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 Statement on Passage of the Every Child Achieves Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill to replace No Child Left Behind, the nation’s main K-12 education law: “I’m the product of public schools, and my kids went to the same working class high school I
Merkley Announces Bill to Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2015, a major piece of legislation to stop offshore Arctic drilling. The legislation would prevent any new or renewed leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral
Merkley Statement on Nuclear Agreement with Iran
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the announcement of a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran: “Today’s announcement is a significant milestone in the effort to preclude Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon. It is essential for the surety of the United States and for
Merkley Video: Shark Week’s Most Dangerous Predators – Payday Loan Sharks
This week, in honor of TV’s “Shark Week,” Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley released a whiteboard video entitled “Loan Shark Week” to urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to crack down on predatory payday lending and prevent loan sharks from trapping American families in a vortex of debt. In the
Senate Committee Passes Merkley Climate Amendment with Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee threw bipartisan support behind an amendment sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to help tackle climate change. The amendment enables the U.S. State Department to invest in the global Green Climate Fund. The amendment passed on a bipartisan 16-14 vote and
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduces Legislation to Provide Access to Banking Services for Legal Marijuana Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a bipartisan group of Senators – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) – introduced the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act of 2015, legislation to ensure that legal marijuana businesses