Dexter Advances Community Vision in Government Funding Bills

PORTLAND, OR - Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter (OR-03) announced that all 15 of her Community Project Funding (CPF) requests have been included in the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 government funding bills. The CPF requests reflect the priorities she heard directly from community members.

"Each of these projects started with a conversation-with a constituent, a local leader, a housing authority, or a city planner-who told me what our community needs," said Dexter. "I fought to make sure those voices were heard in Washington. From clean water to affordable housing, from behavioral health to workforce development, these investments are about building a healthier, stronger, more equitable Oregon."

"The City of Portland is grateful to Congresswoman Dexter for her incredible support of three important community projects that will preserve and improve affordable housing for residents of the Ellington Apartments, increase safety for all users on SE César E. Chávez Boulevard, and make our wastewater treatment system more reliable and resilient," said Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. "The Congresswoman has hit the ground running at full speed, working hard to deliver results for her constituents-and we know this is just the beginning of her successful track record to come."

Under House rules, each Member of Congress may submit up to 15 CPF requests for inclusion in the annual government funding bills. Congresswoman Dexter submitted the maximum number, and all 15 were accepted into the proposed House appropriations bills. The FY 2026 budget will determine final funding for these projects.

The 15 Dexter-requested projects include:

Sustainability & Resilience

• $1,092,000 to the City of Portland to replace equipment at the Columbia Blvd Wastewater Treatment Plant and continue meeting water quality requirements.

"We sincerely appreciate Congresswoman Dexter's support for improving the resiliency of Portland's infrastructure for our community," said Priya Dhanapal, Portland Deputy City Administrator for Public Works. "This funding would strengthen our wastewater system to better serve Portlanders during both daily operations and emergencies."

• $1,092,000 to the City of Gresham to make improvements in the Wastewater Treatment Plant to remove ammonia in the water created by growth in the semiconductor industry.

"Removing nitrogen from our wastewater system will be a win-win-win for our community," said Steve Fancher, assistant city manager for Gresham. "Our environment benefits from less pollution being discharged to our waterways, our local semiconductor industry benefits by being able to expand their operations, and our community benefits from lower utility rates and better results. We thank Congresswoman Dexter for her support for this important project."

• $360,000 to Multnomah County to address pesticide pollution in our water that threatens salmon, orcas, humans, and more.

"We are grateful for Congresswoman Dexter's leadership and support for the Follow the Water Campaign" said Margi Bradway, Department of Community Services Director. "This statewide outreach campaign educates and engages residents of Oregon and Southwest Washington, on how we can reduce water pollution where we live - to protect our communities, the salmon, and the orca bringing awareness to the importance of stream health."

Behavioral Health & Public Safety

• $800,000 to Multnomah County to support behavioral health needs within the criminal justice system. 

"The Sheriff's Office is deeply grateful to Congresswoman Dexter's work to secure this critical funding for the Close Street pretrial monitoring program. By expanding behavioral health staffing, this investment will provide life-changing support for individuals navigating mental illness, substance use disorders, and housing instability. Ultimately, strengthening court outcomes, reducing recidivism and improving public safety." said Multnomah County Sheriff Morrisey O'Donnel.

• $1,005,000 to the City of Gresham to support a program that has significantly reduced crime in one of Oregon's most at-risk communities.

"Investing in our youth is always a smart investment," said Gresham Youth Services Manager Emon Ghassemi. "Our EMOPI program helps prevent and interrupt violence in our community. Congresswoman Dexter has been an incredible partner in recognizing and working to address the challenges our youth are facing, particularly around behavioral health and gun violence, and her support of this program speaks to that commitment."

• $907,000 to the City of Gresham to improve police and emergency response efficiency.

"The Gresham Police Department is grateful for Congresswoman Dexter's support of our Real Time Information Center, which uses state-of-the-art technology to improve public safety in our community and coordinate emergency response," said Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. "By improving our public safety system, we can be smarter, faster, and more strategic with our emergency responses."

Housing & Homelessness

• $2,000,000 to the City of Portland to support the redevelopment of dedicated affordable housing units for low and moderate-income residents.

