{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", party = \"Republican\" and state = \"OR\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-nominates-fourteen-oregon-students-acceptance-us-service", "Greg Walden Nominates Fourteen Oregon Students for Acceptance to U.S. Service Academies", "2020-12-16", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) announced today that he has nominated fourteen Oregon students for acceptance to the prestigious United States service academies. Walden's Service Academy Nomination Board -- retired and active-duty military officers who interview potential candidates for the service academies -- recommended each student based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character. \"I am honored to nominate these outstanding young Oregonians to America's service academies,\"Walden said.\"These future leaders have put forth years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to character and these nominations are well deserved. By pursuing a higher education at one of our country's select service academies, these students have shown a desire to lead by example, grow intellectually, and serve the United States in uniform. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for these hardworking individuals, I am confident that each nominee will have tremendous success in this admirable endeavor and that their futures will be bright. \"I want to also thank my Service Academy Nomination Board for recommending these young, courageous leaders. Their experience serving our country in uniform is invaluable to the nomination process and speaks to the caliber of the students they interviewed and recommended for nominations this year. Without their guidance and understanding of what it takes to succeed at the U.S. service academies, these nominations would not be possible,\"said Walden. Serving on Walden's Service Academy Nomination Board are: Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Paula Brown, U.S. Air Force Colonel Jeff Edwards, Retired U.S. Navy Captain Bud Hart, Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Rich Halstead and Oregon Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Travis Lee. The service academies include the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; and the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Final selection for admission to the service academies will be determined by officials at each respective academy this spring. The 2021 Academy Nominees from Oregon's Second District are as follows:\nDeschutes County\n Abby Bridges, daughter of Greg and Lisa Bridges of Bend, attending Mountain View High School and Surabaya Intercultural School  nominated to the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the United States Naval Academy and the United States Military Academy.\n\tGharret Brockman, son of Chuck and Toni Brockman of Bend, attending Bend Senior High School  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Naval Academy.\n\tSamuel Conklin, son of William and Kelly Conklin of Bend, attending flight school with Bend Aircraft Mechanics  nominated to the Unites States Military Academy and the United States Air Force Academy.\n\tBrendon Dearing, son of Douglas and Michelle Dearing of Bend, attending Oregon State University  nominated to the United States Air Force and the United States Naval Academy.\n\tKainoa Dickson, son of Jonathan and Whitney Dickson of Redmond, attending Redmond High School  nominated to the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Military Academy.\n\tBrady Pfeiffer, son of Bradley and Holly Pfeiffer of Bend, attending Mountain View High School  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\n\tMary Root, daughter of Darren Root and Peggy Houge of Sisters, attending Sisters High School  nominated to the United States Naval Academy.\n\tElias Tollefson, son of Kevin and Carol Tollefson of Redmond, attending Redmond Proficiency Academy  nominated to the United States Naval Academy.\n Grant County\n Xuanling Jin, daughter of Chin Kim and Zhen Ji Wen of Long Creek, attending Long Creek High School  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\n Jackson County\n Jared Dole, son of Ted and Brenda Dole of Eagle Point, attending Eagle Point High School  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\n\tMartin Folgate, son of Christopher and Julie Folgate of White City, attending Baker Early College  nominated to the United States Naval Academy.\n\tAndrea Gilliland, daughter of Drew and Colette Gilliland of Central Point, attending the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\n Klamath County\n Timothy Orr, son of Tony and Dana Orr of Klamath Falls, attending Henley High School  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\n\tColten Wright, son of Heath and Heather Wright of Merrill, attending Lost River Jr/Sr High School  nominated to the United States Naval Academy and the United States Air Force Academy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-delivers-farewell-address-house-floor", "Walden Delivers Farewell Address on House Floor", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Click here for part one and click here for part two of Rep. Walden's remarks.\n  Washington, D.C.-- Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR) delivered farewell remarks on the House Floor. Walden will retire from over 30 years of public service, including 22 in Congress, at the end of the 116th Congress. Walden served in the Oregon House of Representatives for six years, from 1989 to 1995, which included serving as the House Majority Leader during both 1991 and 1993 sessions. He then served in the Oregon Senate in 1995 to 1997. Walden was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden represents the people of Oregon's Second Congressional District, which includes 20 counties in central, southern, and eastern Oregon. Walden served as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the 115th Congress and currently serves as the Republican Leader of the Energy and Commerce Committee. \nClick HERE for part one and HERE for part two of Rep. Walden's remarks on the House Floor.\nAs Prepared for Delivery M. Speaker. As 2020 comes to a thankful close, so does my 22 years of public service in this incredible crucible of democracy: the U.S. House.  I thank my wife, Mylene, and son, Anthony, for always supporting me during my three decades of state and federal service. I will never fully understand all they sacrificed so I could fulfill my duty in office, but I know it was a lot.  I also want to thank my terrific staff over the years, and especially those who helped me build and lead such successful organizations, including my personal office chiefs of staff Brian MacDonald and Lorissa Bounds; my executive directors at the NRCC, Liesl Hickey and Rob Simms; and my staff directors at the Energy and Commerce Committee, the late Ray Baum, Mike Bloomquist and Ryan Long.  And I want to thank the thousands of volunteers and supporters of my many campaigns over the years. We did it together and we did it for the right reasons: to leave our state and country better than we found it.  