url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-house-senate-lawmakers-demand-supreme-court-block-white-house-eco,"ICYMI: House, Senate lawmakers demand Supreme Court block White House eco actions: 'Set the record straight'",2023-12-22,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-senate-lawmakers-demand-supreme-court-block-white-house-eco-actions-set-record-straight By Thomas Catenacci - Fox News FIRST ON FOX: A group of dozens of House and Senate Republicans filed a legal brief Monday to urge the Supreme Court to take up two cases related to President Biden's authority to lock up public lands from resource development and other uses. In the brief first obtained by Fox News Digital, the lawmakers — led by Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., and joined by House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and 26 other lawmakers including three senators — argued that the president's use of the 1906 Antiquities Act is an example of federal overreach and violates the U.S. Constitution. The lawmakers specifically asked the high court to hear both American Forest Resource Council v. United States of America and Murphy Company v. Biden, two cases challenging the expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in southwest Oregon. Plaintiffs have argued that the monument expansion was both illegal and caused significant economic damage, particularly to the timber industry. ""We urge the Supreme Court to hear these cases and send a clear message that the President cannot simply bypass Congress and rewrite our nation's land laws with the stroke of a pen,"" Bentz said in a statement. ""This is about upholding the Constitution, protecting our rural communities, and ensuring responsible management of our public lands."" The Antiquities Act, designed as a federal conservation tool, grants the president broad authority to establish national monuments on existing federal lands. Since taking office in 2021, Biden has established five such monuments in Colorado, Nevada, Texas, Mississippi and Arizona, which have faced opposition from industry, lawmakers and garnered legal challenges. Invoking the Antiquities Act and establishing a national monument effectively blocks the designated lands from normal uses. Under separate legislation passed in the 1970s, Congress established the so-called ""multiple-use"" and sustained yield mandate, requiring the Bureau of Land Management to open the lands it manages to various uses including energy development like drilling, grazing, recreation and mining. ""For far too long the executive branch has abused the Antiquities Act to cut off millions of acres of public lands, an action that greatly impacts rural communities across the country and ignores Congress’ directive on how those lands must be responsibly managed,"" Westerman said Tuesday. ""The president does not have the constitutional authority to lock away our federal land and waters, especially without any local input,"" he said. ""I urge the Supreme Court to take up these two critical cases and set the record straight on the executive branch’s authority when it comes to regulating our federal lands and waters."" But while the two cases are focused on that monument, they have much wider ramifications for future use of the Antiquities Act and national monuments created by Biden over the last two years, according to plaintiffs. Biden's designation of the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument in Arizona, for example, have faced opposition that included legal challenges from state governments as well as mining, livestock and agriculture groups. ""Whether you’re living in southwest Oregon near the illegal expansion of the monument, in Utah where numerous presidential proclamations have placed massive areas off-limits in recent years, or in Washington, D.C., where concerns about the protection of our democracy and constitutional processes are top of mind, this case and its outcome are critical to the future management of our federal lands,"" American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) President Travis Joseph said last month. In 2019, after the AFRC sued the federal government over the designation of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, a lower court ruled in favor of the group and said the executive branch lacked authority to override the will of Congress which, in separate legislation, defined sustained-yield timber harvest as the dominant use of public land in Oregon. Then in July, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision. Months earlier, in April, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals came to a similar conclusion in Murphy Company v. Biden, the second case that Republicans asked the Supreme Court to review.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-wyden-merkley-bonamici-colleagues-call-expanded-funding-community,"Salinas, Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Colleagues Call for Expanded Funding for Community Health Centers",2023-12-21,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – On Wednesday, December 20, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), on a bipartisan letter urging the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide more access to federal resources for community healthcare centers. “Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes fill critical gaps in our health care system and ensure more Americans can get the care they need, regardless of income or insurance status,” said Rep. Salinas. “We need to give these health centers access to federal funding, so that they can better serve communities in Oregon and across the country. I join my colleagues in calling on HRSA to make it easier for FQHC Look-Alikes to get the support and resources they deserve.” Currently, there are 136 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alikes in Oregon and across the nation that provide services to over 1 million patients, but still don’t receive federal resources they should be eligible for. FQHC Look-Alikes are organizations that meet all of the eligibility requirements of an FQHC that receives a Public Health Service Section 330 grant, but do not receive grant funding. “These community-based health care providers are already serving populations that may not otherwise be able to access care, and hope to expand the reach of their services to more people,” the legislators said. “HRSA should be leveraging the network of existing FQHC Look-Alikes. By prioritizing Look-Alikes that already comply with Health Center Program requirements over brand new sites, HRSA will ensure that federal dollars are being allocated to health centers with a proven track record of success that hope to expand the universe of patients they can serve and expand the care they are able to offer.” The letter was led by Sen. Wyden and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.). Along with Salinas, Wyden, Merkley, and Bonamici, the letter also was co-signed in the Senate by the U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and in the House by U.S. Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif), Josh Harder (D-Calif.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Katie Porter (D-Calif). The text of the letter is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-bill-amend-grand-ronde-reservation-act-passes-senate-will-become-law,"Salinas Bill to Amend Grand Ronde Reservation Act Passes Senate, Will Become Law",2023-12-20,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced her legislation with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which restores the right to pursue land claims and compensation for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, has cleared both chambers of Congress. The legislation now heads to President Biden to be signed into law. The bill was first introduced by Rep. Salinas in March as her first piece of legislation, and she ensured it passed the U.S. House of Representatives early last month. Senator Merkley has long championed the bill with success in the Senate, where it passed this week with unanimous support. The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), as well as U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). “I am deeply proud that my amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act has passed the Senate and will soon become law. This is a historic moment not only for the Grand Ronde Tribe, but for Indigenous peoples in Oregon and across the country,” said Rep. Salinas. “At long last, the Grand Ronde Tribe will finally have the right to pursue land claims and compensation once again. I am so grateful to Senator Merkley, my Oregon colleagues, and everyone who helped get this important legislation across the finish line, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law in the coming days.” “A gross injustice against the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is finally ending, and a new chapter of healing and justice for the Tribal community can begin,” said Sen. Merkley. “Nearly three decades ago, the Grand Ronde sought to fix a historical surveying error within their reservation boundary, only for the federal government to make another error that relinquished the Tribe’s rights to future land claims and compensation. I’ve long championed legislation to correct this egregious injustice. With the strong partnership of Representative Salinas, it is finally becoming a law that will ensure the Grand Ronde has the legal ability to restore its right to pursue land claims in Oregon—rights already available to other federally-recognized Tribes in Oregon.” “Words cannot express what this means to us and the pure joy I had hearing the news,” said Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “This amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act is about correcting a historical wrong and restoring equity to the Tribe. We will forever be grateful to all those that worked to make this possible.” “For far too long, the Grand Ronde have been unjustly denied the right to pursue land claims and compensation,” said Governor Kotek. “We have to do better for all of Oregon’s sovereign Tribes. The enactment of this legislation will alleviate concerns and uncertainties stemming from the 1994 amendment, preserving the Tribe's pre-1994 right to compensation and ensuring a clear and just resolution in the event of any future land survey discrepancies. I am greatly appreciative of Oregon’s federal delegation in leading on this legislation, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law by President Biden.” Salinas and Merkley’s bill to fix the Grand Ronde Reservation Act corrects a drafting error in a 1994 legislative amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which authorized a land exchange requiring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to compensate the Grand Ronde Tribe for an 84-acre survey error by the federal government. The survey error occurred around 1871 and was not discovered by the Bureau of Land Management until 1988. In 1994, in pursuing federal legislation to rectify the error, an amendment was made to the bill at the time that further prohibited the Tribe from making any additional land claims if new errors were ever discovered. Salinas and Merkley’s bill will end this inequitable restriction on the Tribe so that they may pursue recourse if additional survey errors are found. Currently, no other tribe in the State of Oregon is bound by this type of legal restriction and removing it will restore equity to the Grand Ronde Tribe. In case additional survey errors are discovered, this bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would replace the phrase “lands within the State of Oregon” with the phrase “the 84 acres known as the Thompson Strip,” clarifying that they are only prohibited from making additional land claims to the area known as the Thompson Strip. “I applaud and was pleased to strongly support this legislation correcting an injustice for the Grand Ronde Tribe,” said Sen. Wyden. “As a nation we must address past mistakes. I will fight for every Oregon Tribe to ensure the federal government is fully and equitably honoring its obligations and responsibilities to them.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/bentz-leads-bicameral-coalition-amicus-brief-urging-supreme-court-curb,Bentz Leads Bicameral Coalition in Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Curb Presidential Overreach under the Antiquities Act,2023-12-19,2023,2023-12,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-Ore.) announced that he is leading a coalition of Congressmen and Senators in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, urging the Court to hear two important and critical cases challenging the President's misuse of the Antiquities Act to establish National Monuments. These cases, American Forest Resource Council v. United States of America and Murphy Company v. Biden, present a clear opportunity for the Court to establish limits on presidential authority and uphold the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine. ""The Constitution makes it clear that Congress, not the President, makes our laws. The President’s job is not to make law, but to enforce them. Yet, in recent years, Presidents have increasingly usurped congressional authority by using the Antiquities Act to 'Monumentize' millions upon millions of acres of public land rendering massive areas largely untouchable. This blatant disregard for the will of the people is an affront to the Constitution,"" stated Congressman Bentz. ""In this brief we urge the Supreme Court to hear these cases and to make it clear that the President cannot circumvent Congress by rewriting our nation's public land laws with the stroke of a pen. This is about upholding the Constitution, protecting our public lands from being left to burn up, and that they can be properly managed with the their best interest in mind."" The amicus brief highlights several key concerns: Presidential Overreach: The President's recent national monument designation in Oregon overrides Congress's directive for how these lands must be managed, specifically the O&C Act, which mandates sustained-yield timber production to generate revenue for rural communities. The President’s actions set a dangerous precedent of executive overreach on all federal lands and waters. Economic Devastation: The President’s monument designation cripples forest-dependent communities and exacerbates the wildfire crisis by severely limiting essential forest management practices. Constitutional Violation: The Constitution vests Congress, not the President, with the power to regulate federal lands. This case is an opportunity for the Supreme Court to reaffirm the separation of powers and protect the rights of American citizens. Travis Joseph, American Forest Resource Council President stated, ""We thank Congressman Cliff Bentz for his leadership on the Congressional amicus brief, and for bringing awareness to these important issues on Capitol Hill. Congressman Bentz and his colleagues understand the Constitutional issues that are at stake; the need to maintain and strengthen the separation of powers; and to ensure that Congress - not the President - continues to make the laws on behalf of the Americans they represent."" ""For far too often, Congress has given the Executive Branch too much authority to manage and lock up Federal lands,"" said Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse (WA-04). ""Both the Obama and Biden Administrations have abused the Antiquities Act to create new national monuments out of our federal lands to lock them up from development in opposition to the intent of Congress. It’s past time for members of Congress to reclaim authority relating to the Antiquities Act, which is why I signed on to this Amicus Brief to make our argument clear to the Supreme Court as they review cases."" Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) stated, ""For far too long the executive branch has abused the Antiquities Act to cut off millions of acres of public lands, an action that greatly impacts rural communities across the country and ignores Congress’ directive on how those lands must be responsibly managed. The President does not have the constitutional authority to lock away our federal land and waters, especially without any local input. I urge the Supreme Court to take up these two critical cases and set the record straight on the executive branch’s authority when it comes to regulating our federal lands and waters."" ""For years, the Obama and Biden Administrations used the Antiquities Act to institutionalize massive executive overreach, seizing acres and acres of land without consequence. In some Congressional Districts, almost 80% of rural land was set aside as public or federal land,"" said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks (IA-01). ""We must preserve the use of federal lands for responsible recreational, agricultural, and energy use. I am proud to join my colleagues in urging the Supreme Court to curb executive overreach and require the Administration to consult Congress before making rash decisions about our federal lands."" ""I am proud to join my colleagues in asking the Supreme Court to impose a limit on a president’s authority under the Antiquities Act,"" Congressman Russ Fulcher (ID-01) said. ""Congress should determine whether public land can become an untouchable national monument; not the president. The Biden Administration is taking land away Congress requires be sustainably harvested to generate revenue for rural counties. I have worked, on a bipartisan basis, to extend Good Neighbor Authority to counties and tribes, helping them with job creation and revenue from timber harvests, along with managing the risk of wildfires and good environmental stewardship of our forests. I hope the Supreme Court hears the message loud and clear: Congress – not the President – has the constitutional authority over federal lands."" Congressman John Rose (TN-06) added, ""President Biden's heavy-handed approach to using the Antiquities Act must be halted by the Supreme Court. As an attorney and eighth-generation farmer, I understand that the best stewards of public lands are the local communities who manage and depend on them—not the federal government—and that President Biden's use of the Antiquities Act is blatantly unconstitutional. I am proud to join Rep. Bentz in this amicus brief to hold the president accountable to the constitution and prevent him from damaging rural southwest Oregon communities that depend on this public land."" ""Once again, the Biden administration is overstepping its authority and restricting more of our lands from use. The Antiquities Act is just one of many ways that the Biden administration is keeping Americans from gaining energy independence, enjoying sport & recreation activities, and restricting every ability to do anything except “conserve” land in the name of a ridiculous climate change agenda. I urge the Supreme Court to take up this case and to strike down this Biden abuse of office,"" Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (WY-AL) concluded.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-gonzalez-colon-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-remove-marine-debris,"Bonamici, González-Colón Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Remove Marine Debris",2023-12-15,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [12/15/23] –Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-Puerto Rico), Co-Chairs of the House Oceans Caucus, introduced legislation to help remove marine debris from the ocean and waterways. H.R. 6781 would reauthorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program through 2028. The representatives introduced the bill ahead of the third anniversary of the bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation passed by Congress to address marine debris and strengthen NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. Bonamici led the original bill with the late Rep. Don Young (R-AK). “Marine debris threatens coastal communities, ecosystems, and marine life,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Congress acted to strengthen NOAA’s Marine Debris Program to better respond to the plastics, derelict vessels and fishing gear, and other harmful debris that litters the ocean’s waters and shores. This legislation will build on that success to continue protecting the ocean and communities into the future. I’m grateful to partner with my Oceans Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón in this important effort.” “NOAA’s Marine Debris Program provides critical resources to address and mitigate the adverse impacts of marine debris in our ocean and coastal environments,” said Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón. “In Puerto Rico, for example, it has supported initiatives to research and monitor the sources of marine debris within our watersheds, as well as multiple projects to help remove abandoned vessels, derelict fishing gear, and hurricane-generated debris throughout our coasts and waters. I’m proud to join my fellow House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, to introduce bipartisan legislation to reauthorize NOAA’s Marine Debris Program and ensure it can continue supporting state, territorial, and local efforts to comprehensively tackle this issue.” The text of the legislation can be viewed here. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Senate companion bill. Bonamici and González-Colón co-chair the House Oceans Caucus, a bipartisan group of House members committed to protecting the health and future of the ocean. This Congress, the Caucus has been focused on environmental stressors (including ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia); marine debris; ocean data and monitoring; coastal resiliency; deep sea mining; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/bentz-releases-statement-support-national-defense-authorization-act,Bentz Releases Statement in Support of the National Defense Authorization Act,2023-12-14,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) released the following statement after voting “yes” on H.R. 2670, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. “The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is absolutely essential to the safety and security of every American. There is simply nothing more important than being able to defend our country and our freedoms. The bill is not perfect, but it takes huge steps in the right direction. This bill helps us prepare for the worst, and the list of really bad things that could happen grows longer every day. One of the good things done in this bill is that it secures funding for Kingsley Field’s next mission, which is to train elite F-35A Lightning II jet pilots in Klamath Falls. For nearly 70 years, Kingsley Field has played a critical role in safeguarding our nation's air superiority. Since taking office, securing Kingsley's future has been a top priority, and I'm thrilled the Air Force has chosen Kingsley for this essential mission.” FY24 NDAA Highlights:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-mcgarvey-lead-effort-improve-family-access-housing-assistance,"Bonamici, McGarvey Lead Effort to Improve Family Access to Housing Assistance",2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [12/13/23] – Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) led 25 of their colleagues in drawing attention to the decline in federal housing assistance programs for families with children. Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit are two of the largest federal housing programs that can help prevent homelessness. Unfortunately, data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Section 8 vouchers shows that families with children have received a smaller share of voucher recipients over the last decade. “The Biden Administration has shown historic dedication to improving opportunities for homeownership and increasing protections for families who rent,” the Representatives wrote. “Unfortunately, the number of families experiencing homelessness is on the rise nationally. We write to request information from your agencies so we can work together to improve federal programs to better serve vulnerable families.” In 2009, households with children received 42 percent of the benefits from subsidized HUD programs. By 2022, that percentage had declined to 33 percent. This includes Section 8 choice vouchers, public housing, and project-based vouchers. The letter requests HUD and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provide information on policies to enhance support for families and youth at risk of homelessness, including: Data on how many new families are being accepted in federal housing programs; A breakdown of information about families’ access to developments subsidized by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers; Confirmation of the downward trend of families with children accessing federally subsidized housing and details on what may be the potential causes; Information on initiatives HUD and IRS are undertaking to promote housing stability for families The letter is supported by First Focus Campaign for Children and SchoolHouse Connection. “Access to safe and affordable housing is critical for healthy child development, yet publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that over the past decade, families with children are a declining share of subsidized housing recipients,” said Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children. “First Focus Campaign for Children applauds Reps. Bonamici, McGarvey, and the rest of the signers for prioritizing children by sending this letter to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel to inquire about this concerning trend, as well as ask for more information about actions taken by HUD and the IRS to increase support for families and youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability.” In addition to Bonamici and McGarvey, the letter was signed by 25 of their colleagues, including Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Scott Peters (D-CA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), David Trone (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Nikema Williams (D-GA). Bonamici is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness. Bonamici and McGarvey also lead the bipartisan, bicameral Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act together. The full text of the letter can be found here and below. Dear Secretary Fudge and Commissioner Werfel, We write today to inquire about efforts to safeguard affordable housing for families in the United States. The Biden Administration has shown historic dedication to improving opportunities for homeownership and increasing protections for families who rent. Unfortunately, the number of families experiencing homelessness is on the rise nationally.1 We write to request information from your agencies so we can work together to improve federal programs to better serve vulnerable families. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are our largest programs to secure housing stability for vulnerable Americans. It is essential that all our federal housing programs, but especially LIHTC and Section 8, directly serve the needs of low- income families. There is a potentially concerning trend of fewer fami lies with children accessing stable housing through federal assistance, especially LIHTC2and Section 8 vouche rs3. The database on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website shows t hat the percent of people with children in subsidized housing nationally has fallen to 33 percent,4which is the lowest percentage in a decade and an overall decline of eight percent from 2010. According to research from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the number of families receiving rent assistance fell by 250,000 or 13 percent from 2004 to 2016. Although Congress has not provided needed investments to expand federal housing programs to fully meet the demands of our housing crisis, we remain concerned about fewer and fewer families with children being served by these programs. We ask that you provide responses to the following questions: Do your agencies have data showing how many new families are being accepted in federal housing programs? Please provide a breakdown of information about families’ access to developments subsidized by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. Does data available to your agencies reflect a downward trend of families with children accessing federally subsidized housing? If so, please detail the cause of this trend, including whether it is related to any or a combination of the following: Prioritization of people other than families with children by housing developers or local and state housing agencies; Rehabilitation and construction of units that are not accessible to families with children; Children in families who entered housing developments moving out and the rest of their family staying, which in turn keeps these units off the market; Discrimination based on source of income or familial status by landlords against vouchers or other screening practices that disproportionately harm low-income families with children; and, Lack of accessible units for families with children because of limited appropriations for housing programs. What initiatives is HUD taking to promote housing stability for families? What resources are needed to fully meet the mission of the Family Unification Program? When does HUD anticipate publishing guidance to better integrate services with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in response to the 2021 report, GAO-21-540?5 How will family housing stability be integrated into the LGBTQI+ Youth Homelessness Initiative?6 The need for expanded resources to address housing and houselessness is clear. As demonstrated by the Emergency Rental Assistance Program created during the COVID-19 pandemic, dedicated federal resources prevent evictions, improve wellbeing and financial security, and fill gaps to mitigate housing cost increases. We remain committed to addressing underinvestment in housing and making housing and homeownership affordable and achievable for all Americans. It is essential that Congress addresses this important issue, and our effort must be coupled with policies that remove barriers to family access and enhance coordination of the full spectrum of services for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Thank you again for your dedication to making affordable housing attainable for all Americans. We look forward to your answers and opportunities to partner with you to deliver the resources needed so everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-gluesenkamp-perez-moore-urge-federal-government-expand-use-mass-timber,"Salinas, Gluesenkamp Perez, Moore Urge Federal Government to Expand Use of Mass Timber in Federal Buildings",2023-12-13,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – This week, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Barry Moore (AL-02) led a bipartisan letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) encouraging expanded use of mass timber in federal buildings. In the letter, the lawmakers express concern that while the GSA recently awarded $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding for 150 projects, none of the funds were awarded to projects using sustainable wood products, including mass timber. Utilizing wood products is critical for supporting rural jobs and reducing wildfire risk, and it is one of the most effective ways to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. These products come from renewable resources, store carbon, and don’t require the same fuel-intensive manufacturing process common for other other building materials. “Countries around the world have made building with wood a top priority to reach climate goals, yet our own federal government continues to lag in its adoption of low-embodied carbon wood products,” wrote the lawmakers. “As GSA continues to take steps to reduce the carbon footprint for the built environment within its real estate portfolio, we strongly urge you to ensure that low-embodied carbon wood products, such as mass timber, play a role.” Across the United States, the forest products industry directly employs roughly 925,000 people and indirectly supports nearly 2 million jobs. “I am deeply concerned about GSA’s decision not to award Inflation Reduction Act funding to projects that use sustainable wood products. As a lead sponsor of the bipartisan Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act, I believe we must invest in our working forests and help make them more resilient to wildfires and climate change,” said Rep. Salinas. “I join my colleagues in urging the Administration to utilize sustainable wood products moving forward, and I will continue working to ensure Oregon’s critical mass timber industry gets the support it deserves from our federal government.” “If we want to support Southwest Washington timber economies, prevent wildfires, and rebuild meaningful jobs in the trades, our federal government needs to lead by example by building with home-grown wood products,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “I appreciate the support of my bipartisan colleagues to help ensure federal dollars going out the door make it to our local loggers and tradespeople. It’s what’s good for rural Americans and it’s what’s good for our environment.” “Building with mass timber is a great way to leverage value-added properties of American timber,” said Rep. Moore. “Our foresters here in Alabama and across America deserved the chance to benefit from these construction projects, and I hope the Biden Administration will consider them in the future.” The letter was also signed by Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), Don Davis (NC-01), John Garamendi (CA-08), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Glenn Thompson (PA-15). Full text of the letter can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/bentz-releases-statement-following-todays-wwf-hearing-snake-river-dams,Bentz Releases Statement Following Today's WWF Hearing on the Snake River Dams,2023-12-12,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. - “Today’s Congressional hearing called out the Biden Administration for engaging in secret discussions to breach the four lower Snake River dams, to impose upon the people of the northwest billions in costs to replace thousands of megawatts of clean reliable power generated by these dams, and, if that was not enough, to force the people of the Northwest to inequitably pay billions in higher utility rates under the guise of building fish runs to levels not seen in centuries.” – Congressman Cliff Bentz Click here to watch today's hearing.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-house-panel-probe-biden-admins-negotiations-eco-groups-trying-tear-down,ICYMI: House panel to probe Biden admin's negotiations with eco groups trying to tear down key power source,2023-12-11,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-panel-probe-biden-admins-negotiations-eco-groups-trying-tear-down-key-power-source By Thomas Catenacci - Fox News FIRST ON FOX: A top House panel is probing the Biden administration's negotiations with left-wing environmental groups seeking to remove four hydroelectric dams in Washington to protect salmon. The House Natural Resources Committee's Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee will hold a hearing next week, on Dec. 12, where it will review efforts to effectively dismantle the dams — which are a key source of clean energy and which enable agricultural transport — and related litigation. Experts and industry groups will speak at the hearing about the importance of the four federally-managed dams. ""Pacific Northwest residents should be extremely concerned,"" Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Ore., who chairs the subcommittee, told Fox News Digital in an interview. ""It's exactly what we've been saying for years — that we have unelected folks, bureaucrats, especially in the [Council on Environmental Quality], dramatically exceeding their authority and basically stepping outside the description of what they have the power to do reflected in National Environmental Protection Act."" Bentz said that he hopes witnesses will be able to highlight how removing, or breaching, the dams will impact electricity rates consumers pay and farmers who transport hundreds of thousands of tons of food, especially wheat, aided by the dams. The four dams are located on the lower Snake River, which winds through Idaho and Washington before feeding into the Columbia River and then into the Pacific Ocean. The hearing next week is set to feature Scott Simms, the CEO and executive director of the Public Power Council; Neil Maunu, the executive director of the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association; and Humaria Falkenberg, the power resources manager at the Pacific County Public Utility District in Raymond, Washington. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Richard Spinrad and White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chairwoman Brenda Mallory both declined to attend the hearing. John Hairston, the administrator and CEO of the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland, Oregon, also declined to attend. The four dams on the lower Snake River have been thrust into the spotlight in recent months and years as environmental organizations and some Democrats have argued the dams have decimated salmon and Steelhead populations, According to Columbia Riverkeeper, an Oregon eco group, the dams transformed the river into ""a series of warm, shallow lakes where predators, dam turbines and hot water kill too many migrating salmon."" In addition, such groups have filed litigation against the federal government in an effort to force the dams to be breached. In November, though, environmental plaintiffs agreed to pause litigation through mid-December after a mediation was crafted with federal defendants that states action must be taken to save fish in the Snake River. ""We agree that business as usual — and the consequential disappearance of salmon and other native fish populations in the Columbia River Basin — is unacceptable,"" the mediation, which was confidential until it was leaked last week, states. ""And while there is still time to save these fish, there is no time to waste."" The mediation notes that Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., released recommendations last year to quickly deploy green energy in the region to account for lost power were the four dams to be torn down. The document later notes the region must account for power to replace energy services currently provided by the dams. ""Instead of working with all interests, the U.S. Government chose for months to hold secret negotiations and refused to share any details with us, let alone allow our participation,"" said the executive directors of Northwest RiverPartners, the Public Power Council, and the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, which collectively represent power utilities, ports, agriculture companies and other businesses dependent on the dams. ""It is not surprising, then, that this proposal turns its back on over three million electricity customers as well as the farming, transportation, navigation, and economic needs of the region,"" they continued. ""By purposely excluding our respective organizations from the negotiations, literally millions of Northwest residents were deprived of fair representation in this process."" The American Public Power Association and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association also blasted the leaked mediation last week, saying ""it would jeopardize electric reliability and increase costs for millions of Americans throughout the Pacific Northwest."" After the mediation was leaked last week, the White House CEQ told Fox News Digital that breaching the lower Snake River dams would require congressional authorization ""and is therefore not an action that could be agreed to through the mediation."" However, Bentz said while the federal government isn't able to breach the dams without congressional action, it could ""operationally neuter"" the dams under a legal order. ""They're not talking about breaching,"" Bentz told Fox News Digital. ""They're talking about operating them in a fashion that doesn't generate power and doesn't allow navigation. They will just be a big block of concrete in the river, around which the water will run."" The dams were constructed in the 1960s and 1970s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers primarily to ensure the Snake River was passable for barge transportation. However, since then, the main benefit has been their reliable clean energy output. They still provide about 8% of the state's electricity, enough to serve millions of residents, and have a large total capacity of 3,000 megawatts. Removing the dams would also likely chip away at U.S. climate goals since their energy production would likely need to be replaced by fossil fuel alternatives. According to federal data, replacing hydropower generated by the dams with natural gas generation would increase carbon emissions by up to 2.6 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of 421,000 passenger cars.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-boost-education-research,"Bonamici, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Education Research",2023-12-11,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [12/11/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced bipartisan legislation to accelerate innovation in teaching and learning by establishing a national center to promote informed-risk, high-reward education research. The New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act of 2023 would create a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) with the purpose of developing and disseminating effective practices and tools to improve students’ academic performance and close longstanding achievement gaps. The NCADE would be the fifth center under the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and follow a successful model similar to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). “Investing in education research will support the development of literacy skills and other critical components of a well-rounded education, help students get back on track after the pandemic disrupted learning, and more,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The NEED Act will focus on innovative approaches and technologies in education and will improve implementation of education R&D. These critical investments are designed to strengthen teaching and learning to reach more students—particularly students who face the greatest opportunity gaps.” “Congress has the responsibility to ensure that students across America have the resources available to reach their full potential,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan NEED Act will create a national center dedicated to developing innovative tools based on data and technological advances to help close learning gaps, and I am proud to join Congresswoman Bonamici on this important legislation.” “Everyone should have the information they need to make informed decisions about their own education and workforce pathways, support individuals navigating these pathways, and create policies that might help others navigate smoother pathways,” said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, president and CEO, Data Quality Campaign. “Data Quality Campaign applauds the efforts of Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Fitzpatrick to reimagine statewide longitudinal data systems as tools for providing better support, transparency, and high-quality data to individuals navigating their journeys through education and the workforce.” ""For years, our nation has asked our teachers to innovate in a classroom environment that continues shifting - teachers have stepped up to meet that challenge,"" said Kira Orange Jones, CEO of Teach Plus. ""It is essential we stand alongside teachers and students by creating the infrastructure to use new data and research to meet the demands of a 21st century education and the learning challenges American children face. The NEED Act will create an infrastructure that helps to innovate schools and better serve our students."" The NEED Act would also update Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) and help states better track the progress and outcomes of students through K-12 and into the workforce. The legislation is endorsed by: Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF); America Forward; American Educational Research Association; American Federation of Teachers; American Psychological Association Services; Association of Public Data Users (APDU); Beyond100K; CAST, Inc.; Coalition for Community Schools; Committee for Children; Common Sense Media; Data Quality Campaign; Digital Promise Global; EDGE Consulting Partners; Education Reform Now; Educators for Excellence; ExcelinEd in Action; Federation of American Scientists; Formation Ventures; Foundation for American Innovation; InnovateEDU; Institute for Educational Leadership; Knowledge Alliance; Kumar Garg; Schmidt Futures; LearningForge LLC; Lehigh University; Luminary Labs; National Alliance for Public Charter Schools; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Center for Learning Disabilities; New Classrooms; New Leaders; North Dakota Department of Public Instruction; Results for America; SETDA; Teach Plus; The Education Trust; The Learning Agency; The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD); The Tech Interactive; Thomas B. Fordham Institute; TNTP; and Transcend. A summary of the legislation can be found here, and the full text of the legislation can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-porter-introduce-legislation-protect-student-borrowers-young,"Bonamici, Porter Introduce Legislation to Protect Student Borrowers, Young Consumers from Unscrupulous Lenders",2023-12-08,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [12/08/23] – Today Congresswomen Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Katie Porter (D-CA) introduced legislation to restore the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office for Students and Young Consumers. Before the Trump administration closed the Office for Students and Young Consumers in 2018, it helped return more than $750 million to students and student loan borrowers who had been cheated or misled by unscrupulous student loan companies and for-profit colleges. They assisted more than 60,000 borrowers who submitted complaints to the CFPB about the student loan industry. The Students and Young Consumers Empowerment Act will reopen the office and strengthen the CFPB’s ability to protect students, prevent fraud, and preserve the integrity of the student loan marketplace and access to affordable higher education. ""Students and young consumers who are seeking to invest in their education should not be cheated by unscrupulous companies or for-profit colleges,"" said Suzanne Bonamici, senior member of the Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. ""The Biden administration has taken many important steps to improve the student loan system and compensate borrowers and students who have been duped or defrauded. But we can do more. Restoring the Office for Students and Young Consumers will provide a needed resource at the CFPB and help create a better, fairer, and more transparent system.” “When young people get cheated by student loan companies or for-profit colleges, they should have a partner in the federal government they can trust to get them justice,” said Katie Porter, a longtime consumer protection attorney. “A dedicated Office for Students and Young Consumers will prevent student loan borrowers from being overlooked and will be empowered to act on their behalf to crack down on fraudsters. I’m proud to work with Congresswoman Bonamici on this important legislation to hold bad actors accountable for harming our nation’s young people.” Specifically, the Students and Young Consumers Empowerment Act: Establishes the position of the Assistant Director and Student Loan Borrower Advocate as head of a statutorily mandated Office for Students and Young Consumers (Office) charged with: empowering students, young consumers, and their families to make better informed decisions regarding consumer financial products and services; identifying new risks to consumers and referring cases for enforcement; and making recommendations to Congress about how to protect young consumers; Empowers the Office to work with private and Federal student loan borrowers to resolve complaints against lenders, servicers, and debt collectors; Requires information sharing between the head of the Office and senior officials across the federal government to allow the Office to carry out its duties and effectively protect student loan borrowers; Gives the Office new tools to demand data from industry about risky practices, and requires annual reports about the student loan marketplace, campus banking, and risks to young consumers; and Provides Congress with new tools to hold CFPB accountable for the requirements in this Act. A summary of the legislation can be found here, and the text of the legislation can be found here. It is co-sponsored by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-bentz-lead-water-wildlife-and-fisheries-hearing-examining-biden,"Chairman Bentz to Lead Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Hearing Examining the Biden Administration’s Efforts to Eliminate the Pacific Northwest’s Clean Energy Production.",2023-12-06,2023,2023-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington DC – Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) announced that on Tuesday, December 12th, the Congressional Subcommittee of Natural Resources on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries will hold a hearing on the Biden Administration's destructive, politicized, unfair, and deceptive scheme to ultimately remove the four lower Snake River Dams. The Biden Administration's scheme is a direct attack on clean energy production and navigation in the Northwest. These four dams are essential to energy production, navigation on the Snake River into Idaho, and the Northwest’s agricultural industry. Removing or adjusting their operations to negate power generation and river commerce would be devastating. This hearing will expose this Administration's reckless and destructive policies and give the people most impacted by them an opportunity to be heard. The hearing will feature expert testimony on the economic, environmental, legal, and inequitable impacts that would occur if these dams were removed or operationally destroyed. Witnesses will also discuss the Biden Administration's overreach and abuse of power as shown by its perversion of the court process by use of “sue and settle” tactics. When: December 12th, 2:00 pm ET Where to Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@NaturalResourcesGOP",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-group-house-members-introduces-bill-protect-older-workers-age,Bipartisan Group of House Members Introduces Bill to Protect Older Workers from Age Discrimination,2023-12-04,2023,2023-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Representative Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12), and Representative Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) introduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act(POWADA), a bipartisan proposal to strengthen anti-discrimination protections for older workers. In 2009, the Supreme Court’s decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc. weakened protections against age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Under Gross, plaintiffs seeking to prove age discrimination in employment are required to demonstrate that age was the decisive motivating factor for the employer’s adverse action. POWADA returns the legal standard for age discrimination claims to the pre-2009 evidentiary threshold, aligning the burden of proof with the same standards for proving discrimination based on based on race and national origin. “Discrimination should never be tolerated in the workplace. Yet too often, older workers encounter discrimination on the job or when seeking employment. And when they do, they face barriers to proving their case because workers who experience age discrimination have to meet a higher burden of proof than people claiming discrimination based on race, national origin, or religion. That’s wrong, and it’s time for a remedy. I’m co-leading the bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act to restore protections for older workers and give them the ability to hold employers accountable for age discrimination,”said Ranking Member Bonamici (OR-01). “Everyone—regardless of their age—should be able to go to work every day knowing that they are protected from discrimination. Unfortunately, age discrimination in the workplace is depriving older workers of opportunities and exposing them to long-term unemployment and severe financial hardship. More than a decade ago, the Supreme Court undermined protections for older workers by setting an unreasonable burden of proof for age discrimination claims. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act is a bipartisan bill that would finally restore the legal rights of older workers by ensuring that the burdens of proof in age discrimination claims are treated in the same manner as other discrimination claims,”saidRanking Member Scott (VA-03). “In my mind, the one form of discrimination that is so widespread is age discrimination against older workers. This affects a whole generation of Americans. Countless people aged 50 and up get laid off at a time when they still have mortgages to pay and children to support, and they find it very difficult to find a job. Employers also let go of older individuals as companies look to avoid higher insurance costs. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act is a crucial bipartisan initiative that aims to restore legal safeguards for older workers by ensuring that age discrimination claims receive just as much credibility as other claims of workplace discrimination,”said Grothman (WI-06). “All Americans, regardless of age, should be protected from discrimination in the workplace,”said Congressman Fitzpatrick (PA-01). “Our bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act will ensure that age discrimination claims are subject to an appropriate burden of proof, and I am proud to join my colleagues on this legislation to protect workers.” “We must stand strongly against all forms of discrimination, which includes discrimination against older Americans. Labor law must protect the dignity of all workers and recognize that discrimination against older Americans is discrimination all the same. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) will ensure that older workers will be fairly treated in the job market, returning the legal standard for proving discrimination back to its original intent. Discrimination based on age has no place in our workforce,”said Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12). “In America, we uphold the principle of individuals being judged on their abilities, free from discrimination. Everyone, regardless of their age, deserves that same freedom,”said Congressman Van Drew (NJ-02). “For far too long, older workers have faced barriers to employment. This has not only kept capable individuals out of the workforce but has also forced many into unemployment and hardship. