The omnibus FY22 Appropriations spending bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden on March 11 includes $800,000 for a project at the Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice housed at the University of Oregon.

The funding comes from the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations portion of the bill. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee.

“The University of Oregon applauds Senator Merkley’s and Senator Wyden’s leadership in bringing national attention to Oregon’s need for resources to address smoke and wildfire,” said Cassandra Moseley, Vice President for Research & Innovation (interim). “We take pride whenever UO faculty and students are engaged directly in actionable research that accelerates community access to best practices. A Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice will help address the urgent need for Oregon communities to be better prepared for wildfire smoke events and to protect the most vulnerable populations.”

Read the related joint press release from the offices of Senators Merkley and Wyden here.