It’s hard to believe that we are entering the last days of summer. For many, the end of August means the return to classes and homework, and I was glad to welcome students, families, and staff back to school at Hayhurst Elementary School and West Sylvan Middle School.

It can be hard to get back into the routines of school after a long summer break, and it is especially hard after the past few years of distance learning and interruptions from COVID outbreaks. I know many students are struggling with academics and mental health challenges, and many of our teachers are feeling burnt out.

It is critical to provide students and teachers with the support they need to succeed. That means funding, but it also means professional development, mentoring, and respect.

What they don’t need is an attack on public education coming from some misguided adults and spurred on by some conservative media and politicians. You can read my op-ed in Newsweek on the areas of common ground that should be at the core of public education to help us move forward.

Supporting our students

As a policymaker, I focus on improving access to affordable, high-quality higher education. I was able to attend community college, university, and law school with a combination of grants, loans, and work study. I had some student loan debt, but it was very manageable, and I paid it off in a few years. But the costs of higher education have nearly tripled since then, and many students today struggle with burdensome debt.

I've spoken with Oregonians saddled with student loan debt who have put off getting married, starting families, and buying homes. The Biden administration’s historic decision to forgive up to $10,000 in student loan debt – up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients -  will transform the lives of millions more hardworking Americans.

There is still much more work to be done to lower tuition costs and improve loan repayment plans, but this student loan relief will greatly help the borrowers who need it most. You can learn more about the plan here.

Supporting our students involves more than financial aid. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, we also must make sure that students who are pregnant, have an abortion, or are parenting have an educational experience free from discrimination—which is guaranteed under Title IX protections against sex-based discrimination in education. I hosted a roundtable discussion with Title IX coordinators and students this month to discuss the challenges facing our campuses, and I heard valuable feedback about what protections they'd like to see from the Department of Education.

Pregnant and parenting students should get the accommodations they need and those who get an abortion shouldn’t face punishment from their schools. At the same time, we need to respect the privacy of students, so they feel safe turning to school faculty and staff for help. I will continue to work with the Department of Education on its proposed changes to Title IX.

Inflation Reduction Act

President Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act, and we’re finally on our way to investing in a clean energy future, improving tax fairness, and lowering the costs of energy and health care for millions of Americans. The investments and policies in this legislation are the result of the tireless work of advocates and everyday Americans who want their representatives to build a better, greener future— and to put people over politics. These investments are paid for by closing tax loopholes and imposing a corporate minimum tax on billion-dollar corporations.

The Inflation Reduction Act is a beginning, not an end. People in Oregon and around our country still face challenges, including child care, education, hunger, and housing. We can and will do more.

You can read my full statement on the legislation here, and see how much you could save on energy costs here.

Select Committee visit

I was excited to host the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in NW Oregon earlier this month. We saw many examples of Oregon leadership, with governments, private businesses, schools, and organizations coming together to build green solutions for a better future. And we learned more about how the climate crisis is already taking a toll on our coastline from threats like erosion, ocean acidification, and more frequent extreme weather events.

This visit came after another dangerous heat wave, which unfortunately caused several deaths and many in our state to seek medical care. Studies have shown that these extreme heat events will be more frequent and more intense with the climate crisis.

We know the dangers and we know the causes of the climate crisis. The Inflation Reduction Act is projected to cut emissions by 40 percent of 2005 levels by 2030—a good start that we must continue to build on.

ICYMI

• September 2 is the last day to order free COVID tests from the federal government. You can order your tests here.
• Oregon will receive up to $83.5M in federal funding to help small businesses launch and scale up.
• The Beaverton Downtown Loop received a $2M grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law!
• I visited Oregon State Extension Service’s Education Garden, Ava Roasteria in Beaverton, Oregon Tradeswomen, and Planned Parenthood.
• I highlighted the office’s best friends for National Dog Day.