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
Update: Oregon Delegation Applauds Approval of Federal Disaster Declaration for Ice Storms
Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s Congressional delegation—U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. House of Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Cliff Bentz—applauds the approval of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to
Merkley, Wyden: Nearly $4.5 Million for Renewable Energy Projects to Lower Costs in Rural Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending a total of $4,459,297 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to support 20 renewable energy projects in rural communities across the state. The investments will be used to help farmers,
Merkley, Wyden Announce $500,000 for CRITFC to Advance Salmon-Friendly Clean Energy Efforts in the Columbia River Basin
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) is receiving $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Future Grants (EFG) Program to advance river and energy system models adapted to the Columbia River Basin that
RUBIO, MERKLEY, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING 45 YEARS OF TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
The People’s Republic of China under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increased its aggression, through economic, military, and political coercion, to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and erode its international standing. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a resolution to reaffirm our nation’s commitment
Wyden, Merkley: Five Oregon Airports Secure Total Federal Aid of $1.45 Million
Lake County, Scappoose, Bend Municipal, Albany Municipal and Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal airports earn federal grants Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that airports in Lake, Columbia, Deschutes, Linn and Wasco counties have secured a total of more than $1.4 million in federal grants for construction,
Wyden, Merkley Announce $2.5 Million towards Solar Projects over Canals in Central Oregon
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the North Unit Irrigation District (NUID) in Central Oregon has secured a $2.5 million federal award to build and monitor solar panels on the main canal of its Deschutes project. The irrigation district is proposing to build floating photovoltaic solar