Education
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.
Oregon congresswoman and LCC alumni Suzanne Bonamici joined the ceremony as the keynote speaker and was awarded the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. "As I reflect on the past 17 months of the pandemic, the magnitude of loss of loved ones, jobs, businesses and opportunities remains unfathomable," Bonamici said.
Oregon received $354 million of the $36 billion dedicated to education in the $1.9 trillion ARPA, according to U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.
Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) introduced a bill that would repeal a tax break for business meals implemented by the Trump administration. The bill would redirect the money—which amounts to more than $5 billion over two years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation—to the Child Care and Development Fund.
The child care crisis is being felt around the country, leading legislators to take action. On March 16, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici reintroduced the Child Care Is Infrastructure Act, which would establish loan and grant programs for child care facilities and early-childhood educators.
"The full 'three martini lunch deduction' is not the most effective use of taxpayer dollars, and it's time we repurpose these funds," said Representative Peter Meijer, a Republican from Michigan who co-sponsored the bill with Representative Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat from Oregon, in a statement.
However, they are more expensive than a diesel bus. But Bonamici says in the long run, districts could end up saving more money. "Even though the initial investment is more. It's a good investment. They're not buying the fuel that they have to buy for the diesel buses and they won't have the same maintenance costs," she said.