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act to ensure that individuals in South Jersey, and nationwide, have equal opportunities to challenge discrimination, just as younger people do.” POWADAamends four laws—the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. A similar version of the bill was passed in the House with bipartisan support during the 117th Congress. Read the fact sheet for the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act here. Read the section-by-section summary of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:14:16Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-harshbarger-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-telehealth-services-rural,"Salinas, Harshbarger Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Telehealth Services for Rural Americans",2023-11-30,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) introduced the bipartisan Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act, legislation that would expand access to remote mental health and substance use services in rural America, especially for individuals working in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are leading a companion bill in the Senate. “Accessing mental health care shouldn’t require an in-person visit, especially for Americans in rural areas who have to travel long distances to see a provider,” said Rep. Salinas. “Our bipartisan bill would expand telemental health services in rural Oregon, with an emphasis on those working in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. This legislation would save folks time and resources and help more Oregonians get the care they need, when they need it.” “As a community pharmacist for over three decades in one of the country’s most rural Congressional Districts, I understand the challenges patients face in underserved areas,” said Rep. Harshbarger. “By expanding access to telemental health services, this common-sense legislation will help improve patient outcomes.” The Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Rural Health Liaison of the Department of Agriculture, to award grants to entities to establish mental health and substance use services for rural Americans in their homes, particularly those working in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. It would also authorize up to $10 million for each fiscal year through 2027 using current funds. The legislation is endorsed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), NAMI Oregon, National Rural Health Association, Oregon Rural Health Association, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association, and Friends of Family Farmers. “The National Rural Health Association applauds Representatives Salinas and Harshbarger for their introduction of The Home Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2023,” said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association. “This important legislation creates a telemental health demonstration program designed to address specific behavioral health and substance use needs for folks in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. This bill will increase access to behavioral health and substance use services for our most rural and medically underserved populations.” “The Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, as a non-profit trade association with a wide representation of rural and frontier providers, greatly appreciates and supports the Home Based Telemental Health Act of 2023,” said Heather Jefferis, M.A., Executive Director of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health. “This bill will help expand access for communities and individuals who have significant barriers to care, including geographic distance, stigma, and a lack of providers in their community. We extend our gratitude to Congress for their attention to our rural and frontier communities’ needs. Thank you for helping local providers save lives.” ""The Friends of Family Farmers is so grateful to Representatives Salinas and Harshbarger for taking on this effort,"" said Alice Morrison, Co-Director of the Friends of Family Farmers. ""Expanding telemental health options is a vital, tangible way to improve access to mental health services for our farmers, ranchers and others in rural communities. Everyone should have equitable access to care, and this legislation will help make that possible.” To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-quantum-science-bill-passes-committee-moves-closer-becoming-law,"Salinas’ Quantum Science Bill Passes Committee, Moves Closer to Becoming Law",2023-11-29,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Jim Baird (IN-04) passed unanimously out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, introduced last month by Reps. Salinas and Baird, would amend the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act and drastically accelerate quantum research and development in the United States. The legislation now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives. “I am deeply proud that my bipartisan bill, the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, unanimously passed out of committee today.” said Rep. Salinas. “Quantum science has the potential to change lives for the better and vastly improve our communications capabilities. Investing in more research and building a stronger quantum workforce will allow us to fully harness the benefits of these technologies. I am grateful to Congressman Baird and my colleagues on the Committee for their support, and I will continue working to get this legislation to the finish line.” “Leading the world in quantum research will have huge implications for America’s economy and national security,” said Rep. Baird. “This legislation will elevate research facilities nationwide and facilitate cooperation that will supercharge the industry. I’m incredibly excited to have such broad support for this bill in Committee, and I’m confident we will enjoy similar consensus on the House floor.” The Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants to upgrade research facilities and improve access to research resources, such as equipment and instrumentation, to support research and development in quantum information science, technology, and engineering. This bill would also improve coordination to enable better access to these resources among researchers, students, and companies. Finally, it would help the scientific community access the equipment, instrumentation, materials and devices, and other critical services needed to enable cutting-edge research on quantum information science, train the next generation of quantum scientists and workers, and translate research into commercial products and services. The legislation is endorsed by the Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Purdue University, and Indiana University. To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/sullivan-baldwin-bonamici-joyce-lead-legislation-improve-harmful-algal-bloom,"Sullivan, Baldwin, Bonamici & Joyce Lead Legislation to Improve Harmful Algal Bloom Response",2023-11-28,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), have introduced the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act (HABHRCA) of 2023, legislation to reauthorize the HABHRCA of 1998 and to improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia by requiring better coordination among task force agencies, and state and local entities, including Indian tribes. This legislation comes in response to the increasing severity of harmful algal blooms in Alaska, with the 2022 algal bloom in the Bering Strait region being one of the largest and most toxic blooms ever observed nationwide. HABs directly threaten food security and subsistence in Alaska. Additionally, HABs can reduce oxygen levels in the water in events called hypoxia, killing fish and other marine life and harming coastal ecosystems and economies. HABs occur in all 50 states, in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. “Harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events are occurring with increasing frequency, threatening the health of our marine and freshwater ecosystems and communities,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I’m introducing the bipartisan Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act to help people in NW Oregon and across the country better protect against and respond quickly to these disasters.” “As America’s leading seafood producer and home to more coastline than the contiguous Lower 48 states combined, Alaska is particularly vulnerable to harmful algal blooms,” Senator Sullivan said. “Unchecked HABs can threaten our marine life and coastal ecosystems, the livelihoods of our commercial fisheries and coastal communities, and the health and well-being of Alaskans. It is critical that we develop and coordinate effective responses to harmful algal blooms and efficiently monitor the health of our oceans for the sake of coastal communities, especially subsistence communities, and ecosystems across the country.” “Our Great Lakes and abundant fresh waters are among Wisconsin’s most valuable resources, supporting wildlife, our economy, and our way of life. I am proud to be a partner in protecting these critical ecosystems from harmful algal blooms that have the potential to endanger our Made in Wisconsin economy and public health,” said Senator Baldwin. “The critical support provided by this bipartisan legislation ensures that we can monitor algal bloom and hypoxia growth in our fresh waters, while preventing and mitigating their spread. I am proud to lead this legislation with Senator Sullivan to ensure generations to come can enjoy and benefit from the Great Lakes and Wisconsin’s inland waters.” “The shallowest of all the Great Lakes, Lake Erie, is particularly vulnerable to harmful algal blooms, which have plagued the lake for more than 45 years. Any threat to Lake Erie is also a threat to the drinking water supply for 11 million people, our tourism industry, and all the plants and animals that are part of the lake’s ecosystem,” said Congressman Joyce. “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan, bicameral bill to ensure Lake Erie and every state in America is protected from these dangerous threats to our bodies of water.” A copy of the bill, S.3348, can be found here. Background: The original Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA) was passed in 1998 and established an interagency task force to assess the distribution of harmful algal blooms and their impacts on coastal waters and human health. HABHRCA has since been reauthorized three times, through FY 2023, and is currently due for reauthorization. This bill reauthorizes the original 1998 HABHRCA, and improves coordination among state and local entities, as well as Indian tribes, to improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of HABs and hypoxia.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-applaud-43-million-portland-business-contract-support,"Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici Applaud $43 Million Portland Business Contract to Support U.S. Antarctic Program",2023-11-27,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today welcomed the announcement that a Portland manufacturer secured a $43.5 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop equipment for research in the Antarctic. The Portland manufacturer, Gunderson Marine, LLC, will design and build a steel pier barge to support operations at McMurdo Station for the National Science Foundation’s U.S. Antarctic Program. “The Antarctic is one of the least explored regions in the world, and this contract between Gunderson Marine and the National Science Foundation matches a mainstay Portland business with cutting-edge scientific research,” Wyden said. “This good news means jobs locally and groundbreaking research globally.” “From Northwest Portland to the South Pole, this partnership betweenGundersonMarineand the National Science Foundation will boost the local economy and lead to a greater understanding of one of the earth’s final frontiers,” Merkley said. “It’s exciting to see a longtime Oregon business take the helm on this opportunity to further critical research in Antarctica and beyond.” “Oregon manufacturing companies are at the forefront of innovation. This new contract between Gunderson Marine and the National Science Foundation will support research in the Antarctic and advance the development of vessels equipped to handle the extreme conditions of the region,"" Bonamici said. “I had the opportunity to visit Antarctica with the National Science Foundation a number of years ago and know how important this research is to understanding our environment and world.” “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work on this critically important project with great organizations like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Science Foundation. This is only the beginning of Gunderson Marine diversifying into other markets since the rail car operation is no longer operating at the facility,” said Dee Burch, Gunderson Marine President.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/bentz-and-colleagues-demand-transparency-access-secret-package-columbia-river,"Bentz and Colleagues Demand Transparency, Access to Secret Package in Columbia River System Operations Mediation",2023-11-21,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-02) joined Representatives Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), and Russ Fulcher (ID-01) in demanding the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) grant immediate access to the “package of actions and commitments” recently negotiated in the mediation concerning the Columbia River System Operations. On October 31, 2023, the legal stay in the long-running court litigation related to the Columbia River System Operations expired. A 45-day stay extension was approved to allow federal mediation to continue. Shortly thereafter, federal defendants and plaintiffs filed a report to the court regarding the future of the litigation. In the status update report, the document noted the following: ""During the extended stay, representatives from the United States, and staff teams for the National Wildlife Federation et al. Plaintiffs, the State of Oregon, the State of Washington, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe (collectively, “Parties”), have developed a package of actions and commitments that they intend to discuss with the other regional sovereigns and litigation parties and, following conferral, present to the Parties’ decision-makers for final review and approval. If approved, the Parties intend to ask this Court to enter a multi-year stay of the litigation to allow the Parties to implement this package of actions and commitments."" In a letter to Brenda Mallory, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, the lawmakers wrote: ""In addition to expecting the immediate transmittal of the proposed USG commitments, we find it necessary to remind you Congress alone has the authority not only to order the breach of the Lower Snake River Dams, but also exclusive authority to direct the study of breaching or to authorize replacement resources."" ""This is statutory fact, and we warn the administration not to attempt to circumvent that fact through clever wordsmithing."" The letter is supported by stakeholders directly affected by the results of the mediation including TRIDEC, Washington Wheat Association, Public Power Council, and Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. ""The four lower Snake River dams, along with the energy, navigation, and irrigation benefits they provide, are critically important to the Tri-Cities and the entire Pacific Northwest,"" Karl Dye, President & CEO, TRIDEC stated. ""The many stakeholders who stand to be impacted by the outcome of this mediation deserve a seat at the table and to have their voices heard. This is a basic tenet of our system of government, and it is fundamentally unfair for select groups to be left out of the decision-making process on an issue that affects them directly. We sincerely appreciate Representatives Newhouse, McMorris Rodgers, Fulcher, and Bentz for their work to address this concern, and we hope that in the future all impacted parties will have an opportunity to participate."" ""We are appreciative of the efforts of these Representatives, demanding transparency in federal processes that have broad-reaching impacts on stakeholder communities including, the Washington wheat industry,"" said Michelle Hennings, Executive Director, Washington Wheat Association. ""We have said all along that healthy salmon and dams can coexist, but this can only happen through cooperative work and the ability for all stakeholders to come together in a productive way. Lack of clear direction and transparency from the Federal government only hinders the ability of that progress."" Scott Simms, CEO & Executive Director, Public Power Council (PPC) stated, ""the people of the Pacific Northwest have really been let down by this so-called process being run by the Council on Environmental Quality. Our non-profit, community-owned member utilities and their customers were never given a real chance from the get-go, as we just recently learned a few parties in the litigation were working secretly with the federal government for more than six months on a ‘package of actions and commitments.’ We can’t wait for the day when the current confidentiality gag order is lifted on those proposed actions and commitments and everyone gets to see for themselves the level of uncertainty and prospective new costs that are being proposed for Northwest citizens as a result of these secret dealings."" ""We are deeply disappointed in the flawed process that resulted in the creation of the USG Actions and Commitments document, Neil Maunu, Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Waterways Association stated. ""Despite our organization’s extensive efforts to contribute as industry and subject matter experts, our input was overlooked for months while the plaintiffs engaged in secretive negotiations with the Council on Environmental Quality. This failure to consider the expertise and perspective of our members who rely on the critical navigation services provided by the system has left us with grave concerns about the credibility and fairness of the resulting package of actions and commitments. We urge transparency and fairness in this process and call on this administration to do so.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentzs-statement-praising-speaker-johnsons-efforts-avert,Congressman Bentz's Statement Praising Speaker Johnson's Efforts to Avert a Government Shutdown,2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. – This week, Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-02) voted for Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to fund the government and avert a shutdown. “I voted with Speaker Johnson because I support his short-term funding plan which will give us the time we need to keep working on reductions in spending. As the Speaker knows, a shutdown would cause serious hardships to many who work in the military, the TSA, agencies charged with issuing permits, and even agencies who send out government entitlement payments,” said Congressman Bentz. “Additionally, a government shutdown would be damaging to our economy and to our national security. I am fully committed to working with my colleagues to reduce spending while at the same time keeping the government open and operating.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-takano-bowman-hayes-call-divisive-parental-rights-language-be-removed,"Bonamici, Takano, Bowman, Hayes Call for Divisive “Parental Rights” Language to Be Removed from NDAA",2023-11-17,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [11/17/23] – Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Mark Takano (D-CA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) led 23 colleagues in calling for language imposing so-called “parental rights” requirements on public schools run by the Department of Defense to be removed from the proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). “This section would impose burdensome, unnecessary, and redundant requirements on public schools funded and managed by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), an organization within the Department of Defense that provides military connected students and families with access to a high-quality public education,” the Representatives wrote. The Representatives outlined the following reasons for their opposition to Section 651 in the House-passed NDAA, titled, “Rights of parents of children attending schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity”: DoDEA schools have a strong track record of high performance that should be recognized and supported. Effective family-school partnerships are best achieved by a collaborative, complementary relationship between educators, families, and community leaders to advance programs, practices, and policies that empower every parent to make their child’s potential a reality. The final Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) NDAA excluded similar language as the result of a thoughtful bipartisan compromise. In addition to Bonamici, Takano, Bowman, and Hayes the letter was signed by Representatives Norcross, Carbajal, Norton, Grijalva, Wilson (FL), Sablan, Schakowsky, Porter, Williams, Trone, Chu, Adams, and Crockett. The full text of the letter can be read here and below. Earlier this year Bonamici led more than 60 colleagues in introducing the Bill of Rights for Students and Parents, a resolution to advance an inclusive, aspirational, and affirmative vision for public education. Bonamici’s resolution serves as a direct contrast to recent proposals that are unproductive, burdensome, and pit parents against educators. Statements in support of the resolution can be found here. Bonamici also led the Democratic response on the floor of the House of Representatives to H.R.5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-cliff-bentz-statement-israel,Congressman Cliff Bentz Statement on Israel,2023-11-16,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"I have long been a supporter of Israel and its people. The United States has consistently supported Israel, and I am proud to have been a part of that effort. Over the past three years, I have voted for a significant number of bills that help and support Israel. These bills include: H.R. 5323 - Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act 2022 H.Con.Res.57 - Expressing the sense of Congress supporting the State of Israel. H.R.3099 - Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords Act H.Res.771 - Standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists. H.Res.793 - Calling on Hamas to immediately release hostages taken during October 2023 attack on Israel. I believe that supporting Israel is not only the right thing to do, but it is also in America’s national interest. Israel is the only democratic nation in the Middle East, and it shares our values of freedom, democracy, and human rights while being a vital ally. We have a long history of cooperation on a wide range of issues, including security, counterterrorism, and economic development. The recent attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians are horrifying and have no place in a civilized world. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has repeatedly launched attacks against Israeli civilians, and I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. Israel has the right to defend itself, and I stand with Israel. Sadly, there are thousands of innocent victims in both Israel and Gaza who are being impacted by this senseless war started and perpetuated by Hamas and we must do what we can to help them.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentz-releases-statement-secretary-mayorkas-impeachment-vote,Congressman Bentz Releases Statement on Secretary Mayorkas Impeachment Vote,2023-11-14,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"There is no question that Secretary Mayorkas has failed to carry out his duties as cabinet secretary, putting the American people at serious and decades-long risk. His implementation of the Biden border policies has resulted in the worst mass illegal migration into the United States that we have ever experienced. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I have twice had the opportunity to personally question Secretary Mayorkas regarding his failure to protect our country. The bottom line is this: if we actually want to impeach AND convict Secretary Mayorkas, we must proceed correctly, and go through “regular order.” “Regular order” means using the committee process to reach a solution. The United States House of Representatives has the power to impeach, but not the power to convict. Articles of Impeachment are the equivalent of an indictment. To be removed from office, the impeachment resolution, once passed by the House, must be taken up by the Senate, a trial held, and then if there is a two-thirds affirmative vote in the Senate, the person is “convicted” and only then would he be removed from office. The Senate is not obligated to take up articles of impeachment, and I can guarantee you that the current Senate would never take up a resolution that had not gone through committee (regular order). This failure to follow “regular order” is one of the reasons that the second Trump impeachment was flawed, and a reason, among others, that many of us used to justify our votes objecting to that impeachment effort. Mayorkas is currently the focus of an impeachment inquiry in our Republican Homeland Security Oversight Committee, and we are told that this committee will act soon. (This is the committee to which the resolution was referred). I will continue to do all that I can to hold Secretary Mayorkas responsible for his absolute failure to protect the American People. I will support conducting the impeachment process in a manner that maximizes our opportunity to have Mayorkas face trial in the Senate and prevents the Democrats from arguing that we failed to follow the Constitution, failed to follow regular order, and failed to properly develop the facts.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-cuellar-norcross-dingell-propose-child-care-stipends-union,"Bonamici, Cuellar, Norcross, Dingell Propose Child Care Stipends for Union Apprenticeship Programs",2023-11-14,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – In recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), Donald Norcross (NJ-1), and Debbie Dingell (MI-6) introduced the Apprentice-Related Child Care (ARCC) Act. The bill would establish a child care stipend pilot program available to Americans enrolled in Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeship programs. The legislation is endorsed by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), United Association of Union Plumbers & Pipefitters (UA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA) & Third Way. “Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships put workers on a path to quality, good-paying jobs that will support their family for years to come,” said Representative Bonamici. “Increasing access to child care will encourage a more diverse workforce and foster inclusive economic growth by allowing more people to benefit from these programs while caring for their families. I’m pleased to introduce the Apprenticeship-Related Child Care Act with my colleagues to make child care more affordable for apprentices and pre-apprentices and open the doors to opportunity.” “I’ve seen the benefits of the Registered Apprenticeship system first-hand in South Texas, where our local unions sponsor multi-year programs in a variety of trades,” said Dr. Cuellar. “Despite these successes, apprentices still face financial barriers to completion – particularly those with dependent children. The cost of child care has more than tripled in the last three decades. It’s essential that we do more to address these costs and support American workers.” “America will never reach peak workforce participation unless we as a country address the urgent and escalating issue of child care. It touches every office, business, and job site in the United States,” said Sean McGarvey, President of North America’s Building Trades Unions. “The lack of access to safe, quality, affordable child care prevents parents from being in the workforce, hurts our economy, and hurts families. All of us must do more. The building trades unions and our partners are stepping up to do our part, and we applaud those who are focused on exploring strategies to provide additional support. The Apprentice-Related Child Care (ARCC) Act does just this, and we thank Representatives Cuellar, Bonamici, Norcross, and Dingell for their leadership on this issue.” “Union apprenticeships are the best tool we have to lift Americans into the middle class. But far too often, historically underrepresented communities run into obstacles that prevent them from accessing the careers that we provide – one of the most prominent being affordable child care,” said Michael Coleman, General President of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART). “The Apprentice-Related Child Care Act would play a vital role in helping parents surmount that financial barrier, making it easier for unions like SMART to bring people of all backgrounds into our industries. This is a potentially life-changing piece of legislation for workers across the country, and we thank Representatives Cuellar, Bonamici, Norcross, and Dingell for introducing it.” “When someone thinks of the building trades, they think of workers who build things, but we are also people who like to break down barriers,” said Kevin Sexton, the General President of the Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International Association of the United States and Canada (OPCMIA). “Today, one of the biggest barriers to entering the workforce is the high cost of childcare. By providing childcare stipends, the Apprentice-Related Child Care (ARCC) Act will help parents pursue careers that will enable them to better provide for their families. We thank Representatives Cuellar, Bonamici, Norcross, and Dingell for introducing the ARCC Act and their leadership by supporting parents in their pursuit of the American dream. Together, we will pave the road to the middle class.” “The burdensome cost of child care prevents too many parents, especially mothers, from reaping the benefits of our country’s apprenticeship system,” said Gabe Horwitz, Senior Vice President of the Economic Program at Third Way. “This legislation takes an important step in making our apprenticeship system reach more parents and have the support they need to balance the demands of work and family.” “As a former electrical apprentice, I know firsthand that registered apprenticeships are one of America’s most successful job programs,” said Representative Norcross. “The ARCC Act will expand access to apprenticeships and remove barriers to these highly successful programs by providing affordable childcare for hardworking Americans who are working to support their families. I am committed to making sure that all apprentices have the resources and opportunities they need to complete their programs, and I am proud to co-lead this bill that will strengthen America's workforce and expand pathways to the middle class."" “Caregiving is the foundation of our economy and allows all other work to be possible,” said Representative Dingell. “The ARCC Act will help address the childcare crisis in this country, allowing Americans who would otherwise not be able to access apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships that lead to good-paying, high-value careers.” The ARCC Act would establish a two-year pilot program at the Department of Labor (DOL). Authorized at $200 million over Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, the bill directs the DOL to establish a competitive grant program, awarding grants to ten geographically diverse states for the purposes of administering child care stipends to American workers enrolled in Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeship programs. Stipends are paid directly to child care providers serving apprentices and must be at least $500 per month, per dependent child. When administering child care stipends, states must include groups that are historically underrepresented in apprenticeships, including women and people of color. At the conclusion of the pilot program, DOL must report to Congress on the impact of these stipends, including any effect on persistence and completion rates. The stipends are not subject to income tax and not counted toward eligibility for public benefit programs. For more information on the ARCC Act, click here. To read the ARCC Act’s bill text, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-wyden-crapo-valadao-slotkin-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-boost,"Bonamici, Wyden, Crapo, Valadao, Slotkin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Exports of Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts and Other Specialty Crops",2023-11-14,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., David Valadao, R-Calif., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich, along with Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, introduced legislation today to help farmers fight through trade barriers and sell more fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops in foreign markets. The Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act (Specialty CROP Act), responds to continued high tariffs, burdensome labeling requirements, and other trade barriers that restrict U.S. products from accessing foreign markets, threatening rural communities and agricultural producers who depend on customers overseas. “Oregon is world famous for our specialty crops, and products like blueberries and hazelnuts make up a significant portion of our state's export economy. Unfortunately, growers face many barriers to foreign markets, which limit their competitiveness,” Bonamici said. “The Specialty CROP Act will improve the USDA’s existing specialty crops trade report to better translate its findings into meaningful action and policy. I’m pleased to introduce this important bipartisan legislation with Senator Wyden and several colleagues in the House and Senate.” “The world is hungry for grown-in-the-U.S. blueberries, potatoes, wine and other produce. But all too often our farmers and producers are stymied by unreasonable blockades in foreign markets,” Wyden said. “Our bipartisan bill will help rural Americans by identifying unfair foreign trade barriers and creating specific plans to cut through that red tape.” “From high tariffs to onerous labeling requirements, America’s specialty crop growers face a range of barriers imposed by foreign nations that hinder their ability to export their high-quality products around the world,” Crapo said. Improving the USDA’s Specialty Crop Report will arm producers and trade negotiators with detailed and up-to-date information, helping break down longstanding trade barriers, diversify export markets and expand export opportunities for Idaho’s specialty crop producers.” “Specialty crop producers in California have faced many challenges over the last few years – from supply chain backlogs at our ports, rising input costs, labor shortages, and drought,” said Valadao. “Many of our California-grown specialty crops rely on customers overseas, but too often face unfair trade barriers that make it difficult to stay competitive. This bill will better identify trade obstacles so that American-grown specialty crops have fair access to foreign markets.” “Specialty crops – fruits, vegetables, nuts, and more – are vital to Michigan’s economy and to the livelihoods of the farmers that grow them,” said Slotkin. “That’s why I’m co-leading the Specialty CROP Act. This bipartisan bill will help growers access foreign markets, while also analyzing potential barriers to success – a straightforward, common-sense step that will support our agriculture community.” The legislation will help farmers by making key improvements to the annual U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report, in order to more effectively identify and combat unreasonable trade barriers, including to: Explicitly require participation and engagement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR); Highlight specific trade barriers that limit the export competitiveness of specialty crops in specific markets, including tariff and non-tariff barriers; Include an assessment of whether each trade barrier is subject to a U.S. FTA or international agreement; Include specific information with respect to actions taken, or expected to be taken, by the U.S. government to address or resolve each trade barrier; and Require a request for comment from both the public and the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables. Require the report to be made public, while allowing for a classified annex in order to protect U.S. national security and economic strategy. Continue to define “specialty crop” as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” Statements of Support “U.S. specialty crops are increasingly challenged in foreign markets by creative protectionist tariff and non-tariff barriers. The legislation championed by Senators Wyden and Crapo seeks to call out and identify remedies for these impediments as a first step in eliminating them on behalf of U.S. family farmers. We strongly support this commonsense effort to level the playing field,” said Kam Quarles, Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Co-chair and National Potato Council CEO. “Maintaining and expanding access to overseas markets is critical for apple, cherry, and pear growers in the Pacific Northwest. The legislation introduced by Senators Wyden and Crapo will help us understand the trade barriers in export markets and identify solutions to ensure growers remain competitive around the world,” said Mark Powers, President, Northwest Horticultural Council. ""The North American Blueberry Council applauds Senators Wyden and Crapo for introducing the ‘Expanding Agricultural Exports Act.’ The global demand for blueberries continues to increase year-over-year. However, technical barriers and high tariff rates put U.S. blueberry producers at a competitive disadvantage in key export markets. This bill will not only help identify specific barriers affecting specialty crops, but also encourage productive engagement between the industry, Administration, and Congress on real solutions that will drive the growth of U.S. specialty crop exports,” said Kasey Cronquist, President, North American Blueberry Council. Read the text of the legislation here. Read a one-page summary of the bill here. A web version of this release is here. The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Susan Collins, R-Maine.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-announces-winner-oregon-first-districts-2023-congressional-app,Bonamici Announces Winner of Oregon First District’s 2023 Congressional App Challenge,2023-11-13,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/13/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici announced that Aashna Nanal, a senior at Westview High School, won the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Oregon’s First Congressional District. Her app, AP Course Picker, helps high school students navigate the selection of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. After gathering information about the user’s interests, strengths, and goals through a series of questions, AP Course Picker generates a plan with recommended AP classes for each school year. The app is intended for incoming freshmen who are interested in planning their AP course load over their time in high school. “Congratulations to Aashna for winning the 2023 Congressional App Challenge,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Aashna’s app is an innovative resource for students who attend high schools that offer AP classes. I wish Aashna well in her final year of high school, and I’m excited to see what she accomplishes next.” “A lot of incoming freshmen in high school can be overwhelmed by the amount of AP classes offered as well as the progression of the courses,” said Aashna Nanal. “Considering that AP classes can put students at a great advantage for college, it is very important that all students have accessible information and guidance about AP classes. The purpose of this app is to help high school students navigate choosing Advancement Placement courses by gathering information about their interests, strengths and goals to generate a four year AP course plan for the student.” You can view a video presentation of the app here. Judges gave an honorable mention to Lance Skarada for his app, Summit SAT: Math Made Easy. The app aims to make SAT math learning accessible and easy to understand. The app includes a custom study plan, formulas likely to appear on the SAT, tests, and flashcards. Skarada is a senior at West Salem High School and lives in the First Congressional District. You can view a video presentation of Summit SAT: Math Made Easy here. Expert judges from Northwest Oregon selected the winning app. The judges evaluated submissions for creativity, originality, user experience, and design. The two judges are: Cyreena Boston Ashby, CEO, Girls Inc. Hazel Valdez, Executive Director, PDX Women in Tech (PDXWIT) Bonamici joined participants from Oregon's First District at a virtual reception where the winning app, AP Course Picker, was announced. The app will be featured in the U.S. Capitol Building and on the House of Representatives website. Bonamici is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, which advocates for the integration of the arts and design into science, technology, engineering, and math education to encourage creative thinking and engage more students. By supporting and recognizing young coders, Congress is acknowledging the importance of these fields. The U.S. House of Representatives organizes the nationwide Congressional App Challenge each year.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-cortez-masto-introduce-bicameral-bill-support-affordable-manufactured,"Bonamici, Cortez Masto Introduce Bicameral Bill to Support Affordable Manufactured Housing Communities",2023-11-09,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced bicameral legislation with Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01) to help preserve and revitalize manufactured housing communities. “We have a severe shortage of housing across the country, and it’s important to maintain and preserve the affordable options we have. Manufactured homes are often more affordable than other housing, but many manufactured housing communities do not have funds to upgrade and repair basic infrastructure such as water and sewer systems, and homeowners typically do not own the land beneath their homes,” said Representative Bonamici. “I’m pleased to work with Senators Cortez Masto and Shaheen to introduce the PRICE Act, which will make the PRICE grant program permanent and protect a crucial source of funding for preserving manufactured housing.” “Manufactured homes are critical for many families, and my legislation would help communities keep lot rents affordable and make vital infrastructure improvements,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’ll keep working with my colleagues to address the affordable housing crisis and keep families in their homes.” “Granite State families shouldn’t have to worry about losing the roof over their heads, but unfortunately, that’s a reality that many face every day,” said Senator Shaheen. “New Hampshire has more than 140 resident-owned manufactured housing communities (ROCs), and this crucial legislation would provide resources to those manufactured housing communities to make much-needed water and infrastructure upgrades and will keep working class families in affordable homes.” “The housing crisis is impacting communities all across the country,” said Senator Smith. “Manufactured housing is a key solution to this problem and a vital source of affordable housing all over Minnesota,” said Senator Smith. “We need to be doing everything we can to preserve and improve housing security and affordability, and that includes supporting manufactured housing. This bill would help preserve these affordable housing options for residents and owners for years to come, particularly in rural and tribal areas.” “Everywhere I go in Montana, from Billings to Missoula to Polson, I hear about the need to tackle the lack of affordable housing in our state,” said Senator Tester. “As a third-generation Montanan who is fortunate enough to live on the same plot of land my grandparents homesteaded over 100 years ago, making sure that folks can afford to live in the community they grew up in is personal. Our commonsense legislation will help preserve the supply of affordable housing across our state and revitalize units badly in need of repairs, and I’ll keep fighting until it becomes law.” “U.S. Sens. Cortez Masto and Shaheen and U.S. Rep. Bonamici have heard the voices of low-income homeowners in ‘mobile’ home communities,” said Resident Owned Communities (ROC) USA® President Paul Bradley. “These are the stories of hardworking families and retirees who simply want to live in resilient and healthy communities, which is something that most Americans take for granted thanks to public investment.” “Network for Oregon Affordable Housing strongly supports the PRICE program and the resources it will bring to states and local communities across the country,” said Bill VanVliet, Executive Director, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH). “Manufactured housing is America’s largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing. The Price program will help preserve and improve existing manufactured housing communities and help create new affordable housing at a cost far below conventionally built housing. Democrats created the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) grant program in 2022 to help preserve and revitalize manufactured housing in eligible communities. This legislation would make the PRICE program permanent, providing funding for home improvements and neighborhood upgrades for thousands of Americans each year.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-bill-amend-grand-ronde-reservation-act,House Passes Bill to Amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act,2023-11-09,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – On Wednesday, November 8, the House passed legislation that amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to restore the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s right to pursue land claims and compensation. The legislation is co-led by U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas(OR-06) andU.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), as well as U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). It now heads to the Senate for further consideration. “It is fitting that during Native American Heritage Month we have moved a step further toward restoring a vital right held by members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde,” said Rep. Bonamici. “The passage of the Grand Ronde Reservation Act amendment in the House brings us closer to correcting historic wrongs, and I hope the Senate brings this needed legislation up for a vote soon.” “Oregon’s Indigenous peoples, including the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, have faced countless injustices at the hands of our government. Today, we took a historic step toward righting the wrongs of the past,” said Rep. Salinas. “I am very proud that my first bill to pass the House of Representatives would restore Grand Ronde’s ability to pursue land claims and compensation—a right already enjoyed by the rest of Oregon’s federally recognized tribes. I am hopeful that the Senate will swiftly pass this bill and send it to President Biden for his signature. In the meantime, I am grateful for the continued support of Senator Merkley, my Oregon colleagues, and the many stakeholders who helped create the momentum we needed to make this legislation a reality.” “Nearly three decades ago, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde sought to fix a historical surveying error within their reservation boundary, only for the federal government to make another error that relinquished the Tribe’s rights to future land claims and compensation. This is just plain wrong,” said Sen. Merkley. “I am thrilled the House passed the legislation I’ve been championing for years, which is a critical step forward in the Grand Ronde’s fight to restore its right to pursue land claims in Oregon—rights already available to other federally-recognized Tribes in Oregon. I will keep pressing for the Senate to do the same, so Congress can finally correct this historic injustice for the Grand Ronde.” “For generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have been working to restore its people’s rights on ancestral lands,” said Sen. Wyden. “This necessary bill is a critical step in correcting past injustices while protecting the rights of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the terms of the land exchange that it negotiated in good faith free from unfair legal restrictions.” “Today is a monumental day. We are grateful that the United States House of Representatives has helped pass legislation for the Grand Ronde Tribe that will help right a historic wrong,” said Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “Words cannot express what this means to us and the gratitude that we have for Senator Merkley and to Representative Salinas, who championed this legislation from the beginning.” “The federal government has a legal and moral obligation to correct the historic wrongs unleashed on Indigenous communities for centuries,” said Rep. Blumenauer. “That includes restoring the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde’s right to pursue land claims and revise surveying errors like the Thompson Strip. I’m delighted that this critically overdue legislation will see to that.” “I’m proud to stand with the Oregon delegation in supporting this legislation to right a wrong, and I’m thrilled that it has passed the House,” said Rep. Hoyle. “This bill is not just a technical fix—it's a step towards justice for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde by restoring their right to pursue land claims and compensation, which should not have been taken from them. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation as well so that it can be signed into law."" “The Grand Ronde tribe shouldn’t face barriers that don’t apply to other tribes, and that’s why I’m honored to join my Oregon colleagues in support of amending the Grand Ronde Reservation Act,” said Rep. Chavez-DeRemer. “I’ll continue working with my colleagues and the Grand Ronde tribe to get this needed fix signed into law.” Salinas and Merkley’s bill to fix the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would correct a drafting error in a 1994 legislative amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which authorized a land exchange requiring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to compensate the Grand Ronde Tribe for an 84-acre survey error by the federal government. The survey error occurred around 1871 and was not discovered by the Bureau of Land Management until 1988. In 1994, in pursuing federal legislation to rectify the error, an amendment was made to the bill at the time that further prohibited the Tribe from making any additional land claims if new errors were ever discovered. Salinas and Merkley’s bill will end this inequitable restriction on the Tribe so that they may pursue recourse if additional survey errors are found. Currently, no other tribe in the State of Oregon is bound by this type of legal restriction and removing it will restore equity to the Grand Ronde Tribe. In case additional survey errors are discovered, this bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would replace the phrase “lands within the State of Oregon” with the phrase “the 84 acres known as the Thompson Strip,” clarifying that they are only prohibited from making additional land claims to the area known as the Thompson Strip. To read the full bill text, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-merkley-bill-amend-grand-ronde-reservation-act-passes-house,"Salinas, Merkley Bill to Amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act Passes House",2023-11-09,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – On Wednesday, November 8, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas(OR-06) successfully passed her first piece of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Salinas in March, amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to restore the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s right to pursue land claims and compensation. The legislation is co-led by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), as well as U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). It now heads to the Senate for further consideration. “Oregon’s Indigenous peoples, including the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, have faced countless injustices at the hands of our government. Today, we took a historic step toward righting the wrongs of the past,” said Rep. Salinas. “I am very proud that my first bill to pass the House of Representatives would restore Grand Ronde’s ability to pursue land claims and compensation—a right already enjoyed by the rest of Oregon’s federally recognized tribes. I am hopeful that the Senate will swiftly pass this bill and send it to President Biden for his signature. In the meantime, I am grateful for the continued support of Senator Merkley, my Oregon colleagues, and the many stakeholders who helped create the momentum we needed to make this legislation a reality.” “Nearly three decades ago, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde sought to fix a historical surveying error within their reservation boundary, only for the federal government to make another error that relinquished the Tribe’s rights to future land claims and compensation. This is just plain wrong,” said Sen. Merkley. “I am thrilled the House passed the legislation I’ve been championing for years, which is a critical step forward in the Grand Ronde’s fight to restore its right to pursue land claims in Oregon—rights already available to other federally-recognized Tribes in Oregon. I will keep pressing for the Senate to do the same, so Congress can finally correct this historic injustice for the Grand Ronde.” “For generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have been working to restore its people’s rights on ancestral lands,” said Sen. Wyden. “This necessary bill is a critical step in correcting past injustices while protecting the rights of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the terms of the land exchange that it negotiated in good faith free from unfair legal restrictions."" “Today is a monumental day. We are grateful that the United States House of Representatives has helped pass legislation for the Grand Ronde Tribe that will help right a historic wrong,” said Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “Words cannot express what this means to us and the gratitude that we have for Senator Merkley and to Representative Salinas, who championed this legislation from the beginning.” “It is fitting that during Native American Heritage Month we have moved a step further toward restoring a vital right held by members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde,” said Rep. Bonamici. “The passage of the Grand Ronde Reservation Act amendment in the House brings us closer to correcting historic wrongs, and I hope the Senate brings this needed legislation up for a vote soon.” “The federal government has a legal and moral obligation to correct the historic wrongs unleashed on Indigenous communities for centuries,” said Rep. Blumenauer. “That includes restoring the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde’s right to pursue land claims and revise surveying errors like the Thompson Strip. I’m delighted that this critically overdue legislation will see to that.” “I’m proud to stand with the Oregon delegation in supporting this legislation to right a wrong, and I’m thrilled that it has passed the House,” said Rep. Hoyle. “This bill is not just a technical fix—it's a step towards justice for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde by restoring their right to pursue land claims and compensation, which should not have been taken from them. