Jobs and Economy

A little over a month ago, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown gave child care centers a choice: continue to operate with a focus on the children of "essential workers," or shut your doors. Nearly half closed.

Even with the downsizing, CEO Jarod Hobbs, Dory's husband, estimates Atlas can only hold on until mid-June, and that's if current enrollment holds steady. He's hoping that financial relief will arrive in the form of a federal loan or a $50 billion stimulus child care relief package backed by NAEYC and some members of Congress, including Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Sens.

SALEM, OR (KPTV) - Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday evening announced that she will extend orders to keep daycares in Oregon closed, unless facilities are approved as emergency childcare services.

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici said she's calling for $50 billion for providers, families and child care workers in the next coronavirus response package.

Oregon Democrat joins 387 colleagues to vote for latest $484 billion coronavirus aid plan.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici issued this statement after the House passed a $484 billion aid plan, the fourth Congress has approved to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and the economic downturn. The bill (HR 266) heads to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Momentum is building for a proposed $50 billion stimulus package for the nation's child care industry.

Proposed by advocacy groups including the National Association for the Education of Young Children in late March, members of Congress are signing on to back the measure, including Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden.

In 17 states, women filed the majority of new unemployment claims in the weeks after their governors closed schools and workplaces to curb the spread of the coronavirus, a new analysis by The Fuller Project has found.