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Civil Rights

January 9, 2020

On Jan. 1, Oregon's law turned 10 years old. For a decade, it has required state schools to interview at least one qualified minority candidate for all head coach and athletic director openings. The result has been historic gains in diversity hiring.


January 5, 2020

The decades-long quest of Chinook tribal members to regain federal recognition gets another airing in court on Monday. A U.S. District Court judge is scheduled to hear oral arguments on cross-claims for summary judgment in a lawsuit brought by the tribe against the Department of the Interior.

Issues:Civil Rights

December 29, 2019

When two students hung a banner reading "Build A Wall" in the cafeteria at a school that's about half Hispanic or Latino, it predictably set off a firestorm.

Issues:Civil Rights

December 16, 2019

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act, sending it to the president's desk to be signed into law.

Bonamici said she was grateful that the House passed the legislation to address historical injustices and honor the fishing treaty rights of four Columbia River Tribes.


December 13, 2019
The Department did not discuss or bargain for these changes and decisions with AFGE, and we are concerned that the hiring process is now insulated from appropriate accountability and transparency.

December 6, 2019
Elections are at the heart of our democracy, and we must make sure no one impedes the ability of citizens to express themselves at the ballot box, regardless of where they live.
Issues:Civil Rights

November 15, 2019

A new rule in Oregon prohibits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from detaining people at state courthouses without a judicial arrest warrant.

The rule also protects people going to or from court proceedings from being stopped in nearby entryways, sidewalks and parking lots.

Issues:Civil Rights

October 22, 2019
We are concerned that the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is failing to protect the civil rights of LGBTQ students.

October 22, 2019

Legislation sponsored by a Democrat that would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant workers is finding some support across the aisle, but many Republicans are still reluctant to get behind the measure.


October 15, 2019
“I hear from many people who tell me that higher education is out of reach, or who are struggling with burdensome student loan debt. These conversations have guided my efforts to improve access to higher education, and I’m proud of the work we have done crafting the College Affordability Act.”