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 and Wyden Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Air Service Back to Klamath Falls Gets One Step Closer
Washington DC – Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden’s bipartisan Treating Small Airports with Fairness Act, or ‘TSA Fairness Act,’ took one step closer to passage when the Senate Commerce Committee voted to attach it to the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill. This legislation would restore TSA screening to
Merkley Statement on Senate Defeat of “DARK Act”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted down a test vote on anti-GMO food labeling legislation commonly known as the “Denying Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act:” “Today is a victory for American consumers. Ordinary Americans stood up and fought
Merkley Statement on Supreme Court Nomination
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Obama announced that he would nominate Merrick Garland to serve on the United States Supreme Court: “I thank President Obama for fulfilling his constitutional obligation to put forward a nominee to fill this critical vacancy. I look
Wyden, Merkley, Baldwin Introduce Major College Affordability Reform Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., today introduced the “In The Red” Act, a major reform to address college affordability and put America on a path toward debt-free college. The In The Red Act will allow student loan borrowers to
Merkley Applauds New Steps to Limit Offshore Drilling in Atlantic and Arctic, Presses for Further Action to ‘Keep It in the Ground’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Department of the Interior released a new version of its five-year drilling plan that pulls back on proposed drilling off the Atlantic Coast and puts the Arctic off-limits through 2022. The new plan is the latest
Merkley Warns Against Dangerous Anti-GMO Labeling Bill in Senate and Highlights Legislation to Give Consumers Transparency
Portland, OR — Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley visited Green Zebra Grocery in North Portland to discuss a bill, commonly referred to as the DARK – or Denying Americans the Right to Know – Act, which could be on the Senate floor next week that would permanently ban any state