Frustrated? Me too. But here’s some good news:

As I look back on the year, I am encouraged by what we've accomplished for Oregonians and people across the country. It hasn't been easy. Joe Manchin's infuriating recent reversal on Build Back Better is a serious setback.

Despite these frustrations, we are making progress.

Too many working families continue to struggle, and this year I advocated for policies that will make life better for them. Eliminating poverty among children is an essential step. I'm proud to say that we cut childhood poverty almost in half with the child tax credit, which we passed last spring in the American Rescue Plan. Extending the child tax credit is one of the most important parts of the Build Back Better plan, and one I'll fight to restore as the new year begins.

Through the American Rescue Plan, I also supported our school buildings opening safely so parents and educators could be confident when students returned to school. With the funding, districts could make school buildings as safe as possible for our students. I'll never stop working for students and for public education—chip in now so I can continue my advocacy in Congress for children and working families.

And as I think toward the future, one thing is clear: we cannot delay action to address the climate crisis. Atmospheric carbon pollution levels continue to rise. Heatwaves have caused death in Oregon and across the globe. Droughts, wildfires, and extreme weather events are more frequent and more intense. Acidification and plastic debris are threatening the health of the ocean.

Here's the good news: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I helped pass and President Biden signed into law, takes some important steps by investing in clean energy technology and jobs, reductions in carbon and methane pollution, and investments in mitigation and resilience for our communities.

Another vital part of the bipartisan infrastructure plan is robust support for public transportation, including adding additional zero-emission buses. This helps to mitigate the climate crisis by reducing carbon emissions and also helps our working families. With expanded public transportation that is more accessible to all, working families can spend more time together, rather than waiting on routes that are often long and slow.

We've done a lot, and I'm ready to take on the challenges that remain! Donate today and stand with me!

Suzanne