I also want to thank some important mentors in my life starting with my parents who grew up during the Great Depression and taught me the importance of giving back to the community, working hard, always being honest and not judgmental. I want to thank those along the way who gave me career opportunities, including the folks at KTVF/KFRB Fairbanks who put a 17-year-old kid in charge of producing and directing the 11pm nightly TV news. To Roger Martin, Vic Atiyeh, Gary Wilhelms, and Denny Smith, I learned so much from working for each of you. And to Speaker Larry Campbell, time and again you showed Oregon how principled leadership produces results. It was great sport serving alongside you as Majority Leader of the Oregon House. I want to thank the church, school, and scout leaders who influenced my life in such a positive way, with a special shout out to the late Earl Fowler, my high school vice principal and student body officer advisor whose counsel when I was student body president at Hood River Valley High School in 1973-74 was as valuable then as it is now. I remember he once intoned: When there is a leadership vacuum, fill it. He expected us to step up and lead. I am indeed thankful for the opportunity the people of Oregon have given me to represent them here in Congress. It's a responsibility I've always taken seriously as I faithfully tried to do my best to represent them. After all, this is their office, not mine. I was simply entrusted to use the powers bestowed upon it for their benefit, something I never forgot. It's part of why I've returned home nearly every weekend and will soon complete my 644th roundtrip when Congress adjourns for the year. My team and I put special emphasis on taking care of the men and women who wearor have wornour nation's uniform and defended America's freedom. We helped thousands of Oregon veterans and their families receive the benefits they earned and deserved. We worked to strengthen the mission at Kingsley Air Field and open veterans' clinics throughout the district. We are so blessed to have these brave men and women risk their lives so we can enjoy ours. America owes them a debt we can never fully repay. Having grown up on a cherry orchard outside of The Dalles, I always had great admiration for those who farm and ranch and feed us. I worked hard to protect their way of life, defending farmers and ranchers from bad policy proposals. I defended their water rights. I protected their land, starting with saving Steens Mountain. Moreover, I supported ag research and water conservation efforts throughout the district. And while we made much progress on both fronts, my one regret is that we could never find the key to unlocking a durable and fair solution to the water crisis in the Klamath Basin that could pass in Congress.  We did make progress to improve forest management, even though I'm disappointed Congress has dragged its feet in enacting much more reform to make our federal forests healthier and more resilient to climate change. It was 17 years ago last week that President Bush signed the Healthy Forest Restoration Act into law. Hopefully, in the next Congress you all will heed the guidance of our Yale Forestry grad and colleague Bruce Westerman, and modernize how we manage this great American resource before it all goes up in smoke. Having spent six years as chair of the Telecommunications Subcommittee, I'm proud of the bipartisan work we did to open up spectrum for advanced communications, enact First Net for our first responders, and expand access to high speed internetalthough much work remains to fully connect Americans. With the RAY BAUM's Act we even reauthorized and modernized the FCC, which hadn't been done in decades. As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, we took on the deadly epidemic of drug overdose and combined more than 60, bipartisan, legislative initiates into the Support Act, which while focused on the opioid crisis, provides support for our communities to help all with addiction. We modernized our mental health laws, stepped up medical research, and fully funded the Children's Health Insurance Program for a decadesomething that has never been done before. We also modernized the FDA and its approval processes for medicines and medical devices. Thank goodness we made these changes which have already proved their value during this pandemic. We also unleashed a cleaner energy revolution in America that created thousands of new jobs and reduced America's carbon emissions, too. Energy innovation holds the process to a stronger economy and a healthier environment. As you can tell, I'm passionate about good public policy and using the resources we have among ourselves in the Congress to get good things done for the American people. It wasn't easy to decide to voluntarily leave this wonderful institution, but I'd long ago decided I didn't want to get voted out or carried out. I was confident I'd win re-election and my health is good, so I leave on my own terms, feeling good about that which I've helped improve in the lives of those who entrusted me election-after-election. I'm a big fan of Theodore Roosevelt. His writings have also had an impact on my life. Just as my high school advisor encouraged us to fill leadership vacuums, so did Roosevelt laud those who climbed into the arena. So, I close with President Roosevelt's words: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. God bless you, my colleagues, family and friends, and may God Bless this great country of ours. I yield back.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-honors-congressman-robert-smith-house-floor", "Greg Walden Honors Congressman Robert Smith on House Floor", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Clickhereor on the image above to watch Rep. Walden's remarks.\nToday, Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) spoke on the House Floor to honor the life and legacy of former Oregon Congressman, Chairman Robert Bob' Freeman Smith. Walden was joined on the House Floor by Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK) who served under then-Chairman Smith on the Agriculture Committee. Clickhereto watch Rep. Walden's remarks on the House Floor. Below are Rep. Walden's remarks as prepared for delivery: I rise today to commemorate and honor the life and legacy of former Congressman Bob Smith. An Oregon native  born in Portland and raised in Burns he had a deep understanding of what it meant to be an Oregonian andknew the needs of the surrounding communities. Bob went to Willamette University in Salem,Oregon and received a degree in Agriculture.He would go on to put that degree to work on the ranch. In 1960,Bob's career as a public servant began when he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. He served in the state House until 1972.He also was the Speaker of the Oregon House during the 1969 session and the 1971 session.He then served in the stateSenate from 1973 to 1982. All together he ran in 31 elections and won every single one. In the State House,Bob helped pass anumber ofland usebills. He workedhardto provide incentives for ranchers in Eastern Oregon to invest their money in state land and make it better  because at that time there was lots of state land that was in need of proper management. By incentivizing ranchers to take care of the land he helped improve that land for future generations  something ranchers in eastern Oregon still benefit from today. Bob helped lower taxes  especially property taxes. In the state Senate he continued his efforts to lower taxes  which included refunding over $700 million to Oregon's taxpayers. He alsohelped create the state'skickerlaw, which continues to return money to taxpayers. Bob went ontoserve here - in the House of Representatives -for14years,first from 1983 to 1995 and then again from 1997 to 1999. In Congress, he continued to be a champion ofimproving the management of ourpublic lands and naturalresources. He fought hard against a legislative proposal in the early 1990s for a nationalconservation area forSteensMountain.