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Tens of thousands of childcare centers around the country could be forced to shut down in the coming months because the federal funding they rely on is about to run out.

“Millions of children will likely lose their childcare slots,” said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.).

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici was in Tillamook on September 6, to visit Liberty Elementary School on its first day of classes.

Bonamici’s webinar last week was organized to answer questions from long-time borrowers anxious about continuing their repayment plans, and for people who graduated during the height of the pandemic and haven’t had to make a first payment.

Bonamici said she’s found herself trapped at a train crossing before and that in addition to the everyday frustration, the frequent jam-ups can create real challenges for people. 

Rep. Bonamici said she sees hope and promise for the future when she speaks with students.

“The state of education is promising. We’ve had a lot of challenges, obviously, through the pandemic with school closures and the disrupted learning, but I’m very optimistic because we have such dedicated educators here," Rep. Bonamici said.

“I’m excited to be here at Tamarack Elementary School today because it is a school that is right from day one, ready to get kids learning and inspired and excited about learning. There's art on the walls. There are labs where they can collaborate. There's a partnership with OMSI. It is a school that is really here to prepare students for the future,” Bonamici said.