Interior Cuts in Trump Administration’s “Skinny” Budget to Leave Lasting Scars on Public Lands, Tribal Nations, and Human Health
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the below statement following the release of President Trump’s ‘skinny’ budget for Fiscal Year 2026. “This budget is exactly what we expected from this administration: abandoning critical programs, slashing essential government services,
Merkley Announces Central Oregon Town Halls
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will hold three town halls for Oregonians in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties on Saturday, May 10. Merkley will be joined by U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum for the Deschutes County town hall in Sisters. The three rescheduled events in Central
Sens. Wicker, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Co-Chairs of the Senate Nursing Caucus, introduced the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act. This legislation would ensure that nurses in the federal Nurse Corps do not need to pay income tax on their student loan repayments and scholarships. “Nurses are essential to
Merkley Statement on Jeanne Atkins Appointment to Oregon’s Secretary of State
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley made the following statement after Governor Kate Brown announced her appointment of Jeanne Atkins to be Oregon’s next Secretary of State: “Governor Brown couldn’t have picked a more dedicated and experienced public servant to become our next Secretary of State. Jeanne Atkins is
Merkley and Wyden Announce Over $2 Million for the Ashland Forest Resiliency Stewardship Project
Washington DC – Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded over $2 million to reduce hazardous fuels and create jobs through the Ashland Forest Resiliency Stewardship Project (AFR). The AFR works to reduce the threat of severe wildfires, improve
Merkley Meets with FDA Leader and Urges Action on Tobacco Regulation
Washington, DC – Today, Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Markey (D-MA), met with the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products to urge the agency to finalize its plan for regulating tobacco products. During today’s meeting, Senator Merkley also asked for
Senator Merkley Celebrates Return of Stacey Addison to Oregon
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Oregonian Stacey Addison, who has been detained since September in East Timor, was released by the government of East Timor and boarded a plane on the first leg of her journey home: “I am thrilled to report that Dr.
Merkley Statement on Potential Homeland Security Shutdown
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass a bill that would extend funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for several weeks. “At a time like this, we should be working together on a bipartisan basis to
Merkley and Wyden Announce $1 Million to Jumpstart Southern Oregon Water Infrastructure Project
WASHINGTON, DC — Oregon Senator’s Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBOR)will award $1 million to jumpstart a major water infrastructure investment for Southern Oregon. Merkley, a newly-appointed member of the Senate Appropriations Water and Energy Subcommittee, and Wyden had previously pressed the