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 Statement on Price Nomination
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement on Health and Human Services nominee Congressman Tom Price. Price’s nomination is currently being considered on the Senate floor. “If confirmed, Tom Price would be America’s 23rd Secretary of Health and Human Services, but he would be the first
Merkley Statement on Jeff Sessions’ Nomination as Attorney General
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement on Attorney General nominee Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL). Merkley held the floor from 2am to 4am this morning to protest Sessions’ nomination. “In 1986, Coretta Scott King wrote in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee that Jeff Sessions
Merkley Speaks Out Against DeVos Nomination
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement before the U.S. Senate’s final vote on Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos: “I know firsthand the powerful difference that a good public education makes. When I was growing up, my father took me to the doors of the schoolhouse
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Resolution to Honor Civil Rights Hero Fred Korematsu
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced a resolution honoring Fred Korematsu, who challenged the internment of Japanese Americans.. Wyden and Merkley said the resolution honoring Korematsu’s work and advocacy of the civil rights and liberties of all people is timely, given the president’s executive order
Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Bill to Bring “Atomic Cleanup Veterans” The Health Care They Need
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are cosponsoring a bipartisan bill to bring key health care benefits to “Atomic Veterans” exposed to high levels of harmful radiation when assigned to clean up nuclear testing sites during the late 1970s. The bipartisan Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act –
Merkley Slams Trump Plan to Gut Wall Street Oversight
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in response to President Trump’s plan to gut Wall Street oversight by rolling back key pieces of the reforms that were put in place following the 2008 financial crisis: “Eight years ago, following a decade of predatory home-lending and