WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman David Wu today announced the following federal investments in local projects important to Oregonians. This announcement represents eight of twelve annual funding bills the U.S House of Representatives has passed to date in committee or on the floor. The remaining four bills will be up for consideration in the coming weeks.

DRIVING OREGON'S ECONOMY FORWARD
Investing in critical transportation infrastructure, water supply and alternative energies

Columbia River Channel Improvements - $15 million
This ongoing project will deepen the federal navigation channel from the mouth of the Columbia River to the Portland/Vancouver area by three feet (from 40 to 43 feet). Deepening the navigation channel will allow ships using Columbia River ports to load more cargo, which will yield transportation cost savings for Oregon businesses.

Regionally, about $16 billion in imports and exports is shipped on the Columbia River each year. Nearly 40,000 jobs with an average annual wage of $46,000 are generated by the Columbia River maritime industry.  Modernizing the Columbia River channel by deepening it by three feet is crucial to sustaining this maritime trade and employment.

 
Tualatin River Basin Water Supply Project - $1.368 million
The project addresses the long-term water supply for Washington County residents and businesses. Demand for water in the Tualatin Basin is expected to double by 2050. This increased demand will require an additional 50,000 acre-feet of water each year. In response, an integrated water resource management (IWRM) strategy was collaboratively developed by the Tualatin River Basin cities using $200,000 in local funds.

 
The strategy centers on gaining access to additional water supplies for the basin – it identifies two alternatives for providing the needed supply, including a 40-foot raise of Scoggins Dam and a 25-foot raise of the dam in combination with an expansion of the Willamette River Water Treatment Plant.
The funding Congressman Wu secured today will help continue the project. This is in addition to $537,000 he secured in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. The studies are crucial to the economic future of Washington County and the state of Oregon.

 
Highway 217 Improvement Project - $250,000
Today's peak hours of congestion on Hwy 217 are expected to more than triple from 2.5 hours to 8 hours daily by the year 2025. And unfortunately, Highway 217 also is one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in the state. The current accident rate is three times higher than the statewide average. This project will relieve congestion and improve the safety record of this highway.

The funding would be used to study and evaluate means of managing congestion on Highway 217 between Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway (Highway 10) and Allen Boulevard. This segment is the busiest section of this 7-mile high volume artery.

 
Widening Highway 217 is a long-standing priority for Congressman Wu, the Oregon Department of Transportation, Washington County, and the city of Beaverton. Highway 217 is an important part of Oregon's National Highway System and is a key freight route in the Portland region. Highway 217 connects the western suburbs to job centers in Beaverton, Hillsboro, and downtown Portland; to the region's international airport; and to rail and marine port facilities.

Today's funding is in addition to $8.7 million Congressman Wu secured to complete the widening of Highway 217 between the Tualatin Valley Highway (Highway 8) and the US 26 interchange in Beaverton.

Wave Energy Research - Oregon State University - $1.25 million
This funding represents Congressman Wu's commitment to tapping alternative and renewable energies to meet increasing energy demands. The funding will be used to support the successful wave energy research of the newly formed U.S. Wave Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Center, led by Oregon State University.

 
A multidisciplinary wave energy team has formed at Oregon State University to investigate novel “direct-drive” wave energy buoys designed to be anchored 1-3 miles offshore, in typical water depths of greater than 100 feet, where the buoys will experience gradual, repetitive ocean swells and be invisible to the naked eye from shore.

 
This Center is strategically necessary for the U.S. to keep pace with the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC, propelled by European government funding programs currently absent in the U.S.), in the development of renewable wave energy resources in what is projected to become a rapidly developing new set of industries. In order to ensure U.S. leadership in what will become a multi-million dollar industry worldwide, the Center will explore and compare existing ocean energy extraction technologies, and will research and develop more advanced and durable engineering systems.

Geothermal Power Generation - Oregon Institute of Technology - $600,000 
This funding also represents Congressman Wu's commitment to a diverse energy portfolio that leads to a more energy secure future. The funding would help construct a high-temperature geothermal power plant on the Oregon Institute of Technology campus.

 
When the Geothermal Power Generation Project is complete, OIT will be the only campus in the world to satisfy all of its electricity needs from a geothermal energy source.  The power plant would use high-temperature geothermal water/steam from a proposed 5,000 to 6,000 feet deep geothermal well to generate approximately one megawatt of electricity.  The plant would provide 100% of the electricity demand on campus and would be the first flash steam geothermal power plant in Oregon.

 
Yamhill County Transit - $150,000
Traffic congestion in Yamhill County, particularly around the cities of McMinnville, Newberg and Dundee has reached unacceptable levels. The long-term solution includes a mix of more roads and public transit. This funding would be used to purchase right-of-way, design and construction of a transit mall in McMinnville, and a park and ride lot in Newberg. Funds will also be used to purchase and install bus shelters in both cities.

 
SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS
Investing in research, classrooms and curriculum

Portland State University Science Research and Teaching Center - $3.125 million
Portland State University is renovating one of the campus buildings to establish a science research and teaching center. The center will advance the federal responsibility to build the nation’s capacity and excellence in science and better prepare students to respond to the call for more qualified science teachers and graduates by government, business, and industry.

 
The funding will modernize research and teaching space for biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics students. In addition, the center will support interdisciplinary research, teaching, and community outreach to business, industry, and schools. The center will work in conjunction with the Graduate School of Education to develop best practices for preparing future teachers at the undergraduate level in science majors by using a cohesive program of integrated learning experiences. The center will be the place where future teachers obtain their undergraduate degrees and it will be a site for continuing education for K-12 science teachers.

