Education
Suzanne Bonamici, the US House representative for Oregon, helped introduce legislation on Thursday to make all students eligible for free school meals this school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The legislation, called the Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act, would allow kids to access breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snack programs in school or through "grab-and-go" and delivery options.
The effort is co-led by several other representatives and officials.
Larsen has "done everything from cleaning the toilets to meeting with (state Sen.) Betsy Johnson and (Congresswoman) Suzanne Bonamici," Jones-Centeno said. "She is on all sides of this thing … That woman has been the force behind the life of the Partners for the PAC."
"She is a force. I wish I had her tenacity and fortitude."
Waisenan retained the right to rename the building if she wanted to. Unknown to Larsen, she chose to rename it the Charlene Larsen Center for the Performing Arts.
The new name debuted Monday.
And in Oregon, all 36 counties were considered "child care deserts" for infants and toddlers before the pandemic, with only one child care slot for every three children who need care, according to Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici's office.
Bonamici recently released a report called "Child Care in Crisis: Solutions to Support Working Families, Children, and Educators," calling for stabilizing and improving the child care system in Oregon and across the nation.