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 and Defazio Announce Federal Funding to Help Umpqua Community College Recover From School Shooting
Portland, OR – Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Congressman Peter Defazio announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded Umpqua Community College (UCC) $529,623 to help the UCC community recover from the mass shooting that occurred on campus last fall. The funding comes after Senators
Merkley and Wyden Announce $70 Million For Renewable Energy Research
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that passed the Senate this week includes $70 million for wave and geothermal energy research grants. Oregon State University (OSU), as a leader in wave and geothermal energy research, will be well-positioned
Merkley Statement on EPA Methane Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the first-ever national standards for methane pollution in the oil and gas industry: “Today’s announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency finalizing the first-ever national standards for dangerous methane pollution for new drilling
Merkley and Wyden Announce Key Oregon Wins in Senate Passage of Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that included in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that passed the Senate today are key provisions that will help Oregon communities. These include funding for tribal housing along the Columbia River, small ports along the Oregon coast, renovation for
Merkley, Bonamici Applaud Google’s Move to Ban Payday Loan Advertisements
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1) today applauded the announcement that Google would change its advertising policies to ban advertisements for payday loans on its platforms. Merkley and Bonamici are the lead sponsors of the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic Lending (SAFE Lending)
Senator Merkley: FDA Rule is Critical Step to Protecting Children and Teens from Tobacco Products
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined 16 Senate Democrats, to send a letter to the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), applauding the release of a final tobacco deeming rule which will grant the FDA