In the News

President Trump's first State of the Union address was met with skepticism and wariness by Oregon's Democratic senators and representatives while the state's lone Republican on Capitol Hill said the commander-in-chief said the right things on the opioid epidemic, veterans services and the economy.

As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his first State of the Union address, Oregon Democrats have invited six "Dreamers" to Washington D.C. in hopes of putting a face to the more than 800,000 young men and women whose deportation protections are on the line starting March 8 if Congress doesn't extend the Obama-era program or come up with a permanent fix by then.

Washington DC – Northwest members of Congress are reacting to President Trump's State of the Union address last night. Oregon's lone Republican Congressman, Greg Walden says " I thought the President gave a good speech. I think it was important he talked about taking better care of our veterans. That's been an issue I've cared deeply about." He also thought it was important the President talked about the opiod crisis and economy.

Even as advocates celebrated the opening of Pomeroy Place in Aloha, which will provide housing for 20 low-income veterans and their families, a state official says many more could be built if lawmakers raise the recording fee at their upcoming session.

"We have a lot more work to do. We must end housing instability and homelessness for our veterans, our seniors, those who are disabled, and families," said Kenny LaPoint, assistant director for public affairs of the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department.

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici of Beaverton announced that a Dreamer from Northwest Oregon will join her at President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

"Dreamers" refers to recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA; people who were brought illegally into the United States by their parents when they were children.

Earl Blumenauer has opted to skip President Trump's first State of the Union address, but that doesn't mean the congressman's seat will be empty Tuesday evening.

The Oregon Democrat's spot will be taken by Aldo Solano, a "Dreamer" who stands to lose his legal status if Congress doesn't negotiate an extension or permanent fix to the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which as of now expires March 8.

"I never thought I'd do heroin," Steve Bowman told a panel of staff and lawmakers Tuesday.

Bowman, a recovering addict, was one of a few people who shared his story and experiences navigating addiction treatment during a visit from U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton, at Columbia Community Mental Health offices Tuesday morning, Jan. 23.

A group of students at Scappoose Middle School were given the chance to meet Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici earlier this week.

Bonamici, who represents Oregon's 1st Congressional District, made a visit to the school Tuesday, Jan. 23, and took a short tour of the school's STEM Lab, spoke with students, and spent time observing seventh-graders learning to run a vinyl cutter and printer as part of their design and modeling class elective.

STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math.