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: NSA Spying Outrageous Breach of Americans’ Privacy

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after press reports that the National Security Agency (NSA) is engaging in massive, secret bulk data collection of Americans’ phone records. “This type of secret bulk data collection is an outrageous breach of Americans’ privacy. I have had significant concerns

Merkley: D.C. Circuit Nominees Merit an Up or Down Majority Vote

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Obama nominated three candidates to fill vacancies on the D.C. Circuit:  “I applaud the President for moving to address the long-standing vacancies on the D.C. Circuit.  These nominees merit an up or down majority vote.  The Republican blockade

Merkley: USDA Must Give Guidance to Oregon Wheat Growers Within 10 Days

Washington, DC– Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley called on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to give guidance to Oregon wheat growers on how ensure their product is marketable and meets the needs of their customers, following the discovery of genetically modified wheat engineered by Monsanto found in eastern Oregon. Merkley says

GOP Blocks Merkley Amendment to Repeal the Monsanto Protection Act

Greetings- Today, after his unanimous consent request for a vote on his amendment to the farm bill that would repeal the “Monsanto Protection Act” was blocked by a member of the minority party, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley made the following remarks on the floor. “MR. PRESIDENT, I REGRET THAT WE’VE

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