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.
Wyden, Merkley: Conservation Projects in Central, Eastern & Southern Oregon Earn $95.7 Million in Federal Investment
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that five rural Oregon conservation projects have secured a total of more than $95 million in federal investment to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand strategies that enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis.
Merkley, Wyden: $1 Million Federal Investment Will Build Resiliency to Wildfires, Smoke in Lane County
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $997,622 is coming to Lane County to build resiliency in the face of climate chaos-fueled wildfires and smoke. This funding under the historic Inflation Reduction Act—the largest investment in climate action in history—will help improve air
Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici Announce $4.5 Million Federal Investment to Increase Housing Climate Resiliency
Two Portland apartment complexes to benefit Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today announced a federal investment of $4.56 million to retrofit two apartment complexes in Portland with climate resilient materials and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “The fight against the climate crisis
During Climate Week, Markey, Badum, Merkley, Barragán Lead Over 100 International Lawmakers in Urging Biden Administration to Reject New LNG Exports
Letter Text (PDF) Washington (September 23, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, today partnered with Representative Lisa Badum, group coordinator in the German Bundestag’s Climate and Energy Committee and chairwoman of the Subcommittee on
Wyden, Merkley Announce $200,000 Federal Award for Farmers Conservation Alliance in Central Oregon
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Farmers Conservation Alliance in Bend has earned a $200,000 Energizing Rural Communities award from the U.S. Department of Energy. “In my meetings and town halls throughout Oregon, I hear regularly from farmers and ranchers about the negative impacts the
Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici Celebrate $963,000 to PSU to Reduce Transportation Carbon Emissions
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today announced a federal investment of $963,000 for Portland State University to establish a transportation decarbonization resource hub. “Carbon from the transportation sector makes a huge impact on carbon emissions statewide, and I applaud this federal investment