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Two Oregon lawmakers have applauded legislation introduced by Congressman Peter DeFazio that would provide funding for the Coast Guard and ensure that active duty and reserve members are paid during the government shutdown.
A release from the 4th District Congressman said members of the Guard are the only members of the United States military that are not being paid at this time.
Two Democratic members of Congress from Oregon met with TSA agents and air-traffic controllers at Portland International Airport on Tuesday before flying back to Washington, D.C.
U.S. representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader met with the federal workers who are considered "essential," which means they're working without pay, like others across the country.
More than 700 air traffic controllers and security officers continue to show up to work at airports across Oregon with no assurance of their next paycheck as the federal government shutdown hit the 18-day mark on Tuesday.
Some workers, however, are growing increasingly worried.
Air traffic controllers and TSA agents at Portland International Airport told lawmakers they're selling plasma and considering looking for work in the private sector as a result of the ongoing government shutdown.
About 60 air traffic controllers and up to 400 TSA agents at PDX have been working without pay since the government shutdown first began over two weeks ago. The shutdown occurred because of a disagreement between the president and congressional Democrats over funding for a border wall.
As the partial government shutdown enters its 3rd week, problems are arising at airports across the country.
Hundreds of TSA agents have decided that if they're not getting paid, they're going to call in sick -- which in turn has caused long lines at checkpoints. The most impacted airports so far are New York, Seattle and Dallas-Fort Worth.
PDX isn't experiencing the TSA sick calls, but the local TSA union president fears the agents may have to find other employment if the shutdown continues.
The battle over whether Obamacare is legal is working its way to the U.S. Supreme Court again.
Democrats like Oregon's Suzanne Bonamici say they won control of the House of Representatives because of their healthcare platform.
"I think that the voters across the country sent a message that they care about issues like access to healthcare," she says.
If the state's newly released high school graduation rate report serves just one purpose, it should be as impetus for a crackdown on virtual charter schools, including one which more than doubled in size after graduating only 22 of its 1,009 seniors last spring.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Earl Blumenauer have re-introduced their bill to expand Oregon-style vote-by-mail nationwide.
A release from the two members of the Oregon Congressional delegation said the House included a portion of that bill in House Resolution 1, which is a package of what they call "pro-democratic" reforms