Klamath Falls News - Locally owned news brand, reporting stories affecting citizens of the Klamath Basin.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Reps. Cliff Bentz (OR-02) Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) released a statement on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) disappointing decision to remove the Klamath dams.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C.– A group of 30 Western farmers, ranchers, water managers and association leaders wrapped up the third day of meetings this week with a Western drought briefing attended by over 20 Congressional staff members and an appearance by Family Farm Alliance President Patrick O’Toole before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee.
Read MoreKLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On Tuesday, the Klamath Water Users Association held its annual meeting at the Klamath County Fairgrounds. Several hundred people attended the meeting which included dinner and social hour. The main focus of the event was on current water deliveries, the future of irrigation in the Klamath Basin, and an overall message of hope for basin farmers.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) announced the nomination of fifteen Oregon students for acceptance to United States service academies for the 2022-2023 school year. The nominations follow the recommendations of a Service Academy Nomination Board, which reviewed applicants' academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character. Final admission determinations will be made by each respective academy in spring 2022.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) delivered remarks on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. Bentz spoke on Oregon wildfires, specifically the Bootleg fire, and his recently introduced bill, the Commonsense Coordination Act.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee finished its marathon markup of six bills focused on reshaping antitrust laws that directly impact big technology companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google - and possibly other companies.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Today, during a House Natural Resources Committee Budget Oversight Hearing on the Department of Interior's Spending Priorities and the President's Fiscal Year Budget 2022 Proposal, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ont.) questioned Department of the Interior Secretary Debra Haaland on the Agency's efforts to direct relief to the Klamath Basin where extreme and exceptional drought conditions have caused the Klamath Project to make an unprecedented zero water allocation for irrigators this water year.
Read MoreKlamath Water Users Association today urged that supporters of agriculture stop intimidating and inappropriate behaviors immediately. Reports say that names and addresses of U.S. Bureau of Reclamation employees have been published on social media, inviting that anger be directed toward those public servants, and there have been other inappropriate communications. “Stop it,” said KWUA President Ben DuVal. “It is completely out of line. It will hurt Klamath Project agriculture.”
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) delivered his first speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was joined by Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) in raising awareness of the catastrophic drought in the American West and supporting immediate relief for those affected by the ongoing crisis in the Klamath Basin through a $57 million aid and relief proposal.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday [4/15/21], Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) introduced his first piece of legislation as a Member of Congress. His bill, H.R.2562, the Solving Our Shortages for Seedlings Act (SOS for Seedlings Act) addresses the national shortage of seedlings needed for reforestation efforts following wildfires across the United States. According to the House Natural Resources Committee, wildfires destroyed more than 68 million acres in the last decade and over 10 million acres in 2020 alone.
Read MoreUS Representative Cliff Bentz (R-Oregon) wrote a letter today addressed to the new Secretary of the Interior Debra Halland, regarding the Klamath Basin. Specifically, Bentz’s letter addressed four asks for the Basin: fully funding the KPDRA, fully implement BOR’s updated legal guidance, fill the Klamath Area Office Manager position, and fill the Klamath Facilitation Position.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) led on a congressional letter, signed by 9 House Republicans, urging the U.S. Department of Interior to immediately implement a federal rule previously published on January 15, 2021, revising the designation of the critical habitat of the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO).
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) voted in favor of H.R. 1603 – the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021, which passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support 247-174. The bill goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration. Bentz was joined by 29 House Republicans in passing this legislation, which seeks to address the labor shortage faced by many food and fiber producers in Oregon’s Second Congressional District.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) announced that his office has begun accepting submissions for the 2021 Congressional Art Competition. High school students from across Oregon’s Second District are invited to compete in this annual visual art competition for a chance to have their artwork displayed in the United States Capitol.
Read MoreONTARIO, Ore. – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) was named the Ranking Member on the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife. This places Oregon’s freshman Republican congressman front and center on matters concerning America’s water resources, federal irrigation projects, hydroelectric power, interstate water issues, and fisheries management.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Today [1/27/2021], Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) was appointed to the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over a wide array of matters relating to the administration of justice in federal courts, civil liberties, oversight of the United States Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, legal and regulatory reform, innovation, competition and anti-trust laws, terrorism and crime, and immigration reform.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Oregon) was selected to serve on the House Natural Resources Committee – a committee well-suited to Oregon’s vast Second Congressional District and one which will provide Bentz the opportunity to apply his unique knowledge of water, energy, carbon, forests, minerals, and federal land management.
Read MoreWASHINGTON, DC – Today [1/13/21], Congressman Cliff Bentz of Oregon’s Second Congressional District voted against the impeachment of President Donald J. Trump in the United States House of Representatives. In a statement, Bentz cited the importance of unifying the nation around a peaceful transition to the Biden Administration.
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![Rep. Bentz & Rep. LaMalfa issue $57M proposal to address Klamath Water Crisis [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b9f24c64b05fd6531db026/1621399922440-3A2QPPULDCG0OLBPTGNT/bentz.png)