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation as well so that it can be signed into law."" “The Grand Ronde tribe shouldn’t face barriers that don’t apply to other tribes, and that’s why I’m honored to join my Oregon colleagues in support of amending the Grand Ronde Reservation Act,” said Rep. Chavez-DeRemer. “I’ll continue working with my colleagues and the Grand Ronde tribe to get this needed fix signed into law.” Salinas and Merkley’s bill to fix the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would correct a drafting error in a 1994 legislative amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which authorized a land exchange requiring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to compensate the Grand Ronde Tribe for an 84-acre survey error by the federal government. The survey error occurred around 1871 and was not discovered by the Bureau of Land Management until 1988. In 1994, in pursuing federal legislation to rectify the error, an amendment was made to the bill at the time that further prohibited the Tribe from making any additional land claims if new errors were ever discovered. Salinas and Merkley’s bill will end this inequitable restriction on the Tribe so that they may pursue recourse if additional survey errors are found. Currently, no other tribe in the State of Oregon is bound by this type of legal restriction and removing it will restore equity to the Grand Ronde Tribe. In case additional survey errors are discovered, this bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would replace the phrase “lands within the State of Oregon” with the phrase “the 84 acres known as the Thompson Strip,” clarifying that they are only prohibited from making additional land claims to the area known as the Thompson Strip.To read the full bill text, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/chairman-bentz-and-chairman-massie-send-letter-environmental-quality-chair,Chairman Bentz and Chairman Massie Send Letter to Environmental Quality Chair Demanding Answers on Lower Snake River Dams Interference,2023-11-08,2023,2023-11,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C. – Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Committee on the Judiciary, Thomas Massie (KY-04) joined Chairman of the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee, Cliff Bentz (OR-02) in sending a letter to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chair Brenda Mallory requesting documents related to the CEQ's role in mediation and settlement discussions regarding the Lower Snake River Dams. The letter expresses concern that the CEQ has exceeded its authority by actively participating in these discussions, favoring certain parties, and potentially violating the Administrative Procedure Act. “The Council on Environmental Quality appears to have dramatically overstepped its authority by interfering in ongoing litigation concerning operation of the Snake River Dams,” said Congressman Bentz. “The CEQ is supposed to act as an advisory board to Federal agencies concerning process and not policy. Instead, it has become the environmental arm of the Biden Administration. This interference is a misuse of the CEQ’s time and resources, extending far beyond its original mandate.” Read the letter here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-bipartisan-bill-lower-costs-cancer-patients,Bonamici Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Lower Costs for Cancer Patients,2023-11-08,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Cancer Drug Parity Act. This bill lowers costs for cancer patients prescribed oral medications by requiring that health insurers provide coverage for oral cancer treatments that is equivalent to conventional intravenous (IV) treatments. Every year, approximately two million Americans are projected to receive a cancer diagnosis. For cancer patients, oral cancer treatments have proven to be a game-changer because they can be administered in the patient’s own home and are overall less intrusive than IV treatments. Despite their proven success and reliability, oral medications have proved costly for patients. A study of patients prescribed oral cancer medications found that one in eight faced copayments of $2,000 or more for their first prescription. “Oral cancer treatments are an effective option for many patients and can allow for care at home and better disease management,” said Bonamici. “Unlike traditional IV treatments, oral chemotherapy is typically not covered by health insurance plans, leading to high costs and unaffordable co-payments for patients. I’m glad to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act to level the playing field for cancer patients and expand access to lifechanging cancer treatments.” “Every American deserves the most effective cancer treatments available at the most affordable cost,” said Grothman. “As oral medications increase in popularity among cancer patients, we cannot allow outdated health insurance plans to prevent patients from opting for their preferred method of treatment. “I am glad both sides of the aisle have come together to lower costs for patients taking oral medications. Increased access to treatment, along with parity in the cancer drug marketplace, will improve patients’ well-being and help save lives.” ""Cancer patients should have access to whichever treatment gives them the best chance to fully recover. Technological advancements are improving patient outcomes while minimizing side effects. Patients deserve to benefit from these advancements. This important bill addresses this problem and enables patients to keep their primary focus on getting well,"" said Bilirakis. “It is expected that two million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2023 alone,” said Fitzpatrick. “I am proud to join my colleagues in leading the bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act to expand parity protections for cancer patients who previously could not afford these lifesaving treatments.” “The Cancer Drug Parity Act is a crucial step in ensuring health insurance coverage evolves alongside the remarkable advancements in cancer treatment,” said Morelle. “By bridging the gap between outdated technology and cutting-edge therapies, this act empowers patients to access the best care available. I’m grateful to my colleagues for joining me in prioritizing the well-being of individuals battling cancer—offering hope and relief when they need it most.” “A cancer diagnosis is tough on any family and patients deserve to focus on receiving the best treatments without worrying about the cost,” said Higgins. “As Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting the bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act. Advancements in cancer care, like oral treatments, shouldn’t place a greater financial burden on patients and families. Together we are making cancer care more affordable, accessible, and manageable, which will ultimately save lives.” “As oral cancer medications continue to increase in number, affordable access to these less intrusive treatments is crucial to ensure the best possible care,” said Matsui. “Families and patients battling cancer should never have to forgo treatment or necessary care because of crippling costs. The bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act would end the disparity in coverage for oral treatments – putting power back in the hands of patients and providers to determine the best path to recovery.” “As leaders of the Coalition to Improve Access to Cancer Care (CIACC), the International Myeloma Foundation proudly endorses the Cancer Drug Parity Act. This crucial piece of legislation would mark a significant stride towards increased access to life-saving treatments, particularly for patients reliant on orally administered anticancer treatments. By eliminating financial barriers, this act empowers individuals battling cancer and their healthcare providers to make informed treatment decisions without undue financial strain. It is imperative that we prioritize affordability and equal access to all forms of anticancer treatments chemotherapy, and the Cancer Drug Parity Act is a pivotal step towards achieving this goal,” said the International Myeloma Foundation. “We’re thankful to Congressman Grothman for spearheading lifesaving policy that, for many patients, would equalize out-of-pocket costs for cancer drugs, whether they’re taken orally or delivered intravenously,” said Lisa Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “Many new chemotherapies such as those in pill form can be easier to tolerate for patients and allow many to have a better quality of life. Ensuring health insurance plans cover cancer treatment at an affordable cost, regardless of how it’s administered, is key to ensuring access to the most innovative therapies for patients across the country.” Background Information Oral chemotherapy is becoming more common for many types of cancer, however, health insurance coverage for different types of cancer treatments is not uniform. Under current law, traditional IV/injectable treatments are routinely covered under the medical benefit component of a health insurance plan, while orally administered anti-cancer medications are generally covered under the prescription drug component, which often results in a considerable disparity in cost and leaving patients responsible for paying high and often unaffordable copays. This legislation accounts for the advancements in oral cancer treatments by prohibiting insurance companies from imposing pricier copayments on cancer patients compared to IV treatments. More than 40 states and the District of Columbia have enacted “oral parity” laws, which prevent health plans from creating separate cost-sharing requirements for oral versus IV cancer medicines. These laws have made a significant difference for those suffering from cancer. For example, an analysis of health plan claims from 2008 to 2017 found that the proportion of multiple myeloma patients initially charged $0 for oral medications nearly quintupled, rising from 11 percent to 49 percent, with the enactment of oral parity laws. The Cancer Drug Parity Act will build on the success of state-level efforts to cancer patients whose health insurance is regulated at the federal level. The key provisions of the legislation include: · Expanding oral parity protections to privately-insured patients under federal regulation. · Preventing insurers from covering oral and self-administered medicines at different cost-sharing rates than IV chemotherapy. · Implementing these requirements for health plans that already cover both oral and IV chemotherapy treatments.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-kaine-lead-colleagues-pushing-renew-expired-funding-child-care,"Bonamici, Kaine Lead Colleagues in Pushing to Renew Expired Funding for Child Care",2023-11-08,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bob Casey (D-PA), along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), led a bicameral group of their colleagues in urging congressional leadership to renew expired funding for child care in any supplemental funding package. Funding the lawmakers passed in the American Rescue Plan Act to allow parents to afford child care and keep their jobs during COVID expired in September, but the child care crisis continues. Without this funding, many child care providers are struggling with how they’re going to continue to operate and serve families. The lawmakers’ letter comes after President Biden’s supplemental funding request to Congress included $16 billion to address the child care crisis, which the members called forin August. “We write today to urge you to include robust funding for child care in any supplemental funding package considered by the Appropriations Committee. Child care is unaffordable and hard to find for working families, and child care providers across the country are struggling to stay afloat,” wrote the lawmakers. “The child care workforce has been one of the slowest sectors to recover from the pandemic, and wages for this critical workforce remain unacceptably low, further fueling the shortage of available child care options for families,” the members continued. “Families and child care providers are feeling increasingly squeezed following the expiration of COVID-19 relief funding for child care, as child care providers scramble to fill the gap in resources previously filled by federal funds.” The lawmakers wrote, “It is essential that as supplemental funding to meet emergency needs is considered, Congress take action to address the child care crisis. We have an urgent need to further stabilize an industry that has been long underfunded, and Congress must provide robust funding for this sector through a supplemental package.” Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has been pushing to expand access to child care. Kaine has introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act, legislation that would expand access to child care, raise wages for providers, and lower costs for families by ensuring no family pays more than 7% of their income on child care. He has introduced the Child Care Stabilization Actto expand vital child care funding to help providers keep their doors open. He has also introduced bipartisan legislation to develop, administer, and evaluate early childhood education apprenticeships. In addition to Kaine, Smith, Warren, Sanders, and Casey, the Senate letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). In addition to Bonamici, Jacobs, Sherill, and Castro the House letter was signed by Alma Adams (D-NC), Colin Allred (D-TX), Becca Balint (D-VT), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Cori Bush (D-MO), Yadira Caraveo, Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Troy Carter (D-LA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Jose Luis Correa (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Danny Davis (D-IL), Donald Davis (D-NC), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), James Himes (D-CT), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA) Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), William Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Daniel Kildee (D-MI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ann Kuster (D-NH), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Matsui, Doris; McBath, Lucy; McClellan, Jennifer; McCollum, Betty; McGarvey, Morgan; McGovern, James; Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Scott Peters (D-CA), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Katie Porter (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Patrick Ryan (D-NY), Gregoria Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Mark Takano (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Norma Torres (D-CA), Ritchie Torres (D-CA), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Trone (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), Susan Wild (D-PA), Nikema Williams (D-GA), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL). The letter is endorsed by All Our Kin; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy; Caring Across Generations; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Child Care for Every Family Network; Children’s Institute; Community Change Action; Early Care & Education Consortium (ECEC); Family Values @ Work; First Focus Campaign for Children; House Democratic Women’s Caucus; Mom Congress; Moms First; MomsRising; National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC); National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); National Education Association (NEA); National Women’s Law Center (NWLC); Oxfam America; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Small Business Majority; YWCA USA; and ZERO TO THREE. A copy of the Senate letter is available here. A copy of the House letter is available here. Full text of the letter is available below: Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Chair Murray, and Vice Chair Collins: We write today to urge you to include robust funding for child care in any supplemental funding package considered by the Appropriations Committee. Child care is unaffordable and hard to find for working families, and child care providers across the country are struggling to stay afloat. We are extremely concerned that this crisis will continue to worsen following the expiration of the Child Care Stabilization Grants provided under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), vital funding that sustained an estimated 220,000 child care providers, saved an estimated 9.6 million child care slots, and maintained more than 1 million child care jobs. President Biden acknowledged this urgent issue by requesting significant funding for child care in his domestic supplemental appropriations request to Congress. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress took important steps to protect the child care industry from collapse by delivering historic funding in the economic relief packages passed. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) with $3.5 billion, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act provided $10 billion in dedicated relief, and ARPA provided $15 billion for CCDBG and $24 billion for the stabilization grants. On September 30, 2023, the majority of this vital funding expired. Prior to the pandemic, the child care system was already in a crisis. In 2018, over 50 percent of counties in the United States were considered a child care desert – an area in which the demand for child care is far more than the supply. The broken child care market has resulted in an impossible tension between families, workers, and providers: child care providers cannot afford to run their businesses or pay adequate wages to their staff using revenue from parents alone, while child care costs are unaffordable and unsustainable for working families. For years, the situation has been far worse for families with low incomes, families of color, and families seeking infant and toddler care, care for children with disabilities, and care during non-traditional hours. The child care workforce has been one of the slowest sectors to recover from the pandemic, and wages for this critical workforce remain unacceptably low, further fueling the shortage of available child care options for families. As of September 2023, the child care industry was missing more than 38,400 workers compared to pre-pandemic levels, and at the rate that child care jobs have been regained in 2023 so far, it could take almost 12 months—until September 2024—for the child care sector to recover pandemic-related job losses. This threatens America’s economic stability and competitiveness. It is estimated that the lack of child care costs our economy $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue annually. Families and child care providers are feeling increasingly squeezed following the expiration of COVID-19 relief funding for child care, as child care providers scramble to fill the gap in resources previously filled by federal funds. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that child care prices increased 1.7% in September 2023, while the Consumer Price Index for all items rose by only 0.2% over the same period. Child care providers in communities across the country are at risk of closure. Already, local news outlets are sharing stories about communities losing child care providers as 43 in Kansas and seven programs serving 300 children in North Carolina have closed following the loss of pandemic-era funding and supports. Due to your continued support, the fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations process yielded a total of $8 billion for CCDBG, which represented a 30 percent increase from FY 2022 funding. We also appreciate that you were able to provide a $700 million increase for CCDBG in the Senate’s proposed FY 2024 spending bill. However, we understand that you are limited on discretionary spending with the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act in June. So, it is essential that as supplemental funding to meet emergency needs is considered, Congress take action to address the child care crisis. We have an urgent need to further stabilize an industry that has been long underfunded, and Congress must provide robust funding for this sector through a supplemental package. The child care stabilization relief funds provided a much-needed lifeline to the child care industry, but it is crucial that, at minimum, we sustain that level of investment to ensure the industry’s survival and prevent a new emergency. Our providers, workers, children, and families need your help. We urge you to utilize every possible tool to provide a robust investment to address the growing child care crisis. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-committee-advances-bonamici-legislation-improve-tsunami-warnings-address,"House Committee Advances Bonamici Legislation to Improve Tsunami Warnings, Address Harmful Algal Blooms",2023-11-08,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [11/8/23] – Today the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology approved legislation led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to improve tsunami warning systems and address harmful algal blooms. The Committee advanced the legislation as amendments to the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, which was co-sponsored by Bonamici and designed to improve the United States’ ability to better forecast, understand, and communicate about weather. The two amendments were based on Bonamici’s Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act and Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act. “Updating the Weather Act provides an important opportunity to make our communities safer,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I’m grateful that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology approved my bipartisan amendments to improve our tsunami warning systems and help protect coastal, lake, and river communities from harmful algal blooms that can disrupt local ecosystems and threaten health and the economy. I urge House leadership to quickly bring this legislation to the House floor.” The Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Amendments Act of 2023 strengthens tsunami research, detection, and warning systems, improves response and resiliency efforts, and better protects communities that are vulnerable to tsunami. Video of Bonamici’s remarks on the amendment can be found here. The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2023 (HABHRCA) helps coastal, lake, and river communities better prepare for, mitigate, and intervene in harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events. These events, which release toxins and create massive “dead zones” respectively, have deadly consequences for fish, shellfish, and local ecosystems. Video of Bonamici’s remarks on the amendment can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentz-secures-amendment-prohibiting-funding-establishment-monument,Congressman Bentz Secures Amendment Prohibiting Funding for Establishment of Monument,2023-11-03,2023,2023-11,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 (OR-02) announced that his amendment to H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024, was adopted and included in the bill which passed out of the House of Representatives on November 3rd. The amendment prohibits the use of funds approved in the bill for the establishment of any National Monument in Malheur County, Oregon. “We don’t want a 2.5-million-acre monument promoted by Portland-based environmental groups making decisions for land they have never seen and frankly, only care about in the abstract. We must have a land management process that is based on the people who live, work, appreciate and recreate in Malheur County,” Congressman Bentz stated. “The Bureau of Land Management already controls 67% of our county, and a national monument designation would be damaging to the land and communities in Malheur. Our amendment sends a clear message to the President that we oppose a National Monument and that this would undermine the hard work that local groups have been doing for the better part of six years to protect this land.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-panetta-introduce-bill-connect-local-farmers-food-banks-keep-families,"Salinas, Panetta Introduce Bill to Connect Local Farmers with Food Banks, Keep Families Fed",2023-11-02,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced the Farmers Feeding America Act, a bill that would help food banks meet demand and ensure families stay fed and healthy by expanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ability to purchase food directly from producers, including Oregon’s small family farms. “The pandemic caused higher rates of food insecurity in Oregon and across the country, and food banks have struggled to keep up with the increased demand,” said Rep. Salinas. “The Farmers Feeding America Act will address this problem by providing more funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, ensuring our local food banks are fully stocked. Furthermore, this legislation will support local farms by giving USDA more resources to purchase food directly from producers. I’m proud to introduce this bill today because it will connect farmers with our communities and help families put food on the table this holiday season.” “Rising food insecurity around the country has put a strain on community food banks tirelessly working to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable families,” said Rep. Panetta. “The Farmers Feeding America Act tackles this pressing issue by doubling assistance to our local food banks and better supporting partnerships with local producers. California’s 19th Congressional District is blessed with immense bounty, and as families share in our harvest over the holidays, this legislation would help us combat hunger throughout the year.” Last year, 49 million people – or one in six Americans – received some form of food assistance. However, as higher prices continue to impact working families’ ability to afford food and basic necessities, local food banks are often unable to meet supply and demand needs in their communities. The Farmers Feeding America Act would significantly increase funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). TEFAP provides commodities like fruits and vegetables, as well as monetary support, to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other types of emergency feeding organizations. In addition to serving individuals, TEFAP supports local agriculture by enabling USDA to purchase food directly from producers. In addition to Reps. Salinas and Panetta, the Farmers Feeding America Act is supported by the following organizations: Feeding America, Alliance to End Hunger, Oregon Food Bank, Marion Polk Food Share, California Association of Food Banks, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, Share Our Strength, DoorDash, and the CEA Alliance. “In every community across the U.S., people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet in 2022, 44 million people—1 in 7 people—experienced food insecurity in the U.S., according to the USDA. The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, helps bridge the food gap for millions of families and individuals by moving nutritious foods from U.S. farmers to local food banks. But in recent years, TEFAP support has decreased as demand for food assistance has increased. Feeding America food banks have seen a 48% decline in TEFAP foods over the last two years. The Farmers Feeding America Act introduced by Reps. Andrea Salinas and Jimmy Panetta would strengthen TEFAP, a cornerstone of the charitable food system, and ensure equitable access to the program for noncontiguous states. We urge Congress to ease the strain on our nation’s food banks by including this crucial provision in the final 2023 Farm Bill,” said Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer, Feeding America. “The recently reported increase in U.S. food insecurity shows what food banks have been keenly aware of—food demand continues to be extraordinarily high. It is time to substantially increase our nation’s investment in TEFAP to ensure community residents in need can access this vital support,” said Minerva Delgado, Director of Coalitions & Advocacy, Alliance to End Hunger. ""Between rising food and housing prices and sharp reductions in federal support, far too many families are finding it hard to keep food on the table. The Farmers Feeding America Act is crucial to our efforts to meet the heightened need for food assistance here in Oregon and nationwide,"" said Oregon Food Bank President Susannah Morgan. “With increased funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program and new resources for food distribution and storage, this legislation will help our communities procure fresh produce and dairy products and address food deserts — especially in under-resourced and remote areas. No one should be hungry, and this investment will have resounding impact for millions of people facing food insecurity.” “Families and children are facing tough times right now. More than ever, our community needs the Farmers Feeding America Act to make sure children and families have the food they need to thrive,” said Rick Gaupo, President & CEO, Marion Polk Food Share. “With the price of food continuing to climb and over one in five households in California experiencing food insecurity, food banks across the state are working nonstop to meet their communities’ needs. TEFAP is the backbone of food banks’ distributions, helping them to provide a steady variety of grocery staples. We are grateful to Rep. Panetta and Rep. Salinas for introducing this bill that will ensure robust funding for TEFAP, empowering food banks to prevent hunger for millions more people across the country,” said Stacia Hill Levenfeld, Chief Executive Officer, California Association of Food Banks. ""Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, like so many food banks across the country, is serving almost the same number of people as during the height of the pandemic, but without the same level of community and government support,” said Leslie Bacho, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. “With inflation in food and gas prices, and reductions in government benefits, many families are struggling to meet their basic needs and are turning to food banks to help close the gap. This additional TEFAP funding is crucial to support food banks in providing our communities with the food they need to thrive."" ""Congressman Panetta's visionary leadership and this groundbreaking legislation are crucial for Central Coast food banks. In the wake of the pandemic's aftermath and the relentless surge in inflation, the demand for supplemental nutrition has soared. This bill would not just be a win; it would be a lifeline, bridging our agricultural partners to the tables of community members fighting food insecurity every single day,"" said Erica Padilla-Chavez, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County. To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-collins-durbin-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-help,"Bonamici, Collins, Durbin Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Runaway and Homeless Youth",2023-11-01,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Don Bacon (R-NE), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), and U.S. Senator Susan Collins and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide states with funding to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide. “Young people thrive when they have a safe and stable home,” said Rep. Bonamici, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness. “We must help and protect youth experiencing homelessness and survivors of trafficking in their time of need. This bipartisan update to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act will expand and improve the services many youth need when they do not have a place to call home, and it strengthens programs that can empower them to transition out of homelessness.” “Having a caring and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, and study is crucial for any young person’s development,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan legislation would support young people who run away, are forced out of their homes, or are disconnected from their families, by extending basic social services to these most vulnerable youth in our communities.” “This legislation is an investment in the future of our nation and a promise not to give up on any child,” said Senator Durbin. “It will help us empower our youth—especially those in underserved communities—to realize their dreams for a better and brighter future, regardless of the traumatic experiences they may have faced.” “As the number of homeless and runaway youth increases, we must increase our federal efforts to assist and protect these youth who are particularly susceptible to trafficking,” said Rep. Bacon. “This bill provides agencies with the means to support youth who are in vulnerable positions and gives them the resources to address these problems.” “Every young person deserves a safe and secure environment to grow up in,” said Rep. Nunn. “This bipartisan legislation ensures young people in vulnerable situations can receive the help they need to sleep, eat, study, and develop.” “No child should ever be forced to live on the streets in fear of their wellbeing and safety,” said Rep. McGarvey. “This bipartisan legislation is going provide critical resources to young people experiencing homelessness, especially LGBTQ+ and trans youth who are at a higher risk of being forced out of their homes. I’m proud to continue former Congressman Yarmuth’s fight to help young people in Louisville and across our country; it takes a village to care for our children, and I’m committed to safeguarding our most vulnerable youth.” “We applaud our congressional champions for introducing the important Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, because our young people continue to face limited access to housing options, education, and living wage employment. This legislation makes critical expansions to meet the needs of today’s youth, and continues the powerful legacy of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program. Further, it builds on what we already know: ending youth homelessness prevents human trafficking,” said Darla Bardine, Executive Director, National Network for Youth. The landmark Runaway and Homeless Youth Act was first passed by Congress in 1974, providing nationwide support to address youth and young adult homelessness. This reauthorization would expand protections to youths who are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and would authorize funding for state and local programs to help provide transitional housing, street outreach, and crisis intervention programs to address the needs of homeless and runaway youth. Among other improvements, this legislation would: Reauthorize, modernize, and increase authorization levels for programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; Create a new Prevention Services Program that would make additional resources available to organizations providing counseling, mediation, and other services aimed at preventing youth from running away or becoming homeless; Increase annual competitive grants for rural youth demographics from $100,000 to $200,000; Require the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a national estimate of the prevalence of homeless youth every three years; and Increase the allowable length of stay in the Basic Center Program from 21 days to 30 days. The legislation is supported by youth advocacy organizations including the National Network for Youth, which has supported the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act since it was first enacted in 1974. A complete list of organizations endorsing this bill can be read HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-torres-introduce-legislation-keep-pedestrians-vulnerable-road-users,"Bonamici, Torres Introduce Legislation to Keep Pedestrians & Vulnerable Road Users Safe",2023-11-01,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced today the introduction of the Pedestrian Hazard, Awareness and Safety Expansion (PHASE) Act to address rising pedestrian accidents and fatalities. “Our country has experienced a significant increase in pedestrian fatalities, making us an outlier among peer nations. This is a personal issue for me—earlier this year my husband and I were struck by a car as we walked across the street in a marked crosswalk with the light. We recovered, but too many people are not as fortunate. I’m grateful to join my colleague Congresswoman Norma Torres in introducing the PHASE Act, which will direct needed federal resources to research and implement road safety strategies to prevent deaths and make streets safer for drivers and pedestrians,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “Whether Americans are choosing to walk, bike, or even take a scooter to their next stop, they deserve the peace of mind and public policy forethought from Congress that we take their safety seriously. With rising pedestrian accidents and fatalities in California and across the nation, our current transportation infrastructure is clearly inadequate at keeping bike and pedestrian road users safe.. My PHASE Act is an important step toward developing stronger pedestrian safety policies and making our roads safer for all vulnerable road users,” said Congresswoman Torres. A report released this year found the number of pedestrians who were struck and killed by vehicles in 2022 was the highest it has been since 1981. To reverse this dangerous trend, the PHASE Act: Directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to devise solutions to better equip drivers and protect pedestrians, while ensuring its recommendations do not distract drivers. Directs the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on developing physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians. Creates a grant program for cities and municipalities to implement pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. The PHASE Act is cosponsored by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and is supported by the League of Conservation Voters, Safe States, League of American Bicyclists, California Bicycle Coalition, and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. “Vulnerable road user safety, which encompasses all road users outside the vehicle, is critically important and urgently in need of improvement. Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities are at the highest levels in decades. Proven solutions must be advanced including roadway safety infrastructure upgrades and vehicle safety technologies that prevent or mitigate crashes. We commend Congresswoman Torres for her focus on enhancing safe roadway travel for all with the introduction of the PHASE Act,” said Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-announce-over-36-million-improve-coastal-ports,"Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle Announce Over $36 Million to Improve Coastal Ports in Oregon",2023-11-01,2023,2023-11,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Val Hoyle (OR-04), announced a total of $36,489,508 in federal investments heading to the ports of Astoria, Coquille Indian Tribe’s Ko’Kwel Wharf, and Newport. “Pier 2 West in Astoria is crucial to the region’s economy, but the structure has been deteriorating over the years,” said Rep. Bonamici. “I’m thrilled that the Port of Astoria will receive close to $25.3 million from USDOT to make overdue repairs to this essential infrastructure.” “Ports play a crucial role in keeping the economies of Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest running smoothly—transporting goods, people, and services throughout our region—and we rely on them to export our amazing, homegrown products around the world,” Merkley said. “This funding will provide crucial support to Astoria, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and Newport to improve existing infrastructure, increase storage capabilities, and bolster security while improving operational capacity for these critical ports.” “Oregon’s ports produce jobs and act as economic linchpins for their communities as well as the entire state economy,” Wyden said. “I’m glad these three ports have secured these significant federal infrastructure investments to ensure they can keep exporting our state’s world-renowned products as well as generating economic opportunities for Newport, Astoria, the Coquille Indian Tribe and beyond.” “I'm thrilled that the Port of Newport will be receiving this important grant to upgrade its port infrastructure,"" said Rep. Hoyle. “This is exactly the type of support that the federal government should be providing to Oregon's ports, which are essential for local jobs and businesses on the Oregon coast. I will continue to strongly support investment in Oregon’s coastal communities.” This past spring, Senators Merkley and Wyden and Rep. Bonamici sent a letter to U.S. Maritime Administration urging their support for the Port of Astoria’s rehabilitation project application as well as a letter of support from Merkley and Wyden for the Newport operational capacity project application. Today’s federal investments come from the Fiscal Year 2023 Port Infrastructure Development Program. “The Port of Astoria is extremely grateful to be a recipient of Port Infrastructure Development Program funding through MARAD for the rehabilitation of Pier 2 on the Astoria waterfront,” said Will Isom, Port of Astoria, Executive Director. “The seafood processing cluster on Pier 2 is vital to the Port, the City of Astoria and the entire region. Federal investment into this infrastructure was critical for its future and will help provide a safe, economically viable pier for generations to come!” “The Coquille Indian Tribe is proud to take part in the nationwide effort to rebuild our port infrastructure. With this funding, our Tribal One team will continue their work to rebuild Ko’Kwel Wharf as a productive and reliable economic resource that will help secure the future of the Coquille Tribe and our North Bend community and become a valuable member of the nation’s maritime industry,” said Brenda Meade, Chairman, Coquille Indian Tribe. ""The Port of Newport greatly appreciates the support of our Federal Legislators and the Maritime Administration for this investment in our International Terminal. We are also grateful for our State Legislators, stakeholders and community for years of investment in our terminal. This will allow us to expand our operational capacity through the purchase of equipment and the improvement of a nine-acre parcel for lay-down purposes. These enhancements make the Port more attractive to prospective customers and support economic opportunity in Lincoln County,"" said Paula Miranda, Port of Newport, Executive Director. Oregon projects funding and descriptions can be found below: $25,315,758 to Port of Astoria: This project funds the rehabilitation of the Port of Astoria’s Pier 2 West – the region’s hub for seafood processing and maritime commerce – which is in critical need of repairs and rehabilitation. Project elements include: (1) a new steel bulkhead wall with a 75 year lifespan and that will include a new fendering system, 50 ton double bitt bollards, and a cast-in-place concrete bullrail; (2) removal of the old timber dock; (3) backfill; (4) underpinning of the Pier 2 warehouse; (5) warehouse building concrete slab repairs; (6) new concrete pavement on the pier surface; (7) construction of a stormwater drainage system; and (8) replacement of a water line and fire hydrants adjacent to the warehouse for fire protection of Pier 2. $7,729,650 to Coquille Indian Tribe: This project funds the following three components: (1) repairs of the dock face along Lot 2 of Ko’Kwel Wharf that will bring the entire dock area up to safe operating standards and open opportunities for new uses of the terminal and wharf facility; (2) bring 800-amp service and a shore power outlet box to the wharf to reduce or eliminate the need for idling diesel engines; and (3) support development phase activities leading to the construction of a 600’-700’ extension of the Ko’Kwel Wharf dock. $3,444,100 to Port of Newport: This project and funding will support the Port of Newport in the grading of 9 acres of land adjacent to the port’s existing Newport International Terminal to create additional laydown and storage space; fence three acres of land for increased security; and purchase two loaders to load, unload and move cargo within and around the port, especially breakbulk cargo, which the port's current cargo handling equipment is not well suited to safely and efficiently handle. These improvements to the Newport International Terminal enable the Port of Newport to continue to support the economic development and prosperity of the Oregon Coast.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:01:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-converts-town-hall-meetings-telephone-town-hall-meeting,Bonamici Converts Town Hall Meetings to Telephone Town Hall Meeting,2023-10-31,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [10/31/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced that she will hold a telephone town hall meeting on Monday, November 6 at 6 p.m. PT. The U.S. House of Representatives has changed its schedule and representatives will now need to be in Washington, D.C. on dates that conflict with previously scheduled in-person town hall meetings. The meetings are cancelled for Portland on Nov. 6, St. Helens on Nov. 7, and Hillsboro on Nov. 9. Because Rep. Bonamici will be in Washington, D.C. on those dates, she is offering an opportunity for constituents to participate in a town hall meeting by telephone. Anyone interested in participating in the telephone town hall meeting can sign up to receive a call here. The telephone town hall meeting will also be livestreamed here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-molinaro-introduce-bipartisan-bill-reduce-childhood-hunger,"Bonamici, Molinaro Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Childhood Hunger",2023-10-26,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [10/26/23] – Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Marcus Molinaro (R-NY) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase access to healthy meals and snacks for children in care settings. The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act updates the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to allow an additional meal or snack for children in care for a full day, and streamlines the program to make it easier for early learning programs and child care providers to participate. CACFP currently serves 4.2 million low-income children in child care centers, Head Start and afterschool programs, homeless shelters, and other settings. Affordable child care and access to nutritious meals contribute to the health and economic vitality of working families. “Child care providers play an essential role in the fight against hunger,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Updating and expanding CACFP will allow this effective program to reach more children, reduce food insecurity, and lower the cost of care. This bipartisan legislation is especially important as many providers struggle to keep their doors open amid rising costs. Child care is economic infrastructure, and removing unnecessary paperwork and boosting resources for child care businesses will help families afford the care and education their young children need. I’m grateful to partner with Rep. Molinaro to provide more children with a healthy start to life.” “To fight childhood hunger and combat our nation’s childcare crisis, we are expanding the Child and Adult Care Food Program to adequately feed children in care facilities and make it easier for more providers to participate in the program,” said Congressman Marcus Molinaro. “As a member of the Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici to ensure our nation’s children don’t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.” The legislation is endorsed by: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Heart Association, Bipartisan Policy Center, CACFP Roundtable, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Child Care Aware of America, Children’s Institute, Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC), Feeding America, First Children’s Finance, First Five Years Fund, First Focus Campaign for Children, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Home Grown, Independent Restaurant Coalition, KidKare by Minute Menu, KinderCare, National Association for Family Child Care, National CACFP Sponsors Association, National Child Care Association, National Head Start Association, National Women’s Law Center, Oregon Food Bank, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), YMCA of the USA, ZERO TO THREE, MomsRising and National Association of Counties (NACo). “Across the country, we continue to face an unprecedented shortage of child care workers, which will only worsen if providers don’t receive critical federal investment,” said to Lee Saunders, President of AFSCME. “Parents today are working longer hours and depend on child care providers to meet essential needs, including proper nutrition, which is expensive. The bipartisan Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act would alleviate this crisis by ensuring providers can afford to serve nutritious meals all day, including suppers. We applaud Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Marcus Molinaro for leading on this issue and introducing this crucial bill.” “A quality meal is essential to the well-being and development of children, and like child care providers throughout the country, YMCAs are working to ensure every child in our care has regular access to nutritious meals and snacks,” said Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA. “We are grateful to Representatives Bonamici and Molinaro for their proposal, which would cut red tape and allow a third meal for children who are in our care all day. This bill would improve the CACFP program and enable more providers to participate, giving more children access to the nutrition they need to thrive.” Participation in CACFP provides essential nutrition guidance and significant support for quality child and adult care programs, a sector in which workers are underpaid and overworked. Unfortunately, many providers have struggled with overly burdensome requirements to participate in CACFP. Nationally, these outdated policies and the increased cost of food are cutting into the funds child care providers need to stay open and offer quality care. A summary of the bill can be found here, and the bill text is available here. Additional statements of support from the National CACFP Sponsors Association, Home Grown, and Bipartisan Policy Center’s Early Childhood Initiative can be found here. In addition to Bonamici and Molinaro, the Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act is cosponsored by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX). Bonamici is Ranking Member of the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the federal child nutrition programs. She is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, where she is a leading voice to secure investments in child care that are fundamental for children, families, and the economy. Additionally, Bonamici and Congressman Greg Landsman are leading the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act, which would further enhance CACFP by increasing reimbursement levels nationally and put family child care providers on equal footing with center-based providers.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-3-bipartisan-bills-expand-job-opportunities,Bonamici Introduces 3 Bipartisan Bills to Expand Job Opportunities,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [10/25/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan package of legislation that will help people get quality jobs by increasing access to apprenticeships, workforce training programs, and youth career counseling programs. The ACCESS Act – introduced with Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) – would improve career counseling programs for youth to help them access high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs. The BUILDS Act – also co-led by Rep. Thompson – would provide workers with skills needed to fill infrastructure jobs by creating new grants for industry partnerships in the infrastructure sector. The bill includes funding for support services, such as child care and transportation, to help workers with program retention and completion. The PARTNERS Act – co-led with Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Drew Ferguson (R-GA) – would establish a grant program to support the creation and expansion of industry partnerships to help small- and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs and provide mentoring and support services for workers. “Investing in workers and workforce training improves lives, strengthens the economy, and offers Oregonians and Americans a path to the middle class,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Supporting partnerships among businesses, colleges, and other organizations is vital to building a diverse pool of skilled workers. I’m grateful to work with my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan package of legislation to support workers and create more opportunities for people to access good-paying, in-demand jobs.” ""As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus, I am proud to join Rep. Bonomici in introducing these two critical pieces of legislation that will help connect the next generation to in-demand jobs and support our nation's infrastructure,"" said Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson. ""These bills continue to support Americans looking to climb the ladder of opportunity and develop skills to find high quality, family sustaining jobs."" “Small and medium sized businesses are the backbone of our Commonwealth and the backbone of our national economy,” said Congressman Brett Guthrie. “As I travel throughout my district, I hear from businesses far and wide that are facing increasing challenges due to rising costs and historically high inflation. This has made it increasingly difficult to fill workforce shortages across all industries. Apprenticeships are a great way for people to learn new applicable skills, while earning a paycheck, making apprenticeships a critical path into the workforce for many individuals. For these reasons, I am proud to once again co-lead the PARTNERS Act which will allow small and medium size businesses to join with community partners to create work-based opportunities for the individuals who need them the most.” “Helping smaller businesses build out their training capacity is a win-win; it provides companies with much needed skilled labor and Americans with paths to good-paying, secure jobs,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “The Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers’ Required Skills (PARTNERS) Act will give small- and medium-sized businesses access to funding for workforce training programs, such as apprenticeships. I am proud to co-sponsor the PARTNERS Act because creative steps like these are critical to ensuring every American has access to a quality job and that we retain our competitive economic edge with the best workforce in the world.” “In order to stay competitive on the world stage, communities across the country need the flexibility and resources to create work-based learning opportunities catered to their local job markets,” said Congressman Drew Ferguson. “In Georgia, employers are seeing the value of putting skills training directly in the workplace – and programs like the Central Education Center in Newnan have been implementing an innovative style of apprenticeship that prepares our young people for 21st century careers. I’m proud to reintroduce the PARTNERS Act, which is an innovative solution that give every American the opportunity to live the American dream."" The ACCESS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Association of Workforce Boards, National Skills Coalition, ACTE, Advance CTE, American Federation of Teachers, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues, and National Community Action Foundation. A summary of the ACCESS Act can be found here, and the full text can be found here. The BUILDS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Skills Coalition, ACTE, Advance CTE, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National Community Action Foundation. A summary of the BUILDS Act can be found here, and the full text can be found here. The PARTNERS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Skills Coalition, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National Community Action Foundation. A summary of the PARTNERS Act can be found here, and the full text can be found here. ""It is vital that the next generation of workers understand the educational and career opportunities available to them,” said Bradford C. Turner-Little, CEO, National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). “Equally as important is having access to professional assistance in navigating those opportunities. NAWB is proud to endorse the ACCESS Act, which will ensure our youth gain high-quality, in-demand jobs through the public workforce development system."" “The bipartisan BUILDS, PARTNERS and ACCESS bills being introduced by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici are just what we need to support the workforce development efforts of our member organizations and the diverse women they are preparing to enter the construction workforce,” said Connie Ashbrook and Janelle DeJan, Co-Chairs, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen’s Issues. “These women will be important additions to the workers needed to repair and build our nation’s infrastructure.” “As a country, we are making important investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and technology but the promise of these investments won’t be fully realized without the support of workers with the skills required to do the work. These bills will help us meet our nation’s workforce needs by bringing employers together, supporting workers’ access to skills training and supportive services, and providing our nation’s young people with awareness of the career opportunities available to them.” – National Skills Coalition Bonamici is a co-chair of the Congressional Apprenticeship Caucus and the Career and Technical Education Caucus.