some even worse things from happening under this Administration. At the end of the day, though, we simply can\u2019t be satisfied with avoiding the worst outcomes. We have got to do better.\n\nThank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.\n\nClick here to watch Rep. Salinas\u2019 full first line of questions.\n\nA transcript of her question line can be found below.\n\nRep. Salinas: Thank you, Chairman Newhouse, and thank you, Chief Schultz, for your testimony. This year's wildfire season is already demonstrating the dangerous and increasingly year-round nature of wildfire risk, threatening communities, public health, and natural resources across our country. The Department of Agriculture and Forest Service play a crucial role in preventing and combating wildfires. So, in carrying out a sweeping reorganization of USDA and the Forest Service, it's important to look at the data and seek public input for guidance. As part of that review process, USDA sought public comment about this reorganization with the purpose of hearing from the public and your own employees about your plans. Do you know how many responses the agency received?\n\nChief Schultz: I do not know. No, ma'am.\n\nSalinas: Okay. Well, USDA received over 14,000 public comments about the reorganization. 27% of general comments were specifically about the Forest Service. Do you know what percentage of comments provided positive feedback and what percentage provided negative feedback?\n\nSchultz: No, ma'am. I don't know.\n\nSalinas: All right. Well, 82% expressed negative sentiment. The reorganization proposal received less than 20% positive feedback. Tribal representatives, conservation groups, and even former Forest Service staff opposed the move, and they, and the key themes in the feedback related to safeguarding the Forest Service mission: loss of local oversight and expertise, reductions in personnel and resources, and transparency in the reorganization process. Stakeholders overwhelmingly rejected this plan, and it was folks with some expertise. Another important factor for reorganization is how it will affect staffing levels. Chief Schultz, you testified at the Senate Agriculture Committee that you did not think that staff subject to relocation would likely leave. You said, and I'm quoting from your testimony, \"we do not anticipate overall that it is going to be a significant number of people,\" but your testimony directly contradicted by what the department said in its internal, previously confidential reorganization plan that recently became public. The reorganization plan said, and I quote, \"a significant number of employees will decline geographic reassignments.\" These are previously undisclosed documents directly from USDA officials. Recent history and surveys back up what the USDA's own report said about this reorganization. In 2019, the relocation of the Economic Research Service and National Institutes of Food and Agriculture from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City, Missouri, resulted in about 85% of employees either quitting or retiring instead of actually relocating. The relocation of BLM headquarters in 2019 caused 87% of the affected employees to leave, and just this year, 76% of USDA employees surveyed by the American Federation of Government Employees said they would not relocate if asked. Given all this evidence, it seems clear that requiring staff to relocate results in staff leaving and the loss of critical expertise and institutional knowledge. So, Chief, you are on the record, and I want to give you an opportunity to revise your prior testimony. Do you now admit that, based on recent history, survey data, and internal documentation, the reorganization plan will likely result in a significant number of employees declining geographic reassignment?\n\nSchultz: Ms. Salinas, I do not change my statement previously. What I would tell you is that right now we're looking at less than 500 employees that we would anticipate having to relocate across the agency. Most of those would be in the Washington office. For instance, in Oregon right now, we talked about relocating folks from the office downtown, and we have basically told them within their current commuting area, the Oregon staff in Portland would have an opportunity to locate without having to relocate their homes, but they could drive to the locations in the future. So no, we expect less than 500 people across 30,000 employees to actually have to physically relocate. Of that 500, I don't have a good sense whether that's going to be 50% or 80%, as you alluded to some prior statistics. But overall, we have worked with employees extensively. We're currently surveying our employees about where the ones that would have to relocate, where they would like to go, in terms of the job. They're having input into that process. It's been an extremely thoughtful process. It's not necessarily evident externally. We have town hall meetings every two weeks to work with our employees to communicate with them. We are sitting down with those employees to identify options for them in jobs. So, I do not change my prior statement. I think overall. We are not going to have significant losses of employees through this process. In most cases, people are going to be able to continue to work from locations where they're at. We talked about those three offices in Atlanta, we talked about Minneapolis, and we talked about Portland. And in Portland, like I just said, we think we're going to have opportunities for most, if not all, of those employees to be able to stay where they live and commute within that commuting area, so I don't change my statement.\n\nSalinas: Well, I look forward to that reorganization working out for the work.\n\nClick here to watch Rep. Salinas\u2019 full second line of questions.\n\nA transcript of her question line can be found below.\n\nRep. Salinas: Chief Schultz, this reorganization will cost taxpayers money. Under the first Trump Administration, taxpayers paid an estimated $28 million to cover the cost of the 2019 reorganization of the Bureau of Land Management. And after that move failed, the Biden Administration was forced to bring many positions back to D.C. How much is the Trump Administration requesting from the taxpayers for the overall reorganization of USDA,\n\nChief Schultz: Mr. Chairman, Ms. Salinas, we have no specific line item that we're asking for to facilitate the reorganization.\n\nSalinas: Okay, as I understand it, your budget calls for $55 million for reorganization, while at the same time you are slashing Forest Service research down to zero. I think what I'm getting at, though, really is, you know, you told us you were in a budget deficit and you were trying to do more with less. Why don't you try to do more with more? Why is the Administration not asking for the amount that it actually needs to help us with the land management that I think we're all asking for and prevent these wildfires in the first place?\n\nSchultz: Right, Mr. Chairman, Ms. Salinas. I think what we're looking at overall is how do we run government in a way that provides the services to the public, the American public that they want, in a way that we can sustainably manage that long term with the appropriate amount of funding. I think there's always going to be debates about how much funding is necessary. One of the things we're trying to look at it's not just a dollars and cents. It's also looking at the processes that we have. So a big part of what we're looking at is the deregulatory environment. The Forest Service has created 3,600 directives. That's above the statutes, that's above regulations that have been either promulgated by Congress or adopted by the agency. So we think that by reducing a lot of the red tape that we have created internally, will actually make things cheaper and easier to get done long term. So it's not always a fact that we need more money. In many cases, it's the regulatory processes that we've put in place, for whatever purpose that we've done that, that we think we can reduce that and reduce the funding that's needed. So that's part of what's driving what we're doing as well. But in terms of necessary funding to run the agency, we are proceeding with the reorganization. We think it's going to save money long term, and I'll just give a real quick example: the Yates Building, which is the building that we occupy here in D.C. That lease, on an annual basis, we spend close to nine and a half million dollars a year for that building, and part of that is the security for that building. The Forest Service occupies probably about 30 to 40 percent of that building at most. We anticipate moving into one floor, so the Forest Service cost in that building will be reduced by about 75 percent, down to less than $2 million a year, so when we look at that overall cost structure, just the Yates building alone will save us $6 million a year. So over 10 years, that's $60 million, and then we look at those the other leases that we've got, whether it's the lease in Portland or Milwaukee or Atlanta, those are high expensive buildings. We know we're never, we've never had enough money for all the facilities. This is not a new issue, whether it's the leased facilities or the owned facilities. So what we're trying to do is take a very thoughtful approach about where can we consolidate facilities and buildings. We want to retain the work that we're doing. We've had a lot of discussion about closures. We're not talking about closing programs. We're talking about facilities that we can co-locate, that we can utilize, whether it's other agencies, like we're going to have like in Oregon, for instance, the new state office is going to co-locate with the Oregon Department of Forestry. We're going to be co-located with the state agency. We think that's a good fit for the state. I think it's a good fit for the Forest Service, and it's going to be a cheaper overall structure than maintaining the buildings that we have. So we're trying to take a broad-based approach to reduce our costs, but maintain the programs that we deliver to the public.\n\nSalinas: But there will be programs that are going to be closing. We already know that you're, you know putting the Forest Service research down to zero. So there will be programs within the Forest Service that are needed. That expertise is needed, and we will not be seeing that work get done. And so I, you know, with overwhelming negative feedback on the reorganization plan from the public, you'll lose hundreds of valuable staff. This reorganization is going to cost taxpayers millions of dollars. We've already seen about what $338 million dollars in the deferred resignation program. So all of these little pieces have, we've already spent. The taxpayers have already spent $338 million to get rid of good people, hardworking people with the expertise that we need. So I am feeling very frustrated because I've heard, you know, Mr. Costa, I think Mr. Carbajal, we've all asked for analysis, and it sounds like you have that analysis, but you're not sharing it with us as you're moving along, so I I'd like to continue this conversation after this hearing and maybe and just get some additional feedback on a more regular basis. But thank you so much for your testimony. Thank you for being here. I yield back.", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-thompson-davis-nunn-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-support", "Bonamici, Thompson, Davis, Nunn Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Grandfamily, Kinship Caregivers for Children", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [7/21/26] \u2013 Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA), Danny Davis (D-IL), and Zach Nunn (R-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation to support families in which children do not have parents in the home.\n\nAbout 2.5 million children across the United States are being raised in grandfamilies, in which grandparents raise children, or kinship families, in which adult relatives or close family friends raise children. Grandfamilies and kinship families play an essential role because they preserve family connections, prevent children from entering foster care, and promote family stability. Without these caregivers, the foster care system would be overwhelmed and cost taxpayers an additional $10.5 billion annually.\n\nThe Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 would reauthorize the National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies & Kinship Families to strengthen the nation\u2019s response to and support for these families.\n\n\u201cLiving with grandparents or extended family and friends can provide children with the stability they need to thrive when their parents aren\u2019t able to care for them,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cWe must support these essential caregivers, who often face additional barriers. The bipartisan Supporting Grandfamilies Act will extend support for families and children at a critical time in their lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cPennsylvania\u2019s grandparents and relatives frequently step in to provide unconditional support to their grandkids and children every day, and often for years on end,\u201d saidRep. Thompson. \u201cAs primary caregivers, it\u2019s necessary to provide access to resources that will help them navigate the child welfare system. The Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 provides caregivers who are raising kids and grandkids, with support, ensuring older primary caregivers have the tools needed to support our next generation.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy Congressional District historically has the highest percentage of children living with kinship caregivers in the country,\u201d said Rep. Davis. \u201cI am proud to join with Representatives Bonamici, Thompson, and Nunn in leading the Supporting Grandfamilies Act to ensure that the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network continues providing the critical and coordinated support to kinship and grandparent caregivers. For these families, connections to extra resources serve as crucial lifelines. Supporting kinship caregivers strengthens families, promotes stability, and helps children thrive.\u201d\n\n\"Not every family looks the same. Kelly and I adopted two of our daughters, and across the country, there are 2.5 million kids being raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other relatives \u2014 not because of a government mandate, but because family stepped up when the alternative was foster care,\" said Rep. Nunn. \"Those caregivers said yes without hesitation, often with little warning and fewer resources. Our bill reauthorizes the Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network for another five years to ensure that when a family steps up, they aren\u2019t navigating that journey alone.\"\n\nThe Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network is the National Technical Assistance Center (TA Center) led by Generations United through a five-year cooperative agreement with the Administration for Community Living at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The TA Center brings together national experts and partner organizations to develop evidence-based tools and promote innovative practices that help communities better meet the needs of kinship families and grandfamilies. The Supporting Grandfamilies Act of 2026 guarantees this information work continues by providing funding for the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network for another five years.\n\nThe text of the legislation can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-22T07:34:13Z", "2026-07-22T07:35:16Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-celebrates-passage-two-bipartisan-bills-through-house", "Rep. Andrea Salinas Celebrates the Passage of Two Bipartisan Bills through the House", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) celebrated the passage of two of her bills through the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. Both of her bills, the Nucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Act and the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, would strengthen two industries that are critical to Oregon\u2019s future, support American workers, and help the United States remain a global leader in science and energy innovation.