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News Release

1-16-26 Act Of Congress Restores Historical Funding Back To O&C Counties (Photo) - 01/16/26

Douglas County is sharing this release on behalf of the Association of O&C Counties (AOCC)

1224 NE Walnut Street, #431, Roseburg, Oregon 97470 - (541) 430-8952

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 16, 2026

 

Act of Congress Restores Historical Funding Back to O&C Counties

 

(Douglas County, Ore.) The Association of O&C Counties (AOCC) Executive Director, Doug Robertson, and AOCC Board President, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman are ecstatic to announce that Congress has passed the FY26 Interior Appropriations Bill.  The passing of the bill represents one of the most, if not THE most significant achievements and highest priorities for O&C Counties in the last 44 years.  

 

With strong bi-partisan support in Congress, this action upholds a promise made by the 1937 O&C Act.  The AOCC Counties are extremely appreciative of the bipartisan leadership in Congress that helped push this historic action across the finish line.  The FY26 Interior Appropriations Bill corrects revisions made in 1982 and returns O&C counties to their rightful 75-percent of shared timber receipts from O&C lands.  This will ultimately be reflected by a 50% increase of the current revenue share for O&C Counties on an annual basis. 

 

The additional revenue created by this update could not come at a more critical time for counties as they face continuing strains on their budgets with inflation, rising costs, and the reduction of other revenue streams.  This will help counties to maintain the critical services they provide, such as public safety, senior services, veteran services and other extremely vital public services. 

 

As one of the highest priorities of the AOCC board, executive board, staff, and its member counties, the fix contained in this bill has been the focus of our sustained advocacy efforts for decades. For AOCC President, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman, this legislation represents a definitive goal and top priority for the past 10 years.

 

“Having worked on O&C timber management for the last 40 years, this action marks one of the most significant achievements in that work.  I would like to recognize my Board of Directors and Executive Board for their support and engagement.  The ability of our federal delegation to understand the importance of this issue was imperative and I am appreciative of the action they have taken to help counties in this very difficult time,” remarked AOCC Executive Director, Doug Robertson. 

 

This successful action is the culmination of the dedication of the entire AOCC Board of Directors, including AOCC Executive Board - AOCC President, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman, AOCC Vice President, Polk County Commissioner Craig Pope, and AOCC Secretary/Treasurer, Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot; AOCC Executive Director Doug Robertson; AOCC Staff and AOCC member counties.  AOCC wants to thank our federal delegation, Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, Representative Cliff Bentz and Representative Val Hoyle for their imperative work on this issue. AOCC would also like to give special recognition to our federal representative, Jay Sullivan of Jamisen and Sullivan, for his advocacy.   

 

“The Association of O&C Counties has been advocating for proper management of O&C lands since 1925. Our Association believes in the promise of the 1937 O&C Act and the productivity of our unique timber lands.  I am incredibly pleased Congress recognized this important promise and relationship between County Government and the management of Federal O&C timberlands,” stated AOCC Board President, Douglas County Commissioner, Tim Freeman. 

 

AOCC again thanks all of those involved and we look forward to working with the BLM and our new State Director on the continuation of more balanced and reasonable management of O&C timberlands.

 

AOCC represents the unique O&C timberlands in 18 western Oregon counties, the 18 counties host 2.1 million acres of O&C timberlands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The AOCC advocates for sustained yield management of O&C timberlands, as required by federal law under the 1937 O&C Act, to protect and support jobs and local economies, county services, and healthy timberlands.  The 1937 O&C Act is widely regarded as the first Congressional Conservation Act.  It is enacted to regulate the management of the Federal timber resources. The O&C Act signaled an end to the cut-and-run policies in the early years of the 20th century. By requiring management under the principle of Sustained Yield, timber harvest cannot outpace the annual growth of the forest, resulting in a perpetual supply of timber while concurrently providing quality habitat for wildlife, watershed protection, and recreational opportunities for the public. For more information on AOCC click here: http://www.oandc.org/.

