Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) stopped into Grants Pass this week for an interview with the Grants Pass Tribune. Representative Bentz was generous with his time, and we discussed a wide range of topics spanning from life as a member of congress to his legislative agenda.
Congressman Bentz has been serving Oregon’s large rural 2nd congressional district for almost five years now. I remember a few years ago Congressman Bentz saying he was surprised at how much time members of Congress have to spend fundraising, attending events throughout the country, and supporting their colleagues in various ways. This week I was surprised to learn that the typical day in D.C. starts at 6:30 in the morning and often doesn’t end until around 9pm. And many of his days start with playing music at a prayer group meeting, which Congressman Bentz said was a great way to meet and get to know more of his colleagues in D.C.
Congressman Cliff Bentz shared his legislative priorities, accomplishments, and concerns about federal policies impacting Oregon. Representing one of the most resource-rich regions in the state, Bentz discussed his work on critical issues like healthcare, energy, and natural resource management, while addressing challenges such as mineral development and the shift to telephone town halls.
Ambitious Goals for 2025 and Beyond
Bentz outlined several key priorities for the current and upcoming year, emphasizing support for rural hospitals and addressing Oregon’s precarious energy situation. As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, he highlighted the urgent need to prevent rolling blackouts, noting that Oregon is “one drought year away” from power shortages due to reliance on the Columbia River. Bentz is advocating for updated energy infrastructure and transmission policies, criticizing the Bonneville Power Administration for lagging in modernization. “I work on that every week,” he said, emphasizing his role on the energy subcommittee.
Another major focus is supporting rural hospitals navigating changes in Medicaid funding. Recent federal legislation such as the recently passed “Big Beautiful Bill,” requires states to verify Medicaid eligibility every six months, likely reducing the number of eligible recipients. This could lead to less funding for clinics, and Bentz is committed to helping these facilities adapt. “They’re terrifically important to every community,” he said.
Legislative Wins and Constituent Services
Reflecting on his tenure, Bentz highlighted significant legislative achievements, including the Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act of 2024, signed into law by President Biden in January 2025. The bill protects ranchers and farmers from bearing the costs of dam reformation, a major victory for the region’s agricultural community. “That’s a huge piece of legislation,” Bentz said proudly.
His office has also handled thousands of constituent cases, with Bentz estimating they’ve managed 5,000 to 6,000 since he took office. A notable success involved resolving an IRS issue for a well-known business in Josephine County which most of us locals would recognize by name. Bentz described this IRS win as a “big deal.” His staff’s dedication in both Oregon and Washington, D.C., has been instrumental in serving the district.
Bentz also played a key role in addressing illegal drug activities in Southern Oregon. As a former member of the House Judiciary Committee, he questioned high-ranking officials, including the Attorney General, Homeland Security, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, about cartel operations in the region. These efforts led to increased support from federal agencies, contributing to a noticeable reduction in illegal grow operations. “I don’t see hundreds of hoop houses down here anymore,” Bentz noted.
Natural Resources and Mineral Development
As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and chair (last year) of its water subcommittee, Bentz is a vocal advocate for responsible management of federal lands, which comprise nearly two-thirds of Josephine County. He successfully opposed the River Democracy Act, which would have designated 4,000 miles of river with wide corridors, restricting access to forests and hindering wildfire management. “What they’re doing is basically guaranteed that we will have these wicks of uncontrolled timber,” he said, criticizing similar state-level efforts.
Bentz also addressed mineral development, a critical issue for Southwest Oregon. He expressed concern about Senator Ron Wyden’s (D-Ore.) push for mineral withdrawals and wilderness expansions, such as the proposed Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act. Bentz argued these policies harm Oregon’s economy by locking up valuable resources, especially rare earth minerals needed to compete with China. “We have to catch up with China when it comes to rare earth minerals,” he said, noting that one-third of federally-managed land is already locked up.