\n\n\u201cI am proud that two of my bills have passed the House floor with bipartisan support. My bills will support two industries that are critical to Oregon\u2019s future: geothermal energy and biotechnology,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cMy geothermal bill will help advance the research, testing, and workforce development needed to meet our electricity demand. And my nucleic acid bill will help ensure the safety and reliability of our scientific advancements in biotechnology and health care. Most importantly, both of these bills build on partnerships between government and local industries to create jobs and enhance our energy and biosecurity capabilities, all while delivering benefits for workers, consumers, and communities.\u201d\n\nTheNucleic Acid Screening for Biosecurity Act, co-led by Rep. Rich McCormick (GA-07), would develop technical standards and best practices for nucleic acid screening. The bill authorizes the Director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) to carry out programs to support the development of technical standards and best practices related to nucleic acid screening. It would codify nucleic acid screening activities outlined in former President Biden\u2019s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. These reliable standards would help protect the public, give researchers and biotechnology companies greater certainty, and strengthen the United States\u2019 position as a global leader in scientific research.\n\nThe Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, co-led by Rep. Pat Harrigan (NC-10), would improve coordination between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of the Interior to better understand and map geothermal resources across the country, expand testing capabilities at DOE\u2019s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy sites, establish a geothermal Center of Excellence, and authorize $150 million per year through Fiscal Year 2031 to support these activities. These investments would help move promising geothermal technologies toward commercial use, create skilled jobs, and expand access to reliable domestic energy as electricity demand grows.\n\nBoth of the bills were passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and now await consideration in the U.S. Senate.", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-statement-following-government-spending-bill-vote", "Rep. Andrea Salinas\u2019 Statement Following Government Spending Bill Vote", "2026-07-21", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement regarding her vote against the government spending bill, known as the Continuing Resolution.\n\n\u201cOregonians are struggling with the affordability crisis, and Trump\u2019s illegal war of choice with Iran is only making it worse. Despite this, House Republicans voted to give more funding to the Pentagon and to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. I gladly voted against this bill,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cRepublicans\u2019 bill does nothing to address the real issues Oregonians are facing. Congress should not be providing more money for a war that\u2019s raising costs for Americans, and we cannot give more money to Trump\u2019s violent immigration crackdown that\u2019s terrorizing our communities. Republicans need to get back to work and pass bills that will lower costs for families, not advance the President\u2019s illegal and inhumane agenda.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-23T07:31:02Z", "2026-07-23T07:32:26Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-andrea-salinas-and-keith-self-reintroduce-resolution-establish-national", "Reps. Andrea Salinas and Keith Self Reintroduce Resolution to Establish \u201cNational Moon Landing Day\u201d", "2026-07-20", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Keith Self (TX-03) reintroduced a bipartisan resolution establishing July 20 as \u201cNational Moon Landing Day\u201d to mark the anniversary of the first-ever crewed lunar landing in 1969.\n\n\"I am proud to introduce this resolution to establish National Moon Landing Day, honoring the skilled technical workers, engineers, scientists, and astronauts who made one of our nation's greatest achievements possible,\" said Rep. Salinas. \"The Apollo 11 Moon landing demonstrated how much we can achieve when we come together as Americans, and this anniversary deserves special recognition. However, National Moon Landing Day isn\u2019t just about looking back \u2014 it\u2019s about recognizing the hard work of Americans across this country who contribute daily to our next moonshot. This is an opportunity to inspire the next generation to dream big and ensure the United States continues to lead the world in science and innovation for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cFifty-seven years ago, America did what the world thought was impossible and sent mankind to the Moon, proving that America doesn\u2019t follow\u2014we lead,\u201d Congressman Self said. \u201cSince Neil Armstrong took that \u2018one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,\u2019 the United States remains the only nation to have successfully landed humans on the Moon. That achievement continues to stand alone as a testament to the American spirit of innovation and leadership. Our dedication to space exploration reflects who we are as Americans: pioneers, problem-solvers, and patriots. The Artemis II mission carried Apollo\u2019s legacy forward, inspiring a new generation to look to the heavens as American ingenuity once again reached new heights. As a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I am proud to introduce this resolution with Congresswoman Salinas, honoring the bravery of our astronauts, the ingenuity of our engineers, and the enduring spirit of American exploration.\u201d\n\nIn addition to honoring the 57th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the resolution honors all those who paved the way for human spaceflight and continue to make it possible today. The resolution goes on to highlight the importance of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration\u2019s (NASA) Artemis program.\n\nThe National Moon Landing Day resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Addison McDowell (NC-06), August Pfluger (TX-11), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), George Whitesides (CA-27), Jim Baird (IN-04), Laura Gillen (NY-04), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Matt Van Epps (TN-07), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Mike Haridopolos (Fl-08), Randy Weber (TX-14), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18).", 1, "2026-07-21T07:32:02Z", "2026-07-21T07:33:33Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/new-bipartisan-bill-to-enhance-aviation-safety-after-slackline-helicopter-tragedy", "NEW: Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Aviation Safety After Slackline-Helicopter Tragedy", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), and U.S. Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-OR-02) and Val Hoyle (D-OR-04) introduced the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, with support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ).\n\nThe new bipartisan legislation would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address urgent aviation safety issues by reviewing and updating existing safeguards for temporary obstructions in the low-altitude airspace, such as slacklines.\n\n\u201cStrengthening aviation safety is something that both Republicans and Democrats can get behind, especially following the tragic slackline collision that took the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThe FAA must do all it can to keep the flying public safe, and our bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act directs the agency to prioritize aviation safety. We must move swiftly to reduce the risk of any similar tragedy in the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cHigh-adventure activities in Utah, like slacklining, should not come at the cost of aviation safety, particularly for helicopter pilots who transport patients, fight wildfires, and support search and rescue missions,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cOur bipartisan bill takes a practical look at where the FAA can modernize its policies, improve coordination, and reduce unnecessary risks so everyone sharing our airspace can do so more safely.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis tragic accident claimed cherished members of two Oregon families far too soon, and our hearts remain with everyone suffering this profound loss. As we look ahead, it is my hope that meaningful changes can be made to ensure a tragedy like this is never repeated,\u201d said Bentz. \u201cThis legislation directs the FAA to review and update low altitude airspace safety regulations to help prevent similar incidents in the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast January\u2019s deadly helicopter crash in Arizona exposed a serious safety challenge in low-altitude airspace. I've been vocal in the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee that action is needed so this kind of tragedy doesn\u2019t happen again,\u201d said Hoyle. \u201cOregonians know the value of both outdoor recreation and aviation, and we all share a responsibility to ensure that pilots, first responders and wildfire crews have the visibility and information they need to operate safely.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress must act with urgency to ensure federal regulators are taking every possible step to prevent low-flying aircraft crashes with slacklines like the tragedy that cost the lives of four Oregonians earlier this year,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis bill would accomplish that goal by setting deadlines for the Federal Aviation Administration to update and improve its policies and regulations for low-altitude airspace safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cDavid, Katelyn, Rachel, and Faith lost their lives in an Arizona helicopter crash that never should have happened. I've met with their family. No one should have to go through what they've been through. This bill makes sure the FAA acts quickly to prevent tragedies like this from happening again,\u201d said Kelly.\n\nThe McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act follows a deadly helicopter crash caused by a collision with a slackline on January 2, 2026, that tragically claimed the lives of four Oregonians\u2014David McCarty and his three nieces Rachel McCarty, Faith McCarty, and Katelyn Heideman. The bipartisan bill would instruct the FAA to use its authorities to review existing policies and regulations related to low-altitude airspace safety, including identifying appropriate policy, operational, or technical improvements such as updated requirements related to markings on slacklines.\n\nPreviously, Oregon's U.S. Senators pressed the FAA on implementing emergency safety actions following the deadly crash.\n\nThe bipartisan McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act is supported by key stakeholders and organizations, including the Vertical Aviation International (VAI), National Transportation Aviation Association (NATA), Balloon Federation of America (BFA), United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA), Air Medical Operators Association (AMOA), Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), BackcountryPilot.org, American Spray Drone Coalition, Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Life Flight Network, National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), Commercial Drone Alliance, and Southern Utah University (SUU) Aviation.\n\nOn behalf of the McCarty and Heideman family, \u201cWe are very grateful and excited to see the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act be introduced. It is a crucial and urgent step towards making the airspace safer for pilots, passengers, cargo, and anyone using the airspace for work or recreation. We look forward to working on getting this across the finish line!\u201d\n\n\u201cNo family should ever have to endure the heartbreak our community has experienced. While nothing can erase the unimaginable loss suffered by the McCarty and Heideman families, we are deeply grateful that Senator Merkley\u2019s legislation seeks to turn this tragedy into meaningful action. If it can prevent even one family from experiencing the same pain, it will stand as a lasting legacy to David, Rachel, Katelyn, Faith, and the families who have endured so much,\u201d said Oregon State Representative Bobby Levy.\n\n\u201cSen. Merkley\u2019s bill takes an important step toward improving safety for pilots, crews, passengers, and the communities they serve. The Arizona accident was a tragic reminder of the serious risk temporary suspended obstructions can pose to low-altitude aircraft. This legislation focuses on practical steps to improve pilot awareness and help prevent future accidents,\u201d said Fran\u00e7ois Lassale, President and CEO, VAI.\n\n\"The National Air Transportation Association appreciates Senator Merkley\u2019s attention to low-altitude airspace safety through the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, which will improve awareness and communication around temporary obstructions. Safety is central to NATA\u2019s mission, and a thoughtful FAA review can help reduce avoidable risks in the National Airspace System,\u201d said NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna.\n\n\u201cWildfire airspace overlaps public lands and recreation. Formal coordination with the FAA, Forest Service, BLM, and Park Service\u2014paired with real outreach and right sized penalties for creating low altitude hazards\u2014prevents tragedies before they happen. We strongly support this bill and urge swift passage,\u201d said Paul Peterson, Executive Director, United Aerial Firefighters Association.\n\n\"As a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot and the CEO of an air medical organization whose crews fly thousands of low-altitude flights each year, I know firsthand how critical it is to identify and mitigate hazards before they become tragedies. This legislation reflects the kind of collaborative, data-driven approach that has long made aviation safer. We appreciate Senator Merkley's leadership in bringing together industry and government to make our national airspace safer for everyone,\u201d said Ben Clayton, CEO, Life Flight Network.\n\n\"AMOA appreciates Senator Merkley's leadership in advancing this legislation and his commitment to improving helicopter safety through a thoughtful FAA review and collaboration with industry stakeholders,\u201d said Sally Veith, Executive Director, Air Medical Operators Association.\n\n\"NASAO supports efforts to strengthen aviation safety in low-altitude airspace. Ensuring that temporary obstructions are properly identified and that pilots have access to accurate, timely information is critical to a safe national aviation system. We commend Senator Merkley for his leadership in introducing this bill,\u201d said Gregory Pecoraro, President & CEO, National Association of State Aviation Officials.\n\n\u201cThe National Agricultural Aviation Association firmly endorses the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act. The requirements this act places on the FAA will help ensure no more aviators operating in the low altitude airspace lose their life because of an unmarked slackline or other hazard strung across the landscape,\u201d said Matthew Woolard, President, National Agricultural Aviation Association.