News from Representative Bentz

Dear Friend,

This finishes up another week of legislative business in Washington, D.C. Below you will find some of the interesting things that happened this week. If you would like to see daily updates on my work in Washington D.C. and Oregon's Second District, please follow us on Facebook HERE!

2026 Memorial Day Weekend

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th, 2026, hundreds of people gathered at Eagle Point National Cemetery to honor the men and women who died in military service. This annual commemoration featured military honors, a wreath-laying, the playing of the Taps, a WWII Stearman bi-plane flyover, music, and guest speakers. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for over 28,000 veterans, spouses, and their dependents.

During the ceremony, I spoke about the importance of taking time on Memorial Day to remember and actually think about what sacrifice is, what normal Americans have done for us, and our obligation to reach out to those who have suffered loss.

Here is my speech:

“Thank you for that most kind introduction. And thank you Senator Wyden for your kind remarks. I am glad to be joining all of you on this Memorial Day. It’s a special day and I am honored to be a part of it.

This morning, I want to recall our responsibility to remember those who have died, our duty to confront the depth of sacrifice of the dead and their families, and finally, the need to help their loved ones manage through.

Calling to mind death is difficult because our society doesn’t focus on it at all. One could say that we are a country in the permanent state of denial. Yet in life we don’t encounter many things more unavoidable. This Holiday is, in a sense, a societal aberration because it asks us to face death through remembrance and memory. Some may ask why dredge up thoughts of sadness and loss- what good does it do? The answer is quite simple- today is the ultimate reality check. The reality is that there is a cost to having a country, far greater than dollars, and that cost has been paid by ordinary Americans over and over again. To forget them is to abandon the belief that what we have in the form of this great 250 year experiment that we call America was worth dying for.

Remembering the Dead is essential but remembering the sacrifices of the families, brothers and sisters in arms, and friends of those who have died in service is equally important. Reaching out to them, sharing in their pain and extending our sympathy and compassion, as they deal with horrific loss is a part of holding this country together.

Justifying the loss of life in military conflict is sometimes difficult, but there is no doubt whatsoever that without our men’s and women’s willingness to give up their lives in this country, we would be a far, far different nation. In fact, without their sacrifice, one wonders if we would even have a nation. Their willingness to put their lives on the line is why we have stability, safety, and freedom. We need to remember that the existence of this nation didn’t and doesn’t just magically happen- these components of country and liberty were and are maintained at a terrible cost, the profound evidence of which is entombed in this very cemetery.

There are many contradictory concepts contained in our countries’ formative documents, one being that we send men and women into war to give up their lives for their country when in our country’s constitution we profess that life is the most important thing. The founding fathers called this out in the Declaration of Independence as the first prerequisite of liberty. The Declaration provides: “…Endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among them Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. This protection of life for all Americans is as basic as it gets. Yet members of our military forfeit their constitutionally protected right to live, life being the essence of freedom, to keep our country free. Such sacrifice is a truly amazing thing.

I think those who created Memorial Day wanted us to do what we are doing today, with flags and bunting and ceremony, but as I mentioned earlier, I think they also wanted us, for at least a few moments, to pause and to try to comprehend the reality of death that our military, and their families, must accept as a very real part of their service.

A personal story may help break through the barrier of denial that makes it almost impossible to realize death’s depth of deprivation.

In 2013, while a member of the Oregon House of Representatives, I was asked to carry a resolution designating a portion of Oregon route 34 as the Eric McKinley and Tyler Troyer Hero Memorial Highway. This bill was intended to be the foundation for Oregon’s fallen hero roadside markers.

I was asked to speak in support of the bill and I was prepared to talk about sacrifice and loss. But I was given a letter from Tyler’s mother Terrie Thorpe, to share about her son, Lance Corporal Tyler Troyer, and it was immediately apparent that her letter did a far better job than I could ever do in expressing the horrid, grinding, permanent reality of loss. You should know that Lance corporal Tyler was just 21 years old when he was killed serving in Iraq. He had just three months left on his tour when he was fatally struck by small arms fire while on foot patrol.

This is what Tyler’s mother wrote:

“To the world, is has been seven years since Tyler was killed in Iraq. People think that time heals all wounds or that pain fades away, but for a mother, there is no such thing as time when it comes to losing a child. The grief doesn’t have an expiration date.

Every day we carry the weight of his absence. When we look at his empty chair at the table, or think of the life he should be living, the pain is just as sharp as the day the officers knocked on my door.

This bill isn’t just about putting up a piece of metal on a highway. It is about memory. It’s about ensuring that when people drive down route 34, they are reminded that freedom isn’t an abstract concept—it was paid for by local boys like my son. It gives our family a place to look, a public acknowledgment that Oregon remembers Tyler, and that his sacrifice mattered.”

Of course Tyler’s bill passed the Oregon House and Oregon Senate unanimously.

Thank you, Terrie Thorpe, for sharing your thoughts with us. And thank you Tyler, for giving your life in service of our country.

It is my hope that today’s ceremony sharpens our understanding of the incredible sacrifice made by our military and their families, improves our ability to deal with such loss, and encourages participation in our democracy for which they have paid so dear a price.

Thank you for being here today, may God Bless each and every one of you, and may God Bless America.”

Thank you to all who joined me, veterans, families, and community members in remembering those who gave their lives in service to our nation. Memorial Day is not only a time to honor the fallen, but also an opportunity to reflect on the freedoms their sacrifice secured and the responsibility we share to preserve their legacy for future generations.

Later that day, I joined veterans, families, and community members in Medford for the dedication of a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall constructed at the Howard Memorial Sports Park. This impressive memorial is a 75% the size of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. It bears the names of 58,479 Americans who lost their lives during or because of the Vietnam War. Their names are set forth on the wall in chronological order of death, just as set forth on the original Washinton D.C. monument.

For more than 15 years, the Southern Oregon Veterans Benefit worked to make this memorial a reality, raising over $300,000 through the support of local donors, veterans, and community partners. The completed wall stands as a lasting tribute to those who served and sacrificed, ensuring future generations understand the cost of the freedoms we enjoy today.

The Eagle Point National Cemetery event and the Vietnam Memorial Wall Dedication ceremony in Medford served as stark reminders that our country and the ideas that make it a beacon of freedom have a necessary but dreadful cost. The community members who worked to make both events happen so successfully deserve our heartfelt thanks. They gave us the opportunity to honor those who never came home, remember the families who carry their legacy forward, and recommit ourselves to the preservation of the nation so many gave their lives to defend.

Here are the remarks I shared at the Vietnam Wall dedication ceremony:

“Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important occasion. There is much to be said and much has been said about the Vietnam war. But for our purposes today, I will focus on the reprehensible failure of our society to support the men and women, the average age of which was around 22, when they returned from a war they had no part in starting and some no choice in fighting.

Before I talk about this wall, let me mention my history of involvement in the Vietnam war.

I turned 18 in 1970. I was not placed into the draft lottery until August 5th, 1971. My number was 228. In that year, the service called up only those who had numbers up to 95. Thus I was not called upon to serve. The lottery was held in at the Selective Service System headquarters in Washington D. C.
I remember that Thursday, August 5th date, at about 8:00 in the morning, standing in the kitchen by the radio, on my families’ ranch, listening to KBOI broadcasting from of Boise Idaho -about 120 miles away-(we didn’t have television in our remote part of Harney County) as the numbers, 1 through 366, and the birthdays (every calendar day including February 29th) were placed in and then drawn from two large rotating drums. They were then matched and called out. My birthday was January 12th. You can guess my relief when January 12th was paired with the number 228. What was a bit surprising was that I was the only one of my family listening as these numbers were drawn. To our family, service was something accepted and not to be avoided, so had my number been called, I would have joined up.

Those who did serve, doing that which their country asked of them, such as my good friend and former colleague in the Oregon House Sal Esquival, were returned after their tour to a country divided and angry. Soldiers like Sal, were cursed at and spit upon. They were called baby killers. They were blamed for a policy of war that they had no part in creating. They were the target of anti-war activists who chose, for political gain, to harness the nation’s anger and frustration with the war and direct it at those least responsible for it. 20 year olds sent to carry out political policy. This treatment of our soldiers was inexcusable and abhorrent. And worse, it continued in some respects, for at least 20 years. Veterans themselves took up the cause of reminding the nation that it was the warrior, not the war, that should be, that must be, honored. The building of the Vietnam wall and its dedication in 1982 forced the American public to recognize that the soldier who carried out orders was not the architect of the political policy that lead to the war.

