Press Releases

Interior Cuts in Trump Administration’s “Skinny” Budget to Leave Lasting Scars on Public Lands, Tribal Nations, and Human Health

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the below statement following the release of President Trump’s ‘skinny’ budget for Fiscal Year 2026. “This budget is exactly what we expected from this administration: abandoning critical programs, slashing essential government services,

Merkley Announces Central Oregon Town Halls 

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will hold three town halls for Oregonians in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties on Saturday, May 10.  Merkley will be joined by U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum for the Deschutes County town hall in Sisters.  The three rescheduled events in Central

Sens. Wicker, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Co-Chairs of the Senate Nursing Caucus, introduced the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act. This legislation would ensure that nurses in the federal Nurse Corps do not need to pay income tax on their student loan repayments and scholarships. “Nurses are essential to

Merkley Praises Senate Plan to End Monsanto Protection Act

Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley applauded the news that the Monsanto Protection Act would expire under the provisions of the Continuing Resolution being drafted by Senate Democrats.   “This is a victory for all those who think special interests shouldn’t get special deals. This secret rider, which

Merkley: New Power Plant Rules Big Step Forward in Fight Against Climate Change

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the administration announced new rules that will significantly curb carbon emissions from new power plants: “These rules represent a big step forward in the fight against climate change. With record droughts, floods, storms, fires, and ecosystem changes that threaten

Merkley Applauds Senate Extension of County Payments

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Senate passed a one-year extension of county payments for Oregon’s timber counties:  “This extension is badly needed in Oregon, and I am very pleased that the Senate has acted today. Timber counties are already cut to the bone

Merkley Statement on JPMorgan “London Whale” Settlement

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the SEC declined to bring charges against either the employees at JPMorgan, or the company itself, for misleading investors about the “London Whale” bet.  “Although JPMorgan, in its settlement, admitted to failures of internal controls, and is paying

Merkley Reaction to President’s Address on Syria

Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after President Obama’s address tonight on the situation in Syria. “I share the President’s deep passion that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable.  The United States must not ignore Syria’s egregious crime against its citizens. “Indeed, America should bring

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