Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that he secured key provisions that will help create jobs and improve infrastructure in Oregon communities in the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Energy and Water appropriations bill, which was voted out of committee late last week.
“One of the most gratifying parts of serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee is that I get to work with communities across the state to fund their needs, and then see the funding in action, benefitting Oregon’s small ports, irrigation districts, and more,” Merkley said. “This bill includes bipartisan efforts to strengthen our country in the future, such as the investment in wind energy, and supports programs that will help Oregonians in the near future, such as funding to dredge our small ports. I will continue to use my seat on this committee to push for investments that are important to Oregonians.”
Merkley es el único miembro del Congreso de Oregón de cualquier cámara desde el Senador Mark Hatfield que forma parte del Comité de Apropiaciones, considerado uno de los más poderosos del Capitolio. Se unió al comité en 2013 para que Oregón tuviera una voz fuerte en las decisiones sobre las inversiones que nuestra nación debería hacer.
Los elementos clave de la legislación que afectará a Oregón incluyen:
Pequeños Puertos y Navegación de Cuerpos de Ejército: The program, which is vital to help Oregon ports pay for dredging and other necessary infrastructure projects, received over $600 million for deep-draft harbor and channel improvements, $50 million for inland waterways, $24 million for navigation maintenance, and $54 million for small ports, which supports the small ports that are the lifeblood of Oregon’s coastal economy.
Conservación del agua y restauración del hábitat: The WaterSmart program received a $26 million increase, to $60 million, to fund projects that will help irrigation districts comply with the Endangered Species Act. The WaterSmart program has supported the collaborative process that is underway within Central Oregon to conserve water, improve habitat for endangered steelhead and the spotted frog, and keep Central Oregon family farms in business.
Expansión de las energías renovables: Merkley and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) were joined by 19 of their colleagues in a bipartisan push to increase funding for wind energy power. The bill includes $100 million—a $8 million increase—for wind energy and $10 million for distributed wind. The bill also includes a $55 million increase for water power research, which will support ongoing research at OSU, and $14 million increase for solar power programs.
Protecting Federal Assets in Oregon: Merkley successfully fought to prohibit the transfer or sale of power marketing assets, including the Bonneville Power Administration—a top priority for Oregonians.
Energy Efficiency Programs: In response to the Trump Administration’s proposal to restructure the popular Energy Star program, Merkley led 28 of his colleagues in an effort to successfully maintain the program. Merkley also secured language requiring the Department of Energy to explain why it has failed to meet deadlines for 25 energy-efficiency standards mandated by Congress. At Merkley’s request, the bill includes language directing the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive review of needed investments in energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy activities.
Despliegue de vehículos eléctricos: Merkley obtuvo $37,8 millones para el despliegue de vehículos eléctricos a través del Programa Ciudades Limpias, para ayudar a las ciudades a instalar más infraestructura de carga de vehículos eléctricos y poner más vehículos eléctricos en las carreteras.
Supercamión II: Merkley obtuvo $25 millones para cinco premios destinados a mejorar aún más la eficiencia de los camiones pesados a través de tecnologías rentables. El programa permite desarrollar e implementar tecnologías de vehículos de vanguardia, incluidas baterías avanzadas y sistemas de propulsión eléctrica, para reducir el consumo de combustibles fósiles y las emisiones de carbono en el sector del transporte.
Almacen de energia: Merkley secured $51 million for energy storage research and development, with a particular focus on grid-scale applications. This important funding ensures stability, reliability, resilience of the U.S. electricity grid as the country deploys and uses more renewable energy.
Presa Scoggins: Scoggins Dam received $2 million for upgrades. Scoggins Dam has been classified as one of the most seismically at-risk dams that the Bureau of Reclamation manages. This classification means that failure of the dam due to a large earthquake could result in significant damages or even loss of life to communities if the dam is not upgraded.
El próximo paso para el proyecto de ley es una votación en el Senado completo y, finalmente, fusionarse con un proyecto de ley equivalente de la Cámara de Representantes de EE. UU. para que ambas cámaras lo aprueben y se convierta en ley.
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