Merkley and Wyden Announce Key Oregon Wins for Rural Oregon in Senate Appropriations Bill

Statement

Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, on which Merkley sits, has passed an Interior Appropriations bill including key provisions that will help Oregon's rural communities. These include funding for the Klamath basin, wildfire prevention, sage grouse habitat improvements and the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program.

"From implementing the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement, to preventing devastating wildfires across our state, to moving forward with the sage grouse collaborative effort, this legislation dramatically helps Oregon's rural communities that are working together for a common good," said Merkley. "This legislation will create jobs in rural Oregon, while also making key investments in collaborative efforts that improve our environment, help wildlife and strengthen the economy of rural communities."

"This bill moves forward on multiple fronts so that Oregon can continue building toward a healthy economy and environment in every corner of our state," Wyden said. "Putting in place the Klamath Basin agreement, taking a smarter approach to fighting wildfires, supporting the ground-breaking sage grouse collaboration and funding the PILT program add up to a comprehensive strategy of generating both jobs and income for rural Oregon."

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