 
Building an Urban University Neighborhood - Portland State University - $100,000
For years, Portland State University (PSU) has worked with the city of Portland and community partners to develop a model urban university neighborhood. In 1994, the city adopted PSU's development plan that includes integrating multimodal transportation services; expanding academic buildings and retail services; building new housing; and increasing business development.

 
The next key element in this plan focuses on the redevelopment of the building located to the south of the Urban Center plaza. This building has been identified by both PSU and city leaders as requiring redevelopment.

PSU and the city would like construction of this building to be done simultaneously to minimize the overall impact on the neighborhood, transportation systems, and businesses in the area. This building will complete PSU's public transit portal (the busiest in the region’s transportation system) by linking PSU directly to bus, streetcar, and light rail services.

OHSU's OGI School of Science and Engineering - $200,000
Through its OGI School of Science & Engineering, OHSU has established nationally-recognized expertise on the observation, understanding and prediction of coastal margins. Working with state and federal agencies, OHSU has applied that expertise to management issues of major importance to Oregon and Washington, and the nation, including coastal hazards, hydropower management, navigation and fisheries.  Funds are requested to develop education curriculum (from K-12 through graduate training and continuing education) that address the emerging national need for a diverse coastal margin workforce cross-trained in science, technology, engineering, health sciences, law, management and economics.

KEEPING OREGONIANS SAFE, KIDS HEALTHY
Investing in drug awareness, prevention and rehabilitation efforts

Target Meth Oregon, Oregon Partnership - $375,000
The Oregon Partnership is a statewide non-profit promoting healthy kids and communities through drug and alcohol awareness, prevention programs, and a 24 hour crisis line for treatment referrals. It works in schools and with community leaders to help them combat the catastrophic damage that methamphetamine is doing.

Target Meth Oregon is a statewide multi-pronged strategy that empowers citizen leaders, parents, business and faith leaders and youth to take back their communities from meth.  Target Meth will arm them with hands-on easy to use information, ready-to-use ‘ tools’, and hands-on training to become ‘methamphetamine change agents’ in their local community.

 
Multnomah County Comprehensive Stomp Out Meth Project - $250,000
Multnomah County, Oregon, identified as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, created the Stomp Out Meth Project (STOMP) as a comprehensive response to the local methamphetamine problem. This project provides resources for four components essential in the fight against methamphetamine -- law enforcement response; treatment programs; prevention media campaigns; and support for prosecution. Specifically, funds will be used to increase law enforcement capacity by purchasing a hazmat command and response vehicle and two additional vehicles capable of navigating remote areas of the county and towing large equipment trailers when called upon to investigate, seize and shut down methamphetamine labs.

Washington County Drug Court - $250,000
This funding would be used to help sustain and enhance this successful collaborative, multi-agency, cross discipline, two-part program to prevent and treat methamphetamine use. The first part of this program involves developing and implementing community strategies for preventing methamphetamine use among teens. Strategies used include: research-based social marketing to change community norms, community based parenting education and support, and community based youth development and skill building using evidence-based models. The second part involves implementing an expanded “Drug Court” pilot program targeting methamphetamine users. The Drug Court model quickly identifies methamphetamine-abusing offenders and places these individuals under strict court monitoring and community supervision, coupled with effective, long-term treatment services.

Recovery Mentors: Key to Successful Community Reentry (Washington County) - $150,000
In Oregon, 30% of offenders released from the penitentiary system are reconvicted of a felony within three years. Funds would be used to implement a program in Washington County to help reduce recidivism for approximately 600 high-risk offenders released by the county each year.  Mentors are assigned to meet with inmates and family members prior to release and assist the probation officer in the development of a release plan. The mentor continues to work with the offender until that individual is established in a support group with a sponsor, is participating in treatment and is employed. This personal involvement significantly increases the success of offenders by connecting them to treatment, employment and securing stable drug-free housing.

Elder Abuse Prosecution Project (Multnomah County) - $50,000 This program focuses prosecution efforts in the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office to investigate and prosecute cases involving the victimization and exploitation of the elderly.  Funds would create a position in the District Attorney's office for a specially trained prosecutor, who is able to handle the additional needs of older victims and enhance community outreach capabilities. The ongoing caseload is approximately 30 to 40 cases, many involving financial fraud and abuse targeted to seniors. Nationally, there has been a 61% increase in elder abuse claims in the last four years.

INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE
All Oregonians should have access to health care in their community

Rural and Underserved Cancer Outreach Project - Providence Cancer Center - $75,000 The Rural & Underserved Cancer Outreach Project (RUCO) is designed to provide cancer care services and prevention tools to individuals living in Oregon’s rural communities or in underserved populations.  This will be an extension of the successful Integrative Medicine Program offered by Providence Cancer Center. The project will target Oregon communities where Providence has medical centers and where strategic partnerships exist with other health care organizations.

Specifically, RUCO will fund training and outreach in the form of community classes; public forums; and one-on-one interactions between Providence cancer specialists and the public to educate the community about overall cancer prevention and demonstrate both safe and effective complementary therapies. The project utilizes a ‘train the trainer’ model in working with community partners to ensure that once trained, local partners will have the necessary tools to maintain the RUCO program in their communities.

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