Barracks construction at Raymond F. Rees Training Center to get $20M boost

Published 1:30 pm Tuesday, March 7, 2023

SALEM — Barracks construction at the Raymond F. Rees Training Center near Hermiston could get a big funding boost.

The Legislature’s Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Capital Construction voted Friday, March 3, to increase the federal funds capital construction expenditure limitation by $20,243,000 for barrack. Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, announced the funding was contained within an amendment to Senate Bill 5544. The legislation now moves to the full Joint Committee On Ways and Means.

“This funding is intended to support public safety and defense efforts in the state of Oregon” Smith said. “As a member of the Capital Construction Subcommittee, it was my pleasure to vote for additional public safety funding.”

The Oregon Military Department in September 2023 renamed Camp Umatilla, with its Oregon Army National Guard regional infantry training center west of Hermiston, as The Raymond F. Rees Training Center, in honor of Maj. Gen. Raymond F. “Fred” Rees of Helix.