\nBobisalsoknown for his work to gain $19 million in funding for the highway interchangeon the northend of Medford, helping smooth the flow of traffic from I-5 and Highway 62.In 2007, the interchange was named after Bob in appreciation of his efforts. For those of us that fly out of Central Oregon's Redmond Airport  we should be grateful to Bobas well.He ensured that FAA constructeda flight tower at the airport to improve safetyand facilitate the commercial air traffic options we have today. There were two other airports ahead of Redmond,but he convincedappropriators to direct the FAA to construct and operate the RDM tower ahead of the others. Of course, Bob also fought for the health ofourforests and worked to improve forest management to help prevent wildfires. He retired from Congress in 1995 but returned in 1997 after then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich called him and urged him toreturn.When he returned in 1997,he became Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. As theChairman of the House Agriculture Committee, he delivered resources for Oregon and the nation'sfarmers and ranchersandcontinued todefendagainst economic hardships that threatened rural communities. Bob always looked out for the farmers and ranchers across America,but especially those in Eastern Oregon. He was known to always fight for ranchers'grazing rights  working tirelessly with the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service to protect those rights. In all the public offices Bob held,heworked tirelessly to fight for the needs ofrural Oregon.But Bob was more than a public servant, he was arancherandabusinessmanfirst, and most importantly a friend to all that were lucky enough to know him. Andthanks to Bob, most of Washington D.C. knew abouthis hometown,Burns, Oregon - he never missed an opportunity to teach someone his Burns,Oregon song, or to pointthe rural townout on a globe. He was a strong advocate for protecting property rights, public lands,and natural resources. Our nation, our state, and specifically Oregon's Second Districtarebetter placesbecause of Bob. Bobwas both a good friendand mentor. Following in Bob'sfootsteps in Congressand representing thegreat people of Oregon's 2nddistricthasbeen a true honor. He will be remembered not just for his legislativeachievements,but for thehardworking,good-naturedman he was.Mylene and I will keep Bob and his family in our prayers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-appointed-fy2021-ndaa-conference-committee", "Greg Walden Appointed to FY2021 NDAA Conference Committee", "2020-11-19", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "2185 Rayburn House Office Building", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-oregon-delegation-urge-fema-assume-100-percent-cost-share", "Greg Walden, Oregon Delegation Urge FEMA to Assume 100 Percent Cost Share for Wildfire Impacts", "2020-11-17", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oregon's entire congressional delegation is urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assume 100 percent of the cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures from the wildfires that ripped through the state this year. The letter to FEMA from U.S. Reps. Greg Walden, Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader and U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley comes in support of a similar state cost-share request. As you saw when you toured the state with us earlier this year, wildfires have utterly decimated communities across Oregon,the lawmakers wrote.Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Emergency Management predict that total disaster costs will ultimately total more than $1 billiona burden the state will be unable to shoulder in light of ongoing pandemic-related responses. The letter noted the damage assessment from the 2020 fire season in Oregon now exceeds the regulatory threshold for FEMA to support an increased federal cost share from 75 percent to 100 percent and also that FEMA has regularly increased its cost share in past disasters. FEMA has authorized 90% cost share in more than 20 disasters since January 2017, including wildfires, and 100% cost share in 22 disasters during the same period,the Oregon lawmakers wrote.Indeed, the administration recently amended the Major Disaster Declaration for California to authorize 100% percent cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures. A copy of the entire letter ishere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-applauds-official-signing-critical-fix-help-klamath-irrigators", "Walden Applauds Official Signing of Critical Fix to Help Klamath Irrigators", "2020-11-02", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) applauded President Trump signing into law acritically needed fix to the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that wouldprovide relief to Klamath Basin irrigators who have been hard-hit by drought. The legislation was passed by theHouse on October 1, andwas signed into law onFriday, October30,2020. In 2018, the WRDA included language that was essential for irrigators in the Klamath Basin to effectively use $10 million in drought relief funds that the lawmakers had previously secured. This new lawprovides clear flexibility in how the relief may be used, enabling irrigators to access the funding when there is a severe shortage of water. \"This is welcome news for irrigators in the Klamath Basin, who are enduring another drought-stricken year,unprecedented wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic all at the same time,said Walden.This legislation will ensure they have the toolsthey need toget through these hard times as well as prepare irrigators in the Klamath Basin if they arehit with severe drought in the years ahead.I want to thank President Trump for swiftly signing this bill into law and taking care of the hardworking farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin. The original language authorized up to $10 million a year for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to work with the farming and ranching community to develop and implement strategies to align water demand with available supply. This technical correction clarifies the authority forirrigators to access the funds for strategies such as land idling and groundwater pumping in times of drought. This announcement comesa fewmonths afterWalden broughtSecretary of Interior David Bernhardtand Commissioner of Reclamation Brenda Burman to meet with key stakeholders in the Klamath Basin. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration made good on an April commitment todeliver140,000 acrefeet of water for farmers in the Klamath Basin.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-applauds-delisting-gray-wolf", "Greg Walden Applauds Delisting of the Gray Wolf", "2020-10-29", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) releaseda statement after the U.S. Department of Interior announced the official delisting of thegraywolf from the Endangered SpeciesListbased on clear evidence that the wolves' numbersare healthy and stablefollowing decades of successful protection.This change will provide much-needed relief for ranchersby enabling themto preventlivestockfrom beingtargeted bywolf packs.Today's announcement comes shortlyafter Walden personally called theOffice of Management and Budget to urge that the rule be finalized.  \n\t  Oregon's wolf populationgrewover15percentlast year,andmeanwhile, wolves continue to kill livestock in the area under federal management, with little recourse forlocalranchers.Today'saction by the Trump Administration to officially delist thegraywolf from the Endangered SpeciesListislong overdue. This movewill allow our state wildlife officials to manage the wolves more effectively by allowing for a single management plan under local control,said Walden.  \n\t  \n\tThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recognized the recovery ofthe gray wolfandfirstproposed delisting itin 2013 under the ObamaAdministration, butlitigation by outside groupsbrought the process to a crawl.Walden hasbeen a longtime advocate forreturning authority for protecting and managing gray wolves to individual states.In 2016, the House passedWalden'splan to remove the gray wolffrom the Endangered Species list.