in other words
april19
2018
3
Bonamici Bulletin
By Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici
There’s been a lot of
news lately, and I want to
highlight a few actions
Congress has taken that
will help Oregon. First,
Congress put an end to
the harmful practice of fire borrowing,
which forced the Forest Service to spend
wildfire prevention funds to fight wild-
fires, leaving less money for forest man-
agement. Second, Congress funded the
Secure Rural Schools program, which
helps rural Oregon counties pay for edu-
cation, public safety, and other vital ser-
vices. I was proud to contribute to these
victories for Oregon and will keep fight-
ing back on congressional gridlock and
working hard to support all of our com-
munities.
Here’s what else I’ve been
working on:
Town Hall Meetings
Representative democracy thrives when
people participate fully and make their
voices heard. I appreciate everyone who
joined my six town hall meetings this
spring in Portland, Beaverton, McMin-
nville, St. Helens, Forest Grove, and
Astoria. We discussed a wide range of
issues, including gun violence preven-
tion, the opioid crisis, holding the Trump
administration accountable, safeguard-
ing our environment, and strengthening
public education. It was especially in-
spiring to hear from students in McMin-
nville and Astoria who are working to
make their schools safe and raise their
voices about gun violence prevention.
Gaining Work Experience in School
Work study helps students earn money
while in college, and it should also be an
opportunity to gain valuable experience
that will lead to good jobs after gradu-
ation. I worked my way through com-
munity college with help from the Fed-
eral Work Study program, which opened
doors and created opportunities for me. I
want students in Oregon and around the
country to have the same chance to suc-
ceed and to reach for a better future, so
I’ve introduced legislation to modernize
the Federal Work Study program. My
bill, the Opportunities for Success Act,
will help make college more affordable
and will also promote programs that
focus on career readiness so students
graduate with relevant work experience
in their field of study. There are many
steps we can take to make college more
affordable and accessible, and updating
the Federal Work Study program is one
key step.
Preventing Gun Violence
Many Oregonians have told me that they
want Congress to pass legislation that
will help prevent gun violence and keep
their communities safe. I’ve been in-
spired by the courage and leadership
of students from Florida, Oregon, and
around the country who are speaking
out and demanding change. Congress
recently lifted the ban that prevented
the CDC from studying gun violence as
a public health issue. It’s an important
step, but as a member of the House Gun
Violence Prevention Task Force I know
we can do more. In the coming months,
I’ll continue to work with my colleagues
to strengthen universal background
checks, get military-style weapons off
our streets, ban bump stocks, and keep
guns out of the hands of dangerous indi-
viduals. Congress needs to take action.
The American people and future genera-
tions are counting on us to debate and
pass gun violence prevention legislation.
Protecting Dreamers
President Trump is again playing games
with the lives of hard-working Dream-
ers. A few months ago he said he wanted
to protect Dreamers, but now he’s turn-
ing his back on them. Dreamers have
pursued an education and are working to
make our communities better places to
live; I won’t stand idly by as this heart-
less Administration tries to deport them.
I think about Miriam, my constituent
who was brought to this country when
she was less than a year old, and I can’t
imagine her being taken away from her
husband, son, and the only home she has
ever known. Congressional leaders must
stand up to the President and pass the bi-
partisan DREAM Act.
Publisher and Managing Editor
Scott Laird
503-367-0098
scott@vernoniasvoice.com
Contributors
Congresswoman
Suzanne Bonamici
Chip Bubl
Tobie Finzel
Karen Kain
Aaron Miller
Karen Miller
Shannon Romtvedt
Robert Schattschneider
Photography
Karen Kain
Scott Laird
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Vernonia’s Voice is published
on the 1st and 3rd Thursday
of each month.
You can find more updates about my
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gram, and YouTube. You can also contact
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Citizens Invited to Represent Neighborhoods,
Contribute to County Decision-making Process
Citizen Planning Advisory
Committees advise Columbia
County leaders on land use matters
Columbia County residents are
urged to become more involved in repre-
senting their neighborhoods by running
for election to Citizen Planning Advi-
sory Committees (CPAC).
CPACs are volunteer organi-
zations led by people who live or own
property in their communities. Commit-
tee members are elected by their neigh-
bors. The committees provide advice
and recommendations to the Columbia
County Land Use Planning program on
land use matters being considered by
the Planning Department, the Planning
Commission, and the Board of County
Commissioners. Land use topics can in-
clude applications, comprehensive plan
amendments, zoning changes, design
review, home business occupations, can-
nabis operating permits, and land divi-
sions.
Columbia County has seven
CPACs; each CPAC with the excep-
tion of the Mist-Birkenfeld committee,
is divided into seven neighborhoods,
with one committee member represent-
ing each neighborhood. To be elected to
a seat on a CPAC a candidate must re-
ceive five votes from the neighborhood
in which they live.
Elections take place in April for
the communities of Scappoose-Spitzen-
berg, St. Helens-Columbia City, Tide
Creek, Rainier-Fernhill, Clatskanie-
Quincy, and Upper Nehalem. The Mist-
Birkenfeld election will take place at a
later date to be determined.
“Being involved in a CPAC al-
lows people to come together to learn
about and discuss issues important to
their neighborhoods,” said Columbia
County Chair Margaret Magruder. “This
is an excellent way to interact with de-
cision-makers and have an impact on
community activities and interests.”
To be eligible to vote residents
must show photo identification proving
they are at least 18 years old and that
they live in the CPAC neighborhood
where they will cast their ballot. Neigh-
borhood property owners who don’t re-
side at their property must show a tax
statement proving they own property
within the neighborhood where they are
voting.
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continued on page 16
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