Education
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.
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. "But we've also seen resilience beyond what we might have thought possible."
Oregon received $354 million of the $36 billion dedicated to education in the $1.9 trillion ARPA, according to U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. Within the state the money will be distributed to 29 public and private schools across the state, including Yamhill County's two universities –- George Fox and Linfield –- as well as the two community colleges that operate in the county, Portland Community and Chemeketa. George Fox University will receive $6.94 million in ARPA funds, while Linfield is expected to net $3.99 million.
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 fund awards grants to state programs to help low-income families find childcare for work-related reasons.
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. The full business meal deduction will result in $5 billion in foregone tax revenue in 2022 and 2023, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.
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. "It helps the health of our children, our community, and our planet."
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."