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community news august3 2017 3 Bonamici Bulletin: News and Views from Washington D.C By Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici I’ve been meeting with and listening to Oregonians and Ameri- cans, and I share their concerns about the Trump administra- tion’s budget proposals and policies that will harm the American people, stifle the economy, and undermine our most im- portant institutions. We’ve seen a harm- ful health care proposal, a destructive budget, and a growing cloud of scandal and mistrust. I am profoundly alarmed about this administration’s actions and the steady stream of revelations about Russian influence on the election and the White House, and I’m continuing to speak up and call for an independent in- vestigation so the country can get all of the facts. At the same time, I’m continu- ing to work on retirement security, pro- tecting women’s access to health care, and strengthening career and technical education. Thank you for your input on these issues and many more. Here are some more details about what I’ve been working on: TrumpCare Keeps Getting Worse The health care bill that passed the House last month will force Orego- nians to pay more and get less, and if they can’t afford to pay more – they will be out of luck. In an effort to gain more support before the vote, Republican leadership made TrumpCare even worse by allowing states to remove important consumer protection benefits guaran- teed by the Affordable Care Act. And the bill makes it likely that people with pre- existing conditions will be priced out of insurance coverage – if they can get it at all. In fact, the nonpartisan Congressio- nal Budget Office found that 23 million Americans would lose their coverage in the next decade. TrumpCare isn’t just bad poli- cy; it was also a terrible process because it was passed with no hearings and little, if any, input from stakeholders like pa- tient groups, nurses and doctors, clin- ics, and hospitals. This misguided at- tempt to change health care policy has created uncertainty and instability in the health care system that only hurts America’s working families. I voted against the bill for the Oregon women who could lose coverage for maternity care and prenatal care, for the seniors who could be forced to pay more for coverage, and for the hundreds of thou- sands of Oregonians and Americans who could lose health care coverage. Holding the Administration Accountable I held several town hall meet- ings throughout NW Oregon, and I fre- quently heard from constituents who are outraged about Russia’s interference in our election and this administration’s connections with Russia. I was deeply disturbed by the President’s abrupt fir- ing of the FBI Director leading the in- vestigation into this issue. Although I’m encouraged by the appointment of Rob- ert Mueller as special counsel, we still need an independent, transparent, and thorough investigation to know exactly what happened and how we can prevent foreign interference in the future. Increasing Access to Affordable Child Care Oregon parents pay some of the highest child care costs in the country, and sometimes child care is more ex- pensive than college tuition. The high cost is a strain for working families, and the lack of high-quality care can set children behind before they even reach school. I recently visited a Head Start facility in Hillsboro to see the high- quality affordable care they provide, but there is still a lot of unmet demand for quality, affordable care. In Congress, I’m advocating for vital investments in early childhood education and child nu- trition programs. Contributors Tim Anderson Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici Jim Bryson Stacey Lynn Aaron Miller Photography Scott Laird Want to advertise? Have an article? Contact: scott@vernoniasvoice.com One year subscriptions (24 issues) $35 Vernonia’s Voice is published on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. Vernonia’s Voice, LLC PO Box 55 Vernonia, OR 97064 503-367-0098 www.VernoniasVoice.com call Kim Lovable service at a reasonable price • Bathing • Haircuts • Nail Clipping • Nail Polishing • Specialty Shampoos • Kitchen & Bathroom Remodels • Finish Carpentry • Ceramic Tile Work • Custom Home Construction • Additions • Commercial Tenant Improvements Jim Morrison, Jr. General Contractor CCB# 112057 Ph: (503) 429-0154 MorrisonRemodeling@hughes.net Vernonia, OR 97064 • Licensed • Bonded • Insured LIVE MUSIC • 8 Draft beers & mixed drinks You can find more updates about my work around NW Oregon and in Wash- ington, DC on Facebook, Twitter, Insta- gram, and YouTube. You can also con- tact my Oregon and Washington, DC offices with questions, comments, or for assistance with a federal agency. Publisher and Managing Editor Scott Laird 503-367-0098 scott@vernoniasvoice.com 291 A Street FULL SPORTS PACKAGE! Happy Hour Mon-Fri 4-7 • Specialty hamburgers Strengthening Career and Technical Education Recently the House Education and Workforce Committee passed the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act with strong bipartisan support. These hands-on classes help engage students and prepare them for whatever path they take in life. I hope this bill gets a vote in the full House soon, and that the Senate takes it up promptly. Not Our Values, Not Our Priorities President Trump’s proposed budget says more clearly than ever that his values and priorities do not align with those of America’s working fami- lies. This proposal is hard on seniors, children, and everyone in between. Re- cently Congress came together to pass a bill to fund the federal government that – although not perfect – demonstrated bipartisan agreement to move our coun- try forward. I hope Congress will work together to craft a budget that will keep our communities safe, strengthen public education, protect our natural resourc- es, and create good jobs for the 21st Century economy. Cedar Side Inn Taco Tuesday from opening until 9pm 3 hardshell or 1 softshell $4.25 Ladies’ Night Jamboree Weekend Fri & Sat, Aug 4 & 5 Triple Edge every Thursday 6pm-close • 5 Craft beers on tap • Pool tables & satelite TV • Free Wi-fi • Beer & Kegs to go Sun - Thurs 11 AM - Midnight • 733 Bridge St, Vernonia “BIKER FRIENDLY” Fri - Sat 11 AM - 2:30 AM • 503-429-9999 • Free Pool • Free WiFi • Specialty Pizzas iheck our Facebook page for daily specials and upcoming events 756 Bridge Street, Vernonia 503-429-5841