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 Statement on Senate Action to Take on Opioids Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate held a bipartisan vote to bring a bill to the floor to help take on the growing opioid crisis across America: “As the opioid crisis has spread throughout America, no corner of our state has

Merkley, Durbin, Blumenthal, Menendez, Schumer Introduce Medical Debt Relief Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Medical Debt Relief Act. This legislation would prevent medical debt from continuing to damage consumers’ credit scores after it has been paid off or settled,

Merkley Pushes EPA Official for Action on Portland Air Contamination

Portland, OR. — Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley pressed the top administration official on air quality during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee meeting for assurances that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would take all necessary steps to provide answers and solutions to residents of Portland, Oregon about the

Merkley Announces $36 Million In Housing Funds for State of Oregon

Portland, OR. — Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that Oregon would receive over $36 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury to assist homeowners struggling to avoid foreclosure.  Today’s announcement from the Treasury Department includes an opportunity for the state of Oregon to apply for an additional $110 million

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