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 Completes Oregon Affordable Housing Tour

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley completed his Oregon Affordable Housing Tour today after stops in Portland, Medford and Eugene this week. Merkley held roundtable discussions in each city with local and state advocates about what the federal government can do to help address the housing crisis that is gripping

Merkley, Murray, Bennet, Wyden Press Federal Financial Regulators to Provide Clear Guidance so that Legal Marijuana Businesses Can Access Banking Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) pressed federal financial regulators to issue clear guidance for financial institutions serving legal marijuana businesses, making it easier for those businesses to access banking services rather than operating on

Wyden, Merkley Seek Improved Federal Air Quality Programs

Washington, DC  — U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are urging their colleagues to improve federal air quality programs in the wake of several Portland neighborhoods learning last month that there are high levels of heavy metals in the air.   “The EPA aims to protect air quality but, as

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