In the News

Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, Kurt Schrader, and Suzanne Bonamici, today announced that the White House has approved the state of Oregon's request for an emergency declaration in response to unprecedented and dangerous wildfires that are blanketing the state. The Senators and Representatives had pushed on Wednesday for the declaration to be granted, immediately following Governor Kate Brown's request.

Wyden said he's working on a bill that would provide $175 billion for elementary and secondary education to provide for digital programming, technology and other materials. He also wants the Legislature to provide $1 billion to provide broadband access to rural communities.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici stopped by a fire station in Tigard on Labor Day — her visits to firehouses are part of her holiday rounds — and talked about issues of interest to first responders and others during the coronavirus pandemic.

"People think it's Labor Day, and everybody is off having a picnic," Bonamici told reporters after meeting crews at Station 50 of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. "But in fact, firefighters and other first responders are working hard today and every day — and I want to thank them.

Bonamici supported the Delivering for America Act, bipartisan legislation that passed in the U.S. House in August to block changes at the Postal Service made this year and provide $25 billion in funding to the agency. The bill would also require that official election mail be treated as first-class mail.

Wyden said he will work to find bipartisan support to bring the bill to the U.S Senate floor.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici — Democrats of Oregon — stood side by side with U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Washington state Republican, to extol the benefits of the project to the region.

"They're not just rocks in the water," Wyden said. "They are linchpins for navigation. Without those jetties … we cannot have big league quality of life and job creation. It just simply doesn't happen."

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici also released a statement.

"Last night a man was killed in Portland. We do not know all of the details about what happened yet, but we do know that it followed days and weeks and years of hostile comments from President Trump designed to divide our country. A caravan devoted to his cause came to Portland yesterday with the intent to further inflame tensions, endangering our city. At the end of the night, a tragedy occurred. I send my condolences to the victim's family for their loss.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat who represents Washington County, met with small business owners in downtown Hillsboro on Thursday to talk to them about funding they've received.

"Our small businesses are a really critical part of our economy and our community, and I want to make sure that we can help them get through these tough times and survive," Bonamici said.

U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA, 7th), Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2nd), Kim Schrier (D-WA, 8th), Denny Heck (D-WA, 10th), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR, 3rd), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR, 1st) are urging the National Labor Relations Board to immediately reconsider its decision to abruptly restructure the field offices of the western United States, including those in Region 19, which serves areas in Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska.