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That's why I was excited to see bold new proposals for conserving our ocean and combating climate change in the Ocean Based Climate Solutions Act, introduced by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, in the U.S. House recently, co-sponsored by Oregon's Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Rep. Earl Blumenauer. This bill proposes a bold agenda that will reorient America's relationship to our oceans, recognizing the important role our coastal waters play in our cultural imagination and in the life-support systems of our planet.

The pandemic has exacerbated food and housing insecurities, disproportionately impacting people who already face significant social and economic challenges, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said in a conference call with stakeholders Wednesday ahead of the holiday season.

Katherine Tai

Chief trade counsel, House Ways & Means Committee

Along with substantial experience on Capitol Hill, Tai spent seven years as a USTR attorney specializing in enforcing trade agreements with China. She is well-regarded by both the corporate and progressive wings of the party and is backed by prominent lawmakers, including Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. A group of 10 female House Democrats led by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Judy Chu wrote Biden on Tuesday backing Tai as "uniquely qualified" for the job.

Rep. Bonamici said she and other members of Congress are demanding that the U.S. Senate work immediately to pass a COVID-19 relief bill. "Oregonians and people across the country are facing these significant challenges and are rightfully demanding that Congress take action," Bonamici said. Bonamici said that Congress had initially passed a bill in May, extending unemployment and other benefits, but it still awaits action by the Senate.

One Oregon lawmaker teamed up with the Oregon Food Bank to talk about the dire situation many families are facing ahead of the holidays. Representative Suzanne Bonamici held an online discussion with the Oregon Food Bank. Matt Newell-Ching with the food bank says around 100,000 more Oregonians are receiving food assistance benefits than before the pandemic began. Bonamici called for Congress to provide more relief now.

U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, recently wrote a letter to Adm. Karl Schultz, the commandant of the Coast Guard, requesting that two additional cutters be stationed locally. "The community of Astoria is well-equipped to support the Coast Guard and its vessels in their mission here in Oregon," the lawmakers wrote.

Maue and Legates's involvement has prompted concerns they may seek to recruit like-minded scientists to draft the report, which typically paints a dire picture of the climate-related challenges facing the U.S. "We cannot stand by and tolerate the suppression, censorship, and manipulation of climate science," lawmakers wrote in the letter spearheaded by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.).