Merkley announces committee action to invest in Oregon agriculture and support veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced he secured critical investments in Oregon agriculture, rural housing, food assistance, rural business priorities, and veterans' services in the first set of fiscal year 2025 (FY25) government spending bills to pass the committee-a key first step on the road to becoming law.

Merkley helped to make sure the investments-including nearly $15 million for seven critical community-initiated projects across Oregon-were incorporated into the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies (Ag) bill and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) bill. Both bills passed the committee with bipartisan support.

One of these investments is $948,000 to Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for the construction of a new community center. Wheeler SWCD's current facility is insufficient to support the public's needs as the county's leading natural resource agency. This new space will be a centrally located innovation hub for multi-agency accessibility to best support Wheeler County's natural resources work while promoting intra-agency collaboration.

"As a conservation district, daily discussions surround the increased demands for climate change mitigation, natural resource conservation, reduced environmental impacts and improved economic stability," said Cassi Newton, Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District Manager. "With this funding and the expertise of many partners, we plan to use SWCD property overlooking the John Day River for the development of a mass timber constructed multi-agency community center with locally sourced timber and juniper from Wheeler County to serve as a hub for conservation agencies that will provide much needed modern office, conference, education, and training services that is centrally located in the exceptionally rural district/county."

Merkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, which is one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.

"As I hold a town hall in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year, I hear firsthand from folks about what matters most to them, including ensuring our world-class agriculture sector and rural and veterans' communities have the support needed to thrive," Merkley said. "The funding included in these bills for programs and critical community-initiated projects will benefit Oregonians in every corner of the state for years to come."

Merkley, along with Senator Ron Wyden, secured the following four Oregon community-initiated projects in the Senate's draft FY25 agriculture funding bill:

• $2 million for the Farmers Irrigation District to convert remaining sections of open canal into buried irrigation pipelines in Hood River County. This project will contribute to improved habitats for native fish species, water conservation, and sustained agricultural production.

• $2 million to North Unit Irrigation District for the next phase of its irrigation modernization project. This effort is working to convert over 27 miles of open-ditch irrigation canals with gravity-pressured buried piping, which will significantly reduce water loss, improve water delivery reliability, and improve streamflow in the Deschutes River.

• $986,000 for the Southwestern Polk County Rural Fire District to modernize its outdated facilities, including completing construction of the facility by adding sleeping quarters and apparatus bays. This funding will further support its 24/7 response teams by equipping them with the resources necessary to continue providing efficient and effective services in their mission to keep our communities safe.

• $948,000 to Wheeler Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for the construction of a new community center. Wheeler SWCD's current facility is insufficient to support the public's needs as the county's leading natural resource agency. This new space will be a centrally located innovation hub for multi-agency accessibility to best support Wheeler County's natural resources work while promoting intra-agency collaboration.

Other key funding for top programs to benefit Oregon's world-class agriculture and veterans' communities that passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee include bills for water conservation and habitat restoration, wine grape smoke exposure research, ag research service building and faciilites investments, rural housing, rural energy savings program, rural business, SNAP/WIC, and veteran's benefits and resources.

To learn more, please visit http://www.merkley.senate.gov.