\n\n\u201cThe American Spray Drone Coalition (ASDC) strongly endorses the \u2018McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act,\u2019 reflecting our deep commitment to promoting high standards of low-altitude airspace safety for both crewed and uncrewed aviators. By directing the FAA to review existing safety policies, this legislation takes a critical first step toward assessing necessary improvements for temporary obstruction markings and ensuring obstacle data can be seamlessly integrated into modern digital flight planning tools,\u201d said Eric Ringer, President, American Spray Drone Association.\n\n\u201cThe tragic slackline crash earlier this year underscored the importance of ensuring pilots have better awareness of potential hazards when operating at low altitude,\u201d said Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). \u201cThe McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act would direct the FAA to make common-sense but important changes to improve awareness for crewed and uncrewed aircraft alike, helping prevent tragedies like this one from happening again. We applaud Senator Merkley for his leadership on this issue and look forward to working with him to advance our shared vision of an airspace with zero collisions.\u201d\n\nFull text of the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act as introduced in the Senate can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-calls-trump-restore-snap-benefits", "Rep. Salinas Calls on Trump to Restore SNAP Benefits", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nClick here to watch the remarks.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) delivered remarks on the House Floor calling on Republicans to restore SNAP benefits and help the 70,000 Oregonians who have lost food assistance.\n\nA transcript of her remarks is available below:\n\nM. Speaker, I rise today to mark one year of the Republicans\u2019 Big Ugly Bill, which has left our children, veterans, and seniors hungry.\n\nWhen President Trump signed this bill, he promised to lower costs for everyday people. Instead, his bill cut billions of dollars for SNAP across the nation, including $425 million in my home state of Oregon.\n\nThese cuts are taking food off families\u2019 tables. In Oregon, 70,000 people\u2014parents, friends, and neighbors, have lost their food benefits.\n\nAnd why did Mr. Trump do this? To give tax cuts to his billionaire buddies.\n\nWhile the cost of healthcare and groceries skyrocket, families are losing the support they need to put food on the dinner table and pay their bills.\n\nM. Speaker, we must restore these devastating cuts to SNAP. No child, veteran, or senior in the wealthiest nation on the planet should go hungry because Congress chose tax breaks for billionaires over food for families.\n\nThank you, and I yield back.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-17T07:15:58Z", "2026-07-17T07:17:05Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-statement-reaffirming-integrity-us-elections", "Rep. Andrea Salinas\u2019 Statement Reaffirming the Integrity of U.S. Elections", "2026-07-16", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement reaffirming the integrity of U.S. elections. Her statement comes in response to President Trump\u2019s prime-time address to the nation.\n\n\u201cTonight, Donald Trump once again tried to put into question the integrity of our elections. Trump is trying to undermine confidence in the upcoming November elections to suppress votes and subvert democracy, but the American people won\u2019t let him.\n\n\u201cIn Oregon and across the country, our elections are safe, secure, accurate, and fair. The 2020 election has been litigated, audited, and confirmed. No matter what Trump says or does, he lost the 2020 election. In Trump\u2019s mind, the only \u201cfair elections\u201d are the ones he wins. Americans can see right through this.\n\n\u201cDespite Trump\u2019s attacks, Americans have stood firm, and the courts have stood with us. We will not be intimidated, and we will not stop fighting, because free, fair, and accessible elections are fundamental to the future of our democracy.\u201d\n\nHere is what Oregonians can do to further strengthen democracy:\n\nVote\u2014make sure your registration is up to date, have a plan to vote early, track your ballot, and make sure your friends and family do the same.\n\nCheck your facts\u2014go to official sources of election information only \u2013 your Secretary of State and local elections officials. They\u2019re always happy to answer questions.\n\nDon\u2019t let the algorithms win\u2014push back on the lies you see on social media with facts you checked with local elections officials. In Oregon:\n\nVoter rolls are updated and maintained daily.\n\nVote tallying machines are never connected to the internet.\n\nOregon verifies the citizenship of every voter during the registration process and checks their identities when counting ballots.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-18T06:58:50Z", "2026-07-18T07:00:34Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-oregon-delegation-demand-reversal-trump-administrations-plan-suppress", "Bynum, Oregon Delegation Demand Reversal of Trump Administration's Plan to Suppress Oregon Voters", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Yesterday, Representatives Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter, and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley sent a letter to the Trump Administration, urging the administration to withdraw its threat against Oregon election officials over its plan to create a national voter database, warning that the proposal could jeopardize the voter registrations of millions of Oregonians.\n\n\u201cIt is clear that after these attempts to secure access to sensitive state voter data have been repeatedly rejected by the courts, you are resorting to public threats of prosecution and intimidation against elections administrators to coerce state officials to turn over their voter rolls and cede their constitutional duty to conduct elections to the executive branch,\u201d the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.\n\nThe demand comes after the Trump administration threatened Oregon election officials with criminal prosecution over the administration\u2019s claim of noncitizens voting. For months, Trump has tried to chip away at voter registration and vote-by-mail in an effort to interfere in the consequential November midterms.\n\nEarlier this year, Trump issued an executive order requiring the creation of a national voter database, which would require states to submit their voter registration lists to the federal government for review. The order was put on pause after it was blocked in court. Trump continues to push passage of his Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in Congress, which would undermine vote-by-mail in an illegal and unconstitutional effort to undermine the rights of states to control their own election systems.\n\nLast month, Oregon lawmakers led the charge against a new rule issued by the U.S. Postal Service that would undermine Oregon\u2019s vote-by-mail system.\n\nText of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nWe rebuke your threats against Oregon elections officials and demand the Department of\n\nJustice (DOJ) cease this targeted witch hunt of states\u2019 election administration ahead of\n\nconsequential midterm elections.\n\nOn July 7, 2026, the most recent threat was issued by Assistant Attorney General for Civil\n\nRights Harmeet Dhillon and comes following repeated failures by the DOJ to illegally\n\nattempt to obtain Oregon voter rolls containing sensitive voter information through litigation\n\nin order to create an unprecedented national voter database. It is clear that after these\n\nattempts to secure access to sensitive state voter data have been repeatedly rejected by the\n\ncourts, the DOJ is resorting to public threats of prosecution and intimidation against elections\n\nadministrators in order to coerce state officials to turn over their voter rolls and cede their\n\nconstitutional duty to conduct elections to the executive branch.\n\nElection officials across the country are on the frontlines of our elections, they already face\n\nunprecedented attacks and face personal safety concerns. We should be working to protect\n\nelection officials regardless of political affiliation, not using government resources to further\n\nintimidate election officials that are following all federal laws, and consistently administering\n\nelections that are safe and secure, as is the case in Oregon.\n\nThese efforts are a direct attempt to undermine vote-by-mail, which is used successfully by\n\ntens of millions of eligible voters every election. Despite these efforts, the courts have also\n\nrepeatedly blocked implementation of President Trump\u2019s executive orders that aim to restrict\n\nvote-by-mail. Faced with these combined failures, the DOJ is now attempting to coerce state\n\nelections officials with threats of prosecution in order to prevent Americans from voting.\n\nThese threats are a clear pattern in strategy to disenfranchise millions of voters in Oregon and\n\nnationwide and attack states\u2019 constitutional right to manage and oversee elections. We\n\ndemand that you immediately cease these efforts.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/25-members-congress-release-joint-statement-massie-amendment-republican", "25 Members of Congress Release Joint Statement on Massie Amendment to Republican Foreign Aid Budget Bill", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, 25 Members of Congress, led by Congressman Jim McGovern, Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee, released the following statement in advance of voting yes on Amendment #8, which would halt certain U.S. funding to Israel, to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act:\n\n\u201cAs Members of Congress, it is our duty to ensure that our constituents\u2019 hard-earned money is used in a way that advances America\u2019s interests and values. For this reason, we do not support providing an additional $3.3 billion of American taxpayer dollars to be used for Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon\u2014operations which have killed tens of thousands of civilians, led to the indiscriminate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and caused severe and ongoing humanitarian catastrophes. These are just the latest in a long string of human rights violations inflicted on Palestinian civilians. For nearly six decades, Israeli security forces and military authorities have enforced the occupation of the Palestinian territories, including through restrictions on freedom of movement, arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. It is clear that existing human rights conditions on the use of American security assistance have not been meaningfully enforced. Enough is enough.\n\n\u201cPalestinians and Israelis alike deserve peace, freedom, security, stability, and self-determination. Those aims will only be achieved when their inherent dignity and inalienable rights are at the center of U.S. policy in the region. Diplomacy is the answer, and as long as America provides constant funding for more war, peace will always remain out of reach.\n\n\u201cOur vote should not be interpreted as opposition to initiatives such as the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act programs or others that foster people-to-people engagement, strengthen civil society, and advance the long-term prospects for a just and lasting peace. We remain committed to supporting these and similar programs while ensuring that U.S. taxpayer dollars advance peace, security, and American interests and values.\u201d\n\nThe statement was released by Representatives: Becca Balint (D-VT), Don Beyer (D-VA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-IL), Adelita S. Grijalva (D-AZ), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY).", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-welcomes-major-federal-investment-in-states-semiconductor-industry", "Oregon Delegation Welcomes Major Federal Investment in State\u2019s Semiconductor Industry", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Federal lawmakers: Oregon team of nearly 100 partners awarded NSF Regional Innovation Engine Award that sets up receiving up to $160 million to grow Oregon semiconductor industry\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senate and House members welcomed today\u2019s announcement that Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST), an Oregon consortium including nearly 100 partners from across the state, will receive up to $160 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation over the next decade to grow the state\u2019s semiconductor ecosystem.\n\nOregon State University is the administrative home for FAST.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s always a good day when Oregon takes our deserved spot in the \u201cFAST lane\u201d for national leadership in semiconductor innovation and manufacturing,\u201d said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, who helped to lead the effort under the Biden administration to pass the CHIPS Act that aimed for federal investments just like this one in Oregon\u2019s semiconductor industry. \u201cOregon is the beating heart of U.S. semiconductor production, which makes OSU a natural choice to lead one of just 12 new Regional Innovation Engines. This major federal investment will fuel cutting-edge research, good-paying jobs and economic growth in the Silicon Forest that will ripple throughout our entire state.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis investment in Oregon State University\u2019s NSF FAST Engine will further supercharge Oregon\u2019s innovative semiconductor industry,\u201d said U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley. \u201cBy bringing together researchers, businesses, and local partners, it will help turn new ideas into good-paying jobs and strengthen our state\u2019s leadership in emerging semiconductor technologies. I\u2019ll keep fighting to ensure Oregon has the federal support it needs to compete and grow.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe NSF FAST Engine based at Oregon State University shows how government can successfully work with higher education institutions to spur regional innovation and career readiness in advanced fields,\u201d said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cThis significant investment in the semiconductor industry will strengthen our state's continued leadership in research, development, and a future-ready workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud that Oregon State University was selected to receive this well-deserved grant. Demand for semiconductors is rising, and the NSF FAST Engine will help OSU design the world\u2019s most advanced semiconductor chips,\u201d said Rep. Val Hoyle. \u201cThis grant will bring industries in Oregon closer together across the state and foster innovation. It will also strengthen statewide educational partnerships, support Oregon\u2019s semiconductor industry and improve pathways to semiconductor careers for students.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon is called the Silicon Forest for a reason. If we want to maintain our position as a leader in semiconductor research and technology, then we need to keep innovating,\u201d said Rep. Andrea Salinas. \u201cThis grant from the National Science Foundation will help ensure we remain on the cutting edge of the technology revolution while utilizing the talents of the Oregon workforce by providing training and jobs throughout the high tech innovation economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cProof that Oregon is THE place to invest in semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing. Another great bet on some of our country's best technology and brightest students,\u201d said Rep. Janelle Bynum. \u201cThis funding makes sure that Oregon's next generation of innovators, leaders, and experts have the resources they need to secure good paying jobs and continue to build a strong economy\u201d.