Dear Friend,

Happy Thanksgiving!
 
However you might choose to celebrate Thanksgiving, there is little doubt that Americans have much to be thankful for. We are not at war; the government is open; our economy is adding jobs; there are not riots in the streets; the border is secure; gasoline prices are stable to lower; the Ukraine war is hopefully nearing an end; the tax bill that we passed in July guarantees that current tax rates will NOT increase by 20% on January 1st as would have been the case without the Big Bill; store shelves are packed with every type of thing and food that anyone could imagine; Social Security checks are safe; and Congress is actually addressing skyrocketing health care and health insurance costs, housing shortages, and day care (the Big Bill actually provides tax breaks for day care costs).  And of course there is more, but this is a good start of a much longer list.

With our good fortune firmly in mind, my office staff and I wish each of you, as you gather together with family and friends, the very best for this 2025 Thanksgiving day and the years that are to follow.

Congressman Bentz’s Votes YES for H.R. 4405, Epstein Files Transparency Act

Last week, I voted YES on the H.R. 4405, Epstein Files Transparency Act. This bill will require that the Attorney General release, to the public, all documents and records in the possession of the Department of Justice relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

“The horrific crimes perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices, and the inexcusable failure of federal prosecutors to hold them accountable, have left victims and their families seeking answers, transparency, and true accountability. The almost unanimous House vote to pass this bill, even though the bill is not perfect, clearly reflects that transparency in the Epstein matter is paramount. Amendments to the bill to clearly protect innocent victims from having their names disclosed as records are released were suggested to the authors of the bill, but were not adopted. This places responsibility for protection of the identity of the victims, as records are released, squarely upon the Attorney General. I urge the Attorney General, while complying with this law, to utilize the exception to disclosure contained in the bill to protect innocent victims so that they are not further damaged.

If we are to have any chance of preventing future crimes, such as those committed by Epstein, and if we are to improve the prosecutorial process that allowed Epstein to avoid justice, we must encourage and support the House Oversight Committee’s Epstein investigation. Its findings can then be used to enact legislation addressing such atrocities, and the failed federal prosecutorial practices that followed.”

Natural Resources Committee Markup: Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee 

During a recent Natural Resources Committee Markup in the Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee, the committee held a hearing on the increasing threat posed by foreign fishing vessels harming U.S. fishermen. I joined the discussion on the FISH Act as it is a critical first step in addressing illegal fishing practices that undermine our markets. By fixing SIMP, we can begin to stop the problem at its source, preventing illegally harvested fish from ever entering the United States.

Natural Resources Committee: SPEED Act

As a Member of the Natural Resources Committee, I participated in a discussion just a few days ago regarding H.R. 4776, the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act (SPEED Act).

The United States has long been an energy leader. However, innovators, business owners, and small enterprises still need clarity and consistency from Congress to build the next generation of technology and energy systems. The demand for affordable and reliable energy continues to grow, in part due to technological innovations like AI and the rapid electrification of our power grid. The goal of this hearing was to highlight legislation that restores clarity and simplicity to the environmental review process, ensuring agencies focus on the project actually before them rather than speculative or unrelated impacts outside their authority. By holding this hearing, we bring attention to this needed form as we work to streamline analysis, reduce unnecessary delays, and ensure that vital infrastructure and energy projects can move forward responsibly, efficiently, and in full compliance with the law. The SPEED Act will allow America to build new energy and transportation infrastructure to lower costs for American families.

How Congressman Bentz Spent The 40 Day Schumer Shutdown

(Not on vacation in case you are wondering) 

Primary focus during the shutdown-doing Constitutionally required work- on legislative issues such as electrical power, the economy, health care, and in District meetings, daily conferences with office staff, and discussions with constituents. During the entire 40 days, we were on 48-hour call- I had to be ready, when the Senate voted to re-open, to drive the 60 miles to Boise, catch a plane to Minneapolis, layover, then fly to D.C.; take Uber to an apartment; walk to Capitol and then vote.  The Senate finally agreed to the Continuing Resolution on November 10th, I traveled to DC on the 11th, and we voted on the CR on the 12th.  The vote was 222 Yes, and 209 No.  I voted YES.

