Congressman Greg Walden will tour Central Oregon for two days.  Following is a list of his schedule:

SISTERS – 8:30 a.m.: Congressman Walden will tour the Fremont Canyon Stewardship Project in advance of a legislative announcement on forest health at the Redmond Air Center. In 2007, Deschutes County partnered with Central Oregon Community College (COCC) to create a unique opportunity in Fremont Canyon between Redmond and Sisters. After researching the area and completing site visits, students in the COCC Forestry program created a land management plan to reduce the amount of juniper and bitterbrush, as well as promote the growth of a more natural stand of ponderosa pine. As a result, the county was able to reduce fuels on 400 acres, while students at COCC got an exceptional chance to gain experience. The land is covered in the locally established Greater Sisters Community Wildfire Protection Plan, whose establishment was made possible by the passage of the strongly bipartisan Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA). Congressman Walden co-authored HFRA.

REDMOND – 10:30 a.m.: Congressman Walden will attend the dedication ceremony of a new U.S. Forest Service building at the Redmond Air Center. The completion of the new facility is an example of excellent collaboration between city and federal government agencies to deliver better service to the public. In addition, Congressman Walden will make a legislative announcement at the dedication ceremony. Location: Redmond Air Center, 1740 SE Ochoco Way, Redmond

BEND – Noon: Congressman Walden has been invited to participate in a roundtable with a group of business leaders representing over ten central Oregon businesses. The congressman is going to deliver a congressional update on issues affecting small business, and he will hear from the local business leaders on their concerns and ideas for the central Oregon economy. Location: 780 NW York Drive, Suite 202, Bend

BEND – 1:45 p.m.: Congressman Walden will meet with the leaders of Cessna before touring the facility.

MONDAY, MAY 12

REDMOND – 8:30 a.m.: Congressman Walden will host a Central Oregon Meth Forum to allow community organizers from 15 counties around the Second Congressional District to share their success stories and struggles with each other and with representatives from federal agencies committed to fighting drugs and drug abuse.

The federal officials will be on hand to offer tools and examples of successful collaboration, as well as to take notes on the innovative local strategies that are working in Oregon.

Congressman Walden will hold a similar forum with southern Oregon counties later in the day.