The days are shorter and the nights are cooler; autumn is officially here. Although some of us might not be ready for the return of Oregon rain, for many it is a relief to see the end of the fire season.

Earlier this month our region experienced dry and windy conditions similar to what we saw just before the devastating 2020 fires. This year, because of proactive measures and the tireless work of utility line workers and firefighters, we avoided another serious disaster in NW Oregon.

The climate crisis is continuing to intensify natural disasters like wildfires, and it’s important to be prepared and have an emergency kit ready to go in the event of a disaster. You can go to FEMA’s Ready.gov to learn how to assemble a kit and for other preparedness tips.

For Labor Day, I visited IAFF Local 1660 firefighters in North Plains.

Hosting Speaker Pelosi in Oregon

It was an honor to have Speaker Pelosi join Congressman Blumenauer and I at the Energy Trust of Oregon office to hear from Oregonians about how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will make a positive difference in their lives.

As legislators, we often discuss policy in the abstract. The stories we heard from Oregonians put policy in perspective and show how much this bill will matter to people and families.

Homeowner Sammie Lewis told us how much she was saving on her PGE bill, thanks to better home insulation, rooftop solar, and a new heat pump. With the rebates in the IRA, more Oregonians will be saving more.

Alana, an IBEW apprentice, spoke about the opportunity to help historically marginalized community members access the thousands of family-wage jobs that will be created through IRA investments.

The Inflation Reduction Act will lower energy costs, create quality jobs, and significantly cut carbon emissions. It is transformational for Oregonians and people around our country.

Answering Your Questions About Student Loan Forgiveness

In Oregon, almost half a million borrowers are eligible for at least $10,000 in one-time student debt forgiveness, and two-thirds of those borrowers are eligible to receive up to $20,000 because they were Pell Grant recipients.

I will be holding a webinar on Thursday, October 6th to answer questions about the Biden-Harris Administration’s transformational Student Debt Relief Plan. I will be joined by student debt relief advocate and expert Mike Pierce from the Student Borrower Protection Center, who has worked with me on similar events in the past.

Please share this event with family and friends who may benefit from this information. You are also welcome to submit a question or share your story when you sign up to attend the webinar. RSVP at Bonamici.house.gov/rsvp.

Supporting Residents of Columbia County

Earlier this month, I visited the Deer River Cooperative manufactured home park and Columbia Pacific Food Bank in Columbia County. After talking with the park residents and food bank workers, I left with some ideas to take back to Congress.

Shared equity models like Deer River keep people in their homes. One resident told me that 90 percent of community members wouldn’t be able to live there if Deer River residents had not been able to form a co-op to purchase the park.

I was inspired by the work and vision of Columbia Pacific Food Bank. They recently opened a new space that allows them to expand their services, including cooking classes. Columbia Pacific also works closely with local farmers to get fresh food in the food bank.

Access to affordable housing and healthy food is a concern for many Oregonians. Deer River and Columbia Pacific Food Bank are examples of how our community is addressing these issues.

In Case You Missed It

• I spoke with Portland Monthly about how I’m ready to see more women in our Congressional delegation.
• Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month! This celebration of our Latino communities goes from September 15 to October 15.
• I took on the press at the National Press Club spelling bee.
• No one in our country should go hungry, but millions of Americans are struggling with malnutrition and hunger. I led the bipartisan effort in the House to reaffirm our commitment to ending hunger during Malnutrition Awareness Week; everyone should be able to access to the nutrition they need to succeed.