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 Statement on Student Loans Deal
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate passed a deal to keep student loan rates from doubling. “Access to affordable higher education is one the main pillars of restoring and strengthening the middle class. Anyone who is talented and hardworking, regardless of
Merkley, Wyden Announce $1.5 Million for Manufacturing and Transportation Center in Lebanon
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Linn Benton Community College has been awarded $1.5 million from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to help create the Advanced Transportation and Technology Center in Lebanon. This Center will train technicians in advanced manufacturing as well as
Merkley Statement on Senate Agreement to Confirm Nominees
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate voted 71-29 to end a Republican filibuster on the nomination of Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Facing a possible change in Senate rules to prevent filibusters of executive branch nominees, Senate
Merkley Introduces Legislation to Boost Career and Technical Education in K-12 Schools
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced the introduction of the BUILD (Building Understanding, Investment, Learning, and Direction) Career and Technical Education Act of 2013. This new legislation will provide grants to support state efforts to restart career and technical education programs that have been scaled back or eliminated.
Merkley Applauds Committee Passage of Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after his bill to end employment discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, was passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on a bipartisan vote. “All Americans deserve the right
Merkley: ENDA Markup a Historic Step Forward for Equal Protection
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senator Tom Harkin, Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, announced that the Committee will hold a markup of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) next Wednesday, July 10. ENDA would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis