Interior Cuts in Trump Administration’s “Skinny” Budget to Leave Lasting Scars on Public Lands, Tribal Nations, and Human Health
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the below statement following the release of President Trump’s ‘skinny’ budget for Fiscal Year 2026. “This budget is exactly what we expected from this administration: abandoning critical programs, slashing essential government services,
Merkley Announces Central Oregon Town Halls
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will hold three town halls for Oregonians in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties on Saturday, May 10. Merkley will be joined by U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum for the Deschutes County town hall in Sisters. The three rescheduled events in Central
Sens. Wicker, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Co-Chairs of the Senate Nursing Caucus, introduced the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act. This legislation would ensure that nurses in the federal Nurse Corps do not need to pay income tax on their student loan repayments and scholarships. “Nurses are essential to
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
Merkley Calls for Action Following Report Recommending Limits on Banks’ Ownership of Physical Commodities
Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Federal Reserve issued a new report that recommends Congress scrap the loophole that has allowed big banks to own physical commodities: “It is common sense that big banks that are placing bets on the prices of commodities shouldn’t also be
Wyden, Merkley, Senate Colleagues Press House Speaker for Vote on Zika Funding
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with 27 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) urging him to bring the $1.1 billion Zika funding legislation passed by the Senate to the House floor for a vote. As of
Oregon Lawmakers Urge US Postal Service to Listen to Community Concerns About Relocating Tualatin Post Office Retail Services
WASHINGTON, DC – This week Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) requested that the United States Postal Service (USPS) listen to and consider concerns from members of the community about the potential relocation of retail services of the Tualatin Post Office. The USPS