Walden to Visit Central Oregon Feb. 23-24
Walden will host informational town hall on the fight against meth, speak at Bend Rotary centennial celebration, tour Youth Conservation Corps project, visit Madras Aviation Building, and meet with community leaders
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) will visit central Oregon on February 23 and 24. This will be Walden's 56th visit to Deschutes County since taking office in 1999; additionally, it will be his 231st round trip between Oregon and Washington, D.C. in that time. Walden's schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, February 23
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM: Walden will join the Bend Rotary to celebrate the centennial of Rotary International. A Rotarian himself since 1987, Walden will speak to the group about issues facing the Congress and thank the organization for their dedication to humanitarianism and community service.
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM: Walden, chief sponsor of the Youth Conservation Corps Act of 2004 (H.R. 4838), will tour a fuels reduction project aimed at reducing the risk of catastrophic fire near Shevlin Park being conducted by the Heart of Oregon Corps. The Heart of Oregon Corps is a youth program in Deschutes County that takes area youth and teaches them the benefits and ethics of hard work and dedication to a local project. In return, kids are given valuable experience for a possible career in forestland management and a sense of pride for completing a critical project in their local community. This week, Walden received the Congressional Champion Award for his sponsorship of H.R. 4838 from the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Walden will attend a meeting with local business leaders from the community to discuss the vital importance of private sector involvement in civic projects. The round table discussion will provide Walden with an opportunity to hear firsthand about civic projects being completed in the region and what would be helpful from a federal level, as well as to encourage the business community to maintain an active role in the development of future civic projects.
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM: Walden will visit the Women's Resource Center of Central Oregon to meet with leaders from the program for a tour and informational meeting about the Center's operations and services. The Center partners with women in transition who are choosing to make healthy decisions that benefit themselves, their families and the local community. Services they offer include skills training, personal counseling and resource referral.
Thursday, February 24
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Doors open at 9:15 AM): Walden will host his fourth in a series of seven informative town halls throughout his district dedicated to bringing community members together to discuss the scourge of methamphetamine (meth). Deschutes County has seen more than 40 clandestine meth labs seized in the last few years, and with only 20 percent of the state's population, the Second District saw 35 percent of all meth labs seized. This is a growing problem that affects urban and rural areas. All taxpayers, not just those who abuse the drug, pay for its devastation. Walden will bring together representatives from law enforcement, anti-drug coalitions, and local, state and federal government to educate and talk with community members about how we can attack this problem at all levels. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend.
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM: Following his town hall on the fight against meth, Walden will meet with the Central Oregon Law Enforcement Services group to get an update on the history of the meth problem in central Oregon and learn more specifics about the local fight against this toxic substance. In 1999, Walden worked to help designate Deschutes County as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA); at this meeting, he will discuss funding levels for the HIDTA program and the long-term viability of the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team.
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM: Walden will then join Redmond community leaders for a round table discussion about current issues facing the region. In addition to Walden, attendees will include the Redmond City Council, Deschutes County Commission, State Senator Ben Westlund, State Representatives Chuck Burley and Gene Whisnant, Carrie Novick of the Redmond Airport, Bud Prince of Redmond Economic Development, and Roger Lee of Economic Development for Central Oregon.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Walden will then head to Madras to meet with Mayor Rick Allen and other local leaders to tour the Madras Aviation Building at the Airport. The building will be undergoing a face lift to modernize the look, improve facilities for pilots, and create meeting space. Walden helped secure a $300,000 federal investment in the new building. During the tour, Walden will learn about the planned updates and design concepts for the facility, a building that will ultimately lead to greater economic development for the region as air traffic to and subsequent business in the city increase. Walden will also visit the Freightliner Group's facility near the airport. This location is where Freightliner conducts all of the testing for their trucks and equipment, which will give Walden the opportunity to meet with site managers and observe the testing in progress.
Congressman Walden represents the Second Congressional District of Oregon, which includes 20 counties in southern, central and eastern Oregon. He is a Deputy Whip in the House leadership structure and a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the Committee on Resources.
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