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Witnesses at a congressional field hearing in Astoria on Wednesday described the impacts of climate change on the ecosystems and industries of the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean and asked Congress to take action.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici hosted the hearing of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis at Clatsop Community College's Patriot Hall. The Oregon Democrat, who represents the North Coast, was joined by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, a Florida Democrat who chairs the committee, and U.S. Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter, a Georgia Republican.

Suzanne Bonamici is among those who see electric buses and trucks, supercharging station, and proposed mass timber plant. The three members, including Oregon's Suzanne Bonamici, got a look at battery-powered heavy trucks and buses.

"One thing Intel does a lot of here in Oregon, and will continue to do, is research and development," says Bonamici, who adds that of the $52 billion allocated to microchip manufacturers, $11 billion is allocated for research and development projects. She points to Intel's $700 million, 200,000-square-foot Hillsboro data center research lab expansion as evidence the company plans to expand its Oregon footprint.

In July, Democratic Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick introduced the Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act, which is intended to help prevent borrowers from defaulting on their student loans by automatically enrolling them in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. The plans would calculate affordable monthly payments for them based on their income with the promise of loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years.