In the News

As 2021 marks the first year that Indigenous Peoples' Day is recognized in the state of Oregon, Governor Kate Brown noted the milestone in a statement calling it "overdue" and thanked state Reps. Sanchez and Alonso Leon along with other state lawmakers for making the bill recognizing the holiday a reality. Oregon's U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici also joined in the call for federal recognition, tweeting "Indigenous People's Day provides an opportunity to come together in celebration of the vibrant traditions & immeasurable contributions of tribal nations in Oregon & across our country.

One day after a federal appeals court allowed Texas to resume banning most abortions, Democratic U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer gave speeches along with Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette staffers, including CEO Anne Udall.

The nation's most restrictive abortion ban has resumed in Texas, now that a federal appeals court has overruled a decision from a lower court to pause the ban. "I was in high school before Roe versus Wade," Rep Bonamici said. "This was the day of back alley abortions and self-help."

Bonamici recounted the days before abortion was legal and the unsafe, dangerous methods women would use to end a pregnancy. "What they resorted to in their desperation was often life-threatening," Bonamici said. "We must, we absolutely must, protect the right to safe, legal abortion."

Thankfully, Oregon has a number of strong leaders fighting for these investments, including Sen. Ron Wyden and Congressman Peter DeFazio, who have key committee leadership roles in bill negotiations. Likewise, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici continue to champion priority proposals on climate change, job creation, and childcare, remaining steadfast on the need to enact the top-level $3.5 trillion funding amount.

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad told a House panel last week that the agency has already made history on the hiring front this year, with women now occupying half of all the assistant administrator jobs. At last week's virtual hearing before the Subcommittee on Environment, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) told Spinrad that diversifying the workforce would go a long way in helping NOAA address the issue, particularly with women assigned to research vessels. "It's getting women in the field, but also keeping them there," she said.

The House of Representatives passed the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), legislation to protect abortion rights in Oregon and across the country, with Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer and Kurt Schrader all voting in favor of the legislation.

Columbia County is on its way to having a small business resource center. CET has secured part of the funding for a four-year, $175,000-per-year startup phase through the SBDC network, which includes $75,000 per year in state funds and $33,000 per year from U.S. Small Business Administration funds, according to Oregon SBDC network director Mark Gregory. More requests are still pending, including the appropriations bill currently in the U.S. Senate, which passed the House with $175,000 for the project, earmarked by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.