March 22, 2018

Wyden Statement on Voting for Must-Pass Spending Bill that Includes Long-term Wildfire Funding Fix, Lifeline Funding for Rural Communities

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on voting for the must-pass government spending bill approved tonight by the Senate:

“Congress tonight took significant steps toward addressing the infernos that are ravaging Oregon and the West,”Wyden said. “I have fought for years to end ‘fire borrowing’ and provide a long-term, bipartisan fix to the Forest Service’s common-sense defying wildfire budget. I’m proud that my solution with Sen. Crapo will now become law and start allowing the Forest Service to get back to work in the woods to do the fire prevention that can save lives and protect communities in Oregon and nationwide.

“The bill also includes resources for Oregonians in theKlamath Basin facing another dire drought forecast. It invests in affordable housing, including the low-income housing tax credit, and much-needed infrastructure projects throughout Oregon. Simply put, this bill contains a lot of good news for Oregon communities and the people who live and work in them.”

The omnibus spending bill includes a wildfire funding solution that Wyden and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, championed since 2013. The bill also includes a two-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. SRS has brought more than $3 billion to rural Oregon counties since Wyden authored the bill that created the program.

Video of Wyden's remarks is available here.