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 Pledges to Continue Fighting for Critical Dredging Funds for Small Ports
FLORENCE – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke at the Oregon Coast Economic Summit on Wednesday, highlighting his work for Oregon’s coastal communities and promising to keep pushing to maximize funds for small port dredging, a major driver of local coastal economies and an important source of jobs. Merkley also received
Merkley, Feinstein Lead Senators in Calling for Greater Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing the dangers to U.S. national security posed by terrorists and rogue states seeking nuclear weapons, a bipartisan group of 26 senators sent a letter last week to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Shaun Donovan, calling on the President to support increased
Merkley Leads Senators’ Call for USPTO to Improve Patent Quality, Pave Way for Innovation
WASHINGTON – Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce to call for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to take several key steps to improve the quality of patents and make the patent examination process more comprehensive and more efficient. By focusing
Congress Passes Merkley Bill in Veterans Compromise
WASHINGTON – Today the Senate passed compromise legislation to reform the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and improve veterans’ benefits, which includes a provision authored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to expand educational benefits to spouses of service members who die in the line of the duty. The bill, which was passed
Merkley Introduces Older Americans CARE Act To Help Seniors Stay in their Homes
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced new legislation to help older Americans stay in their own homes and communities as they age. The bill, the Older Americans Community Access Revitalization and Education (CARE) Act, would also improve seniors’ access to a range of health and support services. Merkley’s
Merkley: ‘Irresponsible’ to Leave without Wildfire Funding
Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans used a procedural tactic to kill an emergency supplemental spending bill, which included $615 million in emergency funding to fight wildfires in the West. “With thousands of acres engulfed in flames in the Northwest, and lives and property in jeopardy,
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