Jobs and Economy
When I travel around Northwest Oregon, I often hear from parents who struggle to pay for child care—which in Oregon can cost as much as a year of college tuition. I’ve heard from parents who don’t have access to paid family leave at work, and have to choose between caring for a new baby and earning a paycheck. Congress must do more to address the challenges facing our families.
Our economy will be stronger and people will be healthier when we acknowledge that families need policies that work for them, not against them. Equal pay for women, good wages, paid leave, and affordable child care will better support families in Oregon and across the country. When we open the doors of opportunity to everyone, we all succeed.
One of my top priorities in Congress is to grow our economy and implement policies that create more jobs in Oregon and across the country. As a leader on the Education and Labor Committee, I’ve introduced legislation to strengthen apprenticeships and paid, on-the-job training programs to provide workers with meaningful pathways to better paying jobs, and to connect businesses with workers who have the skills they need. I support the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024. I also helped pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to help to address the pay gap and provide workers with the tools they need to achieve equal pay for equal work.
More on Jobs and Economy
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici heard from restaurant owners Friday about the lack of effective support amid the coronavirus pandemic, but was hopeful about more relief under a Biden administration and Democratic Congress. The Oregon Democrat has pushed for a $120 billion bailout for restaurants, one of the industries hardest-hit during the pandemic. She convened a roundtable of restaurant owners Friday, including Chris Nemlowill of Fort George Brewery and Micha Lattek of Street 14 Cafe, to get their perspective.
Those restaurant owners joined Suzanne Bonamici for a virtual round table Friday afternoon. Restaurant owners discussed what it’s been like to operate a restaurant with strict limitations on their businesses. Many of the restaurant owners explained in the meeting that PPP loans are just not working.
On Friday, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici held a roundtable with local business owners in the industry to talk about their needs. One of the major topics discussed was the rules surrounding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding. Some said the guidelines were unclear or unattainable.
Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act (H.R. 3833). Introduced by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) with 5 cosponsors on 7/18/2019, this bipartisan bill automates the updating of income information for borrowers in income-driven repayment plans.
"Right now, people need relief, not political posturing. On Monday I will vote to increase the direct payments, and I hope that change passes. But no matter what happens, Trump must sign the bill and get help to our communities," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, on Thursday.
Johnson added, "Through a collaboration between local schools, Portland Community College, the Northwest STEM Hub, Congresswoman (Suzanne) Bonamici's office and myself, we were able to provide virtual tours and training opportunities to showcase the employment opportunities available in manufacturing for a wide range of students." For her part, Bonamici remarked, "I'm a champion for OMIC because it is accelerating our regional economy while creating more opportunities for students and workers." Bonamici said she's modeled a bipartisan bill, the PARTNERS Act, on the business partnerships at
As she starts her fifth full term from northwest Oregon's 1st District, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici says Congress has a lot of unfinished business. She says that business starts with a follow-up coronavirus aid plan to the $2.2 trillion CARES Act last spring — the House's Democratic majority has passed two plans, but nothing has advanced in the Republican-controlled Senate — and does not end there. During a Nov.