Bonamici Bulletin

As Congress works to address the climate crisis, I often think of my grandfather. He was an immigrant from Italy who worked in the coal mines in Pennsylvania, where he lost a leg, and then for Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. His story reflects our history, when good opportunities sometimes had a steep cost for workers and the environment. But there is a different way — a way that works for people and the planet.

Our approach to solving the climate crisis will create good jobs and alleviate the toll of carbon pollution and climate change on our communities. I saw an example of this win-win when I greeted middle schoolers arriving on one of the first electric school buses running in Oregon. The bus driver and the kids love that the bus is clean and quiet. And I saw another opportunity to create jobs and increase safe access to public transit when I spoke with local leaders about a dangerous section of the Tualatin Valley Highway, a main thoroughfare in Washington County. I’m working to secure $4 million in federal funds to make this area safer for pedestrians, bus riders, and drivers.

If you missed my telephone town hall in May, don’t worry — there’s another one on the evening of June 22. I hope you will join me.

An Economy that Works for Moms

The pandemic has forced a staggering number of women and moms out of the workforce as they struggled to balance caretaking responsibilities and paid work. As we rebuild our economy, we must make it work better for moms and parents.

It is unacceptable that pregnant workers can still be forced to choose between a healthy pregnancy and a paycheck. Without accommodations, pregnant workers risk jeopardizing their health, the health of their baby, and losing their job or not being hired in the first place. I was glad to help lead a bipartisan bill that will give pregnant workers the ability to work safely without fear of discrimination or job loss. And last week I also introduced bipartisan legislation to help families by ending an excessive tax break for "three martini lunches" and redirect the $5 billion in savings to fund desperately-needed child care. These are just some of the changes we need to make to build a child care system and an economy that works for families.

Help for the Coast

The climate crisis is causing unprecedented changes to our ocean and estuaries, with long-lasting effects on our fisheries and coastal communities. We must support vulnerable communities, industries, and resource managers by strengthening research on how they can best adapt to and mitigate ocean and coastal acidification. It was exciting that one of the first climate bills to pass this Congress was my bipartisan COAST Research Act. I will keep working with my colleagues on the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis to implement bold, science-based, comprehensive policies to reduce emissions and advance ocean climate action.

I’m also advocating for two specific requests for federal funds to help the coast. Rural communities often have a hard time funding important infrastructure and public safety projects, and I am supporting these community priorities as Congress considers spending and transportation bills.

Protecting Consumers

When I helped low-income clients at Legal Aid, I learned firsthand that people don’t struggle by choice. I’ve seen how predatory debt collection tactics hurt our families and our communities. Consumers face harassment at home and at work, they frequently get misinformation about debts, and they are pressured to pay debts they may not legally owe. That’s why I led an effort to update the law so consumers get advance notice of legal action against them and accurate details about what they legally owe. Strengthening protections for consumers will help individuals and families get through this economic crisis and beyond.

An Economy that Works for Moms

Help for the Coast

Protecting Consumers

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