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 and Colleagues to EPA Administrator Zeldin: Provide Valid Legal Basis for EPA Funding Freeze that is Threatening Jobs and Jeopardizing Infrastructure Projects

During his first days on the job, EPA Administrator Zeldin rubber stamps Trump’s disastrous funding freeze and violates federal law Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee—joined all his Democratic colleagues of the Committee in demanding answers from

Thompson, Merkley Introduce Bill to Combat Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke

Washington – Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act—legislation to protect communities across the country from the hazardous health, economic, and environmental impacts of severe wildfire smoke and extreme heat events. Thompson introduced the bill in the House

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