\nBefore today'sannouncement, management of wolves in Oregonwasdividedalongarbitrary linesthat leftwolves in the eastern third of the state underOregon statemanagement, while the remainderweremanaged under the federal Endangered Species Act.Now, all wolves in Oregon will be managedby the State of Oregon,which will ensure that the wolf population remains at a healthy leveland that livestockare protected.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-merkley-wyden-applaud-official-signing-bill-rename-bend-va-clinic", "Walden, Merkley, Wyden Applaud Official Signing of the Bill to Rename Bend VA Clinic after Robert Maxwell", "2020-10-16", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden(D-OR)applaudedthe signing into law of a bill introduced by the Oregon delegation to rename the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Bend after Robert Maxwell, a World War II veteran and Medal of Honor Recipient who lived in Bend.The bill was signed into law on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. At the time of Maxwell's passing, he was the oldest Medal of Honorrecipient in the nation and one of four remaining veterans from World War II to be awarded the Medal of Honor. After his courageous service, he worked as a teacher in Bend.  \n\t  \"Bob Maxwell was a selfless and humble public servant and a friend to everyone he met,said Walden. As we approach what would've been Bob's 100th birthday, I can't think of a better way to honor Bob than renaming the Bend VA Clinic after him. I applaud President Trump for swiftly signing this bill into law and forever ensuring that Bob's legacy is honored, and his heroism is remembered.\"\n\"Bob Maxwell's life is a testimony to the power of selflessness and dedication to serving a cause bigger than oneself,said Merkley.That lesson couldn't be more important today, and just like the countless Oregonians who have been moved by his story, I am grateful for the example he set throughout his lifetime of service. I am thrilled that this renaming will help ensure that his legacy will be remembered, and know that his courageous and generous spirit will continue to inspire for generations to come.\" \"Robert Maxwell's name on the VA Clinic in Bend is a well-deserved tribute to a World War II hero and beloved teacher in Central Oregon,Wyden said.I'm glad this Medal of Honor winner will be remembered in such a fitting fashion for his public service both overseas and at home.\" Oregon's congressional delegation previously wroteto the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs committees in support of the renaming. The City of Bend,American Legion Department of Oregon,Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oregon, andDisabled American Veterans Department of Oregon also advocated for the change.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/op-eds/how-much-more-has-burn-congress-fixes-forest-management", "How much more has to burn before Congress fixes forest management?", "2020-10-05", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "How much more has to burn before Congress fixes forest management? \nBy: Rep. Greg Walden\nThere are no words to describe the devastation and loss I saw as I toured the towns of Phoenix and Talent, Oregon. Lives were shattered as deadly fires merged to incinerate thousands of homes and apartments.\n\nElsewhere in the state, massive fires burning nearly three acres per second laid waste to forested communities. And for the towns that were lucky enough to avoid the fires themselves, residents choked on the toxic smoke these fires produced, as we endured the worst air quality in the world all across the Northwest.\nTo put in perspective the vastness of the smoke, during my drive from near Baker City, Oregon, to Medford, Oregon, I navigated through smoke so dense you could only see 30-50 feet ahead at times.\nAfter seeing the disaster firsthand, I flew to Sacramento to meet up with President Trump and show him photos of the devastation in Phoenix and Talent. Trump committed to me that his administration would do all it could to help us recover and rebuild. He signed off on Gov. Kate Brown's major disaster declaration request within a day. Additional resources are now on the way to the state of Oregon to help individuals affected by these fires.\n  \n\tWildfires are nothing new. They are a part of nature, but what Oregon and most of the Pacific Northwest is facing this summer is unprecedented.While I am glad the federal government is swiftly providing aid to millions of Americans affected by fires in the Pacific Northwest, with over a million acres burned in Oregon just this year, we must do more to prevent these fires from happening in the future. We shouldn't be forced to choke on smoke and watch our homes, our towns, and our forests burn to the ground every summer.\nWhile climate change is a factor, decades of fire suppression and broken federal forest management policies have left our forests overgrown and waiting to burn. Forests are not static  they grow, die, and burn. In Oregon alone, the amount of timber in our national forests increases through growth by over 50% every year. The result is unnaturally dense forests that fuel increasingly catastrophic wildfires.\nWe must do better.\nIn 2018, I helped lead Congress to pass into law some of the most extensive forest management policy reforms our nation had seen in more than a decade. We provided additional tools and funding to the Forest Service to more quickly implement critical forest management projects.\nThe Trump administration is taking advantage of these tools, and progress is being made toward improving the management of our federal lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has shown that since 2016, the Forest Service has increased the area treated to prevent wildfires by 20%.\nDespite this progress, the Forest Service estimates at least 63 million acres of our national forests, including 7 million acres in Oregon, are at high risk of wildfire and in need of active management. We must do more and fast. That's why I've worked closely with my colleagues to write the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2019. This legislation provides thoughtful, science-based tools to forest managers and streamlines fire prevention projects so we can get our forests back in balance. When fire does strike, it would ensure we clean up the burned, dead trees where appropriate and while they still have value, and replant a new, healthy forest for future generations.\nIt's time to listen to science and pass policies that reduce the risk and size of forest fires. Even the United Nation's climate panel said forest management should be part of our plan to address climate change by reducing emissions. We need to better manage our forests, update our infrastructure, and promote clean bio-mass energy. The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Forest Service found that active forest management could reduce the size and intensity of wildfires fires by 70%.\nWe must do more to get our forests back into balance, reduce the risk of wildfire, help them recover quicker after fires, and help our forested communities thrive. Democrats in the House should stop blocking the bipartisan Resilient Federal Forests Act from getting a vote in the House. It's time to get these commonsense policies into law. Let's save our forests and our communities, improve public health, and reduce emissions.\nHere in the Pacific Northwest, the skies may have cleared for now, but if Congress doesn't act soon, we will face another summer of fire and destruction in 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-fema-category-approval", "Greg Walden Statement on FEMA Category A Approval", "2020-10-05", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion Counties are approved for Category A Assistance. This means that FEMAwill pay for atleast 75percentof the debrisremovalcosts on public landsfromthe recent wildfires. The Oregon delegation sent a letter to FEMAlast weekrequestingthatlocal communities'share of the cost beeven further reduced.Afinal decision by FEMAhas not yet been made.  \n\t  \n\tThis announcement comes after Walden brought FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor to Jackson County over the weekend to view the devastation and meet with local officials. Walden urged Administrator Gaynor to grant Jackson and Klamath Counties Category A Disaster Assistance to help decrease the financial burden on local communities.  \n\t  \"This is welcome news for towns like Talent and Phoenix that have been completelydevastatedby these fires.During these tragic times, we cannot expect our local communities to bear the burden of financing the removal of debris.This announcement means that local communities can focus on recovering and rebuilding without worrying about how to pay for it. I am glad that the Federal Government and the State of Oregon will help shoulder this burdenandI applaud Administrator Gaynor and the Trump Administration for continuing to listen to the needs of Oregonians and provide the support and aid they need,\"said Walden.    \n\tLearn more about the assistancehere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-how-much-more-has-burn-congress-fixes-forest-management", "Walden: How Much More Has to Burn Before Congress Fixes Forest Management?", "2020-10-05", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) penned anop-edin The Washington Examiner in response to the deadly fires in Oregon and the need for modernizing forest management policies. So far this year, fires have burned over one million acres in Oregon. Over the weekend, Walden brought Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)Administrator Pete Gaynor to Jackson Countyto view the devastation from the fires and meet with local officials. An excerpt of Rep. Walden's op-ed is below. The full article may be viewedhere.\nHow much more has to burn before Congress fixes forest management?\nWashington Examiner\nBy Rep. Greg Walden\nOctober 5, 2020\nThere are no words to describe the devastation and loss I saw as I toured the towns of Phoenix and Talent, Oregon. Lives were shattered as deadly fires merged to incinerate thousands of homes and apartments. Elsewhere in the state, massive fires burning nearly three acres per second laid waste to forested communities. And for the towns that were lucky enough to avoid the fires themselves, residents choked on the toxic smoke these fires produced, as we endured the worst air quality in the world all across the Northwest. To put in perspective the vastness of the smoke, during my drive from near Baker City, Oregon, to Medford, Oregon, I navigated through smoke so dense you could only see 30-50 feet ahead at times. After seeing the disaster firsthand, I flew to Sacramento to meet up with President Trump and show him photos of the devastation in Phoenix and Talent. Trump committed to me that his administration would do all it could to help us recover and rebuild. He signed off on Gov. Kate Brown's major disaster declaration request within a day. Additional resources are now on the way to the state of Oregon to help individuals affected by these fires. While I am glad the federal government is swiftly providing aid to millions of Americans affected by fires in the Pacific Northwest, with over a million acres burned in Oregon just this year, we must do more to prevent these fires from happening in the future. We shouldn't be forced to choke on smoke and watch our homes, our towns, and our forests burn to the ground every summer. Wildfires are nothing new. They are a part of nature, but what Oregon and most of the Pacific Northwest is facing this summer is unprecedented. While climate change is a factor, decades of fire suppression and broken federal forest management policies have left our forests overgrown and waiting to burn. Forests are not static  they grow, die, and burn. In Oregon alone, the amount of timber in our national forests increases through growth by over 50% every year. The result is unnaturally dense forests that fuel increasingly catastrophic wildfires. We must do better. In 2018, I helped lead Congress to pass into law some of the most extensive forest management policy reforms our nation had seen in more than a decade. We provided additional tools and funding to the Forest Service to more quickly implement critical forest management projects. The Trump administration is taking advantage of these tools, and progress is being made toward improving the management of our federal lands. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has shown that since 2016, the Forest Service has increased the area treated to prevent wildfires by 20%. Despite this progress, the Forest Service estimates at least 63 million acres of our national forests, including 7 million acres in Oregon, are at high risk of wildfire and in need of active management. We must do more and fast. That's why I've worked closely with my colleagues to write the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2019. This legislation provides thoughtful, science-based tools to forest managers and streamlines fire prevention projects so we can get our forests back in balance. When fire does strike, it would ensure we clean up the burned, dead trees where appropriate and while they still have value, and replant a new, healthy forest for future generations. It's time to listen to science and pass policies that reduce the risk and size of forest fires. Even the United Nation's climate panel said forest management should be part of our plan to address climate change by reducing emissions. We need to better manage our forests, update our infrastructure, and promote clean bio-mass energy. The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Forest Service found that active forest management could reduce the size and intensity of wildfires fires by 70%. We must do more to get our forests back into balance, reduce the risk of wildfire, help them recover quicker after fires, and help our forested communities thrive. Democrats in the House should stop blocking the bipartisan Resilient Federal Forests Act from getting a vote in the House. It's time to get these commonsense policies into law. Let's save our forests and our communities, improve public health, and reduce emissions. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the skies may have cleared for now, but if Congress doesn't act soon, we will face another summer of fire and destruction in 2021.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-merkley-wyden-announce-house-passage-critical-fix-help-klamath", "Walden, Merkley, Wyden, Announce House Passage of Critical Fix to Help Klamath Irrigators", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) andSenators Jeff Merkley(D-OR)and Ron Wyden(D-OR)today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed a critically needed fix to the 2018Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)that wouldprovide relief to Klamath Basin irrigators who have been hard-hit by drought. The legislation was passed by the U.S. Senate in July of thisyear andis now headed toPresident Trump'sdesk to be signed into law. \n  In 2018, the WRDA included language that was essential for irrigators in the Klamath Basin to effectively use $10 million in drought relief funds that the lawmakers had previously secured. The new bill provides clear flexibility in how the relief may be used, enabling irrigators to access the funding when there is a severe shortage of water.