Press Releases
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR2) voted YES and the U.S. House of Representatives PASSED his bill, H.R. 655: “The City of the Dalles Watershed Development Act”, paving the way for Senate consideration. This legislation, if enacted, would transfer ownership of 150 acres of U.S. Forest Service land within The Dalles’ municipal watershed to the City of The Dalles.
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) voted YES on Senate Bill 356, the “Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act”, which will bring some 50 million dollars, for each of three years, to Oregon’s timber dependent counties.
WASHINGTON, D.C.– State Representatives Lieber and Sanchez, both of whom represent parts of Portland, wrote earlier this week in the Oregonian newspaper that it's “Trump’s cuts” (in the One Big Beautiful Bill) that are creating a “billion dollar problem for Oregon with no easy solutions”.
In the same piece, they assert the importance of “growing private sector jobs (to) stimulate our broader economy and provide good wages to hardworking Oregonians”.
Washington, D.C.– Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) voted YES on H.R. 4405, the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This bill will require that the Attorney General release, to the public, all documents and records in the possession of the Department of Justice relating to Jeffery Epstein.
WASHINGTON, D.C.– Yesterday, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) voted YES on the “Senate Amendment to H.R. 531, Continuing Appropriations and Extension Act, 2026”. This bill affects an immediate “reopening” of the government by extending government funding at current levels through January 30th, 2026, for most federal departments and programs, while also providing full-year funding for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), legislative branch operations, military construction, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) and Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) reintroduced the Patients’ Right to Know Their Medication Act in the House of Representatives. This legislation prioritizes patient safety and will guarantee all Americans receive effective and printed medication information with their prescriptions.
“In rural Oregon, access to reliable internet or to a pharmacist is not always
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz issued the following statement in response to Governor Tina Kotek’s recent comments regarding the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) on SNAP and Medicaid:
“Governor Kotek recently discussed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). Her comments are misleading and leave out key facts about what this legislation does for Oregon. While the Governor portrays the OBBB as a wholesale attack on children, families, and working people, the reality is far different.
WASHINGTON, D.C.– On May 22, 2025, Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-02), following a meeting with community leaders, and calls with County Commissioners and community leaders of the affected counties, sent a letter to the Acting Region 10 Administrator of FEMA, Vincent Maykovich, urging a federal emergency declaration in response to the severe weather damage in Coos, Curry, and Douglas Counties.
Washington, D.C.-- I am pleased to announce that the White House has authorized FEMA to provide funding to help fight the Highland Fire currently burning in Crook County, Oregon. We must protect the homes, infrastructure, and natural resources threatened by this dangerous wildfire. This authorization will help the Crook County Community. I will continue to work with FEMA and other agencies as they respond to wildfires.
Read FEMA press release below.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the Department of the Interior announced that more than 1,900 state and local governments across the country will receive a total of $644.8 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes program (PILT) of which $31 million dollars is designated to Oregon counties. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help defray the costs associated with maintaining community services including firefighting, policing, education, and road construction.