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-statement-speaker-mike-johnson,Salinas Statement on Speaker Mike Johnson,2023-10-25,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement after House Republicans voted to elect Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker as the House: “After 22 days of chaos and disarray, House Republicans have elected a MAGA extremist who voted to overturn the 2020 election as Speaker of the House. Mike Johnson has consistently supported legislation that would rip away Americans’ reproductive freedom and slash critical programs like Social Security and Medicare. I have deep concerns about Speaker Johnson’s ability to govern responsibly. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that the new Speaker will set aside his extreme views and work to find a bipartisan path forward. It is past time for Congress to get back to work for Oregonians and for the American people.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-statement-israel-and-gaza,Salinas Statement on Israel and Gaza,2023-10-20,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC — On October 18, 2023, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement on the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza: “I stand with Israel and unequivocally condemn Hamas’ brutal war on the innocent people of Israel and Gaza. I am also devastated by the horrible destruction and loss of human life we are witnessing right now. It is imperative that we provide humanitarian aid to those who are suffering, in addition to the support Israel needs to defend itself. That is why we must elect a new Speaker of the House as soon as possible. Now more than ever, the United States must show leadership on the global stage.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-hoyle-introduce-bill-help-feed-kids-rural-communities,"Salinas, Hoyle Introduce Bill to Help Feed Kids in Rural Communities",2023-10-19,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act, legislation that would establish a summer meal delivery program to help feed kids in rural communities. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. “Many kids in rural Oregon rely on school meal programs to access healthy, nutritious foods. That shouldn’t stop during summer break,” said Rep. Salinas. “The FORK Act will deliver food directly to kids and families in our rural communities and ensure they always have enough to eat, no matter the season or time of year.” “I’m proud to cosponsor the FORK Act that will help ensure kids who rely on school meal programs don’t go hungry during the summer,” said Rep. Hoyle. “For our rural communities that are facing job shortages and families struggling to find work, I know how hard it can be to ensure kids have enough to eat, especially during summer break when school is out. The FORK Act will ensure every child, no matter where they live or what time of year it is, can have access to the essential meals they need”. Over half a million people in Oregon, including one in five children, struggle with food insecurity. That rate is even higher in rural and immigrant communities. The FORK Act would create a grant program to help schools and Summer Food Service Program providers in rural districts purchase vehicles for home delivery of meals. In addition to Reps. Salinas and Hoyle, the FORK Act is supported by the following organizations: UnidosUS, Hunger Free Oregon, School Nutrition Association, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Marion Polk Food Share, FoodCorps, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest. “UnidosUS is proud to support Congresswoman Salinas’s Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act, which promotes equitable access to nutritious food for children in rural areas across the country. Latinos living in rural communities often work on farms growing and producing our nation’s food, yet they experience significant barriers to putting food on the table for their children and families. We applaud the Congresswoman for her leadership in tackling an issue disproportionately harming low-income communities of color. Our Latino and immigrant families face several challenges to their children accessing nutritious and affordable food, including barriers to reliable and affordable transportation. Children everywhere deserve healthy meals all year long, and the FORK Act creates a program to ensure that our rural children continue to get the meals they need no matter the time of the year or where they live,” said Umailla Fatima, Health Policy Analyst for UnidosUS. ""With one in five children in Oregon facing hunger every day, we need to find creative solutions to address the problem. The FORK Act is an important step towards getting food to children in rural Oregon. Partners For a Hunger-Free Oregon is proud to endorse this bill,” said Angelita Morillo, Policy Advocate for Hunger Free Oregon. ""Summer meals are critical to ensuring at risk students have consistent access to nutritious meals when school is out of session,"" said School Nutrition Association President Chris Derico, SNS. ""But too often, children in rural communities go hungry because of a lack of reliable transportation to summer meal sites. The Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act will help schools and summer meal sponsors overcome these barriers and deliver meals throughout their communities."" “Just as school kitchens need the right equipment to prepare and serve healthful meals, school foodservice programs need to make sure meals get to children who need them most,” said registered dietitian nutritionist Lauri Wright, the 2023-2024 President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “For some students, school meals provide up to half their daily nutritional needs, but this important food source may not be available during the summer, particularly in rural areas with high rates of food insecurity and lack of transportation to summer foodservice sites. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is proud to support the Feeding Our Rural Kids Act and urges Congress to pass this important bill.” “Making sure that kids have access to healthy food year-round is a priority. We support the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act, which is an important investment in providing equitable access to summer meals in rural communities,” said Rick Gaupo, President and CEO of Marion Polk Food Share. “FoodCorps is proud to support the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act, introduced by Rep. Salinas, which provides resources to reach rural communities with summer meals. FoodCorps believes that every child should have access to nourishing meals, both at school and after the bell rings. The FORK Act is an important step forward to ensure every community has access to this critical program,” said Laura Hath, Senior Director of Policy Partnerships for FoodCorps. ""Rural families with young children are often juggling multiple stressors with many demands on their time and pocketbook. Offering home-delivered meals would be a significant support ensuring that kids get the nutrition needed to thrive and families are relieved of the toxic stress associated with being unable to meet the nutritional needs of their children,” said Jordan Robinson, Yamhill County District Director for Lutheran Community Services Northwest. To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-chavez-deremer-schrier-newhouse-lead-bipartisan-call-support-pacific,"Bonamici, Chavez-DeRemer, Schrier, Newhouse Lead Bipartisan Call to Support Pacific NW Maple Growers",2023-10-18,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON DC [10/18/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Kim Schrier (D-WA), and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) led 10 Senators and Representatives in a bipartisan call for federal support for Pacific NW maple syrup producers. The lawmakers urged the Department of Agriculture to maintain a level playing field in its Acer Access and Development (Acer) Program. The Acer program supports research, innovation, and resilience in the maple syrup industry, but it appears to favor the east coast Sugar Maple producers who already dominate the market. Maple syrup in the Pacific NW is produced from native Big Leaf Maples. Because of the difference in species, the Pacific NW producers are at risk of being excluded from the Acer program. “The Acer Program has been fundamental to the success of the burgeoning maple syrup industry in the Pacific Northwest,” the Representatives and Senators wrote. “Our constituents are entering this industry with the vital support of the Acer Program. Unfortunately, the Acer Program Request for Applications (RFA) published on March 1, 2023, includes language that may exclude maple growers in the Pacific Northwest from accessing resources available from Acer’s research and development partnerships with universities.” The Representatives and Senators noted that prioritizing research and development activities to the established industry could exclude growers and syrup producers from many parts of the country and prevent them from accessing technical assistance and support under Acer. Relying on one species of maple tree could also make the industry vulnerable to blight, invasive species, and parasites. “… Limiting opportunities to the parts of the country with established and widespread maple syrup producing trees runs contrary to the Acer Program’s goal of innovation,” they wrote. “Removing preference language for any particular species or region within the Acer Program will reestablish parity and continue Acer’s legacy of helping new growers expand the maple syrup industry.” In addition to Bonamici, Chavez-DeRemer, Schrier, and Newhouse, the letter is signed by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Marie Glusenkamp Perez (D-WA), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA). The full text of the letter can be read here and below. The Honorable Tom Vilsack Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Ave. S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250 Dear Secretary Vilsack, As Members of Congress from the Pacific Northwest, we write to urge you to maintain a level playing field within the Acer Access and Development (Acer) Program. The Acer Program can play a pivotal role in fostering innovation and resilience in the maple syrup industry nationally, and projects enhancing the use of various species of maple trees are critical to long-term sustainability of maple-based products in the United States. The Acer Program has been fundamental to the success of the burgeoning maple syrup industry in the Pacific Northwest. Growers throughout our region are producing maple syrup from native big leaf maples or Acer macrophyllum. Our constituents are entering this industry with the vital support of the Acer Program. Unfortunately, the Acer Program Request for Applications (RFA) published on March 1, 2023, includes language that may exclude maple growers in the Pacific Northwest from accessing resources available from Acer’s research and development partnerships with universities. In the Purpose section of the RFA, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) indicates that the agency “may prioritize funding for applications that support the promotion of research and education, natural resource responsibility, and market development and promotion, and that are from regions with sufficient distribution of Acer saccharum to support a commercially viable maple syrup industry”.1 We urge you to remove this language and instead focus on implementing the Acer program with a level playing field for all species of maple trees. Sugar maple trees, or Acer saccharum, are already the predominant tree in use by most maple syrup producers in the United States.2 But these trees are not native to the Pacific Northwest; here we have big leaf maple trees. Prioritizing research and development activities to the established industry could exclude growers and syrup producers from many parts of the country and prevent them from accessing technical assistance and support under Acer. For example, red maple trees or Acer rubrum are native to several regions of the United States that also lack sugar maples but are, like big leaf maples, potentially usable for maple syrup production. Further, relying solely on a single species of maple tree could make the domestic maple syrup industry vulnerable to widespread blight, invasive species, or parasites. Additionally, limiting opportunities to the parts of the country with established and widespread maple syrup producing trees runs contrary to the Acer Program’s goal of innovation. Removing preference language for any particular species or region within the Acer Program will reestablish parity and continue Acer’s legacy of helping new growers expand the maple syrup industry. We appreciate your commitment to support all producers and your attention to this matter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-pens-letter-opposing-gtn-xpress-pipeline,Salinas Pens Letter Opposing GTN Xpress Pipeline,2023-10-18,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Tigard, OR – On October 6, 2023, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) delivered a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) expressing her opposition to TC Energy’s proposed Gas Transmission Northwest Express (“GTN XPress”) pipeline. The letter comes ahead of a planned FERC meeting on Thursday to consider TC Energy’s request for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the proposed expansion. Salinas joined several Oregon elected officials in opposing the project because of its potential negative impact on climate change and the environment. “I join Governor Kotek, Senators Wyden, Merkley, Representative Blumenauer, and Attorney General Rosenblum in opposition to the proposed GTN XPress Project,” writes Salinas. “It is antithetical to Oregon’s ongoing efforts to transition away from fossil fuels and to combat climate change. This project, if approved, will increase the volume of fracked gas by 150 million cubic feet per day.” Salinas emphasized concerns that the pipeline expansion likely fails to comply with Oregon’s clean energy laws and ultimately does not serve the public interest. “We are witnessing the real impacts of climate change every year on the West Coast, characterized by severe heatwaves and an increase in wildfires,” continues Salinas. “Given these circumstances, I cannot, in good conscience, support a project that would contribute to an increase in fossil fuel usage and potentially accelerate climate change.” Read the full letter below or click here. Dear Acting Chairman Phillips and Commissioners Christie, Clements, and Danly: I urge the Commission to reject TC Energy’s request for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) for the Gas Transmission Northwest Express (“GTN XPress”) pipeline. Based on the information presented in Docket No. CP22-2-000, it is evident that the proposed GTN XPress pipeline expansion does not serve the public interest. I join Governor Kotek, Senators Wyden, Merkley, Representative Blumenauer, and Attorney General Rosenblum in opposition to the proposed GTN XPress Project. It is antithetical to Oregon’s ongoing efforts to transition away from fossil fuels and to combat climate change. This project, if approved, will increase the volume of fracked gas by 150 million cubic feet per day. The state Attorneys General from Oregon, Washington, and California have collectively called upon the Federal Energy Regulation Commission to deny the proposed expansion over concerns about the inadequacy of the environmental review and the inability to demonstrate sufficient evidence of a public need. According to Governor Kotek, this project fails to comply with Oregon’s clean energy laws and regulations. We are witnessing the real impacts of climate change every year on the West Coast, characterized by severe heatwaves and an increase in wildfires. Given these circumstances, I cannot, in good conscience, support a project that would contribute to an increase in fossil fuel usage and potentially accelerate climate change. Sincerely, Andrea Salinas Member of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-announces-approval-federal-fishery-disaster-declaration,Oregon Delegation Announces Approval of Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration,2023-10-13,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), announced today that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined a fishery disaster for 2018, 2019, and 2020 Oregon Chinook salmon ocean commercial fisheries in the state. This determination, championed by the Oregon delegation, will make local fishermen eligible to apply for long overdue disaster assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Department of Commerce currently has fishery disaster assistance funding available and will determine the allocation for this disaster soon. Those federal resources will help the state’s coastal economies recover from years of drought, changing ocean conditions, and critical habitat loss that have severely harmed salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest. “This declaration will benefit the Pacific NW’s fishing industry, workers, and economy,” said Bonamici. “Oregon’s fisheries have worked hard to overcome numerous challenges in recent years, including decline in the salmon population, and this determination will provide support so they can sustain the industry and grow into the future.” “Oregon’s fishing industry is essential to our state’s economy and creates good-paying jobs our communities rely on,” Merkley said. “This federal disaster declaration the Oregon delegation pushed for recognizes the significant toll of declining salmon populations on our fishermen, and it cements our commitment to investing in the long-term recovery of Oregon’s coastal communities.” “Oregonians living and working on the coast know full well how crucial the fishing industry is to job growth and their communities’ economic well-being,” Wyden said. “Coastal fishing’s impact also ripples out statewide, and I’m gratified the federal Commerce Department has agreed to the delegation’s request for a fishery disaster declaration that will help support this iconic and productive Oregon industry.” “It is impossible to overstate the value of salmon to Oregon. This federal disaster declaration will be a lifeline for Oregon’s fishing communities. As we continue to push to restore healthy and abundant salmon populations, it is also an important step forward for the federal government to honor its treaty obligations with Pacific Northwest tribes,” said Blumenauer. “Sustainable fishing off of the Oregon Coast provides good paying jobs and is a major economic boon for Oregon’s economy. However our fishermen need support to get through these bad years for Oregon Chinook salmon. A federal disaster declaration will provide much-needed relief and I’ll keep working to get more resources back to Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District,” said Hoyle. “Salmon are critically important to our culture, identity, and economy here in the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, climate change, drought, and a whole host of other factors are causing the salmon population to decrease every year,” said Salinas. “I am glad that Oregon’s fisheries will now be eligible for federal assistance, allowing them to stay afloat while we work to find long-term solutions at the local, state, and federal levels.” “I’m glad much-needed federal assistance will be coming to local fisheries,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “This critical industry has suffered a number of setbacks in recent years, and I’ll continue working with the Oregon delegation to ensure fishermen are able to recover and succeed.” In addition to the economic activity generated by Oregon’s commercial fishing industry, salmon are an important part of the cultural heritage of Pacific Northwest Tribes, generate recreational activity, and are a treasured natural resource across the state. As a result, declining salmon populations hurt the state and the region on many levels. From 2013 to 2017, the commercial value of Chinook salmon was around $6.3 million annually for Oregon fisheries. But with the impacts of climate chaos impacting salmon populations, theeconomic value of Chinook fell sharply to $2.3 million in 2018, $2 million in 2019, and $1.4 million in 2020. In response, Senator Merkley led the delegation in a series of letters to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, including one in 2021, detailing the critical need for federal support for this industry while local, state, and federal partners continue to work toward long-term solutions. Additional efforts from the Oregon delegation seeking the U.S. Department of Commerce to determine a fishery disaster in the state for years following 2020 are ongoing. This includes the latest letter in April led by Senator Wyden in support of Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a federal fishery resource disaster declaration.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-announces-new-pacific-northwest-hydrogen-hub,Salinas Announces New Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub,2023-10-13,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has selected the Pacific Northwest Regional Hydrogen Hub (PNWH2 Hub) as one of several planned Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs to be built across the United States. These clean hydrogen hubs will create networks of hydrogen producers, consumers, and local connective infrastructure to accelerate the use of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier that can deliver or store tremendous amounts of energy. PNWH2 Hub’s selection follows a competitive nationwide process and will now enter negotiations with DOE for initial federal funding. “I am so excited to announce that the Pacific Northwest will soon be home to a brand-new hydrogen hub. This historic investment will accelerate the transition to clean energy and create thousands of good-paying jobs in Oregon and across our region,” said Rep. Salinas. “I want to thank Secretary Granholm and the Biden Administration for investing in Oregonians’ livelihoods and futures. As the PNWH2 Hub advances to the next steps in this process, I will continue working to ensure this project is fully funded.” The PNWH2 Hub will span Washington, Oregon, and Montana, and plans to leverage the region’s abundant renewable resources to produce clean hydrogen exclusively via electrolysis. It will create an estimated 10,000 direct jobs, including 8,050 in construction jobs and 350 permanent jobs, and remove approximately 1 million metric tons per year of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere—equivalent to emissions from roughly 220,000 gasoline-powered cars annually. The PNWH2 Hub is eligible to receive up to $1 billion in federal funding over four DOE-defined development phases spanning nine years, with $20 million allocated for Phase 1. DOE and the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association will negotiate the final funding and scope for the hub beginning this fall. For more information and updates on the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association, visit pnwh2.com.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-baird-introduce-bipartisan-bill-accelerate-quantum-research-and,"Salinas, Baird Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Accelerate Quantum Research and Development",2023-10-13,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. House Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Jim Baird (IN-04) introduced the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, bipartisan legislation that will accelerate quantum research and development in the United States. “Quantum science has the potential to vastly improve computing speeds and performance, sensing capabilities, and secure communications. Yet much more research is needed before we can fully realize the benefits of these technologies,” said Rep. Salinas. “This bipartisan bill invests in upgrades to research facilities and expands access to resources. It also builds the quantum workforce by encouraging universities to collaborate with community and technical colleges to provide meaningful hand-on learning experiences for their students. Ultimately, our legislation will help secure America’s position at the cutting-edge of quantum research and development for decades to come.” “Quantum science is one of the world’s fastest-growing areas of scientific research and has the potential to fundamentally change how we approach many aspects of academia, business, and national security,” said Rep. Baird. “The United States has been innovating in this field for years, but we must invest more in quantum research to encourage innovation. By providing new grants for our research institutions, we can maintain our competitive advantage and ensure America doesn’t fall behind in this crucial area of scientific development.” The Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering (QISE) Act would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants to upgrade research facilities and improve access to research resources, such as equipment and instrumentation, to support research and development in quantum information science, technology, and engineering. This bill would also improve coordination to enable better access to these resources among researchers, students, and companies. Finally, it would help the scientific community access the equipment, instrumentation, materials and devices, and other critical services needed to enable cutting-edge research on quantum information science, train the next generation of quantum scientists and workers, and translate research into commercial products and services. In addition to Reps. Salinas and Baird, the legislation is endorsed by the following universities: University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Purdue University, and Indiana University. “The University of Oregon applauds the introduction of the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act,” said Anshuman “AR” Razdan, Vice President of Research and Innovation at the University of Oregon. “The partnership between the federal government and research universities is the foundation for much of our nation’s prosperity from innovation. UO’s Oregon Center for Optical, Molecular, and Quantum Science and Lokey Labs provide education, research, and commercialization opportunities to students, faculty, and stakeholders.” “Quantum research and technology innovation is an exciting arena for university scientists and engineers, but there are real barriers to access the necessary state-of-the-art labs and instrumentation required to do this work,”said Dr. Irem Tumer, Vice President of Research at Oregon State University. “We know from experience that investment in NSF to support the needed instrumentation and facilities for university-led research, as well as shared access to these resources, is critical to accelerate science and to grow the community of scientists who are able to contribute their expertise. OSU applauds Representative Salinas for introducing the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act to directly address these barriers."" “Oregon Institute of Technology (“Oregon Tech”) is proud to support the introduction of the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act,"" said Dr. Abdy Afjeh, Vice Provost for Research and Academic Affairs at Oregon Institute of Technology. ""As an emerging research institution with faculty working on quantum science, we know firsthand how important it is to increase access to equipment and instrumentation. Investments in NSF will advance the science and engineer new Quantum capabilities."" “Increasing access to key equipment and instrumentation for faculty and students is key to maintaining U.S. leadership in quantum science,” said Karen Plaut, Executive Vice President for Research at Purdue University. “We support the aim of the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act to invest more resources to advance the field and prepare the next generation of quantum scientists.” “Indiana University appreciates the focus on helping institutions upgrade research resources, including equipment and instrumentation, to help advance our knowledge in this exciting field,” said Dr. Dave Baxter, Executive Director of the IU Quantum Science and Engineering Center. “IU commits to working with Rep. Baird to ensure this promise is realized.” To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-merkley-wyden-introduce-legislation-invest-soil-health-education,"Salinas, Merkley, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Invest in Soil Health Education",2023-10-12,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today,U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), joined by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), introduced the Soil Conservation & Regeneration Education (Soil CARE) Act in the House of Representatives. This legislation would invest in regenerative agriculture education and help local farmers and producers be more resilient to extreme weather. Sens. Merkley and Wyden introduced the Senate version of this bill last week. U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), and Val Hoyle (OR-04) are original cosponsors of the legislation. “As we continue to suffer the effects of extreme weather in Oregon, it’s critical that our local farmers and producers have the tools they need to adapt. That includes helping them implement the latest regenerative agriculture and soil health management practices,” said Rep. Salinas. “This legislation will ensure USDA personnel and third-party service providers are properly trained and equipped to help producers rebuild degraded lands and increase profitability and resilience.” “Dynamic lands and ecosystems have defined Oregon for ages and have supported Oregon’s world-class agriculture industry,” said Sen. Merkley. “As climate chaos continues to make the West hotter and dryer, it’s important our farmers, ranchers, and land stewards have the resources and tools needed to keep their lands adaptable and resilient. This bill is a necessary step in keeping supporting farmers and ranchers across America.” “Farmers across the country continue to feel the devastating effects of the climate crisis. It is essential they be equipped with the tools they need to fully benefit from existing federal programs that will help,” said Sen. Wyden. “As the author of the Soil Health Demonstration Trial program in the last Farm Bill, I am all in for providing more tools to improve the resiliency of crops and the health of our planet.” Education and technical support are crucial for the successful implementation of conservation priorities in the US. Unfortunately, due to under-investment in training, as well as rapid advances in regenerative agriculture and soil health management systems, there is a knowledge gap that exists in supporting producers in building resilient and profitable agriculture systems. The Soil CARE Act would invest in more training and education for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) personnel and technical service providers (TSPs), ensuring they can offer adequate technical assistance to farmers and producers. Specifically, the Soil CARE Act would: Develop and deliver curriculum within one year of passage; Develop a nationally-available online training curriculum; Encourage all relevant USDA personnel (NRCS and TSPs) to complete online training within three years of the Farm Bill passage; Hold annual soil health workshops and training sessions; Dedicate resources to providing required continuing education for all NRCS and TSPs; and Require NRCS to use the training curriculum to develop soil health education materials for producers. The Soil CARE Act is endorsed by over 180 organizations and businesses, including OrCAN (Oregon Climate and Agriculture Network) and Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD), as well as members of the Regenerate America coalition which includes Kiss the Ground, the American Sustainable Business Network, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Green America, and Earthjustice. “Farmers and ranchers across the country are proving that through biological soil health management and regenerative practices such as cover crops, no-till, and holistic grazing, they can build healthy soil faster than ever thought possible–reducing costly chemical inputs, sequestering carbon, lessening impacts from floods and droughts, and increasing biodiversity. But while producers are ready to adopt these approaches, they don’t have access to the education and training needed to do so. The Soil CARE Act would provide the much-needed training to NRCS staff and technical service providers, so they can better support and train farmers and ranchers. We are grateful to Senators Merkley, Wyden, and Congresswoman Salinas for their leadership on soil health as a key solution to the climate, health, and water crises we face,” said Finian Makpeace, co-founder of Kiss the Ground, convener of the Regenerate America Coalition. “Farmers and ranchers that have adopted soil health management and regenerative practices are not only restoring healthy soils, they are building resilience on working lands. As a changing climate creates increasingly difficult growing conditions, and the U.S. continues to lose 4.6 tons of soil per acre each year, it is imperative that we invest in common sense solutions to ensure a strong future for American agriculture. The Soil CARE Act would put the USDA-NRCS on track to be an accessible source of education and training for farmers and ranchers across the country looking to successfully regenerate their land, and we are grateful to Congresswoman Salinas, Senator Merkley, and Senator Wyden for their leadership on this important issue,” said Ayesha Ali, Policy Manager at Kiss the Ground. In July, Salinas introduced another bill that would encourage farmers to adopt innovative soil health practices, bolstering their land’s resiliency and reducing carbon emissions. To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/davis-bonamici-moore-plaskett-horsford-champion-bill-expand-guaranteed-child,"Davis, Bonamici, Moore, Plaskett, Horsford Champion Bill to Expand Guaranteed Child Care Funding while GOP Fails to Help Working Families",2023-10-03,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.- On October 3, 2023, Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI), Representative Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI), and Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV) introduced the Building Child Care for a Better Future Act to dramatically increase guaranteed child care funding to address child care needs and create grants to enhance child care workforce, supply, quality, and access. The long-term solutions in this bill complement the Democratic Child Care Stabilization Act that addresses the immediate child care cliff created by Republican inaction so that no cliff occurs in the future. High-quality, affordable child care is essential to the economic well-being of families, businesses, and our country. Yet, child care places a major financial burden on American families. The price of child care can range from $5,357 to $17,171 per year depending on location and type of care. Astoundingly, the cost of center-based care for two children is more than the average mortgage in 41 states and more than the average annual rent in all 50 states plus DC. Households under the poverty line spend nearly one third of their income on child care, and increases in median childcare prices are connected to lower maternal employment rates. Further, the child care crisis hits families of color disproportionately hard. For a single parent who has never been married who is Black, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native, child care can cost 36%, 41%, or 49% of the median income, respectively, compared to only 31% for single White parents. Further, Latino and American Indian and Alaska Native parents disproportionately live in child care deserts. The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act addresses the child care needs of families and long-term stability of the child care system. Specifically, the bill: Helps working families with their child care needs by expanding guaranteed child care funding by increasing the Child Care Entitlement to States to $10 billion per year, almost tripling this funding from the current $3.55 billion per year. Further, the bill increases funding for tribes, tribal organizations, and territories. The bill builds on the Democrats’ permanent increase in guaranteed child care funding to states in 2021, which also provided the first-ever guaranteed funding allotments for the U.S. territories in the Child Care Entitlement to States. Creates new grants to improve child care workforce, supply, quality, and access in communities experiencing child care shortages. Funds could be used for any purpose under the Child Care Development Block Grant to address local needs, including: increasing child care slots; supporting workforce training and expansion; expanding operations of community or neighborhood-based family child care networks; and recruiting providers and staff. “High-quality, affordable child care is essential to the economic well-being of families, businesses, and our country,” said Rep. Davis. “The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act would provide $10 billion in guaranteed grants to states, tribes, and territories to make child care affordable. Further, the bill would create $5 billion in new grants to improve child care workforce, supply, quality, and access in communities experiencing child care shortages. It is critical that Congress acts now to help working families by stabilizing our nation’s child care system.” “Investing in child care is good for children, families, and the economy,” said Rep. Bonamici. “The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act will expand access to quality, affordable child care and make overdue investments in the child care workforce. This legislation recognizes the value of child care workers and early childhood educators by dedicating $5 billion to enhance child care supply and support the child care workforce. Thank you to Reps. Danny Davis and Gwen Moore and to Senator Ron Wyden for partnering on this important bill. I’ll continue to advocate for the resources and policies families and children need and the living wage caregivers deserve.” “All working families benefit when high-quality childcare is both accessible and affordable,” said Rep. Moore. “It’s clear we need to make equity-centered investments that make high-quality childcare more affordable and secures a living wage for childcare workers, so we can build a more inclusive economy that better supports women and people of color.” “As part of the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021, we expanded the Child Care Entitlement to States program to include U.S. territories like my district for the first time,” said Rep. Plaskett. “In this bill, we are significantly increasing this investment in childcare for American families living in U.S. territories and enhancing our commitment to equity. I am proud to see this legislation put forward to respond to the needs of all families struggling for childcare right now, and to the importance of having childcare available, accessible, and affordable. Overall, this is an unprecedented investment in childcare everywhere in the United States.” “Working families across Nevada and the country struggle to balance the cost of child care with the need to work to provide for their family,” said Rep. Horsford. “The poorest households spend more than a third of their income on child care than on their rent or mortgage. If we truly value the ability to live the American dream for all of our residents, we should remove the barriers that hold back our families from economic mobility and progress. This bill will boost our nation’s childcare infrastructure, providing grants to make it more affordable to working families and improving the workforce and quality of childcare in our communities.” The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act is championed by Senator Ron Wyden in the Senate and supported by multiple organizations, including: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Child Care Aware of America; Child Welfare League of America; Family Forward Oregon; First Five Years Fund; First Focus Campaign for Children; Home Grown; National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); National Association for Family Child Care; National Education Association; National Women’s Law Center; Prevent Child Abuse America; Save the Children; SEIU; and ZERO TO THREE. Organizational Quotations: Center for Law and Social Policy “Reliable and affordable child care is essential not only to working parents but to their employers and the larger economy. Yet, as the first round of pandemic-era child care funding expires on September 30, millions of families will experience increased financial hardship in paying for this vital care. Working and middle-class families throughout the country, especially families of color and families with low incomes, will be harmed by the rising costs of accessible, high-quality child care,” said Indivar Dutta-Gupta, President and Executive Director of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). “The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act would help address these disparities by creating a child care system that’s more equitable than today’s. We applaud Representatives Davis, Bonamici, Moore, Plaskett, and Horsford for introducing this bill and providing a path forward to a child care system that’ll truly meet the needs of families, the child care workforce, and the nation’s economy.” Family Forward Oregon “Child care is the work that makes all other work possible, and just like roads and bridges it is a part of our nation’s essential infrastructure. Every family deserves access to high quality, affordable, and culturally relevant child care, and every child care provider should be paid a wage that reflects the essential work they do. The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act moves us toward this vision and is the type of bold action that parents and child care providers are calling on Congress to take.” – Candice Vickers, Family Forward Oregon Executive Director National Association for the Education of Young Children “As the federal relief funding that has helped sustain the sector in recent years expires this week, providers are increasingly struggling to attract and retain high-quality early educators to meet the child care and early education needs of young children and their families. NAEYC is grateful to Representatives Davis, Bonamici, Moore, Plaskett, and Horsford for recognizing that a well-compensated, well-supported early education workforce is critical for growing the supply of high-quality care needed to help young children and their families thrive, and for investing sustained, significant resources to help states address these key goals.” –Michelle Kang, CEO ofNational Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) National Women’s Law Center “At a time when the United States is teetering on the edge of a severe child care crisis, the Building Child Care for a Better Future Act invests in this critical sector, providing funding to help states continue to strengthen their child care programs, retain high-quality educators, and expand access and affordability to families,” said Whitney Pesek, Director of Federal Child Care Policy at The National Women’s Law Center. Prevent Child Abuse America “High-quality childcare is foundational to the health and well-being of our children, families, and communities,” said Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Chicago-based Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America). “When parents have the resources and supports they need to care for their children, we can alleviate significant parental stressors and help parents to foster positive home environments where their young children can thrive. PCA America is pleased to support the Building Child Care for the Future Act. This will help to strengthen our workforce by ensuring more parents can access childcare services and stay employed.” Save the Children “Investments in child care are investments in an essential infrastructure that makes it possible for families to work and children to thrive. That’s why Save the Children is so pleased to endorse the Building Child Care for a Better Future Act, and applauds Representatives Davis, Bonamici, Moore, Plaskett, and Horsford for their leadership in introducing this important piece of legislation,” saidRoy Chrobocinski, Managing Director of Domestic Federal Policy at Save the Children. “Not only would this bill increase the overall level of child care funding to the states, but it would also provide much needed grants for child care facilities and the early education workforce.” ZERO TO THREE “The child care crisis in America isn’t new. Families – especially families with low income and in poverty and families of color – have long struggled to find high-quality, affordable care,” said Miriam Calderón, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE. “The child care system is facing a steep loss of public funding that will further harm babies, families, and early educators. The Building Child Care for a Better Future Act recognizes the important role stable federal investments play in building a stronger supply of high-quality care and provides much needed resources to strengthen our child care system. ZERO TO THREE thanks Representatives Davis, Bonamici, Moore, Plaskett, and Horsford for their long-standing leadership in supporting these critically needed investments.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-announces-new-dates-town-hall-meetings,Bonamici Announces New Dates for Town Hall Meetings,2023-10-02,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) released new November dates for the town hall meetings previously announced in Portland, St. Helens, and Hillsboro. The new dates are necessary because changes to the schedule of the U.S. House of Representatives now require the Congresswoman to be in Washington, D.C. during the previous town hall dates and times. The date and times for the weekend town hall meetings in Seaside and Tillamook are unchanged and will go forward as scheduled on Saturday, October 7th. Members of Bonamici’s staff will be at the town hall meetings to assist anyone who is experiencing problems with federal agencies such as the VA, Social Security Administration, or IRS. UPDATED: Portland Town Hall Meeting Monday, November 6, 2023 – 6 p.m. Multnomah Arts Center 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219 UPDATED: St. Helens Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, November 7, 2023 – 6 p.m. St. Helens Sr. Center 375 S 15th St, St Helens, OR 97051 UPDATED: Hillsboro Town Hall Meeting Thursday, November 9, 2023 – 6 p.m. Evergreen Middle School 456 NE Evergreen Rd, Hillsboro, OR 97124 NOTE: There are no changes to the October 7, 2023 Town Hall Meetings Seaside Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 7, 2023 – 11 a.m. Bob Chisholm Community Center 1225 Avenue A, Seaside, OR 97138 Tillamook Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 7, 2023 – 3 p.m. Tillamook Bay Community College 4301 Third Street Tillamook, OR 97141",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-torres-bonamici-davids-delbene-and-sens-heinrich-lujan-lead-bicameral,"Reps. Torres, Bonamici, Davids, & DelBene and Sens. Heinrich & Luján Lead Bicameral Bill to Commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day",2023-10-02,2023,2023-10,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Sharice Davids (KS-03), and Suzan DelBene (WA-01), along with Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), announced the reintroduction of the bicameral Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act to replace Columbus Day as a federal holiday and designate the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. “Our country has long failed to recognize and acknowledge its dark history of erasure and harm brought upon the first inhabitants of the Americas,” said Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35). “The Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act celebrates the 600+ tribes that inhabited the Americas for hundreds of years before the arrival of Western explorers. By designating Indigenous Peoples’ Day a federal holiday, we take a small but important step toward recognizing the injustices in our nation’s history and uplifting the vibrant traditions, history, and culture of all Indigenous communities – an integral part of the cultural fabric of the United States.” The Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act has garnered 56 House cosponsors. In the U.S. Senate, the legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). “Establishing Indigenous Peoples Day as a federal holiday is an opportunity to acknowledge the painful legacy of colonization that continues to be felt to this day and celebrate the countless contributions of Indigenous communities to our country,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01). “I’m grateful to join my colleagues in this effort to honor Indigenous people, history, and culture.” ""Indigenous Peoples' Day is an opportunity to commemorate Indigenous peoples' vibrant cultures and significant contributions to our nation — from before we became a union to today — and a day to acknowledge the persecution and discrimination that Native peoples have faced for centuries. As one of the first Native American women ever elected to Congress and a proud member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, I am honored to join my colleagues in calling for the national celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day,” said Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03). ""Indigenous Peoples' Day is an opportunity for us to unite in celebration of the rich tapestry of tribal nations, their diverse cultures, and the important contributions they have made to our communities,” said Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01). “Cementing this observance also acknowledges the current and historical injustices Indigenous communities face and renews our commitment to preserving their rights as we work toward a more inclusive and equitable society."" “Federally designating Indigenous Peoples' Day honors the strength and resilience of Tribal Nations while we continue our efforts to uplift Tribal communities and support Tribal sovereignty,” said Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM). “I'm proud to stand with Tribes and Pueblos who have led the way to re-frame this national holiday to honor all of the significant contributions and diverse cultures of Tribal communities.” “I’m proud to help lead the effort to officially designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day,” said Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). “Just as we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day in New Mexico, I hope to see Congress pass this legislation to do the same across the country. Native people play a vital role in society and in our nation’s history, especially in New Mexico – from serving in the military, teaching in the classroom, to running small businesses. Let Indigenous Peoples' Day serve as a celebration of Tribal Nations and serve as a reminder of the work ahead to fulfill the federal government’s trust responsibility to Tribes and Pueblos.” The Indigenous Peoples’ Day Act is endorsed by the Cherokee Nation, Navajo Nation, Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe, Barona Band of Mission Indians, National Congress of American Indians, All Pueblo Council of Governors, Indigenous Peoples' Initiative, National Council of Urban Indian Health, Association on American Indian Affairs, and the Pocahontas Project. “Cherokee Nation supports legislation replacing ‘Columbus Day’ with ‘Indigenous Peoples’ Day’ and applauds Congresswoman Torres and Senators Heinrich and Lujan for their continued leadership on this issue. It is past time for the United States to recognize the integral role Native people play in the history, economy, and future of our country. The second Monday of October will be a day for people across the United States to celebrate and honor the significant contributions of Native tribes as well as the beautiful culture of our Native people,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. ""Recognizing and celebrating the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of indigenous peoples is an essential step towards promoting understanding, equality, and respect. By replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, we acknowledge the resilience, wisdom, and enduring presence of indigenous communities, fostering unity and honoring the diverse tapestry of our nation's heritage. My thanks go out to Senator Heinrich and Congresswoman Torres for the introduction of the Indigenous Peoples Day Act in their respective houses,” said Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren. “Long before Christopher Columbus stumbled upon this continent, many nations of Native people sustained thriving societies across this country,” said NCAI Executive Director Larry Wright, Jr. “NCAI applauds Senator Heinrich, Senator Luján, and Representative Torres for re-introducing legislation designed to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day and create space dedicated to acknowledging the rich histories, vibrant cultures, and resilience of contemporary tribal nations and their citizenry, and NCAI urges Congress to pass this bill and sign it into law as expeditiously as possible.” “Indigenous Peoples' Day celebrates the invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous People and recognizes our inherent sovereignty. While the story of America is one of slow and uneasy steps forward, the celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day validates the ideas of this nation's founding. As a nation, I hope we can right wrongs and take another step toward a more perfect union,”said Indigenous Peoples’ Initiative Chairman Dylan O. Baca.