Southern Oregon’s Health, Emergency Response, and Manufacturing Sectors Receive Federal Funding Package

Southern Oregon will receive millions of dollars in federal funding for improvements to affordable healthcare services, emergency response efforts, manufacturing, and other essential community projects.

Details about the funding package approved in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, of 2024, have been released by Oregon United States Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden.

Oregon Senators Rake in $36 Million From Federal Funding Package

The U.S. legislature has approved 19 community projects, endorsed by Senators Merkley and Wyden, with a combined value of nearly $36 million. Apart from expanding affordable healthcare services, the money will also improve and expand services such as mental health resources, early education, childcare, and technical and career opportunities throughout the state.

Health Care and Education

The package includes a statewide public awareness campaign for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Oregon Health Authority will receive $3 million to finance the project, with particular emphasis on colored communities and veterans.

A $2 million package for Oregon Health and Science University’s pilot demonstration project primarily aimed at addressing the statewide shortage of nurses.

A further $2 million has been awarded to the La Clinica Acute Care Center for an expansion project to upgrade emergency care services for Jackson County’s 80,000 low-income, under-insured or uninsured residents. The project includes 12 examination rooms, a same-day specimen processing ancillary lab, in-house X-ray facilities, and an on-site pharmacy.

Another $2 million has been set aside for a chemotherapy clinic at the Golden Beach Curry Health Network Hospital. Senators Merkley and Wyden, with the support of Rep. Val Hoyle, secured the package after pointing out that because the coastal region of Curry County spans almost two million square miles, cancer patients must undertake long journeys to other treatment centers.

A $1.163 million cash boost for a nationwide YouthLine expansion project will increase availability to 24/7 compared with the current six hours a day. YouthLine offers free suicide prevention services. Suicide is the second-largest cause of death for the 10-24 age group nationwide.

The Klamath Tribes will receive $1 million for a workforce training program teaching forest restoration and wildfire management skills in Fremont-Winema National Park. This project will give the Klamath Tribe better access to sacred sites in the forest.

The Diaspora Project at Southern Oregon University received $500,000 to assist students in compiling an inventory of Chinese heritage sites. The project includes archaeological digs, archival research, and community outreach to document the contribution of the Chinese people in the development of Oregon.

Rural schools will receive $450,000 for library expansion projects with an emphasis on upgrading culturally relevant books, while $426,000 goes to the Oregon Native American Chapter to support economically and socially disadvantaged groups. The money will also be used to expand Oregon’s semiconductor industry sector.

Takeaways

Senators Merkley and Wyden say the funding will support projects for education, health care, and well-paid employment for working families to better succeed.

Merkley is the only Congressional senator on the Appropriations Committee that oversees federal budgets, a position he has held since 2013.