In The News

Merkley Monthly: Making major investments in the Port of Coos Bay

The Coos Bay World Transforming the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay into the first fully ship-to-rail port facility on the West Coast is a huge opportunity for Oregon and our coastal communities. This project will create good-paying union jobs and permanent local jobs, increase West Coast port capacity by

Three Americans have been freed from prisons in China

NPR The Biden administration says the prisoners were all wrongfully held and that they are being reunited with their families for the first time in many years. They appear to be part of a prisoner swap. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Three Americans have been freed from prisons in China. The Biden

Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $1.2 Million for Ecosystem Restoration in Oregon; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation award will benefit residents and projects along Tillamook River

Tillamook County Pioneer Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $1.18 million for the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership to help fix the Burton-Fraser Road along the Tillamook River that is limiting fish passage. “Letting our infrastructure crumble over time to a point where it

Public Confidence ‘Necessary Ingredient’ in GMO Labeling Debate

In Sen. Pat Roberts’ failed bid to convince the U.S. Senate to advance a bill banning mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods on Wednesday, the Kansas Republican ran down a long list of reasons he said mandatory labeling of such foods would prove calamitous for consumers, farmers and the food industry. Calling

GMO food labeling bill does not pass in Senate

Following an emotional debate, the Senate blocked a bill that would prevent states from requiring labeling of genetically modified food Wednesday. The Biotechnology Labeling Solutions Act (S2609), authored by Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., which would create a national voluntary labeling standard for genetically engineered foods, did not pass. Roberts had hoped

Merkley’s GMO bill would create national labeling

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Oregon US Sen. Jeff Merkley is behind a bill to make sure consumers could find out whether a food has genetically modified ingredients. Merkley’s bill is designed as a compromise to one Congress is voting on that would ban any state from passing a law requiring

60 businesses form coalition to push for Equality Act

A newly formed business coalition that consists of 60 members — including Apple, Coca-Cola and Target Corp. — will urge passage of comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination legislation known as the Equality Act, the Human Rights Campaign announced on Thursday. The initiative, known as the Business Coalition for the Equality Act, consists

What’s At Stake In The Senate’s Looming GMO Labeling Battle

A key debate regarding products that contain genetically modified organisms — specifically, the question of whether they should have to carry labels stating as much — is set for a showdown. Last week, legislation cleared the Senate Agricultural Committee that would block state-level laws mandating GMO labeling. The legislation, which

Wyden, Merkley among senators seeking debt relief for Corinthian Colleges students

Thirty-five Democratic U.S. senators, including Oregon’s Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, have signed a letter to President Barack Obama seeking more relief for students of predatory for-profit colleges. The list includes Corinthian Colleges, which filed bankruptcy and closed suddenly in 2015. “These schools have put their pursuit of federal student loan dollars ahead of the

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