Jobs and Economy
Information regarding my stance on Jobs and Economy issues.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici toured Portland Community College's Columbia County Center on Wednesday, Aug. 18. The new facility is home to PCC's OMIC Training Center, across the street from the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center facility operated by Oregon Institute of Technology. Bonamici, who attended community college, mostly asked questions of PCC OMIC director Andrew Lattanner, but also briefly spoke with students participating in a week-long introduction to manufacturing class.
State Sen. Betsy Johson, D-Scappoose, widely agreed to have been a driving force behind the OMIC initiative, praised the political support for OMIC, including backing from U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Columbia County commissioners. "It has been terrific when prospects or businesses that want to become members say 'what's the level of political support you have?' And we can say without fear of contradiction, it's 100% and we're damn proud of it," Johnson said.
Democrats Highlight Need for Workforce Investments. Also on Thursday, House Education & Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) hosted a remote press conference with US Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, Education Department Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon) and other guests to highlight the importance of investing in workforce development.
Democrats have sought for several years to revamp the section of the 1938 Act that applies to workers with disabilities. The bill appears to stand a good chance of passage with the party in control of the White House and Congress. "Phasing out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities is fundamentally a civil rights issue," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., chairwoman of a House panel with jurisdiction over the issue.