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Oregon seniors will soon receive more than $18 million of additional support thanks to funding in the American Rescue Plan and a push by Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. Bonamici said the financial support is a new round of aid to help address the growing needs of seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing funding for meals, vaccination efforts, caregivers, long term care ombuds support, and more programs under the Older Americans Act (OAA).

"Arts and culture bring our communities together, sustain our economy, spark our imagination and bring us comfort - especially during difficult times," said Oregon Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "I've been advocating for robust funding that will help our arts and culture organizations survive the economic devastation of the coronavirus pandemic, and I'm grateful that Oregon will be receiving this emergency funding from the American Rescue Plan."

The Newberg-Dundee bypass may receive a much-needed financial boost this year, with federal money potentially in the offing, thanks to Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. The longtime representative of Oregon's 1st District submitted an $8 million earmark request for the bypass in Congress's upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill. The money would go toward construction of bypasses connecting with Highway 219 near Newberg's southern city limits.

"Committee service is a critical part of the legislative process, allowing members to directly shape new policies and provide oversight of existing programs," said U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Democrat in District 1 in northwest Oregon. "Right now, Oregonians are serving in senior roles on committees related to taxes, health care, energy, education and infrastructure."

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Beaverton, who sits on the House Education and Labor Committee, is a leading voice for child care, having set up her own advisory panel on the issue. She said the current system was broken even before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic forced many day care centers and homes to curtail the number of children they see — or even close down entirely.

At the same time in Congress, Oregon Democrats Sen. Ron Wyden and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Earl Blumenauer are touting plans to make huge investments in ramping up support for child care nationwide. The congressional members said at a press conference Friday outside a Portland child care center that they're working with the Biden Administration to expand the supply of child care while also increasing the earnings of the historically low-paid provider workforce.