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 Introduces New Wilderness and Economic Development Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Sutton Mountain and Painted Hills Area Preservation and Economic Enhancement Act, new legislation to create federal wilderness in the area of Sutton Mountain and the iconic Painted Hills and to promote economic development in the surrounding region. The proposal, which
On National Nurses Day, Merkley and Capito Introduce Bipartisan National Nurse Act of 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Honoring National Nurses Day, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) today introduced the bipartisan National Nurse Act of 2015, legislation that would elevate the role of nurses in America’s public health by designating a National Nurse for Public Health. The National Nurse position
VIDEO RELEASE: Merkley Budget Statement – Budget Passed Last Night Provides “More Tax Breaks and Corporate Welfare for Millionaires, and More Pain and Suffering for the Middle Class”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, the U.S. Senate passed the final FY2016 Republican budget in a narrow, partisan vote. Prior to the vote, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke on the Senate floor to highlight how the budget would harm Oregon’s middle-class and working families. Video of the floor speech is
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Transportation Department Oil Trains Rule
Washington, D.C. – Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today released the following statement after the Department of Transportation issued a final rule to address the safety of shipping oil-by-rail: “After years of our urging, the Department of Transportation’s rule includes meaningful steps on rail safety, but does not
Giving America a Raise: Merkley and Colleagues Introduce Legislation Calling for National Minimum Wage Increase
Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the leading Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senators from the Democratic Caucus to introduce new legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $12.00 by 2020. The Raise the Wage
Wyden, Schumer, Feinstein, Casey, Merkley, Brown, Warner Introduce Bill to Protect Communities from Oil Train Accidents
Washington, D.C. – Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Bob Casey, D-Penn., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Mark Warner, D-Va., today introduced legislation to protect local communities by getting unsafe oil trains off the tracks and giving firefighters and other first responders in local