\n\nMore information about the project is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-statement-her-vote-against-national-security-department", "Rep. Andrea Salinas\u2019 Statement on Her Vote Against the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Spending Bill", "2026-07-15", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement regarding her vote against the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Spending Bill.\n\n\u201cIn accordance with my conscience and that of my constituents, I voted against the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Spending Bill.\n\n\u201cThis bill would authorize over $1 trillion to the Pentagon, the highest amount in U.S. history and a $234 billion increase over 2026. This comes as President Trump is waging an illegal war in Iran and Republicans are cutting SNAP and Medicaid. I refuse to authorize another dollar to help fund Trump\u2019s illegal war. Republicans have also loaded this bill with poison pills, including anti-trans provisions and amendments that suppress the vote for millions of Americans. I cannot support a defense bill that undermines Americans\u2019 civil rights.\n\n\u201cDuring consideration of the bill, I also supported Rep. Massie\u2019s amendment that would cut $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing to Israel. This is not a decision I made lightly. I firmly believe that Israel has a right to defend itself and the Jewish people need their own homeland but not at the expense of the lives of Palestinians and a homeland for the Palestinian people. This funding would have been used by Israel to purchase U.S. bombs and military equipment, and Israel has not demonstrated that they would use this military equipment responsibly with the U.S. interest to find a durable peace in the region. I stand ready to support our allies with the resources they need when it\u2019s clear those resources will go toward self-defense and promoting lasting peace.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyle-secures-district-and-policy-wins-in-the-2026-water-resources-development-act", "HOYLE SECURES DISTRICT AND POLICY WINS IN THE 2026 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2014 Today, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA, H.R. 9497). It authorizes construction projects, studies and other infrastructure activities for U.S. waterways and ports. This bipartisan legislation also includes key priorities championed by Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04). The bill will next go to the full U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.\n\n\"I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation that will help Oregon's ports, harbors and inland waterways repair aging infrastructure, complete dredging and fix critical jetties,\u201d said Representative Hoyle. \u201cInvestments in our maritime infrastructure strengthen Oregon's coastal economy by supporting commercial and recreational fishing fleets and good-paying rural jobs. It also helps coastal communities prepare for the growing impacts of climate change.\"\n\nNeil Maunu, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association and Kenneth Vogeney, Emergency Manager for the City of Springfield, also commented on today\u2019s Committee passage of WRDA:\n\n\"This bill will help ensure the Pacific Northwest can maintain and modernize our established waterways, strengthening our competitiveness while expanding the capacity and efficiency needed to attract new global customers and drive economic growth. PNWA applauds the Committee\u2019s bipartisan leadership in advancing the WRDA 2026 bill, which addresses the diverse needs of our nation\u2019s waterways, and looks forward to its passage by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.\" ?- Neil Maunu, Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA)\n\n\u201cThe 42nd Street Levee in Springfield, Oregon, provides flood risk protection to about 24,000 people. The City of Springfield and its residents and businesses are grateful for the on-going support of Congresswoman Hoyle through the Water Resources Development Act and other venues as the City works to improve the Levee's ability to continue providing flood protection for another 65 years.\u201d - Kenneth Vogeney, PE, Emergency Manager and 42nd Street Levee Project Manager for the City of Springfield", 1, "2026-07-15T07:12:08Z", "2026-07-15T07:13:45Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-leads-effort-protect-clean-drinking-water-oregon-communities", "Bynum Leads Effort to Protect Clean Drinking Water for Oregon Communities", "2026-07-14", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) led a letter along with Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), urging the District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Colonel Larry Caswell Jr., to ensure impacted communities are fully prepared before beginning work on the Detroit Reservoir deep drawdown which is scheduled for later this year.\n\nThe lawmakers expressed concerns over recent findings from the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (\u201cSEIS\u201d), indicating that the drawdown would mobilize sediment and pass it downstream, potentially harming local water systems and impacting the availability of clean drinking water.\n\nIn their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that varying levels of resilience and preparedness currently exist across affected water systems. They argue that in order to preserve public health and safety, the Corps must allow affected communities to execute the infrastructure and operational improvements necessary to maintain safe and reliable drinking water service before implementing the Detroit Reservoir deep drawdown.\n\n\"[M]anagement of the Willamette Valley System must balance fish recovery objectives with the public health, safety, and economic needs of Oregon communities. Success should be measured not only by our ability to strengthen salmon recovery, but by whether every downstream community can still turn on the tap with confidence,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cWe have heard serious and repeated concerns from local governments, public water providers, emergency managers, and community stakeholders in the North Santiam Canyon and throughout Marion County regarding the potential impacts of the proposed drawdown on turbidity, drinking water reliability, public health, and critical infrastructure.\"\n\nEarlier this year, Rep. Bynum successfully led a letter along with Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) requesting additional time for community engagement on the USACE proposed drawdown of Detroit Reservoir.\n\nThis letter is part of her ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of Oregonians and ensure they have a voice in decisions that affect their communities.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-bynum-has-three-housing-bills-signed-law", "Congresswoman Bynum Has Three Housing Bills Signed into Law", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "This weekend, three of Congresswoman Janelle Bynum\u2019s (OR-05) bills were signed into law by the president after passing with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate \u2013 the Accelerating Home Building Act, the Appraisal Industry Improvement Act, and the Incentivizing Local Solutions to Homelessness Act. Her legislation is part of the bipartisan and bicameral H.R. 6644, 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which Rep. Bynum voted for each time it came before the House. These bills are part of her efforts to address the nation\u2019s housing shortage by cutting red tape, building more homes, and lowering costs for first-time homebuyers.\n\n\u201cThe passage of these bills marks one of the most significant housing reform efforts to ever make its way to a president\u2019s desk,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cFor far too long, owning a home has been out of reach for so many Americans. I\u2019m proud to be part of this great achievement where, finally, we are providing Americans with the housing support and assistance they deserve.\u201d\n\nThe 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a landmark housing package that will surge resources and streamline construction, putting us on track to build the millions of homes we desperately need to lower costs. It also takes important steps to prevent institutional investors from driving up costs in the single-family housing market.\n\nThese efforts are part of Rep. Bynum\u2019s K-30 initiative, a platform focused on improving public education, strengthening the job market, and lowering the cost of housing. The passage of this legislation marks an important step towards creating and sustaining affordable housing for young Americans throughout the country.\n\nIn Congress, Rep. Bynum is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and sits on the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, where she works to address the housing shortage and lower costs for Oregon families.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-dexter-pocan-leger-fernandez-and-ramirez-return-cuba-fact-finding-mission", "Reps. Dexter, Pocan, Leger Fernandez, and Ramirez Return From Cuba Fact-Finding Mission", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), and Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) released the following statement upon the conclusion of their four-day Congressional delegation to Cuba:\n\n\u201cI went to Cuba thirty years ago, three and a half years ago, and now today,\u201d said Rep. Pocan. \u201cAs a small business owner for 37 years myself, I have seen how the island\u2019s private sector has the potential to thrive like never before, but is also hamstrung by U.S. sanctions that limit its access to financing, punish its workforce, reduce its customer base, and cut off its suppliers and export possibilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnited States' policies continue to exacerbate a crisis of displacement: a situation that, for many Cubans, makes it impossible to stay and realize self-determination in their own land. From what I heard directly from Cubans, many feel like they are forced to emigrate. But when Cubans decide to leave behind their land and look at the United States with hope, they are confronted by the U.S.\u2019s outdated immigration system and the Trump administration's white nationalist agenda,\u201d said Rep. Ramirez. \u201cIt is an impossible choice: face hunger, illness, and destitution on your own land or the abuse of ICE in the U.S.\u201d\n\n\u201cCuba created a free, universal healthcare system that millions of Cubans and others around the world have come to expect and depend on,\u201d said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. \u201cToday that system is buckling under sanctions that the White House has unleashed on the Cuban people. This is creating a humanitarian catastrophe, and it\u2019s on us to stop it. I will be using all the tools at my disposal to remove the barriers to delivering health care to the Cuban people.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat the United States is doing to this island is a siege,\u201d said Rep. Leger Fern\u00e1ndez. \u201cWe\u2019re blocking medical supplies, fuel and other essential inputs, leading its infant mortality rate to rise nearly 150% in recent years, from 4 to 9.9 per 1,000 live births. I doubt any American wants innocent Cuban babies to die due to our policies.\u201d\n\nThe Members jointly wrote:\n\n\u201cAs elected lawmakers tasked with oversight of U.S. foreign policy, we traveled to Havana to meet with Cubans of all walks of life and political perspectives to hear about the hardships the Trump administration\u2019s maximum pressure policies are creating for Cuban citizens, learn about recent reform efforts aimed at modernizing the Cuban economy, and explore ways to reset U.S.-Cuba relations on a path of engagement, diplomacy and mutual respect.\n\n\u201cThe de facto U.S. fuel blockade on Cuba is producing indiscriminate pain for the most vulnerable Cubans, contributing to nationwide electrical blackouts\u2014including one during our trip\u2014buildups of trash on street corners, severe shortages of food, medicine, and public transportation, and widening inequality on the island.\n\n\u201cIn our meetings with religious leaders, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, humanitarian groups, medical professionals and farmers, everybody we heard from - no matter their views of the Cuban government or the pace and scope of the announced reforms - agreed on one thing: that they are being strangled to death under the current executive orders and longstanding economic blockade.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration has not provided any evidence that Cuba poses a pressing national security threat to the United States and our interests at home and abroad. We believe that any pretext used to launch an illegal, unauthorized, and unpopular military operation against the island would exacerbate a grave humanitarian catastrophe, put U.S. service members at unnecessary risk, and hurt the very people we claim to support.\n\n\u201cThe severe secondary sanctions - including more announced today - mean that there is almost no fuel and no banking on the island, forcing blackouts that can last days. Foreign businesses are fleeing the island, crippling Cuba\u2019s private sector. Without electricity, hospitals, health care and all basic services are impacted. There is a growing humanitarian crisis and international aid organizations cannot distribute aid throughout the country. In other words, our policies are killing everyday Cuban citizens.\n\n\u201cWe call on the Trump administration and our colleagues in Congress to listen to the majority of U.S. and Cuban citizens and the rest of the world by lifting the cruel sanctions weighing on the Cuban people and engaging in serious and comprehensive negotiations with Cuban authorities that help advance trade with the island, promote respect for human rights, and provide a much-needed solution for a Cuban population that doesn\u2019t have any more time to wait.\u201d", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-statement-on-the-21st-century-road-to-housing-bill-becoming-law", "REP. HOYLE STATEMENT ON THE 21ST CENTURY ROAD TO HOUSING BILL BECOMING LAW", "2026-07-13", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Late Friday night, the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law after passing both the House and Senate. Although the President did not sign the bill, it automatically became law after sitting for 10 days on his desk. Rep. Hoyle released the following statement after the bill became law:\n\n\u201cOn Friday, one of the most significant housing bills in decades became law. We all worked together to make this happen so that there\u2019s more affordable housing and it\u2019s easier to build housing, especially in our rural areas where we have a severe housing shortage,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cI wish I could say that after all that bipartisan work and overwhelming support from Democrats and Republicans in Congress, that the President signed the bill. But it wasn\u2019t a priority for him.\"\n\nRep. Hoyle went on to add that legislation like this is what can happen when this Congress comes together and focuses on the priorities of the American people.\n\nBackground\n\nThe 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is the most significant piece of housing legislation passed in decades and is an important step to addressing the housing affordability crisis. The bill expands affordable housing, especially where rural communities have been left behind. Some other highlights of the bill include the following:\n\nThe full bill text can be found here as well as Rep. Hoyle\u2019s initial release on the bill passage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-14T07:08:55Z", "2026-07-14T07:10:52Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-bynum-introduces-legislation-improve-electricity-price", "Congresswoman Bynum Introduces Legislation to Improve Electricity Price Transparency", "2026-07-10", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Yesterday, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) introduced the bipartisan Better Information through Line-item Labeling Drivers (BILL Drivers) Act alongside Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07). This legislation directs the Energy Information Administration, in consultation with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to study and publicly report on what is driving electricity bill increases for residential and small business customers in every state over the past seven years.