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:49:26Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-votes-keep-government-open-avoid-shutdown,"Salinas Votes to Keep Government Open, Avoid Shutdown",2023-09-30,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the continuing resolution to keep the government open and avoid a shutdown: “As I have been saying for weeks, a government shutdown would be disastrous for the people of Oregon’s Sixth District and for our entire country. A shutdown would interrupt critical services and benefits for thousands of Oregonians, hurt our economy by delaying investments in Oregon’s semiconductor manufacturing industry, and prevent our servicemembers from getting paid. That is why I voted in favor of the continuing resolution to keep our government open and ensure working families can continue to put food on the table. At the same time, I recognize that this legislation is flawed. For starters, it does not include more assistance for Ukraine. We cannot abandon our allies, and I will continue working to ensure Ukraine gets the financial support they need to defend their democracy. The legislation also lacks additional funding to protect student loan borrowers—something I specifically called on leadership to include. While not perfect, it is my hope that by avoiding a shutdown today, we can work together to address these priorities and pass bipartisan, good-faith proposals that will fund the government through next year.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-armstrong-lead-bipartisan-call-increase-federal-defender-funding,"Bonamici, Armstrong Lead Bipartisan Call to Increase Federal Defender Funding",2023-09-27,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [09/27/23] –Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici [D-OR] and Kelly Armstrong [R-ND] led several of their colleagues in urging House and Senate Appropriations Committees to update the funding levels for Federal Defenders in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). Both the Senate and House Financial Services and General Government bills for FY24 rely on the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted funding level for Defender Services, which ignores that Defender Services had a carryforward of $110 million from the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. The bipartisan letter calls for providing at least $108 million higher than the House mark and $136 million more than the Senate mark to Defender Services. Without this update to the funding level, the Federal Defenders would likely have to cut their workforce by an estimated 9 - 12 percent. The loss of public defenders would ultimately have serious and expensive consequences on the administration of justice. “Preserving [the Federal Defenders] workforce as much as possible is essential to our justice system,” the Representatives wrote. “And as you are aware, an overwhelming majority of federal defender budgets are dedicated to personnel and space, with limited funds afforded for other case basics. Cuts to federal funding will have devastating effects, primarily, on vital personnel – paralegals, investigators, and attorneys.” The Federal Defenders, funded through Defender Services, are essential to the function of the federal court system. This critical program guarantees that indigent defendants are afforded their full Constitutional right to an attorney in federal criminal prosecutions. Importantly, if a federal defender is not available, attorneys are assigned from a Criminal Justice Act panel, which often results in higher cost. The letter is supported by: National Legal Aid and Defender Association, Due Process Institute, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Drug Policy Alliance, Americans for Prosperity, Prison Fellowship, Arnold Ventures LLC, R Street Institute, FreedomWorks, Project On Government Oversight, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, and Justice Action Network. In addition to Bonamici and Armstrong, the letter was signed by Reps. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Laurel Lee (R-FL), Henry “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR). The full text of the letter can be found here and copied below. Bonamici and Armstrong lead a bipartisan letter advocating for Defender Services funding annually. Additionally, they, along with Reps. González-Colón and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), introduced H.R. 3758, the Ensuring Quality Access to Legal (EQUAL) Defense Act. The EQUAL Defense Act is a bipartisan proposal to improve access to counsel nationally by addressing some of the problems that contribute to the shortage of public defenders at the state and local level. Dear Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, Chairwoman Granger, and Ranking Member DeLauro, Federal defenders are fundamental to the function of federal courts across the country. To preserve the operation of our justice system, we urge you to, at a minimum, pass funding for Defender Services that is $108 million higher than the House mark and $136 million more than the Senate mark. Although achieving a funding level of $1.519 billion is critical, this would only maintain current operations after cuts to training and needed information technology (IT) improvements. Instead, Congress should be passing full funding for Defender Services in line with the President’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024. Notably, both the Senate and House Financial Services and General Government bills, as currently proposed, rely on the Fiscal Year 2023 enacted funding level for Defender Services. This enacted level, however, does not take into account that Defender Services had a significant carryforward of $110 million from Fiscal Year 2022. Any funding legislation Congress passes for Fiscal Year 2024 should adequately compensate for this carryforward and address inflationary cost pressures. Without addressing this gap in funding, Federal Defenders in correspondence with our offices have estimated that this could, conservatively, result in a nine to 12 percent reduction in their current workforce. Nearly ninety percent of everyone charged with a federal crime cannot afford a lawyer and thus is constitutionally entitled to representation by a federal defender. Without enough federal defenders to fulfill this critical Sixth Amendment function, federal courts may come to a standstill. Preserving their workforce as much as possible is essential to our justice system. And as you are aware, an overwhelming majority of federal defender budgets are dedicated to personnel and space, with limited funds afforded for other case basics. Cuts to federal funding will have devastating effects, primarily, on vital personnel – paralegals, investigators, and attorneys. Because the Constitution requires the court to appoint counsel for individuals who cannot afford counsel, if there are fewer public defenders available the court must employ private attorneys. Although private Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys are dedicated to the public defense function and play a crucial role in guaranteeing conflict-free representation and preserving an experienced federal criminal defense bar, sending excess cases to the panel often incurs higher costs. Nearly 90 percent of federal criminal cases are handled by either a federal defender or a panel attorney hired under the Criminal Justice Act. The budgets and rates of panel attorneys must be approved before the case, and an unexpected increase in cases assigned to the panel—the inevitable consequence of underfunding the federal public defense system—may in fact increase costs on the federal judiciary. Panel attorneys are overwhelmingly small businessowners—solo practitioners and small-firm attorneys—who cannot afford the potential deferment in Criminal Justice Act payments that Defender Services may be forced to implement under the current Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations marks. They may also hold contracts with state and local governments to provide public defense services, which may be more demanding and generate more revenue should we not properly fund Criminal Justice Act defense services nationally. Instead, Congress should follow through on its Constitutional responsibility to adequately fund federal public defense. Nationally, we have seen a crisis at the state and local level of underfunded public defense. Accordingly, we urge you to provide adequate funding for Defender Services in both chambers’ Financial Services and General Government legislation or through supplemental appropriations legislation Congress may consider. Correcting the potential shortfall by providing at least $108 million higher than the House mark and $136 million more than the Senate mark to Defender Services will, at a bare minimum, maintain the right to counsel in federal court and continue the bipartisan support this program has historically received.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-announces-federal-grant-salem-police-department,Salinas Announces Federal Grant to Salem Police Department,2023-09-27,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $99,759 to the City of Salem Police Department. This federal funding will be used to help support the City’s community service officer (CSO) program and reduce wait times for emergency services. “Police officers work tirelessly to keep our community safe. But they shouldn’t have to do it all, especially when it comes to calls that don’t involve life-or-death situations,” said Rep. Salinas. “I’m glad to see this funding will go toward supporting the City of Salem’s community service officer program. Putting more trained CSOs on the ground will help reduce response wait times and ensure law enforcement is on the scene when they’re needed.” “The Salem Police Department is grateful for the continued support of the community service officer (CSO) program,” said Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack. “The grant opportunities through the Bureau of Justice Assistance have been essential in supplementing the capacity of our field operations. Our CSOs balance the work done by our patrol officers by handling requests for public assistance which do not require a police officer, which in turn, frees our sworn personnel to handle higher priority calls. Moreover, the CSO program is essential to our efforts to achieve efficiency and effectiveness within our field operations given our limited resources.” The City of Salem’s CSO program was created to help relieve sworn police officers of their duties where enforcement action and arrest powers are not required. CSOs are trained to process crime scenes for physical evidence and typically respond to non-emergency calls for service, including non-injury accidents, traffic control, cold burglaries, stolen vehicles, animal complaints, noise complaints, found property, and other events of a similar low priority. This grant was awarded as part of the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, which provides law enforcement with critical funding needed to support a wide range of programs—from mental health to crisis intervention and victim assistance. Click here to read more about the JAG program.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-oregon-representatives-urge-mccarthy-avert-shutdown-protect-oregon,"Bipartisan Oregon Representatives Urge McCarthy to Avert Shutdown, Protect Oregon Chips Industry",2023-09-26,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. House Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), delivered a bipartisan letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, urging him to avert a shutdown to protect Oregon’s semiconductor manufacturing industry. “The CHIPS and Science Act has ignited a technological revolution – one that Oregon’s workers, business, entrepreneurs, and consumers will reap the benefits of,” the members write. “As members of Congress, we have been working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the implementation of this law serves our communities. However, the prospect of a needless, costly government shutdown threatens to upend all that good work, putting Oregon’s status as a hub of innovation and progress in immediate peril.” Semiconductor manufacturing is Oregon’s top manufacturing sector in terms of employment, exports, and contribution to the state’s gross domestic product. On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology about the consequences that a shutdown could have on the rollout of CHIPS and Science Act funding. In her testimony, Secretary Raimondo emphasized that even a brief shutdown would be “crushing.” Government funding is set to run out on September 30, 2023. “A government shutdown would be an unforced error of the highest magnitude that would undermine the already tenuous credibility of this Congress and, worse still, inflict serious pain on Oregon’s economy,” the members continue. “As the September 30 deadline fast approaches, we urge you to seek a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that will ensure that our government remains open and operating for Oregonians and all Americans.” Read the full letter below or click here: Dear Speaker McCarthy, As members of the Oregon delegation, we write to express our profound concern regarding the catastrophic impact that a government shutdown could have on America’s semiconductor manufacturing sector. When President Biden signed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act into law last year, he reversed a decades-old trend of offshoring critical manufacturing roles at the expense of the American worker. Now, thanks to this transformative legislation, federal and state incentives are paving the way for sweeping private investment in this crucial sector, which happens to be Oregon’s top manufacturing sector in terms of employment, exports, and contribution to our state’s gross domestic product. Put simply, the CHIPS and Science Act has ignited a technological revolution – one that Oregon’s workers, business, entrepreneurs, and consumers will reap the benefits of. As members of Congress, we have been working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the implementation of this law serves our communities. However, the prospect of a needless, costly government shutdown threatens to upend all that good work, putting Oregon’s status as a hub of innovation and progress in immediate peril. On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology about the consequences that a shutdown could have on the rollout of CHIPS and Science Act funding. In her testimony, Secretary Raimondo emphasized that even a brief shutdown would be “crushing” and significantly “hurt America’s national security,” by preventing federal agencies from investing in our semiconductor manufacturing sector and domestic supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the disastrous ramifications of disinvesting in our domestic semiconductor manufacturing supply chain. Oregonians watched as new cars languished on lots, forced to wait months for the chips they rely on to function, all while prices for used cars went through the roof. We cannot afford to go back. A shutdown would interrupt American progress in research and development of critical emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, giving our competitors a leg up. It will erode trust from industry and researchers, spreading doubt that the United States is truly committed to leading the world in research and technology – a dangerous message to send to our international adversaries at a time of fierce global competition. All told, a government shutdown would be an unforced error of the highest magnitude that would undermine the already tenuous credibility of this Congress and, worse still, inflict serious pain on Oregon’s economy. As the September 30 deadline fast approaches, we urge you to seek a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that will ensure that our government remains open and operating for Oregonians and all Americans. Sincerely,",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-leads-oregon-colleagues-bipartisan-call-avert-shutdown-protect-oregon,"Salinas Leads Oregon Colleagues in Bipartisan Call to Avert Shutdown, Protect Oregon Chips Industry",2023-09-26,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), joined by U.S. House Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), delivered a bipartisan letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, urging him to avert a shutdown to protect Oregon’s semiconductor manufacturing industry. “The CHIPS and Science Act has ignited a technological revolution – one that Oregon’s workers, business, entrepreneurs, and consumers will reap the benefits of,” the members write. “As members of Congress, we have been working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the implementation of this law serves our communities. However, the prospect of a needless, costly government shutdown threatens to upend all that good work, putting Oregon’s status as a hub of innovation and progress in immediate peril.” Semiconductor manufacturing is Oregon’s top manufacturing sector in terms of employment, exports, and contribution to the state’s gross domestic product. On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology about the consequences that a shutdown could have on the rollout of CHIPS and Science Act funding. In her testimony, Secretary Raimondo emphasized that even a brief shutdown would be “crushing.” Government funding is set to run out on September 30, 2023. “A government shutdown would be an unforced error of the highest magnitude that would undermine the already tenuous credibility of this Congress and, worse still, inflict serious pain on Oregon’s economy,” the members continue. “As the September 30 deadline fast approaches, we urge you to seek a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that will ensure that our government remains open and operating for Oregonians and all Americans.” Read the full letter below or click here: Dear Speaker McCarthy, As members of the Oregon delegation, we write to express our profound concern regarding the catastrophic impact that a government shutdown could have on America’s semiconductor manufacturing sector. When President Biden signed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act into law last year, he reversed a decades-old trend of offshoring critical manufacturing roles at the expense of the American worker. Now, thanks to this transformative legislation, federal and state incentives are paving the way for sweeping private investment in this crucial sector, which happens to be Oregon’s top manufacturing sector in terms of employment, exports, and contribution to our state’s gross domestic product. Put simply, the CHIPS and Science Act has ignited a technological revolution – one that Oregon’s workers, business, entrepreneurs, and consumers will reap the benefits of. As members of Congress, we have been working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure the implementation of this law serves our communities. However, the prospect of a needless, costly government shutdown threatens to upend all that good work, putting Oregon’s status as a hub of innovation and progress in immediate peril. On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo testified before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology about the consequences that a shutdown could have on the rollout of CHIPS and Science Act funding. In her testimony, Secretary Raimondo emphasized that even a brief shutdown would be “crushing” and significantly “hurt America’s national security,” by preventing federal agencies from investing in our semiconductor manufacturing sector and domestic supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the disastrous ramifications of disinvesting in our domestic semiconductor manufacturing supply chain. Oregonians watched as new cars languished on lots, forced to wait months for the chips they rely on to function, all while prices for used cars went through the roof. We cannot afford to go back. A shutdown would interrupt American progress in research and development of critical emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, giving our competitors a leg up. It will erode trust from industry and researchers, spreading doubt that the United States is truly committed to leading the world in research and technology – a dangerous message to send to our international adversaries at a time of fierce global competition. All told, a government shutdown would be an unforced error of the highest magnitude that would undermine the already tenuous credibility of this Congress and, worse still, inflict serious pain on Oregon’s economy. As the September 30 deadline fast approaches, we urge you to seek a bipartisan, bicameral resolution that will ensure that our government remains open and operating for Oregonians and all Americans. Sincerely, Members of Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-salinas-uaw-strike,Representative Salinas on UAW Strike,2023-09-23,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“I stand firmly with the United Auto Workers members currently on strike – including those who live and work in Oregon’s Sixth District. “When the federal government bailed out the Big Three in 2008, the UAW agreed to temporarily freeze their wages and forgo certain pension and health care benefits to keep these manufacturers afloat. Their sacrifice saved the auto industry from certain collapse. Yet, these workers were never made whole. “That kind of greed is intolerable. It is why I’m proudly in solidarity with my UAW brothers and sisters, and will be until their struggle is won. We must restore fairness for all workers in Oregon and across the United States. We are in this together.” Oregon’s Sixth District includes the Stellantis Facility in Beaverton, where UAW Local 492 members are currently on strike.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-colleagues-launch-bipartisan-rural-health-caucus,"Salinas, Colleagues Launch Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus",2023-09-22,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"On Wednesday, September 20, 2023, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) joined her colleagues for the first meeting of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, a new legislative caucus that aims to provide a forum for Members of Congress to advocate for legislation and policy actions that increase access to quality, affordable health care and mental health services for all rural Americans. “No one should have to travel for hours through treacherous terrain to see a doctor. But for so many in rural Oregon, this is simply reality,” said Salinas, a founding member of the caucus. “That’s why I’m proud to be a founding member of the Rural Health Care Caucus. Together, we will find ways to increase access to quality, affordable health care – including mental health care – for our rural communities.” 33% (1,405,705) of Oregon’s population lives in rural areas. According to the Oregon Office of Rural Health, Oregon’s Sixth District encompasses 20 officially designated rural communities: Amity, Aumsville, Aurora, Carlton, Dallas, Dayton, Donald, Dundee, Falls City, Gervais, Hubbard, Lafayette, McMinnville, Monmouth, Newberg, Sheridan, St. Paul, Willamina, Woodburn, and Yamhill. “As Oregon continues to experience an unprecedented mental health and substance use crisis, it’s even more critical that we address these issues now,” Salinas continued. “I’m excited to get to work, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to unite behind this caucus and its important mission.” The Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus is chaired by U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) and Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.). Members of the caucus include U.S. Representatives Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Sam Graves(R-Mo.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Mike Turner (R-Ohio), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.), Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-CNMI), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Andy Barr (R-Ky.), Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Ann Kuster (D-N.H.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Becca Balint (D-Vt.), Nikki Budzinksi (D-Ill.), Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.), Donald Davis (D-N.C.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), and James C. Moylan (R-Guam).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-kiley-introduce-bipartisan-bill-protect-students-fentanyl-poisoning,"Bonamici, Kiley Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Students from Fentanyl Poisoning",2023-09-21,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Click here to watch a conversation about the FACTS Act with Reps. Bonamici and Kiley, Song for Charlie, Beaverton School District WASHINGTON, DC [9/21/23] – On National Opioid Awareness Day Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Kevin Kiley (R-CA) introduced legislation to save lives by educating students about the dangers of accidental fentanyl poisoning. The Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act will replicate local education programs that have successfully curbed student deaths from synthetic opioid overdose. The bill will also develop a federal interagency task force to fight the synthetic opioid crisis through education and prevention and improve federal education and health data collection efforts to understand and highlight the effects of synthetic opioids on youth. The FACTS Act was inspired by the Beaverton School District’s Fake and Fatal fentanyl awareness curriculum in Oregon, which has successfully prevented student deaths since its launch. Jon and Jennifer Epstein, who lost their son Cal to fentanyl poisoning when he mistakenly took a fake pill, have been instrumental in creating the curriculum and advocating for its expansion. “We can save lives by educating students, families, and educators about the dangers of fake pills laced with fentanyl,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Jon and Jennifer Epstein turned their grief into action after they lost their son Cal, helping create an educational program to keep students safe. I’m introducing the bipartisan FACTS Act with Congressman Kiley to make effective awareness programs like Fake and Fatal available to more students across the country and put a stop to tragic deaths from accidental fentanyl poisoning.” “Awareness saves lives. Educating our young people about the fentanyl crisis and the perils of fake pills will go a long way towards stopping further tragedies in our communities,” said Rep. Kiley. “I want to thank Laura Didier of Song For Charlie. After losing her son Zach, Laura has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and has undoubtedly saved lives through her efforts. I am grateful to Representative Bonamici for partnering with me on this vital legislation and am hopeful it receives strong bipartisan support in the House.” “An accidental fentanyl poisoning forever changed our family,” said Jon and Jennifer Epstein. “Like many youth still today, Cal had no idea that something 50x more powerful than heroin was being made into fake pills that look exactly like real pharmaceuticals and sold on social media for a few bucks. Cal shouldn’t have bought what he thought was prescription medicine online, which was a horrible mistake; however, had no idea the risk he was taking which sadly turned out to be fatal. The FACTS Act is sure to reduce the number of families from suffering the devastation ours did by giving youth the latest facts and information about today’s drug landscape, delivered by trustworthy sources. We’re incredibly grateful to Rep. Bonamici and the other members for bringing forward and supporting this valuable legislation; closing the knowledge gap will undoubtably save young lives and lessen the future burden of harmful substance use. There are no magic wands in this crisis and this is far from the only thing needed, but this will certainly make a significant difference.” “As a mother who lost a child to this scourge, I am grateful to see two members of Congress from opposite sides of the aisle introduce this legislation. I want to thank Representative Kiley and Representative Bonamici for introducing the Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act, which will bring awareness to this issue and save lives,” said Laura Didier, Outreach Coordinator at Song for Charlie. Only 2 in 5 young Americans consider themselves knowledgeable about fentanyl, according to Song for Charlie. The organization, which is dedicated to raising awareness about fake pills, also found that only 36 percent of teens are aware that fentanyl is being used to create counterfeit pills. The FACTS Act is endorsed by: Song for Charlie; American Federation of Teachers (AFT); National Education Association (NEA); National PTA; National Association of School Psychologists (NASP); AASA, The School Superintendents Association; National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP); National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP); National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); American Psychological Association (APA); National Association of Counties (NACo); and US Conference of Mayors. “Fentanyl and counterfeit pills are putting our school-age youth at higher risk of overdose than ever before,” said Ed Ternan, President of Song for Charlie, a nonprofit that educates kids and families about the fentanyl crisis. “Collaboration between public health and education is key to designing effective programs, and this bill provides the resources for these local partnerships.” “National PTA applauds Representative Bonamici for introducing the FACTS Act. We are pleased that this legislation would provide funding for professional development and to establish and strengthen partnerships between public health agencies, nonprofit organizations and state and local education agencies to help raise awareness and prevent the use of fentanyl by children and teens,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA, the nation’s oldest and largest child advocacy association. “The solution to the problem of substance use by youth requires a collaborative effort, and this bill is a step in the right direction toward bringing interested parties together.” ""Fentanyl education works,"" said Dr. Gustavo Balderas, Superintendent of the Beaverton School District, where a robust fentanyl awareness program, called Fake & Fatal, has been in practice since April 2021. ""When you intentionally and consistently inform students and their families about the dangers of fake pills made from deadly fentanyl, you equip them with the knowledge to make life-saving decisions. It is my hope that this legislation will provide other school districts around the country with the tools and encouragement to implement curriculum and support systems that save lives."" A fact sheet on the FACTS Act can be found here, a section-by-section summary can be found here, and the full text can be foundhere. The legislation: Creates a pilot grant program at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for partnerships between local or state educational agencies (LEAs or SEAs), local or state public health agencies, and nonprofit organizations to provide education, awareness, and prevention regarding the misuse of synthetic opioids; Convenes an interagency task force led by the Secretaries of HHS and Education (ED) to coordinate and improve federal responses to synthetic opioid overdose and misuse in youth. The task force will also include officials from HHS, ED, and subagencies within each respective agency; parents of youth who died from an overdose of fentanyl or another synthetic opioid; and representatives from national nonprofit organizations working to raise awareness about and prevent misuse of synthetic opioids by youth; Makes amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to provide professional development for school personnel regarding synthetic opioid misuse and overdose, and make amendments to LEA and SEA plans required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to describe how they will engage teachers, school leaders, parents, and other entities to address and prevent the misuse of synthetic opioids by youth; Makes amendments to key federal education data collection efforts, including the Civil Rights Data Collection and the National Center for Education Statistics’ School Crime and Safety Data, to identify the prevalence of synthetic opioids in public secondary schools and disciplinary outcomes for students using or in possession of synthetic opioids in public secondary schools; Allows school-based health centers to use their funding for Naloxone to increase the availability and accessibility of a critical overdose reversal drug in school settings; and Makes amendments to the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Monitoring the Future Survey, and conducts an evaluation of the effectiveness and reach of the CDC’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System. The FACTS Act is cosponsored by Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR). Bonamici also reintroduced her bipartisan Safe Disposal of Opioids Act, which would make it easier for people to safely get rid of unnecessary prescription medication. With this legislation, approximately 10,000 prescription disposal bins would be placed in community pharmacies and other health care settings where patients receive medication.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-announces-5-town-hall-meetings-october,Bonamici Announces 5 Town Hall Meetings in October,2023-09-20,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"UPDATE [10/02/23]: New dates for town hall meetings in Portland, St. Helens, and Hillsboro have been announced. WASHINGTON, DC [9/20/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced five town hall meetings across the First Congressional District, which includes large portions of Washington and Multnomah counties, along with Clatsop, Tillamook, and Columbia counties. Bonamici will answer questions from residents and provide an update about her work in Congress. The town hall meetings will be in St. Helens, Hillsboro, Seaside, Tillamook, and Portland. “Town hall meetings give me an opportunity to hear directly from the people of NW Oregon about what matters to them,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I’m looking forward to meeting with constituents in each of the counties I represent, and encourage all who are able to attend.” Members of Bonamici’s staff will be at the town hall meetings to assist anyone who is experiencing problems with federal agencies such as the VA, Social Security Administration, or IRS. St. Helens Town Hall Meeting Wednesday, October 4, 2023 – 6 p.m. St. Helens Sr. Center 375 S 15th St, St Helens, OR 97051 Hillsboro Town Hall Meeting Thursday, October 5, 2023 – 6 p.m. Evergreen Middle School 456 NE Evergreen Rd, Hillsboro, OR 97124 Seaside Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 7, 2023 – 11 a.m. Bob Chisholm Community Center 1225 Avenue A, Seaside, OR 97138 Tillamook Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 7, 2023 – 3 p.m. Tillamook Bay Community College 4301 Third Street Tillamook, OR 97141 Portland Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, October 10, 2023 – 6 p.m. Lincoln High School 1750 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR 97205",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-landsman-introduce-commonsense-legislation-increase-funding-child,"Bonamici, Landsman Introduce Commonsense Legislation to Increase Funding for Child Care Providers, Improve Child Care Nutrition",2023-09-19,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) introduced commonsense legislation endorsed by more than 40 national organizations to increase funding for child care providers and improve child care nutrition. Their Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Actwould address financial challenges faced by child care providers across the country who utilize the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) – a key federal program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that reimburses child care providers for meals and snacks they serve to more than 4.2 million children each day in participating family child care homes, child care centers, Head Start programs, and after school programs. Child care providers are facing significant financial barriers in operating the Child and Adult Care Food Program owing to insufficient reimbursement rates and outdated policies – issues that further exacerbate the ongoing child care crisis in the country. For example, some family child care providers currently receive as little as 59 cents in reimbursement through the Child and Adult Care Food Program for each breakfast they serve to children in their care. The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act would increase the reimbursement for that breakfast to $1.75. Increasing reimbursements is essential to filling the gap between food preparation costs that child care providers incur and the reimbursements they currently receive through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. In real dollars, the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act would mean: A family child care provider serving 7 children could receive an additional $475 a month or $5,700 a year in reimbursements A Head Start program or child care center serving 100 children could receive an additional $600 a month or $7,200 a year in reimbursements To achieve these results, the Child Nutrition Enhancement Act would modify the Child and Adult Care Food Program by: Eliminating a two-tiered reimbursement rate system for family child care providers where reimbursement rates vary depending on the level of local poverty Providing a 10-cent increase – tied to inflation – to existing reimbursement rates for all eligible meals and snacks provided through the program Allowing family child care providers to serve reimbursable meals and snacks to their own children when serving meals and snacks to children in their care “Child care providers play an essential role in feeding millions of children healthy meals and snacks,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “Unfortunately, outdated policies and the rising cost of food are cutting into the funds child care providers need to stay open and offer quality care. The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act is a commonsense way to support child care providers as we face a national crisis in care and help more children access healthy foods.” “We are facing a child care crisis in this country, and we need commonsense leadership and solutions to address these challenges,” said Congressman Landsman. “Working with more than 40 national organizations that are dedicated to improving children’s lives and outcomes, we’re putting forward a responsible legislative solution that will invest real dollars that will help child care providers remain open, while improving the meals we serve to children every single day.” ""The National CACFP Sponsors Association applauds Congressman Greg Landsman and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici for introducing this important legislation supporting the Child and Adult Care Food Program community,” said Lisa Mack, President and CEO of the National CACFP Sponsors Association. “The CACFP is critical for the infrastructure and nutrition security of child and adult care. Eliminating tiering and increasing reimbursement is needed to mitigate the challenges of the increased food and operational costs facing providers and will help combat food insecurity and support small business. Without these changes, providers will likely continue to drop out of the program, close their child care altogether or pass the meal burden on to parents."" ""Rising costs are putting immense pressure on our already strained child care system, leading many providers to consider closing their doors,” said Lee Saunders, President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). “The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act can ease the burden. The bill will boost funding for essential programs like the Child and Adult Care Food Program, getting providers the investments and reimbursements they need to continue to deliver nutritious meals to our children. Thank you to Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Bonamici for leading on this crucial legislation to get much-needed relief to our hardworking child care providers and the families they serve."" “FRAC applauds the introduction of the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act, introduced by Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Bonamici,” said Luis Guardia, President of the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). “The bill would help strengthen the support provided by the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program to child care centers, homes and Head Start. This would be a game changer for improving nutritional and health outcomes for infants and young children. FRAC urges Congress to pass this bill to ensure that all children, especially in households with low incomes, have access to quality care and nutritious meals and snacks.” “Child care providers, at risk afterschool programs, adult day health programs, and emergency shelters work hard to provide meals through CACFP,” said Samantha Marshall, Director of Programs and Policy for CACFP Roundtable. “The partial reimbursement is not enough to keep pace with the continued rising cost of food, gas, and labor. We often hear that the meals served in these settings are the only meals the children and adults receive. Eliminating tiering and adding the 10 cents as proposed in this legislation will ensure the nutritional quality of the meals served and create a pathway for increased participation as directors can better justify the program participation in their budgets and family child care providers are less likely to pay out of pocket for the meals served in their care. Thank you, Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Bonamici, for championing this impactful legislation.” “Groceries simply cost so much more than the current partial reimbursement, and families and child care providers are struggling to ensure that children are not hungry while in care,” said Alexandra Patterson, Director of Policy and Strategy at Home Grown. The two-tier payment system has been deeply damaging to the field, and contributed to a historic reduction in the number of family child care homes participating in CACFP. Eliminating payment disparities and increasing the subsidy is essential to keeping family child care homes open and addressing the child care crisis. We are thrilled to have Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Bonamici championing this important change.” The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act has been endorsed by 40+ national organizations: Abriendo Puertas All Our Kin American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) CACFP Roundtable Caring Across Generations Center for Law and Social Policy Child Care Aware of America Child Welfare League of America Children’s Defense Fund Coalition on Human Needs Community Change Action Council of Administrators of Special Education Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children Early Care and Education Consortium Early Learning Ventures Educare Learning Network First Children’s Finance First Focus Campaign for Children Food Research and Action Center Home Grown IDEA Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association KidKare by Minute Menu KinderCare Learning Companies National Association for Family Child Care National Association for the Education of Young Children National Association of Counties National Black Child Development Institute National CACFP Forum National CACFP Sponsors Association National Child Care Association National Education Association National Health Care for the Homeless Council National Women’s Law Center Nurture Opportunities Exchange ParentChild+ RESULTS Save the Children School Nutrition Association Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Start Early ZERO TO THREE The full text of Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Bonamici’s Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-legislation-increase-access-arts,Bonamici Introduces Legislation to Increase Access to Arts,2023-09-15,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [9/15/23] – During National Arts in Education Week, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation to increase access to the arts for students. Bonamici’s Arts Education for All Act – introduced with Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM) – will help close gaps in access to arts education by supporting and encouraging arts education and programming for young children, K-12 students, and youth and adults involved in the justice system. “The arts spark creativity, critical thinking, and empathy in students,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “These skills benefit and enrich students throughout their lives regardless of what path they take. It is unacceptable that there is less access to arts education for students from Black, Latino, and low-income families, especially when research shows that students who have arts education perform better in math, reading, and writing. I wrote the Arts Education for All Act to help address these disparities. And with student mental health as a top concern, the arts can help bring healing and wellness.” “Despite the positive impact arts education has on children’s lives and well-being, the arts are often the first programs to be cut in schools. As ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees arts and humanities funding, and as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus, I am continuously advocating for the arts in Congress. And while I’m grateful for existing federal support for arts education, programs should be more accessible for students and educators to get more involved,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “Fortunately, Mainers recognize that the arts are powerful tools for development and creativity—which is exemplified by our thriving and vibrant communities. Our Arts Education for All Act will help ensure our educators have the resources they need to maintain and expand arts programming so every American child – no matter their zip code or background – has access to an enriched, creative learning experience.” ""Art teachers across my district shared stories of the power that arts education has on our youngest children. It opens up a love for learning and allows them to thrive in new and exciting ways. The arts also help us celebrate our cultures, our identities, and communities,"" said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández. ""I'm proud to join Rep. Bonamici on the Arts Education for All Act to give educators the support they need to expand arts programming experiences for children of all ages. It will ensure they can foster a learning environment that promotes creativity, expression, and healing through art."" The Arts Education for All Act has been endorsed by more than 100 national, state, and local organizations and individuals, including Americans for the Arts and Grantmakers in the Arts. Supporters from Oregon include the City of Portland. “The Arts Education for All Act will help bring the power of arts education to early childhood programs, low-income K12 students and systems-involved youth on a scale we haven’t seen before,” said Eddie Torres, President and CEO, Grantmakers in the Arts. “By empowering childcare, K12 schools, and programs serving systems-involved youth, this bill has the potential to enrich lives and expand educational opportunities for millions,” said Eddie Torres, President and CEO of Grantmakers in the Arts. “The arts community, but most importantly the children of our nation, owe a great deal of thanks to the innovative and continued leadership of Congresswoman Bonamici on this critical legislation.” “The National Association for Music Education is proud to endorse the Arts Education for All Act, introduced by Representative Suzanne Bonamici,” said NAfME President Scott R. Sheehan. “As an association, we work towards a future where every child has access to a high-quality music education that helps foster their creative potential. The Arts Education for All Act brings us closer to that future, by increasing the number of arts educators in schools, ensuring arts instruction is standards based and sequential, and offering a pathway for evaluating existing arts courses in schools. The Arts Education for All Act would also expand arts programming to youth in the juvenile justice system, bringing the positive benefits of an arts education to students who previously lacked access to this vital resource.” “School budgets often don't include much – if any – funding for related arts classes and programs. There simply isn't enough support for these offerings – even though research has shown that the arts stimulate the mind. The Carnegie Center especially promotes the literary arts. When school children engage in creative writing classes, their overall writing skills and self-expression also improve. This bill would help ensure that students get access to related arts classes, like creative writing, that will help them explore and express their voices.” – Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning The full list of endorsements can be found here. The Arts Education for All Act will support and encourage arts education and programming for youth and adults in early learning centers, K-12 schools, and juvenile justice facilities by: Improving arts programming in caregiving and early education Providing support for arts access in K-12 schools Making professional development for arts educators a priority Increasing the usability and accessibility of data on access to arts education Integrating the arts in afterschool and summer learning programs Facilitating arts education in the justice system Allowing arts education to be used in reentry and recidivism reduction efforts A summary of the Arts Education for All Act can be found here, and the full text can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-salinas-celebrates-first-day-hispanic-heritage-month,Representative Salinas Celebrates First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month,2023-09-15,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), a leader in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and one of the first Latinas to represent Oregon in Congress, released the following statement in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month: “I’m proud to commemorate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month today. For Latinos in Oregon and across the country, this is a month of recognition, celebration, and reflection. We recognize the struggles and contributions of our community. We celebrate our ancestry and rich cultures. And we reflect on the sacrifices Latinos have made throughout history. “Oregon’s Sixth District is home to the largest Latino population in our state – a fact I’m tremendously proud of. Across our community, Latinos are starting families, opening businesses, and putting down roots, bringing with them a strong work ethic and incredible breadth of talents that will help our state and our society flourish. “Yet for all our success, there is still so much work to be done to move our community forward. We must break down barriers to education, health care, and housing. We must level the economic playing field for Latino workers and entrepreneurs. We must finally create a path to citizenship for Dreamers and other immigrants who contribute so much to this country’s success. And to achieve that and more, we must elect more Latinos to public office and encourage the next generation to get involved. Because Latinos deserve to have their voices heard wherever decisions are made. Not just today, not just this month, but every single day of the year.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-celebrates-us-forest-service-grants-salem-oregon-department-forestry,"Salinas Celebrates U.S. Forest Service Grants to Salem, Oregon Department of Forestry",2023-09-15,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service will award two essential grants for Oregon’s Sixth District: $1 million to the City of Salem, and $22,857,196 to the Oregon Department of Forestry. These grants will be used to help plant and maintain more trees, combat extreme heat and climate change, and improve access to green spaces in our communities. “Making our communities more resilient to climate change is existentially important, and I’m proud to see more funding coming to Oregon that will help us accomplish that goal,” said Rep. Salinas. “Thanks to these investments, the City of Salem and Oregon Department of Forestry will be able to plant more trees and expand our green spaces. I am also glad to learn that native trees grown in Oregon nurseries will be prioritized. All in all, these grants represent a win not only for greener cities and healthier people, but also for Oregon’s vital nursery industry and our state’s economy as a whole.” “We’re incredibly grateful to Congresswoman Salinas for fighting for our community and for her work to curb the catastrophic effects of climate change. These funds will be instrumental in helping our local efforts,” said Salem Mayor Chris Hoy. Studies show that trees in communities are associated with improved physical and mental health, lower average temperatures during extreme heat, and increased food security, and create new economic opportunities. This historic funding will help the Forest Service support projects that increase tree cover in disadvantaged communities, provide equitable access to the benefits of nature, and deliver tangible economic and ecological benefits to urban and Tribal communities in Oregon and across the country. To learn more about this funding opportunity, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-introduces-hope-and-mental-wellbeing-act,Salinas Introduces HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act,2023-09-15,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), a member of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, introduced the Helping Out Patients for Emotional (HOPE) and Mental Wellbeing Act. This legislation requires the Medicare and Medicaid programs to provide three behavioral health visits per year at no cost to participants in the program. “Like so many other states, Oregon is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis right now. And it’s past time for Congress to take action on this critical issue,” said Rep. Salinas. “That’s why I’m so excited to introduce the HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act, a bill that would grant three free annual mental health care visits to all those insured by Medicare or Medicaid. More than half of all adults with a mental illness receive no treatment. In Oregon alone, that comes out to nearly 450,000 adults. By requiring Medicare and Medicaid to cover three annual mental health visits, we can help chip away at the number of untreated adults in this country.” Specifically, the HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act provides three behavioral health care visits at no cost sharing (no copayments, deductibles, or coinsurance) to beneficiaries of Medicare (Parts B and C) and Medicaid. These visits can be used for outpatient behavioral health services, non-specialty medical services, and care coordination services for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or management of a behavioral health condition. “Seeking help takes tremendous courage,” continued Rep. Salinas. “When you’re struggling with your mental health, the last thing you should have to worry about is how much it’s going to cost you to get care. My hope is that this bill will help get someone in the door and out of a crisis, without them having to worry about yet another potential point of mental stress.” “As a provider of mental health and addiction treatment services in Salem, Oregon Bridgeway supports Congresswoman Salinas’ HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act as it will work to reduce stigma and increase access to necessary treatment services,” said Tim Murphy, CEO of Bridgeway Recovery Services. “Too often, people forgo needed mental health care because of high out-of-pocket costs,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “We thank Rep. Salinas for introducing the HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act, which would allow people covered by Medicaid and many on Medicare to access up to three behavioral health care visits a year without any cost sharing – making mental health care more in reach for many Americans. NAMI is proud to support this crucial legislation.” “New Narrative is grateful for Congresswoman Salinas' championing efforts in mental health. We are optimistic that the HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act is the next right step toward mental health recovery for Oregonians,"" said Julie Ibrahim, CEO of New Narrative. “This measure will provide access to critical healthcare for the most vulnerable populations we serve.” “Older adults and people with disabilities continue to suffer from heightened issues in behavioral health and challenges to access. The HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act will begin to bring needed options to help seniors and people with disabilities find the services and supports they need,” said Rebecca Miller, Chair of the Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities (O4AD). The HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act is cosponsored by Representative Grace Napolitano (CA-31), chair of the Mental Health Caucus. It is supported by the Oregon Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities (O4AD) and Bridgeway Recovery Services.