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Commission staff says Washington House removed climate funding; asks commissioners to help restore $69K
Summary
Executive director Christina told the commission executive committee the Washington House budget removed a requested $69,000 appropriation for the commission's climate work (matched by Oregon for a total of $138,000); staff will send a draft outreach letter and asked Washington-based commissioners to contact legislators before the session ends.
The Columbia River Gorge Commission's executive director told the committee that the Washington House budget has removed the commission's requested climate funding while the Senate budget still includes it.
"The House has decided to take out our climate money," the executive director said, and staff described immediate outreach to the governor's office and the Office of Financial Management as well as testimony delivered to the House Appropriations Committee. The commission had requested $69,000 from each state (a combined $138,000) to support licensing and a Tyler content management update through the remainder of the biennium.
Staff said they prepared a 60‑second testimony for the House hearing and plan to circulate a 1–2 page letter describing the importance of restoring the funds. Executive Director Christina said staff would send a draft letter to commissioners for input "this afternoon" and urged Washington-based commissioners to make targeted calls or send emails to legislators in the roughly 10‑day window before reconciliation.
Lisa (staff) and others noted the commission's tribal partnerships, including outreach with treaty tribes and First Foods projects, and said tribal partners had been concerned by last year's defunding experience. Lisa said earlier outreach had helped tribal partners support restoration efforts in past sessions.
Why it matters: The potential loss of $69,000 in Washington funding (matched by Oregon) would reduce staff resources for climate-related implementation and communications tied to the commission's Climate Change Action Plan. Staff framed immediate outreach, a draft letter, and targeted commissioner contacts as the primary steps to try to restore funding during reconciliation.
Next steps: Staff will circulate the draft letter, coordinate with the governor's office and tribal partners, and call on Washington-based commissioners to reach out to legislators before the Washington legislative session ends on March 12; Oregon's session ends March 8.