\n\nIn the West, household electricity costs increased by 26 percent between 2022 and 2025, according to the US Energy Information Administration, far outpacing inflation. The Bill Drivers Act would give consumers the opportunity to better understand how factors, including data centers, input costs, and production challenges, are impacting energy bills for communities across Oregon.\n\n\"In Oregon and across the country, families and small businesses have seen sharp increases in their electricity bills, yet the factors driving those increases are not clearly spelled out,\u201d Congresswoman Janelle Bynum said. \u201cThis legislation would bring transparency for consumers by requiring a detailed breakdown of what is contributing to increased electricity expenses so we can bring down costs and so that Americans know exactly where their money is going.\"\n\n\u201cThe people of the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos deserve clear answers and transparency when it comes to electricity costs,\u201d said Congressman Mackenzie. \u201cThe bipartisan BILL Drivers Act will give ratepayers a window into the causes of electricity rate increases and give lawmakers a better understanding of how to tackle the problem. It\u2019s time to deliver the bipartisan solutions that will give the American people real transparency and long-term relief when it comes to electricity costs.\u201d\n\nRead the full bill text HERE.", 1, "2026-07-11T07:10:48Z", "2026-07-11T07:14:29Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/members-oregon-delegation-oppose-sudden-loss-columbia-river-hatchery-funding", "Members of the Oregon Delegation Oppose Sudden Loss of Columbia River Hatchery Funding", "2026-07-08", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of hatchery raised fish including Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin.\n\n\u201cThe loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries. The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region\u2019s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike,\u201d write the lawmakers.\n\nBPA\u2019s decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly $2.4 million shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County. According to ODFW, more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk. Without this funding, ODFW may be forced to close SAFE funded hatcheries and potentially cull the millions of salmon and eggs the agency will no longer be able to support.\n\n\u201cWhen BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year\u2019s stock of hatchery fish has already begun,\u201d emphasized the Oregon Congressional Delegation.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded, \u201cWe urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won\u2019t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President\u2019s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter sent by the Oregon Congressional delegation can be found by clicking here and follows below:\n\nDear Administrator Kavulla:\n\nWe write to express our significant concern with the Bonneville Power Administration\u2019s (BPA) recent decision to end its participation in the Select Area Fisheries Management (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, providing reliable stocks of Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries. We strongly urge BPA to reconsider its actions and commit to renewing its SAFE program contracts to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.\n\nThe loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries.[1] The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region\u2019s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike.\n\nWhen BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year\u2019s stock of hatchery fish has already begun. BPA\u2019s decision to no longer support the SAFE program will jeopardize seven million fish that are currently being raised to be released into rivers next spring and will no longer be able to be supported by current funding schemes. It is likely that the hatchery will have to be closed and fish may be culled.\n\nFurther, the Northwest Power & Conservation Council, the organization that provides advice to BPA on its activities to mitigate the loss of fish populations, has long supported the SAFE program. In its most recent recommendations to BPA, the Council recommended that BPA renew its contracts for the program to continue to address the loss of salmon populations in the Columbia Basin.[2] It is disappointing that BPA cannot heed the advice of the organization designed to work with partners on this regional issue.\n\nWe urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won\u2019t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President\u2019s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.\n\n[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024, August 15). Federal Columbia River Power System Mitigation Actions. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/endangered-species-conservation/federal-columbia-river-power-system-mitigation-actions", 1, "2026-07-09T08:24:13Z", "2026-07-09T08:26:05Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-introduces-bipartisan-bill-expand-federal-job-opportunities-qualified", "Bynum Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Federal Job Opportunities for Qualified Workers", "2026-07-07", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), and Congressman John McGuire (R-VA) introduced the bipartisan Federal Jobs for STARs Act yesterday, to modernize federal hiring by reducing unnecessary bachelor's degree requirements for many federal jobs and helping ensure qualified workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) can compete for federal jobs based on their skills and experience.\n\nNearly two-thirds of American adults do not have a bachelor's degree, yet millions have developed valuable skills through military service, apprenticeships, community college, career and technical education, and on-the-job training. The Federal Jobs for STARs Act would help ensure the federal government recruits talent based on skills and experience while preserving bachelor's degree requirements for positions where they are genuinely necessary.\n\n\u201cHiring practices that require traditional educational experience leave talent and opportunity on the table for employers and employees,\u201d said Congresswoman Janelle Bynum. \u201cSkilled workers can come from military service, technical education, apprenticeships, or certification programs \u2013 not just four-year degree programs.\u201d\n\n\"Qualified Americans should not be denied a fair opportunity to compete for federal jobs simply because they don't have a bachelor's degree,\" said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. \"For millions of Americans, that unnecessary barrier has become a 'paper ceiling' separating them from federal jobs they are fully qualified to perform. The federal government should lead by example by evaluating applicants based on whether they have the skills and experience to do the job\u2014not simply whether they have a four-year degree. This bipartisan bill will help recruit the best talent into public service while expanding opportunity for qualified Americans.\"\n\n\u201cCollege degrees aren\u2019t the only way that workers gain valuable skills and experience. Through apprenticeships, military service, and on-the-job experience, Americans are building the skills our federal workforce needs. Unfortunately, excessive degree requirements are preventing countless workers from putting that experience to work on behalf of taxpayers. That\u2019s why the Federal Jobs for STARs Act opens the door for talented workers who built their skills outside the classroom \u2014 helping to ensure that federal hiring is based on merit, not just credentials,\" said Congressman Mackenzie.\n\n\"Our country is home to some of the best and brightest workers,\u201d said Rep. John McGuire (VA-05). \u201cYet, too often, talented men and women are blocked from joining the federal workforce due to the lack of a college degree. There are many ways to gain relevant experience, including military service, on the job training, and apprenticeships. Qualified candidates should be able to apply for jobs, despite lacking educational degree attainment. This bill ensures the most qualified applicants are given a chance to play a role in our nation\u2019s success and recognizes that education shouldn\u2019t be a barrier for an otherwise qualified individual to join the federal workforce.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of the core principles of our government is that hiring in the civil service is based on merit. The Federal Jobs for Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) Act advances this principle by removing unnecessarily restrictive degree requirements, opening opportunities for qualified applicants and creating the largest hiring pool. By expanding the talent pipeline, this legislation ensures the federal government can address workforce shortages and hire the best candidates possible, while respecting educational or licensing requirements when necessary. Thank you to Representatives Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Mackenzie (R-PA), Bynum (D-OR), and McGuire (R-VA) for their leadership in supporting the federal workforce,\u201d said Randy Erwin, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees.\n\n\"The Federal Jobs for STARs Act is an important step toward ensuring that federal hiring reflects what matters most: the skills, experience, and ability to do the job,\" said Blair Corcoran de Castillo, Senior Vice President of Public Sector & Policy at Opportunity@Work. \"More than 70 million Americans are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs), having developed valuable skills through military service, apprenticeships, community college, workforce training, and years of experience. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that all workers with the skills for the job can compete for federal careers.\"\n\nThe Federal Jobs for STARs Act would:\n\nReduce unnecessary bachelor's degree requirements for many federal jobs while preserving degree requirements where they are genuinely necessary.\n\nDirect the Office of Personnel Management to establish skills-based qualifications that recognize military service, apprenticeships, community college, career training, and other alternative pathways.\n\nCreate a dedicated hiring pathway on USAJobs for STARs.\n\nRequire a government-wide study on additional training, education, and career development opportunities for STAR employees.\n\nOriginal cosponsors include: Representatives Troy Downing (R-MT), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA).", 1, "2026-07-08T07:27:19Z", "2026-07-08T07:28:28Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-america-turns-250-dexter-announces-effort-capture-and-preserve-oregon", "ICYMI: As America Turns 250, Dexter Announces Effort to Capture and Preserve Oregon Veterans' Stories", "2026-07-06", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GRESHAM, OR \u2014 Last week, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) announced her office will participate in the Veterans History Project, an initiative created in 2000 by the Library of Congress to collect and preserve the firsthand recollections of U.S. military veterans who served from World War I through more recent conflicts and peacekeeping missions. Through recorded interviews and donated materials such as photographs, letters, and journals, the project creates a lasting historical record of veterans' sacrifices in the permanent collection of the Library of Congress.\n\n\u201cAs we reflect on 250 years of American history, the story of this nation is a story of the people, including the men and women who fought for its freedom,\u201d said Dexter. \"It is a profound privilege to help capture and preserve these stories and make them accessible for generations to come.\"\n\nDexter launched the project at an event on June 22 with veterans and the Oregon Historical Society at Gresham's VFW Post 180.\n\nVeterans in attendance shared extraordinary stories of service. One Korean War veteran recalled saving a child during an evacuation of a village after his entire family was killed. Decades later, the son of the child wrote the veteran thanking him for his courage and kindness, and the lives he created. Another veteran recalled being pinned down by enemy fire during the Vietnam War's Tet Offensive with dwindling supplies. Footage of the event can be found here.\n\nIf you are an Oregon veteran or Gold Star family member and are ready to share your story, please contact Congresswoman Dexter\u2019s office or visit her website to get started.", 1, "2026-07-07T08:20:12Z", "2026-07-07T08:22:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/members-oregon-delegation-oppose-sudden-loss-columbia-river-hatchery-funding", "Members of the Oregon Delegation Oppose Sudden Loss of Columbia River Hatchery Funding", "2026-07-06", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of hatchery raised fish including Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin.\n\n\u201cThe loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries. The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region\u2019s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike,\u201d write the lawmakers.\n\nBPA\u2019s decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly $2.4 million shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County. According to ODFW, more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk. Without this funding, ODFW may be forced to close SAFE funded hatcheries and potentially cull the millions of salmon and eggs the agency will no longer be able to support.\n\n\u201cWhen BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year\u2019s stock of hatchery fish has already begun,\u201d emphasized the Oregon Congressional Delegation.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded, \u201cWe urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won\u2019t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President\u2019s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter sent by the Oregon Congressional delegation can be found by clicking here and follows below:\n\nDear Administrator Kavulla:\n\nWe write to express our significant concern with the Bonneville Power Administration\u2019s (BPA) recent decision to end its participation in the Select Area Fisheries Management (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, providing reliable stocks of Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries. We strongly urge BPA to reconsider its actions and commit to renewing its SAFE program contracts to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.\n\nThe loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries.[1] The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region\u2019s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike.\n\nWhen BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year\u2019s stock of hatchery fish has already begun. BPA\u2019s decision to no longer support the SAFE program will jeopardize seven million fish that are currently being raised to be released into rivers next spring and will no longer be able to be supported by current funding schemes. It is likely that the hatchery will have to be closed and fish may be culled.\n\nFurther, the Northwest Power & Conservation Council, the organization that provides advice to BPA on its activities to mitigate the loss of fish populations, has long supported the SAFE program. In its most recent recommendations to BPA, the Council recommended that BPA renew its contracts for the program to continue to address the loss of salmon populations in the Columbia Basin.