Energy and Environment

This fall I wrapped up a series of six town hall meetings with two final meetings in Cannon Beach and Portland. I celebrated the Portland Thorns' victory in the National Women's Soccer League Championship—go Thorns! Another highlight was working with Senator Jeff Merkley to bring the "I Am Not Invisible" exhibit featuring Oregon women veterans to the nation's capital. Too often women veterans feel invisible, but seeing the faces and stories of women veterans from Oregon in the halls of Congress was a proud moment for me and for women veterans everywhere.

In the wake of this year's horrific wildfire season, the U.S. House on Wednesday passed legislation aimed at reversing the rising fire danger in the nation's forests and grasslands.

The measure, passed on a 232-188 vote, would increase timber harvests and relax some key environmental rules. It also seeks to relieve the U.S. Forest Service from being forced to cannibalize its fire prevention budget to pay for the rapidly escalating costs of combating wild-land blazes.

CANNON BEACH — When Gearhart resident Arden Bryce heard Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici tell the story of her and her daughter, Selah, on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives back in May, she couldn't help but feel emotional.

Bryce emailed Bonamici earlier in the year when House Republicans first started proposing plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Bryce, whose daughter has been diagnosed with autism and a host of other medical issues, said she worries about how she would be able to afford the medication her daughter requires.

WASHINGTON - Oregon's entire House delegation applauded Thursday the inclusion of emergency funding for wildland fire suppression in the supplemental appropriations bill just passed by the House.