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 Applauds Levin for Sending “London Whale” Case to DOJ and SEC

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, announced he will send his findings on the JPMorgan Chase “London Whale” trading losses to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “I

Merkley: The President’s Budget Has Strengths and Weaknesses

 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Obama sent his 2014 budget request to Congress:  “This budget has both strengths and weaknesses.  “A strength is its investment in infrastructure and education. The president is right to emphasize rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure now when borrowing

MERKLEY INTRODUCES BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON EXCESSIVE INTEREST RATES AND FEES

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), to introduce the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act today, a bill to eliminate the excessive rates and fees that some consumers are charged for

Merkley Statement on the Passing of Lynn Lundquist

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the passing of Lynn Lundquist, former Oregon Speaker of the House and founder of the Oregon Business Association.  “Lynn was a powerful voice for education, rural issues, and bipartisan problem solving.  I was honored to serve with him in

Merkley: Marriage Equality Issue of Fundamental Fairness

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued a statement on the day the Supreme Court started hearing oral arguments on Hollingsworth v. Perry, a case challenging California’s Proposition 8, banning marriage for same-sex couples.  “Marriage equality is an issue of fundamental fairness.  The Supreme Court should do the right thing

Merkley: Budget Puts Middle Class First

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after Senate passage of a budget framework for fiscal year 2014.  “For too long, our economy hasn’t been working for too many middle class Oregonians.  This budget lays out a path to

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