{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-deschutes-river-conservancy-reauthorization-bill-passes-senate-committee6", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Bill Passes Senate Committee", "2023-09-26", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act cleared a major hurdle by passing out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\n\nThe critical legislation would reauthorize the Deschutes River Conservancy\u2019s (DRC) eligibility to receive federal funding for water quality and conservation projects\u2014efforts critical to the restoration of wildlife and reducing agricultural runoff in Central Oregon rivers.\n\n\u201cThe efforts of the Deschutes River Conservancy are critical to the quality of Oregon\u2019s waterways, and their work goes hand-in-hand with the health of our environment,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cReauthorizing the DRC\u2019s ability to receive federal funding will directly impact the stability of our rivers and tributaries, and it\u2019s great news that we cleared a key hurdle to making it to the President\u2019s desk. I\u2019ll keep at it until this legislation becomes law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Deschutes River Conservancy\u2019s hard work to improve water conservation in Central Oregon has fully earned this reauthorization,\u201d said Wyden, a senior member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. \u201cI\u2019m gratified this bill has taken a big step by passing out of committee, and I\u2019ll continue battling to get this legislation enacted into law for all the Oregonians who count on the region\u2019s rivers and tributaries.\u201d\n\nFounded in 1996, DRC initially focused on grazing and timber issues impacting river health but has shifted to water management in recent years. Following its reauthorization in 2005, DRC was eligible to receive $2 million per year for the next 10 years. However, no allocations were made during this time period and the organization currently relies on private donations or funding from local government entities.\n\nThis marks the first time the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act in its current form has passed out of the committee, bringing it closer than ever to becoming law.\n\nSince its creation, the DRC has helped restore 250 cubic feet per second of water to parts of the Deschutes River and surrounding tributaries. Upcoming projects will include addressing water quality issues in the Crooked River. The reauthorization would renew the DRC\u2019s eligibility to receive funding from the Bureau of Reclamation, and funds will be matched at 50 percent.\n\nThe Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act would:\n\nAuthorize up to $2 million in funding per year for 10 years; and\n\nAmend the congressional charter to reflect changes made to the DRC\u2019s mission and board of directors.\n\n\u201cWe are greatly encouraged by the Senate Committee's mark-up of the DRC Reauthorization Act,\u201d Kate Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Deschutes River Conservancy, said. \u201cThis milestone is not just a testament to the regional significance of the Deschutes River, but also to the dedication to collaboration by our community and partners. This critical funding will help provide the resilience needed in the Deschutes River Basin for fish, farms and families into the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DRC is a shining example of place-based decision-making with a strong record of success through collaboration,\u201d said Chairman Jonathan W. Smith, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. \u201cAs an original founder of the organization, the Warm Springs Tribe strongly supports enactment of this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll of us appreciate Senators Merkley and Wyden\u2019s leadership in advancing a reauthorization for the Deschutes River Conservancy,\u201d Craig Horrell, President of Deschutes Basin Board of Control, said. \u201cThis legislation, once enacted into law, would enable the DRC to fulfill their mission to our community by supporting agriculture and the environment.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:35:26Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-deschutes-river-conservancy-reauthorization-bill-passes-senate-committee6"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4098393730819225, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}