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The Representatives and Senators responded to an interim final rule from the U.S. Department of Education that incorrectly interprets the equitable services provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and improperly diverts federal emergency aid dollars intended for public schools to private school students—without regard to need or income. Their letter details the numerous ways that the Department's rule disregards the CARES Act and existing law, including waiving the mandatory 30-day waiting period for this rule to take effect.
Federal and state officials started to discuss the drawdown within hours of a federal judge's order temporarily barring federal officers from using force, threats and dispersal orders against journalists and legal observers documenting the protests and law enforcement response. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon, who is married to Democratic U.S.
Suzanne Bonamici, the US House representative for Oregon, helped introduce legislation on Thursday to make all students eligible for free school meals this school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The legislation, called the Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act, would allow kids to access breakfast, lunch, and afterschool snack programs in school or through "grab-and-go" and delivery options.
The effort is co-led by several other representatives and officials.
The death of George Floyd spurred nationwide calls for police reform. Now several members of Congress are set to advance a plan to get unidentified federal law enforcement officers banned from participating in protests.
Oregon's U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, with U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici, formally requested July 22 that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offices of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate the unrequested presence and violent actions of recently deployed federal forces in Portland.