Press Releases

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

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, Colleagues Urge Support for West Coast Fishermen and Seafood Processors

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR)—along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03), and Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06)—in a bipartisan, bicameral letter

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $5.4 Million Coming to Oregon for Natural Disaster Recovery

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Port of Brookings Harbor and the Oregon Department of Forestry will be receiving $5,417,255 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster recovery efforts through its Public Assistance Program. “Oregon’s

Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Help Communities in the Klamath Basin Respond to Severe Drought

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have introduced legislation that would support farmers and ranchers responding to severe drought and restoring fish and wildlife habitat in the Klamath Basin. “The farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin have weathered historic drought with significant federal investment and assistance, but the region is in desperate

Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Standing with the People of Türkiye and Syria, Reaffirming Commitment to Swift Humanitarian Aid

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kevin Cramer (R-ID), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) have introduced a bipartisan resolution expressing deepest condolences to and solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria and calling for robust humanitarian aid following the

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