Press Releases

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

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 Hails Passage of Bipartisan Job Training Bill

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley applauded the Senate passage of a major bipartisan bill to improve America’s workforce development system and help put Americans back to work. Merkley voted for the bill, which is expected to be signed into law by the president soon. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity

Merkley Slams Citi for Flouting Volcker Rule Firewall

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after news reports that Citigroup is flouting the Volcker Rule firewall by engaging in high-risk, proprietary trading in mortgage bonds:   “Citigroup’s trading activities, as reported by Bloomberg News, appear to constitute a direct violation of law. It’s unacceptable for

Senate Committee Passes Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden hailed the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s passage of the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act of 2013, which moves the bill one step closer to becoming law. “This legislation is all about providing water certainty and laying

Wyden, Merkley Safety of Dams Bill Takes Step Forward

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill that would clear the way for critical safety upgrades to Scoggins Dam in Oregon and dams across the western United States took a step forward when it passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today.  Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the

Merkley: ENDA Executive Order Empowers Millions to Go to Work Free of Discrimination

WASHINGTON – 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 – issued the following statement after the White House announced its plan

Merkley, Wyden Seek Answers on Oil Trains Order

Washington, D.C. – To help first responders in Oregon and other states receive better information about oil trains traveling through their communities, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley asked the National Transportation Safety Board about the sufficiency of last month’s emergency order issued by the Department of Transportation, in

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