Jobs and Economy

"Katherine was the glue that held us together," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., who played a leading role in the negotiations. "If you end up with a product that has support from the AFL-CIO to the Chamber of Commerce, that is an unusual feat."

Upon reintroduction, the bill had 41 cosponsors in the Senate, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and all four Oregon and Washington Senators: Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden, Patty Murray, and Maria Cantwell. The reintroduced House version of the bill had 170 sponsors, including Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, and Peter DeFazio of Oregon.

Congress and the Oregon Legislature have each considered stronger protections in the past few years, but neither has acted. However, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton, said Tuesday she is optimistic a bill that passed in the Democratic House last year will fare better in the Senate now that Democrats control that chamber, too.

The National Apprenticeship Act of 2021 provides a plan for states to set up and run federally funded programs and calls for the Labor Department to diversify and expand apprenticeships in conjunction with industry leaders, educational institutions and others.

In the last legislative session Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, D-Portland, introduced the Child Care is Essential Act to establish a $50 billion Child Care Stabilization Fund to give grants to families and providers, but it stalled in the senate.