PETER
DeFAZIO
 
    Fourth District, Oregon 
 
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House Passes Bill To Fund Dredging

May 24, 2006


Press Release | Contact: Danielle Langone (202) 225-6416


WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio today announced that the House of Representatives approved legislation which includes funding for dredging south coast ports, including an additional $500,000 in funds for a major maintenance report and analysis of the north jetty at the Port of Coos Bay. The funding, requested by DeFazio earlier this year, was included in the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007.

Included in the bill approved today was funding for dredging operations at the following ports:

Port of Siuslaw: $486,000

Port of Umpqua: $979,000

Port of Coos Bay: $4,689,000

Port of Bandon: $275,000

Port of Orford: $273,000

Port of Gold Beach: $483,000

Port of Brookings Harbor: $451,000

"Despite the tight budget year, I am pleased I was able to secure some funding for dredging operations at each of Oregon's south coast ports," DeFazio said. "However, it falls far short of what is needed to adequately maintain safe and navigable channels at each of these ports. I cannot state too strongly the crucial role dredging plays in the economic livelihood of the region. I plan to work with my colleagues in the Senate to attempt to increase the funding for dredging operations on the Oregon coast."

Oregon's coastal channels are heavily used by recreational boaters and commercial fisherman. The coastal channels have become the mainstays of communities dealing with declining employment in natural resource industries.

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