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 Stands with Health Professionals to Demand Immediate Safeguards for Families’ and Children’s Health
Portland, OR – Pressing federal regulators for immediate action, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today stood with health care professionals to urge Congress to pass legislation that would protect America’s families from some of the most harmful chemicals identified by scientists. Known as persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBTs), these chemicals are
Merkley Introduces New Legislation to Protect Families’ and Children’s Health
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced a bill that would fast-track the phase-out of the most harmful chemicals identified by scientists – chemicals that don’t break down in the environment and that build up in the food chain so that even small amounts can be dangerous. Known as persistent,
Merkley Urges Congress to Close Tax Loopholes that Ship Jobs Overseas, Bring Back Jobs to U.S. Soil
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement today after the Senate voted to move forward with the Bring Jobs Home Act, which would bring back manufacturing jobs to Oregon and all of the U.S.: “We need good-paying jobs right here in America, so it makes no sense
Responding to Merkley’s Call to Improve Oil Train Safety, DOT Announces Proposed New Rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. – After months of pressure by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, other legislators, and advocates around the country, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will take steps to establish new regulations to improve the safe transportation of crude oil by rail.
Oregon and Washington Congressional Delegations Urge Administration to Keep Offshore Drilling from Harming Northwest Coastal Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter sent today, fourteen Members of Congress from Oregon and Washington pressed the administration for continued protection of Oregon’s and Washington’s coasts from offshore drilling. Specifically, the letter urged the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to exclude Oregon and Washington’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
Merkley, Wyden Press For Additional Firefighting Funds for Oregon
As wildfires spanning nearly 600,000 acres burn across Oregon – with lightning storms predicted for the next 48 hours – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden led 10 other senators today in sending a letter to Senate leaders calling for swift passage of President Obama’s emergency supplemental funding request,