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

Oregon Delegation Announces Manufacturing Designation for Oregon Communities

Portland, OR – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden were joined by Oregon Congressmen Peter Defazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici today in announcing that Oregon and SW Washington have received a manufacturing designation under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative for the Pacific Northwest

MERKLEY STATEMENT ON ADMINISTRATION’S RULE CHANGE ON OVERTIME PAY

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Obama announced a rule change that would make millions more Americans eligible for overtime pay. It would extend overtime protections to all salaried workers making up to about $50,400 a year from $23,660.   “This significant change

Wyden and Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect 200,000 Acres of Wild Lands in Oregon

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today renewed their commitment to protecting the state’s most pristine and environmentally significant areas by introducing a bill to designate more than 200,000 acres of land as wilderness or national recreation areas and add more than 250 miles to the Wild

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