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U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, whose 1st District includes Washington County, and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said their stopovers were a reminder that many people work on Labor Day, which honors workers. "We know there are so many people who are working on Labor Day," Bonamici, a Democrat from Beaverton, said. "This is a way to say thank you to all of our first responders." It was just one year ago, while on a visit to a Tigard station of TVF&R, that Bonamici and others observed smoke wafting from the southeast.

"Most people think of Labor Day as a day to have a picnic or a day to shop a sale, but we know there are so many people who are working on Labor Day -- and its a way to say thank you to our first responders, and thank you so much," Rep. Bonamici said. TVF&R crews just wrapped up two training camps, aimed at recruiting women for firefighting and paramedic positions. Rep. Bonamici says she's excited to see more women in first-responder roles.

Oregon senators and representatives are asking U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate "extremist groups" following violent clashes between protesters last month in Portland. In a letter dated Aug. 30, Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer, called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate "interstate criminal activity and coordination between extremist groups across state lines with the intent to commit acts of violence in connection with recurring violent altercations in Portland."

US Rep. Suzanne Bonamici joined those who condemned the recent actions by the school board, issuing a statement on August 26. "Students need a welcoming and safe school environment, and all school leaders should strive every day to make sure students know they are valued and respected," she wrote. "The Newberg school board's move to ban Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride symbols in schools is antithetical to this bedrock value."

"The principle of freedom of speech does not preclude the Proud Boys and other right-wing extremist groups from espousing hateful, repugnant ideologies," reads the letter, signed by Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer. "However, the Constitution does not provide protection for the criminal behavior that we have seen in Portland such as assault, firearms violations, potential hate crimes, and more—some of which may rise to the level of federal offenses."