Blumenauer, Ruiz add support for Oregon civics education 'Democracy is fragile,' congressman says as he proposes $1 billion in federal grants for efforts. U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer and state Rep. Ricki Ruiz have added their voices in support of civics education in Oregon high schools. Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon's 3rd District, is sponsoring the USA Civics Act to provide $1 billion in federal grants to encourage Oregon and other states to require civics education. Ruiz, a Democrat from Gresham who also is on the Reynolds School Board, sits on the House Education Committee, where a Senate-passed bill to require one semester of civics education (SB 513) is pending.