PORTLAND, OR – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined Oregon leaders in welcoming President Joe Biden to Portland, Oregon. President Biden highlighted investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at Portland International Airport. After the visit, Senator Merkley issued the following statement:
“It’s always a good day when the President of the United States visits Oregon and sees the innovative work our state is leading to build America back, stronger and greener than ever before. In this year’s funding bill, I secured funding for a community initiated project to help build a seismic resilient runway at PDX to survive a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we are creating jobs and investing in a better future. And Oregon is leading the way with creativity and enterprise. The new mass timber roof at PDX is a testament to a vision of the future filled with American innovation, American craftsmanship, and the competitiveness of American workers and industries.
“As we invest in infrastructure, though, it’s critical that we’re moving toward the infrastructure of the future. If we don’t confront climate chaos by taking swift, bold action to end carbon pollution and invest in clean energy, we aren’t living up to America’s greatest potential. During the President’s visit, I reiterated to him that we need further climate action like he has proposed and we need to seize the opportunities we have this year to write the next great chapter of the American story. That means no new fossil fuel infrastructure and moving as rapidly as possible to 100% clean, renewable energy so we stop funding our enemies, polluting our air, and mortgaging our future.
“In Congress, I’ll never stop fighting for Oregon and for the policies that will move our state and our country forward. By working together, we can be innovative, more resilient, and stronger. I thank the President for being a steadfast partner in that work, and I encourage him to come back and see the great work that’s happening in our beautiful state many times throughout his presidency.”
During President Biden’s visit, Senator Merkley joined his tour of the new terminal at Portland International Airport, including the mass-timber produced roof made of 3 million feet of board timber, all Douglas Fir sourced from local tribes and landowners.
###
English 
Spanish