Merkley, Bonamici, Oregon Delegation: FEMA Must Approve Waivers for Two Critical Disaster Mitigation Projects in Oregon

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) led a letter with their Democratic colleagues in the Oregon congressional delegation—Senator Ron Wyden, Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve waivers for and to fully fund two projects in Oregon that were funded under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.

“Amidst the suspension of the BRIC program, these projects were forced to proceed to construction because recipients could not afford further delays without severely increasing project costs or jeopardizing the overall success of the project. The delay in funding has created substantial stress on these rural communities,” wrote the Oregon delegation to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

The BRIC program—which the Trump Administration attempted to end last year—provides grants for hazard mitigation planning and projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to communities.

The two projects in Oregon were forced to break ground pre-award and now require a waiver to access their funding. More details about these projects can be found below:

• Clatsop County Columbia Memorial Hospital: FEMA selected Clatsop County and Columbia Memorial Hospital to receive $14 million in BRIC funding to build a tsunami-resilient hospital expansion in Astoria, featuring a vertical evacuation structure for 1,900 people. The recipients had begun spending down the funds when the BRIC program was suspended. The construction portion of the project was forced to begin in early 2026 due to the short construction window available.
• Grants Pass Water Treatment Plant Relocation: The City of Grants Pass was selected to receive $50 million in BRIC funding to relocate their Water Treatment Plant outside their Special Flood Hazard Area to prevent system failure during a flooding event in Grants Pass. The project broke ground in July 2025 and is about 20 percent complete.

The lawmakers directed, “Communities across Oregon have relied on BRIC funding to ensure their resiliency in the face of future natural disasters. These, mostly rural, communities that FEMA selected for BRIC funding in prior years all have significant need for the assistance. We urge you to ensure the swift completion of applicable waivers, reviews, and release of funds, in accordance with previous commitments.”

The lawmakers also urged FEMA to promptly award funding for 19 additional projects in Oregon that were selected for funding in Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2023.

Previously, Merkley, Wyden, and Bonamici led the charge to save the BRIC Program. They joined over 80 of their Senate and House colleagues in a bipartisan effort to demand that former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem reinstate BRIC program funding. Merkley also led his Democratic colleagues in the Oregon delegation to denounce the cancellation of awards under the BRIC program to communities across the state.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here.