[2] It is disappointing that BPA cannot heed the advice of the organization designed to work with partners on this regional issue.\n\nWe urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won\u2019t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President\u2019s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.\n\n[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024, August 15). Federal Columbia River Power System Mitigation Actions. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/endangered-species-conservation/federal-columbia-river-power-system-mitigation-actions", 1, "2026-07-08T07:27:19Z", "2026-07-08T07:28:28Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-leads-lawmakers-demanding-dhs-withdraw-interim-final-rule", "Rep. Salinas Leads Lawmakers Demanding DHS Withdraw Interim Final Rule Threatening Asylum Seekers", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led a group of 24 lawmakers in sending a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) demanding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withdraw or significantly revise its Interim Final Rule (IFR) on the annual asylum fee. The letter warns that the policy will destabilize hundreds of thousands of people, harm key industries, and undermine fundamental legal protections.\n\nThe IFR establishes a punitive and unlawful fee collection system for asylum seekers. If an asylum seeker fails to pay, USCIS automatically rejects their asylum application and denies their work permit, leaving them unable to legally work and at a heightened risk of deportation. Furthermore, DHS began implementing the rule without first considering responsible alternatives and without providing the public an opportunity to comment.\n\nThe lawmakers call on DHS to rescind or meaningfully change the rule and to thoroughly consider public input before moving forward.\n\nClick here or see below for the full letter.\n\nDear Director Edlow and Mr. Good:\n\nWe write to strongly oppose the interim final rule, USCIS Immigration Fees and Related Procedures Required by H.R.1 Reconciliation Bill (the \"IFR\" or \"rule\"), published at 91 Fed. Reg. 22,952 (Apr. 29, 2026). The IFR threatens to destabilize hundreds of thousands of people, cause significant economic harm to key industries, and undermine fundamental legal protections\u2014including bypassing the notice-and-comment procedures established by Congress for rulemaking. We urge DHS to withdraw the IFR in full or to significantly revise it and to conduct full notice-and-comment rulemaking before continuing to implement this rule.\n\nThe IFR codifies a punitive, unlawful fee collection system for the annual asylum fee (\"AAF\" or \"annual fee\"). DHS began implementing this system on May 29, 2026, without first providing the public an opportunity to comment.\u00b9 Under the rule, failure to pay the AAF within 30 days of notice results in the rejection of the pending asylum application,\u00b2 even for applications that have already been accepted and have been pending for years.\u00b3 Current regulations use rejection of an application at the intake stage, not as a mechanism to dispose of cases that have been pending for an average of four to five years.\u2074 Yet the IFR applies this intake-based tool to long-pending cases, stripping applicants of their status without any adjudication on the merits of their case and denying them any meaningful avenue to challenge the outcome.\u2075 Furthermore, failure to pay within this 30-day window results in the automatic termination of the applicant's work authorization.\u2076\n\nSince U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began implementing the AAF in September 2025, constituents and advocates have reported repeated instances of missing AAF notices, notices sent to outdated addresses, and notices misdirected to former representatives no longer connected to a case.\u2077 The agency's own track record of inadequate notice in this precise context is well-documented through litigation.\u2078 Additionally, for some people who have tried to pay the AAF online, they have encountered technical issues with the USCIS website, thereby prohibiting them from paying the fee. Yet the IFR creates no grace period, no cure mechanism, and no right of appeal, which means individuals who never received a notice through no fault of their own could see their years-long pending case rejected and work authorization terminated overnight, even when they are willing and able to pay the fee. As Members of Congress whose offices regularly assist constituents navigating the immigration process, we are deeply concerned by the IFR's notice failures.\n\nBy definition, any applicant subject to the AAF has already waited for the adjudication of their asylum application for at least one year. Asylum seekers whose applications are rejected for nonpayment may refile,\u2079 but those applicants will already have exceeded the statutory one-year filing deadline, making it even harder to be granted asylum.\u00b9\u2070 The IFR then compounds this harm by exposing rejected applicants who otherwise lack legal status to removal proceedings.\u00b9\u00b9\n\nCongress passed the Refugee Act to protect those fleeing persecution.\u00b9\u00b2 Allowing a $100 fee\u2014triggered by a notice an applicant may never receive\u2014to serve as a basis for case rejection, permanent loss of work authorization, and exposure to removal proceedings is not a faithful implementation of that statutory mandate. It is precisely the kind of sweeping, discretionary policy change that demands notice-and-comment rulemaking before the rule's implementation, not unilateral agency action.\n\nAdditionally, the IFR also threatens TPS holders' right to continuous work authorization. The TPS statute guarantees that employment authorization shall remain \"effective throughout the period\" of a TPS designation.\u00b9\u00b3 The OBBBA limited the validity period of individual Employment Authorization Document (\"EAD\") cards;\u00b9\u2074 it did not amend or repeal the TPS statute's guarantee of continuous work authorization. Yet the IFR treats the 12-month limit as an inflexible rule and creates a system that predictably causes work authorization gaps for people with valid TPS, especially in light of growing processing delays.\u00b9\u2075 We frequently hear from constituents about ongoing work permit processing delays, and this rule would further expose applicants to these processing delays through no fault of their own.\n\nAs Members of Congress who represent small and large business owners across the country, we are acutely concerned about the IFR's economic and fiscal consequences. Asylum applicants represent one of the largest work-authorized immigrant workforces in the United States. As of early 2026, an estimated 2.3 million asylum applicant workers contribute more than $108 billion to the U.S. economy annually and pay approximately $33 billion in combined taxes, including $19 billion in federal and payroll taxes and $14 billion in state and local taxes.\u00b9\u2076 These revenues fund the schools, roads, public safety agencies, Medicaid programs, and children's health programs that Americans rely on every day.\n\nAsylum applicant workers are heavily concentrated in industries that are already experiencing persistent labor shortfalls, including healthcare, childcare, and education. Local communities that received more people seeking asylum during 2021\u20132023 saw higher employment and wages for native-born workers and all existing workers.\u00b9\u2077 These workers are not competing with U.S. workers; they are enabling businesses to stay open and grow.\n\nThe same concerns apply to TPS holders. As of January 2025, nearly 1.3 million TPS holders generate approximately $29 billion in economic activity and pay an estimated $7.8 billion in taxes annually.\u00b9\u2078 Approximately 830,000 TPS holders work in critical industries including construction, retail, hospitality, transportation, warehousing, and manufacturing.\u00b9\u2079 The sudden disruption of their work authorization is not an abstraction\u2014it is a direct threat to businesses in our districts that have invested in training these workers, to patients who depend on immigrant caregivers, and to families whose livelihoods depend on continued lawful employment.\n\nThe Administrative Procedure Act (\"APA\") requires agencies to consider responsible alternatives.\u00b2\u2070 The IFR violates that requirement. For asylum seekers, DHS briefly acknowledged some alternatives, including denying rather than rejecting applications, or holding asylum applications in abeyance until the AAF is paid, but DHS did not pursue those alternatives in large part because they would offer more protection and access to work authorization before a final adjudication.\u00b2\u00b9 That is not a reasoned basis for choosing the harshest possible approach.\n\nDHS already uses tools in similar contexts that could have been applied here: requests for evidence, notices of intent to deny, and opportunities to cure. For TPS holders, DHS could have committed to processing EAD renewals within 30 days or issued Federal Register notices automatically extending work authorization for TPS holders whenever processing delays prevent timely EAD issuance. The IFR never explains why these less disruptive alternatives would not suffice.\n\nDHS cited the APA's narrow \"good cause\" exception to implement the IFR without prior notice-and-comment rulemaking.\u00b2\u00b2 The APA allows for that exception only where notice and comment would be \"impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.\"\u00b2\u00b3 The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed nearly a year ago, but DHS now suddenly claims that \"immediate implementation,\"\u00b2\u2074 with severe and punitive consequences, is necessary. DHS cannot manufacture an emergency through its own delay and then use it to avoid the public participation that Congress intended.\n\nCongress established the notice-and-comment process to ensure that sweeping policy changes with enormous consequences receive the scrutiny and public deliberation they demand before taking effect. DHS's decision to bypass that process particularly for a rule with this magnitude of impact is an affront to the workers, families, and communities in our districts who should have had the opportunity to be heard. We therefore urge DHS to withdraw the IFR in its entirety or significantly revise this rule and to thoroughly consider public comment before continuing to implement this rule.", 1, "2026-07-02T06:20:02Z", "2026-07-02T06:21:32Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-urges-epa-monitor-microplastics-americas-drinking-water", "Bynum Urges EPA to Monitor Microplastics in America's Drinking Water", "2026-07-01", "2026", "2026-07", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Yesterday, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led a bicameral letter, joined by 53 of their colleagues, urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to add microplastics to the agency's recently published Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6). The lawmakers argue that EPA should begin monitoring microplastics in America's drinking water, citing a growing body of research linking the emerging contaminant to serious adverse health effects.\n\nEarlier this Congress, Rep. Bynum introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Microplastics Safety Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a study on the health impacts of microplastics in food, water, and other products. The legislation is a critical step forward in better understanding the threat of microplastics to human health.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers write:\n\n\"As plastic production continues to expand rapidly, microplastics pose a potential threat to public health in the United States. Emerging research demonstrates that microplastics are now pervasive in the human body and are associated with serious adverse health effects. Concentrations of microplastics in human brain tissue have been reported to increase by nearly 50 percent between 2016 and 2024.\"\n\nLater in the letter, they write:\n\n\"Accordingly, we urge the EPA to add microplastics to UCMR 6 and to design a robust, nationwide monitoring program for microplastics in drinking water. Doing so will provide critical transparency regarding exposure, inform future health-protective standards under SDWA, and help ensure that the federal government meets its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the American people.\"", 1, "2026-07-08T07:27:19Z", "2026-07-08T07:28:28Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-introduces-new-legislation-stop-sitting-president-insider-trading", "Rep. Salinas Introduces New Legislation to Stop a Sitting President from Insider Trading", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Watch Rep. Salinas discuss her bill on MS NOW\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced legislation that would stop the President of the United States from profiting from insider trading on stocks. The No Official Presidential Returns On Furtive Individual Trades (NO PROFIT) Act would impose a 100% federal tax on certain capital gains earned by the President of the United States outside of a qualified trust while in office, preventing a sitting United States president from personally profiting from potential insider trading.\n\n\u201cIn the first three months of 2026, President Trump made over 3,600 individual stock trades valued between $220 and $750 million. Rather than lowering costs for millions of families, President Trump has used his power to make himself and his billionaire buddies even richer,\u201d said Salinas. \u201cMy bill would hold him, and any sitting United States president, accountable to the interests of the American people rather than their own financial interests.\u201d\n\nThe NO PROFIT Act would specifically require:\n\nAny sitting president must place their assets into a qualified blind trust or;\n\nBe forced to relinquish any net capital gains realized by a sitting president to go back to Americans through a 100% tax;\n\nAnd assets outside of a qualified blind trust would act as though they were sold at fair market value at the end of each tax year, preventing a president from holding appreciated assets until leaving office.\n\nEvery sitting president \u2014 except for the current president \u2014 in the last half century has put their investments into blind trusts to reduce potential conflicts of interest. The NO PROFIT Act would set a precedent to require every president to do the same or be forced to give these gains back to the people through a 100% tax.", 1, "2026-07-01T06:34:07Z", "2026-07-01T06:35:35Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-celebrates-supreme-court-ruling-protects-birthright", "Rep. Andrea Salinas Celebrates Supreme Court Ruling that Protects Birthright Citizenship", "2026-06-30", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling against President Trump\u2019s attempt to end birthright citizenship.\n\n\u201cToday, the Supreme Court delivered a win for every child born in the United States. The Court held that the 14th Amendment is not limited to the 19th century. Citizenship does not depend on the color of your skin, your last name, or your parents' immigration status. It\u2019s a fundamental promise to every child born on the soil of these United States.\n\n\u201cTrump's attempt to end birthright citizenship was a direct attack on immigrant families and on the constitutional amendment that has guided our country since the Civil War. The Court rightly rejected that attack.\n\n\u201cWe should all celebrate today's victory. But we also know this won't be the last attempt to divide our communities, devastate our families, or undermine the rights of immigrants. I won't stop fighting until every family can live with dignity, security, and the full protection of our Constitution.