 

###

 

Contacts: Doug Robertson |AOCC Executive Director | Association of O&C Counties | Phone: (541) 430-8952 | Email: Robertsonjd44@outlook.com

 

Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman | AOCC Board President | Association of O&C Counties | Phone: (541) 440-4201 | tim.freeman@douglascountyor.gov

Attached Media Files: AOCClogo.jpg,

1-16-26 Act Of Congress Restores Historical Funding Back To O&C Counties (Photo) - 01/16/26

Douglas County is sharing this release on behalf of the Association of O&C Counties (AOCC)

1224 NE Walnut Street, #431, Roseburg, Oregon 97470 - (541) 430-8952

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 16, 2026

 

Act of Congress Restores Historical Funding Back to O&C Counties

 

(Douglas County, Ore.) The Association of O&C Counties (AOCC) Executive Director, Doug Robertson, and AOCC Board President, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman are ecstatic to announce that Congress has passed the FY26 Interior Appropriations Bill.  The passing of the bill represents one of the most, if not THE most significant achievements and highest priorities for O&C Counties in the last 44 years.  

 

With strong bi-partisan support in Congress, this action upholds a promise made by the 1937 O&C Act.  The AOCC Counties are extremely appreciative of the bipartisan leadership in Congress that helped push this historic action across the finish line.  The FY26 Interior Appropriations Bill corrects revisions made in 1982 and returns O&C counties to their rightful 75-percent of shared timber receipts from O&C lands.  This will ultimately be reflected by a 50% increase of the current revenue share for O&C Counties on an annual basis. 

 

The additional revenue created by this update could not come at a more critical time for counties as they face continuing strains on their budgets with inflation, rising costs, and the reduction of other revenue streams.  This will help counties to maintain the critical services they provide, such as public safety, senior services, veteran services and other extremely vital public services. 

 

As one of the highest priorities of the AOCC board, executive board, staff, and its member counties, the fix contained in this bill has been the focus of our sustained advocacy efforts for decades. For AOCC President, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman, this legislation represents a definitive goal and top priority for the past 10 years.

 

“Having worked on O&C timber management for the last 40 years, this action marks one of the most significant achievements in that work.  I would like to recognize my Board of Directors and Executive Board for their support and engagement.  The ability of our federal delegation to understand the importance of this issue was imperative and I am appreciative of the action they have taken to help counties in this very difficult time,” remarked AOCC Executive Director, Doug Robertson. 

 

This successful action is the culmination of the dedication of the entire AOCC Board of Directors, including AOCC Executive Board - AOCC President, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman, AOCC Vice President, Polk County Commissioner Craig Pope, and AOCC Secretary/Treasurer, Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot; AOCC Executive Director Doug Robertson; AOCC Staff and AOCC member counties.  AOCC wants to thank our federal delegation, Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, Representative Cliff Bentz and Representative Val Hoyle for their imperative work on this issue. AOCC would also like to give special recognition to our federal representative, Jay Sullivan of Jamisen and Sullivan, for his advocacy.   

 

“The Association of O&C Counties has been advocating for proper management of O&C lands since 1925. Our Association believes in the promise of the 1937 O&C Act and the productivity of our unique timber lands.  I am incredibly pleased Congress recognized this important promise and relationship between County Government and the management of Federal O&C timberlands,” stated AOCC Board President, Douglas County Commissioner, Tim Freeman. 

 

AOCC again thanks all of those involved and we look forward to working with the BLM and our new State Director on the continuation of more balanced and reasonable management of O&C timberlands.

 

AOCC represents the unique O&C timberlands in 18 western Oregon counties, the 18 counties host 2.1 million acres of O&C timberlands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The AOCC advocates for sustained yield management of O&C timberlands, as required by federal law under the 1937 O&C Act, to protect and support jobs and local economies, county services, and healthy timberlands.  The 1937 O&C Act is widely regarded as the first Congressional Conservation Act.  It is enacted to regulate the management of the Federal timber resources. The O&C Act signaled an end to the cut-and-run policies in the early years of the 20th century. By requiring management under the principle of Sustained Yield, timber harvest cannot outpace the annual growth of the forest, resulting in a perpetual supply of timber while concurrently providing quality habitat for wildlife, watershed protection, and recreational opportunities for the public. For more information on AOCC click here: http://www.oandc.org/.

 

###

 

Contacts: Doug Robertson |AOCC Executive Director | Association of O&C Counties | Phone: (541) 430-8952 | Email: Robertsonjd44@outlook.com

 

Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman | AOCC Board President | Association of O&C Counties | Phone: (541) 440-4201 | tim.freeman@douglascountyor.gov

Attached Media Files: AOCClogo.jpg,