In response to a proposal from American Mineral Research (full disclosure that I am personally the CFO of the local company American Mineral Research), Bentz expressed cautious support for a revenue-sharing model akin to the 1930s O&C Act, which would distribute mineral development revenues to counties. While acknowledging the complexity of amending the [1872] Mining Law, he agreed to discuss the idea further with colleagues, particularly Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), a strong advocate for mining.
Shift to Telephone Town Halls
Bentz addressed the decision to cancel in-person town halls in favor of telephone formats, citing disruptions by organized groups. He described incidents at town halls in Baker City, La Grande, Pendleton, and Port of Morrow, where crowds significantly exceeded typical attendance—up to 600 in La Grande compared to a usual 80. Bentz attributed the disruptions to groups like Indivisible, which he said coordinated efforts to protest and film confrontations. “They practiced standing up, cheering, yelling, jeering all together,” he said, noting that three individuals were arrested at one event last year for disruptive behavior.
Telephone town halls have proven more effective, reaching 31,000 constituents over recent sessions. “It’s not productive for people to hijack my platform to scream at a congressman,” Bentz said, emphasizing his commitment to productive dialogue.
Budget Battles and Rural Concerns
With a potential government shutdown looming on September 30, Bentz discussed the challenges of passing a federal budget. He supports a continuing resolution (CR) to extend funding through November 21, allowing time for the 12 appropriation bills to go through “regular order.” However, he noted resistance from the Freedom Caucus, which complicates negotiations. “Everybody’s moving their pawns around the table,” he said, describing the political maneuvering between House Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Bentz also expressed concern about a recent presidential proclamation by President Trump imposing a $100,000 fee on H-1B visas. He acknowledged the policy’s potential harm to rural Oregon employers, particularly in healthcare and small businesses, and pledged to work with colleagues to address the issue. “We’re going to have that conversation,” he said, noting the need for exemptions for rural communities.
Looking Ahead
Bentz’s collaborative relationship with the Trump administration has opened new opportunities, a stark contrast to his previous experiences under Democratic leadership. “It’s night and day,” he said, citing improved communication with federal agencies like the Department of the Interior. His priorities include increasing timber harvests, protecting rural hospitals, and ensuring a stable energy supply, all while advocating for responsible mineral development.
Bentz remains committed to serving Oregon’s Second District, balancing local needs with national priorities. “The longer you’re there, the more relationships you have an opportunity to create, and that’s how you get stuff done,” he said.
For more information on Bentz’s work or to contact his office, visit his official website or call his district office. I also recommend signing up for his newsletter, which he sends out by email several times throughout the year.
Analysis of the Decision to Halt In-Person Town Halls
Given the significant recent local attention on the political group “Indivisible,” with Josephine County Commissioners Blech and Barnett falsely claiming that Indivisible and the local chapter Rogue Indivisible were funding and organizing the recalls, I reached out to the Chair of the local Rogue Indivisible for comment. Congressman Bentz and his staff this week suggested that various website comments from Indivisible groups seem to support the idea that they were behind the organized protests that happened at Bentz’ four in-person town halls this year.
Matt Spurlock, chair of the newly reorganized and local chapter Rogue Indivisible, stated that while he can only officially comment on Rogue Indivisible, he was confident that neither Rogue Indivisible nor the Oregon District 2 Indivisible based in Jackson County were responsible for any of the organized protests at town hall events in 2025. Mr. Spurlock also stated there were no future plans to do any kind of protest at these town hall events.
From what Congressman Bentz and his staff stated in the interview this week, there were clearly very organized opposition groups that attended his four town hall meetings this year. And given the success of recent telephone town halls, reaching approximately 31,000 people in just three telephone town halls, the decision to move to telephone town halls seems to be a good decision.
And as evidenced by Congressman Bentz having in-person meetings with several private groups and several local media members in Josephine County and Jackson County this week, Bentz is still meeting in person with nearly as many people as he used to when doing in-person town halls. The move to telephone town halls and continuing to have in-person private meetings with local groups seems to be a prudent move and more effective for everyone involved.