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-colleagues-introduce-bill-extend-vital-child-care-funding-and-save,"Bonamici, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Extend Vital Child Care Funding and Save Millions of Families' Child Care Spots as Funding Cliff Looms",2023-09-13,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Representative Bobby Scott (VA-3), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16) introduced the Child Care Stabilization Act to extend vital federal child care stabilization funding—which is set to expire at the end of this month—and ensure that child care providers can keep their doors open and continue serving children and families in every part of the country. When the pandemic pushed the already-fragile child care sector to the brink of collapse, Democrats in Congress responded by delivering historic federal investments to save the sector from collapse and prevent families from losing their child care spots—including $24 billion in child care stabilization funding. The funding has made an enormous difference for families across the country—keeping 220,000 child care providers afloat over the last few years and saving child care slots for up to 10 million kids nationwide—but it is set to run out on September 30, 2023, threatening to once again push the sector to the brink, with dire consequences for families and our nation’s economy. The Child Care Stabilization Act would prevent a potential crisis when funding expires at the end of the month by providing $16 billion in mandatory funding each year for the next five years to continue the successful Child Care Stabilization Grant program. This investment would ensure child care providers continue to receive a stable and reliable source of funding to help them deliver high-quality and affordable child care for working families across the country. “During the pandemic, Democrats answered the call of parents and providers and invested $39 billion into our child care system. This historic relief funding allowed parents to return to work, businesses to survive, and our economy to recover,” said Democratic Whip Clark. “We can’t turn back now. Child care is economic infrastructure—it is critical to growing the economy by growing the middle class. We must urgently enact the Child Care Stabilization Act to protect the financial security of families and workers and maintain our progress in the fight for affordable, high-quality care for all.” “There was a child care crisis even before the pandemic—and failing to extend these critical investments from the American Rescue Plan will push child care even further out of reach for millions of families and jeopardize our strong economic recovery,” said Senator Murray. “This is an urgent economic priority at every level: child care is what allows parents to go to work, businesses to hire workers, and it’s an investment in our kids’ futures. The child care industry holds up every sector of our economy—and Congress must act now.” “We have a child care crisis in America that we have got to address. If Congress does not act soon, over 3 million kids are in danger of losing their child care slots, over 230,000 child care workers could lose their jobs, and child care facilities all over our country could be forced to close their doors,” said Senator Sanders. “That would be unacceptable. In the richest country in the history of the world, we can and we must make sure that every kid in America has access to high quality, affordable child care. If we can afford to spend over $1 trillion on tax breaks for the top one percent and large corporations making record-breaking profits, we can afford to provide working class families with the child care they desperately need. This legislation is needed now more than ever.” “America’s families are facing a child care crisis – and is imperative that we step up to stop it. Ensuring access to affordable and accessible child care is essential; as our economy strengthens under President Biden, we need to continue to ensure all Americans – especially women – can access the workforce, a critical aspect of which is reliable access to dependable child care,” said Leader Schumer. “The Child Care Stabilization Act will avert the nightmare scenario too many American families stay up at night worrying about by providing mandatory funding to support high-quality childcare. As Majority Leader, I will always fight for America’s children and families.” “Too many families are struggling to find reliable, affordable child care or preschool and feel like they’re on their own. The child care crisis predated the pandemic, but the funding provided in the American Rescue Plan kept centers afloat during their darkest hours,” said Senator Casey. “Without new investments, parents will have a harder time finding care, which in turn impacts businesses and local economies. It’s time for the government to step up and set up our kids and families for success by making a meaningful investment in child care and the child care workforce.” “The lack of affordable child care in America is holding our families, workers, and economy back,” said Senator Kaine. “Parents are locked out of the workforce because they can’t find care for their kids. Workers who are passionate about child care are being squeezed out of their field because they can’t pay their bills. If we let critical child care stabilization funding expire, things are only going to get worse. Millions of families who will otherwise lose their child care are depending on Congress passing this legislation to extend these urgently-needed funds.” “Across the country, affordable child care is out of reach for too many families, stopping parents from getting back to work, hurting our economy, and preventing kids from getting the strong start they deserve,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to help address this crisis and expand access to child care with the American Rescue Plan, delivering long-overdue relief for providers and middle-class families. But now, that progress is on the line. We must pass this legislation to lower costs for working families, help Wisconsin businesses meet the demand for workers, and grow our economy.” “When parents go to work, they need affordable and reliable child care,” said Ranking Member DeLauro. “As the Top Democrat on the Labor Health and Human Services Subcommittee on Appropriations, I understand this intimately and have worked hard to increase the annual appropriation to the Child Care and Development Block Grant by more than 52 percent over the last 4 years. We must work to safeguard and strengthen these investments so families can thrive. That is why I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Child Care Stabilization Act, legislation that will extend grants to help support the child care industry and ensure that children and families have access to the child care they need.” “In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress provided critical funding to save the child care sector from collapse and ensure access to affordable child care for working families. This essential relief was a powerful reminder that, when we invest in affordable child care, we improve the strength and future of children, workers, and our economy,” said Ranking Member Scott. “Regrettably, the lack of affordable child care often forces Americans to choose between their careers and caring for their children. The most recent poverty data from the Census Bureau underscore the importance of continuing policies that help families make ends meet. Now is not the time for Congress to abandon the federal investments that kept child care centers afloat and helped families find affordable care. We must pass the Child Care Stabilization Act and provide sustained funding that will support child care workers, expand access to high-quality learning, and empower parents to pursue rewarding careers.” “This is an emergency,” said Representative Bonamici. “Child care stabilization grants have been essential for child care providers and the families they serve, and without the grants hundreds of providers will likely close and millions of children could lose their child care slots. This funding demonstrated that federal investment can increase access to quality, affordable child care. We cannot let this funding expire. I’m helping to lead the Child Care Stabilization Act to extend these grants because it’s a good investment for children, families, and the economy.” “As the federal child care funding cliff quickly approaches, the Child Care Stabilization Act will protect economic security for New Jersey parents and help keep the doors open for more than 1,000 child care centers across the Garden State,” said Representative Sherrill. “We know that child care isn’t just a women’s issue — it’s an economic issue for families and businesses alike. As a mother of four school-age children, I know firsthand many of the challenges parents navigate when searching for affordable child care, and I’m going to continue fighting for them to bring costs down and keep doors open across New Jersey.” “Ask any parent in America, and they'll tell you that the cost of child care is expensive and out of reach for too many families, disproportionately burdening women who often bear the primary responsibility for childcare. I founded the first-ever Congressional Dads Caucus to do our part to bring fathers' voices to the fight for legislation that uplifts working families—and affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care is an essential part of our agenda,” said Representative Gomez. “Our bill would prevent looming child care funding cliffs that could cause 3.2 million children to lose child care and jeopardize the jobs of 232,000 child care workers. For families' economic success and stability, and for our nation's economy as a whole, we call on House Republicans to join us in extending this funding and making child care affordable for every parent.” “House Republicans’ silence and inaction on the impending child care cliff is deafening. In San Diego, it’s already incredibly hard to find and afford child care, but allowing this crucial funding to expire would worsen the already-dire crisis and hurt women the most,” said Representative Jacobs. “It would force caregivers to leave the workforce and child care providers to close their doors, stifling the economic progress that we’ve made since the pandemic. That’s why we need to immediately pass the Child Care Stabilization Act to protect these jobs, this essential care, and our economic recovery. This is so much bigger than politics and I hope our Republican colleagues will join us in immediately passing our bill and extending this emergency child care support.” “Thanks to the American Rescue Plan we were able to save thousands of child care programs and maintain the support and access that they offered for families, but those programs are at risk yet again,” said Representative Bowman. “We know how critical child care is for supporting our kids’ cognitive development and unlocking their brilliance over the long-term, as well as for strengthening whole families and communities. As we continue to recover from the pandemic and build an America that works for all people, we must prioritize the programs that millions rely on so that our kids, families, and economy can thrive. That means maintaining and expanding our investments in child care so that we are not faced with a social and economic disaster caused by leaving 3 million kids without care. I’m proud to join Whip Clark in protecting American families by introducing the Child Care Stabilization Act. With this legislation, we can continue to grow the child care sector and prevent a crisis for families and care workers alike.” Unless action is taken to extend funding for the child care sector, families, providers, and our entire economy will feel the consequences—with fewer families able to find and afford the child care they need to go to work and thrive. A report released by Senators Sanders and Murray in May details how, when stabilization funding expires at the end of the month, child care programs may have to serve fewer children or be forced to raise tuition for families or cut wages for child care workers, who are already paid poverty-level wages. A separate analysis from The Century Foundation finds that if Congress does not provide additional funding for the nation’s child care sector, more than 70,000 child care programs—one-third of those supported by stabilization funding—could close, causing approximately 3.2 million children to lose their child care spots and jeopardizing jobs for 232,000 child care workers. The loss in tax and business revenue could cost states $10.6 billion in economic activity per year. Additionally, millions of parents will likely leave the workforce or reduce their hours, which could cost families an estimated $9 billion each year in lost earnings. 35 Senators are original cosponsors of the legislation, including: Senators Murray, Sanders, Schumer, Baldwin, Blumenthal, Booker, Brown, Cardin, Casey, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Fetterman, Gillibrand, Heinrich, Hirono, Kaine, King, Klobuchar, Luján, Markey, Menendez, Merkley, Murphy, Padilla, Reed, Shaheen, Smith, Stabenow, Van Hollen, Warnock, Warren, Welch, Whitehouse, and Wyden. 78 Representatives are original cosponsors of the legislation, including: Representatives Katherine Clark, Rosa DeLauro, Bobby Scott, Suzanne Bonamici, Jamaal Bowman, Jimmy Gomez, Sara Jacobs, Mikie Sherrill, Alma Adams, Becca Balint, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Shontel Brown, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Cori Bush, Yadira Caraveo, Salud Carbajal, Troy Carter, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Yvette Clarke, Gerald Connolly, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Henry Cuellar, Danny Davis, Donald Davis, Veronica Escobar, Lois Frankel, Josh Gottheimer, Raúl Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Andy Kim, Annie Kuster, Greg Landsman, Barbara Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Seth Magaziner, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Morgan McGarvey, Rob Menendez, Gwen Moore, Jared Moskowitz, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Richard Neal, Donald Norcross, Scott Peters, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Katie Porter, Ayanna Pressley, Jamie Raskin, Deborah Ross, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Andrea Salinas, John Sarbanes, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Terri Sewell, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Lori Trahan, David Trone, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jennifer Wexton, Susan Wild, and Nikema Williams. The Child Care Stabilization Act is endorsed by: National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), ZERO TO THREE, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Children’s Defense Fund, Save the Children, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Association for Family Child Care, Child Care for Every Family Network, Family Values at Work, Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, MomsRising/MamasConPoder, Oxfam America, All Our Kin, Community Change Action, Prevent Child Abuse America, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, Small Business Majority, First Focus Campaign for Children, Parents Together Action, Prevent Child Abuse America, United Parent Leaders Action Network (UPLAN), YWCA-USA. “The entire country depends on child care. The clock is ticking. Congress must act before stabilization grants expire on September 30,” said Lorella Praeli, Co-President at Community Change Action. “The situation will worsen when another round of ARPA funds for child care expire in 2024. If Congress doesn't act now, child care slots will disappear, child care providers and parents will be at risk for losing their jobs, and there will be more instability in every facet of our lives. As always women, especially women of color, and our kids will be hit the hardest. Our families, youngest kids, and the childcare workforce need a lifeboat. These grants saved nearly 10 million child care slots and protected more than 1 million child care jobs. The choice to pass the Childcare Stabilization Act should be easy.” “The initial childcare stabilization funds were a lifeline for entrepreneurs working to keep their doors open during the pandemic,” said John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO, Small Business Majority. “These funds proved critical for small business childcare providers, as well as small employers struggling to maintain their workforce. Allowing these childcare investments to expire will disrupt the entire small business community, disproportionately impacting under-resourced and rural small businesses. We proudly support the Child Care Stabilization Act, which will allocate the funding needed to stave off the looming childcare crisis while supporting working parents and small business owners alike.” “Our nation’s child care system is on the verge of collapse and after years of underinvestment, and the stress of the pandemic, millions of working families will be left with few or no options for quality child care. This is not a situation where we can or should simply accept that fate,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Working people need solutions and lawmakers must come together immediately to take action and pass the Child Care Stabilization Act now.” “SEIU members are proud to stand with Senator Murray and Senator Sanders who are listening to early childhood educators and families across the country,” said SEIU International President Mary Kay Henry. “The Child Care Stabilization Act can help our country avert the worst of disasters looming over working families by ensuring that children and those caring for them have the child care they need and can avoid disruptions to their lives. This bill also helps ensure childcare workers can continue to use their power to push states to raise standards for the workforce and quality of care.” “We are grateful to Sens. Murray and Sanders and Rep. Clark and their colleagues for introducing the Child Care Stabilization Act, a bill that tackles head-on the challenges facing our nation’s child care system,” said Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children. “This bill would provide a solid foundation for high-quality, affordable and accessible child care — the kind of system that supports children, families and child care professionals. The kind of system we all want — and know we can have, if Congress makes the good choices that support the best interests of children.” “Investments in the child care sector during COVID led states to make critical improvements in child care affordability, access, and support to providers. But that progress is at risk unless Congress provides additional funding,” said Indivar Dutta-Gupta, President and Executive Director at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). “Without added resources, we will further exacerbate long-standing inequities in the child care system and compromise positive improvements. We welcome the Child Care Stabilization Act as an essential solution that would prevent working families from losing access to care and allow states to continue building toward a system that really works for children, families, and providers—and the economy as a whole.” “The Child Care Stabilization Act would help families across the country escape some of the most devastating impacts of the child care cliff and extend a lifeline to parents and providers,” said Julie Kashen, Director of Women’s Economic Justice and Senior Fellow at the Century Foundation. “We know how important it is for children and families, not to mention our economy, to have reliable, affordable child care in every community—and to pay the people who do that vital work a living wage because without them, there is no child care system. I am grateful for Senator Murray, Chairman Sanders, Leader Schumer, Representatives Clark and DeLauro for their leadership on this bill and their partnership in fighting for federal child care investments that our children and their families need to thrive.” “The Child Care Stabilization Act is direly needed by families all over the country, to protect the child care of three million children and keep 70,000 child care providers open,” said Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns and Advocacy at Caring Across Generations. “We deserve to live in a country where children and caregivers have community, support, and fully funded solutions for all their care needs. Supporting the Child Care Stabilization Act and investing in a better child care system will help millions access the care they deserve, provide good child care jobs, contribute to family stability and financial security, and benefit the economy.” “Early educators, including those caring for children in home-based settings, are facing a crippling loss of funding at the end of this month of September. The Child Care Stabilization Act would provide much-needed resources to prevent millions of families from losing access to child care and thousands of programs from being forced to close their doors,” said Erica Phillips, Executive Director of the National Association for Family Child Care. “The National Association for Family Child Care is grateful to Senators Patty Murray and Bernie Sanders as well as Representatives Katherine Clark and Rosa Delauro for their unwavering support and especially leading this legislation that would make critical investments in our nation’s child care system and prevent a crisis.” “Last fall, more than 12,000 early educators and providers shared with NAEYC the widespread and critical impact that child care stabilization funding had in sustaining their programs and supporting their staff, as well as their anxieties about what would happen to their programs and the families they serve when that funding ran out. With stabilization funding officially expiring at the end of this month, and with many programs having already received their last round of support, we are already seeing their fears play out in real time—early educators are leaving to find other jobs as wages stagnate, programs are closing their doors for good, and families are facing increased challenges in accessing affordable, high-quality care,” said Michelle Kang, NAEYC Chief Executive Officer. “The Child Care Stabilization Act addresses these concerns head-on by extending funding for a program that we already know has worked to keep high-quality early educators open and equipped to serve young children and their families in communities across the country. We thank Senators Murray and Sanders, and Representatives Clark, DeLauro, Scott, Bonamici, Bowman, Gomez, Jacobs, and Sherrill for their leadership in introducing this critically needed legislation, and we look forward to working with them and all Members of Congress who care about the needs of young children and their families to ensure early educators have the supports they need to help families and communities thrive.” “The $52 billion in pandemic-era federal supplemental funding helped hundreds of thousands of child care educators, including family child care educators and small business owners, keep their doors open and serve working families with high-quality, flexible care in recent years,” said Jessica Sager, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of All Our Kin. “If these resources are allowed to expire without any sort of remedy, millions of children and their families around the country will lose access to care, as many of these small businesses will be forced to close. The Child Care Stabilization Act would ensure families, especially those from low-income backgrounds, have access to care for their families, and therefore the ability to stay in the workforce. Our leaders must step up and ensure children and families have access to the crucial high-quality early education opportunities that are key to their development and empower them for success later in life.” “American families are already feeling the pinch of rising costs. Unfortunately, when federal funding for child care runs out this month, parents are going to be forced to pay more or cut back at work, hurting families and our economy,” said Sondra Goldschein, Executive Director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy. “The Child Care Stabilization Act would stave off the worst impacts of the child care funding cliff and make sure working families have the tools and opportunities they need to build a good life. We’re thankful to those who have championed this critical legislation and urge Congress to send it to the president’s desk.” “Now is not the time to play politics with our children’s futures. When the COVID childcare stabilization funds expire, this nation will go over a childcare cliff that will see 3.2 million children lose their child care and 70,000 child care centers closed,” said Josephine Kalipeni, Executive Director of Family Values @ Work. “We are at a pivotal moment in this nation’s history. Will Congress make permanent investments in child care to show working families they value them and their contributions? Or will they refuse to act, displaying a cowardice that will cost children, their families, and the economy? Care work is everyone’s work. We demand that all of our legislators promote care in policy and practice; that they demonstrate the power of care by prioritizing the needs of children and working families. The Child Care Stabilization Act is a strong first step to prevent the childcare cliff, but we also need the creation of a stronger social support network that ensures that all of the resources needed to take time to care––including paid leave with job security and progressive wage replacement, and affordable childcare–are available to all. We call on all political leaders to take action. This is an issue that impacts all families–no matter how they vote, where they work, or where they live.” “YWCAs around the country can attest to the disastrous consequences child care providers and the families they care for will face if Congress fails to invest the resources needed to avert the child care cliff and stabilize funding for this essential sector of our economy and our communities,” said Margaret Mitchell, CEO of YWCA USA. “Child care providers are the backbone of our economy, and it is time we recognize their value by swiftly passing the Child Care Stabilization Act.” “The Child Care Stabilization Act will ensure that the most vulnerable families across the country can continue to access critical child care services, without interruption,” said Javier Martínez, Managing Director of National Policy, Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors. “The risk of more than 3 million families losing child care overnight will reverberate throughout the economy and result in unspeakable hardship to American families, far and wide.” “Access to high-quality childcare is a significant stressor for parents of young children across our country,” said Melissa Merrick, President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. “This is especially true for families with less access to resources. The Child Care Stabilization Act will ensure that childcare is available to more parents so they can stay employed without the worry of their children being nurtured and cared for.” A one-pager on the Child Care Stabilization Act is available HERE. Legislative text is available HERE. Event photos and livestream are available HERE and HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-announces-youth-mental-health-substance-use-prevention-grant-tualatin,"Salinas Announces Youth Mental Health, Substance Use Prevention Grant to Tualatin Together",2023-09-13,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $375,000 to Tualatin Together as part of its Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) grant opportunity for projects of regional and national significance. “As a member of Congress and the mother of a teenager, protecting our children is of paramount importance to me,” said Rep. Salinas. “The co-occurring substance use and mental health crises pose an imminent threat to young people in every corner of our state, and the federal government must intervene before more of our children have their lives cut short by preventable tragedies. This grant will allow Tualatin Together to continue doing its critical work to educate and empower young people across Oregon’s Sixth District. We must make prevention a priority.” “This opportunity to combine the much-needed focus on mental health with programs to prevent the first time a youth might use alcohol or substances is pivotal for our community,” said Cyndy Hillier, Executive Director of Tualatin Together. “The impacts of the pandemic have altered the way we need to serve our youth. This grant affords us the time and funds to look holistically at youth in the Tigard-Tualatin School District and partner with schools, parents, community partners and other key leaders to ensure we are supporting the protective factors and reducing risk factors for youth to live their best lives.” According to Mental Health America, Oregon has the highest percentage of youth who have experienced at least one major depressive episode, and the third highest percentage of youth who have reported a substance use disorder in the past year. In April, Salinas joined her Oregon colleagues in calling on the U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to work with local school districts to combat the opioid overdose crisis among youth, as the rate of Oregon teens who die after overdosing on drugs continues to grow faster than any other state. She also hosted U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra for a roundtable discussion on tactics to mitigate the spread of fentanyl in Oregon.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-calls-mccarthy-reject-partisanship-prioritize-funding-fight-fentanyl,"Salinas Calls on McCarthy to Reject Partisanship, Prioritize Funding to Fight Fentanyl Crisis",2023-09-13,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) delivered a letter to Speaker Kevin McCarthy, calling on him to reject attempts by the far-right House Freedom Caucus to politicize the Appropriations Process. Specifically, Salinas points out that partisan attempts to inject the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill with anti-LGBTQ2SIA+ and anti-choice “riders” will stall the passage of critical funds needed to combat the fentanyl crisis in Oregon and across the U.S. “Injecting the FY 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill, and other key funding bills, with anti-LGBTQ2SIA+ and anti-choice riders isn’t just morally reprehensible – it’s downright dangerous,” writes Salinas. “It diminishes the likelihood of this bill’s passage, jeopardizing much-needed funds and resources that could be put to good use in the most at-risk communities.” Fentanyl and other highly-addictive, synthetic opioids accounted for nearly 88% of all opioid-involved deaths in 2021, up by more than 22% from 2020 to 2021. In Oregon alone, the amount of seized fentanyl in high intensity drug trafficking areas increased from 690 counterfeit pills in 2018 to more than 2 million in 2022. “Now more than ever, we must unite behind bold, bipartisan efforts to curb the spread of fentanyl and the synthetic opioids at the heart of this disturbing trend,” continues Salinas. “Congress cannot afford to delay – nor can it afford to be hijacked by partisan extremists who continue to stand in the way of progress.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-announces-federal-grant-health-clinics-salem-portland,"Salinas Announces Federal Grant to Health Clinics in Salem, Portland",2023-09-07,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued awards to two local health centers as part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Bridge Access Program, which aims to ensure that uninsured and underinsured American adults continue to have access to free COVID-19 vaccinations. The awardees, Northwest Human Services in Salem and Neighborhood Health Center in Portland, will receive $20,694 and $40,572 respectively. “As fall fast approaches, we must ensure that our communities are protected against a potential spike of COVID-19 cases,” said Rep. Salinas. “The CDC’s Bridge Access Program will guarantee that uninsured and underinsured Oregonians can access the COVID-19 vaccine at no-cost to them or their family. By providing crucial support to local health centers, we can meet people where they are and strengthen the overall health and wellbeing of our communities.” According to the Oregon Health Authority’s 2021 Health Insurance Survey, approximately 4.6% of people in Oregon are uninsured. The lack of health insurance is highest among Latino and Indigenous communities, with approximately 10.8% of Oregon’s Latino community uninsured during the time of the survey. Click here to learn more about the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:35:26Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-hoyle-announce-boem-hold-public-meetings-comments,"Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle Announce BOEM to hold Public Meetings for Comments on Offshore Wind Energy",2023-09-06,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle today announced that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will host public meetings on two draft proposals for wind energy off the Oregon coast and opened a 60-day public review and comment period. “Renewable energy is an essential piece of the strategy to combat the climate crisis. However, local communities and fishermen have to be at the center for decisions about offshore wind projects that affect their livelihoods,” Wyden said. “I have repeatedly urged the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to do a better job of including all Oregonians’ voices while considering the potential for siting wind energy options off the Oregon Coast, and I’m gratified to see it’s making good on that promise. I encourage Oregonians to voice their concerns so a workable solution can be reached.” “Offshore wind holds significant potential to boost much needed renewable energy, but it must be deployed in partnership with our existing fishing industries,” Merkley said. “These consultations provide an opportunity for BOEM and existing stakeholders to share their vision and concerns and to work out a plan that will make wind deployments highly compatible with existing maritime industries.” “Offshore wind has great potential to help address the climate crisis with clean energy while creating thousands of good construction and technician jobs,” Bonamici said. “We have an opportunity to get this right, but all perspectives must be considered as we transition. I’m grateful that BOEM will be holding public meetings on the proposed floating offshore wind energy areas, and I encourage everyone who cares about this issue to make your voices heard.” “We must transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy, but we need to do it right,” Hoyle said. “I believe local communities need to be at the table when plans are made. I'm glad the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is hosting public meetings to ensure they are hearing directly from Oregon’s coastal communities."" Today’s announcement follows Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici and Hoyle pushing BOEM to extend the public comment period and to hold open public meetings on the draft wind energy areas. The draft wind energy areas cover about 219,568 acres offshore southern Oregon with their closest points ranging from about 18 – 32 miles off the coast. A map can be found on BOEM's website. A 60-day public comment period is underway, and BOEM has scheduled several public meetings to outline information used to inform the draft areas and to present next steps in BOEM’s offshore wind leasing area identification process. Virtual Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Meeting Monday, Sept. 18, 2023; 9:00 a.m. – 2:00p.m. Registration link is posted on BOEM’s website. Informational Fishing Webinar (fishing data focus): Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023: 5:00 pm – 8:00 p.m. Registration link to be posted on BOEM’s website soon. In-person public meetings: Gold Beach, Oregon Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023; 4:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Event Center at the Beach Docia Room 29392 Ellensburg Avenue Coos Bay, Oregon Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023; 4:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Coos Bay Public Library, Myrtlewood Room 525 Anderson Avenue Brookings, Oregon Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023; 4:00p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Southwest Oregon Community College - Curry Campus, Commons Room 96082 Lone Ranch Pkwy Additional information, including registration and details on how to submit written comments on the draft WEAs can be found at www.boem.gov/Oregon.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-national-suicide-prevention-month,Salinas on National Suicide Prevention Month,2023-09-01,2023,2023-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) issued the following statement on the first day of National Suicide Prevention Month: “September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a time to spread awareness about the resources and treatment options available to those struggling with their mental health. Oregon has the 17th highest rate of suicide in the nation, despite being the 27th most populous state in America. This disparity paints a grim picture of the prevalence of suicide in our communities and underscores the pressing need to take further action. “For the last several months, I’ve championed my HOPE and Mental Wellbeing Act, bold legislation that would make mental health care more accessible to some of the most at-risk individuals in our communities. I’ve also dedicated myself to raising awareness and shattering stigma by speaking openly about the many mental health challenges that Oregonians face. Today, I commit to continuing to seek solutions to the mental health crisis in our state, including the devastating and disproportionately high number of suicides we suffer each year. I will work with federal, state, and local partners, as well as stakeholders, health care providers, and those directly impacted by this epidemic to ensure that suicide prevention and other important mental health issues don’t fade into the background of our political dialogue. This month and every month, we must speak out and step up – it’s the only way we’re going to save lives.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:37:48Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-celebrates-grant-tipsu-palach-park-dundee,Salinas Celebrates Grant to Tipsu Palach Park in Dundee,2023-08-29,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the National Park Service will award $287,175 to the Tipsu Palach Park Development project. The City of Dundee, through Oregon’s Parks and Recreation Department, will utilize this grant to complete the development of Tipsu Palach Park including the construction of a restroom building, concrete walkway, picnic shelter, overhead canopies, tables and benches, bike work-station, water fill station, water garden, landscaping, and interpretive signage. “When we invest in our local parks, we invest in the quality of life for the entire community,” said Rep. Salinas. “The National Park Service’s grant to Dundee’s Tipsu Palach Park will ensure its successful completion with high-quality amenities for all to enjoy. The park’s name, derived from the Grand Ronde’s spoken Chinuk Wawa language, means plant gift – and it’s certainly true that this park will be a gift to all, from our local flora and fauna to the many thousands of individuals who will enjoy it for years to come. I cannot wait to visit this historic park, a living embodiment of the deep bond between the City of Dundee and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.” The National Park Service’s investment will directly benefit the 3,300 people who call Dundee home, as well as the 27,500 individuals who reside in the Chehalem Parks District. The Tipsu Palach Park will also be especially beneficial to the estimated 400 individuals who live in nearby low-income housing and aren’t currently served by a neighborhood park.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-lawmakers-announce-more-6-million-statewide-enhance-cybersecurity,Oregon Lawmakers Announce More than $6 Million Statewide to Enhance Cybersecurity,2023-08-17,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas today announced Oregon would receive more than $6 million from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for crucial cybersecurity upgrades for state and local governments. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we passed made clear that infrastructure is more than roads and bridges; it’s also cybersecurity,” said Rep. Bonamici. “As state and local governments increasingly provide online services, it’s important that the information of families and individuals —especially sensitive personal information—is secure. This $6+ million grant will help state and local governments in Oregon better serve their constituents and protect privacy and sensitive data.” “The constant and ever-evolving threat of cyberattacks demands a rigorous and unflinching commitment to protect privacy and preserve safety in Oregon and nationwide,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified to see dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I worked to pass go toward protecting essential services for Oregonians with enhanced cybersecurity for state and local governments.” “We must be prepared to take on the threat of cyberattacks on our critical infrastructure at the local level, as these attacks pose a significant security risk not only to Oregon, but to our nation,” said Sen. Merkley. “Investing in managing and reducing systemic cyber risk will only help to strengthen and safeguard Oregon’s critical infrastructure systems to ensure we’re able to stand up to this growing security challenge.” “Cybersecurity, like roads, bridges and transit is infrastructure essential to the safety of our communities. FEMA’s investment in cybersecurity infrastructure is essential to help Oregon prepare for and protect against the reality of cybercrime in the 21st century,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “From retirement savings to credit accounts, health data to driver’s license information, cyberattacks pose a serious risk to every Oregonian,”said Rep. Salinas. “As these incidents become more common, the federal government must step up its efforts to protect our communities and mitigate the danger. FEMA’s $6 million award to Oregon will help our state improve its ability to anticipate, prevent, and respond to future cybersecurity threats, and I’m grateful to the Biden Administration for doing its part to crack down on cybercrime.” “Just this year Curry County was victim to a ransomware attack. I’m pleased that this funding will go toward helping local governments in Oregon protect against cyber attacks, particularly in our rural and coastal communities,” said Hoyle. “We need to be reinvesting in our local communities to protect Oregonians’ privacy and ensure that important services are not sabotaged.” State and local governments are facing increasingly sophisticated threats to their critical infrastructure and public safety. These funds protect communities across the nation from these persistent threats by helping governments build the skills, knowledge, and capabilities to manage cyber risk. The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program was created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It provides $1 billion in funding to program partners over four years to assist with managing and reducing systemic cyber risk. A web version of this release is here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-salinas-senators-wyden-and-merkley-announce-300000-grant,"Representative Salinas, Senators Wyden and Merkley Announce $300,000 Grant to Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to Combat Opioid Epidemic",2023-08-15,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) and U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $300,000 to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for opioid overdose response. These funds are part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), an initiative aimed at reducing substance use disorder fatalities in high-risk rural communities. “As the federal government works to combat the spread of opioids, it cannot afford to overlook rural and tribal communities,” said Representative Salinas. “That’s why I’m glad the Department of Health and Human Services will award $300,000 to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for opioid overdose response programs. Indigenous communities face significant obstacles to substance use disorder care, and these funds will help break down barriers to ensure our most at-risk communities get the help they urgently need.” “Oregonians in every nook and cranny of the state have had their lives torn apart by the opioid crisis, and that includes members of the tribes that have inhabited this land since time immemorial,” said Senator Wyden. “I’m gratified to see these funds go to help the Grand Ronde people prevent and respond to opioid overdoses, but this scourge demands a comprehensive response and this federal investment in prevention, treatment and more will help. I’ll keep battling to provide all the resources needed to address this crisis with the urgency it requires.” “Across our state, I’ve heard heart-wrenching stories from Oregonians who have lost loved ones and lacked the support needed to prevent overdoses,” said Senator Merkley. “This critical funding will help the Grand Ronde community with the resources they need to combat this crisis. This is just the start of what Oregonians need to eventually end the opioid crisis.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of drug overdose deaths nationwide has quintupled since 1999. Between 2019 and 2020, opioid-involved death rates increased by 38% and synthetic opioid-involved death rates increased by 56%. In 2021, Oregon saw 779 opioid overdose deaths, which accounted for 67% of all drug overdose deaths in the state.