November 2015 Government & Community Relations Update

Governor appoints Oregon Talent Council; draft talent plan released


On October 14, Oregon Employment Department Director Lisa Nisenfeld appointed the first nine industry members of the Oregon Talent Council. The talent council was established by the 2015 Oregon Legislature, which also established an Oregon Talent Council Fund of $6.1M, to seed investments in talent development programs.
Read more...

Senators push for renewal of the Perkins Loan program


On October 29, a bipartisan group of 54 US senators, including Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) asking them to take up the House-passed extension of the Perkins Loan program (
Read more...

Congress and administration reach two year budget deal; must still act on FY2016 Budget before December deadline


On November 2, President Barack Obama signed into law the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (H.R. 1314)—a two year budget deal agreed to by the administration and congressional leaders.
Read more...