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, Huffman Lead Bill to Get the Federal Government out of the Fossil Fuel Business
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) today led the reintroduction of the Keep It in the Ground Act—comprehensive legislation to stop new fossil fuel extraction on public lands and in public waters. “Climate chaos is the most significant risk humanity faces. The earth
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 Announce Columbia Gorge Education Service District to Receive EPA “Community Change Grant”
Federal grant funds will be used to create Early Learning and Resilience Center in The Dalles Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Columbia Gorge Education Service District and Columbia Gorge Community College Foundation have been selected to receive a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Decommission Offshore Oil & Gas Wells, Pipelines and Platforms
Idle and abandoned offshore oil and gas infrastructure increase chances of oil leaks and pose environmental risks to marine ecosystems “Neglected oil wells off our coasts are a ticking time bomb that threaten our coastal communities and environment in Oregon and nationwide,” Wyden said. “It’s unacceptable that Big Oil has
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