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: Lehman/AIG Anniversary Reminds Us – Unraveling Wall Street Reform Ends in Disaster
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement marking the seventh anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the bailout of AIG this week in 2008: “This week’s anniversary of the Lehman Brothers and AIG crash is a timely reminder that unraveling Wall Street reform is
Senator Merkley Announces USDA Grant to Spur Local Crowdfunding Investment in Eastern Oregon Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced the award of a $49,275 USDA grant to the nonprofit Hatch Innovation, Inc. to connect rural small businesses with local people who want to invest in them through Oregon’s newly launched crowdfunding investment process. Crowdfunding is a new, innovative method
44 Senators Push SEC to Require Public Companies to Disclose their Political Spending to Shareholders
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Forty-four U.S. Senators today pressed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to complete a rulemaking that would require public companies to disclose political spending to their shareholders, bringing increased transparency to the U.S. political process in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision. The
Merkley, Wyden and Walden Ask TSA to Bring Passenger and Baggage Screening Back to Klamath Falls Airport
Portland, OR – Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Congressman Greg Walden wrote to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) urging it to resume passenger and baggage screening at the Crater Lake KIamath Regional Airport. Klamath Falls has been successful in attracting a new commercial air carrier to
Merkley Statement on Iran Nuclear Deal
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in support of the Iran nuclear deal: “Just after Labor Day, the U.S. Congress will consider a vital question: whether to support or reject an international agreement intended to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon “This
Merkley: 2015 Fire Borrowing Reinforces Need for Long-Term Wildfire Funding Fix
Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after reports that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is now implementing fire borrowing — the practice of halting other programs, including fire prevention efforts — to free up funds to combat the record-setting wildfires that are blazing across the