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: Yellen Right Person to Helm the Fed
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate invoked cloture on Janet Yellen’s nomination as Chair of the Federal Reserve, clearing the way for confirmation in January. “With this vote, Janet Yellen is now poised to become the first woman ever to chair the
Merkley Cosponsors Plan to Replace Military Retiree Pension Changes in Budget Agreement
Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley cosponsored the Military Retirement Restoration Act to safeguard military retirees from changes to cost of living adjustments (COLA) that were included in the bipartisan budget agreement the Senate is expected to pass today. The bill would replace the estimated $6 billion in
Merkley Statement on Murray-Ryan Budget Compromise
Washington, DC – Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced he will vote for the Murray-Ryan budget compromise, which will offer some relief from sequestration for the next two fiscal years. “For the last three years, Congress has been governing from crisis to crisis, hurting the economy and the American families
Merkley, Baldwin Introduce Legislation to Level the Playing Field for American Manufacturing
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced new legislation that would crack down on unfair trade practices, level the playing field for American manufacturing companies, and help create middle class jobs. The Level the Playing Field in Global Trade Act would ensure that sub-standard
Merkley Statement on Watt Cloture Vote
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Mel Watt, ensuring a final vote on his nomination to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA): “Subprime loans and the resulting foreclosure crisis caused a financial meltdown five years ago.
Merkley and Levin Statement on Final Volcker Rule
Washington, DC – Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Carl Levin (D-MI) released the following joint statement after approval by the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) of the final Volcker Rule, a firewall between traditional banking and hedge fund style gambling. Merkley and Levin led the fight