Technology and Innovation

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton, is one of five members of Oregon's congressional delegation who serves on the conference committee working on the legislation. She said the fact that committee has been meeting is a sign of progress and said she's optimistic Congress will meet Hoyer's August deadline for passing a bill.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici visited the intersection of public high schools and private industry at Portland Community College in Hillsboro on Monday, June 6. The congresswoman from northwest Oregon is hoping to bring $910,000 to the school's semiconductor and advanced manufacturing programs, which aligns with local K-12 curriculums and in turn feeds the workforce at Intel and other local technology firms.

At Monday's ceremony, senior Intel officials said they have a legacy in Hillsboro and an ongoing commitment there. Merkley as well as Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici all gave assurances that they would work to fund the CHIPS Act, a bill that would give $52 billion in federal investments and incentives to U.S. chip manufacturers.

Intel said it has essentially finished three years of work on the main Hillsboro factory, an addition known as Mod3. CEO Pat Gelsinger was due to attend a celebration Monday morning, despite the unseasonable April snow, along with Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.

Two Oregon members of Congress are among the negotiators seeking legislation to boost U.S. economic competitiveness, including billions in federal grants to promote domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which writes tax and trade legislation. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat from Beaverton, sits on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

Walsh, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries Val Hoyle toured PCC's portion of the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center. Walsh, Bonamici and Hoyle — all of whom started their post-secondary education at community colleges — spoke about the need for pathways to living-wage jobs outside of a four-year college degree.

The visit follows Walsh's recent announcement of the Department of Labor's "Good Jobs Initiative," a coordinated effort by the Biden-Harris administration to improve job quality nationwide with the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed on Nov. 15, 2021. Walsh was scheduled to first join Rep. Suzanne Bonamici for a tour of the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center, an applied research and development and workforce training center, which serves the region's advanced manufacturers.