"By championing this funding to redevelop the Ellington Apartments, Representative Dexter is helping to ensure that hundreds of units in a well-resourced neighborhood remain affordable for generations of Portlanders," said Donnie Oliveira, Portland Deputy City Administrator for Community & Economic Development. "This funding would help the City continue to address housing affordability, increase the number of affordable units, and provide key amenities to a City-owned multi-family building that will help residents and our communities thrive."

• $1,975,000 to Home Forward to support construction of new affordable housing units and redevelop old units.

"This Congressional funding is a direct investment in working families," said Home Forward CEO Ivory Mathews. "We still face an alarming shortage of affordable housing, especially in SE Portland. Rising construction costs and inflation have impacted new development, but these funds ensure we can fulfill our promise to renovate 70 existing units and add 96 new units of affordable housing for families who need them most. Peaceful Villa has been part of the close-knit Richmond neighborhood since 1947. Thanks to U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter's advocacy, both current and new residents will have the opportunity to live in more modern, sustainable apartments with access to good schools, reliable public transit, parks, and other conveniences that define Portland's neighborhoods."

Transportation & Transit

• $250,000 to the City of Portland to improve traffic safety along SE César E. Chávez Boulevard.

"We are also grateful for the Congresswoman's commitment to improving community safety and livability," said Priya Dhanapal, Portland Deputy City Administrator for Public Works. "These federal dollars would support critical upgrades along SE César E. Chávez Boulevard, one of our most densely populated and transit-reliant corridors."

• $500,000 to Clackamas County to alleviate congestion and improve safety on a key route to Mt. Hood.

"Providing transit around the mountain requires a network of projects and partners," said Clackamas County Commissioner Savas. "Adding a park and ride in Welches is an important component of the network to give drivers an alternative to accessing the mountain, especially as traffic and tourism increase."

• $850,000 to Multnomah County to enhance the safety and accessibility of NE Sandy Blvd.

"Multnomah County is deeply grateful for Congresswoman Dexter's support for the Safer Sandy project. The project addresses key safety and infrastructure deficiencies such as the lack of continuous sidewalks and bike lanes, limited crossing opportunities, and a history of fatal crashes" said Multnomah County Commissioner Jones-Dixon. "This federal support will enable critical improvements to enhance conditions for all users including drivers, seniors, families and local businesses along Sandy Boulevard, a vital east-west arterial connecting several cities in East Multnomah County."

• $931,200 for the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon to create a faster and more dependable ride for those who rely on public transit.

"We want to thank Representative Dexter for her leadership and for advancing this request to support TriMet's riders" said Executive Director of Public Affairs JC Vannatta, "This project will help people get where they need to go more reliably with less time stuck in congestion."

Education, Workforce & Economic Opportunity

• $1,092,000 to the City of Sandy to build a new wastewater pipeline that will protect the community's drinking water and allow for new housing and economic development.

"We are grateful that the Committee has included our wastewater improvement project in the bill. This funding would directly reduce the amount Sandy needs to borrow to construct our pipeline, meaning less pressure on our ratepayers and a more affordable future for our community," said Tyler Deems, City Manager.

• $500,000 to the Centennial School District to create a permanent location for the Centennial Transition Center which supports students with disabilities.

"The Centennial Transition Center has been a vital resource in Southeast Portland for 25 years and serves Centennial School District students aged 18-21 with disabilities who have graduated with modified or alternative diplomas. Services provided at the Center are tailored to equip students with disabilities for further education, employment, and independent living. If awarded, receiving the Community Projecting Funding grant would support our District in establishing a permanent location for our Centennial Transition Center and providing these students with access to essential features such as ADA-compliant restrooms, an accessible elevator/lift, versatile classroom/job skill spaces, and practical instructional living amenities," said the Centennial School District.

• $850,000 to the City of Gresham to revitalize a beloved local park to help foster economic growth and support the well-being of the region.

"Main City Park is a destination park for our east county residents," said Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall. "In championing this project, Congresswoman Dexter is helping us replace our playground equipment, add accessible surfaces, and construct interactive music installations, while also helping support the small businesses in our nearby historic downtown who benefit from those visitors. We are grateful for her leadership."

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