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 Applauds Strengthening of Clean Power Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced they would finalize and strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution: “Climate change is an urgent threat that requires urgent action. Already we are seeing the cost of climate
Appropriations Committee Passes Merkley Amendment to Provide Access to Banking Services for Legal Marijuana Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the financial services appropriations bill, which included an amendment from Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to ensure that legal marijuana businesses can access banking services. Senator Merkley’s amendment is similar to bipartisan legislation that he introduced last week. Currently, marijuana businesses operating
Historic, Comprehensive LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation Introduced in Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 40 Senators, led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced historic, comprehensive federal legislation to ban discrimination against LGBT Americans. The legislation was filed simultaneously in the U.S. House of Representatives by 158 Representatives, led by Rep.
Merkley Statement on Failed Transportation Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after he and a bipartisan majority of Senators voted against an attempt to bring a 1,000 page transportation bill to the floor less than an hour after it had been released: “After months of stalling on putting forward a
On Five Year Anniversary of Wall Street Reform, Senate Democrats, Joined by Former Senator Dodd, Fight Back Against Continued Attacks on Consumer Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Democrats celebrated the five year anniversary of Dodd-Frank, major Wall Street reform legislation passed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, and vowed to keep pushing back on continued attempts to gut critical consumer protections contained in the legislation. The legislation was enacted on
Merkley Delivers Wins For Oregon Farmers in Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley announced several key wins to help farming communities in Oregon and across the country. As the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, Senator Merkley has vowed to use his position to fight for Oregon’s priorities and middle class families. This
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