The Washington D.C. wall, although late in coming, was the first formal recognition of the valor, bravery, and willingness to support country exhibited by those whose names appear before us today.

Those in this community who stepped up to pay for and to build this Medford, Oregon, version of the Vietnam Wall deserve our deepest appreciation, gratitude, and respect. Not just because of the value this wall has for those who served in Vietnam, but also for the part this wall will play informing young people, as they study it, as they drive by it, as it is mentioned in the press and on line, of the true and awful cost of war, the cost of serving one’s country, and the reality of that cost- the loss of 58,281 lives. War is a terrible but necessary thing. We must not forget those that had the courage to fight our wars for us. This wall shows that this community believes in its veterans, understands their value, and the permanency of their sacrifice for our country. I want to say thank you again, both to the veterans here today and to those who made the construction of this Vietnam Wall here Medford, Oregon, for what you have done. And to all you who served in Vietnam, and elsewhere for this country, Welcome Home. And may God Bless each of you, all who have given their lives for us, and this great country of America.

POLL: Would you have voted yes or no on the Democrat’s bill (H.R. 2913) to have the USA send 8 billion more dollars to Ukraine and to establish a trust fund account for the rebuilding of Ukraine to be funded with Russia’s frozen central bank reserves (about 300 billion)?

Would you have voted yes or no on the Democrat's bill (H.R. 2913) to have the USA send 8 billion more dollars to Ukraine and to establish a trust fund account for the rebuilding of Ukraine to be funded with Russia's frozen central bank reserves (about 300 billion)?

Yes

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Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade

Do you know who has your personal data, and what they are doing with it? Most Americans don't. That's a problem.

On June 3, I joined the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, on which I serve, for a hearing titled, “Examining Legislation to Establish a Federal Comprehensive Privacy and Data Security Law.” During the hearing, the Subcommittee discussed H.R. 8413, the SECURE Data Act, legislation that would establish a national framework for consumer rights and the protection of Americans' personal data.

Americans have the right to know whether an internet company is scooping up their personal data, their interests and comments on line, and what that company is then doing with that data. This legislation is intended to address the carefully designed algorithms that prompt responses based on your use of social media systems generating automated decisions that can affect the user’s access to healthcare, housing, and employment, and other companies’ access to your user data. As technology becomes more imbedded in our everyday lives, Congress must address consumers’ rights and create meaningful protections against misuse of their private information. I pointed out, in my questions, the challenge that Congress faces in designing a system that does not solely rely on personal consent. I did so because it seems to me, for example, that most people do not read the reams of words that appear in the so-called “consent” documents sent to their phones or other electronic devices when there is a “software update”. What good, I asked, is a right to such consent if you don’t read all those pages of “lawyer-ese” language, or worse, if you do but don’t understand it? Obviously, there is a lot of work to do in sorting this out.

Natural Resources Committee: Federal Lands Oversight Hearing

Our forests are being destroyed by environmental lawsuits, and believe it or not, the taxpayer is on the hook for the environmentalist’s legal bills!! More than 117 million acres of national forest are grossly overgrown, some of these acres with as many as 2,000 trees (“stems”) growing on them when there should be about 80! This insanity is turning our forests into drought stricken tinderboxes. We must remove the thousands of excess small trees from our forests if we want healthy forests and if we want to save the forests and the communities around them from the devastation of wildfire.

Yet, remedying this clear and present danger is often brought to an abrupt halt by court orders obtained by taxpayer funded organizations (funded by tax deductible donations from large corporations and wealthy individuals). These forest and community destructive lawsuits are encouraged by not only the tax free donations they receive, but also the perverse incentive of the “Access to Justice Act” which uses millions of taxpayer dollars to pay all or a portion of the legal fees incurred by the plaintiff even if they plaintiff is only partially successful in the outcome of the case.

