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

Merkley, Blumenauer, Wyden, Bonamici, DeFazio Introduce Columbia River Basin Restoration Act to Clean Up Columbia Basin

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Senator Ron Wyden, Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-04) introduced the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act. The legislation would authorize $50 million over five years for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a voluntary, competitive Columbia

SENATORS INTRODUCE AMENDMENT TO PREVENT THE USE OF FAST TRACK TO GUT FINANCIAL REFORMS

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) have introduced an amendment that would prevent the use of Fast Track authority to pass a trade deal that weakens financial regulations.  “This President supports financial reform – but he cannot

Merkley Vows to Protect Pendleton Agricultural Research Station from Devastating Cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the 2016 appropriations process gets underway in the U.S. Capitol, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley is vowing to go to bat for essential programs in Oregon, including the Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center near Pendleton.  Merkley is the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and

Merkley, Cartwright Introduce Bill to Create Green Jobs, Boost Manufacturing

WASHINGTON — Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA) announced the introduction of the Job Creation through Energy Efficient Manufacturing Act in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would create jobs and save money for manufacturers by putting people to work

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