Jobs and Economy

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) – Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici is calling on the interim director of the Oregon Employment Department to get Oregonians their benefits quickly by clearing the unemployment insurance claims backlog.

She is also calling on David Gerstenfled to increase transparency by holding public webinars within the week. Bonamici on Tuesday said hundreds of people have contacted her office in recent weeks to look for answers and help navigate unemployment benefits, as the state has backlog of nearly 40,000 unemployment insurance claims.

The partisan divide over how to ensure workplace safety surfaced repeatedly Thursday as Democrats on the House Education and Labor Committee questioned the head of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration about the agency's response to the pandemic.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., put Labor Department Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren E. Sweatt on the spot when she asked how many of the nearly 5,000 COVID-19 related complaints received so far by OSHA have ended in enforcement action.

Four of the seven members of Oregon's congressional delegation this week said Covid is exacerbating inequalities in the financial system and federal lawmakers should take additional steps to help underserved communities.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Millions of Americans received a stimulus check from the federal government. It's unclear if a second one could be coming. Lawmakers in Washington D.C. are kicking around different proposals, from monthly checks to a payroll tax rebate. There are no concrete plans for a second check yet, though.