Media

Thankfully, Oregon has a number of strong leaders fighting for these investments, including Sen. Ron Wyden and Congressman Peter DeFazio, who have key committee leadership roles in bill negotiations. Likewise, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici continue to champion priority proposals on climate change, job creation, and childcare, remaining steadfast on the need to enact the top-level $3.5 trillion funding amount.

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad told a House panel last week that the agency has already made history on the hiring front this year, with women now occupying half of all the assistant administrator jobs. At last week's virtual hearing before the Subcommittee on Environment, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) told Spinrad that diversifying the workforce would go a long way in helping NOAA address the issue, particularly with women assigned to research vessels. "It's getting women in the field, but also keeping them there," she said.

The House of Representatives passed the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), legislation to protect abortion rights in Oregon and across the country, with Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer and Kurt Schrader all voting in favor of the legislation.