Jobs and Economy
Information regarding my stance on Jobs and Economy issues.
Air traffic controllers and TSA agents at Portland International Airport told lawmakers they're selling plasma and considering looking for work in the private sector as a result of the ongoing government shutdown.
About 60 air traffic controllers and up to 400 TSA agents at PDX have been working without pay since the government shutdown first began over two weeks ago. The shutdown occurred because of a disagreement between the president and congressional Democrats over funding for a border wall.
As the partial government shutdown enters its 3rd week, problems are arising at airports across the country.
Hundreds of TSA agents have decided that if they're not getting paid, they're going to call in sick -- which in turn has caused long lines at checkpoints. The most impacted airports so far are New York, Seattle and Dallas-Fort Worth.
PDX isn't experiencing the TSA sick calls, but the local TSA union president fears the agents may have to find other employment if the shutdown continues.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05), along with Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), announced the designation of Oregon's Van Duzer Corridor as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) this month.
Members of the European Union (EU) Policy & Outreach Partnership, an initiative of the EU Delegation to the USA, recently paid a visit to Seely Family Farm in the Clatskanie area. Already in every U.S. state and Canadian province, Seely products may soon be available in European markets.
Seely Family Farm was also recently awarded a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the aim of adding jobs and sustaining production. U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D) supported Seely in securing the grant.
"A paid internship? How often do you get THAT opportunity?" This is a common reaction to the Clatsop WORKS Paid Internship program! It is a new experiment to strengthen our workforce and increase economic vitality in Clatsop County, and it is working. Clatsop WORKS finished with amazing results this summer. We thank our educational partners, host employers, interns, steering committee, and all of our community members who have offered so much support for the program.
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat from Beaverton, helped secure a $400,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to perform cleanups at the former gas station and a nearby brownfield site.
"We know that because of the (population) growth and the Cascadia subduction zone, we need to prepare for those emergencies and the eventual earthquake," Bonamici said. "We need to have our police force and emergency managers have the tools and have them in a seismically sound building."
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici says she will continue to defend the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively, even as a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court heads in another direction.
The Democrat from Beaverton spoke last week after she met with representatives from Local 503 of Service Employees International Union, which not only represents the largest group of state government employees but also child and home care workers. They met in Beaverton.