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, Wyden Announce Federal Funding to Boost Private Forest Management and Build Resilience

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is funding projects that will assist Tribes, nonprofits, and private forest landowners in Oregon with their efforts to manage forests sustainably and permanently conserve private forests in partnership with the state. “Oregon’s forestlands—public

Sens. Markey, Merkley, Rep. Huffman Introduce NO SPILLS Act to Increase Accountability for Offshore Oil and Gas Port Licensing

Bill Text (PDF) | Section By Section (PDF) Washington (December 18, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, along with Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02), today introduced the Nautical Oversight Safety and Protection of Inflammable Liquids by

Wyden, Merkley, Murray, Cantwell Ask BPA to Carefully Evaluate Timeline and Costs and Benefits of Joining Bigger Electricity Market

Senators: “Ultimately, it is imperative that BPA’s electricity market choice improves the reliability, the affordability, and reduces the greenhouse gas emissions of our energy system.”  Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell said today they are asking the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to

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