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 walks across new Tilikum Crossing, touts bridge as example of needed investments
Washington DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley walked across the new Tilikum Crossing Monday with TriMet officials and workers who helped build the bridge to celebrate the completion of this phase of the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Transit Project. Merkley heralded the project, which came in on time and under budget,
Merkley: Senate Budget Works for the Best Off, Not for Working Americans
WASHINGTON — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans narrowly passed a partisan budget that slashes investment in education, fails to close tax loopholes that ship jobs overseas, and attacks consumer protection and financial reform: “This budget works for the best off, but it sure doesn’t
Merkley Statement on CFPB Payday Rules: “It’s Well Past Time to Break” the Endless Cycle of Payday Debt
WASHINGTON — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released new details about planned payday lending rules: “Payday lending is an abusive industry that traps working families in an endless cycle
Merkley Slams Republican Efforts to Roll Back Consumer Protection and Wall Street Reform
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Al Franken (D-MN), slammed Senate Republicans’ budget push to roll back consumer protections and Wall Street reform at a press conference held in the Capitol today. The Senate Budget that is being debated on the floor this
Merkley, Franken Introduce Legislation To Promote Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Al Franken (D-MN) today introduced legislation designed to increase student access to courses in STEM education subjects and provide additional resources to recruit, train, and support teachers of these subjects. “Whether we’re inventing new life-saving medications, or creating new technologies for connecting
Merkley, Wyden Join 20 Other Senators in Call for Crude-by-Rail Safety Investments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today joined with 20 other Senators calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to support robust investment for a Safe Transportation of Energy Products program to address increasing safety concerns related to the transportation of Bakken crude and other energy products. The