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, Wyden Announce $1.9 Million in Grants to Boost Oregon’s Small Agricultural Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that 13 Oregon agricultural businesses will receive a total of $1.9 million in grants to help them grow and expand. The grants will be provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program, which is
Wyden, Merkley: Our Government Should Have No Part In Funding Discrimination
Washington, D.C. – As negotiations between House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) reach their final stage, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and a group of other United States Senators today raised concerns regarding a dangerous provision included in the House-passed NDAA that would
Merkley, Wyden Invite Further Public Comment on Proposal to Expand Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following last week’s public hearing with the Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today encouraged all interested Oregonians who were not able to attend the hearing in person to submit written comments on the proposed expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Interior Department’s Support of Klamath River Dam Removal
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today issued the following statement after news that Interior Department Secretary Sally Jewell will formally support the applications for removal of four dams along the Klamath River, another crucial step toward addressing water issues affecting the region: “Today’s letter from
Merkley Decries Inadequate Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Social Security Administration announced a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of only .3 percent for 2017. This news follows a COLA of zero for 2016. “With today’s announcement, the Social Security Administration is saying that seniors only need about
Merkley Hosts Public Hearing to Gather Input on Expansion of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
ASHLAND, OR – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley hosted a public meeting at Southern Oregon University to gather input from the public on the potential expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. At Senator Merkley’s request, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Mike Connor attended the meeting to hear from local residents as