The Port of Hood River is very interested in the markup of a federal transportation bill before Congress that could provide the basis for federal funding for a new bridge over the Columbia River to connect Hood River and the Bingen-White Salmon area.  Port Executive Director Michael McElwee says they are working with Oregon Second District Congressman Greg Walden on is a one sentence modification to the bill that would add transportation projects within a National Scenic Area as a criteria to identify eligible projects.  McElwee notes a replacement for the current Interstate Bridge would need from federal and state funds and user tolls under any financial model.  A new bridge is estimated to cost at least 260 million dollars.