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: Momentum Behind Banning Congressional Stock Trading

Bipartisan ETHICS Act Clears Key Hurdle to Head to Senate Floor Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today issued the following statement after his legislation to ban Congressional stock trading passed out of committee: “Members of Congress should serve the people, not their portfolios. For the first time,

Merkley: No President in My Lifetime Has Done More Than Biden

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today issued the following statement after President Joe Biden announced he will not seek a second term: “No president in my lifetime has done more than Joe Biden. He’s achieved historic successes in investments in American manufacturing, renewable energy, and infrastructure, strengthened

Merkley, Senators Urge VA to Expand Access to Medical Cannabis for America’s Veterans

Senators’ letter follows DEA’s recommended rescheduling of cannabis from earlier this year Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today led his colleagues—including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)—in

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