Education
BEAVERTON, OR [7/15/21] – This week Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici hosted U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in Oregon to discuss their efforts to provide students with pathways to affordable higher education, including two years of free community college.
The Secretary and Congresswoman also saw how historic investments in education from the American Rescue Plan are expanding summer programs like the bilingual summer enrichment program in Hillsboro.
"I hear from so many students frequently about how higher education is more expensive and many are facing an affordability crisis, even before the pandemic," Bonamici said. "And we know that the pandemic has had a disparate effect on communities of color and parents, exacerbated by existing inequities in the system."
Bonamici thanked students in her closing remarks and said their resilience is inspiring. "It's clear that community colleges are going to have a really important role in our economic recovery," she said.
Cardona and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici held a roundtable discussion with students at Southridge High School who are participating in a program that's helping to diversify the education workforce. "It's a grow-your-own program where students from the community get support to get their higher education and teaching credentials and then go back to teach in their own community," Bonamici explained.
At his second stop, Southridge High School in Beaverton, Cardona held a roundtable discussion with students and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici about the President's American Family Plan, a proposal that includes two years of free community college. "When graduates of community college graduate, they have a 21% increase in their earning potential," said Cardona. "I think if we really focus on it as a country, we can get it done. And I think it would not only help those students but give us an opportunity to do a better job connecting to the workforce needs in our country."
Tomorrow, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will continue his tour in Oregon to discuss the provisions within President Biden's Build Back Better agenda that provide students pathways to affordable higher education, including providing two years of free community college. During this trip, the Secretary will also discuss the historic investments from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), dedicating money for summer enrichment programs when he visits a bilingual summer enrichment program in Hillsboro, Oregon, funded in part by ARP.
In Oregon, Cardona will hold a roundtable with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) to discuss the president's pledge to publicly fund two years of community college.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden this week urged President Biden to provide student loan borrowers with urgently needed relief by extending the current pause on payments and interest for federally held student loans.
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.