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As the situation plays out in court, Bonamici said she’s using every tool at her disposal to protect Job Corps — whether it’s questioning Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer or signing onto a letter of support for the program with nearly 200 other Democrat and Republican colleagues.  

“My way of looking at education in this country is that we need to have a path for everyone, and not everybody’s on the same path, right? And so having those paths available, like the path of Job Corps, it’s life changing,” Bonamici told staff and students.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, ranking member of the subcommittee, said that “without bold and sustained federal investment, child care costs will continue to rise and the workforce that provides the care will continue to struggle.”

The Oregon Democrat blasted the proposed cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as part of congressional Republicans’ reconciliation package.

Bonamici described Medicaid and SNAP as “programs that support children, families, child care centers and the child care workforce.”

Over the last month, students and staff of Astoria’s Tongue Point Job Corps Center have juggled more than their share of uncertainty – but amid the chaos, one thing remains clear. Job Corps is worth fighting for.

Congress created Job Corps — and Bonamici said only Congress can get rid of it. As the House and Senate work through the appropriations process, the congresswoman said she believes it’s unlikely the program will be defunded given the level of bipartisan support it’s received.  

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici agreed.

“The American people deserve to have their representatives play their proper role in our constitutional government, especially involving a decision of such enormous gravity,” Bonamici said.

While Republicans have said the cuts are part of an effort to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and making sure able-bodied adults are working if they’re on Medicaid, they’re really about tax cuts for the rich, Bonamici said.

“The people getting the tax cuts don’t really need the tax cuts,” the congresswoman said. “But look at the consequences, those who will suffer.”

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Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici heard from hospital leaders during a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, including representatives from Oregon Health & Science University, Legacy Health, and Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria.

Erik Thorsen, CEO of Columbia Memorial, said that rural areas are already struggling to provide specialty care, which often requires patients to travel long distances for treatment.