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Bonamici thanked students in her closing remarks and said their resilience is inspiring. "It's clear that community colleges are going to have a really important role in our economic recovery," she said.

Cardona and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici held a roundtable discussion with students at Southridge High School who are participating in a program that's helping to diversify the education workforce. "It's a grow-your-own program where students from the community get support to get their higher education and teaching credentials and then go back to teach in their own community," Bonamici explained.

US Representative Suzanne Bonamici said: "The ocean covers more than 70 per cent of the surface of our planet, and we can capture the power of its waves, currents, and tides to help power our homes, buildings, and communities. "As we transition to a 100 per cent clean energy economy, marine energy has tremendous potential as one of the last untapped renewable energy sources. Federal investment will help unlock it.

At his second stop, Southridge High School in Beaverton, Cardona held a roundtable discussion with students and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici about the President's American Family Plan, a proposal that includes two years of free community college. "When graduates of community college graduate, they have a 21% increase in their earning potential," said Cardona. "I think if we really focus on it as a country, we can get it done. And I think it would not only help those students but give us an opportunity to do a better job connecting to the workforce needs in our country."

Tomorrow, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will continue his tour in Oregon to discuss the provisions within President Biden's Build Back Better agenda that provide students pathways to affordable higher education, including providing two years of free community college. During this trip, the Secretary will also discuss the historic investments from the American Rescue Plan (ARP), dedicating money for summer enrichment programs when he visits a bilingual summer enrichment program in Hillsboro, Oregon, funded in part by ARP.

In Oregon, Cardona will hold a roundtable with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) to discuss the president's pledge to publicly fund two years of community college.

Both Bonamici and U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader included several regional projects in their Invest in America Act funds. Bonamici included nearly $19 million for nine projects in her proposals, mostly similar transportation-related work in Washington, Columbia, Clatsop and Multnomah counties. Bonamici represents Oregon's 1st Congressional District, which extends from parts of Washington, Yamhill and Multnomah counties to Clatsop County on the Oregon coast.

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici secured $19.36 million within the transportation bill to go toward five transportation projects in Northwest Oregon. Bonamici represents Oregon's First Congressional District, which includes Washington, Yamhill, Clatsop and Columbia counties and part of Multnomah County. "The INVEST in America Act addresses the infrastructure needs of NW Oregon and the country, helps mitigate the climate crisis, and creates good-paying jobs," Bonamici said in an emailed statement.