Jobs and Economy

At the federal level, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills in July that would provide over $60 billion to support and stabilize the childcare industry, but the bills remain stalled in the Senate. "I've heard from many women in Oregon that the lack of child care during COVID-19 is forcing them – and women they know – to leave the workforce," said Bonamici in a statement. "That's extremely troubling.

According to a University or Oregon study, 80 percent of every dollar invested in restoration projects stays in-county, and 90 percent stays in-state. But the ultimate payoff, Trenholm said, lies in the future: restoring the lifeblood of coastal communities by helping them fish again. "Salmon are an integral part of the culture and ecosystem of the Pacific NW, and we must do all we can to help them survive and thrive," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.

Oregon Health Authority director Patrick Allen said in a town hall with community members last week that tracking how a workplace outbreak originated and spread can be difficult. The agency organized the town hall after U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, expressed concerns that the community lacked information about the outbreak.

Trying to ease concerns in Clatsop County, the director of the Oregon Health Authority indicated Friday that a surge in coronavirus cases would likely not move the county back from phase two of the state's reopening plan. Gov. Kate Brown placed the county on the state's watch list after virus cases spiked after the Labor Day holiday and a workplace outbreak at Pacific Seafood in Warrenton.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat from Beaverton, issued this statement after the House vote: "The House passed critical legislation several months ago to stem the loss of life and blunt the worst effects of the pandemic, but the Senate failed to act. This update to the Heroes Act reflects what our country needs now — aid for schools, workers, businesses, childcare, testing and treatment, and more.

The question-and-answer session will be broadcast simultaneously in Spanish with American Sign Language interpretation. "When I saw the news about a major workplace outbreak at Pacific Seafood's Warrenton facility, I was deeply concerned," Bonamici, an Oregon Democrat, said in a statement. "This is a small, tight-knit community with limited health care capacity. A COVID-19 outbreak could be devastating and could again disrupt in-person education and shutter businesses.

The sharp spike is linked to an outbreak at Pacific Seafood in Warrenton. The Oregon Health Authority has reported 86 total cases tied to the facility, prompting scrutiny from U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat who represents the area.