In the News

WASHINGTON — The Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus and the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics Caucus hostedtechnology companies and HBCU presidents and leaders on Capitol Hill for the first HBCU STEAM Day of Action.

Congress faces a funding deadline this week as lawmakers scramble to sort out what policy riders will make the fiscal 2018 omnibus appropriations package.

Lawmakers will need to pass the bill no later than Friday, when a temporary funding measure expires. If they fail, many federal agencies would be forced to shut down at the end of the week.

Negotiations that extended through the weekend were expected to lead to an agreement being announced by tonight.

Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced three town hall meetings across the First Congressional District, which includes Washington, Yamhill, Clatsop, and Columbia counties and part of Multnomah County.

Bonamici will take questions from residents and provide an update on her work in Congress. The town hall meetings will be held in St. Helens, Forest Grove, and Astoria. Earlier this month, the Congresswoman held town hall meetings in Portland, Beaverton, and McMinnville.

talia Rentsch never used to be fearful or going to school.

Now, the McMinnville High School student told U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici Monday, she lives with a heightened sense of fear.

"The fire alarm went off once recently, and my gut dropped," she told Bonamici, who represents McMinnville in Oregon's First Congressional District. "I said, ‘I am not going outside.'"

Natalia Rentsch never used to be fearful or going to school.

Now, the McMinnville High School student told U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici Monday, she lives with a heightened sense of fear.

"The fire alarm went off once recently, and my gut dropped," she told Bonamici, who represents McMinnville in Oregon's First Congressional District. "I said, ‘I am not going outside.'"

Don Watson, a retired McMinnville math teacher, told U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici at a town hall Monday he is concerned about gridlock in Congress.

"What can we do to increase bipartisanship, even with an administration that's wacko?" he asked, drawing a chuckle from the 100 or so people gathered to speak with Bonamici at Chemeketa Community College's McMinnville campus.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici says student safety will be enhanced by a combination of restrictions on firearms, increased access to counseling and improved security in schools.

The Oregon Democrat was asked about the issue four times during an hourlong town hall meeting Saturday, March 10, at Conestoga Middle School in Beaverton.

"There are a lot of things we can do, rather than saying that kids have to go to schools wearing bulletproof vests," she said to an audience of about 80. "They are already in fear right now."

US Senator Ron Wyden and US Representative Suzanne Bonamici are urging Congress to provide long-term, lifeline funding for rural counties in upcoming must-pass legislation.

The Oregon lawmakers -- along with county commissioners from across the country -- have called upon Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and provide full funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) in legislation that must be passed by March 23rd to keep the government running.