For Immediate Release
Contact: Eddie Kurtz
[email protected]
Oregon GOP Rep. Cliff Bentz Tried to Block $60 Million in Funding for Higher Ed in Congressional District 2
Oregon’s lone congressional Republican voted against critical funding for Oregon colleges and universities in the American Rescue Plan one year ago tomorrow.
Ahead of tomorrow’s one year anniversary of President Joe Biden signing the American Rescue Plan into law, new data from the Department of Education shows that colleges and universities in Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, represented by Rep. Cliff Bentz, received more than $60 million from the relief legislation – no thanks to Bentz, who joined his Republican colleagues as they unanimously voted against the education funding.
According to the Department of Education, examples of key investments in Oregon’s higher education system from the American Rescue Plan include:
- $182 million for community colleges, including more than $12 million for Rogue Community College in the 2nd Congressional District.
- $37 million for five Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in CD 2, including Blue Mountain Community College, which received $3,691,536, and Columbia Gorge Community College, which received $1,700,785.
- $46 million for Oregon State University which has extension campuses throughout the 2nd Congressional District.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that we invest in rural Oregon’s higher education system to help give our students every opportunity for a better future,” said Nathan Soltz, Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon’s Congressional District 2 Committee. “The American Rescue Plan did just that and, one year later, Oregonians should remember that Rep. Cliff Bentz stood in the way, despite the enormous benefits to the schools serving our communities.”
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