Health Care

Linda Reinstein is co-founder and president of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO). Faye Park is president of Public Interest Research Group (PIRG).

Although Congress has yet to pass the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) continue to champion the bill for reintroduction. If passed, the ARBAN Act would prevent thousands of Americans like Alan from suffering or dying from asbestos exposure.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici advocated for the funding, along with other projects around the Portland metro area. "I led the effort to provide Virginia Garcia with additional funding to enhance their outstanding care system and expand their dental, pharmacy and primary care services," Bonamici said in a statement. "I'm grateful to President (Joe) Biden for signing the funding bill that will make this expansion possible, and I will continue working to increase access to affordable health care."

Each member of Congress can submit up to 10 community project funding requests for consideration. Rep. Earl Blumenauer joined Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici in advocating for $2.67 million in funding for the Multnomah County Behavioral Health Resource Center, among other projects.

Majalise Tolan, secondary director for the Lincoln County School District, met recently with other Coalition of Oregon School Administrators and Sen. Jeff Merkley, Rep. Kurt Schrader, Rep. Cliff Bentz and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. to ask for resources to address the twin student mental health and educator shortage crises.