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"People still haven't been fully vaccinated. I think this is adding to peoples' concern of going back to work. I think people are concerned about their health," Walsh said. "I do not feel that the $300 bonus is keeping people out of work." Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said high child care costs have also kept parents at home. "I've had so many conversations with people who say, I want to go back to work, but I don't have affordable child care," Bonamici said. "So we need to solve that issue."

Reps. Bonamici and Dan Young (R-AK) introduced the BLUE GLOBE (Bolstering Longterm Understanding and Exploration of the Great Lakes, Oceans, Bays, and Estuaries) that would reauthorize a NOAA program dedicated to researching and addressing workforce shortages in the "blue economy."

Oregon received $354 million of the $36 billion dedicated to education in the $1.9 trillion ARPA, according to U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. Within the state the money will be distributed to 29 public and private schools across the state, including Yamhill County's two universities –- George Fox and Linfield –- as well as the two community colleges that operate in the county, Portland Community and Chemeketa. George Fox University will receive $6.94 million in ARPA funds, while Linfield is expected to net $3.99 million.

Science is back, and we have the momentum to take bold climate action. The ocean must be part of the solution. As congressional leaders on ocean issues, we have witnessed how the climate crisis is affecting both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Off the North Coast of Oregon, changes in ocean conditions and acidifying waters threaten many fisheries. Salmon, one of the iconic species of the region, struggle as waters become more acidic.