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 Over $40 Million in New Funding to Address the Wildfire Crisis in Oregon
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing over $40 million in new funding in Fiscal Year 2023 for key high-risk landscapes in Oregon—including $4,500,000 for the Mount Hood National Forest, $35,400,000 for the Klamath River Basin,
Merkley, McGovern, Kaine Seek Extension from the Biden Administration to Protect Vulnerable Hong Kong Residents in America from Deportation
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA-02) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), today sent a letter to the Biden Administration requesting a minimum 18-month extension to the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program to protect Hong Kong residents living in America from deportation. The
KAINE & MERKLEY STATEMENT ON NEED TO AVERT DEBT DEFAULT
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement after the United States hit its debt limit—the technical limit on how much it can borrow to pay debt incurred over the past few decades—and began extraordinary measures: “Congress has an urgent responsibility
Merkley, Wyden Announce $450,000 Coming to Oregon for Arts and Local Cultural Organizations
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $450,000 is coming to Oregon from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for Arts Projects and Challenge America grants in several communities in the state: Beaverton, Bend, Eugene, Portland, Salem, Springfield, and Warm Springs.
Wyden, Merkley Push to Include 12 Weeks of National Paid Family and Medical Leave in President Biden’s Budget
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues in urging the Biden administration to advance a national paid family and medical leave program in the FY2024 budget. “We thank President Biden for his commitment to expanding paid leave and urge that the administration’s FY24 budget request
Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Housing Authorities Receive more than $900,000 in Housing Vouchers for Oregonians with Disabilities
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that six Oregon counties will receive 80 vouchers from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to fund permanent affordable housing assistance to Oregonians with extreme mental health concerns and disabilities.? “As the weather continues to be