Walden Applauds House Passage of Rural Schools Funding Extension

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House today passed a two year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program secured by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River).

The extension, which was included in a bipartisan bill that reforms how doctors are paid under Medicare, provides needed funding for schools, roads, and law enforcement in rural forested communities. The measure passed by a vote of 392-37.

“Included in this bill is two years’ worth of funding for the Secure Rural Schools program. Now this is like a can of flat fix: an emergency repair on the side of the road to solve a short term problem. What we really need is a permanent fix for our forested counties.”

This two year extension now goes to the Senate. After the vote, Walden urged immediate Senate action.

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Pine Mountain Fire is 85% Contained Monday

The Pine Mountain Fire is 85% contained and remains 2,589 acres in size. Today, firefighters will continue mop-up, back hauling equipment and identifying suppression repair needs. The remaining mop-up is isolated to heat off the control handline

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Bynum Tours COCC’s Redmond Campus

U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Democrat representing Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, toured the manufacturing technology classrooms and labs at Central Oregon Community College’s Redmond campus with COCC president Greg Pereira and other college officials for an up-close