Last week, the Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held an oversight hearing titled, “The State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests and Outlook for the 2026 Wildfire Year.” Our witness was Chief Tom Schultz, the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. In my five minutes of questions, I asked Chief Schultz about the overgrown condition of the forest and the lawsuits that were preventing him from thinning the forests. He promised to gather facts that show the dismal (“morbid” was the word used by Congressman Tom McClintock) condition of our forests and the names of those who were suing the Forest Service to stop thinning.
I also asked Chief Schultz about the impact overgrown forests have on watersheds, adjacent trees, and healthy forests in general. He is totally supportive of proper thinning and will obtain the evidence we need to better address these important issues.

Improving Wildfire Safety and Emergency Access in Juniper Canyon

Location of new road has not yet been surveyed therefore is imprecise

A challenge facing many rural communities in Central and Eastern Oregon is ensuring that residents can safely evacuate during a wildfire or other emergency. That challenge is especially apparent in Juniper Canyon, a small community located south of Prineville where residents currently rely on a single road in and out of the community. (That single road is marked in red on the above map).

To address these concerns, and at the request of members of the Crook County Commission, I introduced legislation that would grant Crook County a permanent 60 foot wide right of way across Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to be used for a county public access road connecting Oregon Route 380, (also known as Paulina Highway), to the South end of Juniper Canyon Road. The bill would also convey four 40 acre BLM parcels of land to the County for the creation and maintenance of strategically located fire safe zones.

For years, residents along Juniper Canyon Road in Crook County have expressed concerns that this road (the community's only access route) could become blocked during a wildfire evacuation, major accident, or other emergency. The road stretches roughly 13 miles south from the city of Prineville to Prineville Reservoir, leaving many residents with very limited means of escaping from wildfire or other crisis.

This legislation, if enacted, and if a road is constructed, would improve emergency response capabilities, expand evacuation opportunities, and enhance wildfire preparedness throughout the area. The four conveyed parcels would be permanently dedicated to wildfire preparedness and emergency response activities, fuel break integration, operational safety zones, and other emergency management operations.

As wildfire threats continue to grow across Oregon, it is critical that rural communities have the infrastructure necessary to protect lives, property, and critical resources. While questions remain regarding future funding for road construction projects in Crook County, this legislation, if enacted, would be an important first step toward providing Juniper Canyon residents with an additional way out in the event of an emergency.

Crook County Commissioner Seth Crawford worked closely with me and my office on this legislation.

H.Res. 518, Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2913) to authorize support for Ukraine, and for other purposes.

I voted, with 195 of my Republican colleagues, against H.R. 2913, legislation that if enacted would commit the U.S. to providing another 8 billion dollars to Ukraine, impose mandatory, escalating sanctions on Russia’s financial institutions, impose 500% tariffs on goods imported to the U.S. from Russia, and create a Ukraine reconstruction trust fund to facilitate the seizure of sovereign Russian assets. 226 House members voted for the bill. It now goes to the Senate. 18 Republicans voted for the bill. 207 democrats voted for the bill. (one Democrat voted “no”).
I have consistently supported Ukraine's right to defend itself against Russia's unprovoked invasion. Russia must be held accountable for its actions and that the United States should stand with our allies in supporting Ukraine's sovereignty. The USA has now spent about 188 billion dollars in support of Ukraine. Much of this money and the weapons that this money is buying are still in the pipeline moving to Ukraine. The USA’s refusal to add more money to that 188 billion has forced the European Union to step up, and it has. At last count, the E.U. had provided 220 billion, and the E.U. has approved an additional 103.84 billion dollar loan package for 2026 and 2027.

My concern with H.R. 2913 is not its stated objective, which is to help Ukraine defeat Russia, but the fact that it flies in the face of working toward a settlement which is what our administration is attempting to facilitate. Additionally, the legislation contains page after page of congressional findings, statements of policy, and provisions that are either redundant, outdated, or already addressed in existing law. The bill is a political statement, not legislation designed to advance a specific policy outcome. The spending of eight additional billions, the construction of a “reconstruction trust fund” to be funded with Russian assets, the 500% tariff, and the sanctions on the Russian banks, is to use a sledgehammer when it’s time for a scapple. Seizing Russia’s frozen sovereign assets would create by itself severe risks to our global financial system, the stability of the U.S. dollar, and the viability of peace negotiations.