To review a summary of some of the activities and work I did during the shutdown, click HERE.

Spotlight in Athena, OR: Local Church Steps in to Help the Community during Government Shutdown

The shutdown caused disruptions across the nation and of course across my District. One of the most difficult problems was the cut off of SNAP benefits.  Fortunately, this only lasted one week, but no one knew, at the time SNAP funding ran out, how long benefits would be interrupted because no one knew when 8 Senate Democrats would agree to reopen the government. My office had reached out to Superintendents of various school districts in my District to discuss utilization of the school lunch program to help; we had also called farmers and ranchers to encourage and suggest delivery of crops such as beef, potatoes and onions to food banks; we had reached out to food banks; and we had received calls from concerned community leaders such as Bob Johns of Athena, Oregon.

Bob is a friend and a member of the Athena Christian Church in Athena, a community of about 1,300 located some 23 miles north of Pendleton. Bob and his church’s response to this situation is a real example of how people can help people. Ethan Wallis and Church Elder Bob Johns assisted their church in reaching out to families who, because of the loss of SNAP benefits, had no way to afford groceries. Bob shared that during the shutdown, his church personally assisted roughly 20 individuals every week, many of them in households of three to five people, all struggling to make ends meet.

For these families, the shutdown was not an abstract policy dispute. They simply did not have the money to buy food. To meet the need, the Athena Christian church’s food pantry distributed food costing between $3,000 and $5,000, using its own financial reserves to make sure no family was turned away. This small church responded to this politically created crisis with real compassion backed up by action, providing food boxes, emergency support, and helping families in need navigate a crisis created by Washington, D.C.

This is just one of many examples across our district where neighbors stepped up, churches opened their doors, and communities rallied to support one another when SNAP benefits were not being provided.

And while our local churches stepped up, it did not go unnoticed that Senators Wyden and Merkley offered no meaningful help to these families or the communities forced to fill the gap. At a time when SNAP benefits were frozen and rural Oregonians were in crisis, Washington Democrats were too focused on political brinkmanship to lift a finger for the people who needed them most.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! This Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to pause, spend time with loved ones, and reflect on the many blessings we have to be grateful for.

Votes and Legislation

H.R. 4405 – Epstein Files Transparency Act
 
Voted YES. This legislation requires the release of materials related to Jeffrey Epstein’s detention and death, flight logs, individuals connected to his criminal or financial activities, and internal Department of Justice (DOJ) communications about decisions to investigate or prosecute him or his associates. The DOJ may redact or withhold specific, limited information pertaining to victims’ personal data, child abuse materials, graphic images, and classified materials. Within 15 days of finishing the disclosures, the DOJ must report to Congress detailing what was released.
 
H.J. Res. 130 - Buffalo Field Office CRA
 
Voted YES. This bill nullifies a rule issued by the Biden Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that threatens Americans’ access to affordable and reliable energy by preventing future coal leasing and blocking access to 48 billion short-tons of coal in Wyoming.
 
H.J. Res. 131 - Coastal Plain CRA
 
Voted YES. This bill nullifies a Biden BLM rule that violates federal law and threatens American energy independence by restricting oil and gas leasing in the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Alaska.
 
H.R. 6019 – To repeal certain provisions relating to notification to Senate offices regarding legal process on disclosure of Senate data, and for other purposes. 
 
Voted YES. This bill repeals a provision requiring the notification to Senate offices regarding the legal process of disclosing Senate data. This provision was added by the Senate, following the exposure of Operation Arctic Frost, which revealed that Biden’s FBI spied on eight Republican Senators and one Republican Congressman.
 
H.R. 1949 – Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2025
 
Voted YES. This bill lifts all restrictions on import and export of natural gas, with limited exceptions to limit trade with a person or foreign country under sanction or listed as a state sponsor of terrorism.