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

Drumbeat Against Bannon Grows as Senators Call for His Dismissal

Today, a group of Senators led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley signed a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump urging him to repudiate his hate-filled campaign attacks, and to show the country that he is serious about uniting Americans by immediately firing newly-appointed Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. In addition to Senator

Merkley Denounces Appointment of White Nationalist to Top White House Post

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Steve Bannon to be his Chief Strategist, splitting top duties with his Chief of Staff: “There should be no sugarcoating the truth here: Donald Trump just invited a white nationalist into the highest

Merkley Announces $500,000 Grant to Provide Oregon Veterans with Medical Transportation

In honor of Veterans Day, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) has been awarded $500,000 as part of the federal Veteran Affairs’ Highly Rural Transportation Grant to support veterans’ medical transportation needs in rural Oregon counties. Ten Oregon counties are considered “highly

Merkley Statement on Presidential Election Results

“I’m profoundly disappointed in last night’s results. I firmly believe that our country is better than the lowest points of the campaign that just concluded. To all who woke up today anxious about their place in America: I stand with you. Today it is more important than ever to stand

Merkley Invites Oregon Students to Apply for Senate Page Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley announced that he will be accepting applications to the U.S. Senate Page Program. From now until December 31, 2016, rising high school juniors or seniors will have an opportunity to apply to be part of the page program in summer 2017.  Pages

en_USEnglish