Civil Rights
Democrats have sought for several years to revamp the section of the 1938 Act that applies to workers with disabilities. The bill appears to stand a good chance of passage with the party in control of the White House and Congress. "Phasing out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities is fundamentally a civil rights issue," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., chairwoman of a House panel with jurisdiction over the issue.
"My home state of Oregon has one of the most rapidly aging populations in the country, and I have heard from many workers, particularly those in the technology industry, who believe they have been dismissed or denied employment because of their age," Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton, said in comments on the House floor Wednesday. Bonamici was among those who introduced the legislation.
"What really helps is to make the vaccine available and accessible and come to the community. So we are here in a large parking lot in Tektronix," said Congresswoman Bonamici.
The Protecting Our Students in School Act would prohibit corporal punishment in schools that receive federal funding, and establish a grant program to help improve school climate and culture. It was introduced June 10 in the U.S. House and Senate by a trio of Democrats: U.S. Reps. A. Donald McEachin of Virgina and Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon, along with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
On June 10, Reps. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) recently reintroduced the Protecting Our Students in School Act of 2021, which takes steps to eliminate the harmful, antiquated practice of hitting children in public schools. In addition to removing corporal punishment in public institutions, the bill puts in place measures to create supportive school climates with positive discipline strategies that are backed by science.
They described Johnson's work as "a great mixture of contemporary and traditional techniques," according to a press release by the office of U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Beaverton Democrat. Johnson received an honorable mention for the competition in 2019. "I appreciate that Clara's piece thoughtfully examines anti-immigrant bias and the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, and is beautifully executed," said Bonamici in a statement. "She is incredibly talented, and I'm glad she has shared her excellent work by participating in the Congressional Art Competition."