Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the introduction of the Oregon Research Bounty Act, legislation to authorize funding for 11 research projects that benefit Oregon’s agriculture and forest product sectors. As the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that writes our nation’s agriculture funding bill, Merkley used his position to create and fund several of the programs included in this bill. The Oregon Research Bounty Act helps maintain the critical funding that Merkley fought for and supports Oregon’s rural communities, agriculture research institutions, ranchers, and farmers.
“Agriculture is a huge part of Oregon’s economy, and it’s essential to ensure our world-class agriculture sector and rural communities have the resources needed to grow and thrive,” Merkley said. “The Oregon Research Bounty Act supports many research programs that directly benefit our state, improving the livelihoods of our farmers, ranchers, and producers. This bill ensures these investments will continue to support Oregon’s farms and families for years to come.”
“Oregon State University’s national leadership in agricultural research ensures our state keeps growing topnotch bounty for the world and generating good-paying jobs throughout Oregon,” Wyden said. “This legislation making such a significant and well-deserved investment in Oregon’s agricultural research priorities will help the state’s signature crops and products continue to lead the world in quality as well as quantity.”
Merkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, which is one of the most powerful committees on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making. Key agriculture research sectors that Merkley fought to fund and now included in the Oregon Research Bounty Act are:
- Wine Grape Smoke Exposure Research
- Pacific Shellfish
- Western Rangeland Livestock
- Sudden Oak Death
- Hemp
- Soil
- Hops
- Small Fruits
- Resilient Dryland Farming
- Forest Product Research
- Tree Fruits
Quotes from organizations in support of the Oregon Research Bounty Act can be found here.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
###
English 
Spanish