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, Kaine Launch Effort to Protect and Strengthen Federal Student Loan Repayment Options
Washington, D.C. – With affordable student loan repayment options at risk under the Trump Administration, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Virginia’s U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today led their colleagues to launch a new effort to protect and expand federal student loan repayment programs. The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR)
Bynum and Merkley Introduce Legislation to Protect the Deschutes River
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025. The bill reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy’s (DRC) eligibility to receive federal funding for water quality improvement initiatives and conservation efforts. Since its founding in 1996, the DRC and
Merkley, Wyden Announce $37.4 Million for Critical Central Oregon Irrigation Projects
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation is sending a total of $37.4 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to three irrigation districts in Central Oregon for piping projects that will boost drought resiliency, conserve almost 5,000 acre-feet of
Wyden, Merkley Celebrate Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Support Farmers and Ranchers Facing Severe Drought in Klamath Basin
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., celebrated the Senate unanimously passing a bipartisan bill to support farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin with improved tools to respond to severe drought, while restoring fish and wildlife habitat in the region. The Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4 Million for High-Speed Broadband Infrastructure Headed to Lane County
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today a $4,419,306 grant for high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in Lane County. This federal investment for Pioneer Telephone Cooperative will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 75 people, 12
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $33 Million for Southern Oregon Critical Wildlife Crossing
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is receiving $33,182,188 in federal funding to construct the Mariposa Preserve Wildlife Crossing over I-5 in Southern Oregon through the heart of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Once complete, the wildlife crossing will be among the
Warren, Hawley, Merkley Push Automakers on Their Opposition to Car Owners’ Right to Repair Their Own Vehicles
Bipartisan Letter Criticizes Auto Industry Fearmongering “The industry has raised concerns about data sharing with independent repair shops to justify opposing right-to-repair, while earning profits from sharing large amounts of personal data with insurance companies.” Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and
Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $4.6 Million for Drought and Resiliency Programs in the Klamath Basin
The Bureau of Reclamation award will benefit projects by The Klamath Tribes, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Modoc Nation, Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People, and Yurok Tribe. Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $4.6 million for six Klamath Basin Tribes to support