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
President Signs Merkley-Backed Executive Order Banning LGBT Job Discrimination
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley – the lead Senate sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and the leading congressional advocate for an executive order to bar federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT Americans in the workplace – released the following statement on President Obama’s signing of
Merkley Celebrates Three Year Anniversary of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement celebrating the third anniversary of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which was created by the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill that passed four years ago. Predatory, anti-consumer practices and the lack of single agency to act as a consumer watchdog
Merkley and Women’s Groups Call for Congress to Keep Bosses out of Employees’ Health Care Decisions
PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined women’s rights advocates and health experts today in Portland to call for the Senate minority to stop obstructing a vote on a bill that would prevent employers from blocking their employees’ access to contraception. The bill would undo the Supreme Court’s ruling
Following Senate Vote, Merkley Vows to Keep Fighting for Women’s Health Care
WASHINGTON – After a minority of Senators voted to filibuster debate on a bill that would undo the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision threatening women’s access to contraception, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement: “It’s outrageous that a minority of Senators are blocking us from debating a bill
Merkley, Baldwin to GAO: Do Trade Agreements Undermine “Buy American” Manufacturing Policy?
WASHINGTON – In a letter sent to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Monday and released today, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called for the investigative agency to open an inquiry into the impact of trade agreements on the U.S. federal government’s domestic procurement preferences, known as “Buy American,”
Wyden-Merkley Oregon Caves Bill Passes U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced the Senate passage of the Oregon Caves Revitalization Act, their bill to add new protection to one of Oregon’s most unique natural treasures. The bill passed unanimously late Wednesday night. “This bill is another tribute to Oregon’s bounty of