The carbon pollution in our atmosphere from burning fossil fuels like oil and coal is waging a direct and unchecked assault on our farming, fishing and forests – the cornerstones of Oregon’s rural economy.
When Jeff was young, his dad worked as a millwright. He spent his childhood in Southern Oregon timber communities, where timber jobs were what put food on the table and kept roofs over folks’ head. Fires and insect infestations are already killing trees at alarming rates across the Northwest, and climate change will only make these threats to our forests worse. Other iconic Oregon industries like our coastal oyster hatcheries are threatened by ocean acidification, and fishing and farming alike are facing threats from declining snowpacks and increased drought.
Congress needs to wake up. Climate change is real, and it’s bad for our economy and jobs, especially in rural Oregon and the places that most depend on our abundant natural resources.
Merkley, Reed, King Reintroduce Legislation Banning LNG Exports to China
Legislation would also ban exports to U.S. Adversaries Russia, Iran, and North Korea Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today reintroduced the Protecting American Households from Rising Energy Costs Act, legislation that would lower prices for American households by banning the export of crude oil or liquefied fossil
Risch, Merkley Introduce Bill to Remove Roadblocks for Youth Corps Public Lands Projects
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to reduce federal cost-sharing requirements for public lands projects performed by qualified youth or conservation corps from 25% to 10%. “Current cost-sharing requirements prevent youth conservation corps from carrying out important public lands projects,” said Risch. “My bill reduces this
Merkley, Wyden Join Legislation to Combat Urban Heat Islands
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in introducing the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act, which would create a competitive grant program to provide funding to combat the causes and consequences of urban heat islands. “In places like East Portland, where a lack of
Merkley, Pingree: EPA’s Elimination of Scientific Research Arm Threatens Clean Air and Water for All
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sounded the alarm over the EPA’s illegal plans to dismantle the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and fire hundreds of scientists nationwide.
Oregon Delegation Calls on Trump Administration to Reinstate Fired Agricultural Researchers in Oregon
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led her Oregon colleagues – including U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05), along with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley – in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, expressing
Merkley, Pingree: EPA’s Reckless Gutting of Environmental Justice Programs Harms Communities
Washington, D.C. – Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (ME-01) denounced plans by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to eliminate all of the agency’s offices and positions related to environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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