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-07-16T07:21:44Z", "2026-07-16T07:23:13Z"], ["https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-submits-state-items-congressional-time-capsule-celebrate", "Oregon Delegation Submits State Items for Congressional Time Capsule to Celebrate America\u2019s 250th Birthday", "2026-06-29", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Maxine Dexter", "D000635", "dexter.house.gov", "dexter", "https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senate and House members this week submitted for a congressional time capsule to celebrate America\u2019s 250th birthday multiple items that sample from the state\u2019s natural treasures, history, culture, sports, music and more.\n\nAmong the items included in the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule to be sealed at the Capitol Visitor Center and opened on July 4, 2276 are the following:\n\nA ballot and envelope, to celebrate Oregon\u2019s status as America\u2019s first vote-by-mail state.\n\nPrinted images of iconic Oregon landscapes.\n\nAn illustration depicting Oregon\u2019s agriculture.\n\nA photo of the late Avel Gordly, the first African-American woman elected to Oregon\u2019s state Senate.\n\nSheet music and lyrics of songs about Oregon (\u201cEugene\u201d by Dolly Parton, \u201cPortland, Oregon, You\u2019re My Home\u201d by Carrie Brownstein & Fred Armisen, and \u201cComing Home (Oregon)\u201d by Matt Kearney).\n\nA news article about the Portland Fire. which is now playing its first season in the WNBA.\n\nA sunstone, the state gemstone that\u2019s mined only in eastern Oregon.\n\nA pair of \u2018Crater Lake\u2019 patterned socks from Pendleton Woolen Mills, established in 1909.\n\n\u201cAlthough there may have been skeptics who feared that asking several Oregonians to agree on time capsule items might resemble a Parks and Rec episode, our state\u2019s diversity, beauty and innovative spirit made this task a labor of love,\u201d said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. \u201cWhat my colleagues and I have submitted shows why Oregon is such a special place to live, work and raise a family.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s contributions to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule showcase our innovation, natural splendor, and the people who make our state such a remarkable place to call home,\u201d said U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley. \u201cWe are honored to contribute to a collection that will help future generations understand who we were and what we aspired to become.\u201d\n\n\u201cKnowing Oregon's history is critical to shaping our future, and preserving our state in this moment is valuable,\u201d said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cOregon\u2019s contribution to the congressional time capsule will give future Oregonians and Americans a glimpse into our state as we see it. I\u2019m grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Oregon delegation on this meaningful project.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe items we selected for this time capsule reflect the values that define Oregon \u2014 from our pioneering vote-by-mail system and world class natural landscapes to the workers, farmers, artists, and leaders who have shaped our communities\" said Rep. Val Hoyle. \"I\u2019m proud future generations will have the opportunity to see how Oregonians contributed to our nation and helped build a more resilient and democratic future.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne day, someone will open this time capsule and get a glimpse of who we were in 2026,\u201d said Rep. Andrea Salinas. \u201cI hope they'll see a state that took pride in its natural beauty, celebrated its culture, valued its farmers and workers, and believed deeply in democracy. From a vote-by-mail ballot to a sunstone from Eastern Oregon, these items reflect the people and places that make our state unique. They tell the story of an Oregon that is independent-minded, welcoming, and always looking toward the future.\u201d\n\n\"Senator Gordly's leadership helped pave the way for future generations of leaders in public service,\u201d said Rep. Janelle Bynum. \"She stood firm on the principles of educating and caring for Oregon\u2019s children and she stood for transparency and accountability in government. As the first Black woman elected to the Oregon State Senate, she opened doors for countless Oregonians and helped build a more inclusive future for our state. In a time when Black women\u2019s contributions and accomplishments in service to America are being overlooked, recognizing Sen. Gordly stands as a testament to strength, resilience, and independence. These are not just her values, but they are Oregon values. As Oregon\u2019s first Black woman elected to Congress, I am proud to help ensure her legacy is preserved as part of our nation's 250th anniversary.\"", 1, "2026-06-30T06:29:10Z", "2026-06-30T06:30:42Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/supreme-court-upholds-key-vote-by-mail-provisions", "Supreme Court Upholds Key Vote-By-Mail Provisions", "2026-06-29", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Hoyle Renews Call to Expand Access to Eligible Voters\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled against the Republican National Committee\u2019s challenge seeking to disqualify mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day but are postmarked on or before Election Day. The decision, in Watson v National Republican Committee, marks a significant victory for voters in states, like Oregon, that use vote-by-mail.\n\nRep. Hoyle (OR-04) released the following statement:\n\n\"This is a win for our democracy, for voters and states that rely on vote-by-mail. The Constitution is clear: the responsibility of overseeing the time, place and manner of elections belongs to the states and Congress. This ruling affirms that.\n\nWe have seen the positive impact that mail in voting has had in Oregon \u2013 not only does it improve access for eligible voters, but every ballot has a paper copy making it the most secure form of voting. Oregonians overwhelmingly support it, and today's decision reaffirms that that support.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Hoyle has long championed expanding voting access to eligible voters throughout her career. In Congress, she has introduced theVote at Home Act alongside Senator Wyden.\n\nThe Vote at Home Act:\n\nGives voters more choices in how they cast their ballots, by making it more convenient to participate in federal elections.\n\nEnsures all voters have a chance to research their ballots. By sending all registered voters their ballot weeks before Election Day, voters will have the opportunity to carefully study the candidates and issues before casting their ballots.\n\nIncreases voter participation by ensuring that all citizens are automatically registered to vote. Voters will then be allowed to opt out if they so choose.\n\nFunds the U.S. Postal Service by increasing their budget to cover all costs associated with this legislation.\n\nSaves states money by allowing them to transition away from heavily staffed in-person polling locations.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-30T06:29:10Z", "2026-06-30T06:30:42Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-salinas-and-fongs-ai-education-bill-passes-committee", "Reps. Salinas and Fong\u2019s AI Education Bill Passes Committee", "2026-06-29", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Last week, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology unanimously passed Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Congressman Vince Fong's (CA-20) bipartisan National Science Foundation Artificial Intelligence Education Act (NSF AI Education Act), bipartisan legislation designed to strengthen America's leadership in AI by building the workforce pipelines our economy and national security depend on.\n\n\u201cArtificial intelligence technology has the potential to transform our society for good and drive economic growth across a broad range of industries, including clean energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. At the same time, we need to make sure Americans are able to participate in this technologic revolution,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to see the committee has passed our legislation, which takes us one step closer to ensuring more people can build the skills they need in the emerging AI workforce while expanding research on responsible uses of AI.\u201d\n\n\"Emerging technologies are enhancing our economy and America must lead the way,\" said Congressman Fong. \"Now more than ever, it\u2019s critical that communities throughout our region are empowered. My legislation increases access to the tools and training that students and workers across the country need to thrive in the 21st-century economy. By expanding education pipelines through scholarships, fellowships, and higher education institutions, we can lay the groundwork for long-term opportunity for the next generation to lead in a world of rapid innovation.\"\n\nAs technology continues to transform every sector of the economy, from agriculture to advanced manufacturing to national defense and cybersecurity, the demand for AI-skilled professionals is skyrocketing. Yet many students, particularly in rural and underserved communities, are being left behind. The NSF AI Education Act addresses this critical gap by building future-ready talent pipelines for America's most important industries.\n\nSpecifically, the NSF AI Education Act:\n\nAuthorizes the National Science Foundation to award scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in AI, with an emphasis on high-impact sectors such as education, manufacturing, and agriculture.\n\nEstablishes fellowships for students and faculty to engage in AI-focused professional development across STEM fields, including short-term teaching opportunities for industry professionals to bring real-world expertise into classrooms.\n\nEnables competitive, merit-based awards for higher education institutions and nonprofits to conduct research and develop AI teaching resources and frameworks for K-12 students \u2014 ensuring early exposure to emerging technologies.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by a broad coalition of industry and education leaders including, OpenAI, Google, Zoom, California State University Fresno, California State University Bakersfield, Sierra Sands Unified School District, Kern Community College District, Cerro Coso Community College, the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance, Code.org, the F3 Initiative, Oregon Institute of Technology, ACT | The App Association, and California Community Colleges.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-30T06:29:10Z", "2026-06-30T06:30:42Z"], ["https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-hoyles-office-receive-best-dc-constituent-experience-award", "Congresswoman Hoyle\u2019s Office Receive \u201cBest DC Constituent Experience\u201d Award", "2026-06-28", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Val T. Hoyle", "H001094", "hoyle.house.gov", "hoyle", "https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressional Management Foundation\u2019s Award Given in Recognition of A Congressional Office\u2019s commitment to constituent services\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, the Congressional Management Foundation announced that Congresswoman Val Hoyle\u2019s (OR-04) Washington, D.C. office has received its Best DC Constituent Experience Award for 2026. This annual award is given to an office that demonstrates excellence in serving their constituents and fostering meaningful engagement between members of Congress and the people they represent.\n\n\u201cAn office is only as good as its staff, and in our office, it is a team effort to prioritize taking care of every constituent to the best of our ability,\u201d said Congresswoman Hoyle. \u201cI am incredibly proud of my team for setting an example for congressional offices across the country about what constituent service should look like.\n\nI also want to thank our constituents from across the political spectrum. This recognition would not have been possible without the many kind words and positive feedback you shared with the Foundation during its review process. You are what makes our district and our office special.\u201d\n\nThe Foundation cited several factors in selecting Rep. Hoyle's office for the award, including the team's commitment to continuous improvement, proactive outreach to Oregon students about internship opportunities in Congress, and dedication to meeting constituents wherever necessary\u2014whether on the House floor, committee rooms or throughout the Capitol complex\u2014to ensure every visitor has the best experience possible.\n\nThe Foundation also highlighted Rep. Hoyle and her staff's personally guided nighttime tours of the U.S. Capitol, which provide constituents with a unique opportunity to experience the Capitol after hours while connecting with fellow Oregonians from communities across the state.\n\nIn addition, the Foundation recognized the office's exceptional constituent service and communication during the 2025 Presidential Inauguration. To ensure Oregonians traveling to Washington, D.C., had uninterrupted access to tickets and assistance, the office remained open for ten consecutive days, including weekends. After outdoor inaugural events were canceled because of inclement weather, Rep. Hoyle also opened the office to ticket holders so they could have a shared experience. Constituents specifically praised the office's timely, clear and reliable communication throughout the process.\n\nPrevious Recognition for Legislative Effectiveness\n\nThe award builds on Rep. Hoyle's previous recognition as one of Congress's most effective lawmakers. Last year, she was also recognized as one of the most effective freshman members of Congress.\n\n##", 1, "2026-06-29T06:36:11Z", "2026-06-29T06:37:53Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-submits-state-items-congressional-time-capsule-celebrate", "Oregon Delegation Submits State Items for Congressional Time Capsule to Celebrate America\u2019s 250th Birthday", "2026-06-26", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senate and House members this week submitted for a congressional time capsule to celebrate America\u2019s 250th birthday multiple items that sample from the state\u2019s natural treasures, history, culture, sports, music and more.\n\nAmong the items included in the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule to be sealed at the Capitol Visitor Center and opened on July 4, 2276 are the following:\n\nA ballot and envelope, to celebrate Oregon\u2019s status as America\u2019s first vote-by-mail state.\n\nPrinted images of iconic Oregon landscapes.\n\nAn illustration depicting Oregon\u2019s agriculture.\n\nA photo of the late Avel Gordly, the first African-American woman elected to Oregon\u2019s state Senate.\n\nSheet music and lyrics of songs about Oregon (\u201cEugene\u201d by Dolly Parton, \u201cPortland, Oregon, You\u2019re My Home\u201d by Carrie Brownstein & Fred Armisen, and \u201cComing Home (Oregon)\u201d by Matt Kearney).\n\nA news article about the Portland Fire. which is now playing its first season in the WNBA.\n\nA sunstone, the state gemstone that\u2019s mined only in eastern Oregon.\n\nA pair of \u2018Crater Lake\u2019 patterned socks from Pendleton Woolen Mills, established in 1909.\n\n\u201cAlthough there may have been skeptics who feared that asking several Oregonians to agree on time capsule items might resemble a Parks and Rec episode, our state\u2019s diversity, beauty and innovative spirit made this task a labor of love,\u201d said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden. \u201cWhat my colleagues and I have submitted shows why Oregon is such a special place to live, work and raise a family.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s contributions to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule showcase our innovation, natural splendor, and the people who make our state such a remarkable place to call home,\u201d said U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley. \u201cWe are honored to contribute to a collection that will help future generations understand who we were and what we aspired to become.