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U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici has pledged a renewed effort in Congress — one U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer will lead — to provide federal aid to independent restaurants in danger of going under as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Bonamici spoke after a virtual roundtable discussion with restaurant owners. She is a Democrat from Beaverton who represents the 1st District of northwest Oregon and Portland west of the Willamette River.

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.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon) said without additional supplies of vaccine, more Oregonians may have to wait to be vaccinated. "The Trump Administration promised Oregon and other states additional supplies of vaccine from Operation Warp Speed reserves," the congresswoman said in a statement. "Now we find out that there are no reserves, which means more Oregonians have to wait longer to be vaccinated. Thousands of people are dying every day from COVID and getting vaccines to the American people is a matter of life and death. New federal leadership can't come soon enough."

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.

Last week, Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, reintroduced a bill that would create a commission to examine reparations for African American descendants of slavery, a proposal that's never been brought to a full House vote. The current measure has 173 co-sponsors, including Oregon Democratic Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici and Peter DeFazio.