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 Statement on House GOP Blocking Spending Bill over Anti-LGBT Discrimination Amendment
WASHINGTON D.C.—Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in reaction to a surprise vote by House Republicans to defeat a routine energy and water spending measure because the bill included an amendment protecting LGBT Americans from discrimination by federal contractors: “Today’s vote in the House by the majority to
Merkley Applauds House Passage of Landmark Toxic Chemicals Reform Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a landmark toxic chemicals reform bill that marks the first major reform of chemical safety laws in 40 years. Merkley worked with a bipartisan coalition to help craft the U.S. Senate version
Oregon Lawmakers Announce Funding to Revitalize Willamette Falls
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representatives Kurt Schrader, Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici today announced that $600,000 has been awarded to Metro-Portland, Oregon’s regional government, to restore and revitalize one of Oregon’s natural treasures, Willamette Falls, from contamination left over from a now-shuttered industrial
VA to Voluntarily Implement Bipartisan Provision to Enhance VA Medical Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) today welcomed the news that the Veterans Health Administration (VA) is moving to voluntarily implement one of the key proposals from their bipartisan Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act, helping to ensure
Bicameral, Bipartisan Deal Reached On Major Toxic Chemicals Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan, bicameral group of Congressional leaders have announced an agreement on the first major reform of toxic chemicals regulation in decades. This agreement puts Congress on the cusp of finally passing historic legislation to reform the nation’s broken chemical safety law.
Merkley and Wyden Announce Key Wins for Oregon Veterans in Senate Passage of Military Construction Appropriations Bill
Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that included in the Senate Military Construction appropriations bill that passed the Senate today are key provisions that will help Oregonians. These include $320 million for the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program and $496 million for the Veterans