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 Fights Back Against Hobby Lobby Ruling
Washington, DC- Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley fought back against last week’s Supreme Court decision in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby by announcing that he is cosponsoring legislation that would restore employees’ access to birth control coverage. “It’s unacceptable that the Supreme Court has put contraceptive coverage in
Oregon Senators Push Congress for Additional Funding to Fight Western U.S. Wildfires
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have called on Congress to pass a proposal from the White House to provide additional fire funding to treat the catastrophic wildfires already raging in states across the western United States. On Tuesday President Obama asked Congress to include an
Merkley Calls for Fairness and Expanded Opportunities for Women and Working Families
EUGENE, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined working mothers and child care professionals in Eugene today to call for a series of measures to take on economic issues that impact women in the workforce and help working parents support their families. Merkley highlighted the need for key policies such
Merkley: Hobby Lobby Decision is ‘Tremendous Blow’ to Women’s Access to Fundamental Health Care
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Supreme Court decision in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. “This decision is a tremendous blow to the ability of women to have access to fundamental health care. The Supreme Court’s decision could jeopardize contraception
Merkley Holds Hearing on Economic Challenges Facing Young Workers and Recent Grads
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Policy, held a hearing yesterday on the economic challenges facing young workers and recent high school and college graduates. The hearing, titled “Dreams Deferred: Young Workers & Recent Grads in U.S. Economy,” focused on
Merkley, Wyden Highlight NTSB’s Call for Expanded Oil Trains Transparency
Washington, D.C. – First responders need more timely and detailed information about crude-by-rail trains in order to better protect communities, according to a letter from the National Transportation Board released today by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. The senators urged Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to use