This month I had the pleasure of welcoming Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su to NW Oregon. At each site we visited, she was impressed by the partnerships among businesses, unions, public schools, institutions of higher education, workers, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

We learned about the RISE Partnership at an SEIU office in Portland. This innovative labor- management partnership created a paid apprenticeship program to prepare people to work in the long-term care economy.  At PCC Willow Creek, we learned about Quick Start and other training programs that are helping students from high school and beyond prepare to enter family-wage jobs in the semiconductor industry. Our final visit was to the NECA-IBEW Training Center, where we learned about how Oregon Tradeswomen is working with partners like IBEW, Portland General Electric, and the Oregon Department of Transportation to create an EV charging pre-apprenticeship program with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Several pieces of major legislation that I helped craft and pass into law—the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—are creating good jobs. Acting Secretary Su and the Biden Administration are implementing this legislation and making investments that create jobs with the wages, benefits, and resources that workers need to succeed.

Learning with Movement

The 4th grade students I visited at Imlay Elementary in Hillsboro were focused, engaged, and thoughtful. They had a lot of fun during their arts class led by a teacher with Right Brain Initiative.

The class was a great example of how arts education helps to engage students and teach them how to think creatively about complex concepts. My Arts Education for All bill will increase access to the benefits of arts education.

Youth Homelessness Roundtable

Neighborhood House

Neighborhood House does great work, and I had the opportunity to visit with them in Multnomah Village and learn more about some of their programs.

First, we visited the Free Food Market. The staff and volunteers provide a wide variety of groceries to community members, but the need outstrips the current space.

I also met with some line dancers at a class at the Neighborhood House senior center!  Classes like this help promote exercise and coordination and provide a space for people to socialize. I’ll continue to look for ways to support Neighborhood House and the Oregonians they serve.

ICYMI

• I learned about how the Ballmer Institute is preparing students to work in youth behavioral health
• I visited Franz Bakery and Jacobsen Salt Co. in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District
• I joined my colleague Rep. Thompson to talk about the benefits of CTE
• I met with National Weather Service staff at the Portland station
• The Small Business Administration is offering low-interest loans to businesses affected by the January winter storm