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 and Wyden Announce Newport Coast Guard Facility Funding
Portland, OR – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee has provided funding for the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter facility in Newport to stay open through September 2016. The funding was included in the Homeland Security appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016, which
Senate Committee Passes Merkley-Backed Fix to End “Fire-Borrowing” that Raids Wildfire Prevention Funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has passed legislation that includes a provision fought for by Merkley to finally end the practice of “fire-borrowing” and allow wildfire-fighting efforts to use natural disaster emergency funds during the worst fire years. Currently, wildfires
Following Push by Merkley and Burr, C-123 Veterans Will Receive Care and Benefits for Agent Orange Exposure
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a years-long push by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that it will reverse previous policies that had denied veterans’ claims and allow veterans who flew on Agent Orange-contaminated C-123 planes following the Vietnam
At Meals on Wheels Center, Merkley Announces Introduction of Older Americans CARE Act to Help Seniors Continue to Live in Their Own Homes
Portland, OR – Visiting the downtown Meals on Wheels People dining center, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced the introduction of the Older Americans Community Access Revitalization and Education (CARE) Act in the Senate next week to help older Americans stay in their own homes and communities as they age.
Merkley Statement on House Trade Vote
WASHINGTON, DC—Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the US House of Representatives vote on the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, a key part of the “fast track” trade proposal: “When crafting a new trade structure our national objective should be raising wages and living standards for middle-class Americans.
Merkley Intensifies Pressure on VA to Help C-123 Veterans Affected by Agent Orange Exposure
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that he is intensifying pressure on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to extend long-overdue care and benefits to veterans who were exposed to dangerous levels of Agent Orange serving on post-Vietnam C-123 aircraft, placing a hold, along with Senators