\u201d\n\n\u201cKnowing Oregon's history is critical to shaping our future, and preserving our state in this moment is valuable,\u201d said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cOregon\u2019s contribution to the congressional time capsule will give future Oregonians and Americans a glimpse into our state as we see it. I\u2019m grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Oregon delegation on this meaningful project.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe items we selected for this time capsule reflect the values that define Oregon \u2014 from our pioneering vote-by-mail system and world class natural landscapes to the workers, farmers, artists, and leaders who have shaped our communities\" said Rep. Val Hoyle. \"I\u2019m proud future generations will have the opportunity to see how Oregonians contributed to our nation and helped build a more resilient and democratic future.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne day, someone will open this time capsule and get a glimpse of who we were in 2026,\u201d said Rep. Andrea Salinas. \u201cI hope they'll see a state that took pride in its natural beauty, celebrated its culture, valued its farmers and workers, and believed deeply in democracy. From a vote-by-mail ballot to a sunstone from Eastern Oregon, these items reflect the people and places that make our state unique. They tell the story of an Oregon that is independent-minded, welcoming, and always looking toward the future.\u201d\n\n\"Senator Gordly's leadership helped pave the way for future generations of leaders in public service,\u201d said Rep. Janelle Bynum. \"She stood firm on the principles of educating and caring for Oregon\u2019s children and she stood for transparency and accountability in government. As the first Black woman elected to the Oregon State Senate, she opened doors for countless Oregonians and helped build a more inclusive future for our state. In a time when Black women\u2019s contributions and accomplishments in service to America are being overlooked, recognizing Sen. Gordly stands as a testament to strength, resilience, and independence. These are not just her values, but they are Oregon values. As Oregon\u2019s first Black woman elected to Congress, I am proud to help ensure her legacy is preserved as part of our nation's 250th anniversary.\"", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-resolution-impeach-education-secretary-linda-mcmahon", "Bonamici Introduces Resolution to Impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon", "2026-06-25", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [6/25/26] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced a resolution to impeach Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.\n\nThe resolution outlines how McMahon violated her oath of office, made false and misleading statements to Congress, and violated federal law by illegally transferring the operations of multiple offices and more than 140 programs under the Department of Education to other federal agencies without the approval of Congress.\n\nIn introducing the resolution, Bonamici said \u201cI introduced an impeachment resolution because Secretary McMahon has made it her mission to close down the Department of Education, something she does not have the right to do.\u201d\n\nBonamici called on other members to join her impeachment effort during remarks on the House floor. Video can be found here.\n\n\u201cEducators and parents, especially parents of students with disabilities, are distraught and asking us to take action to stop these illegal transfers. To them I say we hear you,\u201d Bonamici said on the House floor.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Maxine Dexter (D-OR), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), John Garamendi (D-CA), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Nikema Williams (D-GA).\n\nThe full text of the resolution can be found here.\n\nSince taking office McMahon has unlawfully ordered the transfer of at least five offices and their multiple programs to other agencies \u2013 all without the consent of Congress. Congress created the Department of Education and only Congress can dismantle it. These transfers essentially gut the Department of Education and obstruct the Department\u2019s ability to conduct statutory oversight and disburse Federal funds appropriated by Congress through its authority under Article I of the United States Constitution:\n\nOn September 30, 2025, McMahon approved an interagency agreement moving the provision of several essential programs and services under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to the Department of Labor\u2019s Employment and Training Administration.\n\nOn February 20, 2026, McMahon approved another interagency agreement moving the provision of additional programs and services under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services.\n\nOn September 30, 2025, McMahon approved an interagency agreement moving the provision of several essential programs and services under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor.\n\nOn February 20, 2026, McMahon approved another interagency agreement moving the provision of additional programs and services under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State.\n\nOn May 21, 2025, McMahon approved an interagency agreement moving the provision of essential programs and services under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor.\n\nOn June 15, 2026, McMahon approved an interagency agreement moving the provision of essential programs and services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (formerly the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) of 1975 and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to the Department of Health and Human Services.\n\nOn June 15, 2026, McMahon approved an interagency agreement moving the provision of essential programs and services under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 to the Department of Justice.\n\nAdditionally, McMahon made false statements to Congress during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. She assured multiple Senators that she would commit to awarding funds authorized by Congress to schools and students; however, since taking office, McMahon has canceled or withheld hundreds of grants authorized and appropriated with bipartisan support by Congress, including mental health funding for elementary and secondary schools and TRIO grants for institutions of higher education. Making false statements to Congress is a federal crime.\n\nFinally, McMahon has created widespread chaos and confusion by terminating or overseeing the departure of approximately 2,000 employees \u2013 cutting the Department of Education\u2019s workforce by at least half. As a direct result of these firings, the Department of Education does not have the necessary staff to disburse funding in a timely manner or investigate instances of discrimination and harassment in schools. This represents a significant breach of the public\u2019s trust in the Department of Education and in McMahon as its leader.\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-scott-jacobs-murray-introduce-legislation-overturn-harmful-child-care", "Bonamici, Scott, Jacobs, Murray Introduce Legislation to Overturn Harmful Child Care Rule", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [6/24/26] \u2013 Today Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal a final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services that would make child care more expensive and less accessible.\n\nThe Trump administration\u2019s \u201cRestoring Flexibility in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)\u201d final rule repeals a 2024 rule that protected families from excessive costs, provided greater financial stability for child care programs, and increased child care options for families. The final rule repealing these provisions is set to take effect on July 13, 2026.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s disturbing that the Trump administration is making child care more expensive when the cost for child care can be as much as rent or mortgage payments and families are struggling to pay for necessities like health care, groceries, and gas,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cChild care is essential infrastructure and I am grateful to partner with Senator Murray, Ranking Member Scott, and Rep. Jacobs to fight this harmful final rule that would make it even harder for families to find and pay for care they need for their children.\u201d\n\n\"Child care is already one of the largest expenses in a family's budget \u2014 and Republicans are making it worse. The Biden Administration's Child Care and Development Fund rule protected families from crushing copayments, stabilized child care providers, and ensured timely reimbursements. Now, the Trump Administration is ripping those protections away. Without a cap on copayments, families could once again be forced to pay more than they can afford. Without enrollment-based reimbursements, providers will face financial unpredictability that could force them to close their doors,\u201d said Ranking Member Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott. \"I am proud to cosponsor this Congressional Review Act resolution, alongside Representatives Bonamici (OR-01) and Jacobs (CA-15), to overturn this rollback and restore the protections that families and child care providers depend on.\"\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration has made their agenda crystal clear: tear down the child care system in America, piece by piece, until nothing\u2019s left,\u201d said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. \u201cInstead of doing anything to actually help the child care sector, this Administration is making the child care crisis worse. After making baseless claims of widespread fraud and threatening to withhold $10 billion in federal funds for states, including California, they\u2019re now going after the 2024 CCDF Final Rule. Repealing this rule would increase the costs of child care for families and create more barriers for providers who are already struggling to keep their doors open. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this Congressional Review Act because every family in America deserves quality, accessible, and affordable child care.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump is intentionally raising the cost of practically everything\u2014and in case tariffs driving up child care costs wasn\u2019t bad enough, now he is going out of his way to push prices up even further,\u201d said Senator Patty Murray. \u201cWhat Trump is doing is nothing short of punishing working class families who need help to afford the astronomical cost of child care. It doesn\u2019t help to make child care more expensive while also forcing parents to pay Trump\u2019s tariff tax. It doesn\u2019t make life any easier for families by forcing them to pay more for child care when gas is $5 a gallon where they live. Democrats are fighting to make child care more affordable and to help families. Trump is actively making it more expensive to raise a family. Congress should take action as soon as possible to overturn this harmful, anti-family policy.\u201d\n\nThe 2024 CCDF Final Rule had several provisions that this final rule overturns:\n\nCapping copayments at 7 percent of household income: Prior to the 2024 CCDF Final Rule, some states charged copayments as high as 27 percent of family income. The 2024 CCDF Final Rule capped copayments at 7 percent of household income. The Trump administration\u2019s Final Rule removes the cap so families can be charged more for child care services.\n\nEnrollment-based subsidy reimbursements: The 2024 CCDF Final Rule codified a COVID-19 pandemic policy that reimbursed subsidies based on enrollment rather than attendance. This change helped stabilize the child care sector and is consistent with the private pay market. This Final Rule reverses the change and reinstates reimbursements based on attendance. Attendance-based payments create unpredictability that can threaten the stability and finances of a child care provider.\n\nPaying providers prospectively: Under the 2024 CCDF Final Rule, providers received payments in advance of the delivery of child care services, which created greater stability in the child care sector and aligned the system with the private-pay market. This Final Rule changes how providers are paid. It no longer requires prospective payments and may delay timely reimbursements for services.\n\nThe text of the CRA can be read here.\n\nIt is supported by: Caring Across Generations, Center for American Progress, Child Care for Every Family Network, CLASP, Community Change Action, Council for Professional Recognition, Home Grown, Molly Moon\u2019s Homemade Ice Cream, MomsRising, National Association for Family Child Care, National Indian Child Care Association, National Women\u2019s Law Center, SEIU, SEIU, Small Business Majority, and Zero to Three.\n\nIn the House, the CRA is cosponsored by: Representatives Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Judy Chu (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Sarah McBride (D-ED), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).\n\nIn the Senate, the CRA is cosponsored by: Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\n###", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"], ["https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-bynum-blasts-trump-betraying-american-people-housing", "Congresswoman Bynum Blasts Trump for Betraying American People on Housing", "2026-06-24", "2026", "2026-06", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Janelle S. Bynum", "B001326", "bynum.house.gov", "bynum", "https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) released a statement after President Trump cancelled the planned signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which passed in both the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support. The bill is a landmark package to build more housing and prevent institutional investors from driving up costs in the single-family housing market, putting the U.S. on track to lower housing costs and increase housing supply.\n\nThe package includes three of Rep. Bynum\u2019s bills, which have now passed the House and Senate several times over with bipartisan support \u2013 the Accelerating Home Building Act, the Appraisal Industry Improvement Act, and the Incentivizing Local Solutions to Homelessness Act. These bills are part of her efforts to address the nation\u2019s housing shortage by cutting red tape, building more homes, and lowering costs for first-time homebuyers.\n\n\u201cThis is some bullsh*t \u2013 and exactly why the American people believe that the system is broken,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cYou deserve so much better. You deserve to be able to buy a home you can afford in a community you want to live in. You deserve a President and a Congress that can deliver real solutions to our biggest problems. But what we have is a President who is too focused on taking away your voting rights, too focused on lining his own pockets, and too focused on nonsense.\u201d\n\nThese efforts are part of Rep. Bynum\u2019s K-30 initiative, a platform focused on improving public education, strengthening the job market, and lowering the cost of housing. In Congress, Rep. Bynum is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and sits on the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, where she works to address the housing shortage and lower costs for Oregon families.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:11:26Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 9925, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "OR"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": 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