‘A significant chunk’: Local emergency response center among projects losing money if federal funding bill passes Senate
(Update: Adding video, Adding comments from COIC, Rep. Janelle Bynum)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- A congressional funding bill that could prevent a federal government shutdown narrowly passed the House Tuesday, but not without cutting funding for several local projects.
"This is a bigger chunk than just a little cut - this is a significant chunk of money," said Scott Aycock, Community and Economic Development Director for the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, told KTVZ News Wednesday.
COIC is preparing for what it calls a major loss in federal funding to help local emergency response.
"The ability of the state and local agencies to respond together because they have to do that in an interagency kind of way. Or, even more significantly, the Cascadia subduction zone (quake) event," Aycock said.
The organization was expecting to get $2 million to construct the CORE3 facility near Redmond. It would be the only emergency coordination center for Central and Eastern Oregon.
On Tuesday, the House voted to pass President Donald Trump's partisan continuing resolution, to fund the federal government ahead of a potential shutdown on Friday.
But the bill as it stands cuts nearly $30 million worth of projects already allocated for Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District.
Rep. Janelle Bynum says Republicans proceeded without bipartisan negotiations, nor input from her or any other House Democrats.
"I'm not putting up with it," Bynum told KTVZ News Wednesday.
Bynum slammed the bill Tuesday following her no vote. KTVZ News reached out to Rep. Cliff Bentz, the Second District Republic, for comment after his yes vote but did not hear back.
Bynum says another project on the chopping block, $2.2 million for Terrebonne's new sewer system, could be detrimental.
"These are real things you can't necessarily feel, for instance, a wastewater treatment plant. But you know it when you don't have it," Bynum said.
The bill is now headed to the Senate for a final vote to prevent a government shutdown on Saturday. Oregon senator Ron Wyden has already shared he will be voting no.
"I am voting no on the CR (Continuing Resolution)," Wyden said in a post to BlueSky. "Trump and Musk are taking a wrecking ball to vital services for veterans, seniors and kids. I will not support a bill that helps them do it. I will support a clean 300day CR."
Below is Rep. Janelle Bynum's statement following the House vote:
"Garbage in, garbage out. This is a trash bill with unmet promises to our district. They cut public safety funding, clean drinking water, and job creation. It’s merely an attempt to pour water on my neck and call it rain. Oregonians were promised $30 million to carry out 15 projects across our district, from Portland to Salem to Bend, to make our lives better. This bill breaks that promise and leaves our communities hanging. It’s a trash budget top to bottom.
“And let me be clear: my vote against this bill was not a vote to shut down the government. My vote was a demand for Republicans to work together with Democrats on a solution that works for all of us, not just some of us. Instead, they went full steam ahead without any Democratic input on a bill that harms Oregonians, gives Elon Musk more control, and fails to deliver for Americans at a time of need. No thanks.”
Background
The Continuing Resolution breaks promises to Oregonians by stripping them of $30 million in Community Project Funding already allocated to projects across the district, including $12 million to create more jobs, $8.5 million to make our communities safer, and another $2 million to make sure we have safe water to drink. The below projects will not receive funding if the Continuing Resolution becomes law.
City of Sweet Home for Water Plant Retrofit Project – $2,250,000 to retrofit Sweet Home’s water treatment plant to provide safer driving water to all residents.
CORE3 Proposed Coordination Center for Central and Eastern Oregon – $2,000,000 to construct the CORE3 center, which is the only proposed emergency coordination center for Central or Eastern Oregon. Central Oregon plays a significant role in the rescue and recovery of operations for major disasters, and this center would serve as the local and state emergency response center for the state in the event of Cascadia.
Happy Valley Community Center – $5,000,000 for the construction of a new community center in Happy Valley, which would support economic growth and expand recreational opportunities and access to community resources for residents.
City of Molalla Wastewater Treatment Plant Project – $1,250,000 for constructing a new wastewater treatment plant and beginning the operations of the new wastewater facility, which would help keep sewer rates at a manageable level for Clackamas County while preparing the city for future growth.
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Tumwata Village – $2,000,000 to redevelop an abandoned paper mill. The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde plan to design and construct infrastructure, utilities, and a public gathering space, including new streets, sewer and water services, and streetlights.
City of Portland Police Bureau Project – $620,000 to integrate tasers into body-worn cameras as part of their 24-month plan to improve transparency and community trust.
West Stayton Employment Area Access Roundabout Project – $4,000,000 to support the final design and construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of Shaff and Wilco Roads to support freight and vehicle traffic flow.
Oregon CASA Network – $1,700,000 to recruit, train, supervise, and support community volunteers to provide CASA for over 1,400 children experiencing foster care in Oregon.
City of Stayton Force Main Extension Project – $1,250,000 to increase the capacity of the sewer pipe system and help prevent potential sewer overflow.
Marion County Wastewater Plant Construction – $1,000,000 for the design and construction of a wastewater force main that will serve two cities and promote the growth of local businesses, homes, and facilities.
OR 126 Improvements – $3,500,000 for constructing shared-use path sidewalks, crossings, and ADA features along OR 126 in East Redmond, which will facilitate more and safer multimodal trips along the corridor between the city center and Oasis Village.
Terrebonne Sanitary District for Wastewater Collection System Project – $2,250,000 for the construction of a new wastewater collection system. Terrebonne does not have a municipal wastewater system, and all developed properties currently rely on drain fields, sand filters, or unpermitted sewage injection wells for onsite wastewater disposal, resulting in a high rate of onsite system failure.
Land Acquisition for Existing Outdoor Shelter in Bend – $1,250,000 to preserve the 20-unit tiny home campus past the lease end date, and for partitioning, outreach, legal fees for the acquisition, and smaller-scale improvements.
City of Bend Community Relations Manager Jacob Larsen told KTVZ News, "The project was for a permanent location for Central Oregon Villages. The city and our partners will continue to explore possible funding opportunities and locations."
Library Improvements in Clackamas County – $690,000 to install solar arrays on two Clackamas County libraries, The Oak Lodge and Gladstone Library, to achieve net-zero energy consumption. This will offset energy use and costs by including efficiency features to sustainably reduce operations costs, including LED lighting, an efficient variable refrigerant flow heating/cooling system, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and natural lighting.
Improving Energy Communications in the City of Portland and Multnomah County – $1,078,000 to be used by The Portland Bureau of Emergency Communication (BOEC) to update the Simulation (SIM) Room and Classroom within its training center. This would allow for a more streamlined transition from training to operations, thereby increasing overall efficiency, as well as provide overflow positions as the BOEC begins to outgrow the current workspace.