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-hoyle-press-feds-provide-more-opportunities-oregon,"Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle Press Feds to Provide More Opportunities for Oregon Coast to Weigh in on Draft Wind Energy Areas",2023-08-11,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle said today they are urging federal officials -- if draft wind energy areas for the Oregon Coast are released -- to schedule three public meetings on the Coast for public review, and also to double the comment period from 30 days to 60 days. The letter with those requests from the four Oregon lawmakers to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Elizabeth Klein comes in response to concerns from coastal communities, the fishing industry and Tribes that their voices have been left out of the process to develop wind energy areas along the South Coast. “Deploying clean energy is imperative to move our country forward and meet our climate goals, but it’s also important to have robust community engagement throughout the entire process to ensure any project is done responsibly,” wrote Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici and Hoyle. “In order to facilitate meaningful engagement, we ask that you specifically plan and facilitate in-person meetings in communities that would be impacted by the development of wind energy off of Oregon’s South Coast if you move forward with the leasing process.” Members of the Oregon delegation wrote the agency in June 2022 with their concerns that Tribes, coastal communities, and fishing communities had been left out of the initial planning process – and reiterated those same concerns last month. “While your response letter in July of 2023 explained a number of efforts BOEM is working on to engage and inform the public, we remain concerned the process is not adequately engaging all voices in the planning process,” they wrote. “It is critical that BOEM develops a deep appreciation of all community interests and fully studies every opportunity to reduce conflict with all ocean users before making substantial development decisions.” “Following the release of the draft wind energy areas, we urge you to proactively solicit input on the draft plan during the formal comment period and answer questions in a timely fashion to allow for informed comments,” the Oregon lawmakers wrote. “We also request that you extend the comment period to 60 days. We request that you set up three public, in-person meetings in Oregon coastal communities to hear directly from them. The entire letter is here. A web version of this release is here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-schrier-introduce-legislation-upgrade-food-bank-infrastructure,"Bonamici, Schrier Introduce Legislation to Upgrade Food Bank Infrastructure",2023-08-09,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [8/9/23] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced a bill to address infrastructure needs for food banks and other emergency food organizations that serve vulnerable Americans. The Supporting Transportation Organization and Refrigeration Expansion (STORE) Act would improve The Emergency Food Assistance Program’s (TEFAP) Infrastructure Grant program to better support food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries serving rural communities. It would also provide additional resources for infrastructure and outreach to underserved communities, including low-income and Tribal communities. “We provided resources for food bank infrastructure and outreach capacity in the American Rescue Plan, but food banks across Oregon and the country still have unmet capital improvement needs,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “In my conversations with food banks across NW Oregon, I’ve heard about the need to upgrade refrigerators and freezers to add cold storage capacity that would allow for food banks to distribute more fresh and healthy produce while reducing waste. I’m introducing the STORE Act with my colleague, Congresswoman Schrier, to help food banks better serve our communities and address food insecurity.” “I’m proud to join Rep. Bonamici in the introduction of the STORE Act to strengthen the infrastructure support for food banks in Central Washington and beyond,” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. “This bill works in tandem with The Expanding Access to (EAT) Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act we introduced earlier this year, seeking to improve TEFAP and put more emphasis on procuring produce from local farmers. This bill compliments TEFAP by funding refrigeration and transportation of fresh and frozen foods. If enacted, this bill will be a huge win for our communities battle against food insecurity and a win for our farmers.” The legislation is supported by Feeding America and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. ""The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, moves nutritious food from U.S. farms to local food banks to families facing hunger,” said Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer at Feeding America. “But food banks are often left to fill the gap in funding for the hefty costs of storing and distributing these foods. In fiscal year 2022, the funds provided by Congress covered, on average, only 34% of the total projected cost for Feeding America food banks to store and distribute TEFAP foods. The STORE Act, introduced by Reps. Bonamici and Schrier, would help food banks offset the rising costs of refrigeration and fuel to distribute food throughout their local communities, especially rural and under-resourced communities. Strengthening TEFAP is a win-win for people experiencing food insecurity, food banks and farmers. We urge Congress to help ensure food banks have the infrastructure and resources they need by including this important legislation in the final 2023 Farm Bill."" TEFAP provides direct support to emergency food organizations, including federally purchased foods and administrative funding. Within TEFAP, the Emergency Food Program Infrastructure Grants program is intended to bolster the capacity of food banks located in underserved communities, primarily rural areas, to serve those who most need access to food. Despite this serious need for assistance, TEFAP Emergency Food Program Infrastructure Grants have not been fully funded for several years. To combat hunger and address overdue infrastructure needs, the STORE Act would: Update the TEFAP Infrastructure Grants program through Fiscal Year 2028 and increase annual funding by $10 million; Include mobile and home delivery options and assessments of outreach activities as allowable activities; Align the structure of the TEFAP Infrastructure Grants program with the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Initiative by distributing funds through state TEFAP agencies; Direct USDA to issue a report on cold storage needs for all emergency food organizations nationally; and, Provide that Tribal, remote, and low-income communities get preference in distributing this funding. A summary of the bill can be found here, and the bill text is available here. As a member of the Congressional Hunger Caucus, Congresswoman Bonamici has long supported evidence-based solutions to end hunger, expand access to nutritious foods, and bolster our nation’s food system. Bonamici and Schrier also introduced the Expanding Access to (EAT) Healthy Foods from Local Farmers Act, which would provide additional funding and flexibility for the TEFAP Farm to Food Bank program. Food banks are on the frontline in the fight to end hunger, but often lack the funding to make significant infrastructure upgrades. Fully funding TEFAP, which supports local food banks, is one of the recommendations in the report Congresswoman Bonamici submitted to the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-smith-beatty-introduce-legislation-expand-service-coordinator,"Bonamici, Smith, Beatty Introduce Legislation to Expand Service Coordinator Workforce and Strengthen Federally Assisted Housing",2023-08-09,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), and Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) today issued the following statement after introducing the Expanding Service Coordinators Act. This legislation would increase funding for and make reforms to service coordinator programs to expand the national service coordinator workforce, which is currently strained. Service coordinators connect individuals and families living in federally assisted housing with a wide range of social services, including health care, meals, transportation, job training, and education. “Service coordinators help older adults, adults with disabilities, and families in federally subsidized housing navigate everyday challenges and reach long-term stability,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Increasing the role of service coordinators can improve quality of life, address isolation, and help the most vulnerable stay housed. I’m pleased to introduce the Expanding Service Coordinators Act with Reps. Smith and Beatty to make more service coordinators available and provide them with the support they need to be successful.” “Federally assisted housing offers individuals and families permanent and supportive housing and supportive services they need to lead stable and productive lives. Service coordinators are essential to these programs, but unfortunately, federal programs that employ service coordinators are severely underfunded. The legislation I’m introducing today would increase federal funding for service coordinator programs and make important reforms to these programs to improve the capacity and retention of service coordinators,” said Rep. Adam Smith. “There are many incredible organizations in Washington’s Ninth and across the country providing crucial social services, and service coordinators help people navigate this system. The Expanding Service Coordinators Act is a significant step towards ensuring we have the service coordinator workforce we need for residents of federally assisted housing to thrive.” “Investing in service coordinator programs will ensure that older adults and those living with disabilities in my district and across the country have access to pivotal services that for too long have gone overlooked and underfunded,” said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. “I’m proud to partner on this essential bill, the Expanding Services Coordinators Act, with my colleagues Reps. Smith and Bonamici to increase the funding needed to adequately support service coordinator programs, which will ultimately improve housing stability and prevent residents from falling into homelessness.” The Expanding Service Coordinators Act is endorsed by American Association of Service Coordinators, LeadingAge, Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, King County Housing Authority, Seattle Housing Authority, Tacoma Housing Authority, Public Housing Authority Directors Association, B’nai B’rith, Compass Housing Alliance, CSI Support & Development, Life Steps, Local Initiatives Support Coalition, New England Resident Service Coordinators Inc., Wesley Housing Corp., Massachusetts Association of Resident Service Coordinators in Housing, HumanGood, Sage Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders, United Church Homes, Volunteers of America National Services, MJ Housing Services, National Church Residences, National Centers for Assisted Living, New Hampshire Association of Professional Service Coordinators, Embrace Living Communities, WinnCompanies, National Affordable Housing Managers Association, USAging. Statements of Support for the Expanding Service Coordinators Act “This historic federal funding bill prioritizes the needs of older adults, empowers families with the resources they need to become self-sufficient, and grows supportive affordable housing across the country – in short, it is everything that a bill from Congress should strive to do. Service Coordinators are essential to the health and safety of older adults by connecting them with vital resources and allowing them to age in their own communities. They provide families the tools they need to become and remain self-sufficient, reducing other costly taxpayer-funded programs. Finally, Service Coordinators are a crucial part of solving our nation’s affordable housing crisis – by helping break down the barriers so many face while trying to access the necessary services and supports that keep them healthy, happy, and housed. With this legislation, and the continued leadership of Representative Smith, we are one step closer to changing the narrative and making a substantial difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country.” – Michelle Missler, President & CEO, American Association of Service Coordinators “Service coordinators are the linchpin connecting low-income older residents living in federally assisted housing to such critical services as transportation and physician appointments. The work they do helps to reduce older adults' need for emergency room visits, longer stays in the hospital or transfers to higher levels of care. Mission-driven affordable senior housing providers, including thousands of LeadingAge members, are eager to hire more service coordinators. The Expanding Service Coordinators Act would help to achieve that goal by expanding the number of service coordinators in Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-assisted homes, creating the first pool of federal funding for service coordinators in Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) communities, and supporting service coordinator training and education. LeadingAge is grateful to Representative Smith for being a champion of service coordinators and recognizing their critical role in affordable housing communities.” – Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO, LeadingAge “I applaud Congressman Smith for introducing this critical legislation, which recognizes the need to provide supportive and connecting services to people living in federally assisted housing. The extra support provided by a service coordinator can make all the difference for a family taking that next step toward economic independence, improved health, or maintained social wellbeing.” – Robin Walls, Executive Director/CEO, King County Housing Authority “The Seattle Housing Authority appreciates Representative Smith introducing this legislation to increase funding for support service coordinators. We are continuing to see an increasing need for this type of service for our residents. We have first-hand experience that shows these types of partnerships, personal connections and culturally appropriate services make a difference in whether our residents struggle or thrive. We provide these services but resources fall far short of the need.” – Rod Brandon, Executive Director, Seattle Housing Authority “We are happy to continue supporting the Congressman’s efforts to increase and incentivize the supportive services needed to stably house households. Placing a high value on the critical work that Service Coordinators perform while supporting their education is an admirable step.” – April Black, Executive Director, Tacoma Housing Authority “New England Resident Service Coordinators Inc. (NERSC) supports the Expanding Service Coordinator Act, as it would make critical investments and expansions to the Service Coordinator Program.” – Jannel Satterwhite-Williamson, Board President, New England Resident Service Coordinators Inc. “We thank Representative Adam Smith for re-introducing this important legislation that will help support and better fund our nation’s service coordinator programs. Service coordinators play a critical role in ensuring seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to affordable assisted living and other social services. At NCAL, increasing the availability of affordable assisted living is one of our main priorities. We look forward to working with Congress on advancing the Expanding Services Coordinators Act and streamlining access to quality care.” – Christopher Donnellan, Senior Director, American Healthcare Association “I write to express my support and that of Wesley Living for the Expanding Service Coordinator Act. Through my 25 plus years of affordable housing, I have found that the most beneficial program for our resident’s welfare is the service coordinator program. Our service coordinators assist our residents in health care management, transportation, nutrition, smoking cessation, fitness, dementia support, fall prevention, and wellness as well as assisting residents in personal needs when necessary. Our service coordinators find outside organizations and volunteers who provide resources, money, time, and education which allow our seniors to age in place. There is a great return on investment for this program and the dollars that the government puts into the program are returned three-fold in savings on things like Medicare and Medicaid, and local funds expended on unnecessary ambulance and fire calls. Additionally, service coordinators prevent evictions which can be devastating to an elderly person and balloon operating costs for housing operators. “On the personal side, our service coordinators allow our residents to have a quality of life they otherwise would not experience. The programing that results in better health lifestyles provides for reduced falls, preventive health screening and timely treatment of disease before becoming debilitating. The program prevents large numbers of seniors from becoming prematurely institutionalized or in most cases, institutionalization at all. Service coordinators allow for the dignity of life our elderly residents deserve. “So, we strongly and enthusiastically recommend and support the passing of the Expanding Service Coordinator Act and appreciate Representative Smith’s work to enhance this program.” – Ron Budynas, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Wesley Housing Corporation “As an agency that provides Resident Services to over 100,000 individuals in more than 39,000 homes, LifeSTEPS supports expanding Service Coordinator legislation. Not only do Service Coordinators save millions by providing much needed housing stabilization services to those in poverty, they are a lifeline to saving billions in healthcare costs. Service coordination has proven that with proper support seniors can maintain their dignity and prevent premature placement in a Skilled Nursing Facility. Seniors want, need, and deserve to maintain their home and age in place.” – Beth Southorn, Executive Director, LifeSTEPS “On behalf of The Massachusetts Association of Resident Service Coordinators in Housing (MARSCH) we strongly endorse your legislation to expand funding for Service Coordination.” –Donna L. Coyle, President, Massachusetts Association of Resident Service Coordinators “Once again, I am writing in support and to endorse the Expansion of the Service Coordinator Act. HumanGood began employing resident service coordinators in our affordable housing communities in the 1990’s beginning with approximately 5 resident service coordinators. With our continued growth, we now employ 70+ resident service coordinators in almost all of our 100+ communities in California, Washington, Oregon and Pennsylvania. As an organization, we have come to know resident services as an invaluable component of property management. Our services team not only links our residents to supportive and medical services, but also provide case management to our most vulnerable population. The program has evolved in the last fifteen years where the demands of the health and well-being of our residents has grown substantially and we are striving to meet their needs so they can continue to age in place. Necessary training on entitlement programs, dementia, mental health conditions, adult protective services, hospitalization and nursing home admission, mitigating isolation are some of the required trainings that enable our service coordinators to be equipped to empower residents to live independently and increase self-sufficiency. Resident services provides a positive financial impact by reducing turnovers, evictions, property damage and helps address compliance issues. We continue to find creative ways to expand our partnerships with county providers, educational institutions, health care providers to allow us to develop new approaches and resources to address our residents’ needs.” – Linda Coleman, VP of Resident Services, HumanGood “I am the President of MJ Housing & Services, an Affordable Housing company that services over 20K seniors and families in 16 states. We are fully endorsing this bill which is scheduled to be reintroduced next week. This additional funding will help aid in the independence of such a vulnerable population. Seniors, in particular, are living longer and yet our systems are not growing equally to sustain their needed services. It is with enthusiasm that on behalf of MJ Housing & Services that I offer our endorsement. Thank you for leading the charge in the much-needed area.” – Charles A. Brown, President, MJ Housing Services “On behalf of the New Hampshire Association of Professional Service Coordinators, I am writing to inform you our Association’s support and endorsement of the Expanding Service Coordinators Act.” – Karen Graveline, President, New Hampshire Association of Professional Service Coordinators “On behalf of Embrace Living Communities, we fully support the Expanding Service Coordinators Act. Embrace Living Communities is an owner/manager of 30 affordable housing properties in Illinois, Missouri and Florida which serve 2,500 older adults and persons with disabilities. We are fortunate to have at least one service coordinator in assisting residents within our communities - however, it is not nearly enough. Service coordinators are needed in more areas to assist vulnerable populations and expanding this opportunity is desperately needed.” – Jennifer Truppa, Director of Social Services and Quality Assurance, Embrace Living Communities Background The Expanding Service Coordinators Act would make critical investments and reforms to service coordinator programs to aid those in federally assisted housing. Specifically, the bill would: Authorize an additional $100 million each year for five years to the Multi-Family Housing Service Coordinator program. Authorize a total $45 million each year for five years for the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency service coordinator program. Authorize a new $37 million grant program through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to award 150 grants to eligible properties to fund service coordinators. Establish a training set aside to improve capacity and retention of service coordinators. Extend qualification for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to service coordinators. Direct GAO to report on the availability and work of service coordinators in rural areas. Service Coordinators are a critical and underfunded resource in federally assisted housing. They help individuals navigate a complex network of social services that can make a difference in an individual’s ability to thrive. It is crucial now more than ever to invest in this critical workforce.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-salinas-anniversary-chips-and-science-act,Congresswoman Salinas on Anniversary of CHIPS and Science Act,2023-08-09,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) issued the following statement to mark the one-year anniversary of the CHIPS and Science Act becoming law: “One year ago, President Biden signed the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act into law and, with the stroke of a pen, helped America take a massive step into the future. This landmark legislation championed by Democrats in the 117th Congress made historic investments in the world’s most cutting-edge, lucrative industries – and its wide-reaching benefits are already echoing across our state. From Intel to Analog Devices, Oregon is experiencing a semiconductor revolution as our most productive manufacturing sector continues to enjoy exponential growth. Even before the CHIPS and Science Act, semiconductor manufacturing was Oregon’s top manufacturing sector in terms of employment, exports, and contribution to our state’s gross domestic product. Now, thanks in part to sweeping federal investments, our state is well-positioned to maintain dominance in this vitally important and profitable industry. I look forward to working with federal, state, and local partners to ensure Oregon reaps the benefits of the transformative CHIPS and Science Act. It’s in every Oregonian’s best interest to cement our status as a hub of innovation and progress for generations to come.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-bill-increase-access-recovery,"Bonamici, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Recovery Housing",2023-08-08,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [8/8/23] –Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand access to transitional housing for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder or mental health crisis. The Supporting Transition And Recovery Through (START) Housing Act strengthens and expands the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Recovery Housing Program (RHP) to all states. This important program, which funds transitional drug or alcohol-free housing with peer support for people in recovery, is currently limited to 24 states and the District of Columbia. “Stable housing plays an essential role in recovering from substance use disorders, but there are too many barriers that put people in recovery at risk of homelessness,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Increasing access to recovery housing will make a difference to people in recovery and to our communities. I’m grateful to work with my colleague Rep. Fitzpatrick to introduce the bipartisan START Housing Act to make the successful Recovery Housing Program available to people in Oregon and across the country.” “To encourage the chance of recovery from substance use disorders, individuals facing these mental health challenges must have access to safe and affordable housing,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. “Our bipartisan Supporting Transition And Recovery Through (START) Housing Act reauthorizes critical funding for the Recovery Housing Program (RHP), further expanding access to housing for Americans in recovery from substance use disorders, and I am grateful for Congresswoman Bonamici’s partnership on this important mental health issue.” The legislation is supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Bipartisan Policy Center Action. “Too often, individuals in substance use recovery experience housing insecurity. The Recovery Housing Program is a crucial program assisting people in recovery to help them receive secure, stable transitional housing. Rep. Bonamici and Fitzpatrick’s START Housing Act will reauthorize and strengthen this crucial program,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “NAMI is proud to support this important legislation that will support people in their recovery.” “Health and housing are intimately linked and we know that stable housing improves outcomes for people in recovery. Expanding the Recovery Housing Program to more states like Oregon will serve as a catalyst for improving health outcomes,” said Andrea Bell, Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services. “We fully applaud Congresswoman Bonamici for championing this important legislation to address this urgent need and we will continue to be relentless in advocating for all Oregonians to have a stable, safe and welcoming place to call home.” “The Recovery Housing Program, initially enacted as part of the SUPPORT Act of 2018, has proven invaluable in fostering a safe and healthy living environment for individuals on the path to recovery from substance use disorders,” said Michele Stockwell, Executive Director of BPC Action. “BPC Action commends the efforts of Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) in introducing the START Housing Act, which would reauthorize and build upon the Recovery Housing Program. By extending the program's reach to encompass more states and incorporating provisions to address the needs of chronically unsheltered individuals, the START Housing Act is poised to amplify the program's achievements and disrupt challenges of addiction recovery for many Americans. The START Housing Act also echoes the position of BPC’s J. Ronald Terwilliger Center for Housing Policy, that bipartisan policies are needed to ensure that homelessness in the United States is a rare, brief, and one-time occurrence; and BPC’s Health Program’s position to further expand access to addiction treatment and recovery.” A summary of the legislation can be found here, and the full text of the legislation can be found here. Bonamici is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-kaine-smith-warren-jacobs-lead-bicameral-call-avert-child-care,"Bonamici, Kaine, Smith, Warren, Jacobs Lead Bicameral Call to Avert Child Care Funding Cliff",2023-08-01,2023,2023-08,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON DC [08/1/23] – Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Sara Jacobs (D-CA), along with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on President Joe Biden to support efforts to provide needed funding to prevent a national wave of child care closures. Congress secured historic funding through the American Rescue Plan Act to stabilize child care amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but that relief funding is set to end at this September. In a recent report, The Century Foundation (TCF) estimates that more than 70,000 child care programs will likely close when the Child Care Stabilization Funds and other child care relief funding expires. “We urge you to join us in supporting an investment of $16 billion a year by any and all means possible – including supporting Congress in efforts to extend the Child Care Stabilization grants passed in ARPA– and through emergency funding for child care in any supplemental appropriations package put forth by the Administration,” the Members wrote. The Members noted that the child care system was already in crisis before the pandemic, and that it has been one of the slowest sectors to recover from the pandemic with wages remaining unacceptably low for the child care workforce. “The broken child care market has resulted in an impossible tension between families, workers, and providers: child care providers cannot afford to run their businesses or pay adequate wages to their staff using revenue from parents alone, while child care costs are unaffordable and unsustainable for working families,” the Members wrote. “…The impending fiscal cliff will be devastating to child care programs, children and their families, the child care workforce, and the nation’s economy.” The letter is supported by National Women’s Law Center, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), Child Care for Every Family Network, Community Change Action, Family Values at Work, Caring Across Generations, First Focus Campaign for Children, Oxfam America, MomsRising, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), and ZERO TO THREE. “Without an immediate investment of at least $16 billion, early educators across the country will be forced to close their doors or raise their rates, which will leave millions of children and their families without the care that they need,"" said Whitney Pesek, Director of Federal Child Care Policy for the National Women’s Law Center. ""We are grateful for Senators Kaine, Smith, and Warren, as well as Representatives Bonamici and Jacobs, for their leadership in helping to prevent this looming child care crisis, and we join them in urging President Biden to support this critical funding that will provide a much-needed lifeline to the child care industry."" The full text of the House letter can be found here, and Senate letter can be found here. In addition to Bonamici and Jacobs the House letter is signed by Representatives Alma Adams, Colin Allred, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Jamaal Bowman, Shontel Brown, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Cori Bush, Yadira Caraveo, Salud Carbajal, André Carson, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Sean Casten, Joaquin Castro, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Yvette Clarke, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Jason Crow, Henry Cuellar, Danny Davis, Donald Davis, Madeleine Dean, Chris DeLuzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Debbie Dingell, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, Anna Eshoo, Dwight Evans, Lois Frankel, Sylvia Garcia, Jimmy Gomez, Josh Gottheimer, Raúl Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Jim Himes, Val Hoyle, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Henry ""Hank"" Johnson, Syndey Kamlager-Dove, Bill Keating, Robin Kelly, Andy Kim, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Annie Kuster, Rick Larsen, Barbara Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Mike Levin, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Seth Magaziner, Kathy Manning, Lucy McBath, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Morgan McGarvey, James P. McGovern, Robert Menendez, Grace Meng, Gwen Moore, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Grace Napolitano, Joe Neguse, Donald Norcross, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Donald Payne Jr., Scott Peters, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Katie Porter, Ayanna Pressely, Delia Ramirez, Jamie Raskin, Deborah Ross, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Andrea Salinas, Linda Sánchez, John Sarbanes, Mary Gay Scanlon, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Hillary Scholten, Terri Sewell, Mikie Sherrill, Elissa Slotkin, Melanie Stansbury, Hayley Stevens, Marilyn Strickland, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Norma Torres, Ritchie Torres, Lori Trahan, David Trone, Juan Vargas, Marc Veasey, Nydia Velázquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Jennifer Wexton, Susan Wild, and Nikema Williams. In addition to Kaine, Smith, and Warren, the letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:30:18Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/amid-historic-heat-sens-markey-padilla-sinema-and-reps-bonamici-strickland,"Amid Historic Heat, Sens. Markey, Padilla, Sinema and Reps. Bonamici, Strickland, Gallego Announce Legislation to Direct $100 Million to Combat Health Risks of Extreme Heat",2023-07-28,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington (July 28, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) today reintroduced the Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related (HEAT) Illness and Deaths Act to address the rising health risks of extreme heat. The announcement follows Earth’s hottest day on record, the predicted hottest day in the past 125,000 years, and new national and local responses to extreme heat. As climate change continues to worsen, extreme heat events in the United States are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting, and more severe. Earlier this month, nearly one in three Americans were under an extreme heat advisory or warning. Prolonged exposure to this kind of heat can have dangerous consequences for human health, including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death. The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act would improve and expand interagency efforts, provide $100 million in financial assistance for community projects to reduce exposure to extreme heat, and issue recommendations for federal action on heat-health issues. “It’s no coincidence that we’ve seen back-to-back record-breaking heat this summer—it’s the climate crisis announcing it’s at our doorstep. We need to take bold and aggressive action to combat the climate crisis, but we also need to act fast to protect Americans from the health risks of extreme heat that we are experiencing right now,” said Senator Markey. “My legislation would direct $100 million in federal funding to help local communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis stave off the worst outcomes of heat-related illness. As unprecedented waves of sweltering heat persist, I will keep calling on my colleagues in Congress to pass the Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act and create a national response to save lives.” “As Americans continue to face extreme, record-breaking heat waves, we must do everything in our power to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths,” said Senator Padilla. “This legislation will address the rising health risks of extreme heat by providing critical funding for community projects and enhancing interagency coordination so we can ensure our communities are prepared and protected – particularly low-income communities and communities of color who are bearing the brunt of this escalating crisis.” “We’re protecting Arizonans from heat-related illnesses and deaths as our communities face dangerous heat,” said Senator Sinema. “Heat-related deaths are preventable, tragic, and too common,” said Representative Bonamici. “July is on track to be the hottest month ever recorded. Many states are seeing record temperatures, and the Pacific Northwest is experiencing unseasonably warm weather and bracing for the possibility of another deadly heat dome. We can save lives, and we must do so quickly. The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act would strengthen interagency response efforts to address extreme heat and protect Oregonians and Americans, especially workers, seniors, and marginalized groups who are at the greatest risk from these heat emergencies.” “As we learned from the 2021 Heat Domes, we must actively pursue short-term solutions to save lives during heat waves, in conjunction with long-term steps towards saving our planet,” said Representative Strickland. “The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act will address the dangers of extreme summer temperatures on human health and equip communities with the ability to combat the heat-health crisis.” “Arizonans are used to the heat, but this summer’s rising temperatures underscore the pressing need to assist our communities in reducing heat-related emergencies,” said Representative Gallego. “Combatting extreme heat remains one of my top priorities, and that’s why I’m proud to co-lead the Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act. This bill builds on my continued efforts to keep Arizonans cool and safe.” A copy of the legislation can be found HERE. Specifically, the Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act would: Create the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) Interagency Committee to enhance interagency efforts to address extreme heat; Formalize and expand the existing NIHHIS within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which was initiated under President Barack Obama; Commission a National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine study on federal action on heat-health issues and response; and, Establish and authorize a $100 million financial assistance program to provide federal funding to community projects that reduce the health impact of extreme heat events, prioritizing projects in historically disadvantaged communities, communities with significant heat disparities associated with race or income, and communities with large gaps in heat preparedness. Extreme heat poses more serious health impacts in low-income communities, communities of color, and Tribal communities. In urban areas, residents are particularly vulnerable due to the “urban heat island” phenomenon, which can cause some neighborhoods in cities to be more than 20°F warmer than the surrounding area. These communities have less tree coverage and more pavement, in part due to historic practices of redlining, which lead to higher temperatures. Residents of these communities may also lack access to air conditioning, health care, and other tools to mitigate extreme heat, increasing the risks of heat-related illness. Cosponsors in the Senate include Senators Rob Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Cosponsors in the House include Representatives Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Bonnie, Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Alma Adams (NC-12), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Dina Titus (NV-01), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mike Levin (CA-49), Tony Cárdenas (CA-29). The Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act is endorsed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), League of Conservation Voters (LCV), American Public Health Association, Public Health Institute, American Academy of Pediatrics, Adrienne Arsht -Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Climate Psychiatry Alliance, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action. ""This brutal summer makes clear that we need to do much more to protect communities and workers from crushing heatwaves. This legislation would help build just that by strengthening coordination across the federal government and unlocking assistance for communities that need it most. It will be a critical tool for protecting lives and livelihoods from preventable harm, in a world that is only getting hotter,"" said Juanita Constible, Senior Climate and Health Advocate at Natural Resources Defense Council. “The extreme heat the world is suffering right now is an all-of-society problem that requires an all-of-government response. That is why we are pleased to support Senator Markey’s HEAT bill. It will create an interagency taskforce to devise a comprehensive plan and provide the funding to implement it. Ultimately it will help protect the most vulnerable people and reduce preventable deaths. Thank you, Senator Markey for your leadership – we have no time to waste in taking action on heat,” said Kathy Baughman McLeod, Executive Director of the Adrienne Arsht - Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. “Given the severity and intensity of our heating planet, national legislation and policies that improve preparedness and response is essential to protect our communities. We urge rapid passage of this important legislation to be part of the solution to managing the changing world we are facing,” said Robin Cooper of the Climate Psychiatry Alliance.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-wyden-duarte-gluesenkamp-perez-introduce-bill-restore-forests-boost,"Salinas, Wyden, Duarte, Gluesenkamp Perez Introduce Bill to Restore Forests, Boost Rural Economies by Supporting Wood Product Innovation",2023-07-28,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – U.S. House Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), John Duarte (CA-13), and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), along with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), this week introduced bipartisan legislation that would improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, sequester more carbon, and boost rural economies by supporting innovative timber products, such as mass timber. Representative Chellie Pingree (ME-01) is an original cosponsor of the legislation. “As Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Forestry, I’m proud to be introducing the bipartisan Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act with my colleagues today,” said Rep. Salinas. “This legislation would build on the 2018 Farm Bill’s support for wood innovation and forest products, fostering rural prosperity by maximizing the economic and environmental benefits of working forests. Private working forests and the forest products sector are essential drivers of many American industries, and they bolster rural jobs and communities around the nation. This bill will ensure that working forests and the forests products sector have the tools needed to continue to drive market innovation, sustainably manage their lands, and create new jobs.” ”Oregon’s cutting-edge leadership in wood products innovations strengthens rural economies by generating fresh job opportunities, all while paying for restoration work that’s key to creating healthier, more fire-resistant forests statewide, and adding timely tools in the climate crisis battle,” said Sen. Wyden. “The Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act would build much-needed federal support for that triple crown of economic, firefighting and environmental goals. And I’ll fight hard to get this legislation passed into law.” “Our country relies on our working forests. I am proud to have joined a bipartisan, bicameral coalition in introducing the Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act,” said Rep. Duarte. “This legislation makes it easier to track forest health, trains the next generation of engineers and architects, expands the Wood Innovation Grant program, and builds rural infrastructure with American-grown wood products. By investing in our timber communities, we can both create jobs and properly manage our forests.” ""Keeping the woods working for the next generation requires making sure we keep the timber industry thriving through innovation,” said Gluesenkamp Perez. ""Our bipartisan bill makes critical investments in the workforce that use these novel wood innovations and the important programs that do the research to move the wood product economy forward."" The Timber Innovation For Building Rural Communities Act would: Require the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in consultation with Tribes, State Foresters, and private sector partners, to establish a platform for measuring, monitoring, verifying and reporting data about the carbon impacts from forest management and wood products. Reduce the match requirement for the existing Wood Innovation Grant Program and direct that priority be given to proposed projects in communities with higher-than-average unemployment, that recognize or enhance carbon reduction strategies in building design, or report on the resilience and economic benefits of the proposal. Establish the Wood Building Accelerator Grant Program to fund programs that support the critical elements of designing and building with wood, including traditional wood products, mass timber and other advanced wood products. Establish the Rural Infrastructure and Building Pilot Program to fund pilot programs that demonstrate the use of innovative wood products in the construction and renovation of rural infrastructure and building projects, such as affordable, modular housing. ""We commend Senator Wyden for introducing the Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act, a bill that will bolster our nation's private working forests and the rural communities that depend on them for clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and jobs,” the National Alliance of Forest Owners said in a statement. “This bill provides comprehensive support to the climate-smart forest supply chain through enhancing forest and wood product data, new education grants to train the next generation of engineers and architects in wood and mass timber construction, the expansion of the Wood Innovation Grant program, and the piloting of American-grown wood products' integration into rural infrastructure. These provisions collectively advance climate action via market mechanisms and investments in rural communities. We eagerly anticipate collaborating with Senator Wyden and the entire Senate to pass this essential legislation."" ""Sustainable Northwest commends Senator Wyden and Representatives Salinas, Duarte, and Gluesenkamp Perez for introduction of the Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act,” said Dylan Kruse, Vice President, Sustainable Northwest. “This legislation will provide essential resources and data supporting the diverse benefits of building with wood, spur innovation to restore forest health, and foster the next generation of green building professionals. We thank Senator Wyden for his continued leadership and vision to provide environmental and economic benefits to rural communities in Oregon and across the country."" “The Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act builds upon the significant achievements in the 2018 Farm Bill, and further promotes the development of advanced wood products, tall mass timber buildings, and more,” said Jackson Morrill, CEO, American Wood Council. “Wood products are 50% carbon by weight, and increasing the use of these products can reduce the climate impacts of our built environment, all while supporting jobs across rural America. This legislation, if enacted, would continue to build on the successes of the Wood Innovations Grant Program, train the next generation of architects and engineers in the use of advanced wood products, and help address the affordable housing crisis in the rural communities that manufacture sustainable wood products.” “The Forest Resources Association (FRA) strongly supports the introduction of this important legislation,” said Tim O’Hara, Vice President, Government Affairs, FRA. “Included in the bill is funding for the Wood Innovation Grant (WIG) program that has proven to be a catalyst for meaningful investment in rural communities around the country that are increasingly reliant on the good paying jobs that the forest products sector creates. We applaud Senator Wyden for his effort and his ongoing leadership in helping sustain these jobs and the working forests that are the lifeblood for these operations.” “The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association is proud to support the Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act, which supports critical research and innovation to advance wood products' uniquely positive environmental qualities,” said Jason Ortega, VP of Public Affairs, National Wooden Pallet & Container Association. “This legislation builds upon our work with the Forest Products Lab to produce the first Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in the distribution packaging space. Our EPD is third-party verified and provides verifiable data showing that wooden pallets can have a potential net carbon-positive impact. A tool like the MMRV platform will provide the public with transparent environmental impact data from a trusted source to help make informed decisions. We thank Senator Wyden for supporting the forestry and wood products sectors and the rural economies that depend on them.” To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-wyden-salinas-casten-introduce-legislation-improve-soil-health-crop,"Bonamici, Wyden, Salinas, Casten Introduce Legislation to Improve Soil Health, Crop Resilience and Address the Climate Crisis",2023-07-27,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. –U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., and Sean Casten, D-Ill., and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. today introduced legislation to help address the climate crisis by encouraging farming practices that improve soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere – with a strong focus on supporting the nation's small, rural and underserved farmers in this transition. “Farmers rely on healthy soil to grow crops and feed our communities,” said Bonamici. “Encouraging agricultural methods that absorb carbon in soil will not only increase soil health and crop resilience, but also reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. I am glad to join my colleagues to support our farmers by increasing access to proven strategies that promote healthy soil. Building on the success of this program from the 2018 Farm Bill is increasingly important as we face more extreme weather and a changing climate, and has the benefit of incorporating sustainable farming practices that reduce carbon.” “America’s farmers are essential to the economy, and in the climate fight. Right now, farmers in Oregon and around the country are on the frontlines innovating new soil health practices to capture carbon and improve crop outcomes – adding up to a healthier climate and a boost to rural communities,” said Wyden. “Making these investments is a win for our farmers and a win for our planet.” “Whether you’re a blueberry farmer in Oregon or a cattle rancher in Nebraska, healthy soils are essential to your success,” said Salinas. “Unfortunately, the climate crisis is fueling extreme weather that threatens the soil quality of farmers’ working lands and, by extension, their farms’ viability. Farmers across the U.S. are well-aware of this worrying trend, and many of them are eager to adopt innovative soil health practices to bolster their land’s resiliency and reduce carbon emissions. The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act will reward farmers already implementing meaningful soil health practices and encourage new adopters by expanding existing incentives that are proven to promote on-farm resilience. Advancing soil health will safeguard not only the viability of individual farms, but the long-term future of our food system and our planet.” “Supporting our farmers in building strong and healthy soil across the United States will safeguard our food and agricultural system against the climate crisis by bolstering land resiliency, reducing erosion, and maintaining vital nutrients,” said Casten. “I’m proud to join Senator Wyden, Rep. Salinas, and Rep. Bonamici in introducing the Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act to both improve soil health and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere at the same time.” The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act – which Wyden first introduced in 2021 – builds on a 2018 Farm Bill provision authored by Wyden and creates a permanent soil health program through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program would provide funding to producers who adopt practices designed to improve soil health through increasing carbon levels in soil, prioritizing funding for underserved farmers. By promoting farming practices that capture carbon in soil, producers will improve soil health and crop resilience, while lowering the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. The bill establishes protocols for measuring soil organic carbon levels before and after these practices begin in order to determine which farming practices store the most carbon. This is critical because there is a significant need for more science and data to determine which conservation methods are most effective at storing carbon in the soil to improve soil health. The bill would also provide funding to expand the On-Farm Trials for soil health through EQIP’s Conservation Innovation Grants. These projects support widespread adoption and evaluation of practices that producers can implement to improve soil health. The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act will also establish a Soil Health and Carbon Science Research Program at Agriculture Research Stations that would provide grants to land-grant colleges and universities to conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science and conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science at Agriculture Research Stations of the Department of Agriculture. Bill text can be found here. ""Improving our soils through healthy, organic farming practices is a complex, multi-year effort that yields significant ongoing rewards to our annual food production,” Willamette Valley, Oregon, farmer, and Managing Partner of Farmland LP, Craig Wichner. By providing access to research, technical experts, and financial support to explore new practices, the Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act reduces risks and benefits farmers, consumers, and our state agriculture research institutions."" “We want to thank Senator Wyden and Representatives Salinas, Bonamici, and Casten for championing the Healthy Soils, Healthy Climate bill,” said Nicole Lederer, Chair and Co-founder of E2. “This bill promotes innovation, cutting-edge research on carbon and soil health and greater economic resilience for farmers. It is a win for rural America and for our economy and environment more broadly.” “The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate bill supports game-changing soil health practices that are turning working farms into in-field laboratories of the future,” said Matthew Kaplan, Deputy Director, Federal Affairs Water and Agriculture. “Healthy Soils Healthy Climate will help farmers innovate toward climate resilience. Representatives Salinas, Bonamici and Casten and Senator Wyden have shown important leadership as Congress writes the 2023 Farm Bill. “ Click herefor additional statements in support of the Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-wyden-bonamici-casten-introduce-legislation-improve-soil-health-crop,"Salinas, Wyden, Bonamici, Casten Introduce Legislation to Improve Soil Health, Crop Resilience and Address the Climate Crisis",2023-07-27,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, U.S. House Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Sean Casten (IL-06), along with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), introduced legislation to help address the climate crisis by encouraging farming practices that improve soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere – with a strong focus on supporting the nation's small, rural and underserved farmers in this transition. “Whether you’re a blueberry farmer in Oregon or a cattle rancher in Nebraska, healthy soils are essential to your success,” said Rep. Salinas. “Unfortunately, the climate crisis is fueling extreme weather that threatens the soil quality of farmers’ working lands and, by extension, their farms’ viability. Farmers across the U.S. are well-aware of this worrying trend, and many of them are eager to adopt innovative soil health practices to bolster their land’s resiliency and reduce carbon emissions. The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act will reward farmers already implementing meaningful soil health practices and encourage new adopters by expanding existing incentives that are proven to promote on-farm resilience. Advancing soil health will safeguard not only the viability of individual farms, but the long-term future of our food system and our planet.” “America’s farmers are essential to the economy, and in the climate fight. Right now, farmers in Oregon and around the country are on the frontlines innovating new soil health practices to capture carbon and improve crop outcomes – adding up to a healthier climate and a boost to rural communities,” said Sen. Wyden. “Making these investments is a win for our farmers and a win for our planet.” “Farmers rely on healthy soil to grow crops and feed our communities,” said Rep. Bonamici. “Encouraging agricultural methods that absorb carbon in soil will not only increase soil health and crop resilience, but also reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. I am glad to join my colleagues to support our farmers by increasing access to proven strategies that promote healthy soil. Building on the success of this program from the 2018 Farm Bill is increasingly important as we face more extreme weather and a changing climate, and has the benefit of incorporating sustainable farming practices that reduce carbon.” “Supporting our farmers in building strong and healthy soil across the United States will safeguard our food and agricultural system against the climate crisis by bolstering land resiliency, reducing erosion, and maintaining vital nutrients,” said Rep. Casten. “I’m proud to join Senator Wyden, Rep. Salinas, and Rep. Bonamici in introducing the Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act to both improve soil health and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere at the same time.” ""Improving our soils through healthy, organic farming practices is a complex, multi-year effort that yields significant ongoing rewards to our annual food production,” said Craig Wichner, a Willamette Valley, Oregon, farmer and Managing Partner of Farmland LP. “By providing access to research, technical experts, and financial support to explore new practices, the Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act reduces risks and benefits farmers, consumers, and our state agriculture research institutions."" “We want to thank Senator Wyden and Representatives Salinas, Bonamici, and Casten for championing the Healthy Soils, Healthy Climate bill,” said Nicole Lederer, Chair and Co-founder of E2. “This bill promotes innovation, cutting-edge research on carbon and soil health and greater economic resilience for farmers. It is a win for rural America and for our economy and environment more broadly.” “The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate bill supports game-changing soil health practices that are turning working farms into in-field laboratories of the future,” said Matthew Kaplan, Deputy Director, Federal Affairs Water and Agriculture. “Healthy Soils Healthy Climate will help farmers innovate toward climate resilience. Representatives Salinas, Bonamici and Casten and Senator Wyden have shown important leadership as Congress writes the 2023 Farm Bill. The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act creates a permanent soil health program through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program would provide funding to producers who adopt practices designed to improve soil health through increasing carbon levels in soil, prioritizing funding for underserved farmers. By promoting farming practices that capture carbon in soil, producers will improve soil health and crop resilience, while lowering the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. The bill establishes protocols for measuring soil organic carbon levels before and after these practices begin in order to determine which farming practices store the most carbon. This is critical because there is a significant need for more science and data to determine which conservation methods are most effective at storing carbon in the soil to improve soil health. The bill would also provide funding to expand the On-Farm Trials for soil health through EQIP’s Conservation Innovation Grants. These projects support widespread adoption and evaluation of practices that producers can implement to improve soil health. The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act will also establish a Soil Health and Carbon Science Research Program at Agriculture Research Stations that would provide grants to land-grant colleges and universities to conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science and conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science at Agriculture Research Stations of the Department of Agriculture. Click here for additional statements in support of the Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act. To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-wyden-merkley-blumenauer-salinas-applaud-15m-investment-pacific-nw,"Bonamici, Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Salinas Applaud $1.5M Investment in Pacific NW Urban Farmers",2023-07-24,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [7/24/23] – Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Andrea Salinas (OR-6), and Senators Ron Wyden (OR) and Jeff Merkley (OR) applaud the Biden-Harris Administration’s nearly $1.5 million investment in a new Urban Service Center to help urban farmers and strengthen local food systems in the Pacific Northwest. The Urban Service Center will be located in Portland, Oregon, and administered by staff from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The Center will offer farm