Congress should focus on serious, workable legislation that strengthens Ukraine's position, supports our national interests, and provides the flexibility necessary to pursue a lasting peace. Unfortunately, H.R. 2913 takes us in the opposite direction.

Meetings in Washington D.C.

Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

Congressman Bentz met with Keri Moran Kuhn, Hilary Levine, and Martina Shabram to discuss the importance of supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The conversation focused on Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funding and Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) programs, which provide critical resources for prevention efforts, victim services, and community support across Oregon.

United States Navy League

Congressman Bentz met with Taylor Smith and Scott Maguire of the United States Navy League. They discussed the importance of rebuilding America’s domestic shipbuilding capacity through strategic investments and new policies in commercial shipbuilding, strengthening our domestic shipbuilding workforce, and the need to compete with China by building U.S. flagged vessels.

Keystone RV

This week, Congressman Cliff Bentz met with David Mihalick and Alex Bowling from Keystone RV which operates a facility in Pendleton, Oregon. Their conversation was about the current economic climate for RVs in the U.S., the workforce challenges paced by Keystone RV and the RV industry’s support for the Great American Outdoors Act.

National Grain and Feed Association

Congressman Bentz and the National Grain and Feed Association met regarding the Columbia River being included in the surface transportation reauthorization and WRDA, the importance of renewing USMCA and the impacts of fees on foreign shipping vessels.

Oregon Cattlemens Association

While Congress was in session, Congressman Bentz met with Liz Nielson with the Oregon Cattlemens Association. They discussed the critical importance of delisting the wolf as well as making sure that programs like the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) remain intact to help ranchers suffering loss as a result of wolf kills.

Votes and Legislation

H.R. 2860 – Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2025
Voted Yes. This bill revises and reauthorizes for seven years the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative and its Northwest Straits Advisory Commission. The initiative and the commission work to protect and restore marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits region (i.e., the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of Snohomish County in Washington state).

H.R. 7726 – Stop Child Care Scams Act of 2026
Voted Yes. This includes the text of eight bills that crack down on fraud and strengthen oversight of the federal childcare assistance program. Each bill would affect the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and Child Care Entitlement to States (CCES) programs by amending the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 to increase enforcement actions for noncompliance and improper payments and to require states to report additional information to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CCDBG provides funding to states, the District of Columbia, tribes, and U.S. territories to subsidize and improve the quality of childcare for low-income families. CCES provides funding to states to subsidize the cost of childcare for low-income working families.

Democrat Discharge Petition - H. Res. 518 – Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2913) to authorize support for Ukraine, and for other purposes.
Voted No. This resolution provides for the consideration of H.R. 2913, the Ukraine Support Act. H.R. 2913 addresses the war between Russia and Ukraine by providing assistance to Ukraine and certain European countries, and establishing penalties for Russia and certain foreign persons (individuals and entities). This bill is a messaging attempt by Democrats to get Republicans on the record opposing more Russian sanctions and Ukraine aid to bash them in midterms.

H.R. 7618 – American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act of 2026
Voted Yes. This bill extends through FY2036 three National Park Service (NPS) grant programs that preserve U.S. battlefields and requires the NPS to study additional sites for potential preservation. Specifically, the bill extends through FY2036 grant programs for the acquisition, interpretation modernization, and restoration of certain U.S. battlefields. (Under current law, the grants are authorized through FY2028.)

In the News

INSIDE DOUGLAS COUNTY 06.05.26. (KQEN)

Consent questions raised at data privacy bill hearing. (Roll Call)

Editorial: Crook County’s Juniper Canyon needs a second exit. (Bend Bulletin)

New bill would give Juniper Canyon a second evacuation route during wildfires. (Central Oregon Daily)

New Escape Route and Fire Safety Zones Proposed for Central Oregon Wildfire Corridor. (Grants Pass Tribune)

Agri-Pulse Open Mic: U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz. (AgriPulse)

‘Freedom is never, ever free’: Vietnam Memorial Wall replica dedicated in Medford. (RV Times)

Eagle Point National Cemetery hosts Memorial Day ceremony. (KDRV)

Sincerely,

Cliff Bentz

Member of Congress

It is the honor of a lifetime to represent you in Congress. Should you need to contact me or my staff, please do not hesitate to do so. You can visit my website here.

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