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 Joins Oregon Advocates to Call for Health Care Public Option

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley visited the North by Northeast Community Health Center today to talk with health care advocates about his efforts in the Senate to call for a public option, similar to Medicare, in the health insurance market.  Yesterday, Senator Merkley introduced a Senate resolution with

Senate Passes Provisions to Help Rebuild Lost Housing for Columbia River Tribes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that provisions to help fulfill long-unmet housing obligations to tribes along the Columbia River have passed the full U.S. Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016

Job-Creating Water Infrastructure Bill Passes Senate

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the full Senate has passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes key job creation and funding opportunities for Oregon communities. The legislation previously passed the Environment and Public Works Committee in April; it must now be

Senators Introduce Resolution Calling for Health Care Public Option

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), along with 22 of their colleagues, introduced a Senate resolution calling for a public option in the health insurance market. “The Affordable Care Act has already

Merkley, Wyden Move Columbia River Restoration Act Forward

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Columbia River Restoration Act is moving forward as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which is expected to pass the Senate as soon as this week. The legislation was added to WRDA as part

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