loan, conservation, disaster assistance, and risk management programs. Ecotrust, a Portland-based environmental nonprofit organization, will partner with the Center to improve the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) outreach to urban producers, provide education and technical assistance, and increase program enrollment. The Urban Service Center in Portland will serve Oregon and parts of Washington and is one of 17 that will be opened across the country. “Urban farms in Northwest Oregon connect more people to locally grown, healthy food,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Unfortunately, many urban area producers face barriers to getting their products on the market and often lack the resources that large-scale producers enjoy. This new Urban Service Center will help level the playing field for urban producers and foster new opportunities for beginning farmers. Our entire region will benefit from this investment, which will build resiliency in our food system, increase access to healthy and fresh food, enhance sustainability, and boost local economies.” “Urban farms can play a significant grow-local role in fighting hunger as a perfect complement to Oregon’s traditional rural farms, both of which benefit from our state’s many natural advantages for growing world-renowned fruits and vegetables,” Senator RonWyden. “I’m glad my hometown has secured this federal investment that will reap huge gains for farmers in Portland and other cities throughout Oregon as well as the entire Northwest.” “Oregon-grown products are healthy, fresh, and support local jobs,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “This crucial funding will ensure farmers are able to access regional markets, and families can buy healthy food grown nearby.” “The pandemic demonstrated the immense value and resilience of the local food system,” said Congressman Earl Blumenauer. “While large agribusiness was completely stymied by brittle supply chains, local food economies with shorter supply chains thrived. This funding is a worthy investment that will pay for itself many times over in benefits to human health and local food businesses.” “I’m grateful that the Biden Administration will invest in Ecotrust,” said Congresswoman Andrea Salinas. “Organizations like these are critical to creating economic opportunity, protecting our environment, and ensuring food access for all. This grant will make key investments in that important mission, allowing Ecotrust to continue to innovate and reimagine a truly equitable Oregon.” More than 2,300 USDA Service Centers currently provide farmers and ranchers one-stop access to programs through the FSA, NRCS, and the Rural Development agencies. The Urban Service Centers will now extend this essential outreach and assistance to urban agriculture. In the 2018 Farm Bill, Congress first recognized the need to foster this growing sector within USDA by establishing the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. Continuing this commitment in the American Rescue Plan, Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration have secured $40 million in investments to expand agricultural innovation and strengthen our food supply chain with urban farming. More information about the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in urban agriculture can be found here. As a member of the Congressional Hunger Caucus, Congresswoman Bonamici has long supported evidence-based solutions to end hunger, expand access to nutritious foods, and bolster our nation’s food system. Urban farms can help reduce food insecurity and combat food waste, which is especially important for those who live in low-income and historically marginalized communities where food deserts exist and access to affordable and healthy food is limited. You can learn more about Congresswoman Bonamici’s work to end hunger here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-dingell-lead-introduction-bipartisan-legislation-remove-pfas,"Bonamici, Dingell Lead Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Remove PFAS from Firefighter Gear",2023-07-20,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Sam Graves (R-MO), Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), Dina Titus (D-NV), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) today introduced the bipartisan Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art Alternatives Act (PFAS Alternatives Act), to support development of next-generation PFAS-free turnout gear for firefighters and better protect firefighters from the dangers of their work. Recent studies have shown that all three layers of fire fighter turnout gear contain Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a class of fluorinated chemicals known as “forever chemicals.” PFAS chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, and are linked to harmful human health effects, including reproductive and developmental harms, weakened immune systems, and cancer – the leading cause of firefighter death. “Firefighters engage in high-risk work to keep us all safe, and we have a responsibility to do all we can to protect them,” said Bonamici. “The PFAS Alternatives Act will speed up the development of turnout gear for firefighters that is free from dangerous PFAS chemicals and promote safer practices. I’m grateful to be working on this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues.” “Firefighters’ jobs are already dangerous enough without worrying about the long-term health risks of being exposed to dangerous PFAS in their turnout gear,” said Dingell. “The PFAS Alternatives Act will remove this unnecessary occupational hazard and help protect firefighters as they work every day to protect us.” “America’s firefighters charge into danger to save the lives of others,” said Graves. “This bipartisan legislation will help develop the next generation of firefighting gear to keep them safe—while they work to protect our families, our communities, and our country.” “The health and safety of firefighters and those who keep our communities safe should be a priority for all of us,” said Kean. “These brave men and women risk their lives to protect us, and it is our duty to provide them with the safest possible gear. I am proud to co-lead the PFAS Alternative Act, to ensure that firefighter gear is free from harmful chemicals that pose long-term health risks. We owe it to our firefighters to prioritize their well-being and to equip them with the highest quality gear.” “Firefighters put their health and safety on the line every day to protect our communities. They run in as others run out,” said Titus. “They shouldn't have to worry about hazardous substances in their own turnout gear. I'm working with my colleagues to support the development of next-generation gear that is more resistant to soot and other chemicals while eliminating exposure to dangerous toxins like PFAS.” “Firefighters go above and beyond day after day to save the lives of their neighbors, and it is vital that these brave community protectors are equipped with the highest quality gear to help them effectively carry out their mission,” said D’Esposito. “As ex-Chief of the Island Park Fire Department, I am particularly glad the issue of firefighter safety is being addressed through legislative action in this Congress via legislation I have co-sponsored, and I will continue to do everything in my power to safeguard my brothers and sisters in the fire service from dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ found in outdated protective gear.” “First responders deserve first rate gear. They put their lives on the line every day to save ours. We must not make those who risk their lives wear even riskier equipment and handle even more dangerous materials,” said Ivey. “PFAS are directly linked to cancer. And as a kidney cancer survivor, I know the hardship, uncertainty and fear any family would experience being exposed to cancer causing materials. This bill will save our firefighters from this exposure and is a good way to show our appreciation to the men and women who are ready to rush into danger when others dodge it.” “Firefighters are heroes in communities across the nation, and we owe it to them to prioritize their health and safety,” said Fitzpatrick. “As co-chair of both the PFAS Task Force and the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to streamline the development of high-quality gear for our firefighters on the frontlines that is free of harmful ‘forever chemicals,’ further protecting them as they engage in high-risk situations to keep our families safe.” The PFAS Alternatives Act would: Accelerate the development of PFAS-free turnout gear through research, development, and testing of PFAS-free turnout gear materials. Facilitate the development of safer turnout gear materials that reduces the dangers firefighters face, including enhanced protection against primary and secondary exposure to particulates and byproducts of combustion; reduced maintenance that includes contamination resistance and greater ease of cleaning; visible warning indicators to alert firefighters to hazardous exposures or the need for decontamination; and consideration of body composition in turnout gear design. Support guidance and training for firefighters on best practices for reducing harmful exposures through the proper wearing, cleaning, and caring for next-generation turnout gear. Involve the firefighting industry in the development process by requiring grant applicants to utilize the leadership, experience, and knowledge of firefighters to ensure the next-generation turnout gear will be both effective and practical for the everyday demands of firefighting. The PFAS Alternatives Act would authorize $25 million annually for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to support the development of new materials, and an additional $2 million annually to support guidance and training. The PFAS Alternatives Act is endorsed by the International Association of Fire Fighters and Globe Manufacturing Company, a New Hampshire-based turnout gear manufacturer. “Cancer is the number one killer of fire fighters, and the IAFF will pursue all means to drive the disease from our ranks. For too long, fire fighters have been needlessly exposed to cancer every day simply by putting on the protective gear necessary to respond to emergencies in our communities,"" said IAFF General President Edward Kelly. ""Chemical companies, who have known for years about the cancer-causing properties of PFAS, have seen increased earnings while fire fighters face repeated exposure to toxins directly linked to illness and death. The PFAS Alternatives Act can change this sad fact by putting fire fighters – not corporate interests – at the center of the research for next-generation gear, guaranteeing we have a voice in developing the products we rely on for safety. Our membership is grateful to Reps. Dingell, Graves, Kean, Bonamici, D’Esposito, Ivey, Fitzpatrick, and Titus, and we applaud their courage in sponsoring this bill. Our work continues, and the full weight of the IAFF will be used to ensure its passage into law.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-bonamici-plan-extend-aviation-consumer-advocate-encourage,"House Passes Bonamici Plan to Extend Aviation Consumer Advocate, Encourage Development of Low-Carbon Fuel Alternatives",2023-07-20,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [7/20/23] – Today the House passed bipartisan legislation to update America’s aviation system that included provisions led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to aid consumers and reduce airlines’ carbon footprint. The Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act is a comprehensive reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration that will make flying safer and smoother and grow the aviation workforce while fostering innovation. It contains an extension of the Aviation Consumer Advocate position, which was first created based on an amendment Bonamici led to help consumers resolve problems that arise with airlines. The legislation also features an amendment Bonamici introduced to help address the climate crisis by encouraging the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of low-carbon alternative fuels like next-generation feedstocks, biofuels, and bioderived chemicals, to facilitate the United States’ sustainability and competitiveness in aviation. “We have an opportunity to make flying easier for consumers and better for our planet,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I’m glad this bipartisan update of the Federal Aviation Administration includes provisions I led to spur the development of new alternative fuels that have the potential to reduce carbon emissions, and extend the Aviation Consumer Advocate’s position to secure travel with dignity for everyone. Flying is essential to our economy and lives, and these improvements will help our aviation system meet the needs of our future.” More information about the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-salinas-house-passage-faa-reauthorization,Representative Salinas on House Passage of FAA Reauthorization,2023-07-20,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) issued the following statement after voting in favor of a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years: ""Today, I voted in favor of H.R. 3935, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While imperfect, this package contained several key wins for Oregon’s Sixth District. It will increase funding to the Airport Improvement Program which would allow small airports like those we have in Salem and Aurora to better access funds for infrastructure projects, including to improve environmental resiliency and noise suppression. It will also improve wildland firefighting in Oregon and across the United States by directing the FAA to work with the Forest Service to expand the use of drones to put out these devastating blazes, and making sure small wildfire-critical airports can access federal funds. More broadly, this reauthorization expands protections for travelers, addresses serious workforce challenges, and doubles down on research and development – allowing us to take yet another step into the future of air travel.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-salinas-and-blumenauer-senator-booker-introduce-insuring,"Representatives Salinas and Blumenauer, Senator Booker Introduce Insuring Fairness for Family Farmers Act",2023-07-20,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), along with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), introduced the Insuring Fairness for Family Farmers Act, legislation that would reform current crop insurance policy to incentivize crop insurance agents to provide coverage to small and specialty crop farmers. “The vast majority of farms in Oregon are small family farms, and crop insurance is one of their most valuable tools against bad weather, natural disasters, and volatile markets,” said Rep. Salinas. “Unfortunately, specialty crops have consistently lagged behind commodity crops in crop insurance coverage levels, and small farms are much less likely than large farms to have crop insurance, leaving them without a safety net when times get hard. In an ordinary year, 89% of the Farm Bill supports approximately 150,000 farms, while the other 2 million farms in the U.S. are forced to fight for that remaining 11%. Small family farms are too often left out of the Farm Bill process, despite being the backbone of Oregon agriculture. The Insuring Fairness for Family Farmers Act will help restore fairness to this process and ensure that these farms remain viable not just in the near term, but for years to come.” “Specialty crop farmers and small farmers are not able to take advantage of crop insurance if they are not given the opportunity to understand it and purchase it,” said Senator Booker. “My bill will fix the current inequities in federal subsidies, so that insurance agents are adequately compensated for selling policies to these producers. By ensuring access to crop insurance for all types of producers, we can promote a more resilient agriculture sector.” “The Farm Bill has historically called fruits, veggies, nuts, and berries ‘specialty crops,’” said Rep. Blumenauer. “In Oregon, we call these crops ‘food.’ Farmers who grow them should be able to access adequate insurance coverage to guard against disaster. I appreciate Congresswoman Salinas’ partnership on this issue.” “American farmers of all sizes deserve a strong, robust safety net that allows them to withstand tough years, keeping them on their land so they can feed their neighbors and their communities,” said Joe Van Wye, Policy and Outreach Director at Farm Action Fund. “Unfortunately, as it stands today, the federal crop insurance program incentivizes agents to provide the lion’s share of policies to the largest farms, often at the expense of fruit and vegetable growers who struggle to secure insurance. We applaud Representative Salinas, Representative Blumenauer, and Senator Booker, and urge passage of their ‘Insuring Fairness for Family Farmers Act’ so that federal crop insurance will work better for the family farmers and specialty crop growers who need it the most.” The under-coverage of small farms and those that grow specialty crops is driven by current rules that incentivize crop insurance agents to write policies only for the largest farms. For each insurance policy that is sold, insurance companies and crop insurance agents are compensated with Administrative and Operating (A&O) subsidies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These subsidies are currently based on a percentage of the premium of the policy sold. Crop insurance policies for larger farms have larger premiums, making it more profitable for agents to seek out and write policies for these big farms. The Insuring Fairness for Family Farmers Act would revise how A&O subsidies are calculated and level the playing field for small farms. It would change agent compensation from being based on a percentage of the premium of the policy sold to being based on how complex the policy sold is. Under this framework, agents would receive compensation relative to how much effort selling or servicing the policy requires. The bill would also give bonuses to agents writing policies for farmers that have not purchased insurance before, small farmers, and farmers that sell certain types of specialty crops that have historically been under-covered. Oregon has a uniquely large percentage of small and specialty crop farms — and these farms are disadvantaged under the current system. According to 2019 data, 33.3% of all Oregon farms are small farms with less than 10 acres, compared to 13.4% of all US farms. Moreover, small farms with less than 10 acres are the fastest growing farm size in Oregon, and increased by 7.6% from 2012 compared to 2.8% nationally. The Insuring Fairness for Family Farmers Act is supported by Farm Action Fund, Environmental Working Group, and National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. To read the full text of this legislation, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bill-led-bonamici-chavez-deremer-help-upgrade-portland-va-medical-center,"Bill Led by Bonamici, Chavez-DeRemer to Help Upgrade Portland VA Medical Center Signed into Law",2023-07-19,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, President Joe Biden signed S.30, the Fiscal Year 2023 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, into law. The proposal was led in the House by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), where it passed with broad bipartisan support last month. The legislation authorizes several projects that will help expand health care services to veterans across the country, including for Portland VA Medical Center to build a new specialty care facility and make other upgrades to improve accessibility and safety for Oregon veterans. “This new bipartisan law is good news for veterans in Oregon and across the country,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I’m grateful that veterans will soon receive the improved care they deserve, including at the Portland VA Medical Center, through safety updates and the construction of a new specialty care facility.” “This bipartisan legislation will ensure VA medical facilities across the country, including in Oregon, are able to provide more high-quality health care services to our veterans. I was honored to lead this legislation in the House with Congresswoman Bonamici, and I’m glad President Biden quickly signed it into law. I’ll continue working in a bipartisan manner to ensure those who have served our country receive the care they deserve,” Chavez-DeRemer said. The Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) primary mission is to provide health care services to eligible veterans. In 2022, the VHA provided more than 115 million clinical encounters, with the VA serving over six million patients. This included roughly 40 million in-person appointments, more than 31 million telehealth and telephone appointments, and approximately 38 million community care appointments. However, many VA facilities are outdated, making it difficult to provide the most advanced and best care for veterans. The Fiscal Year 2023 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act authorizes the VA to construct, renovate, or repair seven major medical facilities this fiscal year. Specifically, it authorizes $3.716 billion in previously appropriated funds to carry out these activities. The Portland VA is authorized $523 million to construct a new specialty care facility and to complete seismic resilience upgrades and other roadway, parking, and site improvements. The facility plans to house several outpatient clinics in the new specialty care building, including primary and mental health care and a women’s clinic. Full text of the bill is available HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-pettersen-bonamici-and-senate-colleagues-lead-new-manufactured-housing,"Reps. Pettersen, Bonamici, and Senate Colleagues Lead New Manufactured Housing Tenant’s Bill of Rights",2023-07-12,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON—This week, U.S. Representatives Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation alongside U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and John Fetterman (D-PA) that would provide tenants and owners of manufactured (mobile) homes with enhanced protections against predatory landowners in federally backed Manufactured Housing Communities (MHC). “My parents struggled with housing insecurity, often finding it difficult to identify or qualify for places to stay that were affordable and safe. Manufactured housing, or mobile homes, can be an instrumental tool as we work to expand affordable options in Colorado and the country, but we have to ensure tenants in these communities have protections,” said Pettersen. “By creating the Manufactured Tenant’s Bill of Rights, my colleagues and I are working to protect hardworking families from exploitation, skyrocketing rents, and an increased risk of eviction.” “Manufactured housing can be a more affordable option for families and individuals, and in some communities it is their only affordable housing option. Unfortunately, residents in manufactured housing communities typically lack basic protections and often face the risk of eviction,” said Bonamici. “I’m introducing the Manufactured Housing Tenants’ Bill of Rights with my colleague Congresswoman Pettersen to establish federal minimum standards for manufactured home residents and prevent further housing instability.” “All too often, tenants are faced with predatory practices meant to deprive them of their homes and hard-earned savings. Mobile home tenants deal with an increased risk of eviction as their housing costs soar without adequate legal protections, and to make matters worse, the communities they live in are often bought with federally-backed financing,” said Shaheen. “The Manufactured Tenant’s Bill of Rights would directly address that concern, ensuring that tenants receive equitable protections under the law to provide them with housing stability and peace of mind.” “Mobile home owners deserve rights—real, enforceable protections against rising rents, unfair practices, and exploitative evictions,” said Blumenthal. “Our measure will assure security to tenants who own their mobile homes but not the underlying land.” ""The bottom line is that Pennsylvania needs more good, affordable housing options —including manufactured housing,” said Fetterman. “But right now, too many people are taking advantage of the system and lining their own pockets. This critical bill will help protect residents of manufactured housing communities and keep more Pennsylvania families in stable affordable homes.” For the full text of the bill, click here. Currently, more than 3 million Americans live in MHCs, which often represent one of the few naturally occurring sources of affordable housing. However, because residents typically own the home itself, but not the land it sits on, they often struggle with unexpected cost increases and face a heightened risk of evictions. Outside investors have often purchased MHCs and pushed residents out, raising rents as much as 70%. Because of the unusual ownership structure, manufactured housing residents can fall through the cracks, where residents often lack the protections of either homeowners or other renters. The Manufactured Housing Tenant’s Bill of Rights would establish a set of minimum standards for tenants in MHCs that receive federal financing through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the Federal Housing Administration. These protections include: The right to a one-year renewable lease absent good cause for nonrenewal A 5-day grace period for late rent payments A minimum 60-day written notice of rent increases or new added charges like water or sewer of up to 5% of the prior rent, with longer notice for larger rent increases (an additional 30 days required for each 2.5% rent increase above 5%) Rights for the tenant to: Sell the manufactured home without having to relocate it Sublet the home or assign the lease to a buyer of the home provided the buyer meets the MHC’s rules and regulations Post “for sale” signs on the home Sell the manufactured home in place within 45 days after eviction, to prevent the homeowner from losing their equity Receive at least 60 days advanced notice of the MHC’s planned sale or closure. Giving tenants the opportunity to purchase the community in the event of a sale. The bill also requires public disclosure of MHCs that receive federal backing to ensure residents are aware of their rights. FHFA would also be required to create a standard lease agreement which allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to finally begin purchasing manufactured home leases through their single-family mortgage programs, which could significantly lower interest rates. The legislation is endorsed by All Parks Alliance for Change, Colorado Coalition of Manufactured Home Owners, Connecticut Manufactured Home Owners Alliance, Housing Assistance Council, Manufactured Home Owners’ Association of NJ, Inc., National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Housing Law Project, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Manufactured Home Owners Association, Prosperity Now, Resident-Owned Communities – New Hampshire, ROC USA, and WorkMoney.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/seec-climate-jobs-task-force-leaders-urge-good-jobs-principles-doe,SEEC Climate Jobs Task Force Leaders Urge Good Jobs Principles at DOE,2023-07-11,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Climate Jobs Task Force Co-Chairs — Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Nikki Budzinski, and Mark DeSaulnier — along with four of the Task Force members, sent a letter to Secretary Granholm urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to incorporate the Good Jobs Principles as it implements the historic investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. By proactively retaining and creating good union jobs during the implementation phase of these climate-forward bills, DOE can give workers across the nation the opportunity to participate in the American clean energy future. “We write to congratulate you on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) proactive implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These laws will retain and create family sustaining union jobs that will give all workers in the United States the opportunity to enter the middle-class, while simultaneously preventing the worst impacts of climate change and lowering energy costs for consumers. As implementation continues, it is crucial that the “Good Jobs Principles” developed and published by the Departments of Labor and Commerce are consistently applied across agencies and programs, including DOE,” the Task Force members wrote. “Both BIL and IRA represent landmark policy victories that set the stage for major economic transformation if implemented correctly. To achieve the Biden Administration’s goal of bringing the benefits of these investments to workers and communities, we ask DOE to fully apply these Good Jobs Principles, adopt a discerning approach with applicants who newly moved facilities to Right to Work states, and work across federal agencies to make worker protections and good-paying jobs priorities in the implementation of historic investments in domestic manufacturing.” The letter can be found here. ### The Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) is a coalition of 92 members of the U.S. House of Representatives that was founded in January 2009 to be a focused, active, and effective coalition for advancing policies that address climate change, promote clean energy innovation and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, create family-sustaining clean jobs, protect our nation’s air, water, and natural environment, and promote environmental justice. SEEC Co-Chairs are Reps. Doris Matsui (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Paul Tonko (D-NY). SEEC Vice Chairs are Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Sean Casten (D-IL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Katie Porter (D-CA).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-invites-students-participate-congressional-app-challenge-0,Bonamici Invites Students to Participate in Congressional App Challenge,2023-07-06,2023,2023-07,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [7/06/23] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) invited middle and high school students who live in or attend school in Oregon's First Congressional District to compete in the ninth annual Congressional App Challenge. The First Congressional District of Oregon includes all of Tillamook, Clatsop, and Columbia counties, and large portions of Washington and Multnomah counties. ""Learning to code can help students find new and creative ways to solve problems,"" said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. ""The Congressional App Challenge provides students with an opportunity to build their skills and showcase their ingenuity. I am always impressed by the diversity and thoughtfulness of the students and their submissions."" The Congressional App Challenge is a competition for students to use coding and computer science to create and exhibit a software application, or ""app,"" for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. The competition is an example of STEAM education, which is art and design integrated with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Students who participate in the competition must submit their app by November 1, 2023, and provide a video demo uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo explaining their app and what they learned through the competition process. A panel of local experts will select the winner for Oregon’s First Congressional District. Winners from each participating congressional district will be acknowledged in a district awards ceremony and featured on the House.gov website. There will also be a display in the U.S. Capitol Building to honor the winners from each Congressional district. More information about the competition, including how to register, is available here. Bonamici is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, which advocates for the integration of the arts and design into science, technology, engineering, and math education to encourage creative thinking and promote student engagement in school. By supporting and recognizing young programmers, Congress is acknowledging the growing importance of these fields. The U.S. House of Representatives organizes the nationwide Congressional App Challenge each year. ### WASHINGTON, DC [7/06/23] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) invited middle and high school students who live in or attend school in Oregon's First Congressional District to compete in the ninth annual Congressional App Challenge. The First Congressional District of Oregonincludes all of Tillamook, Clatsop, and Columbia counties, and large portions of Washington and Multnomah counties. ""Learning to code can help students find new and creative ways to solve problems,""said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. ""The Congressional App Challenge provides students with an opportunity to build their skills and showcase their ingenuity. I am always impressed by the diversity and thoughtfulness of the students and their submissions."" The Congressional App Challenge is a competition for students to use coding and computer science to create and exhibit a software application, or ""app,"" for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. The competition is an example of STEAM education, which is art and design integrated with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Students who participate in the competition must submit their app by November 1, 2023, and provide a video demo uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo explaining their app and what they learned through the competition process. A panel of local experts will select the winner for Oregon’s First Congressional District. Winners from each participating congressional district will be acknowledged in a district awards ceremony and featured on theHouse.gov website. There will also be a display in the U.S. Capitol Building to honor the winners from each Congressional district. More information about the competition, including how to register, is availablehere. Bonamici is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, which advocates for the integration of the arts and design into science, technology, engineering, and math education to encourage creative thinking and promote student engagement in school. By supporting and recognizing young programmers, Congress is acknowledging the growing importance of these fields. The U.S. House of Representatives organizes the nationwide Congressional App Challenge each year. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:18:03Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/all-8-members-oregon-delegation-call-us-department-state-address-passport,All 8 Members of Oregon Delegation Call on U.S. Department of State to Address the Passport Application Backlog for Oregonians,2023-06-29,2023,2023-06,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) called on the U.S. Department of State with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) to continue working to address the passport backlog for Oregonians by driving down wait times, increasing communication with Oregon applicants, and informing Congress of any additional resources the Department needs. Over the last year, passport requests have increased by 30 to 40 percent, with routine processing times increasing to 10 to 13 weeks and expedited processing times increasing to 7 to 9 weeks. The bipartisan coalition sent a joint letter to Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Consular Affairs Rena Bitter, urging immediate action to alleviate the delays. “I appreciate the steps the State Department has taken to help address the backlog. However, without an Oregon-based passport agency, many of my constituents must travel hours across state lines in order to help expedite their applications. We need increased communication and transparency for Oregonians,” Hoyle said. “That's why my office organized an event today at the University of Oregon to help answer questions, ensure people know how to avoid the most common application mistakes that can lead to additional delays in processing, and to let people know that we are here to help people navigate this system.” “I’ve been hearing from Oregonians from all walks of life that they are waiting months for a routine passport renewal, and even then, they are often faced with application corrections that could have been easily prevented with a more transparent process,” Wyden said. “In the midst of summer travel, more needs to be done to increase transparency, clear the backlog and drive down wait times in Oregon and nationwide.” “A major concern I’ve heard during my town halls this year is the complications caused by lengthy, unprecedented passport delays,” Merkley said. “With a drastic uptick in international travel, it’s urgent that Congress, the State Department, and other agencies work together to do all they can to help ease the logjams related to passports for Oregonians and all Americans needing to travel internationally.” “Passport processing delays deter travel and cause real frustration for our constituents. The State Department has taken steps to remedy this situation, but the ongoing delays clearly necessitate more action,” Blumenauer said. “The State Department and Congress must be partners as we work to restore this basic service for Oregonians and Americans across the country.” “My dedicated staff are working hard to assist as many people seeking passports as possible, but unusually long delays make it difficult to help Oregonians get where they need to go in time,” Bonamici said. “I’m grateful for the work State Department employees are doing to process application requests, but we need more information about the current backlog and transparency about what Oregonians can expect. We stand ready to work with the State Department to reduce wait times.” “Today’s extensive, unprecedented backlog of U.S. passport requests threatens to upend travel plans for hundreds of thousands of Oregonians,” Salinas said. “My staff has been working diligently to help constituents in need of support, but the State Department can and must do more to address this growing challenge. Restoring efficiency and transparency must be a top priority.” “Oregonians are ready and excited to contribute to our travel economy following a long pause due to the COVID 19 pandemic, but long passport renewal wait times have kept them from taking off,” Chavez-DeRemer said. “I appreciate our federal employees diligently working to help Oregonians reach their destinations, but more accountability is needed to ensure all systems are being run efficiently. Oregonians must be able to navigate their passport renewal process on a reasonable timeline.” Full text of the letter can be found here. Oregonians who are applying or renewing a passport prior to international travel should keep the following in mind: Demand for post-pandemic travel has resulted in a surge of passport applications, leading to a passport application backlog. Passport applications should be submitted BEFORE an international trip is booked. Applicants should visit the U.S. State Department’s website to apply for a passport application at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply.html. Applicants should ensure their application is accurate and make sure paperwork and forms are complete. Routine processing time for passport applications right now is 10-13 weeks. Expedited processing time for passport applications is currently 7-9 weeks. Applicants can check the status of their passport at https://passportstatus.state.gov/.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:08:25Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-salinas-senators-wyden-and-merkley-celebrate-6-million-federal,"Representative Salinas, Senators Wyden and Merkley Celebrate $6 Million Federal Transit Administration Grant to Salem",2023-06-27,2023,2023-06,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced that the Federal Transit Administration has awarded $6,586,104 to the Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) for the construction, expansion, and enhancement of zero-emission electric buses and related facilities. “We’ve all experienced the dirty exhaust fumes of old diesel buses,” said Rep. Salinas. “The toxic air pollutants emitted by these vehicles are not only unpleasant, but unsafe as they’ve been scientifically shown to negatively impact human health. This $6 million award to Salem Area Mass Transit District will help improve air quality in communities around Salem and the transition to electric buses will substantially reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Every zero-emission bus on our streets marks an exciting step forward in the fight to protect our planet.” “Energy-efficient public transit systems are a huge step critical to economic growth and combatting climate change in Oregon,” said Senator Wyden, who authored historic clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, which could cut national carbon emissions by upwards of 40%. “These resources for the Salem Area Mass Transit District infrastructure to transition to zero-emission vehicles will be a game-changer for cleaner air and increased transit services in a fast-growing region.” “As climate chaos intensifies, we must act boldly and quickly to transition to clean and renewable strategies,” said Senator Merkley. “Low- and no-emission buses mean better health for our communities and less pollution in the environment. This federal investment will turn regular transit updates into opportunities for safer air and combatting climate chaos.” “By replacing our oldest vehicles with zero-emission buses, this grant is a significant step toward enhanced service and modernization of our vehicle fleet,” said Ian Davidson, Board President of Cherriots. “With these funds, we will be able to double down on the transition of our fleet to zero emission vehicles by 2040. I would like to thank Senator Wyden, Senator Merkley, and Congresswoman Salinas for their support in securing the funding to make this project a reality.” According to the Department of Transportation, every zero-emission bus eliminates 1,690 tons of CO2 over its 12-year lifespan. This is equivalent to taking 27 cars off the road. To learn more about the grant to this project and others across the country, click here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:08:25Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-salinas-anniversary-dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization,Representative Salinas on Anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization,2023-06-26,2023,2023-06,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"On Saturday, June 24, 2023, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) issued the following statement to mark one year since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade: “One year ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and robbed millions of their fundamental right to make deeply personal health care decisions. The catastrophic Dobbs ruling was the inevitable outcome of former President Donald Trump’s mission to pack the Supreme Court with as many far-right justices as possible — justices who, despite what they testified to under oath, leapt at the first opportunity to overturn Roe. “The year since the Dobbs decision has been defined by needless suffering, tragedy, and pain. Women have been forced to carry fetuses with fatal conditions to term, only to watch their babies die seconds after taking their first breath. Survivors of rape or incest have endured the unimaginable trauma of delivering their abuser’s child. Reproductive care providers have faced threats of violence and criminal prosecution. Yet despite all of this harm and despair, Republican attacks on reproductive freedom are far from over. “Oregonians overwhelmingly believe that abortion should remain legal and safe. It is with them in mind that I pledge to soldier on in the fight to restore reproductive freedom for all. I will continue to champion bills like the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would restore the protections once held in Roe, and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act, which would protect the constitutional right to travel for an abortion. I will continue to speak out against unscientific attacks on safe abortion medication, like mifepristone. And I will continue to fight with everything I have to ensure that my daughter inherits an America that fully recognizes her rights as a woman. The next generation deserves nothing less.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:08:25Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-bipartisan-lawmakers-introduce-civilian-conservation-center,"Salinas, Bipartisan Lawmakers Introduce Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act",2023-06-26,2023,2023-06,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced the introduction of the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act, legislation to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to offer specialized wildland firefighter training to Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center students. Salinas is joined by three co-leads, Representatives Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), and Val Hoyle (OR-4). “Every year, Oregon’s wildfire season becomes more dangerous and deadly with the climate crisis exacerbating the conditions that spark these blazes,” said Rep. Salinas. “As our planet continues to warm and devastating fires become more routine, it’s imperative for the Forest Service to recruit, train, and retain skilled wildland firefighters who can help protect our communities. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act, which would break down barriers that prevent the Forest Service from adequately expanding its wildland firefighting capacity. Now more than ever, we need all hands on deck.” “In Kentucky and across the U.S., it’s important to have specialized firefighters, who can improve forestry management, prevent wildfires, and address wildfires when they occur,” said Rep. Guthrie. “I’m proud to support specialized wildland firefighter training at Great Onyx Job Corps and other Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers. Strengthening the workforce of brave wildland firefighters is critical to protecting people and their homes and businesses from devastating wildfires.” “Western North Carolina is home to three Civilian Conservation Centers, and the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act will provide another avenue for young folks in our district to finish their high school education and go through training that prepares them for a meaningful career,” said Rep. Edwards. “By offering specialized training and helping to obtain employment through our CCCs, this bipartisan bill will be a boon to job creation and increase our forestry and wildland firefighter workforce through students graduating from the Schenk, Oconaluftee and Lyndon B. Johnson CCCs, and CCCs all over the country.” “The Forest Service needs help to tackle its project backlog and combat wildfires. I’m proud to co-lead the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act with Rep. Salinas, Rep. Edwards, and Rep. Guthrie to increase specialized job training for wildland fire and forestry at Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers, like the one in Yachats, Oregon,” said Rep. Hoyle. “This bill will give Job Corps students the knowledge and skills they need to work in our national forests, and it will make it easier for them to secure good-paying jobs when they graduate.” Specifically, the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act would: Direct the U.S. Forest Service to offer and pilot specialized training for wildland fire, forestry, and rangeland management at Civilian Conservation Centers (CCC); Direct the U.S. Forest Service to conduct an assessment of workforce needs at public land agencies and related industries to determine necessary curriculum, develop marketing and recruitment materials, and provide specialized staff; Set a goal for the U.S. Forest Service to hire 300 CCC graduates each per year into wildland firefighter or other critical workforce needs and allows the agencies to offer signing bonus to graduates; Provide a direct hire authority to the U.S. Forest Service for graduates of CCC programs and direct both agencies to identify career pathways for graduates at their agencies; Clarify the U.S. Forest Service’s authority to pay students at CCC for work they do to improve federal lands; and Create a pilot program to deploy CCC students to repair or construct workforce housing to house wildland firefighters and other agency employees. Click here to read the full text of the legislation.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:08:25Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/amid-republican-silence-democratic-womens-caucus-leads-hearing-looming-child,"Amid Republican Silence, Democratic Women’s Caucus Leads Hearing on Looming Child Care Funding Cliffs",2023-06-22,2023,2023-06,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"June 22, 2023 ***WATCH A RECORDING OF THE HEARING HERE*** WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), held a shadow hearing, “The State of Child Care in America: Addressing the Looming Funding Cliffs for Women and Families,” chaired by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12). Despite the steep impact the child care crisis and funding cliffs have on families, no House Republican-led Committee has held a hearing on child care this Congress. This hearing examined how critical emergency stabilization funds that Democrats passed via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) helped save the child care industry, kept child care providers open, and ensured working families had the child care they needed to go to work. But these critical funds will run out on September 30, 2023—and the ongoing and projected impact for states, child care providers, families, and working women will be devastating. At the hearing, witnesses and members highlighted the impact ARPA funds had on the child care industry and families, the need for immediate action to address the looming funding cliffs and the urgent fight to solve the child care crisis, once and for all. The hearing included expert testimony from Laura Valle Gutierrez, Fellow at The Century Foundation, Melissa Boteach, Vice President for Income Security and Child Care/Early Learning of National Women’s Law Center, Carolina Reyes, Owner and Director of Arco Iris Bilingual Children’s Center, and Laura Weeldreyer, Executive Director of Maryland Family Network. “Oregon families in urban and rural areas have told me that child care costs more than their housing. This is unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Democrats recognized the need to invest in affordable, high-quality child care and early learning in the American Rescue Plan. But the care economy is facing a fiscal cliff when the American Rescue Plan Act stabilization grants end on September 30th. I hope today’s hearing will encourage our colleagues across the aisle to join us in building an economy that will leave no one behind.” “It’s time for national childcare policy and funding that works for all our families. No family, child, educator, or childcare provider should be left behind and we must act now to provide equitable access to early learning and care for our families and communities. We must invest in programs that support and uplift early childhood learning, create incentives to help with workforce retention for our care economy by decreasing the income gap for workers, and create equitable and decent living wages for working families so they don’t have to choose between childcare or work,” said Congresswoman Tlaib. Additional testimony from the witnesses includes: The pandemic amplified an already precarious child care crisis. Melissa Boteach: “Even prior to COVID-19, more than half of Americans lived in a child care desert, or a neighborhood with an insufficient supply of licensed child care.” Laura Valle Gutierrez: “All told, the United States lost an estimated 20,000 child care programs in the first two years of the pandemic, nearly 10 percent of its pre-pandemic amount of child care programs.” Laura Weeldreyer: “The pandemic proved, as if more proof were needed, that child care is an essential public good that cannot thrive in a broken private market. For child care to do its indispensable job, it needs substantial and sustained public investment.” The American Rescue Plan Act played a crucial role in stabilizing and saving child care services. Melissa Boteach: “These resources were a lifeline…over the course of the pandemic, the relief dollars reached 220,000 child care programs – serving up to 10 million children and their families… ninety-two percent of surveyed child care programs that received stabilization grants said the grants helped keep their program open, and one third said that without these relief dollars, their program would have closed permanently.” Laura Valle Gutierrez, citing a testimonial from a family child care owner: “Parents cannot pay for the actual cost of child care services. The stabilization grant subsidized some operation costs in my program to keep tuition affordable and to attract and retain staff.” Carolina Reyes: “ARPA funding was absolutely crucial and fundamental for my center's survival. Without ARPA grant money, my center would have closed in 2020 or 2021.” The loss of funding will result in a devastating impact on the child care sector and workers. Laura Valle Gutierrez: “We found that when the funds expire at the end of September, 3.2 million children could lose their child care slots, as programs close, staffing shortages grow, and tuition costs rise.” Melissa Boteach: “Today, the median pay for child care workers is $13.7127 and a 2018 study from the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment showed that a majority of child care workers are paid so little that they are eligible for public assistance programs.” Laura Weeldreyer: “The economic impact of child care issues affecting working parents with children under the age of five is staggering. In Maryland alone, the loss of $1.28 billion annually in economic output and $2.41 billion annually for employers underscores the urgent need for systemic change.” Prioritizing child care is an investment in our economy, our infrastructure, and American families. Laura Valle Gutierrez: “The stakes are high: 70,000 child care programs; 200,000 early education jobs; 3 million children and their parents; and nearly $11 billion in state economic revenue. When America decides something is a priority, we find the funding. It’s time to prioritize child care to ensure all our families are able to thrive.” Melissa Boteach: “Child care is infrastructure. It holds up our economy. It bridges workers and jobs. And similar to physical infrastructure, child care is a public good, with investments resulting in immediate and long-term positive externalities.” Carolina Reyes: “We are professionals that love what we do because we strongly believe that the education of small children will better ensure successful leaders for our nation. But we aren’t just a field of a love. We are a field that is relevant and needed for all. And we can’t do this alone. We need you. We need support: financial and moral.” Laura Weeldreyer: “Let’s be clear: child care is infrastructure – laying the groundwork for stronger, more resilient Americans that can withstand the challenges that lie ahead. Think of this funding as the scaffolding that supports the construction of a better future for our young children and their families; an investment as essential as the roads, bridges, and the power grid.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T00:08:25Z