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Drawing on lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, the measure — drafted by Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), the Civil Rights/Human Services subcommittee chair — would make it easier for the USDA to respond to emergencies, giving it authority to lift onerous requirements in times of crisis.

"It's hard for students to learn when they are hungry," Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Democrat who introduced the legislation with Scott, said in a statement. "By updating the child nutrition laws, Congress can get children the healthy meals they need to learn and grow," she said.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon) hosted a roundtable on hunger Friday, asking advocates from local and state organizations in Oregon about the region's level of hunger and recent efforts to address food insecurity. Bonamici acknowledged the recently signed Keep Kids Fed Act, which extends flexibility for meal programs operating this summer and next school year.

Many Oregonians are facing food insecurity, an ongoing and widespread problem — and one that advocates say is only set to get worse, as more emergency measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic expire.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici hosted a virtual roundtable Friday, July 8, on food insecurity in Oregon.

U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer toured a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Beaverton with U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici on Thursday, June 30.

Bonamici brought Hoyer to visit Analog Devices' facility off Southwest Murray Boulevard and Jenkins Road during his tour across the state, she said, to show her support for Analog Devices and the semiconductor industry.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton, is one of five members of Oregon's congressional delegation who serves on the conference committee working on the legislation. She said the fact that committee has been meeting is a sign of progress and said she's optimistic Congress will meet Hoyer's August deadline for passing a bill.