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, Hyde-Smith Announce the Establishment of the CDC Office of Rural Health
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) today announced the creation of the Office of Rural Health (ORH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After both Senators advocated for the formation of the office, language establishing the ORH was included in
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $200,000 Coming to Oregon for Water Efficiency Projects
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that $198,668 is coming to Oregon from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for project to improve water efficiency in Bend, Morrow County, and Klamath County. “Reliable water supply is vital for communities, farmers and ranchers, and for many
Ahead of U.S.-Honduras Strategic Human Rights Dialogue, Merkley Issues Statement Denouncing Human Rights Abuses and Urging U.S. to Strengthen Anti-Corruption, Pro-Rights Agenda
Washington D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—issued the following statement ahead of planned Strategic Human Rights Dialogue taking place this week between the United States and Honduras. Uzra Zeya, the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, will
Merkley Announces First In-Person Town Halls of 2023
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today his first round of in-person town halls in 2023. Merkley will hold a town hall for each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “I hold a town hall for every Oregon county, every year because there is simply no substitute to hearing directly from folks about the ideas
Wyden, Merkley: Nearly $20 Million to Oregon School Districts to Hire More Mental Health Providers
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that four Oregon school districts will receive a combined nearly $20 million in competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education to hire additional licensed mental health providers over the next five years. “Students, teachers and counselors across Oregon
Merkley Issues Statement Spotlighting the Importance of Women in Humanitarian Roles and Access to Education Following Taliban’s Continued Oppression of Afghan Women and Girls
Washington D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and strong defender of women’s rights and opportunity—issued the following statement sounding the alarm on the Taliban’s recent decision to remove women from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and to suspend access to higher education and secondary
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