\n\t\"Irrigators in the Klamath Basin are enduring another challenging, drought-stricken year, and we need to ensure they have the tools to get through it. We also need to be prepared if our farmers get hit with severe drought conditions in the years ahead, said Walden. The Bureau of Reclamation needs the authority to use the funds we already secured to implement measures such as groundwater pumping and other priorities for our irrigators. This bill will ensure the Bureau of Reclamation has that authority for the next four years to help farmers, ranchers, and water users navigate the current water year and survive the difficult water years we may face in the near future. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress, the Trump Administration, local officials, and community members to find lasting solutions to water issues in the Klamath Basin.\"\n\t\"Through drought, the global pandemic, and most recently these unprecedented wildfires, Klamath Basin irrigators have shown they're committed to working collaboratively with the many water stakeholders in the region, and it is critical that the federal government steps up to be a strong partner to their efforts,\"saidMerkley.\"To ensure that farming and ranching have a strong future in the Basin, we need to get through this drought and work on long-term solutions to our water supply challenges. This fix will help us do that.\" \n\"This legislation frees up urgently needed resources for farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin to help survive a 2020 that's proven incredibly difficult with a brutal combination of drought, wildfires and COVID-19's economic fallout, Wyden said. This bipartisan and collaborative solution takes a solid step forward for the Basin this year that can be built upon in the years ahead to reach a resolution to longstanding water supply challenges.\" \nThe original language authorized up to $10 million a year for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to work with the farming and ranching community to develop and implement strategies to align water demand with available supply. This technical correction clarifies the authority forirrigators to access the funds for strategies such as land idling and groundwater pumping in times of drought. \nThis announcement comes lessthanthree months after Walden broughtSecretary of Interior David Bernhardtand Commissioner of Reclamation Brenda Burman to meet with key stakeholders in the Klamath Basin. Earlier this year, the Trump Administration made good on an April commitment todeliver140,000 acre feet of water for farmers in the Klamath Basin. \nClick here to watch Walden's remarks on the House Floor.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-talks-wildfires-forest-management", "Greg Walden Talks Wildfires, Forest Management", "2020-09-30", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) recently joined Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) on his podcast,Hold These Truths.During the podcast, Walden discussed the catastrophic wildfires in Oregon and called for improved federal forest management. Walden started by acknowledging that fire is a part of nature. \"As a life-long Oregonian I love our forests, love our clean water, and then you see it go up in smoke. And look, fire is part of nature, right? You're going to get fire.\" Walden went on to discuss how the lack of forest management over the last 50 years has led to overstocked forests and more dangerous wildfires. \"About 50 years ago, federal policy and court decisions really moved us in a direction where we still put out fires but stopped managing forests. So, if you think about never mowing your lawn, never thinning your garden, never pruning your trees, forests are not static. They continue to grow dynamically and then die. And so, the fuel loads are enormous and completely out of balance. We've got researchers from Oregon State University School of Forestry who will tell you there are in some plots in my district [with]1,000 trees per acre where there should be about ten.\"    He then discussed with Rep. Crenshaw the falsehood behind the argument that the best thing you can do for the environment is leave forests alone and lock them up. Walden said we do that already in land designated as wilderness areas. \"A high propensity of our fires often start and rumble around in wilderness areas because federal law basically says leave them alone and let them burn. And they do [let them burn] in many cases. Unfortunately, it comes roaring out of the wilderness area and then devours the communities and forests.\" During the interview, Walden also discussed how wildfires emit a lot of carbon into the atmosphere. \"In 2018, the California wildfires emitted 68 million tons of CO2. That's the equivalent of a year's worth of electricity from CaliforniaIf you care about emissions, you should care more about these fires that burn unnaturally hot.\" Walden continued stating that,according to the Chief of the Forest Service, nationally there are 63 million acres of our federal forest lands that are at risk of uncharacteristically severe wildfire and are in need of treatment such as thinning or actually prescribed fires, and 7.2 million of that is in Oregon. And you have to know they only treat four to six million acres a year, and that's actually a 25 percent increase from the Obama Administration to the Trump Administration.\" Walden noted that scientists estimate 70 percent of carbon emissions occur after a wildfire, as the burned, dead debris decays. \"We should be getting in there and cleaning out, where appropriate, get the burned, dead trees out when they still have value And because the federal system is so litigious, and takes years to do the planning, get it through, and by then the trees have no value. They're bug-infested and rotted, and dangerous frankly, and ready for fuel for another fire. The other thing we don't do is come in after the fires and plant a new healthy green forest. Everybody else does, but not the federal government. We are a slum lord when it comes to managing our forests.\" He went on to suggest that using wood products helps sequester carbon, and further more making the products creates jobs. Walden said that the legislation he has worked on with Representative Bruce Westerman would help instill these ideas and improve forest management. \"I've helped lead that fight over the years successfully to give us more tools for our scientists to manage our forests better, and we've made some progress, but holy smokes we've got a long way to go.\" To listen to the entire podcast, clickhere. To learn more about Walden's efforts on forest management, clickhere. To find helpful wildfire resources and information, clickhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-applauds-house-passage-bill-help-families-devastated", "Greg Walden Applauds House Passage of Bill to Help Families Devastated by Wildfires", "2020-09-29", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement after the House passedthePreserving Home and Office Numbers in Emergencies (PHONE) Act, which wouldprevent families from losing their landline phone numbers after natural disasters.    \"As we have seen recently from thetragic wildfiresinOregon and across the West,these disasters candestroy everything in their path. No matter how resilient a home or communications tower may be, you cannot regulate your way out of a fire's burning path.If yourhouseburnsto the ground,the last thing that you should have to worry about is whetheror not your landlinenumber willbe available when you return.I am pleased the House passed this legislation thatwill benefit the thousands of Oregonians who havetragicallylost their home in recent weeks,\"said Walden.    To learn more about the bill, clickhere.    