CONGRESSMAN WALDEN TO SPEAK AT MOUNT JEFFERSON COMMUNITY CLINIC GRAND OPENING ON APRIL 17

April 7, 2006 - Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR), co-chair of the bipartisan Rural Health Care Coalition, today announced that he will attend the grand opening celebration of the Mount Jefferson Community Clinic, a recently completed community health clinic in Madras operated by Ochoco Health Systems, on Monday, April 17 at 11:00 AM. Walden has been a strong supporter of the community clinics throughout central Oregon and has also toured and held meetings at the Bend and Prineville locations.

“Access to and the quality of affordable health care remains among my top priorities, and I am confident that the Mount Jefferson Clinic will do a tremendous job serving residents throughout Jefferson County. I look forward to helping the community celebrate the grand opening of the clinic and taking a firsthand look at the facility,” said Walden.

Walden helped the Ochoco Community Clinic extend services into Jefferson County through his support for a grant application submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a federal investment of approximately $600,000, which they will receive annually to help with operations and expenses at the clinic.

Walden, who will also be in Madras tomorrow, Saturday, April 8, for a meeting with the Deschutes River Conservancy and local water users to discuss legislation he has introduced on behalf of the North Unit Irrigation District, H.R. 5179, has just begun a two-week trip throughout central, southern and eastern Oregon that will cover nearly 2,500 miles in 13 counties over 49 different events.

Congressman Walden is in his fourth term representing the people of Oregon’s Second Congressional District, which includes 20 counties in southern, central and eastern Oregon. He is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce as well as the Committee on Resources.