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Committee retroactively approves dozens of federal grant submissions for workforce, emergency management, transit and conservation
Summary
On Oct. 1 the committee retroactively approved multiple federal grant submissions across agencies — including HECC ($8M DOL), DEM ($4.8M, $11.1M, $3.4M, $2.5M), DOT bus & low‑no grants (~$21.5M and $3.47M), OHA ($302,198), DOC ($1.3M), OWEB ($1M), OBBD ($500k) and DFW grants — all recommended by subcommittees and passed by voice vote.
The Joint Interim Committee on Ways and Means on Oct. 1 took a single, broad action: the committee retroactively approved a series of federal grant submissions recommended by its subcommittees. The grants cover a wide range of priorities including workforce development, emergency management, public health and transit.
Key approvals and agency uses
- Higher Education Coordinating Commission: retroactive approval to submit an $8,000,000 U.S. Department of Labor application to develop employer‑led training and apprenticeship programs across key sectors (no match required). (Representative Campos)
- Department of Emergency Management: retroactive approvals to submit multiple applications including a $4,800,000 Emergency Management Performance Grant (primarily supporting local emergency manager salaries), $11,100,000 for homeland security and urban area security initiatives, $3,400,000 for the nonprofit security grant program, and $2,500,000 for state and local cybersecurity grants (match requirements outlined and historically sometimes waived). Committee members urged careful coordination to avoid siloed cybersecurity projects.
- Oregon Health Authority: retroactive approval for a SAMHSA Community Mental Health Services supplemental application (federal FY2026) to address homelessness and serious mental illness, reported amount $302,198; no state match required.
- Department of Transportation: approvals for Federal Transit Administration applications — $21,468,516 for buses and bus facilities (20 buses, multiple facility projects; local match required) and $3,465,732 for low‑ or no‑emission vehicles (local match required for most awards).
- Department of Corrections: a $1,300,000 HHS Fatherhood/Family grant to expand the Family Advocate Program to men in custody across facilities (parenting supports and visitation enhancements).
- Natural resources and conservation grants: a $1,000,000 Coastal Wetlands Conservation application for restoration in Coos County (OWEB), a $777,703 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation application for technical assistance on rangeland conservation, and a $350,000 NFWF request for fish‑passage and tide gate design in Tillamook County (DFW).
- State Fire Marshal: hazardous materials emergency preparedness application ($1,451,989) with an anticipated 20% match and ~45% pass‑through to local agencies.
- Oregon Business Development Department: a $500,000 SBA application to help small businesses access foreign markets, with matching funds anticipated from the industry competitiveness fund.
Why it matters: The approvals allow state agencies to accept, if awarded, federal funds for projects tied to workforce development, disaster readiness and local infrastructure. Several committee members emphasized the need for coordination, especially for cybersecurity and emergency management projects, and flagged match obligations where local agencies would be responsible.
Procedure and votes: Subcommittees recommended retroactive approvals; the main committee routinely approved them by voice vote with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the transcript.
Next steps: Agencies will proceed with federal grant processes and, if awarded, will return with expenditure requests or seek budgetary authority as required.