To learn more about wildfire resources, clickhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-oregon-delegation-call-extension-deadline-claim-economic", "Greg Walden, Oregon Delegation Call for Extension of Deadline to Claim Economic Impact Payments", "2020-09-28", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today Representatives Greg Walden (R-OR), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR),Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), called on the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service to extend the deadline to claim Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) as Oregonians recover from wildfires. \"Historic wildfires have taken lives and destroyed homes and businesses across Oregon,\"the Members wrote.\"Our communities are facing a long road to recovery that is compounded by the ongoing health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Many Oregonians are still waiting to receive their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), which they likely need now more than ever. We urge you to help Oregonians access relief by extending the non-filer deadline for claiming EIPs and improving outreach to harder-to-reach communities.\" The Oregon delegation noted that millions of eligible individuals and families across the country have still not received their EIPs. On September 17, 2020, the IRS announced that they were sending letters to 131,647 Oregonians who may be eligible for an EIP. But some of those people may have lost their home to the wildfires, or be unable to access the internet. In these circumstances, the Oregon delegation requested that the non-filer deadline be extended to the beginning of December, which will help Oregonians who need these payments and allow the Bureau of Fiscal Service to send payments before December 31, 2020. The full text of the letter can be foundhereand below. Dear Secretary Mnuchin, Historic wildfires have taken lives and destroyed homes and businesses across Oregon. Our communities are facing a long road to recovery that is compounded by the ongoing health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Many Oregonians are still waiting to receive their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), which they likely need now more than ever. We urge you to help Oregonians access relief by extending the non-filer deadline for claiming EIPs and improving outreach to harder-to-reach communities. The wildfires in Oregon have burned more than one million acres across our state. These fires have forced or threatened the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Oregonians and destroyed neighborhoods. Although some are beginning to return to their communities, many are not. Early damage assessments have determined that thousands of homes and many businesses have been lost. The displacement and loss of home and livelihoods further compound the effects of the economic crisis we are experiencing nationally. Those who are facing this hardship need financial relief now. Delivering outstanding EIPs to Oregonians affected by wildfires is an important step to help our communities rebuild. Millions of eligible individuals and families across the country have not yet received their EIPs. On September 17, 2020, the IRS announced that they were sending letters to 131,647 Oregonians who may be eligible for an EIP.[1] This outreach is necessary, but many Oregonians are unable to access their mail because their homes have been destroyed or their mail delivery disrupted. Additionally, the Non-Filer tool requires potentially eligible recipients to enter their information through an online portal. With many Oregonians still evacuated or residing in temporary shelters, access to computers and the internet will be challenging. We urge you to immediately extend the deadline for non-filers to claim their EIP into the beginning of December. This will allow people in Oregon and around the country greater flexibility in providing the necessary information to receive their EIPs, and would still allow the Bureau of Fiscal Service to complete issuing payments before the December 31, 2020 deadline. The IRS should also follow its past success of partnering with the Social Security Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs by conducting targeted outreach with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and USDA Food and Nutrition Service to reach EIP-eligible Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients.[2] In Oregon and in other states where disasters have disrupted access to the internet and many face mail delays, we urge you to coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on targeted outreach to non-filers. Many public buildings like libraries were already closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, and now fires and other disasters have further disrupted access to public resources. FEMA has established dedicated telephone lines for people seeking assistance in Oregon and other states affected by disasters.[3] Treasury and IRS should coordinate with FEMA to establish a similar system staffed by IRS employees who can access sensitive tax-related information and properly assist eligible non-filers in making EIP claims. We appreciate the efforts you and IRS Commissioner Rettig have taken during this period. We look forward to your response with more details about how you will improve EIP distribution and support Oregonians accessing the resources they need to rebuild. Sincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-merkley-wyden-applaud-house-passage-bill-rename-bend-va-clinic", "Walden, Merkley, Wyden Applaud House Passage of Bill to Rename Bend VA Clinic after Robert Maxwell", "2020-09-23", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today,Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) andSenators Jeff Merkley(D-OR)and Ron Wyden(D-OR)applauded theHousepassage of a bill introduced by the delegation to rename the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Bend after Robert Maxwell, a World War II veteran and Medal of Honor Recipient who lived in Bend. At the time of Maxwell's passing, he was the oldest Medal of Honorrecipient in the nation and one of four remaining veterans from World War II to be awarded the Medal of Honor. After his courageous service, he worked as a teacher in Bend.  \n\t  \"Bob Maxwell represented the best of what Oregon and America have to offer,said Walden, who introduced the bill in the House.Bob Maxwell was a selfless public servant and a friend to all. Bob's gallantry was well known. He threw his unprotected body on a German hand grenade to protect his comrades in WWII, which earned Bob Maxwell the highest military honor, his second Silver Star, a second Purple Heart, and a Bronze Star. Renaming the Bend VA Clinic after Bob will honor his service and commitment to this nation, his community, and his fellow service members. I am pleased that the House and Senate both quickly passed this bill, and I look forward to President Trump signing it into law - forever ensuring Bob's legacy is honored and his heroism is remembered.\" \"From Robert Maxwell's time in uniform during World War II to his long career as a teacher in Central Oregon, he answered the call to serve and put the needs of others first,said Merkley, who introduced the bill in the Senate.Naming Bend's VA clinic after Mr. Maxwell is a fitting tribute to his service and commitment to his community. I'm pleased that this bill has now been approved by both chambers of Congress, and urge the president to sign it into law without delay.\"\n\"Robert Maxwell richly deserves this honor for his extraordinary service defending democracy in battlefields overseas and teaching young Oregonians in classrooms here at home,Wyden said.I'm proud to have worked on this legislation to name the VA clinic in Bend for this outstanding Oregonian so his legacy will live on for generations to come.