Chamber Press Releases
Klamath Wins in Congress
Two Historic Senate Victories in One Day Build upon Earlier House Success
In the wake of the U.S. Senate passing two separate bills within a 24-hour period that will lead to improved economic security for Klamath County, a press conference with local media and community leaders was held Thursday, April 21.
The Senate on Tuesday passed legislation renewing and updating the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s authorities, which includes a bipartisan provision pushed by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, the Treating Small Airports with Fairness (TSA Fairness) Act.
The TSA Fairness Act would restore Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening at the Crater Late-Klamath airport. This provision is important for the restoration of commercial service at the airport.
“With the summer tourism season just around the corner, it’s more urgent than ever for the TSA to resume screening so that the Klamath Falls airport can restore commercial service,” said Senator Merkley. “With this Senate vote and the House’s vote last week, we are very close to getting this done and I hope we can get it to the President’s desk as soon as possible.”
The TSA Fairness Act is supported by a bipartisan coalition in both chambers, including Oregon Representative Greg Walden in the House of Representatives, where the bill passed unanimously.
“The people of Klamath County deserve safe, reliable air service,” said Rep. Walden. “That’s why unanimous approval of our plan is excellent news for Oregonians living in and around Klamath, our local economy and tourism, and the Oregon National Guard operating out of Kingsley Field.”
Less than 24 hours later after passage of the TSA Fairness Act, the Senate passed an energy bill earlier today that includes a provision sponsored by Senators Merkley and Wyden to provide tools to better manage water, and to encourage water and power conservation, to benefit agriculture and wildlife in the Klamath Basin. The bill passed with bipartisan support on a 85-12 vote.
“The tribes, ranchers, farmers and irrigators in the Klamath Basin made history by coming together in an unprecedented way to agree on a workable solution that would provide certainty over water supplies for the whole basin,” said Senator Wyden. “Make no mistake that Senator Merkley and I are going to stay at this until all the issues so important to the Klamath Basin are fully resolved.”
Senator Merkley noted that with, “this week’s action to move forward water and power conservation tools to help farmers and wildlife, things are looking up for the Klamath Basin.”
Having passed the Senate, the energy bill now moves to a conference committee to have differences worked out from a previously passed House version of the bill. While community leaders warn that similar challenges are in store for the TSA Fairness Act, they believe the recent Senate attention to Klamath County is strong reason for hope.
“We want to draw further attention to this historic occasion,” said Chip Massie, Executive Director of the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce. “It’s very rare for the Senate to pass two such important measures that can have such beneficial impacts to Klamath County. It’s even more unique and special that it happened in the span of one day.”
The press conferenc was co-sponsored by the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce, Klamath County Economic Development Association, Klamath Water Users Association, and Discover Klamath.
Photos: Amy W Amrhein, Southern Oregon Field Representative, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) addresses the crowd (top photo). Wayne Kinney, Field Representative at U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, congratulates the community (bottom photo).