\" Oregon's congressional delegation previously wrote to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs committees in support of the renaming. The City of Bend,American Legion Department of Oregon,Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oregon, andDisabled American Veterans Department of Oregon also advocated for the change.  \n\t  \n\tThere are currently six VA medical facilities across the country that are named after Medal of Honor recipients, including Loren R. Kaufman VA Clinic in TheDalles.The legislationpassed the Senatelast week and is now headed to President Trump's desk for signing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-debt-relief-veterans-impacted-wildfires", "Greg Walden Statement on Debt Relief for Veterans Impacted by Wildfires", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) shared an update on veterans impacted by Oregon wildfiresafter theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that they will extend debt relief for veterans impacted by natural disasters, including wildfires.    \"Many veterans in my district have been adversely impacted by Oregon's wildfires and we need to make sure theycanfocus ontheir safety and health right now, not on financial issues. I am pleased that SecretaryWilkierecognizes this need and has taken steps to give veterans with pending debts some leave way during these tragic times, said Walden.  \n\t  \n\tTo request assistance for VA's financial debt relief, veterans should call the VA Debt Management Center at 1-800-827-0648.  \n\t  \n\tOregonians devastated by wildfires should apply for relief atwww.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.\n  \n\tFor more information about disaster relief and wildfire resources clickhere.\n  \n\tTo learn more about Walden's efforts to help veterans clickhere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-house-passage-bill-nullify-fraudulent-warm-springs", "Greg Walden Statement on House Passage of Bill to Nullify Fraudulent Warm Springs Treaty", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released the following statement after the House passedthe 1865 Treaty Nullification Act. The legislation,forwhich Walden introducedcompanion legislation in the Housein 2019, wouldnullify a fraudulent treaty with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, and clearly validate an 1855 treaty that establishes the tribes' reservation and preserves certain hunting, gathering, and fishing rights.The bill now heads to the President for signing into law.    \"The Warm Springs Treaty of 1865 has long beenrecognized as afraud and a sham,\"said Walden.\"The U.S. Government has not enforced the treaty and FederalCourts have also regarded it as fraudulent.I am pleased that today the House has passedthislegislation to nullify this unfair treaty, which willensure that the tribes'rights under the 1855treatyare fully recognized. Iamproud to have worked with Senators Wyden and Merkley to correct this historical anomaly andIlook forward to President Trump signing this bill into lawso thatwe can fully right this longstanding wrong.\"    Background Information:  In 1855, the Warm Springs Tribesentered into a treaty with the United Statesdefining the trustingrelationship between the partiesand establishing rights to land and off-reservation hunting and fishing.    However, in 1865, an unscrupulous Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, J.W.PeritHuntington, wrote a supplemental treaty that amended the 1855 agreement to prohibit members of the Warm Springs from leaving their reservation without government permission and relinquishing all off-reservation rights.    The 1865 treatysought to undermine thehunting and fishing rights that were protected in the 1855 treaty.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-oregon-congressman-robert-smith", "Greg Walden Statement on Oregon Congressman Robert Smith", "2020-09-21", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Greg Walden released the following statement on the death of Former Oregon Congressman, Chairman Robert Bob' Freeman Smith.\n\"Chairman Robert Bob' Freeman Smith was a one-of-kind rancher, legislator and advocate for the eastern Oregon way of life. He was also my friend and mentor whom I first met tagging along to the state Capitol with my father when Bob was Speaker of the Oregon House and I was about 13 years old. He was a towering figure then and will remain so through the many chapters of Oregon and American history he helped author. Mylene and I will keep Kaye and the whole Smith family in our thoughts and prayers as we celebrate a life well lived and a public servant proudly remembered,\"said Walden.\nIn 1960,Bob's career as a public servant began when he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. He served in the state House until 1972.He also was the Speaker of the Oregon House during the 1969 session and the 1971 session.He then served in the stateSenate from 1973 to 1982. All together he ran in 31 elections and won every single one. Bob went ontoserve in the House of Representatives -for 14years,first from 1983 to 1995 and then again from 1997 to 1999.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-merkley-wyden-applaud-senate-passage-bill-rename-bend-va-clinic", "Walden, Merkley, Wyden Applaud Senate Passage of Bill to Rename Bend VA Clinic After Decorated WWII Veteran", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) andSenators Jeff Merkley(D-OR)and Ron Wyden(D-OR)today applauded the Senate passage of a bill introduced by the delegation to rename the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Bend after Robert Maxwell, a World War II veteran and Medal of Honor Recipient who lived in Bend.  \n\t  \n\tAt the time of Maxwell's passing, he was the oldest Medal of Honor recipient in the nation and one of four remaining veterans from World War II to be awarded the Medal of Honor. After his courageous service, he worked as a teacher in Bend.  \n\t  \"Bob Maxwell was an American hero, public servant, and friend to all,\"said Walden, who introduced the companion legislation in the House.\"Renaming the Bend VA Clinic after him will honor his dedication to this nation and serve as a reminder of all he gave to his community in Central Oregon and his lifelong commitment to helping his fellow service members. I am pleased this bill passed the Senate and I urge the House Veteran's Affairs Committee to quickly move this bill to the floor so that we can get it to President Trump's desk and it can become law -- forever ensuring Bob's legacy is honored and his heroism is remembered.\"    \"Throughout Robert Maxwell's time in uniform during World War II and later as a teacher in Central Oregon, he answered the call to serve and put the needs of others first,\"said Merkley, who introduced the bill in the Senate. Naming Bend's VA clinic after Mr. Maxwell would be a fitting tribute to his service and commitment to his community, and I'm going to keep working to get this bill across the finish line and signed into law.\"\n\"Robert Maxwell's World War II heroism for our country and then his service teaching generations of students in central Oregon exemplify the very best of our state, Wyden said.I'm glad the Senate has passed this bill to honor Mr. Maxwell, and will keep fighting to complete the task of naming the VA clinic in Bend for this Medal of Honor winner and outstanding teacher.\" Oregon's congressional delegation previously wrote to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs committees in support of the renaming. The City of Bend, American Legion Department of Oregon,Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Oregon, andDisabled American Veterans Department of Oregon also advocated for the change.  \n\t  \n\tThere are currently six VA medical facilities across the country that are named after Medal of Honor recipients, including Loren R. Kaufman VA Clinic in TheDalles. 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